morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-06-07
From: DocÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Knob Shelter

To: Pearisburg
Miles today: 7.7
Weather: overcast clouds

After this morning¢s solitary pop-tart the cupboard was officially bare. No disaster, however, as I only had eight miles to go to town where I would soon be able to pig out on a veritable Aladdin¢s cave of town food. Even better the eight miles to town should also ensure me enough time and physical exertion so that I was more that a little bit peckish when I arrived. Freely available food and a healthy hunger ¢ the perfect combination.I walked the last mile to Pearlsburg with Pete and Rocky and according to plan we were soon tucking into some all-you-can-eat pizza that more than adequately filled the hole left by my somewhat meagre breakfast.I was definitely going to stay in town as I had only 90 miles to cover in the next 7 or 8 days before I would disappear into Roanoke and catch a flight out west for the week, but I had expected that Pete and Rocky head on. As time wore on it was becoming more apparent that town was starting to hold them in its grip. Never the most decisive pair they were increasingly being caught up in a ¢Will I/Won¢t I¢ battle of wills.Rocky had only recently taken a few days off. Although I thought it would probably be best if she headed on out today it was becoming more and more obvious that the pointy tailed devil perched on one shoulder was winning the argument with the halo wearing angel on her other shoulder.I left them to their indecision and found a room for the night, where I deloused, dug out some clean clothes from the bottom of my bag, revelling in my new found cleanliness. The pizza now digested I headed to Dairy Queen for desert and found Rocky still immobilised by indecision, while Pete had headed off to resupply, apparently set on a late afternoon resumption of hiking activities. In the land of the indecisive with complicated lives everything and anything is liable to change and by the time he returned his gusto had deserted him.Once again I left them to it heading back to my hotel with a final offer to share my room if they finally decided to stay. Later when I headed out for beer they were still there but a decision had been made. As I suspected, they would stay and in the circumstances I was delighted that they took me up on my offer to share the room. We settled down, drank beer, ran various errands and generally had a swell time. Although the final word of the day must go to young Brittany working at the Dairy Queen when she asked me (as I ordered an end of the day snack) ¢Is that your real accent?¢ She said it was nice but when I pointed out that she too had a nice accent she seemed apologetically embarrassed, replying that it was just a ¢country accent¢. Nothing to be embarrassed about my dear, they are all just country accents.
Date: 2009-06-08
From: Pearlsburg

To: Campsite north of Rice Field Shelter
Miles today: 8.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Given my recent difficulties sleeping in beds I decided to let Pete and Rocky have the mattresses and instead to apply my tenting regime to the floor of the Holiday Motor Lodge. I think I can say it as a success with four solid hours followed by some off and on clumber before I finally getting up. I headed off to take care of some town errands - laundry, a visit to the Post Office where I posted home some journal entries and had a long and interesting conversation with Allen, a local who had spent time in South Korea with the military and had obviously fallen in love with the country.We checked out and, after one last visit to Dairy Queen, Pete and Rocky headed out on the Trail while I headed off to procure the necessary food to see me through the next 6 or 7 days.As ever heading out of town is a chore. To be successful you need to first prise yourself from its grasp then build up enough momentum to reach escape velocity or risk being sucked in by its gravitational pull. It isn¢t always easy. Towns tend to be in valleys (where it¢s easier to build roads) but as the Trail doesn¢t follow roads the path out of town tends to be by the path of maximum resistance. Quickly heading skyward, up, up, up the side of the imposing valley wall that looked oh so pretty just the day before when you had been enjoying that milkshake. You sauntered into town with a light heart, a light food load and expectation of living the ¢good life¢ (all be it ever so briefly). But you leave town (seduced by the material world¢s undoubted attractions) with an undoubtedly heavy, near back breaking, food load and expectations of nothing more that a Spartan existence ahead.The extra weight, the uphill struggle and on this and many other occasions the stifling early afternoon heat deceive you. You are not in fact walking away from the ¢good life¢, but walking towards it. Just keep going.
Date: 2009-06-09
From: Campsite north of Rice Field Shelter

To: Wild Camp beyond Pineswamp Branch Shelter
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: overcast clouds

I never did catch up with Pete and Rocky last night. They aren¢t constrained by my schedule so I¢m assuming they just felt like wandering on (or might have fallen back to earth with a bump; muttering ¢just one more buzzard¢ until they were too full and it was just too late to move?). Instead I camped with Jungli, Ben, Guacha and David enjoying the new company, Guacha¢s chocolate and the opportunity to recollect hikes in Spain.Tired from my town exertions (or lack of them) I lay until after 8am this morning. It felt good to rest and as I¢d planned a short day to counteract the negative implications of a heavy food load. All was well.The Trail was fairly rocky and cut a swathe through some thickish undergrowth: not exactly perfect conditions. The heavy load can be hard as all the extra weight is channelled to Earth through the old feet. Newton tells us when we (or our feet) push down on the Earth then the Earth pushes back on us (or our feet). Not too bad if the ground is soft, bearable if the ground is hard but when the Earth is rocky, as it is today, it pushes back with a vengeance: each ridge and pointy rock working its evil on already tender soles. Oh woe is me! With the tunnel through the undergrowth offering no obvious places to stop and rest both feet and spirits ¢ well double woe is me!All was not doom and gloom though. I passed a turtle by the side of the Trail, the views from Syms Meadow were reward enough and when I did stop I could sit, free from care, watching buzzards effortlessly ride the thermals (oh that my passage was so effortless).However, if the morning was a bit of a plod the afternoon was just the opposite with lots of breaks to read, eat and pump water (a chore but seldom an onerous one). All in all I had no complaints.
Date: 2009-06-10
From: Wild Camp beyond Pineswamp Branch Shelter

To: Laurel Creek Shelter
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: scattered clouds

I crossed over Stoney Creek this morning and made my way up to Bailey Gap Shelter where I read the register and found Gaucha and David camped out. They had passed me as I sheltered in my tent last night. They were unscathed by yesterday evening¢s rain and in good spirits, rising to another fine morning. We said our goodbyes and I headed out as they began to attend to breakfast.I wandered on, as you do and arrived at Wind Rock with its promised exceptional view. In the end the view was alright but nothing super duper. I think it is bumped up being only 0.2miles from a road (VA613). This being the case it¢s convenient to encourage the automotively imprisoned modern day American to get out and about. You get drive thru pharmacies, drive thru diners, drive thru banks and perhaps this is as close as you get to a drive thru view. My guess is that 0.2miles will still be too far for most folks but you cannot really blame them for trying.I met Danger Muffin up there and our paths crossed again at War Sprung Shelter where we talked of Tolstoy and Equine science (I had only questions, she was bright enough to have some answers). While I said I would ignore the thunder she said that she thought she might wait it out.After saying our goodbyes I, needless to say, proceeded to get very, and unnecessarily, wet while she no doubt stayed dry. I really should have known to listen to somebody who read Tolstoy but you know how it is ¢ men, pig headed ¢ or is that just me?I arrived at Laurel Creek Shelter to find Bandamit, Kage and Buttchinz along with Solar Man. They had avoided getting wet. I dripped copiously, proceeding to then ¢fall¢ into the creek. Well not fall exactly, but loosing my balance I jumped in to save greater ignominy. Standing there soaked through, calf deep in a chilly mountain stream with fingers an unearthly and zombie like white, I laughed. What else could I do? It was after all, all in a day¢s walk.
Date: 2009-06-11
From: Laurel Creek Shelter

To: Wild Camp north of VA621
Miles today: 13.7

Rose to a misty but dry morning and headed off for what proved to be a pleasant stroll through wild meadows, up and over numerous stiles and passed a few farm buildings.The Trail carried on passed the Keffer Oak which, my Appalachian Trail Thru-Hikers¢ Companion informed me, was ¢the largest oak tree on the AT in the South, which when last measured had a girth of 18 feet 3 inches and is estimated to be 300 years old¢.To me it was, when you took time to notice it, a pretty big tree. It¢s also kind of funny to think that it has survived, or stood witness to, both the War of Independence and the Civil War. I have no idea whether this particular area featured large in either, but at any rate to my simple mind it was entirely possible that a passing and weary foot soldier rested beneath this tree all those years ago and that now it was weary hikers who shared that same shade.I decided to skip Sarver Hollow Shelter because it was 3/10ths of a mile down a steep trail, choosing to rest instead on one of the rocky ledges that made up much of the current ridge. I could rest, eat and read just as well, in fact better, up here I reasoned; but I couldn¢t stay dry. So when the midday sky turned an Armageddon threatening dark I packed up, and as the spots of rain began I quickly high tailed it back to, and down, the now very inviting trail.I found Kage already there and then Solar Man, Sparky, Sky and Tiger the dog also rolled in to seek shelter from what had become quite a heavy storm. In this situation a thunderstorm can actually be quite pleasant. People relax, nobody is in a hurry, you appreciate your luck (today you are dry, while others were not being so fortunate). We sat and talked, people ate and two hours later the skies clear - you can continue, all be it belatedly, on your way which is pretty much what we did.I arrived at Niday Shelter to bump into Solar Man again who said that both he and Kage had spotted rattlesnakes amongst the stone slabs and associated rocks on the ridge. I was disappointed ¢ I had seen nothing. Before starting the AT I had my own ¢big three¢: bears, rattlesnakes and moose. In 2003 I only saw bears, so this year I hope to encounter the others. I would be doubly alert from now on.We both decided to go on a little further to camp and finally set up by a creek a little beyond VA621. Where, after an estimated 3,000 miles of hiking and some 200 plus nights of use, my tent finally let me down as a tent pole cracked. It¢s been worked hard and this was always going to happen somewhere. Fortunately, it wasn¢t too bad as after a bit of taping it was perfectly serviceable. Also, it couldn¢t have happened at a much better time ¢ two more nights and I would have a week off the Trail to find a replacement. The old girl it seemed was still looking after me.
Date: 2009-06-12
From: Wild Camp north of VA621

To: Wild Camp north of VA785
Miles today: 18.6

The current stretch of the Trail is characterised by rocky ridges and outcrops. Yesterday, we had the section on Sinking Creek Mountain. Today we would have Cove Mountain (and Dragons Tooth) while tomorrow promised McAfee Knob and Tinker Cliffs.Up on the rocks I was once more on rattlesnake alert. The only problem with being that alert is that when I did finally spot a snake I nearly sh*t myself, involuntarily jumping backwards with a definite moment of ¢heartstopping-ness¢. Finally regaining my senses I realised that the eight inch garter snake that had just slithered past would not in fact require a winner takes all battle to the death.The walk along the ridge was excellent but slow going due to the necessary rock hopping. Taking time over each foot placement stopped me from achieving any sort of rhythm. There were lots of good/great views but I fell into a bit of a ¢click and move on¢ routine. I think a definite disadvantage to having a camera is that you can end up substituting ¢wow, click and move on¢ for what really should be ¢wow, sit down, soak it up a little, sit a little longer and then (reluctantly) move on¢. Oh well, you live and learn ¢ or rather I must try.It was a steep hike down and my damp socks in almost dry shoes were starting to take their toll on my feet: rubbing my toes a bit raw. Fortunately, however, I could change into my sandals giving my toes a bit more room and a lot more respite.The day had gone well and I headed to a nearby gas station to re-supply for the two days ahead. I took care of my immediate needs by sitting in the sun and devouring two pints of ice cream. It¢s a hard life.Happy with my lot I once again shouldered my pack for a short evening stroll, watching the trees blow in the breeze and finding a good camp spot to call home.
Date: 2009-06-13
From: Wild Camp north of VA785

To: Lamberts Meadow Campsite
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: broken clouds

Starting the day with the hike up to McAfee Knob I suddenly realised that it might not be the peaceful experience I had hoped for. I hadn¢t given it any thought, but the steady stream of people heading up the Trail made me realise that it was Saturday, and weekends do tend to bring out the day hikers. Nothing wrong with that of course, but it can make some spots a bit of a circus and a little less enjoyable.There was a big multi-national group ahead of me. Rather than trying to pass them all I just hung back, giving both them and me a bit of space. They were all spick and span. It was strange to notice the smell of their aftershave and hairspray whenever I drew close. It was so alien to me that I couldn¢t help but notice. When I realised what it was I couldn¢t help but smile.The Knob itself was busy but not too busy. As people arrived so others had had their fill and were leaving. By sitting there long enough I could enjoy this ebb and flow, relaxing in the moments when the hustle and bustle subsided.The book says the McAfee Knob is considered by many to have the best view in Virginia but I would not agree with that. In my opinion it didn¢t even have the best view today. It is, however, one of the best ¢photo opportunities¢ on the Trail, where you can get that iconic (well iconic for the AT) picture of hiker standing or sitting on the Knob, perched precariously out over an expansive gulf of blue air.The view is good mind, just not as good as the one later in the day from Tinker Cliffs. Here, you could see the whole ridge snaking off into the distance with green grassy valleys to the left and another smaller ridge separating them into two distinct river valleys.Yes, after sitting admiring it for the best part of an hour under a beating sun ¢ Tinker Cliffs might just have the best view in Virginia.
Date: 2009-06-14
From: Lamberts Meadow Campsite

To: Troutville
Miles today: 9.1

It turned out to be a ¢longer than I¢d ideally have liked¢ 9 miles into town. I know you cannot rush these things but the apparently never-ending ridge and long descent did drag on a bit. Even down in the valley it still seemed a long, hot walk under the mid-day sun before I finally popped out at the road. But pop out I did and in doing so I was also welcoming a short hiatus from all this hiking malarkey.For the last 54 days I have hiked. Sometimes not very far it¢s true, but nonetheless every day I have shouldered my pack and headed north. Tomorrow I would not. It felt novel. It even felt just a tad unnerving. Tomorrow I would take my first zero day and then I¢d follow it with eight more.Tomorrow was tomorrow though and today still needed some taking care of: food, hotel, shower (the usual stuff to make the nearly feral hiker feel half human again), and then some welcome relaxation. After a Chinese lunch I bumped into Willow who said that there was a hiker picnic going on up at another hotel in town. I dondered up to enjoy the hospitality of a local church group before returning with some beer for a soak in the tub and to become acquainted with the complimentary rubber duck. Time perhaps to mull over the first part of my trip:        54 days, 718 miles, so 13.3 miles per day on average        12 days under 10 miles (shortest 3.2)        40 days between 10 and 20 miles        2 days over 20 miles (longest 22.7)        42 days tenting        6 days sheltering        6 days hotels/hostels        some days of rain        mostly days of sunshine        no bad daysAnd so as the curtain comes down on Act One of this particular pantomime, all is well. I may well be going off to sit down for a few days but it¢s most definitely only an intermission. This particular ugly sister will be back to try on a few more crystal slippers soon enough.
Date: 2009-06-15
From: Troutville

To: Roanoke
Miles today: 0.0

Intermission ¢ Part One (Troutville/Roanoke)   After a much needed tidy up at the local Troutville barbers I was soon rushing off (at what seemed literally breakneck speed) to sample the delights of Roanoke.The dizzying speed came courtesy of the combustion engine ¢ as essential to American life and the American Dream as life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness themselves. The pursuit of happiness I have had in abundance since my arrival here while the influence of the combustion engine has been strangely absent. I have literally walked every step of the 718 plus miles since Amicalola Falls on 23rd April (the last time I travelled by anything other than foot). So, today¢s cab ride to Roanoke felt both novel and somewhat rapid as the countryside sped past me.I enjoyed Roanoke. I¢m never sure with American towns how isolated I might feel but Roanoke had sidewalks, a bus service and a lively and interesting downtown area. It was easy to wander around and relax: lots of bar diners but unfortunately an absence of pure bars (at least in the areas I discovered). Nonetheless, I managed a libation of two and with a hint of booziness and two chilli hot dogs from the Texas Tavern I finally made my way back to my hotel. I was guided through the dark night by the ¢Roanoke Star¢ (a big neon star thing up on the hill overlooking town) and wishing that my bladder was bigger. The next day I decided to walk to the airport. It seemed far, but not too far, and I¢ve grown fond of discovering things that way. Sometimes returns can be scant but today I was to be well rewarded. I had seen an interesting bridge yesterday and today I decided to cross it. It was the Martin Luther King Bridge and at the far end was a statue of the man himself. It was drizzly and chilly and the streets were quiet but standing there I became aware of a low disembodied voice. It turned out that four benches surrounding the statue could play recordings of King¢s speeches. I made my way over and listened to his contributions to the service for the four girls killed in the Mississippi church arson and to his address at the Washington Monument before reluctantly continuing the long walk to the airport. It has been a very fine discovery indeed.
Date: 2009-06-21
From: Roanoke

To: Tahoe
Miles today: 0.0

Intermission ¢ Part Two (Truckee/Tahoe)   So, six and a bit years later, standing by the baggage reclaim carousels at Reno Airport, the first official reunion (Pastor John had been a most welcome and unexpected ¢unofficial¢) of my AT Class of 2003 took place. Mike wandered up with a big smile on his face and whisked me away from the fleshpots of Nevada to the mountain grandeur of Truckee and Lake Tahoe.It was a great place to chill. I met Mike¢s fianc©e, Siri, and his well natured but endlessly energetic dog, Boone. We ate and drank and stumbled across a pretty entertaining band in a local bar. The next day we played golf in the mountains. It was my first round in about 5 years and after a horrendous, and more than a little embarrassing, start I settled into something resembling a game. Following the anxiety of the first 4 holes I did manage to relax and thoroughly enjoy myself.The mix of relaxation and activity continued with a trip to a Bluegrass Festival, a 20 yard hike on the PCT, and a smashing night spent at Tom¢s place on the eastern shore of Lake Tahoe where it was more eating, drinking, chatting, throwing balls for Boone to chase and finally, for me, a night spent cowboy camping on a small sandy beach at eh edge of the Lake. Although the weather was cold it was a perfect spot with fantastic views (perhaps better due to the cold as the Lake was deserted). I stirred around 5am the next morning to look out across the Lake and over to the mountains beyond. There were ripples and small whitecaps on the Lake. I looked out thinking that ¢Tahoe Tessie¢ might raise her head out of the water and wink at me before disappearing below the water.But, like Scotland¢s own ¢Nessie¢, she proved to be an elusive beast on this particular morning.Life was good but I was beginning to miss the purpose of the Trail. Enjoying yourself and being well looked after can eventually be too much of a good thing. I would spend a night in Reno tomorrow and then my life of leisure would come to an end. I was ready
Date: 2009-06-22
From: Tahoe

To: Troutville
Miles today: 0.0

Intermission ¢ Part Three (Reno/Roanoke)   After the rest and relaxation of Tahoe I was ready for a day of bright lights. America is big and towns like Truckee can be spaced out and darn near impossible to negotiate without transport. It had been nice to take a weight off but my natural inclination to explore at random was growing strong and Reno promised the opportunity to stretch my legs once again and experience a shock to the senses before my return to the woods.I wandered around finding respite from the sunshine with the occasional bar-room visit. Some places were quiet, some were interesting, some relatively busy. Some were full of cowboys (the rodeo was in town) and one was even gay (I didn¢t know ¢ honest guv). If it wasn¢t exactly life¢s rich tapestry laid out in the most vivid of colours, it was certainly a little colourful. It provided the necessary stimulation I hankered for (with the exception of the Gay bar ¢ I just had one drink and beat a reasonably hurried and perhaps undignified exit).In the evening the casino floors filled up with Stetsons, cowboy boots and belt buckles the size of Texas. As night fell the bright lights of the Reno Strip added more colour. Not exactly Vegas but then Reno will never be Vegas and listening to the Reno aficionados that¢s the point.In the morning I headed off to the airport leaving some lasso swinging cowboys and middle-aged Ten Pin Bowlers behind (Reno also being the home to the Bowling Hall of Fame ¢ not being a bowler I didn¢t see the attraction but now I wonder if I missed something, oh well). No doubt the high rollers, low rollers, lucky, downtrodden or merely inquisitive would all be back in town tonight to do it all again but as for me, well, I was heading East to reacquaint myself with the woods.