morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-10-27
From: Waynesboro, VA

To: Reeds Gap, VA
Miles today: 20.5

Got up and had breakfast and coffee at the motel¢s continental breakfast.Turf left a message while I was out, so I called him back and told him we would be at Reed¢s Gap about dark.I went to the library and checked email, then John Galt showed up and had a guy coming over to give us a ride back up to the trailhead at Rockfish Gap.We hiked to Paul Wolfe Memorial Shelter and ate lunch, and then hiked on to Reed¢s Gap.We just missed Turfhead as we saw him driving off.It had rained most of the day and was cold and windy when the sun went down. I was getting cold, so I set up my tent right in the grass next to the parking area, so I could wait inside my sleeping bag till Hippi Longstocking showed up. She drove up almost as soon as I crawled inside¢¦..so I took the tent down and got in her nicely heated truck.We ate at Turfhead¢s, the Hippie, John Galt and I went to Charleston and got a motel.
Date: 2003-10-28
From: Reeds Gap, VA

To: Maupin Field Shelter, VA
Miles today: 1.8
Weather: overcast clouds

I woke up in Charlestown, WV at the motel. Hippie took me to WalMart so I could re-supply. John Galt spent the time talking to his girlfriend on the phone.We ate at McDonald¢s, then went to Harpers Ferry and picked up my truck.We stopped by the ATC office and saw Dr Dolittle had come through on 10-21-03 and was the 80th sobo to sign in.We took my truck to Four Pines Hostel in Catawba and dropped it off, then drove back to Reed¢s Gap and parked Hippie¢s truck there. We hiked in to the first shelter and got there about an hour before dark.The plan is to hike the 140 miles to my truck, then John Galt will keep walking (he wants to get done before Christmas) and I¢ll take Hippie back to her truck at Reed¢s Gap, then I¢ll take about a week off.I¢m set up nicely in my tent nearby the shelter.
Date: 2003-10-29
From: Maupin Field Shelter, VA

To: Seeley-Woodworth Shelter, VA
Miles today: 21.0
Weather: scattered clouds

It rained most of the night last night.I got up late, ate breakfast and had coffee, then started hiking by 9am.I climbed over the tough Three Ridges and on to Harpers Creek Shelter. John Galt and I stopped there for a break. We hiked on and caught up to Hippie taking a break at the Tye River. We sat there and ate lunch.From there it was a big climb up The Priest to the Prienst Shelter where we took another break. There were three sobos there. One was Scarecrow and I don¢t remember the other¢s names.We hiked on, passing by Spy Rock and waited at Fish Hatchery Rd for Hippie to catch up with us. She had been dragging butt ever since lunch.We hiked on to this shelter and got here just after dark.There are two other hikers here. I ate dinner and am now in my tent for the night.
Date: 2003-10-30
From: Seeley-Woodworth Shelter, VA

To: Brown Mountain Creek Shelter, VA
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: clear sky

I got up early, but didn¢t actually leave till 10am. John Galt and Hippie were being extra slow. I had breakfast and coffee before we left.We hiked up to Cold Mountain where we ate lunch. It got too warm for me sitting there in the sun, so I left them there and walked on.I hiked right on by the side trail to Cow Camp Gap Shelter because the shelter is a half a mile off trail.I walked on down to RT 60 and took off my shoes and socks and laid down on a picnic table and waited on John Galt and Hippie.Rt 60 goes into Buena Vista, but we stayed on trail and kept walking. We got to this shelter, then I ate and set up my tent. It is dark at 6pm and I¢m in my tent for the night.I saw one deer today and one bow hunter.
Date: 2003-10-31
From: Brown Mountain Creek Shelter, VA

To: Glasgow, VA
Miles today: 19.4
Weather: scattered clouds

I got up early, ate breakfast and had my coffee, then told John Galt and Hippie that I was going to start walking and I¢d see them later. I headed out at 6:35am.It was nice and cool for hiking in the morning, but it got up to 78 degrees this afternoon. There¢s no leaves on the trees, so that bright sun is shining down on me and making me too warm.I hiked up to Bluff Mountain and stopped and ate lunch. John Galt and Hippie never showed up, so I hiked on.I ran into Frogcaller going north on her section hike of this area. We talked about 40 minutes, then I hiked on to RT 501 and hitched a ride into Glassgow.I got a ride with a guy that works for the VA tourism department and was taking photos of the trailhead.I got John Galt, Hippie and me a motel room at Wrights. They showed up later in the day. I had to borrow John Galt¢s phone to make a few calls.
Date: 2003-11-01
From: Glasgow, VA

To: Thunder Hill Shelter, VA
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Got up this morning and took another shower, then John Galt, Hippie Longstockings and I went to the restaurant in front of the motel and had their breakfast buffet.Stewart is a local guy that will give you a ride back to the trailhead at Foot Bridge for $10.00. We took him up on that offer.We walked across James River on the Foot Bridge, then stopped at Mat¢s Creek Shelter for a break. The big climbs came next. We up up the mountains, then back down a few and ended up at 3,945 feet after starting at James River at 735 feet in elevation.A hiker we met earlier had left us three Cokes in the spring here at Thunder Hill Shelter¢¦.thanks!!I had a heavy pack with fresh re-supply and it still didn¢t seem too bad. We walked easy most of the day.I also hiked with no shirt on for the first time ever today and it felt pretty good.I set up my tent nearby and am enjoying another night in it.
Date: 2003-11-02
From: Thunder Hill Shelter, VA

To: Cove Mountain Shelter, VA
Miles today: 17.6
Weather: scattered clouds

I woke up to a mild morning at 50 degrees. I laid in my tent and had coffee and breakfast.John Galt, Hippie Longstockings and I hiked over Apple Orchard Mountain and then down to Cornelius Creek Shelter where we took a break. We then hiked on to Bryant Ridge Shelter and we ended up eating our planned dinner meals for lunch because there in no water at the shelter we¢re planning on staying at tonight.We hiked by Jennings Creek (where I drank tadpole water in the drought last year) and on to Cove Mountain Shelter.It got up to near 80 degrees today. I can¢t wait for it to cool off again.I saw one deer today and yesterday I had to move a 5 foot black snake so Hippie could sit down and take a break.I remember lots of deer all around my tent here last year.
Date: 2003-11-03
From: Cove Mountain Shelter, VA

To: Daleville, VA
Miles today: 25.9
Weather: clear sky

I woke up early and woke John Galt and Hippie Longstockings up, then we hiked 6.4 miles to Bobblets Gap Shelter where John and I ate breakfast and had some coffee. Hippie had hiked on. I caught up to her at the next shelter. We both agreed that since it was so early, we¢d walk another 5 miles to get into town and get a motel.John Galt came in just as we were leaving. I told him our plans and said that we¢d pay for the motel¢¦he was watching his money.I hiked on. I stopped by Fulhardt Knob Shelter and got water, then hiked into town and got a room, took a shower and walked down to the outfitter and used there computer to check my email. I bought some Bojangles fried chicken and took it back to the room.I didn¢t see either John Galt or Hippie Longstockings till later in the day at the Best Western. When they finally showed up, we all walked down to The 3 Pigs BBQ and had dinner.
Date: 2003-11-04
From: Daleville, VA

To: Campbell Shelter, VA
Miles today: 16.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Got up this morning and Hippie Longstockings and I went and ate breakfast at the motel continental breakfast. John Galt showed up later.When we got back to the room, Hippie and I decided to walk down to Krogers and re-supply.I took another shower when we got back to the room.We all checked out. Hippie headed south on the Trail, but John Galt and I walked down to Bojangles and ate lunch first.We ate, then we started walking south on the Trail. We caught up to Hippie at Lambert¢s Meadow Shelter.Hippie and I hiked up to Tinkers Cliffs and waited on John . We left our cameras so John would almost step on them when he came up to Tinker Cliffs, then we got nekkid and sat there looking out over the views with our backs facing where John would show up at.John Galt has a way with words¢¦.and he used some pretty good words when he came up the Trail and looked up to see us. It made Hippie mad when he said;   ¢Nice arse Stumpknocker¢.   Hippie asked him why he didn¢t say anything about hers and John told her it was too fat. They argued the rest of the day. In fact, they argued for the next few days.We hiked on to Campbell Shelter. The water source looked bad, so we¢re spending the night here with very little water to drink.I am on a small slant inside my tent.I saw one deer and six turkeys today.I can hear John Galt and Hippie arguing with each other in the shelter.
Date: 2003-11-05
From: Campbell Shelter, VA

To: Catawba, VA
Miles today: 10.8

I got up early because I wanted to see the sunrise from McAfee¢s Knob. I woke up John Galt and Hippie Longstockings, then all three of us hiked up to McAfee¢s Knob. We got up there just before the sun came up.We hiked on to Catawba Mountain Shelter and had breakfast and coffee. We didn¢t have any water last at the shelter we stayed at to make coffee this morning.We hiked past the Boy Scout Shelter which has a new shelter this year. We kept walking and passed RT 311, passed RT785 and on to RT 624. We walked up to Joe Mitchell¢s place called Four Pines Hostel. My truck was there waiting on me.We drove to Roanoke and picked up John¢s mail drop in Troutville, then went and got some pictures developed.I ran the truck through a car wash, then drove back to the hostel and spent the evening talking to Joe Mitchell.My plans are to take about a week off and go see Jan Liteshoe and head on down to Florida to take care of some business.John Galt still wants to get done with his sobo before Christmas, so he is going to keep walking. Hippie Longstockings has to go back to work in NJ for now. Sad to see everyone heading off in different directions.
Date: 2003-11-16
From: Catawba, VA

To: Pickle Branch Shelter, VA
Miles today: 6.4
Weather: overcast clouds

I finally made it back to the Trail yesterday!! It feels GREAT!!!Tiny, Rainbow Slick and Goosebump dropped me off at Four Pines Hostel after we left my truck at Dave¢s Place in Damascus, VA.We ate at The Homeplace in Catawba on the way.I spent the night at the hostel I had planned on hiking out early in the morning of the 16th, but had a note from Tang that she was going to be there later in hopes of hooking up with me to talk, so I waited on her. She showed up in her car later in the day¢¦and we headed back to The Homeplace for another meal there after they opened up for the day.That¢s too much food¢¦The Homeplace two days in a row!! I need to walk it off.Tang dropped me off at the trailhead and I hiked over a wet Dragons Tooth. It¢s bad enough o walk when it¢s dry, but you really have to be careful when it¢s wet. The winds over the last week or so has blown leaves all over the place. There are places in the Trail where the leaves I¢m walking through are almost up to my knee.I saw two deer today. Not seeing any other hikers on the Trail now. I¢m at the shelter alone, so I decided to stay inside it tonight. Did I mention that it feels GREAT to be back in the woods again??
Date: 2003-11-17
From: Pickle Branch Shelter, VA

To: Laurel Creek Shelter, VA
Miles today: 22.7
Weather: clear sky

I got up before it got light out and made coffee and ate breakfast.I started hiking just before 7am. I hiked up to the Audie Murphy Monument and took a break, then hiked to Niday Shelter and ate lunch.I saw five hunters this morning including one that was sitting against a tree about ten feet off the Trail with his rifle on his lap and he was sound asleep. I was quiet when I walked by and he never woke up.I had eight turkeys take off flying on the side of a hill and they flew right over my head. I also saw a dead turkey laying in the Trail.I hiked by Sarver Shelter without stopping, but took a break on the Trail. I hiked past the Keffer Oak¢¦a huge oak tree right along the Trail.I ran out of water and ended up walking about four miles without water. The water here at Laurel Creek Shelter tasted great!!I haven¢t hikes much in the last ten days, so I wasn¢t sure how well I would do. I got here at 4pm and felt really good though. It¢s getting dark around 5:30pm now.
Date: 2003-11-18
From: Laurel Creek Shelter, VA

To: Pine Swamp Branch Shelter, VA
Miles today: 18.5
Weather: overcast clouds

I woke up and had coffee and ate breakfast, then was packed and hiking at 7:40am. Today was totally fogged in until about 2pm. I climbed up to White Rock vista, but of course there wasn¢t any views. I hiked on to War Spur Shelter and ate.There was a cooler full of sodas at a road crossing that were left there by Super Dave. That was really nice because there just isn¢t much in the way of trail magic for the sobo hikers.I hiked on to Bailey Gap Shleter and took another break, then hiked on to Pine Swamp Branch Shelter, where I¢m spending the night.Today was the only time I can remember not having a good time on the Trail. That feeling finally passed later in the afternoon. Just not sure why I felt that way.
Date: 2003-11-19
From: Pine Swamp Branch Shelter, VA

To: Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 19.9
Weather: heavy intensity rain

I got up real early so I could get to town sooner today. I think I picked up the flu somewhere because I haven¢t been feeling all that great lately¢¦especially today.I had breakfast and coffee, then started walking as soon as I could see. It was raining really hard and the wind was blowing hard. It ended up being bad weather all day.I walked straight through the day without stopping except for one three minute break. I got into town at 2pm and got a room at Holiday Motor Lodge right away. I checked my email and had three nice emails from Jan Liteshoe.I went to the Chinese place and ate.I saw two deer today and took one hard fall on the Trail landing on my butt. I had four stream crossing today where I had to walk through over flowing water. One of them was kind of dangerous.
Date: 2003-11-20
From: Pearisburg, VA

To: Doc's Knob Shelter, VA
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: clear sky

I was on the phone for 3 12 hours last night with Jan Liteshoe, so I was more than tired this morning. I still got up early and went out to breakfast though.I picked up a small package that Frogcaller had sent me at the PO, then caught up on all my email.I re-supplied, then ate lunch. Jan called and said her dad had fallen and broke his shoulder. I hiked out of town in the afternoon.There was a 2,000 foot climb right off. The weather was clear and cool. That felt great!!I hiked on to Doc¢s Knob Shelter and was surprised to see people on the Trail. There was two girls here when I showed up and a guy hiked in a little later. I hadn¢t seen another person on the Trail since I got back on at Catawba.I saw two deer today and one deer hunter.I packed in a Coke and a Hardees hamburger and had that for dinner.
Date: 2003-11-21
From: Doc's Knob Shelter, VA

To: Jenny Knob Shelter, VA
Miles today: 23.7
Weather: clear sky

I got up early and made coffee and ate breakfast. I was walking just as the sun was coming up.I hiked on to Wapiti Shelter and ate an early lunch, then hiked to RT 606 and walked up the road to Trent¢s Grocery Store. I ate there and packed out a hoagie for dinner.I hiked on to Jenny Knob Shelter. I had been looking forward to being alone, but there was four section hikers there, so I walked a little farther and set up my tent for the night.I saw four deer today. There was a guy at Trent¢s that had a buck in the back of his pickup and a bunch of people looking on. I also heard a male grouse making his call today. That¢s the first I¢ve heard one of those buggers since last year. I have been seeing a lot more grouse lately though.Less than 600 miles to go and I don¢t want this to be over.
Date: 2003-11-22
From: Jenny Knob Shelter, VA

To: Bland, VA
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: overcast clouds

I got up early again and had coffee and breakfast, then started hiking before the sun came up. I hiked past Helvey¢s Mill Shelter, then sat down for a short break. Two young hunters came walking by and we talked for quit a while.I hiked on to RT 52. George Fisher left a chalk written note for me written in the road that welcomed me to Bland and telling me he left a note for me on a post near the Trail.I started hitching and got a ride into town with the second car that came by. They dropped me off right at Big Walker Motel, where I checked in.I walked over to Dairy Queen and ate lunch and had a milkshake, then came back to the room and made some phone calls, then took a nap.I saw two deer along the Trail today.
Date: 2003-11-23
From: Bland, VA

To: Chestnut Knob Shelter, VA
Miles today: 23.2
Weather: clear sky

I walked over to Dairy Queen after I woke up and ordered breakfast and coffee. I carried it back to my room and ate there. I walked back to town and re-supplied at IGA. I then got a ride back to the trailhead from a nice older lady who passed by me in her car and turned around to give me a ride. I was glad for the ride because it was early Sunday morning and there was no traffic here in Bland.I crossed about 25 creeks today¢¦.mostly crossing Little Wolf Creek a bunch of times.I stopped at Jenkins Shelter and ate lunch. I met Aimless there. I hiked on past Davis Farm Campsite and on to Walker Gap. I was glad to get there and get water fro the spring because I¢ve been out of water for about five miles.I climbed the next mountain and got to Chestnut Knob Shelter just before it got dark out. I¢m the only one here.I saw two deer today and one dead one.The wind is picking up and it¢s suppose to storm tonight and tomorrow.
Date: 2003-11-24
From: Chestnut Knob Shelter, VA

To: Atkins, VA
Miles today: 23.4
Weather: moderate rain

I slept good last night in Chestnut Knob Shelter¢¦an enclosed shelter on top of a mountain.I woke up and had my coffee and ate breakfast, then packed up and started walking. It was sunny for about half an hour, then the clouds rolled in and it started raining. It kept raining and getting colder as the day went on. I hiked to Knot Maul Branch Shelter and ate a quick lunch, then hiked past Olystery Pavilion, on to Davis Path Shelter and into this little town.I stopped at the Dairy Queen first. My hands were so cold that it was hard to take my pack off. It felt good inside¢¦nice and warm.I got a room at Relax Inn and called my daughter, then called Jan. I walked up to The Barn Restaurant and ate dinner.I saw two deer today.It¢s supposed to be in the teens overnight. It was cold and wet out all day, but I had a great hike.
Date: 2003-11-26
From: Atkins, VA

To: Partnership Shelter, VA
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: clear sky

I took a zero yesterday because I¢m meeting Jan Liteshoe at Partnership Shelter tomorrow about 1 or 2pm. We are planning on hiking together for a while.I got up this morning and walked up to The Barn Restaurant and had breakfast.I went back to the motel and took another shower, then packed up. My daughter called just before I left and I talked to her a while.I hiked on and stopped by the old Settler¢s Schoolhouse and took a break inside. I went through the old register in there and saw lots of friends who have signed in. I saw were I signed in last year too.I walked on to Chatfield Shelter and took a short break, then walked on to Mt Rogers Visitors Center. I used the phone there and ordered pizza and chicken wings, then called Jan and talked to her till the pizza delivery guy showed up.I walked over to the shelter and ate.I saw one deer today and walked by one hunter that was hidden pretty well.It is 40 degrees out right now. Liquid Squid showed up at 9:55pm here at the shelter.
Date: 2003-11-28
From: Partnership Shelter, VA

To: Raccoon Branch Shelter, VA
Miles today: 13.7

Jan Liteshoe picked me up yesterday at Mt Rogers Visitors Center. It was Thanksgiving, so we went out to eat and ended up staying in a motel that night. I was able to wash my clothes and shower and get packed up for walking through Grayson Highlands.We drove up to Sugar Grove this morning and ate breakfast and left her car at the diner. We got a shuttle up the mountain and started hiking from the Visitors Center at 10am. We hiked on to Trimpi Shelter after we had stopped for lunch in an old barn to get out of the rain. It turned to snow by the time we walked on. It snowed the rest of the day.We are at Raccoon Branch Shelter and it¢s snowing. The snow is blowing into the shelter, so we set up the tent inside and got inside that.We saw three deer today. It¢s supposed to be in the teens again tonight.
Date: 2003-11-30
From: Raccoon Branch Shelter, VA

To: Rd Crossing in Grayson Highland, VA
Miles today: 2.0

Jan Liteshoe and I hiked out to the first road crossing and started walking back towards her car. We had decided not to hike this section at this time. We walked about a mile down the road before the first car came by. They stopped and gave us a ride back to Jan¢s car In Sugar Grove.We spent the night in Abington, VA where we made plans on what to do next.
Date: 2004-02-23
From: Rd Crossing in Grayson Highland, VA

To: Springer Mountain, GA
Miles today: 440.0
Weather: overcast clouds

****NOTE**** I've been typing this '03 journal, trying to get it all up before my next hike, but I'm running out of time....and I'm getting tired of typing, so I still have to fill in the journal between Virginia and Springer Mountain in Georgia. I'm going to go ahead and post the last day into Springer now;I'm at Springer!! I woke up at Gooch Gap Shelter and packed up my tent and woke Hippie Longstockings up. I ate breakfast and had coffee in the shelter.We hiked on when we were done. I found a large clip of bullets hanging in a tree just before we got to the cemetary.I walked on and ran into Mickey One Sock. He's starting over at Springer again this year, still trying to get in a thru hike. I've run into 54 nobo thru hikers so far. They are just starting out and I'm just finishing up.Hippie and I were taking a break near Stover Creek when Gizmo walked up. He's the local ridgerunner around here early in the season, then moves up to NJ later in the year.We hiked up to Springer Shelter, then walked on up to Springer Mountain and signed the register. Hippie and I took some photos of us out on the rocks by setting the timer on the camera.Slopoke '02 showed up after a while and we talked.I'm spending another night on the Trail, then hiking down the approach trail in the morning to Amicalola Falls State Park.****NOTE**** Like I said at the top of this entry, I'll finish posting this journal next chance I get. Stumpknocker 3/13/09