morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-05-04
From: Stream

To: Chesnut Konb Shelter
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: clear sky

I can't believe I finally made it to Chesnut Knob! Glorious! It was another lazy 11 mile day with Fiddlehead. We plan to crank out some 20's this week. She's gonna do 20's more frequently soon, so I may end up behind her. Boohoo.It's a fully enclosed shelter tonight. We would have gone further if not for the rain. I'm glad we stayed here, for Moe and Ponch caught up. I missed the somethin' awful. Wild Turkey, catchin' up and now bed in doors as I listen to rain drops ricochet off the tin roof.
Date: 2006-05-05
From: Chesnut Konb Shelter

To: Campsite
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: light rain

Silverback woke Fiddlehead and I at six fifteen. A little early for my liking. I laid in bag for another 2-3 hours in a very pimped out four wall dry shelter. Didn't leave 'till 10:30. Ponch, Mo, Fiddlehead and I were off together.The trail was simple, but it was slow going 'cause mucho pideras. I practiced my poor spanish all day with Fiddlehead who didn't seem to mind. I can now use vos properly. Que buen.At about ten miles, Ponch and Mo decided to stick to the shelter. Fiddlehead and I pressed on. We made it another five miles, but paid dearly as we crossed a creek twelve times in the rain, resulting in wet feet. Oh well. It's all good. Water happens. Almost out of Whiskey tho'. Aw screw!
Date: 2006-05-06
From: Campsite

To: Jenny Knob Shelter
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: broken clouds

Decent weather today. I did a hefty 19 miler to Jenny Knob shelter. The day featured easy walkin' in the shade. Fiddlehead and I hung out at the raod in order to help Squarl get a hitch. After, we headed to the shelter where we are now drying our tents. We reunited with old friends Dinosaur and Hellbender. Once it got dark, Fiddlehead and I stayed out for a couple of hours to see the meteor shower. Fiddlehead went to bed and I just retired to my tent as well after hearing a symphony of animals in the woods! Owls, wild boar and others. Damned Whipperwills.
Date: 2006-05-07
From: Jenny Knob

To: Wapiti Shelter
Miles today: 14.2
Weather: light rain

I hiked a miserable day in the rain today. One highlight was at Dismall falls. There was a challenge to skinny dip the falls which I took on with Hellbendedr, Dinosaur, PLunger and Fiddlehead as an audiance. I'm a wet dog in my tent right now. Goin' to Pburg to spend the night tommorow. I will ressuply there as well.
Date: 2006-05-08
From: Wapiti Shelter

To: Pearisburg
Miles today: 16.6
Weather: light rain

Still wet from yesterday, but glad to be in Pearisburg. Fiddlehead and I hiked sixteen to get here today. Just before town, an '01 hiker named Batty gave us four beers, which made the last mile into town a true pleasure. The Rendevouz Motelnext to the trail was closed, so we made the short hitch into town to the Holiday Motor Lodge. Cable, clean clothes and Chinese await. Then, after there will be hot showers. Back on the trail tommorow.
Date: 2006-05-09
From: Pearisburg

To: Pearisburg
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Fiddlehead might not need to start school until January now.originally she was planning on finishing trail August 15th. There's a chance now that she'll have 'till october. That'd be great because I enjoy hiking with here.We zero'd unexpectedly today after we headr about the delay of Academia. All you can eat pizza, bar+restaurant, and ressuply + Dairy Queen. Tonight we're crashing on the floor of Hellbeneder, Yukon Cornelius, and Plunger because these rooms are steep. Dig?
Date: 2006-05-10
From: Pearisburg

To: Rice Field Shelter
Miles today: 6.7
Weather: light rain

Wow! P Burg was a great place to zero. Fiddlehead, Yukon, Hellbender, Dinosaur, Mo, Ponch and I left today. WE hiked all the way to Rice Field shelter, which was a zesty 6.7 miles out of town. Fiddlehead dosn't have to start grad school till january. Kickass. Now we can keep up with each other for a while. Anyways, the whole crew met up at the shelter tonight. Sleepin' in here to avoid the rain. I found my first tick today. I'm glad it wasn't on my genitals because Lime disease contracted in the crotchal region would cripple my ability to father children.
Date: 2006-05-11
From: Rice Field Shelter

To: Pine Swamp Shelter
Miles today: 12.3
Weather: light rain

The hike from Rice Field to here was not bad. We did hike a great deal of it in the rain though. At the shelter we hung around an in-shelter fire. I played some music on Holly's ukeulele (I hope is spelled that right). How I long for my mandolin. I performed a quick surgery earlier on Fiddlehead's back. She's got a nasty spider bite. Hope she feels better soon.
Date: 2006-05-12
From: Pine Swamp Shelter

To: War Spur Shelter
Miles today: 12.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Today Fiddlehead and I got goin' 'round nine. I was sorry to see her in pain from the spider bite. After .3 miles, we got to a road, not knowing if people even drove on it. We stuck our thumbs out and sure enough a car rounded the corner and picked us up.Into the trash filled car of a trail Angel named George we climbed. George was a younger guy, maybe 19 or 20. He was rockin' to some punk music and chatting with us about hiking. He's been to Vermont to hike before. He ended up taking us all the way to the hospital in Pearisburg.At the hospital I read up on current events and watched court TV while Fiddlehead head her spider boil sliced and diced by the doctor.After receiving an antibiotic and painkiller perscription, she was good and bandaged and ready to go. We walked back to P-burg, a town that was all to familiar to us. We hit up the Rite-Aid, the P.O. (where I learned that Sleepy isn't far behind), then the abondoned movie theatre, and finally the All you can eat pizza buffet, where the waitress had already memorized our favorite pizzas from previous visits. After gorgin, we hitched back to the trail around three. The hike started well. About two miles in there was a broken bridge. We had to ford the river and it was a wide one. Off with the shoes, on with the flip flops. After a successful ford, we hiked 1.2 to the first shelter of the day, where I had a short but sweet reunion with Squarl. After that, things got quiet - the calm before the storm. Ominous clouds approached but gave no rain. We got to Wind Rock just before sunset and witnessed a beautiful Panoramic view.After a quick snack we headed off into the night. A couple miles later we came to a fire where we feared death by deliverance flok but instead met up with Dufresne and Tec. After a quck nip, we headed off into the night, headlamps blarring. Once we finally reached camp, I cleaned and dressed Fiddlehead's wound, which wasn't quite as gross as she made it out to be, but nasty nonetheless.
Date: 2006-05-14
From: Sarver Hollow

To: Trout Creek
Miles today: 15.9

Today, Fiddlehead and I didn't start until 12ish. We hiked about a half mile, then we hid under a rock overhang as a storm passed. We had whiskey and kept dry. What fun!After the stor we went along a n exposed ridge for a while. There were many extraordinary views of the ridge to the east.At six miles we hit Niday shelter, where we braved a passing rain shower. We were in the company of compost, fortune cookie, and rainobw bright (Male), who let us play his mandolin. I'm glad Fiddlehead is excited about playing mando, because I'll have mine out here at trail days.As the evening set in we set out for a nine mile night hike, which turned out to be quite scewnic as we had views of the stars and moon. Now we are camped on a trail to someone's backyard.
Date: 2006-05-15
From: Trout Creek

To: Stream
Miles today: 8.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Fiddlehead and I set out to Dragon's Tooth today. Dragon's Tooth is a giant vertical rock formation at the top of a ridge. Next to Grayson Highlands, probably one of the most scenic spots of the trip to date. You have to actually climb the rock to get to the top. Fiddlehead took my pic once I got up there. Shortly after Dragon's Tooth, we descended to a road where we went .4 off trail to a gas stop that makes fresh pizzas. We both had one. They were delish, but we couldn't move for an hour or two after that. Squarl was there as well. All of us are looking forward to trail days. Lila Beth is giving Fiddlehead and I a ride there.
Date: 2006-05-18
From: Daleville

To: Daleville
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Today Fiddlehead and I got a ride into Roanoke because we wanted to see a movie. Before the movie we went to the mall and found some books, including "On the Road."We went to see Poesidon which was bassically Titanic 2 Bullshit. After, we went to Logan's Roadhouse where we had drinks. Zero days rock. unfortunately, Fiddlehead may have to finish the trail by September first, which means bigger days if I want to keep hiking with her.
Date: 2006-05-19
From: Daleville

To: Damascus/Trail Days
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Alas! Trail days is here. Lila picked Fiddlehead and myself up from Daleville today. There was some flooding up north, so what would have been a nine hour drive from boston to daleville took Lila 15 hours. I took the wheel for the last few hours to Damascus so that Lila could have some rest. Wierd driving after two months of walking. Automobiles can cover great distances in short amounts of time!At trail days I reunited with long lost pals Rasta Legs and 42. It is so good to see them. I've been thru so much since we last saw each other a month back. It's good to have friends like them to catch up with.
Date: 2006-05-20
From: Damascus/Trail Days

To: Damascus/Trail Days
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Today I get up pretty early and went to breakfast at Dairy King with some pals. Walkabout, Caboose, Holly, Lebowski and myself jammed for hours in the tent of Bones. It's great having my mando back again! Lila Brought it down from Lexington for me. Scrump to the ultra mcdelish. Caboose and I planned to throw a concert but it never happend. However, Caboose, Walkabout and myself ended up jammin' the night away. Also, i hiked in the hiker parade today. It was indeed a freakshow on foot. There was a huge water fight between the crowd and the hikers. I saw Tec rail some spectator dude on the sidwalk with his own water balloon that hadn't broke when he threw it at Tec. Glorious.
Date: 2006-05-21
From: Damascus trail days

To: Hardcore
Miles today: 0.0

Woke up in a post party daze. Trail days! Packed up and got a ride to Hampton with none other than Strech! Strech is an '05 thru hiker i had met at Lakes of the CLouds in September '05 when i was chillin' with soul moose, as awell as Dandy and Saxy Lady who were both thru-hiking at the time. Dig.Trail work lasted a few hours as we hauled the wood of the new shelter as well as roofing to the shelter site.At night, Outbreak, Sanford, Fiddlehead an d I went spelunking in a cave. We found a fatty cave system complete with underground streams and bats and what not. Wandered for a hours. Getting reall dirty from much crawlin' and squeazin' through cracks.
Date: 2006-05-22
From: Hardcore

To: Hardcore
Miles today: 0.0

I made ten feet of new trail today. At the end of the day, our group finished a quarter mile of trail. A bunch of us got pictures painting a blaze at our section. Very cool. I'm looking forward to being on the trail. My left knee is bothering me. I'll take it easy and see how it fveels. Hiking your own hike is a load of crap, but I will try it for a while anyways. I gotta start writing some music. Might be easier on my own. I could make legit Appalachian folk.
Date: 2006-05-23
From: Hardcore

To: Fullhardt Knob Shelter
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: clear sky

I'm back on the trail. This feels wierd after a few days of zeroing. Fiddlehead is gone for a week because of a friend's wedding. I might not see her again for a month. Her presence over the last month has been life changing and inspiring. I hope to see her again.A car pulled our shuttle over on the way to the trail due to an insignificant traffic violation. This was scary as the officer brought out a K9 drug dog to sniff around the car. It was especially scary as hikers are known to carry cannibus. The hiking was easy. Probably the only five miles I hiked without seeing other hikers the whole time. At camp I met Brainfreeze, whose into sci-fi writing, Marley, Pi and Kache. I'm carrying way much food this section. Do I spped up and do 15's to stay with Hellbencder, Dinosaur, Plunger, Ponch, and MO, or do I do 12's until Fiddlehead, Rasta, and 42 catch up? I don't know. I love this whole crew. Had a wicked fireside jame with Holly Trout. My mando did its first five miles today.
Date: 2006-05-24
From: Fullhardt Knob Shelter

To: Bobblets Gap
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: broken clouds

Hiked a mean 13 today. First full day back on the trail. My water filter is dead, so I'll be bummin' off folk for a while. The shelter tonight had no tent spots, so many of us are further down the trail. Fortune Cookie and myself caught a fatty sunset and drank whiskey.
Date: 2006-05-25
From: Bobblets Gap

To: Bryant Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 13.3
Weather: light rain

Goal of the day was to make it to the swimmin' hole at Jennings Creek. Holly and I hiked with instruments out and blazin' over half the day. We learned "Rocket Man," "Fun Fun Fun," "Puff the Magic Dragon," and other songs today. Hikin' and Jammin' makes hikin' go by quick. We saw a rattler during travels. I tried to charm it with my mandolin, but it was of no avail. If Dinosaur hadn't warned me, i'd be a hurtin'. The swimmin' hole was fun. I cleaned off gunk that was accumulating on my clothes. Mucho jams with Fortune cookie and holly at the shelter tonight. They're fun to jam with. Also, I taught Lebowski G,C, and D chords on the mando. In addition, I finished my fifth of Evan Williams whiskey.
Date: 2006-05-26
From: Bryant Ridge Shelter

To: Marble Spring
Miles today: 17.2

Couldn't sleep last night despite the copious amounts of whiskey. Bugs were eatin' me raw. I was out early this morning. Early used to mean around 6am or before sunrise. The new early is 9am.I took a mile side trail to check out a waterfall. The waterfall was great, but the trail comming back was a mile and about 1000ft straight up to the AT. Tought walkin'. The rest of the day wasn't to notable. However, I did summit "High Cock Knob." I shit you not. Ponch, Lebowski, and I made many crude jokes while summitting this challenging peak.I set up my tent just prior to the rain. It ended up clearing early enough for Double Shot to start a fire. Played some mando. Holly is helpin' me polish up on Waylon Jenning's "The Good 'Ole Boys." Bofus, Lebowski and myself are trying to come up with a "West MI Boys" gang name. It's either be "West Michigan Boys" or "Tulip Boys" unless something better comes along.
Date: 2006-05-27
From: Marble Spring

To: Glascow/Dirt Tracks
Miles today: 7.7

Went seven then hitched into town. I was accompanied by Holly Trout, Lebowski, Bofus, Double Shot, Rematch and Kilgore Trout (no relation to Holly Trout). We fount out from a gas station that a dirt track was nearby, so we hitched to the races witha coolers full of cheap beer and malt liquor. At the races we drank, ate, and chatted with locals, who all seemed to know people driving in the races. Everyone seemed to hate the driver "Bobby Thompson." We heckled that guy for apparently being a jerk.I let a drunk dude play my mandolin. That was funny.Dan, a friend we made at the track invited us to tent in his lawn 100 yards from the track. No we are tented next to a pond at Dan's where we may swim tommorow. "Dirt Track/Top Hat"-Bofus during the official Dirt Track Scat
Date: 2006-05-28
From: Glascow/Dirt Tracks

To: Rocky Row Creek
Miles today: 0.2

We all bummed around Glascow today. Bofus and Lebowski got a room with Double Shot in town. Holly and I hitched out of town around 5 or 6pm. A lot of memorial day weekenders are fishin' on the James today. Holly and I roasted hot dogs over a fire and then bathed/washed clothes in the river. After, we hiked in the dark at Rocky Row Creek where we are now. We have a nice camp right beside the Creek, where we are cowboying it on a rock
Date: 2006-05-29
From: Rocky Row Creek

To: Punchbowl Shelter
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: broken clouds

Holly Trout and I woke up on the rock with ants all over us. We hiked .3 or so and found a kickin' swimmin' hole where we splashed around to keep cool. Shortly after, I bumped into Too Much, Enough, and Sundance, who I hadn't seen since Hot Springs. At the shelter 10 miles in, there was a pond and a nice tenting area, so I decided to spend the night here. Town to ressuply tommorow, and maybe a cook out.
Date: 2006-05-30
From: Punchbowl Shelter

To: Bald Knob Summit
Miles today: 14.1

There were two great swimmin' spots today. One was Little Irish Creek. Holly and I jumped in and were shortly joined by Bofowski Shot. Bofus got stung on the nose on the bridge over the creek, so we spent an hour throwing rocks at the beehive in revenge. Lebowski delivered the fatal blow and nocked it down in to the creek below. We rejoiced. I also saw a beaver there.Trail magic from Flash and Hot Flash for lunch. Then Holly and I resolved to quit goofing and hike to the road, for we required ressuply in Buena Vista. We expressed our innermost sincerity by finding yet another swimmin' hole about ten minutes after the trail magic. Buena Vista (Pronounced by the Locals "Bee-You-Nah Vista) had a grocery store but no ABC liquor store. Boohoo. ABC is the best store ever. It has aisles of nothing but liquor. No beer. No wine. Just straight up hard booze.Holly and I ate some fatty Charlie Tuna's favorite dish atop Bald Mountain. It was scrump to the ultra delish. Had to pop 3 Ibuprofen to summit the mountain with a heavy pack.P.S. Thanks to the hitch-givers today.
Date: 2006-05-31
From: Bald Knob Summit

To: Piney River
Miles today: 9.3

Another ruckus of a day with Bofus, Double Shot, Holly Trout, and Lebowski. We came upon an open field with a swing as well as the best spring of the trail so far, which was also the first water I didn't treat. There were cool views from a series of Roanesque Balds early on. At camp Holly and I cooked up some hot dogs while everyone else had punk ass hiker food. Snooch to the nooch. Then we had a fatty Linus&Lucy Jam that lasted for about an hour.
Date: 2006-06-01
From: Piney River

To: Harper's Creek
Miles today: 16.2

BofLowski Shot did some yellow blazin' after their free lunch today. I decided to stick to the White blazes. My wallet fell out of my pocket into the back of a pickup I was hithin' in. I realized right after I was dropped off, pannicked for a m inute, then chased the truck. I caught up with it a quarter mile down road and retrieved my wallet.I caught Able Jack, Chainsaw, Holly, Trickster, and What a couple miles down trail after walkin' thru a loud thunderstorm. Able Jack, Holly and I hung out at the Tye River, where Holly and I continued our swimmin' hole streak, which started at Dan's pond by the Dirt Tracks. Kickass kilbassa, stuffing, lipton/pepperoni at the shelter tonight. Holly and I played our second gig to an attentive shelter crowd. I had an idea for a band called "Wonderin' minstrells." The band would tour the country by foot with full packs, taking scenic trails when possible. The gig money would go toward resupply. It would be a nomadic band.
Date: 2006-06-02
From: Harper's Creek

To: Paul C. Wolf Shelter
Miles today: 16.1
Weather: light rain

What a neat day. Holly and I opted out of a 2000 foot climb. Instead, we took a blue-blaze trail to a heady swimmin' hole by a waterfall. I peed myself prior to jumping in the swimmin' hole! Hardy-har-har! Most scenic swimmin' hole to date.Caught up with Suncrow + Sunshine Daydream after the falls. Haven't seen those cats in ages. Dig. Camping next to a scrumpin' creek at Paul C. Wolf shelter. On to Waynesboro tommorow. Plan to spend the night there.
Date: 2006-06-03
From: Paul C. Wolf Shelter

To: Waynesboro
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Nero into town today. Holly, Tipper, and I got a quick hitch in. Waynesboro seems alright. Peaches' hot dogs are the shiznizzle.Tonight, after a day complete with two AYCE chinese meals, all of the dudes, Bofus, Lebowski, Dbl. Shot, Identity Crisis, Rematch, Able Jack, Chainsaw and i went bowling. It was my firs time big ball bowling. Lots of fun. Many beers and hitches. This town has the nicest people of any trail town yet. You don't even have to hitch. People ask you if you want a ride.
Date: 2006-06-04
From: Waynesboro

To: Calf Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: light rain

After a mean day in town, Holly and I are on the trizzail. Word.I spent most the day in agony from last night, as I awoke after many beers to a tent hot from the morning sun. I recovered my health after consuming a 32 oz gatorade. Dig. Then H.T. and I ressuplied and hit the trail. We hiked seven miles, one short of Shenedoah. At the shelter we cooked sloppy joe's over the fire, but they turned out more like burgers because we couldn't open the tomato paste with a rock. By the way, there is some jerk hiking to PA who has been deficating on the trail. Listen up dick-wad. When I catch you, I will tie you up with my bearline and crap in your mouth, then duct tape your mouth shut and leave you there.
Date: 2006-06-05
From: Katahdin/Millenocett

To: Blackrock Hut
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: light rain

Holly and I slept on the floor outside the shelter last night, which was covered by an overhang. We didn't wake up 'till 10am this morning. Perhaps we are still recovering from the excitement of Waynesboro. While still in bags, up hiked Tipper, who we gladly greeted.We hiked with instruments and met up with E-Rock, who i hadn't seen on the trail since Blue Mtn. back in Ga. Nopw that I'm hikin' slow, people I haven't seen in forever are catching up.H.T. (Holly Trout) and me made a scrumpin' lunch of Pita/Chicken/Humus/Pepperjack and peppers. Sniggedy. We saw two deer during the day as well as a tree with a penis. After a day of easy hiking, I met up with Double Shot, Bofus, and Lebowski at the shelter tentsites. We goofed off for a while. I got a new water filter free at the outfitter yesterday. Tried it today and it works great.I'm cold for the first time in weeks and am in my tent for warmth. Goodnight.P.S. H.T. learned "One of My Turns" on Uke today.
Date: 2006-06-07
From: Hightop Hut

To: Hazeltop Stealth
Miles today: 15.9

Last night "Thru-Grass" (Holly T. and me) had our best show yet. The Hightop Shelter went wild. Today we went on with no signs of Bofus, Lebowski, or Double Shot. Perhaps they are still peeved from Holly calling them Yellow Blazers a couple nights back. We did, however, see "The Sneak" and Butterfly Skies, who ended up pulling ahead of us after the campstore.These Shenandoah campstores are pricey, but it's nice not carrying more than a couple days of food through the park. We picked up beer as well as spahgetti and meat sauce for dinner.Earlky on I met an older weekend type named Don. I usually avoid the sort due to the misinformation and abundance of weather info the throw at me, but Don and I hit it off. He told me about Bearfence rock scramble which was on a side trail. I didn't know what to expect as sidetrail are 50/50 cool/let down. Holly and I gave it a go and ended up with one of the coolest scenic experiences of the whole first 1000 miles of trail. Atop the rock formation there was a 360 degree view of Shenandoah and the surrounding areas. We dilly-dallied too much and decided to stealth camp atop Hazeltop Mountain, where there was a perfect spot for two tents as well as a great western view, where we were treated to a top notch sunset. One of my favorite days on the trail so far.
Date: 2006-06-08
From: Hazeltop Stealth

To: stealth campsite
Miles today: 13.0

H.T. and I saw four bears today. One was a fullgrown that dashed across the path. Later there was a mamma bear with two cubs.This afternoon we met Recess, Expo, and Gringo for dinner at Skyland Lodge. Afdterwards, the five of us stealth camped a half mile north in a site that deer frequent at night.