morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2022-09-24
From: Woods Hole hostel VA 625.4

To: Weary Feet hostel VA 609.9
Miles today: 15.5

I set off from Woods Hole after a spectacular sunrise over the fields, loaded down with a loaf of home baked bread (a nice change from tortillas for my lunch). The day started off cool again, but I was shedding layers within 20 minutes as the uphill hiking warmed me up. Today¢s hike had no special features, but was nicely graded and (thankfully) had relatively few rocks, giving my feet a break. I spent a lot of time in closely woven stands of rhododendrons again. I have tried to capture the effect in pictures, but have largely failed - it is a completely different feeling from walking through the forest, and a new experience for me. I mentioned in an earlier post that these areas feel more ancient and primordial - one almost expects gnomes to pop out. Now that it is autumn, there are also a lot of leaves and acorns on the trail. The acorns can sometimes be numerous enough to act like ball bearings. Yet another thing to watch for with each step!Every hiker I passed today stopped to mention the upcoming lack of water in tomorrow¢s hike. It looks like a long water carry - which I have decided to slackpack, as it appears that there is no water at the shelters either. Tonight at Weary Feet there are 5 other hikers, NOBO/SOBO/section. There was a lot of exchange of trail intelligence on what is coming up for each group, which was really helpful, and a nice side benefit of hostel stays. Julie, our hostel host, was very chipper and served up heaping portions of spaghetti for dinner. No one left the table hungry.
Date: 2022-09-25
From: Weary Feet hostel VA 609.9

To: US 52 VA 591.8
Miles today: 18.1

Celebrating:1,000,000 steps434 miles5 weeks on the trail5 days of rain33 servings of trail mix28 peanut butter and honey tortillas2 sets of trail runners94,000 feet of elevation gain13 showers5 snakesToday¢s hike added 39,000 steps as I hiked from US 52 back to the hostel, a little more than 18 miles. Slackpacking back to the hostel made it much easier to handle a waterless section (I still carried 5.5 lb water) plus a forecast thunderstorm, which materialized at 1:30. It is much preferable when soaked to end up at a hostel (warm shower, clothes dryer) than it is to set up a tent. The hike itself was fairly smooth and quite manageable despite its length. Sometimes the trail is just the trail - limited views, no exciting wildlife or alien encounters - but the rhythm is soothing and the steps build up.  Float, who is still recovering from his ankle sprain, joined me for most of the hike. The hostel was packed tonight. Extra excitement when a baby snake (suspected copperhead) entered the house!I still have another 1.5MM steps to go to get to Springer. Gearing up for a big day tomorrow.
Date: 2022-09-26
From: US 52 VA 591.8

To: Rt 623 BurkeÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Garden VA 576.0
Miles today: 15.8

I left Weary Feet hostel and was dropped off at yesterday¢s most southerly point to begin the hike. Today¢s topography was somewhat unusual as, for most of the day, the trail skirted along the caldera for Burke¢s Garden (¢God¢s thumbprint¢), the second highest valley in Virginia at 3000 ft. It is completely surrounded by Garden Mountain and was formed when underground limestone caverns collapsed, creating highly fertile farmland almost lost in time. The trail, while rocky in places, passed through lovely forests and crossed over Laurel Creek, a refreshing stop in the middle of the day. There were no views of the valley itself until the end of the day when I stopped over at a new hostel. The drive down into the valley was stunning - beautiful plots of farmland with 360 degree views. Tonight¢s hostel was a bunkhouse on a working farm, and looks like it will be a winner. At night, with almost no light pollution, the sky was filled with stars.
Date: 2022-09-27
From: Rt 623 BurkeÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Garden VA 576.0

To: VA 42, 558.5
Miles today: 17.5

Today my favorite color was - orange. There is a 3 day bear hunting season in VA in September, focused on ¢problem¢ bears, and we met 2 different groups of hunters and 3 packs of dogs on the trail. The dogs all have radio controlled collars so they can be tracked and recalled remotely. We could hear the dogs baying, as sort of a throwback to Hounds of the Baskervilles, long before seeing them as they worked to tree bears. The local rumor is that the troublesome bears (¢baars¢) from the Smoky Mountains are relocated to this area - and that they create issues on the farms, destroying the crops. This short season is to focus on reducing the population of these larger, more aggressive bears. One of the groups we ran into was clearly Amish, part of an Amish community that farms in Burke¢s Garden. Obviously, it was a good time to be visible. I have a number of orange clothing pieces, including an orange buff that can sit jauntily on my head. The hunters were generally friendly, and we shared the trail amicably. Today¢s hike took me up and over Chestnut Knob, a steep climb but with a beautiful view back to Burke¢s Garden.The hike itself was relaxed and enjoyable, although I am beginning to be aware of increasing soreness from the long days. I am looking forward to a break in Damascus. I finished the day at Bear Garden hostel, in the bunkhouse with Float and Truman. Like most hostels, this one had a range of frozen dinners and resupply food available for purchase. We collectively powered through a good deal of it while strategizing about what to do about the upcoming hurricane.
Date: 2022-09-28
From: VA 42, 558.5

To: Partnership shelter VA 534.3
Miles today: 24.2

The original plan had been to have a short hike today into Atkins then to hike forward from Atkins to Damascus, a 5 day segment that would take me up and over the Grayson Highlands and Mt Rogers, the highest point in VA. Unfortunately, Mother Nature has other plans, with Hurricane Ian hitting Florida today and Tropical Storm Ian forecast to hammer the southwest corner of VA on Saturday and Sunday (days 3-4 of the 5 day segment). So there¢s been a bit of a pivot. Today I hiked with Float for 24.2 miles (my highest day by far) to knock one day off the schedule, and tomorrow I¢ll flip up to the Grayson Highlands (originally day 3 of my segment) and hike 2 days backwards to knock off days 2 and 3. After that, I¢ll head to a Damascus hotel to ride out the storm and get days 4-5 when things settle down. This morning was a beautiful and smooth hike that included several cow pastures and passing the 34 point of the AT from North to South. We hiked into Atkins and had lunch at Long Neck Lair, an alpaca farm that also has a hiker hostel that we would be returning to tonight. We then took a shuttle up to Partnership shelter (12 miles south) and hiked back to Atkins. This hike was more difficult, with lots of rocks that tore up my trail runners. Emergency repairs with superglue will keep them going for the next couple of days, but I needed to radio home for a replacement pair (my 3rd set). I am really looking forward to the Grayson Highlands. It consistently ends up on the top 5 list for thruhikers, so I am glad I will get to see it before the storm.
Date: 2022-09-29
From: Massie Gap, Grayson Highlands State Park VA 502.1

To: Troutdale VA 520.2
Miles today: 18.1

Today¢s hike started off in the Grayson Highlands at 4900 feet after the shuttle dropoff. It was a crisp and cold morning (low 30¢s with wind chill), and I started off with fleece, puffy jacket, and gloves until the hiking warmed me up. Happily, the day was sunny and showed no signs of the coming tropical storm. The overall direction was down, heading back northwards towards Atkins on a 2 day segment. It was a beautiful hike, with mountain balds (meadows at peaks), dappled forests, and cascades of water. The higher altitudes of this state park must often be shrouded in mist, as most rocks and trees were covered in moss. As I was going in the opposite direction, I saw many SOBO hikers today that I have met over the past couple of weeks. Like me, everyone was head down, concentrating on racing the storm and getting to a dry and warm spot before the storm hits. It looks like Damascus, a major trail city to the south, will be hosting a lot of hikers this weekend!This evening I stayed at a hostel in Troutdale that focuses on Sufiism and meditative retreat while also serving as a hiker hostel. Loaner clothes (offered to hikers while they launder their hiking clothes) were long, flowing robes in Eastern style. So, over the last 4 days, I have stayed at a working farm, an alpaca farm, a hostel with a 9¢ cross and chapel, and an Eastern meditative retreat. Each hostel owner has gone out of their way to ensure that hikers were welcomed. Interesting experiences all.
Date: 2022-09-30
From: Troutdale VA 520.2

To: Partnership shelter VA 534.3
Miles today: 14.1

With Tropical Storm Ian forecast to hit in early afternoon and 14 miles to go, hiking started at sunrise today. As opposed to yesterday¢s sunny weather, today was overcast and blustery. While there was a reasonable amount of elevation, it was gently graded and forgiving. I was able to finish by 12:45, a 2.6 mph pace for the day (very good for me). The rain started exactly 6 minutes later. I holed up in the Mt Rogers Visitor Center, which is immediately adjacent to the Partnership shelter and is very hiker friendly (a phone to call for pizza, restrooms, etc) to wait for a shuttle back to the Long Neck Lair hostel for the night. The hostel bunkhouse was packed with hikers, every mattress taken. The last 6 days of sprinting down the trail to get positioned for the storm have cumulatively delivered 108 miles, or 18 miles per day. My body is ready for some R&R! I¢ll head to Damascus in the morning to wait out the rest of the storm.
Date: 2022-10-01
From: Partnership shelter VA 534.3

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 0.0

I arrived in Damascus this morning after a soaking storm overnight. Very happy I was in a hostel!Damascus¢ nickname is ¢Trail Town USA¢. It sits at the junction of 3 major trails, including the AT, and has many retail outlets focused on hikers - 2 outfitters, a Dollar General, a thrift store, a number of reasonably priced restaurants with healthy portions, and several hiker hostels. This is my 3rd zero day, and it was just as frenetic as the other two - picking up mailed packages, replacing or repairing worn equipment, charging electronics , drying out my tent, planning routes for the next couple of weeks, and organizing food supplies. I received a wool top and leggings in this mailing, just in time for some anticipated frigid night temperatures over the next week. As expected, I ran into a number of familiar faces in town due to the storm - Coach, Goose and Gander, Truman, Catwater (who I had first met at the Flip Flop festival), Duckie (another journalist) and Float. There are others here who I am meeting for the first time. Dinner was at the Damascus Diner. Tomorrow is again forecast for lingering cold rain from Tropical Storm Ian. Some hikers will head out, but I will take a second zero and try to relax before the next 1-12 week section to Erwin TN. Note: Today I had the honor of being elected to the board of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. Nothing in this journal should be construed as representing the opinions of the board or the management of the ATC.
Date: 2022-10-02
From: Damascus, VA

To: Damascus VA 470.9
Miles today: 0.0

This was the second zero day for Tropical Storm Ian. The weather was overcast and drizzly, but hikeable, and some of the hikers in town headed out today. Float, my hiking partner, and I decided to wait it out another day. The next two days are at high elevation and supposed to be beautiful in the southern half of the Grayson Highlands, and we did not want to miss the views if we could help it. A lot of the day was spent planning out the next 1-12 weeks for the trek to Erwin then on to Hot Springs. Food, shelters, shuttles. That logistics background sometimes come in handy. It is very apparent after talking to hikers through the last 6 weeks that there as many ways to thru hike the AT as there are hikers, the choices each hiker makes almost becoming a unique fingerprint. One one to think of it is as a Chinese menu (options ordered by perceived purity): Column A: DirectionNorth (NOBO)South (SOBO)Flip Flop (generally HF-ME then HF-GA)Sections (all completed within 12 months)Sections (completed in greater than 12 months)Column B: Speed20+ miles per day15-20 mpd10-15 mpdColumn C: Town zerosOnly dip into towns for resupplyZero in towns every 7-14 daysHike 5 days/zero 2Column D: HostelsSkip hostels, stick to sheltersStop at 1 hostel per week for laundry and showerStop at any reasonable hostel that presents itselfColumn E: White blazesHike EFI (every flipping inch) of the trail. No blue, aqua, or yellow blazing. Within reason, hike the trail. If one path goes to a shelter and a second leads back to the trail a little further on, don¢t sweat it. Walk the same miles as the trail (eg, road walk equivalent miles if skipping part of the trail)Aqua and blue blazeYellow blazeColumn F: SlackpackingCarry your full pack the entire trailOccasionally carry a partial pack (typically working a day hike into the schedule)Mostly day hike hostel to hostel or be supported by a 2nd person with a car or RV. Column G: TramiliesHike soloHike in the general area of a group of hikers that you frequently see at shelters and hostels. Hike with 1-2 other people of similar pace. Plan next stops together. Hike with a larger group (3+) that has a social structure. [this does not represent all the options]While there can sometimes be a bit of judgement to ¢Hike your own hike¢, most hikers are relaxed about each others¢ choices. Everyone makes their own call about what is important to him/her on their hike, and how they want to remember it. And it is the memories that matter.
Date: 2022-10-03
From: Massie Gap VA 502.1

To: Lost Mountain Shelter VA 486.7
Miles today: 15.4

The day dawned overcast and rainy in Damascus at 2000¢, but by the time we were dropped off at Massie Gap at 4900¢, we had popped through the cloud cover and could see blue sky. Today and tomorrow are the completion of the second half of the Grayson Highlands, and we got to see ponies! Well, just 3 ponies, but still. They are part of a wild herd that roams the balds near Mt Rogers. During the summer, they will come up and lick the sweat off hikers for the salt, but it was too cold today for much sweating. This area is often in mist. I mentioned the high levels of moss the other day. Today I hiked through stands of trees completely covered in white lichen which were very eerie, like ghost forests. One of today¢s highlights, as the mist rolled through, was the ¢flash rainbow¢ shown above which formed right in front of me and lasted for about 30 seconds. I was just able to catch it on camera before it dissolved. The trail itself was quite wet due to all the precipitation from the storm over the past couple of days. In many areas it had been transformed into a stream, and required careful negotiation to keep my feet relatively dry on a cold day. There were also considerable roots and rocks, so progress was generally slow. Tonight¢s shelter, Lost Mountain, is fairly busy. There is a group of section hikers, mostly ex-Boy Scout leaders, that we have run into before. It is fun to run across section hikers. They typically are not quite as hardened as thru-hikers and often have fresh perspectives. It looks like it will be a cold night (in the 30¢s), which will let me test out my sleep system before I get to the Smokies in a couple of weeks. I have a 20 degree quilt, inflatable sleeping pad, and am wearing 2 layers of clothes. We will see. Tomorrow I¢ll hike back to Damascus, all caught up and ready to head south.
Date: 2022-10-04
From: Lost Mountain Shelter VA 486.7

To: Damascus VA 470.9
Miles today: 15.8

The temperature dipped to the high 30¢s last night, but I was able to stay relatively warm and comfortable inside my tent. Fortunately, there was very little wind. As the fall progresses and we begin to climb in altitude, though, it will become increasingly colder. As it was, I tucked my filter (which will fail if it freezes), lighter, phone and charger in my sleeping bag with me to keep them from accidentally freezing. I started off a little before sunrise so I could cover the 15 miles back to Damascus in time to mail some resupply packages further down the trail. The first 20 minutes or so was by headlamp. This will become more common as the days get shorter. The section hikers got a slightly later start (perhaps because they were up late playing cards in the shelter!). Although it started misty, the sun burned through and the afternoon was lovely and almost warm. I crossed several times over Laurel creek, which was a beautiful sight after the rain. Today¢s trail paralleled the Virginia Creeper trail at several points, a 35 mile biking/walking path that allows hikers to hop on and off the AT. While tempting to avoid two mountains and hike directly into town, I remained with my white blazes. Hike your own hike. And today¢s big news - I finally saw my first bear! The bear lumbered onto the path 20 yards ahead and, sensing me, immediately scampered back the way it came. I waited a couple of minutes to make sure there were no cubs in tow (a hiker¢s worst nightmare is to get stuck between a momma and her cubs), then moved on. Unfortunately, no pictures of this one - it all happened too fast. Tomorrow I cross the VA/TN state line, completing my first state. Virginia is the longest state on the AT (by far), so things, or at least state lines, will move a bit more quickly now.
Date: 2022-10-05
From: Damascus VA 470.9

To: US 91 TN 449.1
Miles today: 21.8

An o-dark-30 start today, as the objective was to cover 21 miles in a slackpack back to Damascus so I could make a 5pm teleconference. Success: made it back in time. Failure: the telecon was canceled at the last minute. (Bronx cheer)The section of trail today which runs 21 miles south of Damascus was rolling and beautifully maintained. The light cut through the trees creating that lovely dappled effect. The only thing I would have liked would have been a couple of views - but it is tough to get everything in one day. It was cool this morning, 34 degrees at the start, and I had on all my layers as I got going. In a repeat of previous days, I was down to 2 layers after a mile, once I had started expending energy on the uphill sections. I did notice today that I needed to pull on a 3rd layer at rest stops to prevent getting chilled. Of note today - crossed into Tennessee(and hoping that the trail conditions are a sign of good things from Tennessee) and spotted what I think was a coyote stalking along a forest road. You can occasionally hear the coyotes at night. Resting my feet right now as 21 miles is a bit of a push for me. I¢ve packed and repacked my food bag for the next 7 day section down to Erwin. Sheesh is it heavy! Guess I will need to eat a lot in the first couple of days. :)
Date: 2022-10-06
From: US 91 TN 449.1

To: Wilbur Dam Rd TN 432.9
Miles today: 16.2

Today¢s hike continued along the ridge line, with rolling ups and downs but generally well graded. Tennessee has continued to be pretty fast hiking. The weather was perfect for hiking, starting cool and crisp, but eventually warming to the point where I could wear just my tshirt. The trail teased views down to Wautauga lake in Hampton TN all day, but they were mostly blocked by leafed out trees. No matter - the trail goes right by the lake tomorrow. Tonight is a stay at Boots Off hostel, another one of the iconic hostels on the trail. It has a bunkhouse, campsites, and several tiny cabins like the one pictured above (where I am staying). Plus - a camp store, fire ring, and outdoor patio area. During the NOBO bubble, the population can swell to 65-70, but right now it is less than 10. The terrain in Tennessee starts to be less forgiving, with more aggressive elevation gain starting tomorrow. I am getting slight complaints from my knees, which stiffen at the end of the day, but report back for duty once they warm up the next morning. Trekking poles help a lot. The weather forecast looks good for the coming week and I am hoping to continue to make good progress!
Date: 2022-10-07
From: Wilbur Dam Rd TN 432.9

To: Moreland Gap shelter TN 413.7
Miles today: 19.2

Today was water day - and happily not the falling-from-the-sky kind. Wautauga Lake, which had been peeking through the foliage views yesterday, finally took front and center position as the trail crossed over Wautauga Dam, completed in 1948 by the TVA. The damming of the Wautauga and Elk Rivers created the reservoir, submerging the town of Butler, which was relocated. Had it been warmer, it might have been an opportunity for swimming or kayaking (or aqua blazing), but it was another cool morning. It was lovely to walk along, though, and had a number of great tent sites. From Wautauga Lake, the trail moved on to Laurel Falls, a roaring cascade that provided a nice spot for a break (there were some hikers taking a dip - brrrr). While lovely to visit, the climb out of Laurel Falls was a set of uneven rock steps that seemed to go on forever. We were passed today by the first ¢bubble¢ of SOBO hikers we¢ve seen, 5 in a group, covering 20-25 miles per day. They were moving fast, clearly focused on getting to Springer (or maybe it was just to arrive in time for a live music performance at an upcoming bar on the trail). In addition to the SOBO¢s, the fall color is bringing out lots of day and section hikers. Tonight was spent at Moreland Gap shelter, which had some nice, flat tent sites. Tennessee shelters, at least the ones I have seen, are of different construction, using cinder block for walls and generally not having a privy, necessitating ¢cathole¢ techniques to observe Leave No Trace principles. It was a long day today - the mileage was awkward and it was going to be either a short or long day. Long day won out. It just feels wrong to not be hiking when the weather is so good. My hiking partner and I did not arrive at the shelter until a little after 6, racing darkness to set up tents and cook dinners. I was exhausted when I crawled into my chilly tent for the night. Today I passed 600 miles of hiking. Still minuscule compared to the 1700¢s of the SOBO¢s and flip floppers, but enough (as I am assured by other hikers) to allow me to graduate from rank novice. 413.7 miles remaining to Springer.
Date: 2022-10-08
From: Moreland Gap shelter TN 413.7

To: US 19E TN 395.3
Miles today: 18.4

Well, I did 19 miles yesterday, so 18 today with less elevation gain should be no problem, right? Hah. I didn¢t sleep well last night, and woke up early with ¢dead legs¢ from yesterday¢s exertions. We set off before sunrise, as we wanted to arrive at tonight¢s hostel in time for laundry, shower, and dinner. It was the final full day in Tennessee - and yet another beautiful hike. In my research for the AT, I never read anyone extolling the virtues of the Tennessee trail, so let me be the first: rolling elevation, generally well graded; well maintained; soft trail with relatively few rocks; pretty forest scenes and (on the southern end) water features. Just missing sweeping valley views, but would definitely do it again. Today it seemed that the ¢green tunnel¢ of the AT was morphing into a ¢golden tunnel¢ as the trees around us morphed into fall colors. A couple of long valley views also showed the reds popping up. My appreciation was a bit blunted, though, because I started running out of gas after the first 8-10 miles.  The uphills got slower and slower, and I welcomed the short side trail to Jones Falls, where I sat for a bit of a break. Unlike Laurel Falls yesterday, these falls were not roaring, but more of a zen-like Japanese garden experience (writ large). By the end of the day, I was crawling up the hills, and collapsed gratefully at Mountain Harbour B&B/hostel. I am staying at the B&B portion today, and at the hostel portion tomorrow. The B&B side is lovely, and I am ensconced in a very comfortable room. I should sleep very well tonight.