morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-04-23
From: No Business Knob Shelter

To: A no name gap
Miles today: 13.1

Apr 23, day 30, mileage 13.1Today was a very good day. I needed a good one after yesterday. But as bad as a mountains kicked my butt yesterday, not once did I ask myself why I was here. I still enjoyed it.This morning stated with a nice 5.8 mike walk into Erwin, TN. The trail comes out to a road and we were greeted to the sight of Uncle Johnny's Hostel and Outfitters. Scout decided to spend the night there. Caboose and I were able to charge our phones and leave our packs with Scout while we went to the store.We walked about a mile and a half to a pizza shop for lunch. Then across the street to the IGA for groceries.I started to talk with a couple of Shriners that were taking donations outside of the IGA. Upon leaving, I dropped a few dollars in their donation can.As we were walking away, they asked if they could give us a ride back to the trail. Duh. Of course we jumped all over that.Gene, our Trail Angel, even took us to McDonalds so I could have a "town" dinner tonight in the mountains. He also showed us his town of Erwin, TN. Nice place.After getting back to the hostel, we packed our three days of food. I also weighed my pack.Base weight is 25.75 pounds including my emergency food. I thought it should be about 25 pounds. The extra 3/4 pounds must be the book I am readingWith food, 32.8 pounds. Then with one litter of water, 35 pounds. Too heavy but I want the things in my pack. Oh well.We walked up the hillside out of town to the first shelter. It was about 5:30. Both Caboose and I had a few more miles in us so we walked about two and a half more miles to a gap overlooking Erwin.My two double cheese burgers were yummy.
Date: 2013-04-24
From: A no name gap

To: A no name clearing
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Apr 24, day 31, mileage 14.6Today was interesting. That is sarcasm. It started well. A nice 1200 foot climb to the top of Beauty Spot Gap. Then down 300 feet to prepare for the 1000 foot climb to the top of Unaka Mountain (the subject of the photo today).I was slow going up the mountains but it was a nice challenge. To paraphrase Confucius, "the hiker is slow but the earth is patient".I had not slept well last night. Later in the morning, my stomach was not feeling well. That lead to not eating a good lunch, which lead to fatigue, which lead to me not wanting to be there today. Later I was able to get some food down. My spirits rose as did my energy level.But 14.6 miles was it for me today. I set up my camp in the rain but I stayed dry today.
Date: 2013-04-25
From: A no name clearing

To: A no name clearing
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: clear sky

Apr 25, day 32, mileage 17.0Today was a much better day than yesterday. And today is one month since Caboose and I started this journey. I slept about 14 hours last night. I must have been very tied.There was a significant climb over Roan Mountain today. Then across a couple of balds.While walking the trail, I came across three folks working on the side of the hill. They appeared to be harvesting some type of plant. They said they were picking ramps. A ramp is a plant that looks like an onion and tastes like a cross between an onion and garlic. They showed me what they look like, how to get it from the ground and how to peel back the outer layers with the dirt to easily eat them as I pulled it from the ground. We talk a little after returning to the trail. Nice folks.I walked to the top of the first bald from the road crossing with a botanist out for a day hike. He has hiked most of the AT. He was a veritable treasure chest of information about the plant life of the area.I took some video on my camera of the views. After I complete this trip, I might create a highlights video for YouTube.The camp site I found was occupied by a nice couple enjoying the sunset. They invited me to share the site. As we talked I found out they own an airplane. Since I am a retired air traffic controller we had plenty to talk about. The couple did not have trail names as they have hiked on the AT very little. In talking with them, the lady said that her husband said "she was Not A Woos". (spelling -5 points). So I named her "NAW". Short for Not a Woos. Her husband liked that. Later, after finding out they owned a Beachcraft Sierra, I name him Beech. It sounds woodsie. Whether they keep their new trail names is up to them. Can't say I didn't try.My tent was set up just as darkness fell. I finished eating my dinner about nine o'clock as the couple headed off to their tent. The moon was rising in the east. A beautiful night.
Date: 2013-04-26
From: A no name clearing

To: Roan Mountain, TN
Miles today: 11.2

Apr 26, day 33, mileage 11.2One note about today's photo. This is what I call technical walking. Where every footstep and pole placement is a decision. This particular rock field was only about twenty yards wide. For about two miles coming down the last bald, about seventy five percent of the trail was either like this this or littered with roots. Most of the trails we walk are beautiful. This particular one was challenging.Today was fun. I hiked across three or four balds. They are fun because you can see where you are walking to and from. The views were spectacular.As I was walking down from one of the balds, I saw a couple of familiar faces walking the trail in the opposite direction. Headbone and O.B. were walking with a girl named Pathfinder. But not The Paris Pathfinder of COHB fame. They had a shuttle take them ahead on the trail and were slack packing (walking with light day packs) in a Southbound direction so they could say hi to fellow hikers walking Northbound. They were also providing trail magic. They gave me a single serving container of Pringles potato chips. It was fun.Later, just after the last bald, I saw two ladies walking Southbound. I exchanged pleasantries with the first. As I approached the second lady, she looked familiar but I could not place her. She asked me how I liked the ramps yesterday. This was two of the three people that taught me how to pick ramps. That was over twenty miles ago. How funny. I assume she could easily recognize my because I had on the same clothes (I have no others) and the same Boonie Hat. We talked for a while. I found that she did not have a trail name. She does now, if she wants to keep it. Her new trail name is Ramp.A few more miles down the trail, I met a father and son out walking for a few days. The son thru hiked the AT last year. He said he saw a guy he recognized from last year a few miles ahead of me. He warned me that this guy snores really loud. Well, you guessed it, the snorer, is about fifteen yards away from me. And he is ripping up the night. The sound if the stream twenty yards away cannot compete. A great night for ear plugs.But I have a full tummy from the Club sandwich and milk shake I had in town tonight. I will sleep well.
Date: 2013-04-27
From: Roan Mountain, TN

To: USFS Road 293 
Miles today: 14.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Apr 27, day 34, mileage 14.1There was some rain last night. I had to stay in my tent because there was no room in the hostel. Out trip into town for groceries and dinner went well.The tent was wet as I stuffed it into its two bags. One dry bag (a bag that is waterproof) for the footprint (the waterproof protective sheet that goes under the tent body) and the rain fly. Those are the parts that get wet or muddy. One dry bag for the tent body. My thought is that tent body should never be muddy and only the bottom might be wet.We stayed at the Mountain Harbor B&B and Hostel. So after packing everything, I headed up to the house for breakfast. What a spread our hosts offered. Biscuits and sausage gravy, French toast, four different egg dishes, mini bagels with cream cheese and a strawberry wedge and a mint leaf on top, orange juice and shot glasses with strawberry and banana smoothies. There were other items I cannot recall. It was amazing. We left the B&B and stated walking at 9:15.The hike was much less taxing than previous days. No huge climbs. The trail was, for the most part, well maintained. There was almost no technical walking. It was similar to walking in Ohio except for the Rhododendron and Holly.For lunch we stopped at Jones Falls. That is the subject of today's photo. A very pretty place. Two and a half miles after Jones Falls we went over the 400 mile point in the AT. It rained on and off through the day. Near our planned stopping point for the day, the rain slacked off. It did not rain while we set the tents or during dinner. Right after we finished dinner, the rain started again, driving us to our tents.We walked only 14.1 miles today because the next camp site marked in the guide book would have given us a nineteen mile day. A little much, especially for a rainy day.So after I finish my journal, I have time to do some reading before darkness falls.
Date: 2013-04-28
From: USFS Road 293 

To: Dennis Cove Rd. USFS Road 50
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: moderate rain

Apr 28, day 35, mileage 10.8Today it poured! I am still playing with how to keep my clothes dry yet regulate my body temperature. Hiking without a rain suit is cold with the mountain breezes and gets my clothes wet. Duh. Today I hiked with a long sleeve shirt and long pants under my rain jacket and pants. I stayed warm but my clothes were damp but not soaked.I would like to find a rain jacket that does not hold water in the fabric on the outside of the jacket. That would make it warmer. The same for the pants. Maybe even a rain skirt. I don't know.What I do know is that breathable does not work in a rain storm. Period! I also am having trouble keeping my rain pants on. They have elastic but no draw cord. I have lost 22 pounds and about 4 inches off of my waist since the start of the trip. And I eat almost continuously. So new rain pants will be in order soon.From the looks of things, the other hikers are not staying any drier than me.I was passed by a few hikers today. I heard one coming up behind me and turned around to see how far back they were to get out of their way. It was Scout. She had a couple of high mileage days and caught up to us. She decided to walk with us today. We will probably stay in or near the same shelter tomorrow night. Beyond that, she is planning a big push into Damascus, VA. Caboose and I are planning to do about fifteen miles or so a day until we get to Damascus.Caboose and I only hiked 10.8 today due to the weather. Scout hiked a little further. We had a couple of options today.Option 1 - go about 15 miles, set our tents and try to dry our clothes inside the tents. Yeah right.Option 2 - Walk about two more miles and stay in a shelter and try to dry out our clothes. This option would give us a roof large enough to walk under. But drying out would still be difficult.Option 3 - Stop at 10.8 miles, walk another half mile to a hostel and get a cabin for $40 for the night split three ways. Which do you think we chose. The cabin had a heater that we used to dry our shoes, socks and gloves. My shirt and pants dried by wearing then for a few hours. The hostel had sodas, microwave pizza and other food. I read a few chapters of my book, got a shower and I get to sleep on a real mattress tonight.Even if it rains tomorrow, we will be starting the day dry.
Date: 2013-04-29
From: Dennis Cove Rd. USFS Road 50

To: Vandeventer Shelter
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: light rain

Apr 29, day 36, mileage 17.5After checking out of the hostel this morning, we quickly arrived at today's highlight: Laurel Falls.The somewhat slender guy you see in today's photo is me.Before and after Laurel Falls we walked along the river or creek of the same name. Then it was a nice climb up and over a mountain.Upon descending down the other side, I met back up with Caboose for lunch on the shore of Watauga Lake. We did not see Scout all day. After lunch we walked around the end of the lake and along most of its length.At one point I rounded a bend in the trail to find a turkey walking along the trail the same direction as I was walking. I tried to get a picture but was not wick enoughThe shelter sits on the edge of a ridge overlooking a town below.
Date: 2013-04-30
From: Vandeventer Shelter

To: Abington Gap Shelter
Miles today: 22.7
Weather: overcast clouds

To Abington Gap ShelterApr 30, day 37, mileage 22.7Today's photo was taken from the shelter I camped near just before starting my walk today. The clouds were filling in the valley were the lake is.The guide book made no mention of anything special today. I try to plan ahead enough to know to look for special things during the day. So I just started walking. Just as I was walking in front of the shelter, Cookie, another thru hiker, noticed that someone left a pair of socks hanging in the shelter. Since I figured I would be going further today than her, I put the socks in my pack. I figured they belonged to Caboose or his daughter Sassafras.There were plenty of views through the trees and neat things to see, just like ail of the other days. I don't think I could tire of being in the woods.About twelve thirty I came across some trail magic. A Baptist Outreach Group for young girls put out a cooler of soft drinks and some snacks. The half litter of Pepsi went down nicely. The group does this without even having a donation can or asking for anything other than asking to sign your trail name and home in the guest log.During the hike today, I asked those people I recognized as being in the shelter last night about the socks we found. No luck all day.I knew that Caboose was shooting for Abington Shelter tonight. At 22.7 miles, that is quite a hike. But the terrain was much less difficult than previous days. It was still more difficult than Ohio as we followed a ridge line most of today.After lunch, I figured I had enough miles behind me and enough energy to also make it to Abington Shelter. It took eleven hours from the time I left last night's shelter.When I got to the shelter tonight, I asked Kaboose if the socks were his. They were not but Firefly was thankful that I brought them as they belonged to him. It appears I have become the Lost Clothing Gnome.My tent was set up after finding Caboose. The half mile round trip to get water about eighty feet vertically below the shelter was a treat. But water was fetched, dinner was prepared, eaten and cleaned up in no time at all.My tent is set up in full view of the shelter dwellers. Apparently, after over twenty three miles of walking, my tent entry style provided comic entertainment for those in the shelter. After my shoes were removed the curtain fell on the comedy show as I zipped my tent closed.
Date: 2013-05-01
From: Abington Gap Shelter

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 10.4

May 1, day 38, mileage 10.4Today I crossed the Virginia State Line. The AT follows the North Carolina/Tennessee State Line for a large part of the time in those states. Virginia is the state with the most miles of any state on the AT. We will be in Virginia for about a month and a half.The terrain looks to be much more rolling than the mountains that we hiked previously.I will be taking two full days off to take care of equipment and me. I will be back on the trail on Saturday.Caboose left camp a few minutes ahead of me this morning. I caught up to him about a mile after the state line. When we rolled into Damascus, VA I stopped at the post office for two packages.Gala, a friend in the Dayton area, sent some dried veggies. I cannot get those in most grocery stores. She has volunteered to be my vegetable supplier on the AT. Thank you Gala.My hammock also arrived today. I wanted to start sleeping in a hammock when the weather warmed up. Since I did not have my hammock choices naked down before I left, I ordered my hammock, tarp and under quilt while on the trail from my phone. I do so enjoy the technology. I ordered items from three different companies and had them ship the items to my friend Dave in Sunbury. Dave was nice enough to set everything up for me before shipping everything to me in one box. A big thank you to Dave for his support and a considerable amount of work on my tarp lines and hammock suspension.My next post will be, cell service permitting, on Saturday night.
Date: 2013-05-04
From: Damascus, VA

To: Saunders Shelter
Miles today: 9.2
Weather: overcast clouds

May 4, day 41, mileage 9.2Today's photo is the outside of a typical privy. To see the inside, see additional photos from the menu on the left side of the web window.OK. I am back after two days off. I made a really quick trip back to Columbus, Ohio (home) to see my son Kyle and my girlfriend Jodie. I did not have time to visit others due to the short time in town.I also had work to do for the hike: grocery shopping, get new shoes (my first pair were trashed) and get accustomed to setting up my new hammock and tarp.I also needed a new rain suit. The North Face rain pants and jacket that I have are "breathable" but I was less than happy with their performance when walking for hours in the rain with a backpack. I ordered a jacket and pants through Roads, Rivers & Trails, my outfitter in Milford, Ohio.I talked with Bryan from RR&T and decided to go with a jacket and pants from Rab. It looks like I may be walking in the rain tomorrow or the next day. I will let you know how my new rain gear performs.Rick, from COHB (Central Ohio Hikers and Backpackers), my local hiking group, is joining me through Monday afternoon. We dropped his car at a trail head to the north of Damascus and we are hiking back to it.Today's hike was nice. We left Damascus about three o'clock and arrived at the shelter about six thirty. We paralleled the Virginia Creeper Bike Path for a few miles. The hike ended with a gentle one thousand foot climb. The views were just as wonderful as most other days. I love that I am so fortunate to get to do this.
Date: 2013-05-12
From: Elk Garden Gap

To: Just a pretty spot
Miles today: 13.4
Weather: scattered clouds

May 12, day 49, mileage 13.4I stayed last night in Marion, VA because of more thunderstorms. But today was absolutely gorgeous. I was picked up by a taxi at eight o'clock and was on the trail at eight thirty. I avoided the thunderstorms because of the open areas I walked today and in the next few days. Another benefit of avoiding the rain and thunderstorms that I did not think of is that I was able to see all of the amazing views today. This area is my favorite part of the AT so far. This is the Grayson Highlands. The terrain is very rocky with small trees and low bushes. There were some areas that were normal forest. In the open areas the views were breathtaking.In addition to the mileage on the AT today, I also walked up a side trail to the top of Mount Rogers. The view from there was non-existent. The top of the mountain was thickly wooded. But now I can say that I have been to the highest point in Virginia.Just after coming down from Mount Rogers, I had my first experience with the wild ponies that I have heard that live here. They are very friendly and walk right up to you begging for food. At this first pony encounter I was able to visit for a while with Nimble. Caboose and I hiked with Nimble back in the Smokies. The only other thru hiker I talked with today was Long Trail from Vermont. All of the other hikers I talked with today were section hikers. One couple was hiking southbound to Damascus to attend the Trail Days festival that will go through the next weekend.I got to see ponies a few more times today. And the awesome views just seemed to keep coming. The rocky terrain did get the best of me today. I was pretty tired about five thirty. I found a nice camp site with a great stream at its side.I was able to use the extra time tonight to experiment with my hammock and tarp setup. About eight o'clock I was laying in the hammock to write my journal entry for today.
Date: 2013-05-13
From: Just a pretty spot

To: Trimpi Shelter
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: few clouds

May 13, day 50, mileage 16.0Today was the best of times and the worst of times... I think I may have read those words before.I had trouble motivating myself to get out of my sleeping bag this morning. I did not hit the trail until 9:05. That is a new record for me on the AT. After I was walking I felt a little better. After lunch, I did not want to move.I think this minor case of the "Virginia Blues" is from being home for six days and getting used to real food and a real bed again. Also from being able to see my girlfriend Jodie, my son Kyle and some other friends like Joe from COHB and my sister Dana and her husband Dean.I finally was able to kick the Virginia Blues today by envisioning hiking up Mt. Katahdin with my girlfriend Jodie. I have heard that keeping a good frame of mind can sometimes be hard on the AT.I figure that people leave the AT due to injury, illness or the Blues. I have been pretty good at the mental frame of mind so far but it can mess with your ability to get the miles. There were a few good views today as well as some nice water features. But most of today was just walking in the woods. Oh Darn! I still love this walk.
Date: 2013-05-14
From: Trimpi Shelter

To: Marion, VA
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: clear sky

May 14, day 51, mileage 10.7Today I climbed out of the hammock ready to hit the trail. I felt much better than yesterday morning.There were some nice ups and downs today but nothing steep. It was a great walk. In addition to Bad Larry, Foot Shelf and G Money who stayed at the shelter last night, I met a few other hikers today.Patchouli was one hiker I met today. We seemed to leapfrog each other most of the day. While walking along, Patchouli and a few other hikers were sitting along the side of the trail near a large box. I smell trail magic!   The box, supplied by the Baptist Church down the road had sooooo much stuff. There were baby wipes, Q-Tips, peanut butter crackers, freshly popped pop corn, just to name a few items. There was also a cooler with Cola and water.I enjoyed a soda and some crackers then left Patchouli and the other hikers to enjoy the trail magic. A few more miles down the trail Patchouli passed me again. I came back across her sitting on a log snacking. I stopped and chatted will having some of my beef jerky. At the end of the trail I saw her again. We shared a ride to town. In town, I was busy. A nice Mexican lunch. A long walk to the post office and a long bus ride back. Grocery shopping. I always find it a challenge to find things in a grocery store I am unfamiliar with. Dinner at a nice restaurant near the post office and back to my hotel room. Then laundry in the sink, a shower and bed.I an actually writing this on Wednesday morning as I was too tired to write last night.My next food resupply stop is about 100 miles away. So my next journal entry might be as long as a week from now depending on cell service.The bus to the trail will be here soon as I wait near the McDonalds where I had breakfast. Two Egg McMuffins and a Coke.