morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-05-08
From: Damascus

To: Lost Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: clear sky

End:Lost Mtn Shelter. Miles:Today 15.8; Trip 475.3What a beautiful day! And a beautiful hike. This stretch in Virginia was easy to hike with only two big climbs and lovely streams rushing over rocks and frothing through their course. The sound was exhilirating, the smell of clean water filled our olfactory senses. The day was filled with sights and smells and sounds that entralled us. Its not easy to describe the sensory experiences out here. But it is a feeling of oneness with the world. Rockdawg was leaving the trail today but said he would get back out here in August somewhere north of Virginia. We will miss him as we will miss Dirty Dozen. We left Damascus at 7am and had eggs, bacon and Cokes for breakfast at the service station on the way to the trail. Then we used the pay phone to send our journals through pocketmail. We walked a short way on the Virginia Creeper Trail and soon ascended the wooden steps from the road to the mountains that would be our haven for the day. Later in the day we would connect again with Creeper Trail. The walking was easy and we enjoyed the day tremendously. JP and Wagos (with a grain of Salt) allowed us to pass them and later we met Marked and Rafiki. At 12:30 we took a 90 minute break and finally we made a Cingular connection and called everyone at home. It was good to hear their voices. Then at 4:00 we stopped at the creek, took off our boots and put on our sandals and waded in the ice cold water. Felt So-o-o Good! We then sat on a bench beside the Virginia Creeper bike path. It took another hour to get to the shelter area where we are tenting with many other people. On the way we pumped water from a spring and drank our fill. It was cold and delicious and quenched our thirst. Water is the Nectar of the gods. Cold, clear, clean and tasty. Love being here. Goodnight. We are here with Wagos, Rafiki, Narked, JP< Cahoda, and Barry Manilow.Word for the day:Bountiful
Date: 2007-05-09
From: Lost Mountain Shelter

To: Little Wilson Stream
Miles today: 17.4

Tomorrow we will hit the 500 mile mark. We packed up the tent and our other gear at 6:30am and were on the trail at 7:15. The food bags were hung on a tree limb 10ft up and 4ft out to keep bears from getting at them. We had honey buns and raisins and a Krispie Treat bar for breakfast. The sun came up and things were looking good. Then dark clouds moved across the sky all day threatening rain. Rafiki and Marked soon passed us. Young folks! They have the gusto. Ours has come and went. As Lee said once, If you don't have what it takes to run with the big dogs, then stay on the porch. Well we're off the porch but we're running with the old dogs. We made 8 miles by 11:00 and were laying in the grass on Slim's mat. Bogey was cold until the sun peeked out and warmed him. Of course a little spooning from Slim helped too. In an hour he was warm and ready to go. A lady named Grambo was hiking along with us as were Batman and Sarah as we all ascended Whitetop then Mt Rogers. The smell of balsam was intoxicating. Slim could have laid down there and just enjoyed it until the end of days. This will be the last time we will smell balsam on the trail until Vermont or Massachusetts. We will miss them. We got to Thomas Knob shelter to find Quesa'de laying there sick from some stomach problem. He is one of the Maine Train and we hadn't seen him since Rocky Top in the Smokies. A few minutes later RestStep of 2003 came by and offered us Snickers bars and Little Debbie Brownies. Yes! Please! Thank You! were our next words. After an hour there we pushed on to Wise Shelter or thereabouts. This was the prettiest part of the day but also the toughest. We hit Grayson Highlands and Wilburn Ridge and Slim actually petted one of the feral ponies that live there. The path was very ankle-turning rock laden but still very worth the gorgeous views and the ponies. After a long day with lovely scenery we finally arrived at Little Wilson Creek where we pitched the tent, washed, brushed, changed, pumped, ate and are now ready to sleep to the sound of rushing water. Ah-h-h. Goodnight. Word of the day: Giddyup!
Date: 2007-05-10
From: Little Wilson Stream

To: Junction Virginia Highlands Horsetrail
Miles today: 16.8

We hit the 500 mile mark today. Yippee! We came across a trail maintainer, Sgt Grunt, today and his three helper dogs. We helped him remove a blowdown from the trail. We almost yogi-ed from him a ride to a restaurant but he got tied up with a larger crew from the Mt Rogers Club who were building a mouldering privy at Old Orchard Shelter. We got to route 603 and tried to thumb a ride to a restaurant just 4.5 miles down the road. For thirty minutes we tried with no success (very disappointing) so we continued up Hurricane Mountain. We passed a barefoot southbound hiker named Tyvek who was promoting a cause for post traumatic stress syndrome through "The Long Way Home" website. He was garbed in tyvek and velcro. We felt sorry for him and wished him well. Then later we passed Tom and Elven who were hiking with two alpine goats as pack stock. They also carried backpacks. Each goat carried 25 lb. They didn't mind us taking their picture. We hiked most of the day with Ishmael from Atlanta. We had hoped to call Mark at the Fox Hill inn but again our Cingular cell phone service failed to find a network. We then decided to camp near route 16. As we were setting up we saw another hiker approach the road and no sooner did his boots hit the asphalt and a pickup truck came to a halt and whisked him away. Some people get a ten for hitchhiking, We get a one. Better luck next time. A thunderstorm was coming so we quickly setup the tent. Then the storm passed and we packed up the tent again and then we thought for a moment to try to hitch again. We sat on the guardrail at 7pm and no one stopped. (We gotta get some lessons on hitching) got back on the trail for another mile and camped at the junction of a horse trail. Word of the Day:Goatpacking
Date: 2007-05-11
From: Horsetrail Junction

To: Partnership Shelter
Miles today: 13.7
Weather: broken clouds

Happy Birthday to our son, Carl. We had rain last night and had to close the fly. It was 57 degrees at 8am; 85 at 2pm. Temps are holding about the same everyday since leaving Damascus. Summer is just around the corner. The May Apples have been blooming for about 10 days now and we saw columbine blooming on Tuesday, orange to red in color. The tiger swallowtail buterflies are emerging from their Chrysalis's and are pumping up their wings for flight. Poison Ivy is growing by leaps and bounds especially on the trail on Brushy Mt heading to Mt Rogers headquarters. We walked through a pasture with one of the cattle tryng to beat us to the stile. We won! She mooed! We hiked 13 miles in six hours driven by the thought of pizza and subs and sodas. Partnership shelter is .1 mile away from Mt Rogers Headquarters and that is 6 miles away from Marion and Pizza delivery. We called and had to order $25 for them to deliver which wasn't hard at all. One 16" pizza $15 and two hoagies $10 and two 16 oz. drinks and we had a sufficient order. We put most of the pizza away for tomorrow's lunch. Jim amd Cahoda ordered dinner too and right now at 7pm we four are the only folks at Partnership shelter, a beautiful, nearly new, epitome of shelters. We are in the second story and they on the lower level. The nicest part, almost better than dinner, but not quite was that there's a solar shower here and we washed off four days' stink. Also a sink with hot and cold running water. This is better than a motel, and free. Slim had an infected underarm pore a week ago that swelled up to the size of a pea. Finally it has subsided to half that. It was red and painful but all is better now..used hand sanitizer to treat it. Funny the things you get out here that you'd never get at home. The birds were singing all day long. We are now seeing chipmunks too. Right now the wood thrush is the predoinant singer with his ee-O-lay-o-o-o-o. Then the red-eyed vereo with his "i'm pretty- so are you!" We are loving it. Tomorrow Atkins. Word of the day:Pizsubpepsiday
Date: 2007-05-12
From: Partnership Shelter

To: Davis Path Shelter
Miles today: 14.3

Happy Birthday to our daughter Wendy. Today was humid and we expected rain so we had our raingear ready. We saw our first bears today. Yes, "Bears", two of them, half-grown and running downhill in front of us. Then we saw a ruffed grouse in a full, tail-feather take-off. A garter snake and a hand written warning of a rattlesnake in the rocks. We made it to Chatfiled Shelter by 11 am which was 6.9 miles in 3 hours. Then we pushed on to get into Atkins to resupply. Immediately a blue Chevy pickup pulled in. The fellow jumped out and offered us a ride for the 3.5 miles to Atkins. His name was Howard Hughes Copenhaver. At the grocery store we purchased a cantaloupe and 4 chili dogs for lunch. The cantaloupe was excellent and the hotdogs were okay. Then we loaded up for the next four days on the trail: Donuts, Potato chips, Rice Krispie treats, string cheese, Sharp cheese, Tuna dinner in a packet, Stuffing mix, Lemon drops, Snickers bars, Cajun trail mix, Banana chips, Little Debbie banana marshmallow pies, other pies Coca-cola, lifesavers candy...way too much food...and all good healthy food, too. Then while sitting there packing up walks Jungle Jim and we asked about Dirty Dozen and he says he may have to have surgery on his knee. He misses his buddy and so do we. When you're a team, darn it!, you're a team and it just ain't the same without your partner. We successfuly hitchhiked today! The 12th vehicle stopped his name was Benji and he sells soft ice cream at Trail Days and we'd go just for his ice cream. We are here at Davis path shelter with Baggins, a lady from Illinois. She's 4 ft 7in tall (note her name is Baggins, i.e. Hobbits) and we're having a good time talking trail and Tolkein. Hiker Baggins is a Tolkein fan on an adventure and we connected like Hobbits at a hundred and eleventy-eth birthday party. Yesterday at Partnership shelter Slim was talking with a hiker named Jim Smith, a banker, about our home and all the farming in Pennsylvania when he said he met a hiker last year named Woodensticks and he was also from PA. I nearly fell out of my boots this being such a small world and full of these uncanny connections. He said Woodensticks probably wouldn't remember him because he was a section hiker but he was impressed by how friendly Woodensticks was and that he was sorry he had to get off the trail because of leg problems. He remembered the pig roasts and the work that he and his wife do in PA. Our own good buddy, Woodensticks is a celebrity. Cool or what?
Date: 2007-05-13
From: Davis Path Shelter

To: Tenting at stream @554.4 mi
Miles today: 16.9

Happy Mothers Day, Mom! We both love you and miss you! Beautiful day. Low humidity comfortable temperatures. Last night the barred owls began their "Who cooks for you" call and then we believe their young offspring tried and it was like a baby beginning their first words. After three tries he finally eeeked out a "For You" and then it was quiet again. School's out for the day. Rhododendron are blooming now in shades of purple. Very pretty. The lilies of the valley are also blooming and they smell so nice. Most of the woodland trees finally have their leaves and are providing us with shade from the sun. We love the green tunnel and are glad for the canopy. We walked through some cattle fields today and beside a branch of the Holston River. We climbed many stiles over fences for the cattle. We sat and had a refreshing break at noon. Much of today's miles were ascents and some long and steep but our legs are much stronger since we started 7 weeks ago but it is never easy. We are passing many hikers going south for Trail Days in Damascus, VA this Thursday through Sunday. We will go only if we can get a ride and just for one day. Hopefully Saturday. We will be at Bland on Tuesday; Trents Grocery store on Thursday and Pearisburg early Saturday to pickup our maildrops. Then we will have 622.1 miles behind us. We are now in the tent, the sun is setting, its 8:15pm, Bogey is going over the photo log for Sweet Violet and Slim is typing Pocketmail. Thanks for signing our guestbook everyone. We get internet access infrequently and for short periods of time but we do read your encouraging posts and it helps. Slim's mother is not doing well so if you feel so inclined please add her to your prayer lists. Thank you.
Date: 2007-05-14
From: Tenting at stream

To: Tenting on Old High Water Trail
Miles today: 17.9

Because of major relocations not in our book we are guessing the mileage today. We hiked from 7:45am to 6:30pm with 1.5 hr total breaks. We hike about 2mph and that comes to over 18 miles. The hiking was strenuous today with many ups and downs and serious rock-hopping. Our feet are sore and we are tired. We need more rest than we are getting and maybe more food. We are planning a zero day in Pearisburg a few days from now. On the descent of Garden Mt (note it was a very rocky garden) we spotted an ice chest and got our hopes up for someting cold to drink. Opened the lids and it was full of empty Gatorade bottles. We were too late. We soon met two brothers who are section-hiking at the nearby dirt road, Jim and Dan Moore, from N.C. and FL respectively. They were waiting for Dan's wife to pick them up since Jim was feeling ill. We left there at 2:30 hoping to make it to Jenkins shelter but Bogey never saw the sign to the shelter so we pushed on to camp at Wolf Creek but when we arrived the Trail had been re-routed and we ended up going another 2.5 miles along a previous high-water route. Then it was difficult to find a flat campsite. Finally we just did our best with what was available. You'd think in these great big woods it'd be easy to find a flat spot. Not so! We will mail our photo cards tomorrow to Sweet Violet and she will add them soon to previous pages of our journal. We are also going to send some things back home, winter clothing, and the stove. Bogey does not like any cooked foods and we have only had one hot meal since Jerry Cabin Shelter so its dumb to carry a stove. We are exhausted and going to sleep now. Goodnight all.
Date: 2007-05-15
From: Tenting on relocated trail

To: Helveys Mill Shelter
Miles today: 9.2
Weather: broken clouds

Great day. Woke up to 55 degrees and sunshine. We slept well andrecovered the brual hike yesterday. We were just wasted last night. Wehiked to the end of the old high water trail and then up a stone roadto some beautiful campsites along Laurel Creek. There was another ofthose infamos ice chests waiting there. What tasty surprises might beinside this one? Or would it also be empty? It was Empty. After thatwe had just 7 miles to route 52 and a hitch to Bland. We had enoughwater or so we thought. At 10:30 we were both empty but still knew wewould make it until water but there was no water on the mountain until10 minutes from the road where a trail angel dropped off some waterjugs. We were quenched. Thank you trail angel. Then we reached theroad and sat there trying to hitch a ride to Bland,. VA with no luck.Then a man came out of a building behind us and asked if we wantedlunch. Uh, Yes! Of course, Yes! Inside was a senior center with atleast 15 seniors all having the most wonderful lunch of homemade vegetable soup, sandwiches,applesauce, milk, water, fudge brownies. Then we were invited by themini bus driver aka leader of the club to join him on a ride to Bland.We Lucked out. What a wonderful blessing. The food was great and thepeople lovely and interesting. We left our names there for those whowish to follow to do so. Thank you Walter Byrd and all the folks whotook us in and fed us. God bless. Then we mailed back 6 lb of gear atthe Bland Post Office and then replaced it with 8 lb of food, 4 Cokes,Ice creams, 1 Pkg hot dogs and buns.Then we hitched back to the trailhead and got a ride in the back of apickup truck from two wonderful Trail angels. Then we hiked to theshelter, just a few short miles and setup the tent. Then we built afire and cooked the hot dogs and went to sleep. Word of the Day: Hot Dog!
Date: 2007-05-16
From: Helveys Mill Shelter

To: Trents Campground at Rocky Gap
Miles today: 16.3

We're almost at 600 miles in just 7 1/2 weeks. We made good time today leaving camp at 6:30am and actually arrived at Jenny Knob Shelter (9.8mi) at 11am and 5 minutes before the fast and steady JD. He just had to stop for breakfast under a great oak tree. That's when we got in the lead. He gulped his peanut butter sandwich down and his eyes grew large with the disappointment that he¢d probably just lost today's race. Ya'll must know that JD was at a distinct disadvantage - he didn't know he was in a race. To-o-o-o Bad JD.>It was a fine day for hiking the gentle hills of Virginia but the poison ivy should be cut back. It is everywhere and at all heights so that we could not avoid it. We finished the next 6 miles to rt 606 and Rocky Gap, VA at 3:00 and Trents Grocery Store. Then JD arrived and later, Step and a Half and Gus from Wisconsin. We ordered cheese steaks and fries, three sodas and one orange juice and a campsite at the store / campground which included shower and laundry. The toilets didn't work and the showers didn't either. We were told that heavy rains and high winds were forecast for the area and that we could stay in the laundry room. He went for that right away but before looking at the laundry room Bogey told all the other hikers they could stay there too. When all five of us arrived we found that the 5x7 laundry room floor was filled with 5 machines, most of which didn¢t work but it left us with about 6 sq ft of floor /sleeping space, hardly enough for 5 people. Bogey had first choice and decided to sleep us in the laundry room and the others are wisely camped in tents outside. Bogey likes the warmth in the laundry room. Slim finds it strangling. It drizzled in the evening but no heavy rain as predicted although it looked threatening for awhile. So here we are, sleeping with the dirty wash. The good side is that we were able to wash our clothing as were JD and Step and Gus. It is now 10pm and we about to turn into dryer lint so we must say goodnight.Word(s) of the Day: Permanent Pressure
Date: 2007-05-17
From: Rt. 606 Rocky Gap

To: Doc's Knob Shelter
Miles today: 16.1
Weather: clear sky

Slim is feeling better since last night when she drank a chocolate milk at Trents Grocery and ended up with a major gas attack and diarrhea for about 5 hours. This morning she did not eat fearing a return bout so by 11 am she was famished and gave food another try and all was well. No more chocolate milk for Slim. Bogey, on the other hand, had a sausage and egg biscuit and a lemon pie. The laundry/sleeping room was filthy so Slim swept and cleaned. Oh how I hate housework! After cleaning and everyone doing their laundry we lay down on the floor to sleep on our foam mats. It was hot, dirty and buggy, very dark and quiet. Slim woke up in a sweat and removed some clothing. It was not the best night's sleep she had. She wished they had tented. It was 40 degrees this morning, chilly all day and very pleasant hiking weather. JD and we were having a lot of fun making it to the shelters before the others. He's a neat guy. We crossed many streams, passed ponds and waterfalls today and unlike yesterday very little poison ivy. We caught up with JD at Wapiti shelter and he left soon after. Then Step and a Half and Gus arrived at 1pm. We continued our journey to Doc's knob shelter arriving here at 5pm through many ankle-wrenching rocky stretches. There was a sign on a tree at Sugar Run Gap that Woods Hole Hostel was closed. We had planned to stay there but opted for the shelter. We ate almost all our food when we arrived. The spring is good, the shelter is clean and we're tired. Right now we are the only ones here. Oops! We just heard someone singing...its Barry Manilow followed by his backup, Step and a half and Gus who are in here with us. We passed a group of hikers from the ATC going uphill for a view of the valley. We talked about our gratitude for the many volunteers who make this trail hikeable and enjoyable. Bogey was running on Coca-cola today, one for breakfast and one in his backpack for high energy hiking fuel. It was a good day all in all. Word of the day: Immodium
Date: 2007-05-18
From: Doc's Knob Shelter

To: Pearisburg
Miles today: 8.2
Weather: broken clouds

Thank you everyone for being patient with our lack of recent photos on our website. We are having problems taking photos off one of the camera cards. The birds didn't care that for three hours last night it rained pretty hard or that it was 40 degrees. They woke up singing anyhow. We ate some Krispie treats and headed out. Today began at 7:45am as a Great Race to the town of Pearisburg with Barry Manilow in the lead. He soon lost it and we led. Then he gained it back leading the way past Angel's Rest, a pile of rocks on the top of Pearis Mt. We were all looking forward to a hot shower, hot food, relaxing and clean clothing. The trail was now muddy instead of dry and dusty and there were places where it was slippery. Slim was first to slide downhill in a three point stand, both feet and backpack, nothing more touching the dirt--- Judges' Rating:8.9. Bogey took a full body slide and got mud on his shorts but was not half as graceful as Slim. He gets a 6.0. Better luck next time Bogey. At 11:30 we hit it, the flat land. We found pizza, soda, a post office, and retail establishments. How cool is that? We picked up our Camera cards at the post office that Sweet Violet returned to us. Later in the day we wanted to go to Wal-Mart to put some of the photos on a CD since we feel that one ofthe camera cards is damaged. We asked Brenda, the owner of the motel, to shuttle us there and instead she gave us the key to her Isuzu Rodeo. The Key! Such trust! This is a great place with nice people. We recommend this motel for anyone visiting Pearisburg. Even free long-distance calls. Bogey drove to the store and we restocked and put the photos on a CD. Right now we each have about 6 lb of food for the next 4-5 days. Now that we do not have the stove we are carrying the following: Pringles, Goldfish, Doritos, 2 Pizza lunchables, 1 Sardines in mustard sauce,1 Kippered herring, 1 Smoked oysters, Swiss cheese,String cheese, Sharp cheese, Summer sausage, Raisins, Dates, Pecans, English walnuts, Gatorade powderKrispie TreatsJelly BeanMilky Ways and SnickersIf we ate like this at home our diet would probably be titled "Walking Death". We are still losing weight. Bogey has lost at least 20 lb and Slim about 15. Tomorrow we take a zero day for gaining some weight and for the resting of these old bones, especially the feet and knees. We should feel like spring chickens by Sunday. Right? Yeah, like old spring farts! Goodnight all.Word of the Day:Dreamisburg
Date: 2007-05-19
From: Pearisburg

To: Rendevous Motel
Miles today: 0.0

We took a long walk to the Post Office. Then we went to a little coffee shop for a bagel breakfast with orange juice and internet access. This was a long, long walk of 1.5 miles. While there we met up with 501 and then in came Trevor and Kim for a grand reunion. They got in yesterday just a bit later than we. On the way back to the motel we stopped at Dairy Queen for Blizzards. Then to a quik stop store for two 2 liter bottles and two 20oz. Coca-colas. Then back to the motel to make some phone calls. Slim called her mother first and the news is bad. Her mother has cancer and it is causing her severe back pain. She is unable to do her normal everyday chores and Slim is torn between being here and being home to help her. She had helped with our mail and the bills. Things are coming apart but we still hope and pray she will recover. Words of day: Reliably Unpredictable