morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2012-05-15
From: Side trail to U.S. 321

To: Spring
Miles today: 13.3
Weather: broken clouds

When I got up Tuesday morning the rains had stopped and I finished loading my backpack for the hike out of town. Remember that blue blazed trail I took to get an early out of the rain Sunday night? You guessed it, I had to hike back up the blue blazed trail to continue on the white blazes on the AT. I stopped by to admire the beautiful Laurel Falls and with all the rain we had been getting the falls were spectacular! I met a group of hikers who were hiking for college credit and they were calling to each other from the sides of Pond Mountain. They had been given each other trail names as they hiked. One adventurous young hiker got the trail name ¢water boy¢ after he had fallen in Laurel Creek and had to be rescued. They all seemed to be enjoying the hike and watched in amazement as I hiked past them up the side of the mountain.   For lunch I stopped at the picnic area of Watauga Lake. The sun had come out and there were youngsters on summer vacation swimming in the lake and one man on a jet ski. The rains had passed and it turned out to be a beautiful day to be outdoors. I looked at my maps and decided that my campsite for that day would be between the Wilbur Dam road and the Vendeventer Shelter. It was over 12 miles which would be a respectable day considering I had started my hike around 10 AM. I was treated to some nice views of Lake Watauga as the AT crosses the Watauga dam on the North end. I made camp the night before without getting extra water and had to conserve water for dinner. While I was cooking dinner I could hear the thunder in the distance and was glad I always set my tent up first. I have eaten many a meal from the shelter of my tent. That night I was treated to the sound of rain falling softly on my tent. I was warm, full of food and slept soundly.
Date: 2012-05-16
From: Spring

To: Campsite
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: scattered clouds

I got up Wednesday morning and felt lazy and didn¢t want to roll out of my sleeping bag. I looked over my maps and decided my goal for the day was a site simply marked Campsite just before the Double Springs shelter. I calculated it was over 36 miles to Damascus so I thought maybe two 15 or so mile days and then an easy hike down into Damascus Friday morning. Just in time for Trail Days. The rain had cleared up and the trail followed the ridge line above Lake Watauga and the views of the lake were beautiful. The sun was out and I decided that for lunch I would pitch my tent and let it dry out. I picked a spot on a grassy path which was once an old logging road and once my tent was drying out I took my boots and socks off and enjoyed a leisurely lunch. I felt relaxed on the trail. My hiking style was one that I could safely and without too much effort maintain two miles an hour with breaks and a one hour lunch. I hike between 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM and get to camp in enough time to enjoy dinnner and perhaps a little reading before I go to sleep. The trail was getting easier and I still felt good when I made it to the campsite. I had seen quite of few hikers on my way. Everyone was excited to get to Damascus for Trail Days. It was a fun and exciting time to be on the trail.
Date: 2012-05-17
From: Campsite

To: Tenn. VA State Line
Miles today: 15.7

Early Thursday morning I checked my watch for the time and noted the battery had gone dead. Also my Go-lite pack was developing some tears around the waist band and shoulder straps but I had heard that they offer free gear repair in Damascus. The trail is as as tought on gear as it is on hikers I thought. later that day I stopped to get some trail magic left by a local Church but the magic had run out by the time I got there. I thanked the church folks anyway and as I was making my entry a hiker with the trail name Leaks had shown up. He told me that his Field and Stream pack had some tears in it and when I told him about my pack he said ¢Keystone the manufacture is ¢Go-Lite¢ maybe you should look for one that says ¢Go-Heavy¢ as he made fun of my 40 pound pack. Trail humor you got to love it. My goal for Thursday was the Tenn. VA line. That would put me within four miles of Damascus or an easy Friday morning hike. All during the day I was passed by hikers on the trail to Damascus and late in the afternoon I came upon the scene of a pack on the ground and one female hiker looking very distraught. I feared a hiker had gotten hurt and when I approached the lady hiker held up her hand for to stop and said ¢there¢s a rattlesnake on the trail¢ I moved past the two hikers and asked ¢where?¢. ¢Its about 10 feet up the trail and if you get bit you die¢ cautioned the male hiker in a British accent. I thought ¢I guess first aid is out of the question¢ as I slowly walked up the trail and then I spied it. It was the biggest timber rattler I had ever seen! I thought they only got to be 3 feet long but this one looked four feet and had a thick body. You could hear its rattle long before you saw it. It was a beautiful specimen and I had read that most of the poisonous had been killed along the trail. The stripes on its back were black and it was very dark compared to the Eastern Diamond back we have in Florida. I took my treking poles and moved the brush beside the snake and it moved to about six feet from the trail and recoiled itself. ¢You can pass now¢ I told the other hikers. ¢No way¢ the lady hiker called from a safe distance, ¢it can still strike from there¢. ¢They can only strike half their coiled distance¢ I assured her but as she hurried past I just had to add ¢I think¢. The both thanked me and I stayed behind to get a few photos of the snake and to record the sound of its rattles. Great stuff for my journal I thought! I made it to the Tenn. VA state line around 5:30 PM and I was tempted to hike into Damascus but there was a great campsite just over the VA line and I decided it was far enough. I had just pitched my tent when I heard thunder in the distance and quickly cooked my dinner. Before I got to eat it the storm blew in and I crouched in my vestibule to enjoy my dinner as the rain started. The storm grew in intensity and soon my tent was being pelted by hail the size of peas. I was glad I was off the trail as I prepared to get into my sleeping bag. It was the fitting end to a great day on the trail.
Date: 2012-05-18
From: Tenn. VA State Line

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 3.7
Weather: broken clouds

I woke well rested and eager for the hike into Damascus. The mileage for today would be under four miles or a Nero day trail slang for a Near Zero mileage day. The trail term Nero also reminded me of my dog Nero who was back home, lying on the front porch, patiently waiting for his master to return. As I entered Damascus the sky was clear and the sun was out. The vendors were setting up their booths and I noted I had cell phone coverage so I called my hiking companion Crooked Sticks who assured me he would be there. I pitched my tent at The Place and after catching up with Crooked Sticks we decided on lunch at Quincies for a burger and beer. I now see why there was so much excitement surrouding Trail Days in Damascus. It was a festive time and the weather was perfect. It was a great time to be a hiker, especially a thru-hiker on the AT.
Date: 2012-05-19
From: Damascus, VA

To: Virginia Creek Trail
Miles today: 1.1

Saturday was the hiker parade and fun was had by the hikes and the spectators during the parade. Whether you hiked or watched the parade you should plan to get wet. With the help of Crooked Sticks resupplied at Wal-Mart for the next weeks hike to Marion, VA. I tried to get my pack repaired but ended up repairing it myself with a needle I bought at the Dollar General and some dental floss. All I had was pink dental floss and when Bandana saw my repair job he asked ¢Keystone are you trying to make a fashion statement?¢ After the parade and talent show the thru-hikes began to load their packs and head North. I had dinner with Crooked Sticks and bid him goodbye. I hope to hike with him again. We shall see. My camp for that night was not far out of Damascus. I could see the lights of the town from my campsite. I would like to return next year to Damascus for Trail Days.
Date: 2012-05-20
From: Virginia Creek Trail

To: Buzzard Rock, Whitetop Mountain
Miles today: 19.5

My next stop out of Damascus was the town of Marion, VA. I had my bounce box shipped there and I called Jack back home to have him ship my spare pack to my motel. I had bought a Gregory Baltoro 70 on sale but decided on bringing the Go-Lite Quest as it was half the weight. Since I can¢t seem to get under 40 pounds of pack weight I decided to Go-Heavy and try out the Gregory pack. Some heavy weight backpackers back in Damascus told me I wouldn¢t be sorry. I got out of camp early Sunday morning and set out for a long day. My goal was Buzzard Rock on Whitetop Mounain. The first day out of town is when the pack is its heaviest. I struggled the last few miles up to Bzzard Rock and was rewarded with a beautiful sunset. I wanted to camp up there but I noticed a road was close by and the wind began to pick up so I hiked on and sought the safety of the forest for my campsite that night.
Date: 2012-05-21
From: Buzzard Rock, Whitetop Mountain

To: Hurricane Mountain
Miles today: 22.1
Weather: scattered clouds

I found a great campsite North of Buzzard Rock but it was late when I pitched my tent and made dinner. I ate by headlamp and even hung my food using the headlamp. I was pleasantly surprised at my skill at getting a line over a branch and hoisting my food bag safely out of harm¢s way, all while using a headlamp. As I looked over my maps I noted that the next days hike would take me through the Grayson Highlands State Park, home of the wild ponies! I had seen photos from Crooked Sticks that the ponies are very friendly. The morning broke clear and cool with a light breeze and it looked promising for a great day in the highlands. I had no sooner crested my first hill and I stopped to admire the view when another hike came past and I recognize him as Nuga. I changed ¢NUGA, NUGA¢ and he approached and it got a smile. We hiked together most of the morning and Nuga was surprised at how my hiking speed had increased. I had tried several times to hike with him in the past but I would always fall behind. Today I kept up with him and soon we began to see the ponies. They were attracted to Nuga but I couldn¢t get them to come up to me. ¢Is it the way I smell?¢ I joked as they circled Nuga licking his arms and legs. ¢You¢re not sweating¢ he called back. ¢You hiked up here with me and didn¢t even break into a sweat¢ he commented. ¢Perhaps its because I didn¢t camel up¢ I replied using a term to drink all you can hold when you stop to get water. I did get some good photos of the ponies. At the next shelter we saw an entry that several hikers had seen a mother bear with two cubs. I carefully scanned the area around the shelter and nothing. Oh well I thought at least I got to see a rattlesnake. Nuga planned to camp at Old Orchard Shelter and I had my sights set on Hurricane Mountain. I told him ¢see you in Marion¢ but wasn¢t sure if he planned to get off the trail then. My feet were pretty swollen by the time I got down to Fox Creek so I decided to take my boots off, cook my dinner and wait for the swelling to go down before I tackled Hurricane Mountain. It worked for my feet but it was so late in the day and my stomach was full that I didn¢t have the motivation to hike to the top of the mountain. Halfway up I found a fairly flat spot off the trail and made my own campsite well off the trail in the forest. It was a good feeling when I calculated my mileage for the day at just over 22 miles.
Date: 2012-05-22
From: Hurricane Mountain

To: Mt Rodgers NRA Headquarterrs
Miles today: 21.1

I broke camp early as I planned to hike another 20 mile day. I was a little slow hiking first thing in the morning but i have learned to listen to my body and hike at a comfortable pace. It wasnt long before I was up to my hiking speed and yes getting passed regularly by the younger hikers as they headed to Partnership Shelter where you could call the town of marion to have a pizza delivered. I stopped for lunch at Trimpi Shelter and found Flap jack, Bison and Pocahontas having lunch there. Pocahontas is a male hiker and got his name because of his long hair he had before his hike. I had no sooner got my lunch unpacked when I saw a dog on the trail and then another dog and then another. In walked a tall man name John who quickly announced "I smell a polecat, oh wait thats just the smell of some hikers". That got some smiles and then he asked "anyone for a beer". Yes this trail angel had brought up cold Yeng Leng from his truck. It was a pretty lively lunch party with all the dogs and hikers and we enjoyed the moment. I was packing up the same time that John was and I was telling him how I hike with Nero and he said you want to walk one of my dogs back to the truck, its on the trail?" I said "sure" and it was nice to chat with him and see the dogs enjoy the trail as Nero does. By the time we got to his truck the rain had started again and I bid him farewell and hiked or rather sloshed the remaining 10 miles to Partnership Shelter. The shelter had filled up fast so I continued on and caught a ride into Marion, VA a bit early to restock, get my laundry done, eat from a plate instead out a freezer bag and oh yea update this journal. Sorry it took so long, thanks for your patience and for sharing my wonderful journey...one day at a time one step at a time.
Date: 2012-05-23
From: Mt Rodgers NRA Headquarterrs

To: Marion, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

I took a zero day in Marion, VA to pick up my bounce box, do laundry, resupply, and recharge. Marion has a transit system that will take you anywhere in town for fifty cents for each trip. Yes thats right fifty cents. That saved me lots and lots of walking. The town is very hiker friendly. I stayed at the America's best value which had great WiFi and allowed me to get caught up on this journal. The town was gearing up for Memorial weekend and I was tempted to stay the weekend but then I'm getting ahead of myself again.
Date: 2012-05-24
From: Marion, VA

To: Marion
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Yep thats correct I took a double zero in Marion. I had some financial matters to tend to back home and I had some gear issues to tend to in Marion. My Go-Lite pack had begun to come apart and I became concerned it wouldn't survive the hike. Before I got to Marion I had Jack send me my spare backpack to the motel. I contacted backcountry and explained what had happened and they happily gave me a RMA number to return the defective pack...pink dental floss and all. This involved an extra trip to the PO. The extra day was needed to get my gear ready to return to the trail.
Date: 2012-05-25
From: Mt Rodgers NRA Headquarterrs

To: campsite
Miles today: 7.8
Weather: clear sky

I got up Friday morning and was tempted to take another zero day in Marion. The town folks were so friendly and it was Memorial Weekend but I knew I had to get back on the trail. One last trip to the PO to bounce my box to Pearisburg, VA. The Marion shuttle makes three trips a day to take the hikers to and from the Mt Rodgers NRA Headquarters and I had a two hour wait but it was lunch time so I decided to have Chinese. The restaurant wasn't busy and let me stay and work on my mileage planner. When the shuttle picked me up we made the rounds and picked up all the hikers headed back to the trail. It was full bus by the time we headed to the Mt Rodgers NRA Headquarters. By the time I filled up on water and got my pack on it was 3:15 PM. Pretty late to start I thought, plus it was hot and humid and I had this new heavier pack...and did I mention how hot and humid it was? Anyway I felt lazy when I began hiking and started off slow. I soon began to feel good about being on the trail again and spied a hiker up ahead on his cell phone. I recognized the tatoo on his leg that it was Atlas. I hadn't seen him since he shared a room with Big man in Franklin! Wow that seemed like ages ago. I told him who I was and he asked if I could spare any water. The next water source was over five miles away. I gave him about 20 oz of water and wished him luck. It was short day but at least I got some miles in and pitched my tent beside a stream.
Date: 2012-05-26
From: campsite

To: Lynn Camp Creek
Miles today: 18.8

I slept soundly the night before and took my time breaking camp. I was expecting to see lots of hikers this weekend and was not dissapointed. I met Flip Flop a husband and wife section hiking the AT. They were from S.C. I also met Mad Mike who was thru-hiking. Then I met Fran who taught physical education for 10th graders and she told me the most amazing story about her pet pot bellied pig. She has a website paintingpig.com. Check it out. She is the proud owner of a painting pig! I wish she had brought the pig as I would have like to get and autograph. :-) That night I camped next to a stream and hung my food bag on a limb over the creek. I figured if those pesky bears were after my food they were going to have to swim for it.
Date: 2012-05-27
From: Lynn Camp Creek

To: Brushy Mountain campsite
Miles today: 20.7

With the heat and humidity and the hikes up and down the mountains it was one long day to do 20 miles. I was treated to some trail magic on two different occasions during the day. Once when I came upon a cooler with pineapple soda and cheeze crackers and another when I met E.T. who had previously thru-hiked and now every year on Memorial Weekend he serves up trail magic to the hikers. I had hot dogs and potatoe chips and cookies and a few sodas. I didn't have to cook dinner that night. Trail Magic!
Date: 2012-05-28
From: Brushy Mountain campsite

To: Brushy Mountain Campsite
Miles today: 20.0

The name brushy mountain is pretty popular in these parts. No sooner had I hiked up and down Brushy mountain then I was hiking it again. Today was anoher long one with high temps and high humidity. I got a nice campsite for the night with a sunset view and nice breeze. Almost forgot to mention the black snake I saw. A real beauty, I'm sure around five feet. Yes photo attached.
Date: 2012-05-29
From: Brushy Mountain Campsite

To: Ribble Trail campsite
Miles today: 19.0

I got an early start off of Brushy Mountain and enjoyed hiking in the cool early morning. My camera was ready but all I saw was a few deer, a squirrel and a few chipmunks...still no bears. One hiker told me he saw two cubs in a tree. And all this time I was looking for bears on the ground! I saw another black snake crossing the trail in front of me and got its photo. When I got to VA 606 I decided to get off the trail and have lunch at a local Mom and Pop country store. I ordered up a double cheeze burger, fries and a mountain dew. While I was eating a talked to a section hiker who had just completed 150 miles and was heading back home. When I was leaving I met a retired couple who owned a red trike and they had questions for me and I had some questions about their trike. I just had to get a photo of the trike. When I got to dismal creek trail one of the hiker had mentioned swimming and I was all for a swim. I got to the falls and waded in hiking clothes and all. I was wet already from sweat and oh was that water cold!!! After i dried off I noticed that the clouds were building so I repacked my new pack in plastic trash bags and headed for Wapiti Shelter about 6 miles away. Well long story short the rain got to me befor I got to the shelter. It was for the best. Why break my perfect record of not staying in shelters so early in the hike? By the time I got to the shelter I was drenched, boots sloshing, but at least I wasn't sweating. I hiked right past the shelter preferring to camp on the mountain. Just as darkness was setting in I found a level spot along the trail, pitched my tent in the rain and after I got dry cloths on I ate a cold dinner of tuna and flour tortilla shells. It just doesn't get any better than this I thought as I crawled into my dry sleeping bag and drifted off to sleep with the sound of rain on my tent.
Date: 2012-05-30
From: Ribble Trail campsite

To: Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 12.8
Weather: few clouds

When I woke around 5:30 AM the rain had stopped and the birds were singing. I looked outside but a fog had covered the mountain and I couldn't tell what kind of weather to expect. To be safe I repacked all my dry gear in plastic (I dont rely on pack covers) and had to choose between whick pair of wet socks looked cleaner. Pulling on cold wet socks and boots is not high on my list but I'm not into barefoot hiking. I had a cold breakfast of instant mashed potatoes and bacon bits but promised myself a hot lunch of red beans and lunch...compliments of a trail angel. A few miles up the mountain and I was warmed up and hiking a top speed...well my top speed. The fog was burned off and the blue sky appeared and soon I was huming some song about "don't play in waterfalls" I was treated to some spectactular views...photos attached. It was a good week for hiking and I met some really nice folks, experience some generous trail magic and even got some miles in. It was nice to share this weeks hike with you and I hope you like the photos. Till we meet again...take it "one day at a time, one step at a time". See you up the trail.
Date: 2012-05-31
From: Pearisburg, VA

To: Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Took a zero day in Pearisburg, VA to resupply, retrieve bounce box, update journal, and get my laundry done. The motel I stayed at washed laundry for free so I got my laundry done first thing. I met Robo and Tinkerbell while shopping for food at Food Lion. Robo complained about being sick for a few days while on the trail. Something that no one wants to experience. I overbought on food (as usual) and got some Quaker Oats Soft Baked Banana Nut cookies which I thought would tsste great after dinner.I couldn't get usable WiFi at the hotel so I walked to the library to get on Internet. On the way back from the library I stopped at Pizza Hut to get dinner and when I went to pay for my dinner with a traverlers check they couldn't cash it so the manager gave me a free dinner. So I received a little unexpected trail magic from Pizza Hut. Pretty nice of those folks.The noise from the road next to the motel made sleeping next to impossible. I remember thinking I'll get a good nights sleep on the trail.
Date: 2012-06-01
From: Pearisburg, VA

To: Ground Hog Trail
Miles today: 0.0

When I was checking out of the motel the storm clouds were rolling in. The motel manager said they were expecting an 80 percent chance of rain and asked if I wanted to stay another day. I said "yes I do but I need to get hiking". I stopped at the DQ before I left town and got fast food for lunch. The burger and fries should help power me up the first mountain. The rain started as a light drizzle and I stopped to put my pack cover on. I passed two hikers on the way up the mountain. I felt rested and even though I was loaded with max food and water the pack didn't seem heavy. Its a Gregory Baltoro 70, a six pound monster but designed to carry 60 pounds so the 40+ I had in it did not feel uncomfortable. At the top of the mountain I spied a turtle and got my first wildlife shot of this hike. The rain started to pick up so I double bagged my camera. That was the last photo of that day. I stopped to sign the register at the Field Shelter about 6 miles in but it was too early to stop so I pressed on. I had not gone another mile when the sky opened up and with the winds on top of the mountain I was soon drenched from the waist down. After about ten miles I began to look for a campsite and found one just one the other side of Grounhog Trail. I was inspecting the site when a southbound section hiker stopped and I asked what the campsites looked like up the trail. "Better take this one" he said and I was home for the night.