morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2011-05-07
From: Hunting Cabin

To: Laurel Creek Shelter
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: clear sky

Another good day today. Twigg and I went to the Brew Ridge Music Festival with Sean and crew, which turned out to be 6-7 local microbreweries with samples of their beer, and a couple local bluegrass bands playing at Mountain Lakes Resort, the location that Dirty Dancing was shot at. I used the last of my cash to pay admission, which included 20 'sample' tickets and a mason jar mug with the festival logo on it. Each ticket was good for half a mug's worth of beer at any of the tents. A hiker metabolism is a wonderful thing, with the body burning through anything you put in it at a very fast pace; including alcohol. 10 mugs of beer was fantastic, and towards the end of the festival several people who didn't use all their tickets were giving them away, so I scored another 4 tickets which I promptly used. I was hungry though, and all I had left was credit cards. I saw that there was no ATM, but I gathered all my Yogi skills learned so far and asked one of the girls running the merchandise booth if there was an ATM, as I was an AT hiker who got a ride to the festival, but had no cash left. She said she didn't think there was, but that she would check, and asked if I wanted to buy a t-shirt or more mugs. I told her that no, I was hungry and needed some food. (Of course, I had my pack in the guys' truck with a week of food in it, but that was all the way in the parking lot 150 feet away. I'm not going to walk that far!) She said she was going to get one herself, and that she would get me one free and what did I want on it? And since I was a hiker, did I want a bumper sticker too to put on my water bottle or something? Score. The music was really good too, and there was much spontaneous dancing in the crowd. Even though the turnout looked like it was low (they said they expected 500, my guess was maybe 175 actually there) it was a really good time. We finally headed out, and though we had the offer of staying at the cabin again, I didn't want to take a zero and neither did Twigg, so we opted to go to the trailhead. At dusk. With the spins. The good news is that spins can be controlled by hiking in the dark, by headlamp, in the rain, up a mountain, 5 miles. (You learn very quickly that if you cross a stream, road, or town you have to go uphill from there.) We were startled once hiking when we caught up to another hiker night hiking into the shelter, Tabasco. We arrived at the shelter in good spirits around 9:00, and crashed to sleep with the sound of the rain continuing to fall.
Date: 2011-05-08
From: Laurel Creek Shelter

To: VA 621/ Four Pines Hostel
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: light rain

It is said by hikers in the south that trail magic dries up when you hit Virginia. I am glad to report that this is not the case by a long shot. Woke up this morning and while packing up talked with Tabasco and Iron Mike. Tabasco said that Timber (another German hiker, that makes 7 that I know of) told him about a hiker feed that was going on today at a road crossing about 14 miles ahead from 2-7 pm. Twigg and I figured that would be an easy time to make, and if it was accurate would get free dinner again! Started hiking about 9:00 in light rain along the ridge. The weather cleared up though and we got some nice views. At Niday Shelter, about a mile and a half before the road in question, our expectations were confirmed when we found fliers advertising a Mother's Day hiker feed that they claim rivals the food at The Homeplace Restaurant, a local joint that has a big AYCE spread famous among hikers. Our spirits lifted, we continued down to the road, where we found a gathering of a good 10 people, tables covered with food, and a half dozen large Dutch ovens on charcoal fires. A group of friends, some section hikers and former thru hiker apparently do this feed every Mother's Day here The food was bountiful and amazingly good, in fact I ate to the point that my stomach hurt for the first time this whole trip (and I've eaten at Chinese Buffets!). A pickup truck arrived after us with Mothership and two SOBO hikers who had came through the day before, and had stayed at Four Pines Hostel, a hostel 15 miles ahead that had been closed for years but reopened again this year. They heard about the feed and Joe, the hostel owner gave them a free ride back, and was going to pick them up later. Team Mo-Fo (Move Foreward, not MotherF#$%er), which is MoFo, Guinness, Pilgrim and Steadfast who usually hike together arrived as well for the food. After eating, the ladies running the feed collected phone numbers of the mothers of any hikers that wanted to say happy Mother's Day to them, and promised to call them that evening (no cell service in the gap) and tell them happy Mother's Day! I gave them my mom's info, hope she picks up!When the truck came back for Mothership, Team MoFo, Stretch (who arrived) and myself all packed into the bed of the truck, deciding to stay at the hostel tonight (why not!) because Joe said that he could slackpack us back to this gap tomorrow, and we could hike into the hostel. For those unfamiliar, slackpacking is when you leave most of your gear at a location and just use a daypack to carry a little water and a snack, then hike to where your gear is. Hiking without the weight of a full pack is amazing!Four Pines is an interesting place. A hobby farm, the hostel itself is some old army cots in a three car garage with a bathroom and shower. A flock of about 20 Guinea Fowl and a Rooster run around too, and people who stayed last night report that sometimes chickens come into the garage through the cat door. Interesting.Decided on an early start, so off to bed early too.
Date: 2011-05-09
From: VA 621/ Four Pines Hostel

To: Campbell Shelter
Miles today: 25.7
Weather: broken clouds

Early start with team MoFo, Joe's ex-wife drove us back to 621 where we started hiking. Good weather and great views, plus light packs made for a good day of hiking. Caught up to Twigg, who had kept hiking from the feed yesterday and hiked with him for a while. God some excellent views from Dragon's Tooth, a huge eruption of stone at the top of the ridge, a good 30-40 feet high which I climbed to.Got back to the road and walked to the gas station/store and got a pizza at about 2:00, then went back to the hostel. I was feeling good after the nice hike, and as I looked at my book I realized that if I left now, I could make McAfee Knob for sunset, one of the most photographed spots on the trail because it is so pretty. I quickly packed up and started hiking again. I did the 10 miles to McAfee at a quick pace, fueled by some more trail magic (!) of oranges left at a road crossing. Made it to McAfee literally less than 10 minutes before the sun set behind a far mountain, and managed to get some great photos. Another mile down to the shelter after dark, and I have completed my longest hiking day yet at 25.7 miles! PS - shin still feeling better!
Date: 2011-05-10
From: Campbell Shelter

To: Daleville, VA/ HoJo's
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: few clouds

I'm really getting used to this whole not staying in the woods most nights thing. Not too much memorable hiking today, Tinker Cliffs was nice, and some good views of the reservoir and Roanoke in the distance. There must be a large hydroelectric station on the reservoir, because just before coming down off the ridge into Daleville I crossed under the biggest high voltage power lines I've ever seen. I learned from going under so many on the trail that the numbers and stuff on the towers also tell you how much power the lines carry. The highest I've seen has been in the 175,000 volt range. This tower literally crackled from far away, and according to the tower information, was carrying 765,000 volts, over three quarters of a million volts! The tower was so big that another high voltage line crossed underneath of it. An entry in a shelter log the next day said that Pace (appropriately named) had to go to a doctor in Daleville to get his pacemaker adjusted, as it has started malfunctioning after crossing under the lines.Staying at the Howard Johnson's tonight, actually a pretty nice place. it was also really nice to watch a storm roll in, then have the option to actually go inside and close the door! Used a break between storms to go get some BBQ takeout for dinner, good stuff. Tomorrow will be a busy morning, groceries, stop at the UPS store to see if my new pack hip belt is there, and outfitter for a new pair of shoes.
Date: 2011-05-11
From: Daleville, VA/ HoJo's

To: Bobblet's Gap Shelter
Miles today: 18.4
Weather: broken clouds

Got my groceries first thing in the morning (well, second thing. Continental Breakfast was first) then next door to the UPS store. I had ordered a new hip belt for my pack a week or so ago because I have lost enough weight that I could tighten my hip belt all the way down and it was still loose. Initially I had had it sent via General Delivery to a neighboring town, Troutville, but the day after I called the order it, I realized that they had told me they ship UPS, and UPS doesn't ship to post offices general delivery. I managed to borrow a cell phone a few days ago and left a message at Granite Gear to change the shipping address to the UPS store in Daleville, but I didn't know if it was too late.Well, the UPS store had no package for me, so it was hope and pray that it went to Troutville. I think that some of my increasing leg problems might be because my shoes are wearing out. I wear trail runners, which aren't as durable as heavier boots, but overall better for long distance hikes. The general rule of thumb is that they need to be replaced every 400-500 miles or so, and I've already done over 700 in my current pair, and they look like it. I like the shoes though, so I bought another pair of the same shoes, Merrell Moab Ventilators. I also got a two liter Platypus bottle to replace one of my drink bottles, in order to increase my carrying capacity from two liters to three liters, as there are longer stretches coming between water sources.Hiked a mile and a half to the road crossing for Troutville, and hoofed it up to the Post Office. For once, all went as planned. The package was sent USPS, and was waiting for me there. I sent my old one home, as well as the mason jar mug from the Brew Ridge festival that I have been carrying. Another walk to the trail and started on my way again. The trail is paralleling the Blue Ridge Parkway through this section, and it crosses several times at overlooks. Getting really spoiled on views, looking out at the overlooks all I can think is "eh, I've seen better." Rolled into the shelter late to find Glad Gal, Clutch, Dreamwalker, and Timber in residence. Mothership was also camped nearby. On a sad piece of news, I left a tallboy of Yuengling in the fridge at HoJo's.
Date: 2011-05-12
From: Bobblet's Gap Shelter

To: Cornelius Creek Shelter
Miles today: 18.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Hiking with a new group of people recently, Glad Gal, Clutch, Timber and Dreamwalker. It's a different dynamic, much more relaxed as it is a more mature group. Happy that the rain has held off as long as it did, forecast was for rain from yesterday thru Sunday. Clear eysterday, and while we got some rain and thunder today it was warm and didn't last long. 18.4 miles again today for official miles, although with the extra stops yesterday, I did 2.4 'bonus' miles, so technically yesterday was over a 20. Big climb at the end of the day today, 2200', and while much sweating and complaining was done it wasn't too bad. The shelter before this one was fantastic, it could have been a house if it had four walls. The one we're staying at is the usual 6 person shack, but I didn't want to stop early (although I contemplated it). Shin still feel great during the day, but stiffens at night still. I've stopped taking any medication for it though to see where it's actually at, and it seems to be improving, as it's not too bad even without medication. Either 17.7 or 21.5 miles tomorrow, conditions depending.
Date: 2011-05-13
From: Cornelius Creek Shelter

To: Johns Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 21.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Hiking by 8:00 this morning, and started the day with a 40 minute thunderstorm while climbing to a ridge. Actually managed to climb above the clouds though, low ceiling at about 3500'. Got some really nice views and photos from Black Rocks and Apple Orchard Mountain. Looking down from the mountain all you can see in all directions is a sea of low clouds. It's beautiful from up here in the sun, but I know that I have to go down into them before too long today.Descended down into them, very dense and humid. The large trees in the fog was straight out of the Forest Moon of Endor from Star Wars.Tried to hitch to Glasgow to get some dinner, but the crossing at US 501 was not very hitch friendly, and I was unable to get a ride after over an hour, even when it started raining. Started up the trail to the shelter a few miles up and got a good 15 minute heavy rain, enough to get me soaked again. Arrived at the shelter to find several section hikers there, who had blessedly started a fire. I collected some more wood and built it up, and mamaged to dry my clotes off in front of the fire before eating dinner, which was provided as trail magic from the section hikers. Trader Joe's curry pouch with rice. Excellent!Drizzling again as I write in the shelter, hope the morning is better. Average miles/day is back over "par" after today's hike at 12.16 miles/day. Plan on 18.3 miles tomorrow, then the ambitious plan the day after of hitting town, resupply and hot food and library, then hike 15 miles to a hiker friendly B&B.
Date: 2011-05-15
From: Budget Inn, Buena Vista, VA

To: Dutch Haus B&B, Montebello VA
Miles today: 15.8

Using my time waiting for the shuttle to Dutch Haus to write my journal today. Day so far has gone without a hitch, breakfast from BK and picked up the food I need from the convenience store next door before getting the shuttle to the trail, which arrived right on time. Stopped at his place to pick up his cell phone before hitting the trailhead so I could call Dutch Haus to arrange a pickup at 5:30. I had figured a 9:30 start, and actually hiking start time was 9:35 so close enough.The "big" climb to start the day up 2000' was actually a breeze. The weather was overcast in town, but sunny up on the trail. From the top of Cold Mountain I could see rain coming though so I geared up. So far it has rained twice for about 20 minutes each time, and right now it's greying up again. Another full day without seeing a thru hiker, this is the longest stretch so far. From the register however it looks like I'm catching up to a group, including Bean, Drumsolo and Brainfrog. B&B tonight, shelter tomorrow, then hostel in Waynesboro the night after.
Date: 2011-05-16
From: Dutch Haus B&B, Montebello VA

To: Maupin Field Shelter
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: overcast clouds

The B&B was nice last night, but shuttle problems put me in a bad mood. I waited from where I was sitting at the trail and Fish Hatchery Road until 5:45, and no shuttle arrived. I started walking down the road because I knew the B&B is only 2.2 miles away. As soon as I got a few curves down the road, the condition turned to steep, rutted and rocky, and I knew that the shuttle would not have made it up the road, so I must have been in the wrong place. Blue blazes on the road led down to a parking area, which I assumed must be what they meant by "trailhead". Would have been nice to know that when I talked to them on the phone. it was 6:05 when I made the parking lot, and they told me that if I wasn't there at 5:30 they would come back at 6:30. I started walking down the road to make it a shorter trip and because it was a dead end road, so no chance of missing the shuttle coming in another way. I made it all the way down to the intersection with the main road, where I had to stop because I had no idea which way the hostel was. I waited there for another half hour, but the only three vehicles that went up that road went to the recycling center and left. There was a sign for downtown Montebello, so I said screw it, there is a store there and I can find a phone to call the B&B. Walked a mile down the road to the store, and lucked out that there was a sign for the B&B at the intersection, and it was only half a mile away. Walked into the B&B, and was greeted with "Oh, you must be BookSmarts! We were holding up dinner for you, why don't you grab a quick shower so we can eat!". She then told me that her husband had been up twice, and must have missed me. He was driving an orange Honda Pilot, not an inconspicuous vehicle. I know I missed the first pickup being in the wrong place, but he never came up the road after 6:00. No apology or explanation, just you're holding up dinner. Also, the parking lot trailhead is where we got dropped off in the morning too, so 1.1 uphill bonus miles.The food was really good, and the prices reasonable. The bunk was nice too, another thru hiker named Caveman who had been there all day was there too and we watched a little LOTR before bed. Managed to do some journal updating too.Hiking today was crappy weather, it rained all morning, quit for a bit, then rained until 20 minutes before hitting the shelter. Really big up and down today, 3000' down The Priest, then 3000' right back up the other side on Three Ridges. The really, really good news though is that The Priest is the last 4000' mountain until VT, and Three Ridges is that last climb over 2000' until MA!! Rain tomorrow, then hostel tomorrow night.
Date: 2011-05-18
From: Waynesboro, VA

To: Waynesboro, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

Good zero today, and man did I need it. I managed to get all my errands done in a timely fashion as well as reading a book at the library, and having a free dinner at the church courtesy of the congregation.   Red Ryder gave me a ride in his rental car to the outfitter first thing, and I got a pair of lined shorts, new socks, a bandana, and Aqua Mira. An older gentleman named John was at the outfitter too getting some help with roof racks. I needed a ride back into town, so I stood in the parking lot looking pathetic, and when John was ready to go he asked if I needed a ride anywhere. I said that I just needed to get back into town, and if he could drop me at the CVS that would be great!   John drove me there and then said that he wasn't doing anything and that he would wait for me, and give me a ride back to the hostel too when I was done shopping. He did so, and I was extremely grateful and thanked him profusely. I think Waynesboro might be one of the most hiker friendly towns on the AT so far, if not number 1! Chafing is much improved, and I'll be ready to go in the AM.
Date: 2011-05-19
From: Waynesboro, VA

To: Blackrock Hut
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: overcast clouds

A not particularly eventful day today. Got a ride to the trail via a trail angel with Caveman, and entered the Shenandoahs. SNP is not a particularly interesting place, easy terrain along the ridge but with pretty much no views at all. Because of this we did a 20 mile day to Blackrock Hut (shelter). It did rain today but only for about 20 minutes or so. Even though the trail wasn't that interesting, there was a milestone- crossed 40% of the trail!
Date: 2011-05-20
From: Blackrock Hut

To: Hightop Hut
Miles today: 21.4
Weather: broken clouds

Today I discovered the single redeeming factor of the AT going through SNP - waysides. Very tired start today as there was little sleep to be had as a Whip-Poor-Will decided to scream its head off most of the night very close to the shelter. Got hiking early at about 7:25, and made the Loft Mountain wayside at about 10:00.   Waysides are essentially convenience stores with some camping gear and SNP souveneirs. More importantly however, waaysides apparantly also sell beer by the 6 pack or by the bottle, and the prices are downright cheap. So breakfast of champion hikers was some junk food and a handful of bottles of Blue Moon. Not too shabby, and makes up somewhat for the lack of views on the trail.   Hiked another mile from the wayside to the Loft Mountain restaurant, where we ate more (BLT, way overpriced) before heading up the spur trail back to the AT. While we walked the spur we had the pleasure of coming across our first bear of the trail, crossing the spur a hundred feet or so in front of us. It didn't seem particularly concerned about there being people there and from the direction it was heading I'd venture a guess that it had been raiding dumpsters and trash cans around the restaurant for breakfast. We shot some pictures as it slowly made its way back into the woods. We proceded to the trail with a bit more caution than we had been previously using.Another 20+ day today, and if all goes well tomorrow I will be doing another one. SNP does not leave one with the desire to take one's time, as all the views are reserved for the tourists in their cars driving on Skyline Drive, the main road through the park. The AT it seems was relegated to the back side of the ridge where there are no views or seemingly anything of interest.
Date: 2011-05-21
From: Hightop Hut

To: Rock Spring Hut
Miles today: 23.9
Weather: broken clouds

Sun! After a week or more of rain and overcast weather today turned out to have bright sun all day, perfect weather to see... not much. Today's highlight was that we did see another bear. This one was definitely bigger than the first, and had even less care that people were around. We came up behind it as it walked down the trail the same direction that we were headed, and while it knew that we were there from the glances over it's shoulder that it kept taking, it made no move to run away, and it fact just kept going down the trail with no change in speed or direction. Turns out that this is probably the bear that has destroyed several tents in the last week at the nearby (and aptly named, it seems) Bearfence Mountain Hut, including the tent and sleeping bag of Moosehead, a thru hiker we camped with tonight. He reports that he had absolutely no food in or around his tent, but it pulled it apart and pulled his sleeping bag out through the hole anyway while people screamed at it and threw things at it with absolutely no effect. Luckily he wasn't in it at the time. He called the rangers to report it but he said that they hardly seemed interested, just taking a detailed inventory of what the bear had destroyed, stating that yeah, this bear has been a problem lately, make sure you hang your food. I think I'll just keep doing 20+ mile days to get the hell out of SNP. This has been my least favorite part of the trail so far. I got so bored with the trail today that I started entertaining the idea of quitting. There was no good reason for it; easy terrain and good weather. Just seemed like a funk brough on by SNP, something akin to the doldrums that sailors used to get stuck in, with no wind to motivate me. So I did what any self respecting hiker would do. I got beer. Two waysides today, so I was able to keep my BAC high enough to keep interested in hiking, although I did decided to actually catch some views today and roadwalked skyline drive between two trail crossings. (I have no idea how many times the AT and Skyline cross in SNP, but I beleive it's something akin to 20 times. Across the same road.) This allowed my to hit two overlooks so I could actually see what was around me, and the views for the car tourists are actually pretty nice!   Once back on the trail, I decided to do some more blue blazing because what the hell, it's my hike and I want to actually have fun. Took another blue blaze trail called "rock scramble", which proved to be just that, a rock scramble over a steeply peaked ridge with terrific 360* views that the AT parallels - in the woods. With no view. Poor planning anyone?Another milestone day, crossed 900 miles today.