morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-05-03
From: Atkins, VA

To: Knot Maul Shelter
Miles today: 13.9

Well, I survived The Relax Inn. Now that was an experience. I suggest the rest of you guys skip it. Just politely say'en, there are better choices.Made it just up the street to the local restaurant and had a great breakfast. Just what a hungry hiker needs to start the day. Finished up and walked under I-81 to get back on the trail. As I walked by this State Trooper he gave me a hard stare, so I smiled really big and gave him the Forrest Gump wave. I pulled into Knot Maul at about 2:30 and spread out the gear. This was all I had planned for the day. Tomorrow will be different but today Ill just take it easy.The shelter slowly filled up with mostly tenters but there were 3 of us inside the shelter. The highlight of the evening was two hikers carrying a banjo and a fiddle. They played for us for a while then we all turned it in at dark.Another great day on the AT.
Date: 2014-05-12
From: Pearisburg

To: VA 624 Four Pines Hostel
Miles today: 67.0

Okay, I'm still alive, no worries! There has been very little service lately, sorry.5/8 Zero5/9 19.3 miles5/10 12.7 miles5/11 19.6 miles5/12 15.4 milesI had to take a zero and travel to Blacksburg VA to an Outfitter to buy new boots. So I got a shuttle and Lions and I headed over. She was having the same problem. After returning with my new boots, a half size bigger, I decided to spend the rest of the day walking around Perisburg. Good choice too.5/9 Was a great hike and the new boots were perfect. I had planned to make Daleville in 5 days. All was good.5/10 Rained all day so when I got to the War Spur Shelter I was soaked and decided to stay. I changed into dry clothes and set up inside the shelter. Again, a good choice.5/11 We had heard about some awesome trail magic ahead so Forrester Gump and I walked hard all day and made it to the trail magic. It really was great. There were maybe 25 hikers there and more food than even we could eat. All "free"! I love trail angels. It was so late and we were so stuffed and tired we just tented right there in the woods. 5/12 we were up early and headed out for a short day of 15+ miles and all was good. Made the first climb up to the Audie Murphy Monument without a problem. I stopped there and payed my respect, gave a snappy salute and headed on. The second climb up and over Dragon's Tooth was just painful. It was a rock scramble with never ending false summits. It took Taz and I hours to cover those few miles. When we got to the road to the hostel we were spent. All the other hikers here agreed it was one of the toughest climbs so far on the trail. My new boots beat my feet up a bit today but all in all they are still the right choice, a half size bigger.Cant seem to load any pics here so Ill catch that up in Daleville in two day.A tough day on the AT is still a good day!
Date: 2014-05-16
From: Daleville, VA

To: Wilson Creek Shelter
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: broken clouds

We decided to sleep in seeing as how we were only shoot'en for the second shelter. We started our day at the "Continental Breakfast" at the HoJo. There were so many hikers there I had never met. Then after breakfast Forrester Gump and I returned to our room and packed up slowly. We decided to give that 4" of rain a little time to get obsorbed. We Left for the trail around 10, stopped at the gas station for coffee, and were hiking by 10:40 am.Giving the trail time to shed a little water was a good choice, still a little soggy in places. The sun came out and we had a nice 11 mile walk to the shelter with a few passing clouds. The temperature was in the low 60s and the trail was clean. There was a long slow 5 mile climb but it was so pleasant you hardly noticed. After arriving at the shelter we set up our gear in the shelter, laid the food bags out, so if a bear came by he wouldn't take our entire packs, and headed for the water source. It was a short walk to the water but good water. We have made dinner, dried our clothes, and are ready for the evening. There are 4 other hikers here tenting that I have not met before. I suppose that will be the norm for me as I have to come and go from the trail.Forrester Gump and I had a great conversation about how young people who seem to get angry about God and why we believe this happens. Lots to think about for sure. I guess everyone really is looking for something, even if they don't know what it is yet. Or, if they just aren't ready to accept it. It has been a good day.Looks like showers are coming in too. It'll be nice to be inside the shelter if it rains. No wet gear! Cool. Will post a few new pics too.
Date: 2014-05-17
From: Wilson Creek Shelter

To: Cove Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 13.9
Weather: broken clouds

Didn't get up early today because we were planning a short day. Got up and ate, then packed and was on the trail by 8. The early part of the day was nice with some great trail magic about 9:30. We walked up on 2 coolers filled with fresh fruit and OJ, plus chicken salad sandwiches. I had an orange, a sandwich, and an OJ. Then I took an apple for the road.We stopped at one of the parking lots on The Blue Ridge Parkway and had lunch and laid out in the sun for about an hour. We tried hard to look pitiful but no one stopped to offer sodas. Still a great day. The Parkway ran beside the AT for about 8 miles on today's hike and the trail crosses back and forth over it several times. It was quite different. Normally we just cross roads, not walk along side them.We arrived at the shelter and no one was here but Forrester Gump and I. That has changed now. Troop 60 Boy Scouts have claimed the mountain. It's a little load but still fun watching them put up tents and cook. They look tired so maybe we'll get some sleep. We'll see. Only planning 12 miles tomorrow, mostly up hill so either way we will sleep good tomorrow night. The scouts are heading south!!! I'll post a few pics too.
Date: 2014-05-18
From: Cove Mountain Shelter

To: Cornelius Creek Shelter
Miles today: 11.9
Weather: overcast clouds

This morning it was cold when we got up and you could see your breath. Not sure how cold but maybe high 30's. It is suppose to get even colder tonight, like low 30' or high 20's. Sure glad I didn't send all my cold weather gear home like almost every hiker out here. Im still packing a 25 degree bag, a base layer, and a down jacket. So The Sleeper will sleep warm. There is already gnashing of cold teeth around me.Today was a great day. Cool, beautiful, and the climbs although tough were nice trail. The Bryant Ridge Shelter where I stopped for lunch was amazing. It sleeps 20, is a true shelter not a barn, and had a huge loft in it. I really just wanted to spend the night but I had only hike 7 miles. So after lunch and some water I was on my way. Arrived at Cornelius Creek Shelter at 2:30 and decided not to hike up to 4000 ft because of the cold. We'll hike over Apple Orchard Mountain in the morning. There was no one here when I arrived but other hikers have come in now. There are some grumpy people out here! Makes me wonder why they come to the trail if they hate it? So all the camp chores are done, the cold weather base layer is on , so is the poofy jacket, and soon I'll be in my sleeping bag. Just got to hang my bear bag and call it a day. A very good day!
Date: 2014-05-20
From: Cornelius Creek Shelter

To: Punchbowl Shelter
Miles today: 30.3
Weather: overcast clouds

As usual no service yesterday! 5/19/14 17.75/20/14 12.7Yesterday we left Cornelius Creek Shelter at about 8 am. Boy was it cold when we got up. Is winter ever going to let go? There were some unhappy hikers who had sent all there gear home. You could see your breath again. The hike was the usual climb this mountain cross this creek take a break here hike. But the best part of the day was just after we crossed over Apple Orchard Mountain we came to the famous "Guillotine"! I took some selfies and waited on Forrester Gump. When he arrived we took a few more pictures. Then we headed on. After the last climb of the day was done and we started down you could see the James River. Beautiful! We would cross it tomorrow. Made it to Matts Creek Shelter and set up. Sadly a hiker was found dead at this shelter earlier this year. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family.This morning we woke up early, loud section hiker in the shelter, and decided to just have a nice breakfast there and take our time. We only had a short 12 mile day planned so no need to be in a hurry. We walked the last couple miles to the James River and crossed on the huge foot bridge just for AT Hikers. Then we climbed Big Rocky Row which was not flat!!! We had been told many times that Virginia is basically flat, not!!! At the top FG and I took an hour break. Hause and Defi came up and we talked for a bit, they had just returned from Trail Days in Damascus. Then we headed on. When we reached Bluff Mountain, again not flat, we took another long break, maybe another hour. The views were fantastic. Hause and Defi joined us there and we had a good time talking about everything under the sun. We only had another 1.6 miles to the Punchbowl Shelter so no hurry. We are here now, dinner is done and we are set. The bugs are horrible so we have broke out the 100% deet! I hope it gets cold again tonight, the bugs don't like the cold. Will be heading to town tomorrow for resupply and a bath. It's been 6 days since either has occurred. Smile!I will post pictures if I can.
Date: 2014-05-21
From: Punchbowl Shelter

To: Buena VVisa, VA
Miles today: 10.9

We got up really early this morning. A hiker got up in the shelter and was noisy. So we were all up. I should have tented last night cause the bugs were really bad. This shelter has a small pond beside it so lots of skeeters! After we were awakened we got up made coffee and ate breakfast then headed out at 5:50 am. My earliest start so far. It was a nice morning for a walk. Cool, slight breeze, and a nice down hill to start the day.We took our first break at Pedler River at the foot bridge. Then started a slow climb up to Brown Mountain Creek Shelter. We took a nice long break there which was great. When we got ready to leave we had 2 hours to hike 1.8 miles. I suggested to Forrester Gump that we hike slowly and he agreed. So, we covered that 1.8 miles, up hill, in 35 minutes. "Slowly", right! We then had over an hour to wait on our shuttle to arrive. A nice section hiker came up the trail, we talked a bit, she gave us an apple a piece, then she got in her car and drove away. Towards town!!! Where we had said we needed to go??? Our shuttle came a little early and he gave us a tour of Buena Vista then dropped us at The Budget Inn.We dropped our gear in the room, hit the Burger King, cleaned up and headed for the Food Lion so I could resupply. Forrester Gump is heading to spend Memorial Day with family so I'll be heading out solo in the am. I should make Waynesboro on Sunday. Looks like storms tonight so its nice to be inside, then some beautiful sunny days to Waynesboro. Put my Yogi on today and scored a ride to the Food Lion and back. Pretty Sweet, this Yogi thing!
Date: 2014-05-25
From: The Priest Shelter

To: Waynesboro, VA
Miles today: 34.7

Okay, the update!5/23/14 13.8 miles5/24/14 15.8 miles5/25/14 5.1 milesSorry about the short update from the Priest but the bugs were crazy. The 100% Deet bug spray only seemed to enrage the bugs. The only hope was to cover up so that's what we did. 5/23 I had a tough day ahead with a 3000 foot decent followed by a 3000 foot climb. I was having some pain in my left lower leg the night before but "No Pain No Maine", right? So I just pushed on. Normally I would never want to climb but this climbing didn't hurt near as much as the decent. I reached Maupin Field Shelter about 4 pm. Set up and made dinner. My left lower leg was really starting to hurt when I stopped. So I took some Vitamin I and got in my sleeping bag. Then we were decended upon by a swarm of Memorial Day Campers. I mean like 40 plus of all ages. We had kids screaming, people walking past the shelter constantly, and later we even had two dog fights. You got to love beginners! 5/24 When I got up this morning I knew there was something very wrong with my left leg. I was in severe pain with each step and It was all I could do to put my boot on. So more Vitamin-I, I packed up and headed out. I left early because I had 15.8 miles to cover and I had to slow my pace because of the pain. After I got warmed up the pain seemed to ease up a little. It was still painful with each step but not as bad. I made it into The Paul C. Wolfe Shelter about 5 pm. It was a great shelter that sleeps 10 and had the best creek right in front. There was also about 40 weekenders there as well. So it was loud, and although there were plenty of people there were no kids and no dog fights. I met lots of Thru-Hikers today and Sprocket and Inchworm (2011) were kind enough to mark up my guide book for me with lots of great places to stay and things to look out for. Thanks guys! I must admit that by now I am limping pretty bad and can hardly put any weight on my left foot. So I loaded up on pain meds and went to bed. The pain kept me up all night. 5/25 This morning when I got up I could barely touch down with my left foot. After a few minutes I was down to just a bad limp but still a lot of pain. Also today my lower leg and ankle are really swollen. I had pain for 3 days but swelling is new. I was quite concerned to be honest. I only had 5 miles to Waynesboro and had no other choice but to walk out. I had to resupply anyway so going to town was already part of the plan. I'm here at the Comfort Inn now, leg elevated on pillows, and I've been icing my leg and ankle on and off all day. It feels better but is still painful and swollen. I will have some tough decisions to make in the morning. I just hope I can keep my pride in check and choose wisely. A few days are a small price to pay to keep my dream alive.I'll post some pictures too.
Date: 2014-05-26
From: Waynesboro, VA

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0

Well after nearly two days off my foot it is still swollen. Not as painful, but applying ice on and off has made no difference in the swelling. I believe getting it checked and having some x-rays is the best choice. I was to return home anyway on Thursday for 6 days to take care of some things that require my presence. So with my nero yesterday and my zero today I'll have about 10 days total to heal. If its just shin splints then this should be plenty of time. If it's something more serious then I'll have more difficult decisions to make.Thank you guys for calling, texting, and signing in on Trailjournals.com with your concerns. I'm feeling the pressure of time but I understand that getting checked out and taking some time off is the right thing to do. Not what I want to do mind you, but still the right thing to do.As soon as I have some information I'll post an update. If all goes well I'll return to the trail next Wednesday.
Date: 2014-05-30
From: Home

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0

Okay, I figured I better post an update to keep those 2 people who are following my blog well informed. I have been off my left leg now for 5 days, in a cast boot for 4 days, and I am getting better. I still have some swelling returning at the end of each day but it is less and less. It is still a little painful, but not much at all. Nothing at all like the last day I hiked. The cast boot I think is causing some of it's own unique pain as well. Just learning to walk in the thing has been a challenge.The orthpedic surgeon says I either have tibialis tendinitis (fancy for "overuse injury"), or a tibial stress fracture just above my left ankle. Neither sound very good, but one is a show stopper, and the other is something I believe will heal and that I can overcome. The plane film x-rays are all negative, and the only way to know for sure about the stress fracture is to get an MRI. I had my MRI yesterday, and I will get the results next Tuesday when I return to the orthpedic surgeon for a recheck and review of the the MRI. I personally do not think it is fractured, and I hope that it is just tendinitis. If it is broken, then I would think that I am done. The doctor said 10 to 12 weeks to heal a stress fracture. Three months off is the same as done. I can't fix that much time off. If it's just tendinitis then I think I'm still in the "GAME". I will have to take it easy for a while, walk slower, start earlier so I can walk slower and longer, start practicing stretching techniques in the morning and evening to help prevent a reoccurance, and include more brakes each day. All of which should be quite easy. I know, should have been doing these all along!!!If all is well I will return to Waynesboro next Wednesday and start back on the Trail on Thursday morning. That will give me 10 days off total, and as good as I feel now, I should be well on my way to mend by then. I would really appreciate all the good vibs, and prayers, you guys could send me. I had never been so happy on the Trail, and I was doing so well. Maybe God just needed to check my commitment, and my dependence on Him. Maybe this is just all part of His plan. Some really cool things have happened since I came home that clearly would not have happened if I had not gotten injuried and come home a little earlier than planned. They'll be included in the book. Sorry, got to have some material you guys don't know. So, lastly, I'm upbeat, encouraged by my progress in just 5 days, and excited to return ot the Trail.See you guys up the Trail. I will not know a soul when I return, but making new friends on the Trail is easy. We are all very much alike, regardless of where we come from.
Date: 2014-06-03
From: Home

To: Waynesboro, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Just wanted to update you guys officially, "It is not broken"!!! So all the good vibs, and prayers, have helped so much. Thank you to all who have sent them out. I think I'll need some more before this is completely healed.The MRI confirmed tibialis tendinitis, and no fractures. That is a good thing, and I was almost completely sure it wasn't fracured. Well, at least in my mind anyway. The doctor explained everything today at my recheck, and ask me to consider taking a month off before I head back out because he is afraid this will simply flare up again if it is not allowed to heal completely. "A month?" In the end we agreed to disagree, and he gave me his blessing to head back to the trail if I would start out slow and stop if it got worse again. That is my plan then, to start back slow with a 7 mile day, then a couple of 12's, and see how I feel. Sitting here right now I feel great. There is still some pain but only when I flex or extend my left ankle to the extremes. There is almost no swelling this evening so hopefully all that will soon be over too. I have been walking around most of the afternoon, and evening, without the boot cast on and everything feels good. I will be leaving home in the morning to drive back to Waynesboro, VA. It's about a 6 hour drive, and then I'll just stay in a hotel again for the night, giving it yet another day of healing. I'll start back on the trail on Thursday morning and hope for the best.I'm looking forward to getting back on the trail, and it has been all I could bring myself to do, to do the right thing, and take some time off. I knew if I didn't there would be no continuing. Also, coming home a little early was a blessing in other ways as well. God is good, all the time! I will have to make a new group of friends, and somehow convince these guys that I am a Thru-Hiker. It's tough when you are clean shaven, and have had a bath. But when I show them all my pictures that usually does it.I'm still in the GAME! Smile!!!
Date: 2014-06-04
From: Waynesboro, VA

To: Calf Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Well the Sleeper is back on the trail. I started back this morning at Rockfish Gap in Waynesboro and planned a very short day. Last night I felt wonderful and only had a little pain with extreme flexion and extention of my left ankle. A slight bit of swelling too. Ten days off my leg was definitely the right thing to do.This morning there was no swelling and still only slight pain with passive stretching. I am very happy about my progress. All the prayer and good vibs are winning the healing battle. I am sitting on top of Calf Mountain now basking in the sunshine. I have had no pain today and I have walked so slow today. So slow it was painful. So slow in fact that at one point I thought I was going backwards in time. But, I am doing what I need to do to ease back onto the Trail.I only have a short distance to the shelter but wanted to take advantage of the high ground and update my blog. Often there is no service when you drop into some of the gaps. I feel good, no pain at all, and I will stick to the plan for the next week or so. God is good, all the time.
Date: 2014-06-06
From: Calf Mountain Shelter

To: Blackrock Hut
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: clear sky

What a beautiful day. Didn't get the real early start I wanted but that's okay. It was a good morning, nice and cool, and perfect hiking weather. I had a great breakfast of oatmeal with dried fruit, a big cup of coffee, and a liter of water so I was fueled up good.I started out nice and slow to be compliant with the rehab the leg plan and felt good. I woke up with no pain and no swelling so I'm totally stoaked. The day went well. I had some nice trail all morning and set a nice 1.5 mph pace. The forest has really filled with leaves now so not to many views. Just the "long green tunnel" stretching out in front of me. I entered the Shenandoah National Park yesterday, sorry forgot to mention that, and Skyline Drive and the AT cross back and forth over each other for a hundred miles. Hearing the traffic is a bit bothersome but there are some advantages to being close. More on that to come.I had a great day. No pain and no swelling. Now that I've been in camp for a while I am getting a little stiff. Not sure if there is anything to be concerned about. I've not hiked for 10 days so maybe just normal soreness. Keep the good vibs and prayers coming I'm sure I still need them.