morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-04-28
To: View Entry
Miles today: 20.6
Weather: broken clouds

Biggest day of hiking for me ever. Started at 0715hrs and ended around 1700hrs. 20.6 miles for me in one day. Best ever. Last nights sleep was disturbed by couple of bears walking around the tents. Finally scared them off around midnight. Remember to never sleep near the only water supply on that side of the mountain. Everyone seems to have recovered from the stomach thing that was going around this past weekend. Off the trail and in a cabin for the night. tornado warnings and severe rain all around us. Had a chance to get the cabin with my friend Tony. Good move considering the way it rained for 10 min and stopped. Forecast calls for rain for next 2 days. Ugh. Was great hiking today. Thought about family a lot today and what it really means. Nothing really reached out and slapped me side the head. Lol. Life is good on the trail. Warrior Hike 2014........HOOHASGM
Date: 2014-04-29
To: View Entry
Miles today: 16.0

Weather gods and Mother Nature loved us today. Hardly any rain and comfortable hiking. Bang of 16 miles and felt great. Also left TN for the last time. Great to be in VA. Will be in this state for a while. Good day on the trail and thought about lot of things. Thought about people in my life and how different we all are. Some I will keep in my life and others I will just drop by the way side. Those that have threatened me, tried to intimidate me and whatever will be gone. Those that spread rumors and lies are also gonna be gone. It's my truck and I be driving it. Life is good on the trail. Warrior Hike 2014.......HOOAHSGM
Date: 2014-04-30
To: View Entry
Miles today: 15.0

Left Woodchuck Hostel this morning at 0930hrs. Walked into town and bought some food. Also summer gaiters. Nobody had kilts so I still don't have one. Hiked aloneost of the day again and enjoyed it. VA is so beautiful   The river running thru the park is awesome. No service here tonight. As I walked today I again thought about people in my life I don't need or no longer want too. Last night I started cleaning out my Facebook account and cell phone page. I now it sounds small but it's a start for me. Had a nice dinner out with the other warriors and hiker family. Tomorrow we will go over 500 miles on the trail. We have handled everything Mother Nature has thrown at us. In camp tonight with Machine, Evac, Jessie the Viking, Big Foot, and Doc. Life is good on the trail. Warrior Hike 2014......,HOOAHSGM
Date: 2014-05-01
To: View Entry
Miles today: 17.3

Good day of hiking. Started at 0715hrs headed north. Had huge mountain right off. Buzzard Rock and Mt Rogers. Not bad climbing but coming down the rocks killed me. Huge boulders. Got to see some of the wild ponies as I hiked thru the park and around the horse poop. Grayson Highlands was quite the place to hike. Ran into a Seventh grade class out hiking. They gave me a standing ovation when I said I was a thru hiker. I was moved to tears as I walked away. Two girls came over and gave me a banana and a power bar. I was an emotional wreck bout then. Gave more thought to people who I don't want in my life anymore. I thought about my last drill in the Guard and the fact that the General or the state CSM couldn't even be bothered to come down and say goodbye to me and a thank you to my wife. So there are to more useless pieces of Han oxygen thieves gone. We had a huge victory today. We hiked over. 500 miles. Huge accomplishment here on the trail. Life is good on the trail.Warrior Hike 2014.......HOOAH SGM
Date: 2014-05-02
To: View Entry
Miles today: 20.0

Broke camp to a cool 35 degrees this morning. Left camp alone and moved right along. Red Rambler caught up with me and we passed each other all day long.Trail magic in the gap today was awesome. They had cold drinks, good, and resupplies for hikers. They are such great people. In camp with Jessie the Viking, Dog, Doc, Red Rambler and Country. 10.7 miles in the morning. Life is good on the trail. Warrior Hike 2014...... HOOAHSGM
Date: 2014-05-03
To: View Entry
Miles today: 10.7

Left camp this morning heading north. Thought I was gonna have a confrontation with my first bear. Was walking thru meadow full of honey suckle bushes and saw one move. Stopped and looked and then banged my poles together. Then this black head turned and I saw a white strip on its head. Damn cow. Later spooked herd of white tail deer.   Made it to pick up point in plenty of time. They picked us up in a old 2 1/2 ton Army truck. We all jumped in the back and away we went to the American Legion where the ladies had an awesome fried chicken dinner for us. We then moved into a local store and are sleeping upstairs for the night. Life is good on the trail. Warrior Hike 2014.......HOOAHSGM
Date: 2014-05-04
To: View Entry
Miles today: 12.7

Had nice time in Marion VA. The women of the VFW put on one hell of a grief chicken dinner for us. Then we went over to Appalachian Spirits for a private function and a place to sleep. Scott had a brother who was in the Army and has passed away. He wanted two of us to take dog tags and dropped one on My Washington and Kytardin for him. It will be done. Mind was at 1000 mph today as I learned a brother and friend of mine took his own life. Don't know the details of it but the demons won. No idea what drove h to this but I will not judge him. Feel so bad for his family. Sad we lose our warriors to the demons and monsters. We need to find a way to end it. I myself have thought about giving into them more than once and letting it al end. There were times when I couldn't do anything right and whatever I did was wrong. Family fights and arguments got overwhelms and I just wanted it to go away. And then when I thought about it I was to scared that I would mess up and not do it right. Then the family would have to take care of me. So I talked myself out of it and talked to my counselor about it.   I wish we could find an answer to this issue. Would make life so much easier for everyone. Landers reminds me I can't save them all, but I wish I could. So tomorrow I will pack up my tent and head down the trail. I will think of my friend and be thankful for time that I knew himLife was a little sadder on the trail today. RIP my brother. Warrior Hike 2014.........HOOAHSGM
Date: 2014-05-05
To: View Entry
Miles today: 13.2

Good day on the trail. Once again we are spread all over VA. Haven't seen some warrior hikers since Sunday. In camp tonight with Terry and Tim. Father son team who wanna hike with us. Weather has been awesome again and starting to get warm here. Nice to sit outside and enjoy it at 1830 hrs rather than be in the bag staying warm. Planning tomorrow's hike as we sit here relaxing. Called Big Agnes about my air mattress leaking and they are sending me a new one no questions asked. Will have it Sunday when I hit town.   Thought bout lots today as I moved along. Again visited why people call it quits and let the demons win. Got to be an answer out there.   Life is good on the trail. Warrior Hike 2014........HOOAH SGM
Date: 2014-05-06
To: View Entry
Miles today: 14.5

Good day of hiking today. Awesome views in VA. Farms and fields are just awesome. Climbed some huge mountain this morning first thing. Got to top and had cell service. Called Andrea and Sarrah. Sent Sarrah some pics.Got very hot here today. The leaves are not out yet so we have no shade to help us. My friend Terry took his son off the trail and got a ride into town to a hotel. Tim got way to warm and dehydrated today. Water was a problem today. At my tent site tonight a lady gave me a gallon of water. She and her husband are section hiking and use two vehicles. They sleep in thief pickup I the spaces by the trail head. Not much in the brain today. Just concentrated on stay cool and hydrated. Life is good on the trail. Warrior Hike 2014....HOOAHSGM
Date: 2014-05-07
To: View Entry
Miles today: 18.0

Another great day on the trail. 85 degrees this afternoon. Got on the trail early this morning so as to hike in the cool air. Stayed that wat till around 1100 hrs. Came of the trail to awesome trail magic for lunch. They even charged my phone for me. Temps are starting to heat up and water is getting scarce in places. I am doing 16 miles tomorrow and no water resupplyimg for first 10 miles. I have enough that I am not worried bout it. Was weird thoughts today. Thought about growing up in with all the kids on the old hood. Jim VonDeck and family cross the road. His father Bob who use to take me fishing. Not sure what triggered these and other thoughts but it was cool being caught up in the moment with themLife is good on the trail. Warrior Hike 2014.......HOOAHSGM
Date: 2014-05-08
To: View Entry
Miles today: 16.8

Nice hiking today. Had to watch water consumption today due to heat and lack of water on the trail. Now water in between shelters, 9.4 miles. Plenty of water after that.Hiking was nice and cool this morning with a cool breeze. Temps hit 85 today.sitting in a half ass campground called Trents. The store is good and the ice creamwas awesome. The campground could really used some cleaning up. Nice stream running beside my tent site for the night, What the hell, for $6.00 you get a place to put up your tent, shower, and laundry.Friday is a 14 mile day planned and spending the night at a hostel ca;;ed Woods Hole. Been tolod need to go there and check it out,Thought about a lot of things todsy while hiking. Backto my teenage years, Thought about my old girlfriend Debbie Doubleday and her husband Floyd. The wild parties we used to have at her house.Thought about my best man at our wedding, Charlie Von Deck. Haven't seen or heard from him in years,Remembered going down to my folks house one Saturday afternoon to tell them we were gonna get married. My Dad was cool with it and all my Mom said to us was is Andrea pregnant.Anyhow I had lots of memories to ponder over but the best part of life is that everyday in another great memory.Oh well, life is still good on the trail.Warrior Hike 2014....HOOAHSGM
Date: 2014-05-09
To: View Entry
Miles today: 15.4

Left Trent's at 0700 hrs this morning. Arrived at the trailhead and smacked the white blaze like I do every morning when I head north. Ran into some nobo section hikers and chatted wit them. Hiked with them for a few miles. Water was plentiful on the trail today. Cool breezes helped tolerate the sun today. Only got to 85 degrees today. Not bad. The leaves are starting to come out so there be some shade. Strolled into Woods Hole Hostel around 1500 hrs and set up my tent. Didn't want to sleep in the bunk house. This hostel is all organic farming and all. Quite the operation.   Was good to be there and meet up with friends I hadn't seen in a while. Dinner was home made pesto and marrinnara sauce served over rice. Fresh grown garden salad and homemade bread. Temps have dropped as we had a shower pass through. Hope they will stay down. Couple things forgot to post. One of my warrior hike shirts is now a tank top. The other day I ate a pint of red raspberry ice cream and qt of milk. Later a ham and turkey sub, qt of choclate milk, bag of Fritos and strawberry ice cream short cake. Unreal.   Life is good on the trail. Warrior Hike 2014........HOOAHSGM
Date: 2014-05-10
To: View Entry
Miles today: 10.9

Left Woods Hole Hostel this morning at 0645 hrs. Had that half mile hill to walk up to so I could smack a blaze and head north. Nice col morning to hike along and enjoy. Made good time. Stopped and looked out over the valley from the high tension lines. Called home cause had awesome signal. Headed north again with Machine on the lead. Started to rain and had to cover pack and put on rain jacket. Made it to town round 1130 hrs. Was walking by building and people came out and talked to us and asked us to sign thier book. Another lady wished us luck and we left. She pulled up beside us and told us to meet her up the road at Hardee's. She bought us lunch. Trail magic for sure. Machine and I are in a room at the Holiday Motor Lodge. Not to bad. Plenty of hot water. Going to Walmart at 1600 to resupply for next week. Easy week next week. Give one time to enjoy when hiking.   Thought bout things today but nothing hard and fast. Remembered how my Dad used to help me with my math homework when I was in grade school. He had the patients of a saint. Remembered how I used to spend time with him at the armory in the summer great things to remember. Would give anything for just one more day. Oh we'll, will have to settle for what I have. Still wondering why I am going back through all these memories of my earlier days. Not complaining cause they be good memories. Who knows what the next day on the trail will bring. Life is good on the trail. Warrior Hike 2014.......HOOAHSGM
Date: 2014-05-11
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Zero day today. Left the hotel we stayed at last night and walk through town this morning on our way to the Inn at River Bend. Such a great place to be at. Our hosts are so nice. They even did our laundry for us. The VFW came and picked us up and brought us to thier post for a great BBQ. Was a good time and great people. This town and the folks in it represent the best of blue collar Americans. Talked a lot today with my brother Buzzard. We discussed lots of things that I have been going through on the trail, life, and home. We shared some of the same issues. He also told me I was on the right track about some things. Specially accepting peoples perceptions of me and how they see me and that I have decided to accept how they see me. Told him I would still be very humble about it. We also hit upon some other issus and he again said I was heading in the right direction. Talk to my wife today and wished her happy Mother's Day. Told her I had lost track of time and that I thought it was next Sunday. I felt like such an idiot.   Oh we'll, she still loves me. Gear is all packed and ready for morning. Heading north towards Roanoke. Oh ya, got kilt today. Love it. Will be hiking in it tomorrow. And yes, I wear it the correct way. Life is good on the trail. Warrior Hike 2014.......HOOAHSGM
Date: 2014-05-12
To: View Entry
Miles today: 8.4

Left the inn this morning and was dropped of at the trail head by the new owners. Was hot and humid as we went north. We crossed at least three roads before we finally made it back into the woods. The trail was steep and long and kicked us all. Ran into Three Thumbs today and talked with him. We then pushed on to a campsite with the last water source for 11 miles. We're playing that game tomorrow. In camp tonight with Machine, Viking, Stich, Big Foot, and Doc. Jamie chose to zero today. Did my first day of hiking in a kilt. Really like it. Much cooler than shorts. Just gotta get used to wearing it. My new air mattress came today and I am back in good spirits once again. Will hopefully get good nights sleep out here tonight. Thought a lot today about all the families that were involved with having thier loved ones name added to the wall in DC. Would have loved to have been there. Hopefully they can have some closure now. Life is good on the trail. Warrior Hike 2014.........HOOAH SGM
Date: 2014-05-13
To: View Entry
Miles today: 13.3

Good hiking this morning in cool air. Made good time. Ran into a sobo who hiked all night with a full moon. Thought bout things today. For some reason the spiritual thing came to me. Is there something spiritual about this journey. I don't know for sure. I would like to say there is some and I think of it in my own way. Do I believe in God. Yes I do in my own way. I used to talk to him everyday we went out the gate on convoy when I was in Iraq. I used to ask him to bring all these soldiers back safe. Do I believe in the Devil. He'll yes, I have seen the devils work and he or she is real and scares the hell out of me. And yes, I have seen hell. Saw a tortise on the trail today. Kinda weird. In camp tonight with the whole warrior hike. Kinda nice to be together for a change. Have a nice fire going and just sitting relaxing. Life is good. On the trail. Warrior Hike 2014........HOOHASGM
Date: 2014-05-14
To: View Entry
Miles today: 16.0

Broke camp early and slammed into an extreme uphill climb. From 2450 to 4100 ft at the top. What a workout. Later in the day down to 2054 to 3784. Whoever said VA is flat should be shot. In camp tonight and have 31 miles to go in 3 days. Nothing reached out and garbed me today. Just had a hard day but good day of hiking. Life is good on the trail. Warrior Hike 2014......HOOAHSGM
Date: 2014-05-15
To: View Entry
Miles today: 14.3
Weather: broken clouds

Woke to rain this morning. Made breakfast packed up and headed north. Heavens opened up and was soaked and stayed that way all day. You can only get so wet then it don't matter. The weather deprived me of many views today. Fog sovked it all in. Ridge climbing in the rain was wet and slippery. Needed four points of contact on several climbs. I slipped and fell once. Not a good thing to do while alone. Thought a lot today about my oldest grandchildren today and how I want to be a bigger part in thier lives. Have always held back some in the past. Now that I be retired I can attend thier schol functions and sports functions. Just need to have Jen keep me informed of the dates. Also thinking we all need to get together one weekend day of the month and just enjoy bring a family. Life is to short not too. Life is good on the trail. Warrior Hike 2014.......HOOHSGM
Date: 2014-05-16
To: View Entry
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: light rain

Woken up by machine so 2230 hrs. Rain had made the river rise to a point where we needed to move camp and get in safe area. Later heard Eagle screaming for us. We answered him and he was okay. He thought we were washed away in the stream. He was on higher ground then we were and was ok. Morning comes and sun is out. We are all okay but everything is flooded. Headed north and checked with Eagle. And made sure he was okay. Climb another huge mountain. Stopped at the Audie Murphy memorial. Awesome place. Machine left a Warrior Hiker patch at it. Climb Cove Mt and Dragons Tooth today. Unreal climbing. Scared the hell out of me but did it. Made it to a free hostel by 1700 hrs. Went out for all you could eat buffet. Man did we eat. Chicken and all the trimmings. Back to hostel and I killed a pint of ice cream before bed. Only 6 mile hike in the morning. Life is good on the trail. Warrior Hike. 2014.......HOOAHSGM
Date: 2014-05-17
To: View Entry
Miles today: 6.3

Left hostel this morning with Buzzard. Hiked along on an easy day today. Came across herd of cows and one was blocking the trail. We just moved up towards it and it moved off to the side. Hike along and stopped and enjoyed the sites and views. Made it down to the parking lot around 1400hrs. Buzzard had plenty of trail magic in his car so we were all set. Local newspaper showed up and did thier thing. Then the Army Reserve shortened up and picked us up. They brought us to the VA hospital and we are in guest rooms for the night. No complaints as far as I go. They then took us over to the VFW In Roanoke and we had an awesome dinner and a great time. One of the folks there even offered to do out laundry for us. Sold America. Went and bought food for couple of days. Will restock on the trail in a small town we are hiking through on Tuesday. Life is good on the trail. Warrior Hike 2014.......HOOAHSGM
Date: 2014-05-18
To: View Entry
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: few clouds

Had a great breakfast this morning by some of the folks in Roanoke. Coffee was awesome and homemade biscuits to die for. Had the honor of meeting angle getting coined by the new XO of the 497 CSSB this morning. This were the Army Reserve troops that help get us to and from town this weekend. We hike up into the hills today and saw awesome views from McAfee Knob and Tinker cliffs. Great day out here for sure. Also made us realize how great of shape we are in. We were passing day hikers carrying nothing on them as we went up the mountains. Unreal to see it. Even teenagers couldn't keep up with us.   Today found myself having more holes poked in my wall once again. When I was coined I was an emotional wreck and could hardly manage a thank you. Then while talking to a Navy vet she asked me if the hike was helping. I told her how I could once again show emotions and explained it to her, she hugged me then we both cried together. So give me some time here. We got 1/3 of this bad girl done and my wall is slowly coming down or getting mushy here. I got 1400 more miles to go and work on it. There's hope for me yet. Anyhow it's all good here. Got my sleeping bag liner and using it tonight. Gonna try it and see if it's enough to keep me warm. Will throw bag over me if I need to. Awesome to post here in the woods. Was totally in shock having service. Life is good on the trail. Warrior Hike 2014........HOOAH SGM
Date: 2014-05-19
To: View Entry
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: light rain

Broke camp and headed north by 0715hrs. Cool but sunny morning to hike and enjoy the sights and views. Headed for Daleville to resupply, grab some new gear, mail winter great home and to have a good lunch meal before heading by on the trail. I returned to the spiritual thing this morning while hiking. I was notified on face book a good friend of mine just lost his Mom. I reached out to him and offered condolences to him. Told him I would say a prayer for his Mom and him when I hit the trail in the morning. Bout an hour into my hike I recited the Lords Prayer for the two of them. It just caught me off guard that I just went and did it like it's something I do everyday. And trust me I don't. Kinda shocked me that this happened. Just more stuff happening to me on the trail. Not much else today. Had a sandwich at Three Little Pigs BBQ today. Free banana pudding any cookies to thru hikers. Life is good on the trail.Warrior Hike 2014.......HOOAHSGM
Date: 2014-05-20
To: View Entry
Miles today: 13.5

 Good hiking today. Broke camp and hit the trail round 0850 hrs. Late for me. Made good time today. Texted with others bout where they were. I am bout five ahead of them. Met a family from Maine on the trail today. Mother, father, daughter, son and the dog. The kids are like 6 and 9. They are home schooled by the mother. They are having a great time. Met a great couple from PA at the shelter last night. Had great talk with them. Met a hiker from CT. Seldom man and is very religious. Had some great talks with him bout the spiritual side of my journey. He agrees with me that before this journey is over this topic will come back to me again.Voodoo popped into camp last night and spent the night with us. After following the family from Maine yesterday it made me realize how much I miss my grandchildren. This is another reason I wanna be in their lives when I get home. Had cell phone service just about all day. Bout damn time. LolLife is good on the trail. Warrior Hike 2014.......HOOAH SGM
Date: 2014-05-21
To: View Entry
Miles today: 10.9
Weather: clear sky

Broke camp and headed north at 0715 hrs. Nice easy hiking again today. Last 4 days of hiking have been enjoyable. Not get beat to death by ups and downs or doing rock climbing. Really enjoying VA. Hiked out of the woods today and up to Middle Creek Campground. They offered us sites at no charge. Laundry is done and free hot showers to boot. Life is good here. Moved along the trail this morning and didn't really zero in on anything. Enjoyed seeing all the views from the Blueridge Parkway. Then looking out from Cove Mtn was unreal. It's funny, were out on the trail but you can still hear train whistle blowing and all other highway noises. We are never that far from the outside world. Life is good on the trail. Warrior Hike 2014.......HOOAHSGM