morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-05-03
From: Campsite

To: Big Walker Motel, Bland, Virginia
Miles today: 11.5

Today was my birthday. It got off to a cold and overcast start, not very auspicious, for some reason I can generally count on good weather on the happy day, even in England.The hike in to Bland was easy, and as level asit gets in the mountains. As we approached town the landscape became very pastoral, rolling green pastures set against deep forested hillsides. Spring is always more imminent approaching town, always more birds and animals. To tell you the truth, I'm not sure wildlife enjoys hanging out on the high mountain sides. I reckon if you really want to spot something you'd be best advised to stake out the dumpster in the national parks parking lots.We spent ages waiting for a ride at the trail junction for Bland. There was a curious church on the other side of the road bearing the sign: sheep, goats, saviour. Obviously one of those obscure goat-handling churches I've been reading about in the South.As we loaded up on the usual crap in Dairy Queen, a local wandered over with the news it would hit 20 degrees F tonight. There was a motel over the road and that was all the incentive we needed to split a room. The plan had been to take 2 cases of beer back to the trail and, secretly, I hadn't relished the prospect of having to pack out all those empties.The Big Walker Motel turned out to be a nice place and we had a boozy evening on a cold night.   Thanks to Selma, Slainte, John and Casey for helping me celebrate the happy day.
Date: 2004-05-04
From: Bland

To: Campsite
Miles today: 18.6
Weather: clear sky

I woke up feeling slightly better than I had a right to in light of the scene of dissaray that greeted me: 24 empty Bud bottles dotted around the room, various fast food packaging and leftovers, socks everywhere. Luckily, I remembered to drink plenty of water before I went to bed and had miraculously avoided much of a hangover.Not long after I'd crawled out of bed Bramble, the hiker staying next door, burst in shouting: "You're on the air" thrusting his cell phone into Selma's hands. Bramble is walking for a cancer charity and a local radio station in Conneticut keeps in close contact with his progress. He is a difficult guy to say no to and built like a brick sh**house to boot, so I was prevailed upon share a few bon mots with the good people of that distant state. I must say the DJ seemed even more bemused than I did and I think my explanation of how I got my trail name was lost on him.We went to Dairy Queen for breakfast where I pigged out in my customary fashion. After the bare minimum of resupplies we managed to easily score a ride back to the trail and were back on by 12.00.In contrast with yesterday, today has been a clear blue sky day and just the right temperature for hiking. We have made fast miles.I am camping alone tonight, on the edge of a beautiful river but not on the greatest of sites: it's a little muddy and uneven. The other guys all pressed on to a nearby private campsite but I was too bloody minded to go with them as I considered it slightly out of the way. It's a little too close to a major road to be comfortable, I seem to remember a similar scenario the last time I tented solo. No doubt it's a great spot for some dude to creep up, slash through the canvas and slit my throat in the middle of the night. I'll let you know in the morning.
Date: 2004-05-05
From: Campsite

To: Campsite
Miles today: 21.5
Weather: scattered clouds

I slept really well, despite my anxiety at being alone camping near a road. I always seem to sleep better scared!I saw the other guys from across the river as they approached the trailhead. I went over the splendid wooden bridge to join them carrying oatmeal and a coffee and duly fell down the stairs. I was unhurt but worried turning 35 has signalled iminent decepitude; yesterday I fell out the shower at the motel in the morning and backwards over a log in the afternoon. I should take more care.Today has been my second longest hike and also unique in that I did not see another hiker all day on the trail. Where did they all go? I probably set off 30 mins or so after the other guys, but they must have got going like bats out of hell. It was nice to take breaks in 2 shelters alone, when this happens I'm reminded of the Bibulmun Track shelters. Which reminds me: today I turned 600 miles, that means this is now my longest hike ever. As Slainte says, now I can quit and he can go an extra mile in order to beat me. I am certainly in better shape than I was then - and fatter.I read from the registers that Ad Rock is quitting the trail a little earlier than planned in Pearisburg. I doubt I will see him again. If we hadn't taken all those zeros we could have done this last stretch together, which would have been nice, but it wasn't to be. All the best to you Ad Rock, send me a message and let me have your email.I took an educated guess that Selma, Slainte and John would not have gone to Woodshole Hostel, but I was wrong, so I'm camping without them for a second night. Pearisburg in the morning and the end of another section. It's only 3 miles away now.
Date: 2004-05-06
From: Campsite

To: Holiday Motor Lodge, Pearisburg, Virginia
Miles today: 3.0

It was a fast down hill in to Pearisburg for a 'nero' day.Late last night Mule and Rada turned up with the news that Slainte and John had stayed at the last shelter yesterday and Selma at Woodshole. I couldn't work out how I had got past them, but it turned out later they had been on a side trail to a waterfall.I checked in to this motel, it's a little ropey it must be said. It looks as if it was opened in 1970 and hasn't seen as much as a lick of paint since... but it's clean(ish). It's weird to have a place in town to myself and the chance to kick back and relax, decorate the room with laundry, wander around naked, you know the sort of thing.Pearisburg is typical of many of the small towns in this neck of the woods: too many churches, not enough bars. It took me half the afternoon to find the library which was some way from the motel. It's very spread out and though the town centre is not much it has a lively selection of fast food joints on the peripherary.
Date: 2004-05-07
From: Holiday Motor Lodge, Pearisburg, Virginia

To: Symms Gap Meadow Campsite
Miles today: 12.7

In the end Selma stayed over at my place last night, so I still haven't had a room to myself since Hiawasse. We went to the sports bar right next to the motel and had a couple of drinks. It was the first bar I've seen on the trail that served spirits, amazing as it may seem, most of them are beer only establishments. It was a late night back in the room: there was still a 12 pack of Schlitz to work through.I was a little groggy in the morning but not too bad. The motel had a 1.00 PM check out, a red rag to a bull for me, but I managed to leave at 11.00 AM when the coffee cravings overcame me.Selma's new shoes and Thermarest arrived this morning. The latter was heavier than most tents at 3.5 lb, so he decided to send it home and stick with the old one. The shoes are electric blue Sportivas, he reckons they fit, though I detected an element of wishful thinking. Buying shoes over the phone is a funny busines, if you ask me.After breakfast I resupplied for 5 days and sat around on my pack in the Food Lion car park eating a tub of Ben and Jerry's and chucking away packaging. It was about 1.30 PM when I rejoined the trail.Today was hot and a stiff climb up out of town. But things levelled off nicely and soon I began to follow an easy ridge line, very verdant and lush, the trees were full of birds and summer had arrived. I got to Rice Field Shelter where several register entries reported sightings of Emus. Hmmm! most peculiar.I stopped hiking at 7.00 PM when I came upon the perfect spot for watching the sunset. The ridge had opened up on a pretty meadow, once obviously cultivated, as I'm camping beneath the boughs of an ancient apple tree. There is a small green pond nearby populated by nervous frogs. It's the perfect spot and the sun behaved impeccably turning orange, then pink, before sinking completely, a firey globe beyond the hazey mountains.
Date: 2004-05-08
From: Symms Meadow Campsite

To: War Spur Shelter
Miles today: 20.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Today I finally caught up with Wandering Nunn, a British guy I'd been hearing quite a lot about just recently. He's a nice bloke, young, from High Wycombe. He's not thru-hiking but getting off the trail at the end of the month. He's with a group who don't seem to be moving very fast but are having a good time nonetheless. It's strange that the people who began at Springer and are moving faster than me like Alabama, Tom, Mouth, Tarzan, are all ahead of a large group of folks I haven't met.Today was hot. There was a lot of ridge walking but also a couple of steep climbs, whoever said Virginia was mostly flat needs to get out more often. I caught up with Slainte at this shelter. I haven't seen much of him just lately, it seems, so was good to be reunited. There was quite a crowd assemled by the end of the night, mostly new people to me but fun. We had a fire and sat up late(ish).
Date: 2004-05-09
From: War Spur Shelter

To: Niday Shelter
Miles today: 18.2
Weather: clear sky

I saw a coyote today, far and away the most exciting animal I've seen and it was BIG! If I had been in wolf country I'd have sworn that was what it was. Apparently, they're small out West, but grow larger here. This one was probably the size of a German Shepherd, I got a good look as the wind was blowing towards me. I got a photo, but it made most of the Bigfoot pics look crystal clear. Eventually, it saw me and ran back uphill the way it came. I was lucky and expected to see a bear before a coyote.Today was hot, hot, hot! Almost too hot for hiking, it was a struggle to make the 18 miles. For the first time since Roan Mountain I was exhausted when I got to camp and spent a while down by the creek collecting water, dipping my toes, collecting some thoughts. Lars, Maisie, Midas and Dragonfly were in camp. All folks I've met before. The first 4 were not there for long and soon set out for some night hiking in order to beat the heat. In the end it was just Slainte, Mocking Bird, Midas and Longshot in the shelter or camping nearby. Worryingly, Selma didn't show up. He suffers a bit from vertigo and there was a slightly hairy rocky ridge back there that might have caused him problems. It was also a stretch with very little water and he is only able to carry 1.5 litres at the moment. That makes it hard for him just to pitch camp anywhere if things are not going too good. I hope he's safe.
Date: 2004-05-10
From: Niday Shelter

To: Rough Camp
Miles today: 16.5

Don't let anyone tell you Virginia's flat. Have I said that before? Yes, I suppose so and I'll probably say it again too. Mind you, it was hot again today, so the hills appeared even steeper. Today's hike, up to and along the jagged ridge to Dragon's Tooth was one of the stiffest climbs yet, over some ankle bending rocks. It even involved a little hand over hand climbing in some spots with iron rings buried in the rock to help out. Not like the AT at all. Dragons Tooth was also very beautiful with great views over distant, rolling ridges. The snaggly rock formations for which it's named were high enough to attract a couple of crazy freestyle climbers and unusual on a hike that rarely ends in solid rock.I met a nice couple today in their late 70s who had section hiked almost all of the AT. They had read my journal and worked out I was in the area. Thank you! Now I know at least I have 2 readers.I had intended to stay at the Four Pines Hostel today, but that didn't go as planned. Instead I got myself in a silly situation where I walked to the grocery store/gas station on the highway but neglected to resupply as I thought I would be visiting there again later to eat with Slainte and Selma. However, as the store only really sold hot dogs and not much else that wasn't likely. It's very likely too much sun had clouded my judgementI walked to the hostel to find it was really not more than an enormous, hot garage with mattresses on the floor. I was feeling angry with myself as I had no food even though I had just been in the store but probably came over a bit rude. I think some bright spark asked me If I was from Australia - which happens about 9 times a day - just at the moment the soda machine chewed up my money. I suddenly felt, screw this, what I really need to do is get back on the trail right now, so I got out of there, blowing out the offers of beer and hot dogs from the friendly folks. I know, I know, but I find it hard to keep up this angelic St Rick facade 24 hrs a day. OK, even 4 hours a day.Just as it got dark I found a stealth spot in the woods next to a clear, clean, fast flowing stream. I sat out in the enveloping darkness and mulled things over with an assortment of Little Debbies and a bottle of Sam Adams.
Date: 2004-05-11
From: Rough Camp

To: Campbell shelter
Miles today: 9.6
Weather: few clouds

A really short day. Slainte's shin playing him up, he hobbled in to the previous shelter. I considered going on ahead but realised I could easily never see him or Selma again if I did that, especially if he takes a zero in Troutville, which he will if it's not better. It's Slainte's 30th birthday on the 17th and I'd like to stick around for that as he was there for my 35th last week. Then we manipulated the mileage a little so we'd hit the party town (?) of Bland on the big day, so we ought to be able to do something similar now. We may still get to Troutville tomorrow.It was nice to be able to take time to smell the roses today. Mcafee's Knob is one of the ATs most memorable views and best photo opportunities, I spent ages hanging around up there. As I left there were was an immense clap of thunder and the sky opened up. I ran to the shelter dripping wet but happy enough in the funky atmospherics. I often get kind of elated in a big storm; I started singing Toyah songs I was that spaced out. There was noone at the shelter when I arrived and when I took my wet gear off I was fine. Soon Castro and turned up. They are travelling with Willow and Sweet Cheeks, a nice bunch of people moving slow.
Date: 2004-05-12
From: Campbell shelter

To: Comfort Inn, Troutville
Miles today: 15.4

Another night in a motel, there seem to have been quite a few of them recently. A day or so ago we reckoned on stealth camping outside Troutville only going in for breakfast and lunch next day, but then I read the Comfort Inn was doing a hiker special of only $38 a room for up to 4 people. To be honest, I'm not sure plan A was ever gonna happen....There was some more fine cliff top walking today before a long down hill in to town that seemed to go on forever. At Tinker Cliffs there were more death-defying photo opportunities as the exposed ridge line yielded knife-edge drops. These look great but this type of drama is rare on the AT - it's a green corridor you know. It's weird that we hiker types get so excited about the ambiguous delights of an interstate interchange, but that's the case in Troutville. For me, it's the prospect of another Shoney's breakfast buffet, I haven't had the pleasure since Gatlingburg and that feels like a long time ago now. The obsession with food that runs through this and many other journals on the site goes deeper than the scarcity of culinary outlets on the trail, I believe. It's part of the way in which we break the 2000 miles down in to (ahem) bite-size chunks, rather than obsessing about Maine all the damn time, a sure route off the trail in my opinion.Well if you excuse me, where did I put that chicken drumstick....?
Date: 2004-05-13
From: Comfort Inn, Troutville

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

They had a pretty good continental buffet going on at the Comfort Inn but I was set on going to Shoneys. As a compromise, I raided the motel buffet for breakfast burritos to squirrel away for later. The spread at Shoneys was as good as the one I remembered from Gatlingburg and I made 4 separate visits. Slainte was amazed at this virtuoso eating display and reckoned I'd taken on board at least 5000 calories.We called in at the outfitter to scout gear. I needed new Aqua Mira and wanted to check out new shoes. I confirmed I still take 12.5 in a Montrail Java. These have been great shoes for me and I want to get another pair in Waynesboro. I'm working on the 'if it ain't broke' principle. In the end, I just got Teva flip-flops, only $20 and very light. They are my first camp shoes.When I got back from trailjournaling Slainte announced he was taking a zero. A little exasperating as we were all checked out, a mile from the motel and a hundred yards from the trail. He peered worriedly in to the clear blue sky, sucked his teeth and confidently predicted another thunder storm. To be fair, his shins are still causing him pain, but he could be more consistent. We went to Kroger for Ben and Jerry's and sat around outside like hiker trash discussing the options. I left town alone at 4.00 PM.It was a beautiful walk up a well graded path to the first shelter. Everything is so green and abundant now. Virginia is beautiful, the woods are so dense that a hillside viewed from the other side of the valley looks to have the rich, luxuriant canopy of a rainforest. The humidity is rising, soon there will be weather to match.
Date: 2004-05-14
From: Wilson Creek Shelter

To: Cove Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 13.7
Weather: few clouds

No sign of the Virginia Blues. But I met Sweet Cheeks, who was all sad because she has broken away from the group she's been hiking with forever. She's had to make some tough decisions.A quiet, reflective day for me too with long extended breaks. I spent a good long time at Bobblets Gap Shelter chatting with Sweet Cheeks and an interesting, older guy called Skipper.I ended the day at Cove Mountain Shelter. I met a section hiker called Brian there. A nice guy from Pennsylvania, out with his dog. We were the only ones there. There are not too many people on the trail, many are in Damscus at Trail Days.
Date: 2004-05-15
From: Cove Mountain Shelter

To: Apple Orchard Mountain
Miles today: 15.6

It feels strange now I'm hiking on my own for a day or 2, but this is how I always imagined the trail to be. It's slightly peculiar that I'm putting in short miles waiting for Selma and Slainte to catch up. I wouldn't say I was dependant on them in any way, but I do want to be there on Monday for Slainte's 30th, as he was there for my birthday on May 3rd. I suppose it was a little bloody minded of me not to take the zero when they did as, when they catch up, I will be no further ahead than if I'd stayed. The only thing I'll have achieved is a financial saving.Trail magic again today, perhaps the best ever: Snickers, peanut butter, Gatorade, Oreos, apples, Lipton Sides, you name it. If this keeps up there'll be no need to resupply.I saw a snake swimming in Jennings Creek today, the 3rd one I've seen and the biggest so far. I walked on a bit and found a pool big enough to throw myself in. Just. It felt great, I wish the swimming opportunities were more frequent.I was going to stay at Cornelius Creek Shelter today, but decided a 12.5 mile day was just too short. 15 mile days mean you turn over 100 miles in a week and, ideally, I'd have that number as a minimum.My first proper 'stealth camp' tonight, Apple Orchard Mountain wasn't yielding any recogniseable pitches, so I went off trail to hunt down a reasonable flat spot. It took a while to find one not overhung by treacherous, widow-making, dead branches. This is one of the highest points for a few hundred miles and it was a bit cool and windy on top. I cooked dinner - instant mash and packet tuna if you're wondering - from inside the tent which I do rarely. I like to have the cooking smells further away fom the tent to deter Yogi and his mates.   However, I did find a really good branch to hang the bag from, generally I employ Marzipan's technique: the bear can take the bag, just stay the f**k away from my tent.
Date: 2004-05-16
From: Apple Orchard Mountain

To: Matts Creek Shelter
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: light rain

Green, Green, Green everywhere now. I can hardly reckon everything has become so lush so quickly with, by UK standards, so little rain.To me the scenery here is very much like Central/Southern Africa, maybe Uganda or Northern Zambia. Today has been overcast and humid, though not oppressively so, this has sharpened this impression. The canopy is dense and apparently inpenetrable from a distance, for all the world like the jungle. I want to see leopards and elephant. It's impossible to see the trail or anything at all except the vegetation from any kind of distance. The forest swallows it all.   Waves of green ridges recede in the distance. It looks dangerous just to walk out there.
Date: 2004-05-17
From: Matts Creek Shelter

To: Mom and Pop's Motel, Glasgow, Virginia
Miles today: 2.2
Weather: light rain

Today was Slainte's 30th birthday. We walked the 2 miles to US 501 and hitched a ride into town. The plan was to have a meal, resupply and go back to the trail. You won't be surprised to learn we split a couple of rooms and stayed the night with a couple of 12 packs of Bud. Selma, Bandit and Soco came into town but only Selma stayed over. He ended up getting a room to himself as he wasn't feeling too hot, maybe a waterborne infection, maybe not. Let's hope he's better tomorrow. It rained and rained in the afternoon. The dreamy, steamy forests looked positively equatorial, jurassic even, as the mists drifted over the hills around town. OK, the fibreglass dinosaurs dotted around town may have added or detracted from this impression, I'm not sure which but a town's gotta have an angle. Right?
Date: 2004-05-18
From: Mom and Pop's Motel, Glasgow, Virginia

To: Little Irish Creek
Miles today: 0.0

Sadly, Selma was still sick this morning, so decided to stay an extra day in Glasgow. He's also worried about his financial situation and whether it will allow him to get to Maine. I hope he can work something out and that he catches up soon. It was sad to leave town without him; that's a sad part of thru-hiking, I've met so many people in a quandry whether to stick by their injured companions or push on without them.Considering Slainte and I didn't set foot on the trail 'til 2.00 PM and I was still eating a pint of Ben and Jerrys in the store at 1.00, we did well to make 15 miles today - up some 3000 feet mountains too.The day was humid and steamy, which I kind of like as it makes the forest seem even more jungly than normal. I even came across my first 4 feet long black rat snake which was laying across the trail trying to disappear into a hole in a tree. It was a beautiful snake, very shiny with a silver underside. I got close and took some pictures. Many people have seen these snakes and I was glad to find this one today
Date: 2004-05-19
From: Little Irish Creek

To: Seeley - Woodworth Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I met up with Katie of Kent and Katie fame this morning. A face I haven't seen since week 1. She has dogs, so had to skip the Smokies. She hopes to aqua blaze (kayak) the Shenandoah. It was good to see her, even if she was slackpacking South. Now Selma is no longer around, Slainte is the only face from the early days I see now. Most of the new people seem to come and go.A hard hike today. If I want to walk 20 miles I really ought to be on the trail before 10.00 AM. Otherwise it means a day filled with walking only. I got in at nearly 8.00 PM, then it's a rush to get the tent set up and to make a meal before darkness and bed. It's more congenial to leave time for conversation, to unwind.   There were some big climbs today and the weather was showery and overcast. Not great weather for views. For whatever reasons, I'm not sure quite which ones, for the first time since the hike begun the relentless walking began to feel like drudgery.