morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-04-17
From: Lost Mountain Shelter

To: Old Orchard Shelter
Miles today: 23.2
Weather: clear sky

Fri Apr 17, Day 38: Evidence of the sub-culture surfaced again this morning. During my privy visit I looked over to my right and the entire wooden wall had about the first third of Dr. Seuss' book The Lorax transcribed. Most interesting that someone took the time to write it very neatly using a black Sharpie. It was very appropriate too...I am the Lorax.I speak for the trees!Too funny!!The trail leads through Grayson Highlands today, some of the prettiest spots on the AT. I stopped at Thomas Knob Shelter for lunch. That shelter now sleeps 16! They added a loft that I don't remember from visiting before unless I never noticed it. I had hiked this area several times in past years. Wonderful time on the trail today with very pretty views. I saw several ponies, a deer, and even flushed a grouse! Scared me to death!The rest of the day was spent scrambling over rocks and exposed roots. I love seeing the beautiful scenery from those rocky areas since there are no trees to block the views, but man, scrambling on those rocks is just hard on the old dogs, especially on my injured ankle. At one stream crossing I soaked it in the cold water. Once refreshed I started to hike again.At mile 4.8 today, up on top of Buzzard Rock at the 5,120' summit of Whitetop Mountain, near the Fatman Squeeze section I looked out to the North toward Stone Mountain and saw what I thought were several wildfires. It turned out the US Forest Service was doing controlled burns in that area. The USFS closed sections of the AT during the burns. Several of the thru-hikers early that morning were re-routed around the burning areas. I don¢t know how many miles that added but by the time I got down there it was re-opened so I didn¢t have any problems. There was still evidence of the burns, with underbrush still burning along the trail as I walked through. I arrived at the Wise Shelter at 1639 hours and surveyed it. The water was too far away and it wasn't the best looking shelter. I decided to press on another six miles to the Old Orchard Shelter, thinking I can make it by 1930 hours.After a gradual climb I follow a rocky trail to my destination. I arrive with just enough light left to get water, cook, and get settled in. I am the only one here. Some section hikers are tenting below the shelter. I meet one named Sea Lion, a nice fellow doing a SOBO section toward Damascus. He's from Florida.I'm sore today, more so than ever before. Seems the rocks and I just don't get along. Oh well, tomorrow is another day. My clock tells me it's Hiker Midnight. Goodnight... Click here for audio journal
Date: 2009-04-18
From: Old Orchard Shelter

To: Partnership Shelter
Miles today: 24.7
Weather: clear sky

Sat Apr 18, Day 39: Another long day, but great hiking. I made it from Old Orchard Shelter to the Partnership Shelter. The shelter is located is at the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area Headquarters. This is a great shelter. We've got a shower here, a nice sink, you can even get water out of the spigot. But the most interesting thing, so antithetical to the AT, is this: You can order a pizza from the town and they will deliver it to the shelter for you! One of the thru-hikers named Honey Do and I ordered two large pepperoni pizzas, a two liter bottle of Dr. Pepper, and got breadsticks added in. Ohhh man, what a feast. It felt so good. even better than Ramen Noodle Peanut Butter Sandwiches!Since it is Saturday night I thought it was going to be crowded but it's not. Second 20+ mile day in a row, may not push quite as far tomorrow. Click here for audio journal
Date: 2009-04-19
From: Partnership Shelter

To: Happy Hiker Hollow Hostel, Atkins, VA
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Sun Apr 19, Day 40: Got an early start and arrived here in Atkins VA with plenty of daylight left. I'm at the Happy Hiker Hollow Hostel, a new hostel run by Rambunny and Aqua . Rambunny hiked the trail Northbound three times starting in 2000 and then was going to do a 4th time Southbound but contracted Lyme disease so that cut her hike short. Wow, the hospitality here that they put out is unbelievable. I just finished a quick trip to the Wal-Mart and Ingles store in town. Another thru-hiker, a fellow by the name of Spielberg just came in, as did two other hikers, an older couple whom I don't know yet. So we are getting ready to eat; then I'll finish up my chores and get ready for the hike out tomorrow. My next update will probably be from either Bland or in Pearisburg. Thanks for the updates, folks, in the Guest Book, I really appreciate it. I had a chance to jump on the internet and check it out and I love hearing from you all. Click here for audio journal<
Date: 2009-04-20
From: Happy Hiker Hollow Hostel, Atkins, VA

To: Knot Maul Branch Shelter
Miles today: 13.9
Weather: light rain

Mon Apr 20, Day 41: Wow what a hectic day of hiking due to the extremes in the weather. One minute it will be sunny, the next minute it¢s partly cloudy, then the rain picks up and it gets cold, then it's back to hot. There were times on some of the ridge lines when sleet started falling, then a mixture of sleet and snow, and before you know it we have pure snow falling. I must have changed in and out of rain gear and in and out of cold weather/warm weather gear six times today.Made it all the way to the Knot Maul Branch Shelter. The shelter sleeps eight but it is full. Several other hikers came in late this evening and set up tents, trying to beat the weather with the shelter full. Met several new thru-hikers and several others who I thought were up ahead. Turns out they were behind me, I guess due to taking Zero Days. That's the way it works, the hiking community comes together at the shelters and people catch up to one another. Click here for audio journal
Date: 2009-04-21
From: Knot Maul Branch Shelter

To: Campsite by stream, mi 576.2
Miles today: 24.0

Tue Apr 21, Day 42: Left Knot Maul Branch (2,880'), hiked up and over Chestnut Knob (4,410'). There's a shelter on Chestnut Knob that is a converted Fire Warden¢s cabin. I was hiking with a guy named Smiley. We were the first ones to the shelter, and just after we arrived the bottom dropped out. I mean the wind picked up, bringing torrential rains. We sat there for about 45 minutes for the storm to pass through and I¢m glad we did. We left out and ended up stopping for the night at a campsite with picnic tables and a stream nearby at mile marker 576.2. This has been a long day for me, another 20+ mile day. The local church does the thru-hikers well. They have a cooler set up with ice cold Gatorade and a trash can nearby. I was walking down the road towards the campsite when a gentleman in a pickup truck pulled up and said ¢Man, you shoulda been here yesterday, we woulda fed you!¢ I was a day late and a dollar short but the cold Gatorade sure does help. The Trail Angels sure do mean a lot when you are tired and thirsty. The tent site is great. That was only the second time I¢ve set up the tent on this trip. Click here for audio journal
Date: 2009-04-22
From: Campsite by stream, mi 576.2

To: Jenny Knob Shelter
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Wed Apr 22, Day 43: It was good to put in those extra miles yesterday, the campsite we stayed at last night was close enough to Bland, VA that we figured we could make it here for breakfast. Smiley and I started out together. About seven miles after leaving the campsite the AT crossed US21/52. Not more than two seconds after we hit the road a gentleman in the very first pickup truck coming by pulled over and said ¢Hey, you need a ride into town?¢ He took us into Bland. Smiley was out of food and I needed just a couple of things. We went to the local restaurant and ate a big hearty breakfast. Then over to the local IGA store and stocked up for about three days worth of food. That should get us to Pearisburg. I¢ve got a couple of drop boxes there so I need to be there before Saturday. I think we can make it. As I look out the sun is out but just about 15 minutes ago it was snowing and the wind was blowing. It¢s just nuts. Here it is the end of April and it seems like Old Man Winter just won¢t let go. This weekend the weather forecast says it¢s going to get up close to 80 degrees. I¢m looking forward to some good Old Dominion blue skies and can¢t wait for better days on the trek toward Pearisburg. Plan to make it to the Jenny Knob Shelter tonight, should be in Pearisburg in three or four days.Thanks to everybody for signing the guest book. I¢m really getting a kick out of reading everyone¢s comments. I¢m checking them as much as I can, as you might imagine internet access is pretty spotty out here. Click here for audio journal
Date: 2009-04-24
From: Doc's Knob Shelter

To: Plaza Motel, Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 8.2
Weather: few clouds

Fri Apr 24, Day 45: Made it to Pearisburg, VA today, another milestone on the Appalachian Trail Thru-Hike. I¢ve been hiking with a hiker named Smiley. We got an early start and rolled into town today before lunchtime. We've had a great time hiking for the past three days. the weather has been beautiful and the ridgeline views have been spectacular down into the valleys and the pastureland here in the Old Dominion State. The Commonwealth of Virginia has certainly been fantastic to us so far. As soon as we got into town, we hitched a ride into the Downtown area, got some chores done, and hit the post office, I did some mailings back and forth, that sort of thing. Then we got a room at the Plaza Motel, which is right on Main Street and centrally located to most of the services that we needed. I tell you, a hot shower and clean clothes really make a big difference. The lady there at the motel did our clothes for free, which was great. We met up with some other hikers: The General, Baltimore Andy, a new hiker named Grandaddy Longjohns who is actually a girl from New Zealand who was hiking with another girl from New Zealand but they split up because they couldn¢t agree on what kind of mileage to do. We all had a fantastic time talking. I¢m getting reports that a lot of attrition is already occuring here on the trail. Many of the thru-hikers I know are starting to drop out. I guess I expected that eventually but it seems kind of unusual for this early in the season. We've gotten reports from a lot of hikers who say they are getting into shelters at night and they are the only one there. Just a week or two ago that never happened so I think the dropout rate is really starting to ramp up. I don¢t know if it¢s just because of that 20% rule that only so many people are going to make it or if people are doing too many miles and are just getting burnt out, I¢m not really sure. It¢s kinda sad when you¢ve been hiking with people and you get to know them and then you hear that they¢ve dropped out. I¢ve already lost two of my old trail family, Trump and Turn Around. I think that they are only a day behind unless they did some low mileage days. If that is the case then they may be a little bit further back. I sort of miss them, would like for them to catch up and maybe we will do some more hiking together. Click here for audio journal
Date: 2009-04-25
From: Plaza Motel, Pearisburg, VA

To: Campsite by spring, mi 634.3
Miles today: 8.4

Sat Apr 25, Day 46: I¢m at the Library in Pearisburg right now, I did some updates to the journal. I¢m looking out to blue skies, 80 degree temperatures, wow, what a change. Of course, Pearisburg is in a valley so we¢ll have to climb out of here. The plan is to get started, probably after lunch, do a short mileage day to the first shelter (Rice Field Shelter) which is less than 10 miles away. That will be a good day considering that we¢ve gotten a late start. [Transcriber note: Confirmed Spokes made it to the campsite at mi 634.3, it's past the first shelter.]Then we will push on toward Catawba, VA (73 miles from Pearisburg) which I think will be our next resupply point. After that we keep moving up the trail, getting ever closer to Harper¢s Ferry. I¢ve mailed my cold weather gear home, a decision which I¢m a little bit concerned about not knowing the weather. The way this nutso weather is, it¢s liable to snow tomorrow. For all I know, the temperature could get down into the 20s just because I sent that gear home! I¢m now carrying a bag rated down to 40 degrees, but it only weighs a pound. As an insurance policy I¢ve kept my cold weather gear including my two sets of Capilene base layers and my MontBell Jacket just in case it gets cold. At least I can add those layers and jump in the sleeping bag. I may decide to tent, because in a tent you stay a little bit warmer than staying in a shelter. If the temperatures stay up for about the next week then at the next Post Office I¢ll go ahead and package up the cold weather clothing and ship that home. That will probably save me a pound or two pounds on weight. Everything¢s looking good. The legs are feeling great. The swelling of my right ankle has gone down and I haven¢t had any more problems with that. Feet are still holding out good, the Keen boots are doing wonderful, no blisters to speak of. I am simply having a great time. Thanks, everybody, for all the comments and questions in the journal. It really makes a big difference. I get a big kick out of reading them. It means a lot to check in and see that everybody is following along. I want to add a special Thank You and Kudos to my Head Logistics Officer Kim who is doing a fantastic job, I know it's been tough keeping up with all the mail drops especially when I ramp up the mileage and hit those towns ahead of schedule. Click here for audio journal
Date: 2009-04-26
From: Campsite by spring, mi 634.3

To: Campsite by spring, mi 654.2
Miles today: 19.9

Sun Apr 26, Day 47: Almost a 20 mile day. For some reason today was a hard. Perhaps it was the lack of scenery, the hot weather, or the rock scrambles. The heat really drains me. Trying to stay hydrated, conserve/manage water, and keep good calories pumped inside my gut is taking it's toll. My pace slowed but I still gained an hour on Smiley before reaching the first shelter.I rolled into Pine Swamp Branch Shelter at 1100 hrs. to find a Styrofoam cooler nestled in the corner. All alone, I peaked inside- ICE COLD BEERS!!!!! Thank you Trail Angels! I only drink one fearing becoming even more dehydrated. I can only imagine the looks on the faces of General and Zen Master when they arrive to find the trail magic.Smiley shows up and we talk about the day and the nice cold stream in front of the shelter. Smiley is tired. We agree to head for the campsites past the next shelter. I take off and begin the trudge up the next climb.There's not much water in this section but I only have 3.9 miles to the Bailey Gap Shelter where there's a "wet weather" seasonal spring. I'm soaked with sweat when I arrive.Two SOBO section hikers are there for a rest. We chat briefly while I drink and fuel up. I take off and decide to check out the spring which is on a blue blaze trail directly across the AT. I guess it freaked out one of the section hikers who began yelling at me that I was going in the wrong direction! I politely yell back that I'm just headed down to the water source. I don't mind since his concern just have saved me an unwanted trip if i had in fact been going the wrong way.About 100 yards down a nice flow of water spouts out of a rock providing a cold pool. It's the perfect place to douse my head. So refreshing! I camel up, fill my water bottles before moving on.The next section is probably the most boring part of the trail so far full of dead trees, rock scrambles, and muted earth tones. Thank goodness I'm wearing my mp3 player. I get lost in the music to pass the time. Even the vista at Wind Rock is disappointing although it does allow me a place to catch my breath. The campsite shouldn't be too far off.I pace and time my arrival. It's just around the bend in the trail and not too far off my estimate. While not the best campsite it does have a piped spring not far away. That's always a plus. I'm here at 1700 hrs. Alone. I set up the tent, eat, and expect Smiley to come bopping in any moment.One thing I've noticed here is the bugs have begun to multiply with the hot weather. Glad I remembered to purchase some 100% DEET way back in Hot Springs, NC. It's come in handy the past couple of days.Well darkness is descending so I better go and finish some last minute chores.So long......... Click here for audio journal
Date: 2009-04-29
From: Pickle Branch Shelter

To: Lamberts Meadow Shelter
Miles today: 23.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Wed Apr 29, Day 50: Another 20+ mile day.Wow! What a remarkable day. First let me tell you that last night about 2030 hrs the General comes strolling up to the shelter to say hello. He's pushing on another 3-4 miles and will camp near Dragons Tooth. So nice he stopped by and took the time to say hello. After General left a SOBO section hier named Desert Fox comes up and says he's staying. Nice to have some company this evening.Around 0430 hrs three owls perch in a nearby tree and let out the loudest screeches I've ever heard. It was almost like they caught some huge prey and were announcing it to the world. The sounds must have lasted at least 15 minutes. I was so intrigued with the commotion I couldn't go back to sleep so I got up and was on the trail at 0600 hrs. Lots of animal sighting today. I spotted a dozen or so deer feeding on the way out. I tried to take pictures but it was too dark for my camera. I also saw my first turkey. As I approached it flew off like a b-52 bomber striking nearly every tree in its path. Really clumsy looking. I spotted more salamanders and small lizards too.I make it to Catawba, VA and begin walking towards town on the roadway. Traffic is sparce but I throw my thumb out every chance I get. Halfway to town a Fire/Rescue guy pulls over and offers me a ride. He delivers me to the Catawba General Store. When I walk to the backroom to secure my pack who's there but the General! We both order large all meat pizzas and Gatorade's for lunch. Yummy! At 1400 hrs I walk across the street to the post office and forward my bounce box to Waynesboro, VA. One less thing to worry about.Back at the store, a couple of TransAmerica cyclists pull in and decide to camp in back of the store. Catawba, VA is on the legendary bicycle route that goes from Yorktown, Va to the Oregon coastline. I thought the store looked familiar. I stopped in here last year while on my cross country bicycle ride. Small world. It was fun talking with the cyclists.After re-supplying the General and I start to walk back to the trailhead and not five minutes later are picked up by a passing truck. The General talks me into doing big miles today and I decide to stick with him. It was a good decision. We make it over McAfee and Tinker Cliffs near sundown and witness amazing scenery. Oh, I forgot to mention the views over Dragons Tooth and Devils Seat this morning were just as spectacular!So now I'm at the Lambert Meadows Shelter with Thistle, Old Man River, and Red Hat. All section hikers. The shelter register reports 3 bears terrorized the area last night so my foodbag along with Generals is hung high in a tree not inside on a mouse baffle as usual. I'm too tired to worry about bears right now. My earplugs should keep me from hearing any commotion outside. It's hiker midnight...........goodnight. Click here for audio journal
Date: 2009-04-30
From: Lambert Meadow Shelter

To: Howard Johnsons, Daleville, VA
Miles today: 9.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Thu Apr 30, Day 51: Well no bear attacks or sightings occurred last night. Woohoo!! I've survived another day on the AT. The General and I were on the trail at 0643 hrs. That's very early for him and normal for me. He is meeting someone in Dalesville, VA so we'll be splitting up upon arrival there.I just want to get in town, get a room, eat, do laundry, and chill out. The trail was easy and making 9 miles was a breeze. The weather is overcast with cooler temps. A relief. We make good time and arrive in town at about 1000 hrs. I love getting into town early. The more "zero" day I get the more my body is tricked into thinking it's a day off. Devilish I know!The trail literally drops right off onto Highway 220. There's a Howard Johnsons Motel with a hiker rate and a laundry immediately adjacent to the trailhead. I would try to describe the smell of my dirty laundry for you but words escape me now. About a half mile away is a Kroger grocery store, an outfitter, and the all important fast food joints. General and I walk to the outfitter first since we both need some small supplies then it's off to feast at the nearby restaurants. Mission accomplished. We take a slow walk back to the motel allowing our food to digest. I check in and General meets his buddy. There's just enough time to do laundry and walk back to the grocery store to re-supply. Old Man River and Redhat check in and we all agree to meet for dinner at the Mexican restaurant right across the street, It supposedly has good, cheap entrees. That's music to my ears. It ends up being very tasty!Back at the motel I snag the computer in the lobby and check emails, the journal guestbook, and make a few phone calls while I have cell signal. Once again I am blown away by the number of people hitting the website and taking time to write some pretty motivational guestbook entries. They mean so much. I'm able to talk to Smiley on the phone and determine he's a day behind, hanging out at an all-you-can-eat-restaurant back in Catwaba, VA. Most likely we'll meet up within a day or two if all goes well.It looks like more rain is heading this way. The forecast doesn't look too good. I don't mind a little rain especially if it cools down this blistering heat but not the downpours.Looking over my trail guidebook reveals a third of the trail has now been completed. Hard to imagine! Until next time...........so long! Click here for audio journal