morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-05-21
From: Watauga Lake Shelter

To: Double Springs Shelter
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: broken clouds

May 21 - laying in my tent, a huge thunder and lightening storm passing through just as I got my tent set up after hiking a 20 mile day from Watauga Lake shelter to Double Spring shelter. Only about 18 miles to Damascus now. Hiked off and on through the day with a couple of the warrior hikers, 2 Marines that did tours in Iraq and are now hiking the trail together, Machine and Jabba. Both are really nice and have quite a zest for life. I hope to hike with them more but they were going to try to hike through the night to Damascus, but with this storm who knows. Also saw several I started the trail with, Maker and Richard, now Snorkel. They jumped ahead for Trail days and are now hiking south to where they hitched to Damascus. It was a really nice hike and starting to see some different terrain. In fact for about mile or two, the trail ran through a pasture with cows and all. They were pretty indifferent to a smelly hiker. Also today near one of the roads that I crossed late in the day, a church had set out trail magic, a cooler full of iced sodas and a cache of brownies and other tasty treats. Yum! And just what I needed to get me through the last 4 miles. Also I want to thank everyone that has signed my guest book. I love getting those messages. I still have the beard but am pretty sure it will come off once I get back to the work world.
Date: 2013-05-22
From: Double Springs Shelter

To: Damascus,VA
Miles today: 18.0

Hiked to Damascus VA from Double Springs Shelter. Staying at the Mt. Rogers Outfitters hostel for 2 nights.Update from Gary: May 22 - today I hiked to Damascus, about 18 miles and again it rained heavily for several hours. Oh well at least I can shower and do laundry. I hiked for several hours with a young man, trail named Tumbleweed who is from Canada and is a botanist and is a wealth of information about the various plants and flowers. He is hiking the trail before starting grad school and following a divorce. He is taking hundreds or maybe thousands of pictures along the way. I would like to run into him again up the trail. I got into town about 5PM, soaked and filthy. I got a room at Mt Rogers outfitters hostel and talked with Jeff about problems with my pack since losing weight. He pointed out several good places to eat and promised to help me with pack adjustments as he could tomorrow. I ate a huge hamburger at Dairy King, yes King and did laundry. After finishing my laundry I went back to get ice cream but they had just shut the soft serve machine down so the owner promised a free one tomorrow. I'll take him up on that! I settled one hostel, with full stomach, set out my things to dry, had a nice conversation with other hikers about their goals and then went to bed but slept rather poorly.
Date: 2013-05-23
From: Damascus,VA

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 0.0

May 23- a zero day, no hiking but a lot of town walking. I resupplied as I could at Dollar General, ate a great breakfast at the Blue Blaze Cafe and visited Jeff at the outfitters. He said I really need a smaller torso pack but helped me adjust mine so I loaded mine up and walked around town and it definitely feels better. I will keep what I have for now but if the shoulder pain persists, I will try a smaller torso length pack. He was really helpful. It's nice to find such service. I then ran into several hikers I haven't seen in weeks, so we had lunch. I then found the Marine warrior hikers and bought them lunch just to thank them for their service. They then gave me some of their food supplies that they received along the way from some of the warrior hike sponsors. I hope to see them again as they hiked out after lunch. So not wanting to miss free ice cream, I then walked down to the Dairy King to get my free ice cream. What a day! About 4 it started pouring again but that didn't stop me from having a beer with Gronk and Springbok and his wife, a couple from South Africa hiking the trail and staying at the hostel. And of course we then had dinner. I think I may have gained some weight back, at least I hope. I have eaten well today. Damascus is really a very nice and friendly town and I will come back again but tomorrow it is back to the trail.
Date: 2013-05-24
From: Damascus,VA

To: Lost Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: broken clouds

- I left Damascus about 9:30 after eating a big breakfast and had to make one detour from the trail as a bridge had washed out. The trail paralleled the Virginia Creeper Trail for several miles so the detour just routed you down to that trail. Anyway it was a pretty uneventful walk although the trail is very crowded as it is Memorial Day weekend and it seems the AT is a popular place this weekend. The shelter is packed with young college age kids so I just crawled in my tent after dinner and slept. Did walk for a while with a nice guy and his 2 sons, one had thought of moving to Austin but broke up with his GF, the other son just graduated from HS and was going to West Point next year, a very nice family. I enjoyed their company. Also met BlueJay, an older lady hiking the trail that is also having problems with her pack. Also saw Gmaw again at the shelter.
Date: 2013-05-25
From: Lost Mountain Shelter

To: Thomas Knob shelter
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: broken clouds

I hiked from the Lost Mountain shelter to the Thomas Knob shelter, only about 12.2 miles but up hill almost the entire way and rocky and mucky from all the rains. I keep hearing that in Virginia the trail easier; not today. I slept really well, though, last night as it was really chilly, seems it was in low 40s or cooler this morning. So tonight I am snuggled in my down bag ready for another cool night. The trail today went over several balds and tomorrow enters Grayson Highlands. I did see some wild ponies and tried to get a picture but they were in the distance. I did get one up close but think this one was more domesticated. Tomorrow I should pass the 500 mile point, not too shabby !
Date: 2013-05-26
From: Thomas Knob shelter

To: Hurricane Mountain shelter
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: clear sky

I hiked to Hurricane Mtn shelter and camped in my tent. I only went about 16 miles today but it a difficult hike but went through some beautiful areas. This is the end of my sixth week on the AT. I have traveled 510 miles in those six weeks, I have met hundreds of really nice people, have seen some beautiful scenery, including the Virginia Highlands today and the wild ponies, I have climbed mountains and have the sore feet to prove it. I have survived thunder storms, and winds that seemed close to gale force. I am close to having completed 25% of this trail and am pretty happy with that accomplishment. I continue to be frustrated with my pack but otherwise I am happy with my equipment. I think I am going to try to get to an REI in Roanoke and see if I can get a better fitting pack.
Date: 2013-05-27
From: Hurricane Mountain shelter

To: Partnership shelter
Miles today: 19.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was a nice hike through some nice terrain and I made it all the way to Partnership shelter, about 20 miles. Several really pretty areas and at one area a church youth group had set out trail magic but all was gone except a few pieces of hard candy but it is so nice of these groups to think about hikers. The shelter was packed with young people that seemed to enjoy partying. It made sleep difficult. And one man snored loudly with every breath all night long. At least he apparently slept well. This shelter also had a shower that I used. It was nice to get cleaned up. And from the Mt. Rogers headquarters just a short walk away you could order pizza delivery. It is quite a unique shelter!
Date: 2013-05-28
From: Partnership shelter

To: Marion, VA
Miles today: 0.1

Today was a busy non hiking day. I hitched into Marion with a nice elderly man, who was a Vietnam vet that was disabled secondary to agent orange exposure. He took me to Hardee's where we had breakfast and then dropped me off at Enterprise car rental. I rented a car for the day and drove to Greensboro NC, the nearest town with an REI so I could get a new pack. I was all set to get an Osprey Atmos but when I loaded my gear in it, the water bottles were jabbing me in the ribs and I couldn't live with that. I tried several other packs and ended up getting the new version of my old pack in a smaller size and it seems to fit very well. The hip belt is sturdier and with a better fit for my torso, it carries the load off my shoulders. I am happy! I then drove back to Marion, shopped and resupplied, did laundry and sorted all my gear. I am now ready for sleep. Hopefully will be better than last night at the shelter.
Date: 2013-05-29
From: Marion, VA

To: Gullion Mtn - Little Brushy
Miles today: 17.0

I got a late start, I had stayed at the Travel Inn in Marion but awoke early, eager to try the new pack. I had breakfast of all the excess food I had bought for resupply then packed up and found the post office to mail my camera's memory chip home so pictures could be posted. I then drove to Enterprise to find that there wasn't anyone there. They had told me they could drive me to the trail so I was stuck. I started walking, trying to hitch a ride but then remembered the town ran a bus at 11:00 AM so I called and scheduled a ride at 11 and they would pick me up at Hardee's. so I ate another big breakfast and loaded up on Dr Pepper. Right at 11 they picked me up and off to the trail we went. I started hiking about 11:20 and the new pack was great. I think it alleviated about 80% if the shoulder pain I was experiencing. The trail was nice and I covered about 17 miles before stealth camping atop Little Bushy mountain. I slept great. All in all, a pretty good day.
Date: 2013-05-30
From: Gullion Mtn

To: Knot Maul Branch Shelter
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: clear sky

As the Paul Simon song says, this has been a "day of miracles and wonders, this is a long distance call." When packing up I stepped awkwardly on a rock or root and immediately pain shot up my right leg. Whenever I applied weight the pain was intense, so I tried to hike but only hobbled several hundred yards before sitting down to evaluate and plan what to do. Option 1, continue hiking forward to a road and try to hitch to town or option 2- head back to Atkins and try to get to a doctor. As I was sitting there, Harvey and Sue, couple from Ohio who I hiked through the Smokies with stopped to talk and then another young lady walked by followed by the Marine Warrior hikers that stopped to see what was going on. They called the young lady that had just passed, Mama Goose, who it turns out is a physical therapist. She manipulated my ankle and asked some questions and said she thought it was tendinitis and advised me to take it easy for a few days and to take ibuprofen for several days but thought I would be able to continue with my hike. Imagine encountering a PT in the middle of the AT just as I needed help. Trail magic indeed. Then Gmaw, the 71 year old lady that I've walked with the past few days, came along and hiked with me to make sure I was alright. Slow and steady was the order of the day. The ibuprofen kicked in and I was able to walk very slowly until noon when we stopped for lunch. Gmaw left a little earlier as I wanted to rest a bit more and when I tried walking again, the pain was excruciating. I decided to plod ahead but was cursing myself for not going back to town and came to a steep downhill section full of rocks which I tried to navigate but the pain was becoming unbearable. I said to myself "Lord help me." Amazingly, something again popped in my leg and soon I was walking normal and pain free. I have tried to take it easy but did walk about 9 miles. It has indeed been a day of miracles and wonders. Also today was hot, hot, hot. The temperature seemed to be above 90 and today the trail went through several open pastures and the sun was intense. We have gone from rainy cool spring like weather to summer weather very quickly.
Date: 2013-05-31
From: Knot Maul Branch Shelter

To: Jenkins Shelter
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: few clouds

I left Knot Maul Branch shelter at 6:45 and started climbing. It was a day full of climbing and rocks and of course the down hills are difficult on the knees. But I did 19 + miles. I encountered a really nice stream early in the day where I was able to give myself a sponge bath. It felt great as the water was so cool. But the high point of the day was trail magic at a road crossing 15 miles into the day, sodas and snacks from a pastor and his wife. My leg continued to hold up fine although there is some tenderness in my right knee area but no pain at all like yesterday. I probably pushed a little too hard but what else is there to do but walk. Tonight I am in my tent at Jenkins shelter. I should sleep well. It has now been 1 & 1/2 months and I am 575 miles along the trail.
Date: 2013-06-01
From: Jenkins Shelter

To: Jenny Knob Shelter
Miles today: 24.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I got an early start from Jenkins shelter and the trail was very pleasant, in fact the first four miles were easy. I continue to have a little tenderness in my right knee but am walking pain free for the most part. High point of the day was seeing 3 bears and 2 snakes. The first bear seemed to be a yearling that was right on the trail and ran off as he saw me. I continued to walk and he ran a little ahead and eventually up the side of the mountain about 30 feet and watched me walk by. I got a few pics and hope they came out okay. Later in the day, I was walking along and heard a loud snort. I froze and looked in the direction it had come and 2 young bears came down from a tree and ran off in the opposite direction from me. I never saw mama bear but I think she was nearby. I didn't get any pictures; it all happened so quickly. Later I saw a 5 foot long black snake in the middle of the trail and an 18 inch garter snake. All in all it was a good day. I pushed all the way to Jenny Knob shelter, about 24 miles for the day, my longest day yet. I got there late and decided to stay in the shelter as only 2 others were staying there: 2 nice young guys from William and Mary college.
Date: 2013-06-02
From: Jenny Knob Shelter

To: Woods Hole hostel
Miles today: 24.0

I slept a little late after a long day yesterday. I got started about 10:00 AM and hiked for several hours before deciding to go to Trent's grocery for lunch. I had 2 burgers and fries and several fountain drinks for lunch and charged my phone. Nick, you would have loved this place. I left there about 2PM thinking I would try to hike until about 8pm before stopping. I hoped I would find a nice flat stealth place, but nothing seemed suitable so I continued walking. Sure enough it then started pouring and the rocks got worse. I was actually afraid in this rocky area as the rocks are slick when wet and i was walking in the rain without my glasses and using my headlamp to light the path. Well I walked quite slowly but eventually got to Woods Hole hostel and got a bunk and a shower. At least the day ended well.
Date: 2013-06-03
From: Woods Hole hostel

To: Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 10.0

I thought this would be an easy 10 mile walk to Pearisburg where I could resupply and get a room and rest, but easy isn't part of the AT. The trail was rocky and again it began raining hard after several hours walking. On the steep descent into town I fell 3 times. That has shaken my confidence. I was going slow but with rain, everything was slick, including rocks and roots and clay. Once I slipped on a rock, and slid back on my pack. No damage except to my ego. The other two times on steep descents my feet just slid in the clay as there was nothing for my soles to grip. Again nothing but my ego and confidence have been injured. So lessons to learn: No more night hiking alone and make sure you only step on solid ground and ensure the poles are solidly planted if walking in wet clay. Problem is, it all happened so quickly and I thought I was walking safely. Well, I did get into Pearisburg and resupplied and have eaten too much. I have done laundry, charged my phone and am now going to sleep.
Date: 2013-06-04
From: Pearisburg, VA

To: Groundhog Trail
Miles today: 14.0

I left Pearisburg about 11:30, I wasn't anxious to leave but it was a beautiful day for hiking. The initial climb out of town was a little tough but the rest of the day was easy hiking. No falls today as the trail was dry. I'm camped in my tent along the trail about 14 miles out of Pearisburg along with Sidetracked and Miles from Nowhere, a retired couple from New York I met initially at Wood's Hole hostel.   I had thought about pushing further but remembered my last night hiking episode. So I am now dry and warm in my tent. ( Added 213 pictures from April 15 through May 27, 2013. Sorry not labeled yet, except for 4 dated Apr.30-May 1. After that go to the photo list and start with the first pic dated June 4/2013 (my upload date), this was the first day of my hike 4/15/13 and so forth.)
Date: 2013-06-05
From: Groundhog Trail

To: War Spar Shelter
Miles today: 19.0

June 5 -  today I think the rocks won.  I hiked to War Spar shelter, about 19 miles. Although the elevation change was not so bad, the rocks were horrible. I tweaked my left ankle so it is sore, my right knee remains a little tender and I stubbed my great left toe so it feels bruised. And to top it off my ego and confidence remain fragile from my falls 2 days ago. As I said, today the rocks won. On a better note, the azaleas and mountain laurel are in bloom and the last mile today was like through a tunnel of flowers, quite beautiful.  So I have eaten a wonderful dinner of rice and salmon, with a fruit bar for dessert and now I'm in my sleeping bag in my tent and ready to sleep.
Date: 2013-06-06
From: War Spar Shelter

To: Daleville Va
Miles today: 0.0

June 6-  I woke up to pouring rain at about 4 AM. I went back to sleep as I was really tired from yesterday's walk. The rain continued and I thought I would wait it out. Finally about 10:30 I decided the sun wasn't going to come out and it was either hike in the rain, again, or sit in my little tent all day. I packed up and everything is soaked and I began walking north.  It continued to rain and I have become really sick of being soaked and walking through rocks and roots that are just waiting to trip me up. Well I didn't fall but I I have become really frustrated with being soaked head to toe. Whisper suggested trying to hitch from Va 630 to a hostel ahead in Catawba. Surprisingly a really nice man picked us up and drove us toFour Pines hostel. It was packed and really was sleeping in a garage. Tools and hikers and their gear was strewn everywhere. I met miss Janet, a legend of the trail who said she could shuttle me to Daleville after stopping for dinner at Homeplace restaurant. That was wonderful and I am now drying out at Howard Johnson's. I have a box to pick up tomorrow at the outfitters and decisions to make. Do I go back to where I left the trail or just go forward from here or do I go to Roanoke and catch a flight home?  I like the trail but I am tired, I hurt and I am tired of the loneliness. I am inclined to probably continue north to Harper's Ferry and make a decision there. I would like to hike through Shenandoah national park and into Harper's Ferry and who knows, maybe by then I  will want to continue.
Date: 2013-06-07
From: Daleville Va

To: Daleville Va
Miles today: 0.0

June 7- a zero day today. I have done laundry and picked up the box M sent with my summer sleeping bag and then sent my down bag home. I'm loading up on the great cookies she sent too. I am planning to hike north from here. If I finish the whole trail, I will return to Daleville and complete the 50 miles or so I have skipped ahead. You have to hike your own hike and that is what I will do. I have been receiving many nice notes from friends and complete strangers. Thank you. Your words of encouragement are appreciated.
Date: 2013-06-08
From: Daleville Va

To: Wilsons Creek Shelter
Miles today: 19.2

June 8- the rain stopped about 9:30 this morning, I left the motel at 10:30 and headed north. I have made it to Wilson's creek shelter. The terrain was nice, the sun was shining and it made for a pleasant walk today. I think I will stay in the shelter tonight just in case it rains again. I like having a dry bag. I talked with Timeout this morning, he still having leg problems so he is taking another zero and as he lives nearby, he decided to rent a car and drive home. He will try and get back to the trail when his leg is better.
Date: 2013-06-09
From: Wilsons Creek Shelter

To: Jennings Creek
Miles today: 0.0

This was another pleasant day of walking, the sun was out and the terrain was pleasant with no big rock fields to navigate or stumble through. I walked about 17 miles and am camped near the stream where there is a nice swimming hole. The water is a little too cold for me to swim in, but nI do take the opportunity to wade into the river and splash water all over to get the sweat off and cool off. There are a lot of hikers here and only a few available flat camp sites so I grab one and get my tent set up near the creek, and then have dinner. Earlier nin the day there was a pleasant surprise, Goethe and several others had set out a cooler of beer near a road and so hiker's were treated to a cold beer in the middle of the day. What a nice surprise that was. If I recall, I met Goethe on the trail about a week or so earlier, prior to the Highlands. Thank you Goethe!
Date: 2013-06-10
From: Jennings Creek

To: Thunder Hill Shelter
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: light rain

The rain started last night about 8:30 and rained most of the night. I was concerned being so close to the creek that flash flooding could be a problem so I did not sleep well. The rain eased up about 8AM so I quickly packed up my stuff including one soaking wet tent and started hiking, hoping to get to the shelter and having a chance to dry my things out. Almost immediately after starting, it started to pour again and continued to rain for several hours. At the first shelter, I did dry off but the shelter, while a newer one that appeared very nice, seemed to be infested with fleas, so after a snack, I decided to continue hiking, after all, the sun had come out again. I made it to the next shelter after a few hours, Cornelius creek and again had a snack and decided to move on as it was still too early in the day to stop. And after all, the sun was out. During this part of the hike I passed under the guillotine, a large boulder suspended over your head by two large boulders on each side of it. I wanted to get a picture but found that both my iphone and camera were dead. I guess just too much water from this mornings drenching rains, even though they were both in plastic baggies. At about this point then, the real rain began. I am not sure I have experienced such a heavy rain since riding out hurricane Frederick in Pascagoula Mississippi back in the late 70's. The trail became a river, I was hiking through water that was up over my ankles. The rain continued for about an hour. It seemed to let up when I got to the top of the mountain where an FAA satellite site is located. I then finished the day by walking to the shelter to find that it was almost full. Having a wet tent and being totally soaked I was looking forward to at least having a dry night in a shelter. The other 5 hikers did begrudgingly make room for one more wet and weary hiker so I was glad to get some dry clothing on and settle into my dry sleeping bag for a good night's sleep. That was I had hoped for, but shelters are full of hikers and inevitably, there is a snorer or two in the shelter. This night, a rather loud one sleeping right next to me. And why is it the snorers are always the first to fall asleep? Needless to say, it was a long night. In addition, it rained through the night, and not just a little shower, but more downpours that make sleeping under a tin roof like trying to sleep while your teenage son practices on the drums. I don't think I slept for more than 45 minutes between the snoring and the rain.