morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-05-12
From: Moreland Gap

To: Kinkora Hostel
Miles today: 0.0

We got up early to get to Kinkora hostel where Spirit Walker¢s car was. It was very cold, so as Shamrock was getting ready to go and put on his gloves, he found two dead baby mice in his gloves. That must have been the reason the adult mice were so anxious to get in his pack at Moreland Gap Shelter the night before. The day turned from overcast to cool & sunny. We got to Bob Peoples, Kinkora hostel at noon. He then lead the was to Damascus for Sprit to leave his car. A big thunderstorm cam in all the way there. When we arrived we all went in t Mr. Rogers outfitters. I got a cap brim light and some dehydrated meals. So far I have lost ¢two¢ hats. I went to Family Dollar and got a $4.00 hat that says ¢Luck Hat¢ ¢ maybe I can keep that one!!! Back to the hostel at 3 pm to shower and catch up with journal and before supper. We plan to get to a bar-b-que tonight. I talked with Sky Pilot, Johnny Thunder, Sandman & Banjo. Bigglesworth came in also. Michigan Wolverine was in the tree house. Met ¢Slow Goin¢ & Sky Pilot. Sloth a 2006 thru hiker waiting for trail days, gave us a ride to Lone Star for a steak dinner. Back to Kinkora and bed. The wind blew hard and it rained all night.
Date: 2008-05-13
From: Kinkora Hostel

To: Vandeventer shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Tried to get out early but with so many people it was hard to get out before 8:30 am. Spirit and I walked about 3 miles & Banjo caught up with us. She hiked with us all day. We ate lunch at the first shelter and did 17 miles to Vandeventer shelter. Arrive at 6 pm. Cooked supper and tented out. No rain today ¢ and cool. Good hiking day.
Date: 2008-05-14
From: Vandeventer shelter

To: Apple House B&B ,Damascus
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Spirit Walker got us up @ 6:15 am. Spirit, Banjo and I got ready to go at 8:15 am, there were others in the shelter that said they wanted to get an early start ¢ C-Bass, Hummingbird and Hawk, but they did not get going. We got all the way to Damascus without seeing them that day. Just before the Double Spring shelter we met Fig and Just Visiting from back home. We talked for a long time. They said they were going to the field before TN91 Rd and then back to the Double Spring shelter for the night. When I left them I soon got to Double Spring shelter. Spirit and Banjo were waiting for me. Banjo had filtered me some water so I could get going. We went to Dot¢s diner for beer and burgers, then went to ¢The Place¢ so Banjo could get a bunk and then went to The Apple House. We met Debbie & Les Smith there. She showed us our room so we could shower and then took care of our laundry. We then went to Mt Rogers outfitters to schedule shuttle to Massie Gap for tomorrow. Shopped around and then back to B & B for bed.
Date: 2008-05-15
From: Massy Gap fron The Apple House

To: Lost Mtn shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Debbie & Les had prepared a nice breakfast for us at 7:30. Then to Mt Rogers outfitters for the shuttle. Spirit and I rode up to Massie Gap with a preacher and 6 young boys going out for their first time. All dressed in cotton and jeans. The shuttle driver was originally from Ct. so he and Spirit talked a lot about Ct and Va. When we got to the Gap, we geared up and said goodbye to all. We hiked up into the Grayson Highland and passed the wild ponies. We met Marty McFly and Wildflower headed north. We passed by Thomas Knob shelter. I noticed a tent set up in the middle of the trail in front of the shelter and assumed it had been very full the night before. I also noticed the privy had not been completed. It was cold, windy & rainy, plus fogged in. We saw more wild ponies, but not much of a view. We got to Lost Mtn shelter and it was full of section hikers, so Spirit and & tented out. This was the first time I had used my hammock and tarp that Fig & Just Visiting had brought down from Maine for me. I strung it all up and got in. It was very comfortable, and I had to get up a couple times in the night to make adjustments because it rained and the wind blew very hard all night.
Date: 2008-05-16
To: Days Inn Abbington
Miles today: 0.0

When I got up the next morning, I had just a little moisture on the foot of my sleeping bag. We packed up between showers. It rained off and on all the way to Damascus. We met Hike On headed north. The rest were day and section hikers. When we got to town, we walked straight to Dot¢s Diner for beer & burgers. Also went to Mt Rogers and bike shop. Bought a new 1-1/2 lb sleeping bag. 40 deg. for $70.00. Then went to Spirit¢s car and started looking for a room. None in Damascus so we drove towards Abingdon. They were having NHRA drag races in Bristol so all the good rooms were taken. We found a room at Day¢s Inn and took it for 2 nights. We saw Dirty Jersey moving in next door, he had taken a shuttle. We all went to Outback for supper ¢ packed!
Date: 2008-05-17
From: Days Inn Abbington 

To: Trail Days ,zero day
Miles today: 0.0

The three of us got up and went to Cracker Barrel for breakfast ¢ then back to Damascus for Trail Days. I didn¢t have time to go in the parade because we all had too much to do. We dropped Jersey at the laundry and Spirit and I went to the Leki repair tent to get new tips on our poles. Then Spirit went to get his tent repaired. By then the parade was over so we walked around to the other booths. We saw Fig and Just Visiting and set up 4 pm to meet so I could give them my heavy stuff to take home. Went to Dots for a late lunch. Met Jersey and headed back to Abingdon for dinner and to the room to pack.
Date: 2008-05-18
From: Days Inn Abbington

To: Hurricane Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

Up at 6:30 am for breakfast at Cracker Barrel. Jersey slept in and said he would catch a shuttle back to Damascus. Spirit and I did come grocery shopping and then he took me to Massie Gap to catch the trail- I started hiking at 10:30. (13 miles) to Hurricane Mtn Shelter, built in 2004. Very nice. There I met Bulldog and Che, plus a couple of section hikers. Rained on and off most of the day and night.
Date: 2008-05-19
To: Partnership shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

The next morning, I headed out early, Bulldog said he was going to the partnership shelter. I said I would see him there. Stopped for lunch at the Trimpi shelter and saw him there. He was talking to Slow Train and Easy Does It. I got to the partnership shelter at 6 pm. East Does It told me that Bulldog had gone to order pizza and soda. I took a picture of the feast!
Date: 2008-05-20
From: Partnership Shelter

To: Crawfish Valley Campsite
Miles today: 0.0

Got up late, went to the Mt Rogers National Recreation area. Much information on the area. I will have to go back - Bought a candy bar and some trail mix. I had lunch at the Chatfield shelter with Bulldog, Easy Does It and Slow Train. I met Noni on the way. Got to Atkins just after lunch.(536.4 miles) total. I saw Micro, she was staying at the Grouse Close motel. I stopped at the Shell Truck Stop for a sandwich and a beer and some fruit. Then I crossed the I-81 and sat in a field to have lucn and watch the cars and truck so by. I met Peregrine on the trail. She stopped at Davis Path shelter. I called home a couple times and set up camp at Crawfish Valley Campsite. (17 miles today) It rained all night.
Date: 2008-05-21
From: crawfish valley

To: Knot Maul branch
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Got up late ¢ caught up on my journal and had breakfast. Cool and partly cloudy today. There are some beautiful valleys and pastures through here called the Tennessee Gap. The mountain range is beautiful. Got to the shelter early ¢ only 8 miles. All the people from the night before were there, plus. (544 miles ¢ 14 of the way!!) Randy and Roadie and Micro came in.
Date: 2008-05-22
From: knot maul branch

To: va623 trail magic
Miles today: 0.0

Got up late again and was the last to leave the shelter. Got water at Lynn Camp Creek. Took pictures of Chestnut Knob Shelter and Conan. Met Moses and Dan from Israel. Walked along Chestnut Ridge ¢ 6 miles- and ran out of water. Came down to Chestnut Hollow, Va 623 Road crossing and ET and Jim from Grundy Va were setting up Trail Magic, hamburgers, hot dogs, water, candy, crackers, soda, coffee and much more. I helped them set up, then set up my tent as they said they were going to cook breakfast also. The best magic yet.
Date: 2008-05-23
From: Va 623 trail majic

To: HelveyÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Mill shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

As I leave from breakfast the gentle bluegrass music is playing. Thanks ET & Jim. Had lunch at Jenkins shelter with Micro, Conan and the 05U boys. Then at Va615 Lauren Creek. The Methodist Church had put out some lemonade, apple juice and water ¢ very nice. They had also taken some earlier hikers to a Blueberry Pancake breakfast. Bulldog and Peregrine & I then hiked up to Helvey¢s Mill shelter with Fat Bellies - (20 miles)
Date: 2008-05-24
From: Helveys Mill

To: Trents campgronnd
Miles today: 0.0

It rained all night ¢ somehow only the vitamins Peregrine gave me got wet. Peregrine was upset because she misunderstood my bear line matrix and got it stuck in the tree. I broke at small tree and rescued it and told her I had to do the same rescue twice for Spirit Walker. Everyone left before me. I was dragging. I got to Jennys Knob Shelter for lunch. I was low on water. I chose the wrong trail to get it and it took me a long time. While I was getting water I heard grunting noises like a hog or a bear was upset with me. I just made a lot of noise and go what I wanted and left. I hiked 6 miles and caught up with Peregrine at the suspension bridge. We walked to Va606 Trent¢s grocery to get a campsite and shower, beer and food. We all set up next to the horse pasture and did a community beer and food campfire. It has really impressed me that age or gender is not a factor here. What makes you stand out is stamina and determination. If you¢re a thru hiker, then you¢re part of the accepted group. If you have stamina and determination, then you get respect. The campfire went late, but many of us turned in at ¢hiker midnight = 9 pm¢ I forgot to mention that I met Bearbait in Trent¢s store with Bulldog. Moses & Dan (Blacksnake) came by. Also Easy Does It, Slow Train, Pard and Rowdy. It was a good evening.
Date: 2008-05-25
From: Trents Campground

To: Docs knob 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Sunday, up at 7 am. Peregrine had left already. I packed up and it hadn¢t rained, but the mist made everything wet. After I got ready, I went to say goodby to the group. They were hanging around the picnic table and said the store would open in 12 hr for breakfast. The invited me to play a game of UNO to kill 12 hr. I won. Then we had a good breakfast and headed up for the trail. We all ended up at Doc¢s Knob shelter, except Moses and Blacksnake went on to the next campsite with Micro and Quatro- (16 miles)
Date: 2008-05-28
From: Pearisburg

To: Pine Swamp Branch
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Went to Hardees for breakfast. Met up with Bulldog and Bearbait. Bulldog had rented a car for the day so we drove to Blacksburg, Va to the BackCountry Ski & Sports to buy some gear. I got a new water bladder to replace my bucket and some line for my hammock. Then we went to Texas Steakhouse for lunch. Back to the room to pack and got my head shaved with Peregrine¢s help. Took the rental car back. As we started north it began raining. Stopped for lunch at Rice Field Shelter. BearBait decided to stay. Peregrine decided to stay at Symms Gap Meadow, Bulldog and I went on to Pine Swamp Branch. This shelter had no roof as a tree had fallen on it some months ago. Quatro and I found two sides shelter enough to stay. Bulldog tented out along with a brother & sister from Ohio, named Chuck & Joanne.
Date: 2008-05-29
From: Pine swamp branch

To: Wind Rock
Miles today: 0.0

Slept late, it was cool, but sunny. Everyone had left but DB, a section hiker from Nebraska. We got on a trail detour up the road and were helped by some day walkers. They showed us where the trail was. They hiked with me to Bailey Gap Shelter. I wrote in the log and moved on to Wind Rock and called home. Then passed a group of boys called New Dominion from Va.(similar to Outward Bound) . What a nice group. 3 counselors and 12 boys. Well organized and great manners. Thru hiker, ¢Timeless¢ came in late. Chuck & Joanne and Bulldog were there.
Date: 2008-05-30
From: Niday Shelter

To: Sarver Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Up early to get away from the hustle & bustle of camp. Had breakfast at John¢s Creek Valley Stream. (656.8 mi) Got trail magic at VA601, Rocky Gap. Called home. Signed the journal at Laurel Creek shelter ¢ had lunch with Bulldog at VA42, Sinking Creek Valley. Got water at Sarver Hollow Shelter. Left Bulldog & Bearbait. Got to Niday Shelter late. (674.2) Bob & Josh Hawthorne brought in trail magic ¢ beer, soda, watermelon & cookies.
Date: 2008-05-31
From: Sarver Hollow Shelter

To: Catawba Valley General store
Miles today: 0.0

Hiked out to the road with Bob & Josh. Bob took my trash and gave me a replacement water filter cartridge as he had a newer Katahdin Hiker, with a cleaner filter. Got water at the road stream. I then followed some day hikers up to Audie Murphy Monument. When we got down to VA620, Trout Creek, the day hikers gave me some bottled water and fruit. Climbed up to Pickle Branch shelter and got more water. Then washed up in the stream. When I got back to the shelter, Bearbait was there. She was camped for the night and it was only 1:30. She had gone 16 miles in 7 hrs. We talked for a bit. Then I headed up over Cove Mtn and the Dragon Tooth. Very Difficult!! It rained and it was windy. The climb reminded me of Bigelow Mtn. Got to VA624 North Mtn trail and walked to Catawba grocery for dry gas for my stove and a snack. Then I decided to hitch to the Homeplace restaurant. When I got there it was packed so I walked up the road to the Catawba Valley General store. (700 mi) The owners let me sleep in a garage room out back. Half Elvis and Butterfly Moon and her dog Luna, and I all stayed for free. I got cleaned up with a bar of soap and a garden hose in back of the store and then got my ¢town clothes¢ on and went back to the Homeplace for supper at 7:30 p.m. Great meal! Went back to the room and sat outside with the others and had a beer with Half Elvis and talked.
Date: 2008-06-01
From: Dalevilleby way of Catawba store 

To: Catawba Shelter 
Miles today: 0.0

Got up at 8 am - feet are still sore. It¢s Sunday so the store doesn¢t open and I need some supplies. I have had a few ticks on me so I want to buy some 50% deet, so I hitched back down to the other Catawba Mkt. They didn¢t have any 50% deet. I saw DB and Peregrine. We ate lunch and got some groceries. Then got back on the trail. Hiked to Catawba Shelter . Got there at 6 pm. DB and Peregrine came in later and then the OSU boys came in real late. They wanted to get up at 4 am to watch the sun rise on Macafee Knob . We slept later and got started at 7 am. The three of us hiked to Campbell Shelter and picked up Sauerkraut and Pips. We hiked towards Daleville with them, but they are faster hikers so they left us in the dust. Pips told us a story about a Copperhead Snake crawling up her back ¢ sorry I don¢t have a picture for you William!!
Date: 2008-06-02
From: Fullhardt Knob Shelter

To: Bobblets Gap Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Left Fullhardt Knob Shelter (mi. 721.7) with no water. Got some at Curry Creek. Tetris and his brother Martin were camped there. His younger brother is out of school and hiking with Tetris and got along good for brothers. Saw a blacksnake in the water at Wilson Creek. I could not get a picture. Then a mile down the trail, a yellow Chevron backed snake was in the trail. I took a picture and tried to move him out of the trail. He bit my pole twice before I flung him away. This must be snake days. Pips had a copperhead move up her back while she was resting. She got pictures also. I got to Bobblets Gap Shelter (735.2) just before it started raining hard. Moses and Blacksnake and two section hikers were there. One from Dover N.H. called Snakebelly. The lightning hit very close to the shelter that night. I thought the privy would be gone in the morning, but it was ok. 14 miles. Tetris and Martin came in late and that was seven in the shelter (very crowded)
Date: 2008-06-04
From: Bobblets Gap Shelter

To: Middle Creek Campground
Miles today: 0.0

Got plenty of water because it looked like it was going to be a hot day. Stopped into Cove Mtn Shelter and had lunch. I met Loon and Eastwind. Very nice people. We hiked together to Jennings Creek and went swimming. I went to Middle Creek Campground to get a shower, do laundry and camp. Went swimming in their pool. Set up camp and put phone numbers in my new phone. The night was very noisy with meadowlarks, whippoorwills, morning doves and other birds yakking all night and then a rooster at sunrise.
Date: 2008-06-05
From: Middle Creek Campground

To: Cornelius Creek Shelter 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Packed up and had breakfast at the store. Finished my journal and headed for the trail. Got to Bryant Ridge Shelter (748.5) and had lunch. Started down the trail and met Choco and Toe Socks going the other way. They were northbounders ¢ so I had been going the wrong way for 14 mile. Thanks to them or it could have been longer. Got to Cornelius Creek Shelter at 4:30 pm.   Loon and EastWind were there. They were just resting and moving ahead toward the Apple Orchard Falls trail. Loon is having some friends and family doing Trail Magic Friday and Sat. He is inviting all to come. The timing may be right to be there on time. White Lightning came in later - then a couple of OSU boys. I took pictures of Loon at the picnic table and East Wind in the shelter. I hung my tarp and hammock to get out of the bugs. It seems summer is here ¢ this is the second 90 deg day.
Date: 2008-06-06
From: Cornelius Creek Shelter 

To: Marble Spring campsite
Miles today: 0.0

Got up out of my hammock when Bearbait and EZ Goin came into the shelter. They got up at 5:30 am from Bryant Ridge at 8 am. I saw Loon at the Guillotine and took his picture and also a pic of a friendly doe. Got to Thunder Hill shelter at noon and waited for the magic makers. Took pictures of the magic people. Food was different, all prepared healthy food, soda, water, lime tea ¢ very nice! Thanks Loon and company¢¦ At 4:00 pm took off with Bearbait, Slo-Train and EZ Goin for Marble Spring campsite. They hike hard and fast ¢ 8 miles in 3-1/2 hrs. The gnats were really bad that night and Slo Train and EZ Goin had sent their screen tent home. They got up at midnight and started hiking again. They were going into Glasgow to meet Bearbait¢s sisters.
Date: 2008-06-07
From: Marble Spring campsite

To: Punch Bowl Shelter 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Bearbait and I got up at 7 am. She left before me as she was going to hike. I got out about 8 am. I took a wash break at Matts Creek and then over the James River I met Dr Bob and Kadji his dog on Rock Row Run Stream. I stopped at John¢s Hollow Shelter (775.1) for a noon 2 hr. rest in the heat. Then over 3 mountains to Punch Bowl Shelter at dusk. I camped with Dr Bob and Kadji. They are section hiking.
Date: 2008-06-08
From: Punch Bowl Shelter 

To: Beuna VistaÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs budget inn
Miles today: 0.0

Got up to go for coffee with Dr Bob and breakfast with Mustang Sally. Looks like another hot one. Hiked over Punch Bowl Mtn and Rice Mtn. I was going around the reservoir and walked up onto USFS 39 Pedlar River Rd. There I saw Mustang Sally sitting on the steps that lead up off to the trail from the road. She said it was too hot to hike. This was around noon. As we were talking a truck came down the road and Sally started waving her arms. The truck stopped and it was two young men that had been fishing the reservoir. She asked them for a ride. They moved their poles and we jumped in the back of their pickup bed. They drove us out to Rt US60 intersection.   We thanked them as they drove off. We were crossing US60 to hitch to town, but weren¢t sure which way to go. There were 3 people with a small pickup at a picnic table so we were about to ask them for directions. As it turned out, they were set up on the trail to do Trail Magic. They had Subway sandwiches and soda on ice. As we were accepting our lunch, the fellow volunteered to drive us 9 miles to Beuna Vista¢s budget inn. He said his son had hiked the trail and people had been nice to him, so he wanted to pass it on. We got a room with AC and did our laundry. I got supper at Burger King and beer at On-the-Run.There were shuttles being arranged for the next day to take us back to the trail crossing of US60.
Date: 2008-06-09
From: Beuna VistaÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Budget Inn

To: Dutch Haas @Fish Hatchery Rd VA 690
Miles today: 0.0

I got on the shuttle in the am and started up Bald Knob early while it was cool ¢ at 7 am the wind was blowing nicely. Choco and Toe Socks started first ¢ then Mustang Sally. I was last. As I was just about to crest Cold Mtn, I met a person hiking south. It was a ridge runner named Mike. He was really nice and we talked a long time. He gave me a weather report, a trail report and a cell phone area report. Then I saw Dr Bob slack packing North to South. We talked for a minute and said goodby. I had lunch with Sally at Seeley-Woodworth shelter and left first. I told her I would be going to the Dutch Haas B & B as she was also. Lois picked us up and took us to the store for re-supply and then to the B & B for a chicken dinner. Double D was there. He said I met him before, but I didn¢t remember him. I wonder how many others I have met that I don¢t remember. I met BrushStroke, an artist that is painting pictures of the trail. I met ¢Hell on Bad Wheels¢, Rain and Barley. They had just rescued Phifer from Harpers Creek shelter on Three Ridges (mile 826). Phifer had cracked his fibula on his left leg. They took him to Earl and Lois¢s Dutch Haas. Then he went to the hospital. I got a shower and bathrobe, went to the store for supplies and slept in the bunkhouse very well.
Date: 2008-06-10
From: Dutch Haas

To: Harpers Creek shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Got up to a great ¢Lois and Earl breakfast¢. Mike the ridge runner came in for coffee. Then Earl took us to the trail head.   I hiked to The Priest shelter and wrote my ¢confession ¢ in the journal. Then on to Harpers Creek shelter. There I met The Professor & Bone Lady and also there was Micro and House the Cat, Hell on Bad Wheels and a section hiker Phyllis from Vermont who is a teacher and has been to China, Africa, Austrailia and many other places. She has many interesting stories.