morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-03-20
From: Icewater Spring Shelter

To: Tri-Corner Knob
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: broken clouds

I hiked in shorts and a T-shirt all day today! Unfortunately the clouds hadn't burned off by the time we got to Charlie's Bunion (a great vista) but we had blue skies, warm temps, and great views for the rest of the day. We still had to hike through a lot of snow and ice which is so tough - there was also a lot of bad ice along the ridges - I almost slipped off a mountain at one point early this morning. I grossly underestimated my appetite through the Smokies - luckily Heidi overestimated hers, so she's been taking care of me - I plan on ravaging Mountain Mama's supply of anything edible tomorrow night - it's 17 1/2 miles out of the Smokies to the country store, but being able to pig out is all the motivation I need.We have 19 people at the shelter tonight, which is a little overwhelming, but luckily it's a good group (3 thru-hikers, rest Spring Breakers). It's a little crazy - one kid's freaking out about mice getting him in his sleep, which would make me feel better about my own mice paranoia - except he's 15 years old. For some reason 12 1/2 miles kicked my butt today - as all the Smokies have - so I'm glad to be done with them tomorrow - so good night!
Date: 2005-04-01
From: Stan Murray

To: Apple House Shelter
Miles today: 9.9

Another no good day - I've decided that this just isn't fun anymore and I'm going to go home from Kincorra Hostel tomorrow. I didn't sleep a wink, woke up to 40 mph winds whipping into the shelter, walked up and down Roan Highlands with NO switchbacks and totally exposed to the wind and rain, got soaked and frozen in the process, and arrived at the shelter with a cold and swollen ankle. I miss Dan, I miss my family, and I miss the comforts of civilization. I figure tomorrow's Saturday so my parents can come get me no problem and I can be in my bed tomorrow night. I'm sorry to disappoint all that have followed my journal, but thank you for your supportApril Fools! It was a cheap shot and has been done before, but I lacked foresight to pull any pranks on my hiker buddies, so I had to get somebody. The day's events as I described them were true unfortunately, but I've learned better patience with the trail than to quit that easy. Kincorra Hostel is the light at the end of my tunnel for these last couple of crummy days, so my low will soon be replaced with a high. I'm in good bummed out company - Palladin just told us that once he conquers the AT, he's going to campaign for the utter destruction of every mile of trail between Georgia and Maine. These are the jokes thru-hikers can make - This journey is a true love-hate relationship with the trail.
Date: 2005-04-02
From: Apple House Shelter

To: Kincora Hostel
Miles today: 24.0

My April Fool's joke yesterday in good humor was bittersweet today - I actually almost quit. Actually I really wanted to quit but knew I wouldn't which pissed me off even more. Murphy's Law was more or less 100 percent accurate for the entirety of our day. I woke up not feeling great - nauseated and phlegmy (I don't know how to spell that word). Then we hit highway 19E - the road where vandalism and a lot of negative yells and gestures have been hurled at hikers crossing - apparently because land was taken for the trail from a family that didn't want to give it up, or so goes the rumor. It was an eerie section and there was nothing short of 2 dumpsters full of trash dumped on the trail by someone on the road. After appreciating the beauty of the AT and earning a great respect for the woods, the sight was really disturbing and sad. Not long after passing the trash dump it started to rain and because of the aforementioned land dispute (so the rumor goes. . .) the shelter between Apple House nd Moreland Gap was burned down, so there was an 18 mile stretch with no shelter, which STINKS in the rain because you have nowhere dry to rest but then when it SNOWS it also gets too cold to stop and rest with shelter, and YES it snowed today - God knows how much I fear and loathe the snow. Heidi and I also embarked this morning in rain jackets and shorts and when we tried to stop we immediately got scary cold, so we didn't change but kept walking and walking (it takes an hour to remove boots, take out pants, put on pants, replace boots, etc., etc.) We walked 18 long miles with no stops as snow accumulated all around us to arrive at a shelter with snow blowing sideways into it and an inch of accumulation on the shelter floor. I'd hardly eaten all day and was out of water and dehydrated but we had no choice but to push on 6 miles to the safe and warm hostel at Kincora. It was a scary and exhausting 6 miles, but the body and mind do amazing things when it's literally a survival situation. We started this morning at 7:30 and arrived at Kincora at 5 p.m. I fell a lot in the snow, cried a lot throughout the day, cursed and hated the trail, but when I got to Bob and Pat's cozy hostel all of today's pain melted away. Whazoo & Headlamp were there as well as Hippie Longstockings and Cat who I've been wanting to meet. They had the wood stove glowing. (I REALLY love wood stoves) I got a hot shower, drank 2 gallons of water, and ate a hot meal. I feel like a new woman. Before even meeting Bob, the nicest man in the world, I have decided this is the best hostel in the world. The trail is not for the weak of heart - it's days like today that make you earn the simple but amazing pleasures that I've found tonight at Kincora. The pain is fleeting, however, - right now I'm thankful to be safe, happy to be warm, and somehow - I DON'T know how, grateful still to be experiencing this journey.
Date: 2005-04-04
From: Pond Flats

To: Kincora Hostel
Miles today: 9.0

What a difference 20 degrees and some sunshine make! We did a short day south back to Kincora today over easily the prettiest bit of trail I've seen so far. Laurel Falls and the gorge were gorgeous and we got our hike done in time to go to the Pizza Plus buffet, which unfortunately didn't cater well to vegetarians - I still managed to get stuffed off cheese sticks and cinnamon dessert pizza. We then ventured to Brown's grocery where I picked up chocolate milk, pop rocks, and Ben & Jerry's - I don't recommend the combination. Kincora has been a great experience - the group here has bonded really well (Paladin, Nuffy from Australia, Mamchan, Jack & Jill, Bassmaster & Crow). We're playing an incredibly intense game of Jenga - a Jenga championship actually - where the loser is bound to do stinky hiker boot cleanings for the winners (if it's me I plan on breaking the agreement of the game). Bob came in a second ago and recruited all of us minus Paladin, Bassmaster and Crow (we've all properly shamed them) to do trail maintenance tomorrow. This will make it - drumroll please - a whopping 4 days (we took a zero yesterday) at Kincora Hostel and there's nowhere better to take such a break. Heidi's and my favorite attraction at Kincora is the owner's pure-bred Blood Hound Shadrack who is easily the cutest dog anywhere on the trail. We've also unanimously renamed Sureshot due to his sickly pale legs and just because the new name's hilarious I guess - He will now forthwith be called Gunter (it is paramount that one says the name with a deep bass German accent). Now we've decided to make grilled cheese and even though I'm about to puke from the fullness I'm going to the kitchen to partake. If ever I need an attitude adjustment along the trail I'm coming all the way back to Kincora -it's all rainbows & shunshine here - a real hobo's paradise
Date: 2005-04-05
From: Kincora Hostel

To: Kincora Hostel
Miles today: 0.0

Today was Great! We opened a new section of trail that was part of our 24 mile hell section a few days ago. . .AND I got to paint my very own Appalachian Trail blaze. Definitely hard work, though - I'm just as tired as if I'd hiked all day - we dug 500 feet of trail, pulled out rhododendron root balls, hacked trees that were downed on the trail, and built a bridge - it was really rewarding work and put a whole new perspective on the trail. We got a maintenance patch from the Tennessee-Eastman club, a Kincora trail crew hat, and Bob's Dairyland ice cream. It's been another great night of board games and good conversation. We've stayed up until midnight tonight listening to a great radio station playing Skynard, Allman Brothers, CCR, Rolling Stone, and other greats of classic rock - and just talking - the trail is so simple and fulfilling and peaceful - Kincora has been a wonderful hiatus - one of the life-giving arteries of the AT. Thank you Bob and Pat.
Date: 2005-04-06
From: Pond Flats

To: Iron Mtn. Shelter
Miles today: 16.0

The Tennessee Turnpike is no piece of cake - I can't believe people dash 26 to 51 miles to Damascus - today whipped my butt! I of course was doubly suffering the sadness of having to say farewell to Bob when he dropped us off this morning. The first shelter we stopped at for lunch - Vanderventer - had a really cool rock cliff overlook that we all decided to use as a lunch spot - I, the eternal blonde, managed to sit in a bunch of ants and as I was scurrying away from them managed to kick my cream cheese off the cliff - Now, I was really excited about my cream cheese (it was garden vegetable) and I couldn't carry or eat flatbread w/o my cheese, so I risked my life literally scooching down the cliff to save my cream cheese (I got stuck in briars) only to bring it back up to the shelter, open it up, taste it, and realize I accidently bought FAT FREE garden veggie cream cheese! I should have left it for dead. . .The 16 miles definitely beat me up pretty good and there's good company to be had, so I'll sign out!
Date: 2005-04-07
From: Iron Mtn. Shelter

To: Abington Gap Shelter
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: light rain

We've been fantasizing today about beer & pizza and almost pushed 10 more miles into Damascus, but then we started feeling like wimps because we've only been in the woods one night. Now I'm really glad we stayed - they were calling for thunderstorms, but it's cleared up to be a beautiful night, and Gunter and I put together a really nice fire. We're all having another one of those kumbayah moments - something magical about a fire, the woods, and new but fast friends. It blows my mind that we'll be in Virginia tomorrow - in the middle of a long day it feels like I've been hiking for eons, but right now I feel like I could have started yesterday. Update! (later on in night) It is a mouse invasion at this shelter! I hate bold mice! Two little buddies ventured over to the log I was sitting on around the fire and I swear my scream could be heard for miles around. Now, lying in the shelter they've come out of the woodwork and I'm about to pee in my bag. Gunter keeps shining his headlamp on them and it looks like a mouse 3 ring circus. It's at least 50 degrees outside, but I'm zipped up tight and sweating in my 20 degree bag - no mouse will crawl in to snuggle with me tonight - oh my God, I've gotta put my earplugs in or I'm gonna go crazy. . .
Date: 2005-04-09
From: Damascus VA

To: Elk Garden
Miles today: 24.0
Weather: clear sky

We got a shuttle to Elk Garden and hiked back to Damascus - 24 miles. I'm absolutely exhausted. It didn't help that I was pretty hungover from town food and Yuengling yesterday (we did 10 miles into Damascus yesterday and goofed off all afternoon.) I only recommend drinking beer if you plan on taking a big fat zero day immediately after. The hike was beautiful and pretty easy - so far Virginia's lived up to its reputation of being easier - NOT flat by any means, but easily graded.   The trail even joined up with the Virginia Creeper bike trail for a bit which was beautiful and blissfully flat. Oh yeah I'm in Virginia!!! We stayed at the infamous "Place" which was really cool last night, but are staying at Dave's Place tonight because of rumors of theft at the church hostel. I ran into Damascus so excited because I heard a rumor that they carried my dream pack (Ula P1) only to find they were out of my size, but they're shipping it to me in Pearisburg. Heidi, however, bought a ULA and a new Western Mountaineering 35 degree bag and I'm insanely jealous because I've been sweating in mine - I'm actually happy for her. She's been carrying a whopping 37 POUNDS this whole way! We're having a dance party at the laudromat tonight - We've invested about 20 dollars in the juke box and are scaring the other locals doing laundry here. Oh! With all of the excitement generated by Dan's visit I forgot to thank everyone for my Hot Springs Post Office Trail magic! Thanks a million to Mr. and Mrs. McPherson for my Domino Dollars, Uncle Tom and Aunt Erma for my trail mix, photo & letter, and Dr. and Mrs. Myers for the kind card and monetary gift! Your support means so much to me! Heidi just delivered an ice cream sandwich to me and a great CCR song just came on - I gotta go - I love trail towns!
Date: 2005-04-11
From: Old Orchard Shelter

To: Trimpi Shelter
Miles today: 14.1
Weather: broken clouds

We were gonna try for Partnership Shelter, but even the lure of pizza and beer couldn't overpower my screaming feet. I don't know what's happened, but my feet have turned into beastly torture devices overnight - I'm hoping it's nothing that new insoles can't fix. Trimpi's a very cool shelter, though - Gunter fixed a roaring fire in its fireplace even though it's 80 degrees outside - I have a feeling we'll all be naked in our sleeping bags tonight. It was a pretty uneventful day of hiking - I was almost bored actually, probably just in comparison to yesterday's hike and my feet surely didn't help anything. Cat just came in (at 9:30 pm) and is contemplating going 10 more miles to Partnership - I can't even imagine! He also just spotted a coyote right outside the shelter sniffing around and Heidi about jumped in my lap. She's now switching spots with the boys so they can be closest to the door. I think the fire is making me sleepy. . .
Date: 2005-04-12
From: Trimpi Shelter

To: Relax Inn, Atkins VA
Miles today: 22.0
Weather: light rain

My feet are about to fall off - they hurt SO BAD today I was literally hobbling into the hotel tonight - Gunther's fix to my foot problem was to tape the hell out of them last night and after a day of rain today and removing the tape tonight it did not seem to be a good fix - as Gunter always chides me, I failed to stop and fix the hot spots and now I have blisters everywhere on top of my aching feet. this is so weird - I've had the happiest feet so far. . .I woke up again not in the mood to hike - have the VA blues hit me already? (Oh yeah - I forgot- we hit 500 mile mark yesterday & took a gooby picture with homemade signs - I'll translate later if the signs didn't come out in the photo). I trudged along anyway and made it 10 miles to Partnership by 11:30. Our friends ahead of us left us Newcastle, Guiness, and Coke from the pizza party last night, so we took a long lunch break to enjoy them - nobody got drunk, but Heidi did get a really intense sugar buzz from the Coke and performed charades by herself for at least a full 30 minutes. It got cold and started raining so Heidi, Maruchan & I headed the 12 miles toward the Relax Inn to meet Jack & Jill - the other 2 are sheltering tonight & meeting us tomorrow afternoon. It was a cold, wet, painful trip into Atkins & my mood matched the solemn weather - I decided to get a room to myself - I really have been craving some alone time to veg-out in town and perk myself up a bit, and I'm thankful for it now after soaking in the tub, talking for hours uninterrupted to parents & boyfriend and watching any cheesey movie I want on HBO. I also have been pigging out on chips after a healthful meal at Dairy Queen of onion rings and a Blizzard. . . I think I'm gonna be sick - speaking of DQ - we saw a hilarious marketing brain fart advertising ice cream cakes as we ate tonight. The frosting on one of the cakes in the picture showed a ball and chain with the leg shackle part broken open and the message said "You're Free!" We figured it was either a "just got out of jail" cake or a "just got a divorce" cake, but either way a marketing brain fart of a poster. I highly recommend the Relax Inn as an AT stop - they hold maildrops & are very helpful to AT hikers - shuttles, internet access, pizza delivery, etc. Excellent stop given my mental/physical condition. God, I've really been missing Dan. My parents are coming to meet me in Pearisburg this weekend, so hopefully they'll cure some of my homesick blues. Oh! And I have a new baby niece as of last night! Dad e-mailed me a picture & Grace Ann is beautiful! Jeff, Elizabeth, Emma & baby Grace, I love you and am so glad the delivery went well and Mom and baby are happy and healthy!
Date: 2005-04-13
From: Relax Inn, Atkins VA

To: Knot Maul Branch
Miles today: 13.9
Weather: light rain

Today was tough - it is NO fun leaving a warm, cozy hotel room at 1:30 pm to hike in cold and rain until dark when your feet hurt really, really bad. Gunter & Pigpen were my cheerleaders and stayed with me the whole way trying to boost my "spirit" (we've startd calling the gusto that it takes to hike the AT "spirit" - I haven't had much spirit the last couple of days.) The walk was pretty cool minus the pain though - through lots of rolling Virginia farmland. The rain might even have been borderline pleasant if I hadn't been in pain - oh yeah, I neglected to eat lunch before I left - that didn't help either - but I managed a much better resupply than the one from Damascus and just finished totally pigging out.Everyone's path is kind of up in the air which is also pretty depressing - we left Jill in Atkins waiting for a package and Gunter & Pigpen are running ahead to catch up with friends in Pearisburg for the weekend. I'm really happy to be meeting Mom & Dad on Sunday in Pearisburg - maybe that'll boost my "spirit". At least a trip to the outfitter in Blacksburg to fix my feet will return the joy to walking. I also got to check my guestbook in Atkins and it was REALLY touching to read everyone's encouraging words - that helped my "spirit" most of all. Kara, Merrill, Emily, Alex, and Ellen - I love & miss you so much and think of you often! Todderhead, I don't know if you're keeping up with me or not, but I love & miss you, too.
Date: 2005-04-14
From: Knot Maul Branch

To: Jenkins Shelter
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: clear sky

Today was tough, but there was a pot of gold at the end of our hike - Gunter & Pigpen didn't do 25 miles and were at the shelter when we got in - it was a joyous reunion. It was a beautiful day and I absolutely needed it - we took two really long breaks to eat & lay out in the sun, so we didn't get in until 7:30 tonight - cooking in the dark is no fun, but otherwise it was worth it. It's really cold tonight - my thermometer says 35 degrees already and we are all hunkered down in our sleeping bags. We've had a prank war going on since Damascus and I got nailed today. Someone picked up a small beanie baby moose and each day someone gets it hidden in their pack - this morning before leaving the boys hid it in my boot and almost gave me a heart attack because I thought a mouse had crawled in and died in my shoe - which wouldn't have been surprising - I'd be surprised if any living thing could survive in the stink that is my boot - maybe that's what's wrong with my feet.I've been doing a lot of soul searching the last few days about my hike - it's been a hard few days mentally & physically and I haven't exactly had the best feelings about my thru-hike. My thoughts have very much been with Dan lately and my friends and family too - like I'm very much craving my "old" life but going to it as my "new" self with the lessons I've learned & strength I've gained from the trail. I feel like I've reached a growth stalemate out here & am just in it for the haul to Maine now. But what I've come to realize is that the AT is not really about Katahdin unless you really just want to say you got there & get the picture with the sign. It's about the test of yourself - your limits - finding strength - learning lessons - making great friends.
Date: 2005-04-15
From: Jenkins Shelter

To: Helveys Mill Shelter
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: clear sky

Happy Birthday Momma Hooch!!! Wish I could be with you to celebrate, but luckily we'll be together this weekend. Today was so a much improved day AND we had 2 trail magics! The first was earlier this morning when we found a HUGE cooler of OJ, apple juice & V8 (I chose V8) and the second was a huge stack of water jugs at a stretch that was severely lacking in water. We also did a short day so that my feets could rest up and just cause we felt lazy - I've been eating all afternoon and built a fire (Pigpen & Gunter did rush ahead 10 more miles today to catch up with their friends). Our short day allowed several people to catch up with us tonight - it's weird being with a whole new crowd & not with our usual little group. I'll be glad to reunite with them in Pearisburg - it's time for fire - g'night!
Date: 2005-04-16
From: Helveys Mill Shelter

To: VA Highway 606 (Trent's Grocery)
Miles today: 16.0

We had a raccoon invasion last night! About 4 o'clock in the morning our new shelter mates started talking very loudly and stirring about and I thought simultaneously that they were crazy for leaving so early (they're intense like that) and that they were incredibly rude for being so loud - I almost unleashed drowsy curses at them. Turns out earplugs can drastically confuse information expecially when combined with a tired mind - a racoon had come to the foot of our shelter and somehow latched onto Diesel's hipbelt that was dangling and had pulled the entire pack off the shelter and proceeded to drag it off into the woods. Needless to say, I quickly forgave the night's commotion when I heard the REAL story this morning. The wildlife has really been coming out this last week along with tree buds and blooming flowers - it's really neat to be walking with spring. I've been acutely aware of the season's change more so than in my "other" life when seasons seemed to change overnight.Today was a pretty uneventful hike - but a beautiful day. My feet have been torture - even an easy 16 miles felt like 30. At least I know (or hope) that there's relief coming soon with my parents' visit. We're spending the night at an old campground by Trent's grocery on VA 606 - we're accompanied by a horse, filly and porky pig in a nearby field. We also got to meet two of the guys from team Dumber...Mountain Dewd and Webb. They're a couple years younger than me and are from my hometown, which is crazy! They went to Walton High School and knew my best buddy at LSU! (Ellen - Justin Smith say hello!) They're really nice guys - we've been chatting across tents for about an hour. Unfortunately they're hiking really fast (Mtn. Dewd did 30 miles today!) and we're taking a break in Pearisburg, so we probably won't get to hike with the duo. Our little hiking group has been to tight lately that I've forgotten how great & important it is to meet new people out here - there are so many cool people (although some are scary!) with so many cool stories. I've realized that I've been a little too caught up in sticking with my group, and have failed to hike my own hike a lot of the time which is important in keeping me happy and centered - I'm thankful for the break with my parents so I can step back and reflect on this hike - on what I need and what I need to change, so I don't just feel like I'm knocking out the mileage each day, but that I'm on a journey - a mental, physical, AND spiritual one.