morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-09-07
From: Pickle Branch Shelter

To: VA 624
Miles today: 6.7

I woke up at 5:00 AM and thought I would get started early because I had 12.6 miles today not knowing how rough it would be. I ate breakfast and had to wait for daylight to get water behind the shelter .2 mile down a steep path. There was no water for the last 5 miles then it was off trail to the hostel. I left the shelter at 7:15 AM and the first hour was uphill and then it was uphill and downhill, and uphill to 3000' and fog. The terrain was the most rugged 5+ miles I ever encountered. I had to fold my trekking poles and slide down some places and crawl up others. I should have been a mountain climber instead of a hiker. It was so steep at two places there were steel hand and foot holds drilled into the rock and you were looking over hundreds of feet dropoffs. If you missed your footing or grip -- you will see pictures later. At one point it took 1 1/2 hours to go about 1/2 mile and it was all rock. My ankle and knee were really bothering me from the falls I took battling the yellow jackets. I got to VA624 about 2:30 PM and hiked to the north which was supposed to lead me to a gas station. Well, I didn't go far enough so I thought I was going the wrong way. I knew Four Pines Hostel was 3 miles east of the trail but by now it was .6 mile away and uphill. I went as far as I could then I took off my pack and set it in the ditch and lay down beside it on the damp ground. It was sprinkling a little bit but laying on the wet ground and being in the rain was better than walking. It took about 20 minutes for someone to stop. A van came to a growling halt. A lady said do you need help? I said yes I want to go to Four Pines Hostel and she said hop in we are from there. Boy was I happy. The ladies were thru-hikers using the hostel van to get some food where I thought I was going to first. We went back to the hostel and asked the owner if the ladies could take me to my truck and the answer was yes. I bought the ladies food for their help. So THANK YOU Link and Miss. I went to Salem, VA and found food and a motel. I cleaned up and rested and was glad to be done for the day. I got all of 6.7 miles in today and some 5.9 miserable miles left undone. The people I met today said the 12.6 miles usually take 2 days because of the terrain. Wow, what was the grandpa thinking on that day -- he must be nuts!Thought for the day:Know your destination. Know your limits and know when to quit. Song for the day: SEND IN THE CLOWNS BY CARLY SIMON
Date: 2014-09-08
From: VA 624

To: VA 624
Miles today: 0.0

I woke up in the motel and tried to get my stiff angry leg to work. It got me around is all I can say. I went to Denny's for breakfast. At the restaurant I asked if they know a good chiropractor and they didn't but brought me a phone book and some suggestions. The first one I had written down was close by but not at that location anymore. The second one I couldn't find at all so number three was finally found. It was Haas Chiropractic and it turned out that he has hiked some of the AT too. It is amazing how things turn out for me on the trail. He even knew where I met the pony from hell. Well, Dr. Haas gave me a lot of relief the first treatment and I feel good about his treatments and as a person and fellow hiker. He even hiked a 100 mile stretch from Hot Springs, NC same as I did. The rest of the day was spent finding a cheaper motel, washing clothes and buying some supplies. I also had gear to clean and shoes to oil.~~~~~~It is time to thank my wife Marilyn for all the support she has given me. Without her help my walking the AT would not run as smoothly as it does. Marilyn gets things in the mail and updates my journal. Just last week she had to drive to Portage, MI which is a 3 hour round trip to pick up new trekking poles to replace the one I broke. So ladies if you think you have it rough consider how other women have to work. My wife has a full time job five days a week and then all the work that goes into supporting a hiking husband and all the work that goes along with that. You may thank her on my journal on the guest book site. I don't wear a tracker this fall so she often doesn't know where I am for 2-3 days. I give her an estimated itinerary but that doesn't always hold true. My hat's off to her and my love stays strong for my wife Marilyn. Thank you Honey!I need to thank my sister Amanda for keeping the yard work up-to-date. She has a 2+ hour mowing job every 4-5 days plus whatever else it takes in the yard. Thank you Amanda!I need to thank daughter-in-law Roxane who keeps the beans, blueberries, raspberries, tomatoes, onions, and peppers picked so they don't go to waste. Thank you Roxane!So folks, this trail walking takes a lot of support from home and I'm really thankful for it all.Thought for the day:The way to be happy is to make others happy. Helping others is the secret of success in business, in the arts, and in the home. by APPLES OF GOLD
Date: 2014-09-09
From: VA 624

To: VA 624 
Miles today: 0.0

I woke up at 5:00 AM in the motel so I started icing my knee until I went for breakfast at Denny's. I went to Dr. Haas for some knee work and got myself realigned. He said no walking yet, maybe Thursday. I went to Walgreens and got a special ice pack wrap and then worked on some writing. I ate lunch at Denny's and wrote descriptions for 100 photos while eating. I took all my paperwork to the post office and mailed it home. I called the motel in Dalesville and my new trekking poles had come in so I went and got them. I returned to the motel in Salem because there was one more appointment with Dr. Haas on Wednesday. Oh yes, I am getting antsy but if you can't walk, you can't walk. I tell myself to relax and shut up. Skin will heal and the trail will be there forever.Thought for the day:A time to walkA time to restA time to be calmA time to get-r-done
Date: 2014-09-10
From: VA 624 

To: VA 624
Miles today: 0.0

I got up at the crack of dawn in a motel, not in the woods. I loaded up and and went for breakfast. I had an appointment with Dr. Haas for a knee looky and fixer upper. I have high regards for Dr. Michael Haas and his two staff ladies, Colleen and Jeanne. They make you feel right at home and they are very polite. Dr. Haas did a super job trying to get me to walking again. I will have a separate story on the Dr. Yes, it's good. I had my knee on ice a lot today because on Thursday 9/11 I plan to walk the trail. The Dr. gave me some trail insight on where I plan to start and he gave me some comfort that the trail isn't like it was on Sunday. Thought for the day:He who would have nothing to do with thorns must never attempt to gather flowers.~~~~~THE TRAIL MAGIC AND THE UNSEEN GUIDING HANDI asked the waitress at the restaurant if she knew a good chiropractor and she said no but she would ask someone. She came back with a phone book, turned to the chiropractor section and said here is the list and what do you want. I told her the closest one would do so she pointed out that one and said there are more on main street which is the road in front of the restaurant. So I wrote down the closest one name and address then two more on main street. I checked the first one and it wasn't there anymore so I looked for number two and couldn't find the address. I stopped at a store and a delivery person looked up the address on his ipad and said you are within 3 minutes and gave me directions which was right around the corner. Well, I could not locate the address or name whatsoever. I circled the block over and over and no dice. I scratched that address off the list and looked for number three. I had to stop and ask again and got a good answer at the medical clinic. I drove right to the address which was Haas Chiropractic Center. I went in expecting to wait a day or two but the lady said how about this morning and I said yes. After all the paperwork I got to see Dr. Haas and he was a very nice person and gave my leg some fine tuning and it felt better right away. The best part was that he was a hiker too and even hiked some of the AT I hiked. So now I know why I couldn't find the first two places. The guiding hand was hard at work. My last treatment was on Wednesday and after the treatment I thanked Dr. Haas and shook his hand. Then he said I want to pray for you so he put his hand on my shoulder and asked God for my healing and safety on the trail. Now what better place could I have found. The Dr. supplied me with all he could give and so the trail magic continues.If you want to, listen to one of my wife's favorite songs --REQUIEM - THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD - by John RutterBe safe.
Date: 2014-09-11
From: VA 311

To: Campbell Shelter
Miles today: 4.4
Weather: clear sky

Oh yes, today it is back to walking again. I am ready but my knee is still yelling and rebelling. I ate a good breakfast at Omelette House. It was hamburger steak, hash browns, scrambled eggs and toast. After breakfast I took the journal papers to the post office so you folks can keep up with me. I hit the trail about 10:00 AM and said good bye to my truck which is parked at VA 311. Once I am on the trail there is no "off" for 20 miles, so I divided up the miles according to the shelters. So Thursday I walk 4.4 miles, Friday 6 miles, and Saturday 9.4 miles. I walked about a half hour and had to stop and put on my ace bandage on my knee and popped another pill to dampen the knee pain. I have to hobble-de-hoy along and I get 1 mile every 50 minutes which is half speed for the nice trail. The highlight of the day was getting to McAfee Knob. It's a big overlook and drops off a couple thousand feet. It was 3.7 miles to McAfee Knob and I got there around 2:00 PM. I lucked out that someone came along to snap pictures of me on top of McAfee. I took a short nap on McAfee then headed for Campbell Shelter for the night. My leg was very unhappy with me with the long trec. I told it to keep calm because it hurts only every other step. I reached camp around 3:30 PM, set up my tent and went to sleep. When I woke up there were five others in camp all younger than me. They told me their trial names but I didn't have my paper with me and only remember Geronomo from Canada. It was a nice cooler day to walk. No rain but had a couple real dark clouds threaten to let loose but it didn't happen where I was. I cooked supper which was beef stew and coffee then it was journal time. It's 9:30 PM and the katydids are all singing again. When I first got to camp a blue jay kept mouthing off about something. I forgot Padre stopped at the shelter then left for Catawba Mountain Shelter which is south. He comes from Maine.Thought for the day:Don't let the seeds spoil your enjoyment of a watermelon. Just spit out the seeds.
Date: 2014-09-12
From: Campbell Shelter

To: Lamberts Meadow Shelter
Miles today: 6.0
Weather: broken clouds

I woke up around 6:15 this morning and four of the young people had already left to watch the sunrise at McAfee Knob. The weatherman had a surprise for them. There was a sunrise somewhere but here you couldn't see it because of dark rain clouds. The morning brought soreness to my knee and I wasn't happy about it. I ate some dry cereal and headed out for a 6 mile trek. I walked for 15 minutes and stopped to put 12 Christmas balls on a tree beside the trail. I said it but you didn't hear it, okay? So zip it. HA You may see the picture of the tree on the journal. Just pretend you don't know who did it. I hope some hikers will notice the ornaments and get a boost for the day. The day was a fairly good walking day. Had some rock climbs and the leg is still moaning. It hurts right below the knee cap and at times it's like hitting your funny bone and I lose all control of my leg. Oh well. I crossed Brickeys Gap and went over Tinker Cliffs at 3000'. It wasn't too bad. I came down Scorched Earth Gap to Lamberts Meadow Shelter. It was raining a little but my trusty umbrella kept me dry. I arrived at the shelter about 2:30 PM and stepped inside and the rain let loose. I lucked out this time and the heavy downpour could only try and get me wet. I waited a while to get more water which was down a steep slippery slope. After getting water, I made supper and set up my tent inside the shelter. It was around 6:00 PM when another hiker came by all wet. I invited him to stay inside and he said fine and started to set up his tent. I took a short nap and when I woke up he had his tent stowed away. I asked what's wrong and he said his tent needs fixing. da. He got out his mattress pad and inflated it and put his sleeping bag on top. Well the bugger kept tossing and turning and keeping me awake with the mattress pad squeaking all the time. I woke up at 12:30 and all was quiet. Yes. I woke up at 5:30 AM when the hiker snapped a flash photo with his camera of my tent. Then he took off. He walked in the rain again and in the dark. He must be nuts. Every time I woke up during the night it was raining. Thought for the day:The really happy man is the one who can enjoy the scenery when he has to take a detour.
Date: 2014-09-14
From: US 220 Daleville, VA

To: Goshen , IN
Miles today: 0.0

I woke up this morning around 7:00 AM feeling like a truck ran over me. Every move or thought created a pain in my leg. I think even moving my eyeballs disturbed something in my body. I looked up Del Schechterly's phone number and called him around 8:00 AM and it went to voice mail, so I left a message about a shuttle to the parking lot on VA 311. I was on the phone with my wife around 9:00 AM when Del called back. He said he would pick me up around 10:00 AM and at 10:10 AM he was at the motel to pick me up and my spirit started to soar a bit. I see my truck and the road home in the very near future. As we traveled, Del said he worked at Catawba Hospital as a nurse for 33 years. He also said he shuttled hikers on weekends and his days off for 19 years. The man is a good man. Oh yes. When I got to my truck Del said he would wait until he knows my truck is okay and I can leave. I told him I'm going to change clothes in the truck because I had on 3 day hiker clothes. He said that's fine he will wait to make sure I'm okay. He stayed until he could see my back-up lights then he pulled away. Now that shows concern my friends. I went to to the Omelet Shoppe in Salem, VA for breakfast then hit the road for home around 11:00 AM. I stopped for gas a couple times and at 8:30 PM I stopped in Scottsburg, IN at a KFC for some belly food. I got some food in me and headed for Goshen, IN another 4 1/2 hour drive. I pulled into my home garage around 1:30 AM Monday morning. I hobbled into the house and met the happy wife. And now she can see I can hardly walk.Thought for the day:I'm so glad I'm back home I'm glad I went.Song for the day:HOMEWARD BOUND by Simon and Garfunkel
Date: 2015-04-28
From: VA 311 Catawba, VA

To: McAfee Knob
Miles today: 0.0

Hello fellow readers and gawkers. Let me tell you a story about hiking to McAfee Knob with wife in tow. Well, it's an almost 4 mile hike one way and it's got all the good stuff. It goes up to 3,197' from the start of 1,990'. It has up hills, down hills, flimsy bridges over rocks and over roots and sometimes it's just plain ugly. It's a beautiful view once you get up on top! There will be pictures of my wife and I later. We even had loud idiot college kids acting up along the way. It's their thing to do. We also had small mud patches and little creeks to cross so my wife had all the stuff to endure that I endure every day. It's like this - the miles in the woods are from 1/2 mph to 3 mph and road miles can be 60-70 mph. Anyway, it took a long time for the return 4 miles. My wife even took 2 tumbles in 8 miles. Lucky no hurts. I thought for a while I might have to carry her or drag her out the last couple miles. She says the AT is not for wimps, so I guess I'm not a wimp. (You are reading it here -- I am a wimp when it comes to hiking the AT. Insert by Marilyn.) I have over 700 miles in and am still going with a few breaks in the last two years. I still smile about the ouches my wife was experiencing, but don't tell her. I still need her help, which she has done very well so far. smile, smileThought for the day:If you think you're tough, try hiking for 5 days on the AT with 30+# on your back. Call me and we will talk walking.
Date: 2015-04-29
From: VA 624 Newport Rd

To: VA 311 Catawba, VA
Miles today: 5.9

I walked the 5.9 miles I skipped last fall after my hornet stings drove me off the trail for the year. I had skipped these miles because I wanted to get to Daleville, VA, a distance of 20 miles which I could hardly do, so another 6 miles would have blown my fuse. The walk wasn't too bad for good legs, but bad for bad legs. I got it done in less than 3 hours. I found my wife waiting at the parking lot at VA 311. She was recovering from her McAfee Knob ordeal. I still smile and so does she, both for different reasons. Hers for NEVER having to do it again. And mine? I'm not saying.Thought for the day:Sometimes it's better to keep your trap shut. Now remember, only good things should be spoken. Oh yes, my dear friends.
Date: 2015-04-30
From: US 220 Daleville, VA

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

I got out of bed in Salem, VA and my wife and I ate breakfast at the motel. We had scrambled eggs, sausage, yogurt, coffee and OJ. We loaded up the truck and headed for Daleville, VA to the AT trailhead. My wife dropped me off and we said our goodbyes and I crossed over a 4-lane highway to the trailhead heading north. My trail elevation went from 1350' to 2651'. The trail was not too bad all day. I saw a couple deer at a stream and some squirrels acting nutty. The birds were singing and having fun with me. In the afternoon about 3 miles from camp I got sprinkled on a little bit, but it was so warm I just got moist. I passed up Fullhardt Knob Shelter and then stopped at Wilson Creek Shelter which was an 11.2 mile stroll. When I got there a guy named Numbers and a girl named Hungry Eyes were already there. I set up my tent quickly because the sky looked blue and angry. It was 6:00 PM when the rain hit with lightening and thunder. The rain came at a good speed until about 8:00 PM and then continued to rain during the night. I was dry and warm in my dry tent. So never fear - life goes on in the rain on the AT.Thought for the day:I saw a lot of nice butterflies and this song came to mind. "Love is like the butterfly, think about it. Its life as an ugly worm to a beautiful fluttering drifting flying beauty."
Date: 2015-05-01
From: Wilson Creek Shelter

To: Bobblets Gap Shelter
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: broken clouds

I woke up at 6:00 AM to the sound of rain on my tent. In fact, it rained all night. I cooked some oatmeal for breakfast in my tent which I don't like to do, but going outside was not an option. The rain slowed to a mist and fog. About 8:00 AM I cleaned my tent and hiked out about 9:30 AM with my rain coat on. The rain let up around 12:30 and the sun came once in a while and started to dry out stuff. I'm seeing spring flowers coming up. Some plants have flowers, others don't. I see the greens of the Northern Pitcher plant. The wild iris plant is nice and blue. There are Cardinal flowers, red Columbine, wild geranium, and some common St. John's Wort. I got to Bobblets Gap Shelter about 2:30 PM and stopped for the day. I pulled out my wet tent and set it up and got out my other wet stuff too. It was all dried out by 6:00 PM and then it rained again so now it's back to wet again. I cooked lasagna/meat sauce for supper and threw in some hot chocolate for a drink. I cooked in the shelter since I'm here by myself tonight. I got only 7.3 miles in today but I was tired and had a lot of stony trail to stumble on. Thought for the day:A house that's warm and dry is nice. Some of us geeks pick the cool raining pathways and somehow survive.
Date: 2015-05-02
From: Bobblets Gap Shelter

To: VA 614 Jennings Creek
Miles today: 9.7

I got up around 6:00 AM and it was chilly and damp from the rain again last night. I made some oatmeal and hot chocolate in my tent because about 9:30 PM last night a couple hikers came to the shelter, so I had to be quiet. When I started my hike about 8:00 AM, they were up. They had hiked in the dark which isn't good. They caught sight of a cougar beside the trail which left them alone. All sorts of wild animals are out on the AT, but we often don't see them. I had a fairly good day and made good time. I stopped at Cove Mountain Shelter to rest at 11:30 AM and I had done 6.5 miles up to that point. The Natural Bridge Appalachian Trail Club was painting the shelter and had made a new picnic table. They were also building a handicap privy. They had a hole dug about 6' deep and maybe 6' square and had a wooden framework in the ground with posts sticking up for the top part of the privy which comes later. I will have photos later. I hiked toward Jennings Creek VA 614 and found trail magic in a cooler just before the road which had been left by one of the trail club members. Thank you, white truck driver. You're a good man! I now had 9.7 miles AT hiking and had another 1.5 mile hike to Middle Creek Campground where I intended to eat, clean up and sleep. I did eat two hamburger/egg sandwiches and a coke. I did my laundry and cleaned my dishes real well. I then had a big bowl of ice cream while my laundry was still going and I felt better. My tent and things are now dry again and hope it doesn't rain during the night. I set up my tent at Site 70 right beside a singing brook but it's in French so I only understand the melody and not the words. I also saw a log today that a bear had ripped to shreds. I should have taken a photo but it skipped my tired mind.Thought for the day:A shredded log by a bear is better than a shredded The Leopard by a bear. Much, much better.
Date: 2015-05-03
From: VA 614 Jennings Creek

To: Cornelius Creek Shelter
Miles today: 8.7
Weather: overcast clouds

I woke to a cool morning at the campgrounds. I got my stuff out of the tent into the sun to dry out from the morning dew. I could see vapor from my breath so it was cool. The camp store opened at 8:00 AM and the young man serving as cook made me 2 eggs, bacon, sausage, and toast plus 2 cups of black coffee. I got all my tent stuff dried out and packed my things including a 5-day food drop. The pack was a little on the heavy side. The cook at Middle Creek Campground is a very fine cook. I had a hot dog at about 11:00 AM and then they took me to the trail head about 12:20. I started on my hike at Jennings Creek and for the next 8.7 miles it was mostly uphill. I went from 951' elevation to 3560' then the last .6 mile was downhill to Cornelius Creek Shelter. The climb up Floyd Mt. of 1.3 miles was built by the Bad Mountain Mafia, I think. I hadn't seen such steepness for that distance since Georgia and North Carolina. Wow. A 6-hour day climb and they throw you a curve like that --- it sure gives the old man a workout! When I reached camp at 6:30 PM I filtered water to drink and made supper. I had hamburger/lasagna and hot chocolate. It was time to journal and then hit the sack. The flowers I saw today were Bluets, Pink Lady's Slippers without the flower, Dutch Man's Britches, large flowered White Trillium, Red Trillium, Nodding Lady's Tresses, May Apple, and ferns.Thought for the day:I must warn you. Take heed now. Never fart in your sleeping bag. There is no escape of the wicked smell except unzipping it and leaving the warm space and then returning to a cold sleeping bag. This is a bad move on a cold night. Selah.