morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-06-17
From: Pedlar River Bridge

To: Buena Vista
Miles today: 7.6

(Well, it has been forever since I have posted, and for anyone that has read my journal, I'm sorry, but it's about ME!!! Seriously though, I had my computer crash three times and lost all of my photos from this hike. By the time I got it fixed I was full swing into the football season. Anyways, without further excuses here is the rest of my hike!)This morning woke up to Hobo playing his guitar while sitting on the bridge. Can't beat mornings like this! After a quick breakfast we were off. Made great time as we went up and skirted along the reservoir. Why is it that on days you don't need water...it's everywhere you look?!? Anyways, kept moving along as we came upon Pixie near a little pool reclining and waiting for her boys while reading a book. From this point we began a great ascent as we headed for Brown Creek Shelter. Walking through the old Brown Creek settlement area was pretty cool! Ate a snack at the shelter as Pixie and the boys showed up, found out Mummy Toes was already through here and passed us early this morning, word is he's headed for the BnB in Montebello. The hike from the shelter to the road into Buena Vista was nice and uphill almost the entire way. The guys had told us that there was a wayside store near the road crossing and as we came out we knew they would be dissapointed coming behind us as...there was no store!!! However we came across a dayhiker out from Lexington who kindly offered to give us a ride into Buena Vista so we headed into town and promptly went to the Subway next to the hotel for food. Checked into the hotel and went to the gas station across the road for some goodies. Now chillin in the room as it's god awful hot outside and watchin the boob tube. Don't order Italian if you're ever in Buena Vista, it's overpriced and terrible! Tomorrow we're gonna get a ride from Ken up to Montebello, I know we're terrible, but hey there is a free lunch to be had up there. Two more days to Rockfish Gap.
Date: 2006-06-18
From: Montebello

To: Tye River
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: clear sky

Ken picked us up this morning early and took us to the Food Lion where we bought some fresh food, I wanted cherries but they were charging $8 a pound for them and I didn't find out until I went to pay and they told me $13 for the cherries...so oranges would have to do. Got up to Montebello finally for lunch around 11:30am and sure enough Mummy Toes had been here and was already gone. The hosts were great and the lunch was awesome. I can see now though why alot of hikers don't come into town...The hike out...Sucks, uphill all the way and steep to boot. Luckily, some guys gave us a ride almost all the way back up to the trail where we headed up to the Priest. My left inner quad started hurting me yesterday and I thought it was getting better but on the way up the Priest it started twinging again, stopped at the shelter and saw MinnesotaSmith had been here a few days ago, and had caused a couple of section hikers to enjoy an insufferable night of know-it-all-ism! As we made the last little ascent we started to discuss where we would camp for the night when I saw a chipmunk up the trail chittering at something off to the side, I moved ahead and it ran off, when I got to the spot lying in the tall grass was a timber rattler trying to lie as still as possible, it was completely stretched out and no threat so we took some pictures and moved on. It was the descent that killed me as the first mile or so down was pretty steep and my quad got worse and worse, I thought if we stopped down at the Tye and camped I would be fine tomorrow, however, going over a stumphole I altered my decision when my leg buckled and caved on me. I had strained my muscle to the bone and knew I would need 48-72 hours before hiking again, with only a day left of hiking this meant my hike was done as of today because I wasn't paying for hotels just to hike one more day. I came to a creek with a big rock to sit on and waited for Magic. She finally came limping along as her foot was really bothering her. I told her I was done and she readily agreed as I think her feet were done too. Dubs or as her full name "F'ing Wingfoot" came buy and we all remembered we had met at Rice Field Shelter. She was slackpacking and Ken happened to be her ride. What luck, we asked her to have him wait at the bottom and she took off. We made our way down to the bottom and sure enough Ken was waiting with cold sodas for all. He gave us a ride back to Rockfish where Magic's car was and we all got rooms and then headed into Waynesboro for a real dinner. After a good dinner and conversation it was back to the hotel, where we are right now. Not quite happy with how the hike ended but I had a great time and that is all that matters. (I'll post my end thoughts in another post)
Date: 2006-12-18
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

It's been awhile since I have posted, and that's mainly because of how busy I am with coaching from July to February, but I am getting ready to get out the day after Xmas and finish up a section I have yet to do. The plan is to hike up the Kimsey Creek Trail to Deep Gap and from there hike up to Winding Stair Gap. This will put me at about 300 towards my section hike of the AT. I think Orangebug and a friend of his are going to be joining me out on the trail, so hopefully the weather won't turn nasty in a fast way, as it has been unseasonably warm down here. Sooo, one more hike for the year. This year has been a good hiking year, not alot of miles but they were "Quality" miles. Why, you ask? Well, because I have completely embraced the Blue Blazin' Hiker Trash in me. I do what I want to on the trail as far as routes to take and I don't worry about what others think. It's all about HYOH for me now.Anyways, I'll post some more later, but just wanted to jot down some thoughts while it was on my mind.
Date: 2006-12-25
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

No picture this time as I just wanted to get a quick post in before I head out in the morning for Deep Gap up in NC. The plan is to hike from there To Winding Stair Gap. I will be going out with my buddy Orangebug, and we plan on taking a leisurely 2.5 days to do this hike. The weather should be alright and it's a great time to do a winter hike. No bugs, no leaves, great views!!! It doesn't get any better than that. I'll be breaking in my new backpack(Osprey Aether 70) and a new Micro Puff pullover. I'm telling you the next few weeks should be awesome. Three Days of hiking, then New Years with the wifey up on Springer, followed by the SoRuck MLK weekend. Great times and great people! Anyways, I should be getting to bed as I gotta be up in about 6 hours, should have some good pictures up when I get back!
Date: 2006-12-26
From: Deep Gap

To: Carter Gap Shelter
Miles today: 8.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Well, I lost my journal somewhere so I will attempt to reconstruct the hike from memory.We started out hiking from Deep Gap at about 11:15 in the morning. It was about 32 degrees and snowing...so much for the unusually warm weather we had been having. Felt pretty good hiking today. The snow was wet and got all over everything but it was still good hiking...as long as you kept moving. There were five other guys that started out from Deep Gap when we did, they were from Ga. too but were moving slow as they were carrying everything "and" the kitchen sink! Views were non existent as it was a constant grey today with the snow falling. We did lunch in a small copse of rhododendrons, and had to get moving when my hands went numb. We arrived at Carter Gap Shelter around 5pm and decided to share a tent as OB had a 3 person rainbow tarptent. After about a half hour the 5 other guys began to straggle into the shelter and completely take it over as I couldn't believe all of the stuff they were carrying. One of them had for dinner what I would eat for three days on the trail, but I guess that's why we say HYOH. As long as they're loving it...let them love it in their own way. I think we're gonna finish tomorrow, but we'll see where were at in the early afternoon.
Date: 2006-12-27
From: Carter Gap Shelter

To: Winding Stair Gap
Miles today: 16.1
Weather: clear sky

Low 40's and sun was the name of the game today as we headed out by 8:15. It was 28 degrees in the tent last night and it was about the same temp as we got going. However it would start to warm up in a couple of hours as the sun came out. We were making great time all day long as we took a break and got water at Betty Gap. Had to get moving again as my wet gloves were starting to get cold. We began the climb towards Albert Mountain and with ice on the rocks decided to bypass Albert Mountain and road walked where we ran into some bear hunters with their hounds. We got into Big Spring Shelter where we ran into three SOBO thru hikers hoping to finish by New Year's Eve. We ate our lunch here as we decided we would finish for sure today. At Glassmine Gap I let OB go ahead as I called Ron Haven to let him know we would need the shuttle back to our vehicle. From here I was smelling Fat Buddies ribs and maintained a 3mph pace until finishing. I got to the gap and had to wait about 15 minutes for Ron and another 15 for OB to show up. All in all it was a great winter hike and a great hike with a good friend to end my hiking for the year.
Date: 2007-01-16
To: Another Year Wrapped Up!
Miles today: 0.0

Well another year has passed and I can say I have fully embraced the blue blazin' hiker trash in me. It has taken a couple of years on the AT but I have found out the type of hiker I am and what it truly means to HYOH...at least for myself. I have made alot of great friends and will continue to go out and tackle trails that appeal to me for as long as my body will allow me to.So the question: What does HYOH mean to me? Well to put it simply, it's about having fun out on the trail, whatever that may be. If it means that I blueblaze on the Blueridge Parkway....then that's what I do, if it means skipping a section..heck, I can always go back and do it.Advice to aspiring hikers: The trail doesn't change you, you change yourself,it gives you a place to think and figure things out, without all of the noise that the "real" world throws at you. If you think it's gonna be a magical journey...well it can be, but only if "you" make it that. Regardless, of what you seek, make sure you have fun with it...if it's not fun, find a way to make it so, skip ahead, take a zero, it's alright, ignore the trail nazis, after all a hike is about your own enjoyment and sense of accomplishment, not someone else's. If you are doing it for others...then you will fail. Katahdin is a place to go to, but you won't get there unless you take the time to enjoy all of the places in between. I may only have three hundred miles on the trail, but I live in the community of hikers that love this trail and will always be involved with it in some way. I hope aspiring hikers will embrace the hiker community and give back to something that hopefully they gain much from. Either way, I will still be here.As I reflect upon the past year and the hikes that I enjoyed, my mind is already beginning to look forward to this next year of hiking and the surprises it may bring. As for this year, it's over and it's time to find more trails to hike.
Date: 2006-03-02
From: Tray Gap

To: Dicks Creek Gap
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Thursday, March 2, 2006Ron will ask Rambler to drive ZigZag¢s car to Dick¢s Creek.Amoeba and ZigZag take Amoeba¢s to Tray Gap.Cold, windy, foggy, misty.At the start, a treetop full of squawking birds.11:30 Maybe a tad warmer than at the start, but not what you¢d call a warm day. On the climbs Amoeba slows her pace so she won¢t get too far ahead of ZigZag and have to stop. If you stop, sweat and drips chill you fast.12:10 Kelly Knob Summit. Still misty. Sun hasn¢t broken through. 1:00 Sidetrail to Deep Gap Shelter. A possible lunch spot but Amoeba remembers from last year it¢s a long way down to the Shelter. They hike on. Wind has picked up, chilling Amoeba and ZigZag. They look for a sheltered spot to sit in to eat lunch. Hello to John from Knoxville, originally from Germany near the border with Poland. John is hiking Springer to Fontana. He¢ll probably go to Blueberry Patch tonight.John is wearing a cotton hat and a big blue poncho. Amoeba¢s wearing an old silk scarf (from the 50¢s or 60¢s) over her head. Perhaps out of style, but it keeps her head warm.John worries about ZigZag¢s bare head. It¢s through the head that you lose the most body heat, he says.I'm warm enough, Zig Zag says.After John hikes on, Amoeba and Zig Zag find a little place near a tree to eat lunch. Not much shelter from the wind and blowing mist, but some.Soon after lunch the sun is out and the wind stops. Out at 3. A long long ride in Zig Zag's car to Tray Gap to retrieve Amoeba's rented Saturn Vue. Zig Zag is taking it slow because the road is rough and her Camry has only about 4 inches of clearance.At Tray Gap, hello to 3 men from Alabama who are section-hiking to Deep Gap NC, hoping they're far enough north that they don¢t have to compete with NOBO thruhikers for shelter space. Tonight the 3 men plan to stay at Tray Mtn Shelter. They drive both cars to Dick's Creek Gap, where Zig Zag leaves the Camry.They ride in the Vue to Hiawassee, stopping there for a teriyaki supper. After supper they set out for Deep Gap NC. From Highway 64, it's 6 miles on a well-maintained gravel/dirt road to the Deep Gap NC trailhead.Along the gravel/dirt road, ZigZag spots a turkey with its tail all fanned out like a peacock.Not far from the trailhead, they camp for the night in the Vue. As a shelter, the Vue rates two-stars. There's room for 2. It's ventilated (with the windows cracked) and dry. There's nothing to pack up in the morning.Goodnight.
Date: 2006-04-05
From: VA 625

To: VA 42
Miles today: 6.5

Clear, cold, 40¢s.Short hike, late start. Surprise! Randy is at the 625 trailhead when they arrive at 9:45. He¢ll join their hike today!Another sunlit day.Easy walk. Memere says, I could do 20 miles of this.Along Lick Creek there are loads of good camping spots.They stop at the bridge to take pictures. Rhododendron thickets. Randy says the rhodos bloom in late June and late July, they¢re pinkish white and have a slight fragrance.Amoeba falls, a stupid fall, hurt a little, not much.Memere loves the featheriness of the trees, especially the hemlocks. Memere, here¢s a picture of your feathery hemlocks.One yellow potentilla.Knot Maul Branch Shelter. Lunch. Randy is eating a cinnamon raisin bread, crunchy peanut butter and marshmallow cream sandwich. He says, there¢s no rules that say you can¢t have a gourmet sandwich for lunch.They rib him: You wanna slice a cheese with that?They read and sign the register. Randy says that some of the register entries he¢s read are pretty raunchy. You can use other words to say exactly the same thing without being raunchy.Hello to Louis and Elizabeth, thruhikers, from Philadelphia and Connecticut When coming out at Olystery Pavillion, the last log step gives way under Randy¢s weight and he falls, slicing and scraping his right forearm. That¢ll need a good washing and antiseptics. He¢ll take care of that back at the house.Goodbye for now, Randy. Thanks for hiking with us today. A big hug. Thanks again for everything. You¢all come back to visit in the summer. I make homemade ice cream, strawberry and peach.Amoeba, Gray Feathers and Memere drive to Marion where they check into Room 11 at the Royal Inn, the same room Zig Zag and Amoeba shared last year. The price has gone up somewhat. They are able to talk it down a little but not as low as last year.
Date: 2006-04-06
From: VA 617

To: VA 42
Miles today: 10.7

ThursdayAmoeba 617 to 42Memere and Gray Feathers 42 to 617Start 7:45 37 degrees. Today is the stile hike. 11 stiles.Lazy journalist today.Sign register Davis Path Shelter. Grouse.Woodpecker.Nice log steps.View from Gullion Mtn.Groves of rhodo in Crawfish Valley.Bloodroot, purple violet.Road crossing 610.   Lunch in the field on north side of the road, just over the stile.Weather blue and sunny to the east, cloudy to the west.To the east the colors of Sweden, pale blue, white, blonde. To the west the colors of Scotland.Gentle breeze, waving grass.No other hikers, except Gray Feathers and Memere who pass near the summit of Tilson.Quiet.Japanese Restaurant.
Date: 2006-04-09
From: VA 603

To: VA 672 (Slab Town Rd)
Miles today: 13.9

Sunday Memere, Gray Feathers and Amoeba are hiking in the same direction today.34 degrees in Marion, colder at 603, probably high 20¢s. 7 iced-over cars at the trailhead. Brilliant cloudless clear sky.Hello to Tom, a NOBO thruhiker, who started in early March. He section-hiked for 16 years. Tom has hiked some of the FLT in the Catskills.Hello to Bronco Billy!!! Last year Amoeba spent a night with Bronco Billy, T-Rex, Boomerang, Day Tripper and Spinner at Lambert Meadow Shelter. Reunion with people you¢ve met on the trail. When it happens at Trail Days, a Ruck or The Gathering it¢s a joy. Happening on the trail, an extra special joy. Bronco Billy retired from the Charlotte NC PD. He loves walking horses, spent time in Spain this past winter, riding horses. Wants to hike out west.Lunch with Memere and Gray Feathers on lawn at Dickey Gap. Temp now mid 50¢s. They talk about the 12 days Mrs Gorp and others were holed up at Miss Janet¢s waiting for the snow to pass. Lyrics should be written about this, using The 12 Days of Christmas melody. On the first day of Erwin, Miss Janet gave to me¢¦ View on the ascent out of Dickey Gap to the left, is that Mt Rogers? Lots of wintergreen, some red berries on it. Not many wildflowers compared to MD and northern VA. It¢s higher here. In today¢s sunlight bright jewel-green moss is particularly conspicuous because (except for the dull greens of rhododendron, mountain laurel and wintergreen) the woods are completely brown, gray, beige and tan.Quiet. Slight drone of a plane way off in the distance, otherwise perfectly still. No wind.Maybe a mile from 672, a stile made from logs instead of 2 x 4¢s. White pine needles on the path, soft footing. Emerging from the woods into a field, an abandoned school bus on the left. A right turn by a tree in the field. Old outbuildings ahead, fallen down (or in the process of falling down). An easy stile, like a staircase. Yucca plant. Narcissus in bloom along the fence rail.They decide to take the Element to scout out tomorrow¢s route to Massie Gap. They¢ll pick up the Cruiser on the way back to Marion.The Log House. That¢ll be their breakfast spot tomorrow. On to Grayson Highlands, seeing deer, turkeys and ponies. The stables campground will be their camping spot tomorrow night.Back at 603 at 6:10 as they retrieve the Cruiser, a feast is being cooked for thruhikers.   Tables set up, hot dogs and hamburgers grilling. 4 to 5 thruhikers are eating and more are arriving, including one young woman who is wearing brightly colored striped leg warmers and red Beach Crocs.A final meal at the Tuscan. This one not so good as the others, or maybe they are just tired of it.A final night at the Royal Inn. The owners don¢t promote this, and may not even know it: room #11 has free Wifi! It has a special personality, the same as last year: the curtain hems are stapled, not sewn, the toilet paper roll won¢t stay put in the holder, the shower has no head. At first room #11 is unappealing but with time it grows on you. It¢s been home. It¢s hard to say goodbye. Thank you, Peter and Parimal.
Date: 2006-07-08
To: Katahdin summit
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

July 8, 2006 was a very good day.I am posting this summit picture sent by my friends Bogey and Bacall. THEY MADE IT!!!!!That same day I was touring Franklin (MA) county farms and gardens with Dead Horse (AT Class of 2004) and Nancy Stehno.The best part of AT hiking is wonderful people like Bogey, Bacall, Dead Horse and Nancy.
Date: 2006-08-16
From: Rte 20 Lee

To: Jerusalem Rd
Miles today: 9.7

Wednesday, August 16, 2006US 20 Lee to Jerusalem Rd, 10.7 miles, 9.7 countAs Purple Rose, Amoeba, Zig Zag, Purple Sherpa, Gazelle Man and Dixie walk to the AT/Rte 20 crossing from the parking lot, they spot 3-4 well-fed NOBO thruhikers crossing the road, headed north, walking off Goose Pond Cabin blueberry pancakes, no doubt.In the woods they meet Sarah, then Righty (who had been hiking with her daughter Lefty, and Buoy). Lefty has a deadline. To make that deadline she is now about a week ahead of Righty. They are on TJ, an inspiring journal!Hello I Wanna Be a Cowboy.Hello Don. He and Sarah are taking a short break to go to Brooklyn to hear some acoustic guitar.Hello Gator (Gaiter?) on the bridge over the Mass Pike. He¢s from RI, and is sectioning from CT to Katahdin.Purple Sherpa, Dixie and Gazelle Man turn back. They¢ve got plans for the day.Hello Chickadee and Wolf Paw, near the side trail to the cabin.Zig Zag, Amoeba and Purple Rose hike to the cabin. Henry and Eleanor, the caretakers, are just about to close it up so they can go to a store to resupply. Henry asks Amoeba, do you hike on your pseudopods? Before Henry and Eleanor leave, Purple Rose, Amoeba and Zig Zag present them with a quart of locally-made real maple syrup. They sign canoe releases.Hello Cats and Rudder, SOBO¢s.Soft breezes, maybe 80 degrees, fair weather clouds, blue skies, perfect day for a paddle. Before hiking on, Zig Zag, Purple Rose and Amoeba take out the canoe, paddling around the little island.Hello again, Kevin. He says Annie has gone to Dalton, where she¢ll try to get a slack. She has a decision to make about continuing her hike with the right knee trouble she¢s having. Kevin is going to take it easy today, hiking only to the cabin and staying there tonight.Amoeba¢s got leaf debris in her eye. Purple Rose and Zig Zag, both former nurses, are well-equipped with lots of first aid items in their backpacks. Thank you both for Q-tips and contact lens fluid.Hello 4 dayhikers and a black lab headed north.Hello thruhiker Locomotive Joe. You¢ve got some beautiful trail ahead. I¢ve hiked 1500 miles for this part, he says.Dark hemlock forest, dry. Some mosquitoes, not bad.Backpacker out for 3 days hiking to Dalton. Backpacker with golden retriever.Then 5 NOBO thruhikers: Hurricane, TuTone, Two Step and JJ, and 3 Skip McGrit.Just before Jerusalem Rd stands stately "Bobby Beef", a sad and knowing expression in his eyes.Out at 4:15. Lots of variety on today¢s hike: bog bridges, bogs, fields, hemlock forest, hardwood forest, ponds, canoe ride, cabin with caretakers.Back at the campground, Gazelle Man clobbers Amoeba in a rip-snortin¢ game of ERC. Gazelle Man says, My brother clobbers me. I can only beat beginners. During the game, mosquitoes come out in force. Amoeba¢s legs get covered in mosquito bites. The itching and swelling keep her up most of the night.