morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-05-07
To: White Top Mountain
Miles today: 0.0

May 7Campsite below White Top Mtn17.9 miles mile #478.1 on ATA wonderful day on any number of levels. The weather was perfect, the trail wasnot very steep, the scenery was fabulus, and churned out almost 18 miles withthe amount of effort that I used to expend to do 12 miles. In addition a friendhad told me that there was a place that sold ice cream that was only a sortdistance of the trail, the place is not mentioned in any of the guides and thereis no signs for it on the trail. But when I hit the spot I figured a bit of awonder was worth it for ice cream. So off I went not sure exactly how far I hadto go or weather the place still existed. Luckily, after a short distance Istarted seeing houses and after a bit a sign for the Creeper Trail Cafe. Well Istuffed myself with two milkshakes and got myself back on the tail satisfiedthat I had consumed enough caloroes to get me up the next maoutain.The trail was beautiful suddenly there are lots of leaves on the trees and theworld of grey has turned green. We kep passing along beautiful mountin streams. I guess they are well stocked and the streams are popular for trout fishing. Iyou find yourself in Southweat Virginia I and you like to bicycle than I woulddefinitly recommend the Virginia Creeper Trail. It is a thirty some mile trailthat follows an old railway bed. Part of th AT follows it briefly, but thetrail passes up thruough the mountains and over these streamss but has a nicegentle grade due to it being a former rail route. Well tomorow we are passingover the lst 5,000 ft mountains for over 1,0000 miles and we are hoping onmaking 20 miles so wish us luck.
Date: 2004-05-08
From: White Top Mountain

To: Old Orchard Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

May 8Old Orchard Shelter20.7 miles mile #498.8 on ATWell it started out as a wonderful day. Perfect weather an early start. As Imade it to the top of the frist mountain I caught a glimpse of a few dear. Theshoulders of Mt Rogers had some wonderful grassy areas. Apparently they keepseveral herds of a breed of miniature horses on the mountain to keep the fieldsfrom being overgrown. A couple walked right up to me looking for treats. Icarefully peted them but they seemed pretty skittish. They were very cute, asthey stood at just above my waist at their shoulder. There were also severalnewborns around one of which looked like it was only hours old it was so wobblyon it's feet. Around where the ponies were was a area caled the GreysonHiglands which was this big grassy open ridge with large rock outcroppings. Very different than the usual forests we hike through, but I guess it once wasforested but it was cleared for grazing, still the view were spectacular. Theweather was supposed to be nice for the next week b! ut even in the morning there were suspicious looking clouds. The type thatcause afternoon showers. Well we hit the second to the last shelter of the dayand the sky opened up. There was thunder, lightning, rain and hail this went onfor over two hours. Some of the hail was the size of large marbles. There wassix more miles to go and it was getting late. As the rain started litening upone by one we haeded out. It looked like the storm was finally blowing out andthe sky was spectacular with half filled with dark storm clouds and half withpuffy clouds and sunshine and Mt Rogers in the middle. It tok til 8PM to make tohere the shelter was full so it was tenting time again. I addition, the darkclouds were moving back in. A quick rush to set up make dinner and get insidebefore the rain started. So now I am warm and dry and bundled in my tent withthe pitter-patter of rain drops. I hope it clears out by morning
Date: 2004-05-09
From: Old Orchard Shelter

To: Partnership Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

may 9Partnership Shelter24.7 miles mile #523.5 on ATWow that was a long hike. Painful but in the end totally worth it. The goal ofthe last couple of long days was to make it to this shelter. This is the onlyshelter on the whole trail with it's own shower. In adition it is close to aroad and a phone from which one cane order pizza and have it delivered. Inaddition, we heard that there was going to be a birthday party for a hiker andthat people would be bring beer. So what better reason to walk 25 miles thanfor a shelter with all the amenities of covilization. I can't say much aboutthe day it was pretty much one big painful blurr. But I got my shower ate alarge pizza by myslef and played some guitar in adtion to listening to sometalented players. I even got to use the phone to be a good son and wish mymother a happy birthday and a happy mother's day. On top of that we crossed the500 mile mark. While not quite a quarter of the way it is still a bigmilestone. I will probably take it easy for the rest of the! week and not do such big miles but the mountains are getting smaller withlonger flat sections and so I should be moving much faster from here until wereturn to the big Mountains of New England
Date: 2004-05-10
From: Partnership Shelter

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

May 10Atkins, VA1.6 miles, mile#535.1 on ATAfter the party it was a bit of a slow morning. At the same time my goal forthe day was pretty limited. Even with a late start I made it to town by 1:00. I think I was still numb from yesterdays hike, but when I made it to the motelroom and passed out. I took a long nap an then ate and went back to bed.Since we left Mt. Rogers the terain has cahnged a lot. No big mountains, mostly just long ridges. But we are on much lower elevation ans everthingsuddenly is really green. But even the types of trees seem different.
Date: 2004-05-11
From: Atkins, VA

To: Knot Maul Branch Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

May 11Knot Maul Branch Shelter13.9 miles, mile#549.0 on ATBoy it is still hard for me to drag myself from the comforts of a cheap motelroom back into the woods. I did not sleep well last night and my feet werekiling me all day. I took it very slow and that helped. I think I am stillsuffering the effects of the 24 mile day. Two more days of hiking and then I amtakng three days off for trail days. Trail Days is a big festival held inDemascus which is a town I in last week. But I hope the feet feel bettertomorrow as I need to cover 19 miles. It does ot help that is hot humid andrainy in addition. Definitly not a great day.
Date: 2004-05-12
From: Knot Maul Branch Shelter

To: Jenkins Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

May 12Jenkins Shelter19 miles, mile #568.0 on ATBoy what a difference a good nights sleep makes. I got a nice early start andslowly methodically knocked off the miles, today. I certainly, feel better thanwhen I did the 24 miles. There were nice views and it was up high so it wascooler. Throw in that there was no rain and I would say in spite of 19 miles itwas a great day. There is a big group here at the shelter tonight which isalways entertaining. Well a short down hill 11 miles tomorrow and than I cantake my 3 day break at Trail Days.
Date: 2004-05-13
From: Jenkins Shelter

To: Abington, Va
Miles today: 0.0

May 13Abington, Va11.5 miles, mile#579.5 on ATWell it is nice to be back in civilization and looking at 3 days of not carryinga backpack. I woke up earkly and was going by 7:00 and finished up for the dayby noon. I thought Diesel and Tank were going to catch me and we could say godbye, but I'm not sure how but they did not. I was going to leave them a not atthe trail head but my pen did not work. So Tank & Diesel it was great hikingwith you and maybe I cath up with you in June somtime. Getting out of Bland was suprizingly easy as Halfmoon had rented a car and hehad a place for a pasenger.
Date: 2004-05-14
From: Abington, Va

To: Damascus
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

May 14 & 15Back tob Damascus0 milesWell it has been quite nice to not be walking with a backpack for a few days. But the most fun is seeing all these folks that I have not seen in weks andweeks. Maybe I have been very selective about who I remember but most everyoneI remember is still on the trail. I spent most of yesterday trying to get my feet straightened out. I got fittedfor custom shoe insert that they insist will do wonders for my feet, we willsee. But it took five hours to get evaluated and fitted and spent a bunch oftime looking at new shoes but nothing they had fit better than what I have. There are a lot of other outdoor gear reps here with things for sale. In thetent city were they put all the hikers the reps have booths were you can takeand have your gear serviced for free, they pretty much replaced all the parts onmy stove replaced.While there are all these organized events going around town, mostly I justwandered around talking to other thru-hikers. Today was the big parade. Allthe past, present, and future thru-hikers make up the parade procesion. Thanthe real fun begins. Aparently the main purpose of the parade id for everyoneto get everybody else wet. The crowd is armed with waterballoons, water guns,and hoses oened up full. Many of the hikers are also well armed and so on thewhole parade route the water flies.It ended up raining this evening which which added to the reasons to sit at thebar and have a long wide ranging philosophical discussion with Halfmoon.Unfortunately, by the time the rain had let up and I had fetched my guitar Icould not find Leapfrog for my guitar lession.Well while the drum circle seems to be going strong in spite of the rain, I'mcalling it quits as tomorrow I have a ride back to where I got off the trail soI will be back at it for the next 3/4 of this stroll through the woods.
Date: 2004-05-16
From: Damascus

To: Jenny Knob Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

May 16 Jenny Knob Shelter 12.1 miles, mile #591.6 on AT Well I woke several times to the drum circle, but at least it did not rain again. I have had a wonderful day. I got up and had a wonderfully large breakfast. Than I got a wonderful ride with Flash who had come down for Trail Days. He brought me all the way up to where I had gotten off the trail. I took it easy I figured I would make sure that my legs still worked and had to break in my new insoles. So I was in early and there was a good crew here. I got in a interesting discussion of the world with a guy from Maine, Meanderthal, who is quite an interesting character as well as a delightful couple from Nova Scotia. Tomorrow though I need to crank some miles and get myself heading North for the Mason/Dixon Line.
Date: 2004-05-17
From: Jenny Knob Shelter

To: Sugar Run Gap, The Woodshole Hostel
Miles today: 21.0
Weather: overcast clouds

May 17Sugar Run Gap, The Woodshole Hostel21 miles, mile # 612.0 on ATA wonderful day. OK so it rained buckets and hailed on, but it was still awonderful day. I got a early start and spent the first several hours hikingalone through the fog. Some describe the AT as the green tunnel, and thismorning I really felt I was in the green tunnel. Spring seems to be gone, thetrees are fully green and the forest is now lush. It was particularly neat inthe fog as all the spider webs could be seen with a light coat of dew. I did a nice 7.5 miles in three hours and hit a road that led to a store just ashort distance away. A thru-hiker can not pass up hot junk food so off I wentand stuffed myself. I even got to check e-mail and it was great to get severalmessages from the Geneva crowd. I am glad the post card made it. So then Iwent back at it off to rapidly brun off all of those calories I took in. It was not long before then afternoon thunderstorms started up and just before Ireached a shelter the sky opened up. I hid under the trees for a few minuteshoping it would pass but it rapidly became clear that it was not going to stopanytime soon. I made the run for the shelter as the trail started to turn intoa river. In addition with this guitar on my back I felt like a mobilelightening rod. Just as I made it to the shelter the hail started. I wassoaked and there was still 6 more mile to go but at least I was not gettingpelted with hail. It took over an hour for the thunder and lightening to pass and so I hung out and chated with the "Honey Mooners". Just as I was about to head back out into the rain, "Meanderthal" caught up. I told him I was headed to the hosetel and that if we got in early enough we might even get breakfast there.The hostel is in the barn of an old 1880's log farmhouse. Tillie Woods runs the place with volunteers. Apparently, her husband found the place abandened in the 40's.
Date: 2004-05-18
To: Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

May 18Pearisburg, VA10 miles, mile #622.0 on ATWell we had a wonderful breakfast with Ms Tilie at the Woodshole Hostel. Therewas interesting conversation as it turned out one of the other Thru-hikers hadworked in AAfrica in the Peace Corps, so we had a livly discussuon ondevelopment and politics in Africa. I had dried out pretty well from yesterdays downpoutr except for my shoes. Thatreminds me that I don't think I mentioned about yesterdays hail. There had beensome hail just as I made it to the shelter but after the storm subsidedMeanderthal and I went on and up the hill there were big piles of hail. Meanderthal ointed out that they looked like diamonds, and that they did bigpiles of uncut diamonds with just an occaisional sparkel. But back to my wetfeet. I am usualy in a rush on these days you are headed into town. There is alot to do. Find lodging, get clean, do laundry, pick-up and mail packages atthe post office and get food, it is not like you lye around like your onvacation. So wet feet are tender feet. Between rushing to get to town andrushing to avoid getting rained on again my fet were kiling me and there was abig downhill into town which just made it harder on my tender little toes. Thansome wonderful trail magic occured, at the bottom of the hil! l was a cooler filled with soda and beer and as we were drinking them a carpulls up lets off two hikers and asks whether we wanted a ride to town, serioustrail magic.One of the important parts of this town stop in addtion to the usual cleaningand feeding is that I was sending back my winter gear, and hopefully with thatgetting rid of some weight. When I picked up the box with my summer sleepinggear there was a wonderful suprize inside a box of fresh brownies from my bigsister Consi. Now I should explain that Consi is my friends Dave and Michelle'sfour year old daughter. Since Dave and Michelle have done so much taking careof me over the years thhat I am called Consi's brother. When Consi had a littlebrother, she became not just "a big sister" but "the big sister" so now she ismy big sister to. Thanks so much for the brownies, Consi, they were verydelicious!
Date: 2004-05-19
From: Pearisburg, VA

To: Campsite in the woods
Miles today: 0.0

May 19Campsite in the woods8.7 miles, mile #630.7 Well I got a late start out of town but still had chores to do and I was temptedto stay an extra day. At least it rained before I left the motel and was luckyto have a dry afternoon. After a noon start I was not in much of a rush andthat was a good thing, since the first thing I had to do was climb out of thevalley. There is some big manufacturing plant in Pearisburg and it took several hoursto get beyond the sound of the place. At the first shelter I ran into Mushroomanother Thru-hiker and a bunch of section hikers. The section hikers were fromKentucky and interestingly we got into a discussion od South Sudan as theirchurch had sponsored some of the lost boys. There was a bit of thunder but thewind seemed to be blowing it away so I decided to do a few more miles beforedark. I found this very nice camp site close to a spring, which I had all tomyself. I got set up and cooked dinner and still had time to play guitar. While I was playing I heard a rustelingand looked up to see half a dozen whitetailed deer. They were perhaps 30 feet away. One stopped and seemed to watchand listen to my guitar playing for a good five minutues. I guess it counts asmy first performance for deer. The deer moved on and very quickly the ran movedin another deluge. Lukily, my tent was all! set up and everything stowed away so while loud I remained dry.
Date: 2004-05-20
From: Campsite in the woods

To: Another campsite by a spring
Miles today: 0.0

May 20Another campsite by a spring19.9 miles, mile #650.6 on ATOk, I have been bad I am several days behind on the journal so let me try to get back up to date. I was dry in spite of last nights rain and it was a coolmorning so I had big hopes to cover the miles I was aspiring to. The day turned even better when I ran into my first bear of the trip. I looked ahead and saw what looked like a big log in to middle of the trail, perhaps 40 yars ahead. As I took a turn around a tree I took another look at the log and suddenly realized it was a bear looking at me and as quick as I realized it the bear took off running into the woods. There were some nice view down into the vallies of West Virginia. Not long after seing the bear I ran into Mushroom who I had not really hikedwith since back in Georgia. We hiked together till the next shelter. I wasreading the shelter registar and saw a not that there would be food from a trail angel only a short distance away on the 19th and 20th. Now I was feeling pretty tired and was hoping for a long break, but the thought of free food drove me on. So Mushroom and I walked done and there was this guy Mala offering up cold sodas and hot dogs. We sat talked and ate for awhile. Mala said it was only going to get more hot and humid as the days went on. We headed out and immediatly headed uphill. I was already tired when I reached the next shelter but I had it in my head to push on. I left Mushroom at the shelter and very soon ran into an older gntileman out for a day hike. It ended up he was a retired surgeon and we had a interesting discusion about medicine and it's many problems. That kept me going for a while. I finally, made to a place to camp with some water right at sunset. It was a nice spotthough and I got a little fire going to chase away the bugs so I ended the daytired but comfortable.
Date: 2004-05-21
From: Another campsite by a spring

To: Niday Shelter
Miles today: 21.9
Weather: overcast clouds

May 21Niday Shelter21.9 miles, mile 672.5Well the day started pretty well. Spent a good part of the morning climbing upa big hill and just as I got to the top there was a cooler filled with coldsodas. Another perfectly timed episode of trail magic. That revived me forawhile but it was a very hot and humid day. As I came down the hill the trailmoved into open cow pastures that filled the valley. The views were great but I baked in the sun. There was a 300 year old oak tree in the valley that was neat to see, a rariety given all this land had been logged out. It was a roller coaster day, down a valley, up a ridge, and down another valley and up another ridge. It was begining to ware on me. It zapped most of my energy to go up the next ridge but I made it. I thought all I had to do was wak the rigdge for a few miles and fall down the hill to the shelter. The ridge walk while scenic was tough. There were big rock outcroppings that gave spectacular view but were steep and irregular. I was runing out of ! steam and daylight and was out of water. But Took a nice long break on one orthe outcroppings and while lying there trying to summon the energy to go on Ismelled this wonderful fragrance. It reminded me of coffee blossoms but it wassome try that had these unusual flowers. While sitting there I met and chattedwith Chris and Elly a young couple who were also thru-hiking. Well finaly, Igot moving and when I started to go downhill I just about ran down the 2milesand 1000 ft. When I hit the shelter I ran into Stretch who I had not seen forseveral weeks and Joanne who I had not seen in at least a month and K2 who I had heard about but had never met. Soon Chris and Elly made it down and said they had run into a rattle snake sitting right in the middle of the trail. Iwondered if I had stepped right over it in my rush downhill.
Date: 2004-05-22
To: Four Pines Hostel, Catabwa, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

May 22Four Pines Hostel, Catabwa, VA15.9 miles, mile 688.4 on ATLuckily I am writting this 5 days latter, when I am in a much better state ofmind. This was the single worst day on the trail. I think a combination offatigue, dehydration, the heat the humidity the climbs and the rocks just aboutdid me in. There were some views and hsitorical markers but I could not realytake them in. I felt exhausted when I started hiking and it only got worse asthe day went on there was more big ups and big downs. The one thing that I doremember was the Dragon's Tooth. It was a big rock outcropping at the top ofthe last and bigest climb of the day. It was beautiful there but to climb downfrom it involved climbing downt the rocks. In some places it was so steep theyhad placed metal bars into the rocks to give hand and foot holds and with thepack on my back it was killer. Finally, I made it down the hill. I was rushing,to get to the hostel with the hope that I could get a ride to this localrestaurant. The place known for it's all you can ! eat dinner. It was a nice old farm house and the place was busy. I ended upgetting a ride there from Stretch who is a retired corporate exceutive. It wasinteresting talking with streth and hitch-hiking back to the hostel with a guwho is used to flying around on corporate jets. But I made it back to thehostel and crashed.
Date: 2004-05-23
From: Four Pines Hostel, Catabwa, VA

To: Lamberts Meadow Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

May 23Lamberts Meadow Shelter16.1 miles, mile 704.5 on ATWell I did not sleep well at the hostel and woke still feeling pretty lousey. I packed up and headed down to a store down the road. I ate breakast and drank a big thing of gatoraid and had two cups of coffee, and still I just elt listless. There was nothing in this little village and would have to hike another two days to get to a place where there was a motel and services and were I could take a break and re-asses my fait. So off I went. Luckily things started out flat. There was one big climb to do and I figured if I was really dragging I would only do 10 miles. A thunder storm pushed through in the morning and further dampened my spirts, but I got by with just a few drops of rain. Maybe the coffee was fiinally kicking in, but I started to feel stronger as I climbed up McAfee Knob. By the time I got to the top of the mountain the storm had cleared out. On top was a big wide rock ledge with spectacular view od the vally and mountains to the north. There were a lot! of day hikes around and we chatted and then I took a short nap. So headeddown the hill and passed the shelter were I thought I might stop. But in acouple of hours I started to slow down again. At at the same time another stormblew in. I sat out the rain and thunder under a tree and than draged myself on. I hit these beautiful cliffs just as the sun broke threw and there was anotherbeautiful view. From there it was just a tumble down hill to the shelter, whereI got the last place and passed out. Tomorrow I would hit town and a day off.
Date: 2004-05-24
From: Lambert's Meadow

To: Daleville, VA
Miles today: 9.4
Weather: broken clouds

Daleville, VA9.4 miles, mile #713.9 on ATWell it was a short day but still it hurt in theory we just had a ridge walk and than down into town. Well the ridge walk was a rollercoaster up and down rocks. I hit town around noon. I was walking to the motel and Halfmoon came out of Pizza Hut and told me to join him for lunch. There was a big group ofthru-hikers there and I chowed out. We laid a place a plan for going to themovies in the late afternoon. There was a tral angel in town who you could call and he would drive you werever you neded to go in town. I took a nap and than we went to the movies but first we dropped a guy off who was getting off the tail. Dog said he had just had it with the heat and was going home. I was very close to doing the same. Going to the movies was so civilized. After a quick stop for icecream I crashed.