morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-05-15
From: Damascus

To: Hike Inn - Fontana Dam
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

This is going to be a really short entry, as it is late and I have a date with destiny tomorrow and will be getting a very early start.I was up early today, but went back to sleep hoping that the rain, which had come down in buckets overnight might let up. Eventully it did and I packed everything, including one very wet tent. I then went in search of Shelly, and found her at the main tent sight. She and her friends appeared to be slightly worse for the wear, but mainly just tired. After lunch, Shelly, me, and three hikers who needed a ride to Miss Janet's (but wouldn't fit in her van) were off to Fontana Dam, with a stop in Erwin. Our timing was perfect, as we arrived at Robinsville just as Nancy Hoch from the Hike Inn was bringing three of her guests into town for dinner. We all had dinner at the local BBQ restaurant, and then Shelly set off for her house.As I later came out of the restaurant to get into Nancy's truck, panic struck. I suddenly realized that my pack was still in Shelly's car! While feeling especially intelligent at that point, we all piled into the truck and sped off in pursuit. Fortunately, Shelly had stopped for gas a block away, so a disaster was averted.We went back the Hike Inn and I spent the remainder of my evening setting up my tent to dry and rearranging gear in my pack. Jeff was glad to see me and said that I was one of the few, who actually came back as planned after falling off of the trail. He agreed to drive me to the trailhead early the next morning and I was glad. Setting my alarm for 5AM and saying a little prayer for the next day's adventure, I turned in early. Tommorrow is the big day - a return to the scene of the crime!Stay tuned, LonghaulSent via PocketMailEmail Anywherewww.pocketmail.com
Date: 2005-05-22
From: Groundhog Creek Shelter

To: Walnut Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Another fabulous day on the trail. The weather was mostly perfect - for hiking, anyway. A storm system seemed to be brewing, as it was cool, and windy - great for hiking - but also partly sunny.Once again the conditions of the trail were superb - as good as I've seen anywhere, and the ups were less than usual as I began my decent from the 6,000 plus summits of the Smokies to less exhaulted elevations. In short, a wonderful day of hiking the trail.The highlight of my day was reaching Max Patch, one of the coolest of all the balds I've seen so far. When I arrived, I was able to get some beautiful panoramic shots with my camera, but in just the few minutes I was at the summit the wind picked up significantly and a thunder-head appeared near by, moving rapidly in my direction, so I beat a hasty retreat down the other side.I reached the shelter about 5PM and set about the usual chores. I was soon joined by Kindman, who decided to push on another 11 miles to the next shelter - a 22 mile day, but putting him within 3 miles of Hot Springs and civilization! Another section hiker- Brad - also showed up. We'd met during a break at the previous shelter, and he turned out to be really good company. He's a young man from Detriot who's faher lives near Max Patch. His intention is to hike the AT one day, but for now he's mostly just trying to get some experience and sort out what kind of gear to acquire. He was not only pleasant company, he built us a great campfire - something I really like but rarely have time for. A most enjoyable evening, even if it did prevent me from getting fully caught up on my journal. A man's got to have priorities, ya' know?Today's hike is dedicated to all those members of M company who are stll out on the trail, fighting the good fight, day after day, staying the course in the pursuit of their dream. Even though we are miles apart, I know that we are together in spirit. Carry on, dear friends. Godspeed!Stay tuned, Longhaul------------------------------Sent via PocketMailEmail Anywherewww.pocketmail.com
Date: 2005-05-26
From: Flint Mountain Shelter

To: Low Gap camp area
Miles today: 15.0

I had hoped to get to Big Bald Mountain Shelter tonight, but that wasn't to be. I'm afraid the beating my knees took going through all those rocks yesterday left both of them pretty sore. The problem with the right one, of course, is the arthritic condition which - simply put - involves the ends of my femur and my tibia rubbing together as I walk. (That is why it is only a matter of time - and distance - before I'll need a new, or reconstructed, joint put in, but hopefully only after I've reached Maine!). To minimize that problem, I use my poles to keep as much weight as possible off my right knee. As a consequence, of couse, I'm putting more than its fair share of pressure on my left knee, which is now beginning to show signs of stress. The solution, of course, is to slow down, way down, and give both knees as much of a break as possible. Which is why the best I could do today was 15 miles.This means I will need a fifth day to reach Erwin, but its the right outcome. Besides, it allowed me to meet and camp with three delightful new through hikers - Strike, Beckham, and Kentucky - in a beautiful little camp site at Low Gap. Spike and Beckham are a young couple from Melbourne, Austrailia. Their hiking companion is a big, gangly fellow from Kentucky with a marvelous sence of humor and a penchant for humongous campfires. I mean, he wants to put every log within sight into his evening bomfire. And he generally does just that. I like all three of them. Unfortunately, they are all young, with good knees, so I doubt I'll be with them for long. C'est la vie. I shall enjoy the moment.I am also going to take TWO little pink pills tonight and hope that will make my knees feel better in the morning!Today's hike is dedicated to new trail friends - however long we may hike together.Stay tuned, Longhaul------------------------------Sent via PocketMailEmail Anywherewww.pocketmail.com
Date: 2005-05-27
From: Low Gap camp area

To: No Business Knob Shelter
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Another fabulous day on the trail!My knees were both feeling better this morning, not great, but better. I would have loved to make up for yesterday's shorter distance, and get into Erwin tonight, but there is no way I am up to a 22 mile day! Besides, I would get in so late that there would be no time to get supplies and other town chores done, so I'd then face a short day the day after. I decided to stick with a more reasonable 14.5 miles.The highlight of today's day's climb was Big Bald - a 1,400 ft. elevation gain, but well worth it. I arrived at the large grassy area on top just after 8AM. The day had started with the sun showing through as I climbed for the first hour - fortunately in the shade of the western slope. By the top, however, a storm had moved in. I had a panoramic view, with clear vistas to the east but nothing but clouds and mist from the west. They were moving very fast and, before I could get over the top, the rain started. The temperature, which had been in the upper forties, dropped vey quickly and the wind picked up dramatically, threatening to blow me off my feet. If not for my hiking poles, it would have! The rain soon turned to sleet. At that point, I stopped to put on my hooded windshirt, which immediately protected me from both the cold wind and the sleet. I kept it on as I crossed the bald and got a few hundred yards down the other side. Once again, my gear came through for me. I love my Golight windshirt!Not long after that, I scared up a grouse from her nest near the trail. Her sudden squawking and clucking scared me, too, but I was absolutely fascinated by the act she put on. I'd read about it, but never seen it before. She was limping and had one wing out like she was injured, and was obviously trying to lure this monster predator with hiking poles away from her nest with the prospect of an easy victim. I tried to get a picture of her, but she blended in with the folliage too well for that, so I soon gave up. If she was worried about her young ones, I didn't want to distract her any longer than necessary. A mile or so further down the trail, I came across several feathers on the trail, looking very much like those of a grouse. I hoped that one, too, had escaped in time. I saved a feather as a souvineer.When I reached the shelter, I found only one other person there - a southbounder named Jimbo. We were soon joined, however, byPaul, Buck, the same 3 section hikers that had been with me the two previous nights, Kentucky, Spike and Beckham. With Kentucky there, we had a nice campfire, but I went to bed early. We are all anxious to get into Erwin tomorrow, and all plan to stay at the famous Ms. Janet's.Today's hike is dedicated to the mother grouse I met this morning, and to mothers everywhere who would make any sacrifice to protect their babies from harm. God bless you all. Goodnight.Stay tuned, Longhaul------------------------------Sent via PocketMailEmail Anywherewww.pocketmail.com
Date: 2005-06-06
From: Abington Gap Shelter

To: Damascus
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: few clouds

The Road to Damascus - Day 9!The final ten miles to Damascus were uneventful and, thanks to the Tennessee Turnpike, went mercifully fast. I got into Damascus around 11:30AM, but not before passing a sign on the trail three miles earlier that informed me I was leaving Tennessee and entering my home state of Virginia. So, since Springer, I have officially bagged three of the 14 AT states - Georgia, North Carolina, and now Tennessee. (I have also completed West Virginia and Maryland, so technically I've done five in total, but I wont count those two officially until I'm done with Virginia.)On my way into town, I ran into Phoenix and his new hiking partner (and old collage roommate) Ned the Fed - a retired FBI agent. We arranged to get together later for drinks and dinner at The Old Mill, and then went our separate ways.I did my usual round of chores - finding a place to stay, shower, laundry, re-supplies, etc. I finally ended up at the same four bunk Hiker Inn hostel that Phoenix and Ned were at, and Mike (the Brit)was the fourth.Dinner was really nice, and it was wonderful to catch up on things with Phoenix. I had a spinach and artichoke dip, smoked ribs, a Caesar salad and baked potato. The ribs were more than I could finish, so I dropped the doggie bag off with a couple of hiking buddies who were staying at "The Place", another local hostel.I'm about to make it an early night, as I'm planning a 16 mile day tomorrow with some actual ups and downs - unlike the turnpike. Stay tuned, Longhaul------------------------------Sent via PocketMailEmail Anywherewww.pocketmail.com
Date: 2005-06-07
From: Damascus

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

Heading for Atkins, Virginia!I got a really early start this morning - 6AM - and somehow, as I hoisted my pack, heavy with five days food and three liters of water, I wondered how I would do today. Would my climbing legs show their appreciation for having had a couple of days of no significant elevation gains, or object strenuously to having to get back to work?I had the answer in the first hour, and all systems were "go"! I actually averaged two miles an hour even with the up hills, and for awhile I debated with the Mileage Monster going to a campsite 5 miles further making for a 21 mile day.In the end, my knees (my right one in particular) vetoed the idea. Just before I reached the Lost Mountain shelter - my original destination - I started getting a sharp pain in the patella area, which I can only hope is not some new injury. I don't need any more of those!!!I'll does it with my little pink pills, and hope for the best. To make it to Atkins in five days, however, I need to average 15 miles a day, and the way the shelters are laid out, the next two days will be 17 miles each. Sure do hope the knee holds up....Having reached here at 3:30PM, I've gotten my tent set up and had dinner, and was going to start a fire next, but three high school kids doing a section hike just showed up, and they've volunteered to handle that. Oh yeah! I think I'll just "chill" and watch them work.Stay tuned, Longhaul------------------------------Sent via PocketMailEmail Anywherewww.pocketmail.com
Date: 2005-06-08
From: Lost Mountain Shelter

To: Wise Shelter
Miles today: 17.3
Weather: light rain

Day two on the road to Atkins. This was long day, but a good one. It began with a 1,900 ft. climb up to Buzzard Rock on White Top Mountain, then down to a gap, then back up another 1,000 ft. nearly to the summit of Mount Rogers - highest peak in Virginia at 5,729 ft. A side trail led to the summit, but a tourist coming down from there confirmed what my guidebook noted - that there were no views to be had, so I moved along. When I arrived at the next shelter, Thomas Knob, I was pleasantly surprised to find Phoenix and Ned the Fed. They had done a relatively short day that day, Buzzard Rock and Mt. Rogers (about seven miles) and Ned, especially, was pretty much whupped, this being his first full day on the trail. Phoenix said they were not going on, but since I only had food for five days to Atkins, and somewhat more of a schedule to keep (since I will be leaving the trail again in a couple of weeks for scout camps and the annual family beach week), I needed to do another five miles up to the Wise Shelter. Just beyond the shelter were the famous Grayson highlands - a bald area where wild ponies abide. Wile the highlands were indeed impressive, there were two striking features I had been alerted to: first, there are rocks, lots of rocks. The trail is one long series of rocky pathways between larger rock outcroppings. What that means is that I got to see a lot of rocks, watching where each foot has to go, but don't have much time to actually look up and enjoy the scenery!The second thing was the wild pony phenomenon. It seems that certain hikers, keen to befriend the ponies and get a good photo of them up close, offer food as an inducement. Bad idea! Never feed the wildlife, kids! Not surprisingly, after a while, the ponies associate hikers with free food, and the game is on. By mid season, it can look more like a subway mugging than friendly wild ponies, and recent trail registers have told of hikers being bitten and even kicked. The most recent entry at Thomas Knob said a hiker had suffered a broken arm yesterday as a result of a pony kick.Ok, so I did keep an eye out for marauding ponies while trying to dodge the rocks, but in any event I never saw hide or hair of them. A mixed blessing, I suppose. It would have been interesting. Especially as I had nothing handy to feed them, not that I would have - unless it was necessary to make an escape, of course. Ah, the many pleasures of the trail.At the Wise shelter here are a couple of older section hikers - very nice couple - trying out their gear and one other thru-hiker by the name of Roof.But it was a very long day, so this very tired hiker is going to bed!Today's hike is dedicated to al of those sensible hikers who saw the wild ponies, and did not feed them...Stay tuned, Longhaul
Date: 2005-06-09
From: Wise Shelter

To: Troutdale, VA
Miles today: 16.0

This was going to be a 17.5 mile day, ending at Raccoon Branch shelter just on the other side of Troutdale. I had food for the 5 days from Damascus to Atkins, and didn't need supplies, but two things happened on the way to the forum. First, I learned from a notice posted at last night's shelter that the Raccoon Branch shelter had been removed! Ok, need a new plan. Second, the weather looked very threatening, making camping at the site of the former shelter a less than fully attractive option. What finally convinced me was that the sky just opened up and poured down rain for the final 30 minutes of my hike coming up the Troutdale road crossing.In retrospect, I think it was probably the Guy upstairs way of helping me to celebrate my 500 miles of trail covered since Springer, a mark I reached just before the rain fell. You know how, after a victory on the football field, several of the players grab the Gatorade bucket and drench the winning coach? It was sort of like that. Man, it rained so hard, you could not have gotten me any wetter if you had picked me up and thrown me into a swimming pool!So, when I reached the road crossing, the decision had been made. I hitched into town, stopped at the general store and restaurant, and called the local B&B to see if the had a room available. Apparently this is the slow season, as they had lots of room. I turned out to be their only guest. It was a neat place (The Foxhill Inn), with all the amenities, including cable TV.I got dried out, clothes washed, and everything restored to hiking condition. The only drawback to such luxury is staying up too late to enjoy them....Today's hike is dedicated to the Inn Keepers, Mark and Janet - AT hikers themselves, and just really nice folks. Thanks for the hospitality, guys. Stay tuned, Longhaul
Date: 2005-06-10
From: Troutdale, VA

To: Partnership Shelter
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: light rain

I had a lovely breakfast this morning of French toast, sausage, fruit, and coffee, and Janet got me to the trail at 7:45. The trail was relatively easy today. A farm, with several cows and lots of cow pies, so I needed to watch my step.The shelter I'm staying at tonight (Partnership) has running water, a shower, a block privy with real toilet paper, and a phone at the nearby Forest Service information center from which one can order pizza and beer.I celebrated my official 500 mile party with thru-hikers Chopstick, Baby Blue, and Darth Gaiter. We ordered pizza and beer, and I also got a Greek salad as I have been craving greens lately.While waiting dinner to arrive, we got a really nice campfire going.After dinner, Chopstick played tunes and sang songs on his ukulele, one of which was the start of an original composition about thru-hiking called "White Blaze caravan".It was, altogether, a really Lovely evening. But since i rarely drink, my two beers are making it very hard for me to keep m eyes open long enough to type this.....Today's hike is dedicated to whoever located this shelter so close to a phone!Stay tuned, Longhaul
Date: 2005-06-11
From: Partnership Shelter

To: Atkins, VA-Relax Inn
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: light rain

When I first started this little walk in the woods, I was content with 7-9 mile days, and 11 - 13 miles was a long day. And that was when I thought I had two good knees! This morning, I was thrilled to be going into town with only an 11.5 mile hike between me, a hot shower, clean clothes and a restaurant meal or two. With an early start, i figured I could be there by noon - essentially a half day for me now.The trail was pretty easy, with only minor elevation changes, not too many rocks, and only a couple of miles of treeless/shadeless meadow to traverse at the end of the hike under the hot June sun.I even arrived with only the normally sweat-soaked shirt and top of my trousers, the rain having held off. With last night's rain, however, the humidity was high and, early on, the over-growth of weeds and shrubs on the sides of the trail kept most of me wet - but nothing like the drenching of two days ago.I arrived at the Relax Inn around noon, and checked in. I'm rooming with a thru-hiker I met at Partnership shelter last night - Gaiter, a very nice young man from Maine who is between college and graduate school.After a shower and laundry, we hit the local Dairy Queen for lunch (Hey, ice cream is food, ok?), and then the gas station mini-mart to restock our food bags.I spent the afternoon studying maps and guide books to complete my hike plans through Wednesday, June 22. That's the last day of this part of my hike, as I will be leaving the trail for awhile to do scout camps with my sons and our family's annual beach week. I'm really looking forward to the three week break and to spending time with my family. I'd love to continue hiking, of course, and I think if I did, I could possibly even catch up with some of my M company friends, especially since I have already hiked over two hundred miles that they have yet to hike. But, like they say - you have to hike your own hike, and spending this precious time creating great memories with my kids while they are young, and with my wife, is part of who I am. I wouldn't have it any other way.By my calculation, I can reach Catawba, Virginia by the 22nd, and will then find a way to get to Roanoke, Virginia where I will catch a bus home. When I return to the trail on July 18, I will return to Catawba and hike the remaining 153 miles up to Rockfish Gap (Waynesboro) - an estimated ten days hike time. I will then have completed all of the AT from Springer Mountain up to the Maryland/Pennsylvania state line.After that, I still plan to jump up to the northeast somewhere and hike up to Baxter State Park where I will summit Katahdin. After that, I will probably hike south from the northeast back to the Pennsylvania/Maryland state line, where my through-hike will be officially concluded. That's the plan, anyway - not to be confused with what may actually happen in reality. But it¢s a plan. A good plan. With a bit of luck, and a lot of hard work, I think it just might work.Today's hike is dedicated to a little luck, and a lot of hard work....Stay tuned, Longhaul
Date: 2005-06-14
From: Jenkins Shelter

To: Bland, VA
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: scattered clouds

This was a relatively short hike that started with a climbup Brushy Mountain, then down into a valley where the trail followed a meandering stream through a heavy growth of Rhodendendron trees. With all the rain recently, the stream was relatively high, and we had to cross it a dozen times, stepping carefully from rock to rock. Such fun!We then climbed up a second Brushy Mountain - it seems there are actually SIX Brushy Mountains in Virginia - and then followed a ridge line for several miles.Altogether, this was an uneventful day, but nonetheless a pleasant one. I arrived at a road crossing near Bland, VA and got a quick hitch into town, folowed by all of the usual town chores.The one noteable feature of today's hike was the large number of swith-backs going up the second Brushy Mountain - a total of ten of them - which allowed me to maintain steady upward progess, since the grade is a fairly constant 8-12%. In fact the whole seven miles of trail from the stream on was very well maintained.Today's hike is dedicated to the volunteer trail maintainers of the Piedmont AT Hiking Club. Thanks for your work, guys - it does make a difference!Stay tuned, Longhaul------------------------------Sent via PocketMailEmail Anywherewww.pocketmail.com