morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-05-26
From: Laurel Creek Shelter

To: Trout Creek
Miles today: 21.3

Morning dawns and I now confront the nascent blister threatening my heel. Krispy Kritter made a fire last night and by its heat I was able to dry out both my shoes and socks. The weather has also taken a turn for the better with abundant sunshine greeting the morning over a cloudless blue sky. After a night of rest my heel doesn't look as ominous as the day before, still red but definitely before the full-fledged blister stage. I take no chances, first putting a 2nd skin blister pad on and then covering that with duct tape. The dry sock followed by the dry shoe feels good and my spirits lift a bit that the situation may not be as bad it could have been, or as I imagined it might be. The real test will come when I don my pack and hit the trail.I set out gingerly favoring my right foot. I want to be cautious but not overzealously so, aware that over-compensating for one injury can often lead to another. The terrain starts out moderately but the real test comes around the 3 mile mark when I hit the first hill. The theme for today is 'take it slow' and with that mindset I ascend the hill at a tepid pace, trying not to flex my achilles too much to lessen the heel friction. The signs are good, I'm mostly pain free, and other than a slightly more moderate pace I have a productive day logging over 20 miles. I hike with Krispy Kritter and Timber most of the day, both of whom maintain a pace more sensible than my normal hiking pace, and I'm happy to follow in their wake for a majority of the day. I lie in my tent later that night with the sense that I've dodged a bullet, but am aware of the fact that I must adapt some new strategies if I'm to successfully hike in the rain. Rain is a fact of life on the trail and yes I will get wet; no rain, no pain, no Maine; how I deal with this challenge could have a significant impact on my enjoyment and success as I face the myriad of trials and tribulations on the Trail.
Date: 2010-05-28
From: Lamberts Meadow Shelter

To: Daleville, VA
Miles today: 9.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Today is a town day, an easy 10 miles into Daleville. I split a room at the Howard Johnson with Krispy Kritter and Timber, immediately tending to laundry and shower chores. After we make our way across the street to a Mexican restaurant for lunch and my first cold, delicious margarita in 2 months.I've begun having a couple more gear issues of late. My shoes have over 700 miles on them (as well as my feet now!) and I've been experiencing various foot pains, most acutely the last 3 toes on each foot are crammed tight against the side of the shoe causing tingling, ache, and circulation problems. The balls of my feet (particularly my left) are also very, very tender. The shoes have been reliable but I also think my feet have changed, morphed by the miles and the addition of 30 pounds of pack weight. It's time for replacements. My 15 degree down sleeping bag has also become very impractical as temps have risen. Initially I hoped to use it like a blanket, leaving the zipper open for venting, but I've found it still too warm. Also time for a replacement.There's an outfitter about 1/2 mile up the road from the HoJo so I stop in. I shop the shoes first, requesting only shoes with the widest toe boxes. Changing shoes after 700 miles is a big decision but going back to the same pair in this case, with my foot issues, is not an option. I make the switch with a 'nothing ventured nothing gained' attitude and end up with a pair of Keens and high hopes. Next I look at sleep bags and fortunately they're running a sale. I get a recommendation on a Lafuma and focus on those, deciding on a 50 degree bag that weighs just over a pound and packs down very small.Our friend and Roanoke resident, Maggie (formerly Turtle Dove while she was on the trail), has offered to take us to a restaurant and Sherpa, Timber and I are happy for the opportunity to hang with Maggie who's super-cool and see a bit more of Roanoke. Roanoke is a cool little town and we dine at a local place which is a nice change of pace from the fare usually offered near the motels and over dinner Maggie offers to slack-pack us the next day and even better to join us on the hike. She also offers to let us stay at her place after instead of the motel for a 2nd night. Things are looking good!
Date: 2010-05-29
From: Daleville, VA

To: Black Horse Gap
Miles today: 13.6

Slack-pack day! Maggie picks up Timber and I at the HoJo in the morning and first takes us by the Post Office where I mail my cold weather sleeping bag home. After the P.O. we drive up to the Blue Ridge Parkway where we park the car and slack-pack back to Daleville. We're on the trail fairly early, Me, Timber, Maggie and her dog Fubbs, and enjoy a nice, leisurely walk back to town. The mileage is relatively short and with the lightened packs we make good time. We discuss plans for the evening and decide to cookout at the house, coordinating logistics with another hiker friend, One Life, who has also just arrived in town. We stop by the grocery and pick up dinner fixin's and head back to Maggie's to fire up the grill. I also pick up a bottle of whiskey and pour whiskey and coke cocktails - my first cocktail on the trail (not counting that margarita!). We eat dinner on the porch, enjoying the mild Virginia weather and savoring the Klondike Bars for dessert before moving back indoors to settle in the living room, chatting, and watching the Lakers polish off the Suns. This is easily my best off-trail night so far, staying in a comfortable house with great company so much more relaxing than the hostel and motel fare I'm used to.
Date: 2010-05-30
From: Black Horse Gap

To: Bryant Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 18.4
Weather: scattered clouds

I sleep well enjoying the comfort and hospitality at Maggie's house. Under my normal motel or hostel lodging routine I'd have all of my gear organized and packed the night before, ready for an early, dawdle-free return to the trail. In this case the thought of packing doesn't even cross my mind last night as I relaxed and enjoyed the evening and so I face this task this morning. I sent my cold weather sleeping bag home yesterday, equivalent to removing a lower support from a house of cards. Every hiker is meticulous about how they pack their gear, stowing and arranging their pack to balance their preferences for weight dispersion, access to contents, and organization, and with my sleeping bag gone I now reconsider my pack strategies. There's no rush this morning and I find my new pack organization a great improvement over the previous configuration, packing down more compactly and sitting well on my back.We stop by McDonalds for breakfast where I grab an extra egg mcmuffin that will make for an easy lunch back on the trail. All too soon we're back at the trail bidding farewell to Maggie and pointing our feet north.The day is on the warm side and at one point I walk through a fire scarred landscape. The denuded hillside is even hotter without any leaf cover but there is a bright spot. We've spotted several stands of not-yet-ripe wild blueberries prior to this but apparently the extra sun and heat on this hill has increased the ripening process and soon I'm enjoying fresh off the vine blueberries. I'm not adventurous about sampling the flora but in this case I greedily pluck and down this unexpected bounty. Further bounty awaits a bit further when I come across 3 coolers of trail magic by a road side crossing; sodas, fruit, and moon pies! I later find some relief from the heat by a swimming hole where I dip my entire body, drying out on the rocks before resuming the trail.I stepped on a scale at Maggies before leaving, noting that I've lost 4 more pounds, for a grand total of 14 and a current weight of 170 pounds. I look at myself in the mirror and I look like a pioneer or a miner from one of those old 1800s black and white photos. Overalls and some farming equipment would complete the look. I'm sure the gangly look was in vogue back in the day but I don't entirely recognize the person looking back at me (of course the beard doesn't help) and make a note to be more aggressive about my food intake.At dinner I eat 2 meals, forcing down the second bite by bite, not really hungry for the 2nd meal but proud of my accomplishment like a contestant in a pie eating contest.
Date: 2010-05-31
From: Bryant Ridge Shelter

To: Matt's Creek Shelter
Miles today: 22.6
Weather: scattered clouds

I sleep horribly last night, perhaps my worst night on the trail. I've faced cold rainy weather, anxiety, snoring, mice but all pale to last nights foe. The trail has been buggy at times and I notice a new addition to this repertoire at dinner, the no-see-um biting gnats. These things are tiny and bless their heart they only want a pin prick of blood but if it didn't hurt when they bite, and didn't leave a red itching welt, and there weren't about a million of them maybe I wouldn't harbor such animosity. These tiny insects are a new arrival and differ from the black flies that mercifully seem to disappear when the sun and temps go down in the evening. These no-see-ums are voracious and active during both day and night, and going to bed in the shelter I am oblivious to this terror.Lying in the dark I can feel as they attack any exposed skin. I try get down in my sleeping bag but the heat is stifling and I have to surface. My hands can't protect me, swatting does little, and I lie in the pitch dark imagining this as some insane torture. I drift in and out of restless sleep and at 3:00a can't take it any longer. I get up and stand outside the shelter shaking my head and hoping for the dawn when I can move on, but in the meantime I have to deal with the now. There aren't any good campsites by the shelter so tenting (with bug netting) isn't a good option. I consider my remaining options before cobbling together an anti-bug hobo suit; my legs in the sleeping bag, gloves on my hands, zip-away pant legs to cover my arms, and a bug net to cover my head. So clad I find some rest before the dawn. Needless to say I will be spending a lot more time in my tent after this trauma.
Date: 2010-06-01
From: Matt's Creek Shelter

To: Little Irish Creek
Miles today: 17.2

I've been trying to carry a more appropriate amount of food for my days on the trail between resupply, realizing that I tend to carry too much food and unnecessary pack weight. This morning I have to go to town to resupply and the town is 6 miles off the trail -- a hitch. I've gotten rides before but this is my first true thumb out, depend on the kindness of strangers hitch. I'm hitching with Timber and hope the female persuasion improves our chances. I also remove my dew rag and don a cap in a feeble attempt to appear more presentable. 20 minutes pass and not a nibble. A third hiker shows up, Patch, and I now wonder how this will affect our chances, fairly certain that it won't help. We chat and mention that we just need resupply and Patch says that we can hitch to the town in the other direction, Big Island just 4 miles away, as well. This is good news as it doubles our chances since we can now catch a ride either way. This is a stroke of good luck and within 5 minutes a Subaru pulls up right out of a car ad, replete with kayak and mountain bike on top, and trusty labrador in the back. Trevor is driving straight from his Memorial weekend activities to his job this morning and is happy to give us a lift.Big Island is small, but perfect for my meager resupply needs. There's a small diner attached to the convenience store serving breakfast and I stop there first before heading next door for resupply. Before resupplying though I stop briefly to chat with a local logger, Sam, showing him the video of the snake attacking my trekking pole. He's impressed and I'm hoping that this brief exchange might also open the door for a ride offer back to the trail. I finish my shopping and the logger is just paying for his breakfast when I ask if he might be heading in the direction of the trail. He briefly hesitates and then relents agreeing to drive us the 4.5 miles back to the A.T. I ride in the back, Timber in the cab, and shortly we're moving north again.
Date: 2010-06-02
From: Little Irish Creek

To: Steely-Woodworth Shelter
Miles today: 20.8
Weather: few clouds

I hike with Timber again today. Our pace and stamina are similar so for the time being I have a hiking companion, most likely until one of us takes a zero or nero. Tomorrow we are both nero-ing at a nearby B&B and this body is looking forward to a rest day. Today's hike included a monster 5 mile grinding climb. I shift into low gear for this climb and if I had anything lower I would have used it. I consume almost 4 liters of water over the course of the day and relieve myself just one time. My body consumes every fluid and calorie I can throw at it and like a coal shoveler in the boiler room of a steam ship I'm constantly adding fuel to keep my human machine humming. If I wait until I'm hungry to eat then I've waited too long and am then playing catch up the rest of the day. I also notice that not getting enough calories has a quick and direct impact on my mood and temperment, and that when I'm not fueling sufficiently I get 'cranky' and find my thoughts drifting more to the challenges of the hike instead of vice versa.My feet are not happy today, the balls of my feet are very tender. I'm not sure if it's the transition from the old shoes to the new ones I'm now wearing, the new shoes outright, my slower pace, the addition of sock liners or a combination of all of these. The mind works through all options when dealing with pain and discomfort and time with my thoughts is something I have ample time for on the trail. The pain is noticeable and not something I could fathom tolerating all the way to Maine so if things don't improve quickly then I may be forced to again look at new shoes.
Date: 2010-06-03
From: Steely-Woodworth Shelter

To: Spy Rock Road (Dutch Haus)
Miles today: 2.8

Today I nero to the Dutch Haus B&B, a whopping 4 miles from this mornings shelter. I plan it this way so as to arrive at the B&B early enough for the day to essentially feel like a full rest day, also allowing me to enjoy the comfort of a nice stop for this duration. I dislike rolling into a nice place at 4:00p after a long hike and not feeling like I really get to relax and enjoy the place before hitting the trail again the next day. Besides my body needs the rest; my foot is aching and I'm just feeling run down.Upon arrival they show me the shower and direct me to place all my clothes that need washing in a bin, the laundry included in the price. After another glorious shower (all showers when coming off the trail are glorious) I put on one of the robes hanging in the closet since all of my clothes are being laundered. The robes apparently came about a few years ago shortly after they started taking in hikers. According to Earl, the husband/owner, one girl sat on the porch in a tablecloth while her clothes were being washed and then not too long after a guy sat on the porch with just a washcloth over his privates, not a towel but a washcloth! Lois (wife/owner) decided enough is enough and so now they provide robes. Imagine a cute little log house with several people milling around in only robes and you'll have some idea of the scene.They then provide a free lunch (truly free as in any hiker from the trail could show up, eat, and leave) and after lunch I begin to make the most of this leisurely day. I first take a nap, then catch up on some journaling and email, play some guitar (this was a little tricky in the robe), and sat on the porch reading, chatting, and watching the variety of birds active in the yard, most notably 3 hummingbirds that stayed near the porch ready to do battle with any encroaching hummingbirds trying to muscle in on a feeder.   Later they serve dinner (salad, home-made pizzas, and lemon meringue pie) and after I retire to my room to watch part of Forrest Gump. I particularly like the scene where he runs across the country and think about this from time to time on the trail as I also sometimes feel very 'Gumpian' about my own hiking adventure, "I just felt like hiking". After, I turn out the light and lying in bed I do feel like my battery has been recharged by this nice stop.
Date: 2010-06-04
From: Spy Rock Road (Dutch Haus)

To: Maupin Field
Miles today: 17.8
Weather: scattered clouds

I sleep so-so last night at the B&B, a combination of just not quite getting totally comfortable in a bunk bed and some neighbor dogs penned up outside with an incredible and unbelievable capacity to bark all night long. I still feel good though, ready and eager to get back to the trail after breakfast.Lois drives us about a mile from the trailhead and from here we have to walk since the remaining 1.1 miles back to the trailhead follow a private drive with a locked gate placed by a persnickety neighbor. The 1.1 miles is uphill as well, fairly steep and needless to say none of us are looking forward to it. As luck and good fortune would have it, another truck pulls up immediately after, a pair of gentlemen heading up the road to perform some trail maintenance, and offer to drive our packs up to the trailhead (no room for the hikers). We're enthusiastic and after a quick pack-free climb I'm reunited with my pack and back on the trail.My legs feel good and I set out at a brisk pace. I leave ahead of the others and then spend the rest of the day hiking by myself. It feels like its been quite a while since I hiked alone and frankly, today at least, it feels good. It's only been in the last couple weeks that I've fallen into a pattern that I share much of my trail time with hiking companions and it occurs to me that there are times and benefits to both solo and group hiking, sometimes the group being a motivator while at other times hiking alone at my own pace and with my own thoughts is preferred.A trail highlight comes around 1:00p when I hear a rustle in the leaves to my left and glancing over I see the tail end of my first bear. I've startled him and there's a good chance I would have overlooked him entirely in my 'hiking trance' but he runs, hightailing it off into the woods. The bear is gone in about 3 seconds, long before I have a chance to reach for my camera, but appears to be a juvenile, neither cub nor adult. I'm not sure how long mama bears look after their young but now my senses are on alert. I scan the hillsides for any bear-sign but this sighting is all I get today. The sighting is rewarding as some hikers hike the entire trail and never see a bear, while on the other hand I read a shelter journal entry just yesterday of a hiker who just saw his NINTH bear. Incredible.
Date: 2010-06-07
From: Calf Mountain Shelter

To: Pinefield Hut
Miles today: 26.2
Weather: scattered clouds

I once ran a marathon in Tybee Island. The setting was beautiful navigating along quaint little streets and past the lighthouse of this seaside town. I was well rested prior to the start, the weather was perfect, the race was well supported with water and aid stations every mile, my wife was there to cheer me on, and my good friend, Stan, was running as well. The starting gun went off at 7:00a and just over 4 hours and 26.2 miles later I crossed the line with a satisfied sense of accomplishment. Today I walk that same 26.2 mile marathon distance. I am moderately rested considering I've already walked 860 miles to get to this point; my feet could always could always use more TLC and less pack weight. I travel with a 30-plus pound pack, the weather and scenery are nice, there is no support, water or aid stations other than what I carry on my back, and there is certainly no cheering section along my route. There is no starting gun but I set out at 7:15a and, including lunch and breaks, make it to the finish in about 11 1/2 hours. I can't recall but if this isn't my longest mileage day then it's a close second. I'm fatigued but I've felt worse. The thing I don't like about the big miles (besides the excess fatigue and cumulative wear-and-tear on the body) is that I get into camp so late that it's a quick eat dinner, set up tent, and off to bed, leaving no time to relax and unwind. I find I recover better when I have time to myself after camp chores but before lights out (ie. sunset), which is around 8:30p. Tomorrow I'm planning a more sensible ;-) 20 miles.The only wildlife I see today are a few wild turkey that I scare up in passing. I watch mesmerized as these oversize fowl strain to the lift themselves up through the canopy and there's nothing graceful about it. Later that afternoon Mountain Man recalls his wildlife encounter of the previous night. He and Snook are setting up camp at a primitive non-shelter site, Mountain Man (MM) is just laying down on his sleeping bag when he looks up to see a large adult black bear lumbering straight toward their camp not 15-20 feet away. In MM's words, if you've ever watched The Simpsons and heard Ned Flanders scream then you have some idea of MM's howl, which is a funny thought since MM is quite literally a mountain of a man at around 6'2", 225 pounds, and a deep voice like Brad Garret from Everybody Loves Raymond. I'm sure my reaction would have been similar given the circumstance. MM then jumps and runs over by Snook (cause no one wants to die alone) and together they yell at the bear and clank their poles in a warding ritual. The bear just stops and stares at them for a minute before moving on, and MM and Snook howl in laughter and relief. In answer to my question of how well they slept that night after this encounter -- "not very".
Date: 2010-06-08
From: Pinefield Hut

To: Bearfence Mountain Hut
Miles today: 20.6
Weather: clear sky

It got cold last night, cold enough that I wake in the middle of it and put on socks and extra layers of clothing. I'm using a 45 degree bag now so this provides me less warmth and protection than the 15 degree bag I sent home a week ago.I wake slowly, taking some extra rest after my marathon mileage day yesterday. I groggily glance out of my tent and standing not 5 feet away is a deer nibbling on leaves. The deer are so tame and fearless that sometimes it almost seems like a Disney World attraction here in the park. The deer (or any animals in the park) aren't hunted and so have little fear of humans. I watch transfixed as this large doe goes about its business, continuing to graze about 20' away even as I arise to break down my tent and stow my gear. Someone else in the shelter also said they heard a bobcat during the night, and yet another saw a black bear around 6:30a up a tree scoping out the hut, eyeing the premise for a scavenging opportunity. I'm last to leave camp today and with this bear story on my mind cast a few furtive glances as I wrap things up but see no signs of ursa major.I arrive at the shelter in the afternoon having heard of a 60-70% chance of rain the next day. I throw my gear down inside the shelter not wanting to mess with a tent in the event of rain but realize later during dinner that annoying, biting bugs are prevalent. After my previous experience with the biting no-see-ums during the night I'm strongly reconsidering putting up my tent, my decision finalized when I hear another hiker mention how much he was coughing last night in the shelter but his wife has an antihistamine/decongestant for him. The triple threat now of bugs, coughing, and snoring in the shelter makes pitching my tent a no-brainer and shortly I'm lounging in the bugless feng shui quiet and comfort of my private space.