morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-04-20
From: Brush Mountain ridge

To: VA 608
Miles today: 7.2

No one could sleep this morning as we knew we were going to Blacksburg (!!!) to have Easter dinner with my old college roommate, Karen, and her family.   Luckily, the forecasted morning showers never came ( told you 3 sock) and the trail was really easy. We found ourselves sitting by the road awaiting our ride to what we had deemed as mecca, Blacksburg.   I've been building up Blacksburg to Rock Hound for weeks now or at least one particular restaurant that i loved as a student here. But now we have the much added bonus of a wonderful home cooked Easter dinner & a place to clean up, thank you Leigh's, Harrington's & kevins's poor roommates who put up with all of us!Anyway we had a great dinner then got cleaned up walked around town, ate again and then found milkshakes! It's so nice to be back on campus and in a place i know so well....Tonight we're crashing at Kevin's ( Karen's brother) apartment and waiting for Emma, Rock Hound-ette, and her sister to arrive!*sorry for the out of sequence journals entries but our faithful transcriber is taking sometime off to visit his new grandson :)
Date: 2003-04-21
From: VA 608

To: VA 608
Miles today: 0.0

Waking up in a nice comfy house, looking outside and seeing rain made us all think Zero Day! Plus there are more Blacksburg restaurants to eat at and we ended up visiting the following establishments: Gillies (after 3 years of waiting, Thin Mint gets her Gillies), Macados, and The Cellar.Kevin and roommates were kind enough to let us stay. We fixed, dried, cleaned gear as well as packed food for the next few days. We headed to campus to speak with past profs and spent some time in the Tech geo-muesum and geo-library.Ended the day by watching "The Ring" and "Blow". A fine relaxing day for all.
Date: 2003-04-22
From: VA 608

To: Wapiti Shelter 
Miles today: 13.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Slept in later than planned but departed from Kevin's apt and after a breakfast stop we hit the trail around noon with Rockhound, Emma (Rockhound's girlfriend), and her sister Sara.Overcast all day but no heavy rain. Trail was mild; followed ridge then dropped down to a suspension foot bridge crossing the river. Small break by Dismal Falls then the trail followed the river upstream to Wapiti Shelter.Read an interesting register entry at the shelter (every shelter has a log book which you can place your daily thoughts or leave messages to those behind). The entry brought to our attention of 2 hikers who tragically lost their lives in the old Wapiti Shelter.On a brighter note, we had a great time at Tech, I'm getting excited for grad school!
Date: 2003-04-23
From: Wapiti Shelter 

To: Pearisburg, Va (hotel)
Miles today: 16.2
Weather: clear sky

The Pocketmail saga is over (hopefully)! Today we got our pocketmail device back or i should say today we got a new device. We'll see how long this one lasts. But the good thing is that we can get email again... that is if anyone wants to write us. So today was our second day hiking with Rock Hound, Emma (rock hound-ette) and her sister Sara. Unfortunately, 16 miles might have been too much for them - it would have been too much for me my second day out. But they seem much happier now that they are resting for the night. We also found out today that Beef Stick, who we had previously been hiking with, is ahead of us and trying to catch up with us. Apparently, he passed us up while we were in Blacksburg but doesn't realize we're behind him now. With any luck we'll catch him in a day or two. Besides that not much else happened today, nice trail & good views.
Date: 2003-04-24
From: Pearisburg, Va (hotel)

To: Pine Swamp Branch Shelter 
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: overcast clouds

After a breakfast at the DQ we started on the trail around 08:45. Crossed the New River on a car bridge then began today's first climb. Unfortunately it took awhile for the automobile sounds to be drown out by the forest and also took a few miles before we could no longer smell the rubber factory. We pass a sign by the stream stating that the fuzzy orange water that I was noticing was caused by "Natural Forming Bacteria". What was also interesting was that we just passed a road leading to an industrial landfill... Guess it was their way to say to hikers: "Don't Filter This Water!".We took a break early on - discussion on why are we breaking our backs carrying food that sucks, killing our feet, and planning to spend the next 2 days hiking in rain. At least watching the news makes us so glad we are out here.Passed Emma who hiked a few miles with Rockhound in the morning and caught up with Rockhound (having a crazy hair day) up on the ridge. Took a nice long break and guess who shows up is Bandakwe!We believe VA used up the switchback budget on the decent off of the ridge. There were so many switchbacks I think we actually traversed uphill at times during the decent.
Date: 2003-04-25
From: Pine Swamp Branch Shelter 

To: Laurel Creek Shelter 
Miles today: 18.5
Weather: overcast clouds

"The longest journey begins with a single step, not with the turn of an ignition key." - Edward Abbey(Thank you JR and GB for introducing me to this great American author of the SW.) Rain didn't arrive until noon so our first few miles were dry. Cutting through Virginia's ridge and valley. Hiked to Wind Rock; view was similar to that of God's Thumbprint and many others we have passed in the last few days: thick gray fog...Beefstick is currently trying to catch up with us, this may be a difficult task considering he is now ahead of us due to our zero day in Blacksburg. Hopefully someone will inform him that we are now behind him - we think we can catch up to him in Catawba - let's thank the convienent hours of the post office for that.Came across some great trail magic today from Super Dave! Sodas and candy bars - much needed energy to make it up the last 500 feet of the mountain.Just met John from WY at the shelter as well as his great dog.
Date: 2003-04-26
From: Laurel Creek Shelter 

To: Pickle Branch Shelter 
Miles today: 22.3
Weather: light rain

Good 22.3 mile day - along with a nice approach trail to Pickle Branch Shelter, wasn't the half mile that they claimed so I was happy about that. Sitting here with the feet aching (nothing new), we came up with the theory that James Brown is actually a thru-hiker - most sounds made in his songs are strangly similar to the sounds thru-hikers make at the end of the day. I still am amazed that we can hike 20+ miles walking like "normal" people, but as soon as we are done hiking for the day and the boots come off, we start walking around like we were old and feable: back bent over, strides no longer then a foot, moaning with every step.A few big climbs today, passed by the Audie Murphy memorial (WW II hero, also the place Anna found her dog "Murphy"). Walked along a ridge this morning climbing over outcrops dipping at 20-40 degrees - may have been fun during a dry day but much more interesting when wet and slick. Rockhound had a nice 5 foot slide.I had, I would simply say, a disagreeable morning with my Platapus water bag: issues with the hose led to leaking as well as bite valve and clip difficulties. Not my happiest moment! Just a reminder, if you place the hose across the front of your body, MAKE SURE to unclip the hose PRIOR to taking off the backpack! Enough said about the Platapus.Surprised how unclean the shelter is considering it is well off of the trail. Besides us it is only Rockhound here tonight.
Date: 2003-04-27
From: Pickle Branch Shelter 

To: Campbell Shelter
Miles today: 16.1
Weather: clear sky

I'm going to call this VT day, Virginia Tech not Vermont for all you Vermonters reading this. I know that we already went to see the campus and town but today we did three things that most people at VT do at least one of. 1.) we hiked over Dragon's Tooth this morning 2.) we hiked up McAfee's Knob this evening & 3.) we ate a late lunch at the Home Place. Now you have to understand how difficult it was to accomplish #2 after #3, i think that was the slowest 4 miles i've ever hiked. For those of you not familar with The Home Place i believe it was best summed up by a women i met leaving the restaurant. She said " ... we just brought my mom here for lunch, and she's a Yankee(!), and she said ' well i guess that's how you explain Southern cooking to someone'..." And that is really what this place is, a big old southern plantation restored and turned into a restaurant. The best part for thru hikers is that it is all you can eat. They bring out bowls of their staple southern dishes and when you finish they bring you more, which a wonderful concept to us. Unfortunately or fortunately however you want to look at it we had some amazing trail magic this morning with fresh sandwiches and homemade peanut butter bars plus a plethora of other goodies from a past hiker- thank you so much Southpaw! But this was too much for us to pass up and we weren't as hungry as we usually are by mid afternoon so we couldn't make as impressive of a dent in the Home Place's meal as we'd hoped. We also found that we had to lay in the front yard for sometime before we could will ourselves to put our packs on again. Luckily, there was a car show of sorts there so we just pretended to be admiring the cars not writhing in gluttonous pain. We're the only ones at the shelter tonight- weird!
Date: 2003-04-28
From: Campbell Shelter

To: Troutville, VA 
Miles today: 15.4

Today was one of those days... 3 sock's Achilies tendon has really been hurting him, i was sad to be leaving the VT area & it is getting hot. We always knew that the day when we were both down would be hard; and it was.    At one point i watched a beetle trying to cross the trail in front of me, attacking the beetle were three red ants. One ant was attached to the beetle's head the other two on either side of the body, but the beetle kept trudging along. I couldn't help thinking how similar i was to the beetle, big round shell/pack, kind of mindlessly moving along fighting the ants. I also saw a 3+ foot long Black snake on the trail today, no symblism there just thought that was interesting. Anyway, things got better once we got to the road - there was Beef Stick! I'm not sure if we mentioned it or not but he was ahead of us trying to catch up to us, can't work we know. Anyway we got a room at the Best Western: Appalachian Trail Crossing with Beef Stick and waited for Rock Hound who was a few miles behind us. Unfortunately, by the time we got settled and walked to the outfitters they were unable to give us a ride to the post office - guess we'll worry about the mail drop tomorrow. Time for Chinese buffet where Rock Hound caught up with us. Then bad 80's TV and icing of ankles, knees and various other limbs that generally ache. 3 sock and i will decide in the morning if we're headed on or need a day to recop.
Date: 2003-04-29
From: Troutville, VA 

To: Wilson Creek Shelter
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: scattered clouds

This was an interesting morning. We couldn't decide whether to rest 3 sock's ankle another day and lose Rock Hound and Beef Stick or move on and risk hurting the ankle more. When we parted with the guys at the road to get our mail drop i really thought that was it for us, hiking wise of course. We're tired and sore and frankly just sick of having various parts of your body feel like they've declared war on the other parts of your body. Anyway, we couldn't get a hitch on the busy road to the post office so we walked the .8 miles (this may seem like just me whining but the last thing any hiker wants to do is walk 'bonus' miles down a busy road with cars flying past at 60 mph). So we get the post office finally and we have a wonderful surprise from my aunt Barb, who is sending our equiptment drops while my parents are gone, three different types of homemade cookies and other goodies - thank you Barb. Well we sat in the lawn of the post office looking at all the stuff we no! w had to fit into our packs and we decided that by sending 'extra' equiptment home we could carry more food! So off went some 'extra' stuff and we headed back to the trail. We headed up the hill not knowing how far we'd make it. But at the first shelter we got a note from Rock Hound saying that he and Beef Stick would be waiting at the next shelter. So we didn't do the 19 miles we'd hoped originally but we're all together and everyone seems to be feeling better with stomaches full of cookies and sore ankles resting. We'll see what happens tomorrow.Staying at the shelter is Rock Hound, Beef Stick & Cheddar. We also met Martin from Austria today.
Date: 2003-04-30
From: Wilson Creek Shelter

To: Bryant Ridge Shelter 
Miles today: 20.6
Weather: broken clouds

Casual 20 miler day. One of my favorite days out here but have no idea why. Think it may be due to taking it slow and the terrain being easy. First 7 miles was a stroll where we met up with the Blue Ridge Parkway. Not many cars on it yet so I wasn't too bothered by the road. I stopped at the road side signs and learned about hawks, Points of Otter, and found out that the AT is the longest hiking trail in the world! So the info was a little out dated but the signs allowed me to take breaks throughout the day. (written by 3 Sock) I (Thin Mint) had an interesting day. I honestly thought that someone/ something had it out for me today but, it should be said that i still had a great day. Here's the story... We started out this morning with nice weather and pretty easy hiking by the time we stopped for a break we were 7 miles in to the day. While we're sitting there i noticed a tick on my leg, not the type that carries Lymes disease but the gross ones that inbed themselves in you. Luckily it hadn't taken hold but, it did distract me from noticing that my water bag lid wasn't closed tightly. A good mile down the trail i notice that my shorts are getting wet and it seems to be coming from the bottom of my pack. I first check the bite valve on my water hose becasue we've all pressed that accidently and had water streaming out of it. But no this water was coming from inside the pack. I drop my pack and pull out my water bag, which i conviently keep on top so that if it leaks it gets everything belo! w it wet. By this point Rock Hound has caught up and sees how i have everything spread across the trail. After offering help he heads on to explain to 3 sock why i'm running behind. Unfortunately he leaves before i find the cockroach that has hitched a ride from this mornings shelter curled up in my coat! Anyway it was an interesting morning but the day got better and we even got to soak our feet/ ankles in a beautiful creek this afternoon in the sunshine. Tonight we're staying at a shelter that was designed by a VT arch grad. It's a really nice design, all multi leveled and everything, but it's roof leaks and we're having thundershowers (seems stranglely approperiate - gretchen will understand if she's reading).
Date: 2003-05-01
From: Bryant Ridge Shelter 

To: Matts Creek Shelter 
Miles today: 22.7
Weather: broken clouds

Day 56. Comparing our hiking abilities to when we began: End of March we hiked 7 miles out of NOC rising approx. 4000 feet in elevation and called it a day. Today we assended 3500 feet in 7 miles but then tacked on an additional 16 miles. Feet were hurting but creek by the shelter was perfect for soaking the feet. My left heel is still giving me problems on and off - I'm afraid one wrong step my kick me out of commission.After horrid rains last night we were spared bad weather during today's hike. Got to see a snapping turtle eating a snail and came across a 4 foot long black snake. Lizards out as always and the bugs are becoming progrressivly worse! However, I did pull slightly ahead of Rockhound for number of ticks found on self.Hope to be in Wanynesboro by next Tuesday and be hiking the Shenandoahs from Wednesday to Monday - so if anyone would like to meet us out there send an email.Note: Email device broke in Erwin and we just recieved a new one in Pearisburg (Further note to anyone interested in Pocketmail: their customer service is as dependable and helpful as the service found in fast fod restaurants). Anyway, although we recieved a new unit we have lost everyone's email address - hence, if you wish to hear from us please send us an email. Hope to see many of you when we get up into Maryland!
Date: 2003-05-02
From: Matts Creek Shelter

To: Buena Vista, VA
Miles today: 23.2

We were on a mission, a mission from God (from the Blues Brothers movie). But that was how we made it to a Ruby Tuesday's that was at least 15 miles off the trail and 2 miles further up the trail. Unfortunately, Beefstick didn't make it to the shelter to get in on the plan and Rock Hound's note to Beefstick said we went to Gruvy Tuesday. Luckily he didn't try to find us, for many reasons. So we knew that the road we were headed to was bad for hitching and we didn't really know where the Ruby Tuesday's was. So we finally got a hitch but there was no way we'd all 4 of us fit into the jeep, that already had 3 people in it. Anyway, Rock Hound & Cheddar rode off with the jeep and we were all to meet in Buena Vista at the Ruby Tuesdays. Here's where the next problem comes in the Ruby Tuesday's isn't in Buena Vista it's in Lexington ( the next town over) but we don't know this until we get a hitch with a local. As we're riding down the mountains i start thinking how there is no way that we are all going to make it to the restaurant and if we do how are we ever going to get back to the trail. Amazingly enough Cheddar and Rock Hound are sitting out front of the Ruby Tuesdays when we pull in and they are just as amazed to see us. We are so thrilled by the smell of food and the idea that we're going to be eating soon that we're being goofy (big surprise there) a!nd all the people in the restaurant are watching through the window. Even better is that they seat us by all the people who just watched us so now they are really scared as we're weird and smell bad. Anyway 3 sock wins the retard award for trying to walk outside with his salad ( he got lost on the way back to the table... buildings apparently confuse him now). After the good meal we found a person to shuttle us to a hotel and then back to the trail in the morning.
Date: 2003-05-03
From: Buena Vista, VA

To: Seeley-Woodworth Shelter 
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: broken clouds

This is the fullest shelter i've ever seen, let alone stay at. Of course it had to be raining and cold when we got here so we were thrilled to see all the tents set up (which usually means the shelter is already full). But really it was only half full and the rest were camps and boyscouts, so we squished ourselves in and tried to keep the people who already there happy. The groups are pretty interesting we have Guy, the Israeli college student and the 3 guys from Tenn. in the shelter with us (Rock Hound, Cheddar, 3 Sock and i). Tenting are a small boyscout group with a leader who carried a ham radio all the way up here, for what reason we don't know. And beefstick caught back up with us so we're all one big happy family again.
Date: 2003-05-04
From: Seeley-Woodworth Shelter 

To: Harpers Creek Shelter 
Miles today: 14.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Woke this morning to the sound of rain - decided to go back to sleep. We needed to accomplish 2.3 miles by 10:30 in order to have a shot of receiving a free lunch - sleeping in this morning just sounded perfect. Plus there became an alterier motive. One of the boy scout leaders decided he wanted to use his HAM radio this morning but was at least curtious enough to wait until we were all awake. We responded by keping our eyes closed and safe from the cold rainy morning in our warm bags. Eyes continued to stay shut even after we heard him ask Beefstick when we were planning on waking up - as if Beefstick knows the exact moment of the end of our slumber! I finally woke and read some great chapters in my book in peace - I was not ready to answer stupid questions this early in the morning.We finally all awoke around 8:30, hit the trail at 9:15 and walked to this spot off the trail on a back dirt road where supposively a guy will pick you up at 10:30 am, take you to his house, feed you a free lunch, then return you to the trail full and unharmed. It seemed such a wierd concept but we hiked .25 miles down the back road and noticed a small sign "AT Hiker Pickup". We waited for 10 minutes when we heard the sound of a vehical. A red SUV pulled up, a man came out and asked, "So, you all ready?" We piled into his car and before we knew it we were at the Dutch Haus B&B. Nice warm, dry house and we had a great free lunch fixed by his wife: warm soup, fresh fruit, nachos, plus dessert!A relatively easy strolling rest of the day. Climbed up Spy Rock which was once used during the Civil War for obvious reasons. Awesome views and the bad weather was really "burning off". Started our climb up to the Three Ridges before we came to the shelter - we shall climb the remaining 2200 feet tomorrow morning.Tinka showed up tonight heading SOUTHBOUND! Interesting story, he did a flip-flop and has 12 miles left to finish on the trail. Instead of finishing in "beautiful" Waynesboro, he shuttled up to the town and will do the last few miles SOBO so he can finish in a much more scenic location. Congrats to Tinka!
Date: 2003-05-05
From: Harpers Creek Shelter 

To: Paul Wolfe Memorial Shelter 
Miles today: 22.3
Weather: light rain

More Rain! Seems like we need to get used to this as they are forcasting rain for the next 6 days. I want to go back to hiking in the dry deserts of Utah!Rain began just as I lit my stove for breakfast - crap, move everything under the shelter. Discussed options but there seemed no way around leaving the shelter to do one of the last big climbs before Mt. Greylock (mass). Rain let up so off we went. Three Ridges was actually a fun hike with many great views. Hooked back up with the BRP(BlueRidge Parkway) which we crossed a few times. Middle of the day miles took forever and the rocks were brutal on the feet - I took off my boot once cause I thought I had a pebble in it that I was always stepping on, unfortunately it was just the hard ball of my foot. Hey, by the way, where are my arches!!!Anyway, climbed slowly up Humpback Mt then did 192 switchbacks to drop a measly 1100' to the cozy but mouse ridden shelter. Got in just before the rain - not true for Beefstick. Thought about going an extra 5 miles to not only get into town but also to have a new mileage record (for us) on the AT. I think Rockhound was a bit pissed we didn't go on. (Sorry if you are upset with us Rockhound). Although he ended the evening by telling the story "Search for the missing Cow Log".
Date: 2003-05-06
From: Paul Wolfe Memorial Shelter 

To: Rockfish Gap 
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Easy 5 mile stroll out of the shelter to Rockfish Gap. Rain stayed away the whole time as well. Arrived at the information center at the Gap and received a shuttle into town. Picked up mail drop and settled into the hotel. Headed to Weisie's for breakfast and to meet up with Cheddar who is attempting to break the record for most number of pancakes eaten (24). As we are cuising the streets of Waynesboro headed to the restaurant, who comes walking towards us but Cheddar himself. By the looks of it, I can tell he has already eaten - his pancake total: 6.Enjoyed eating, playing on the internet, and relaxing for the rest of the day. Five of us staying in the hotel room tonight and caught a few more classic episodes of "Three's Company".