morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-04-22
From: Cosby Knob Shelter

To: Pecks Corner Shelter
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: light rain

Made up our miles today. We're now at the shelter we were rescued from on April 4th. (The day before our wedding anniversary) The ten miles we have to do tomorrow to get to the road won't count since we did them back then. But hey! No snow this time! It's a fabulous sixty degrees. Life sure is fabulous with a beautiful blue sky. Oh hey, that's me, Blue Sky!
Date: 2004-04-23
From: Pecks Corner Shelter

To: A Shower
Miles today: 0.0

We walked ten miles today and it didn't count! Ouch! We met a guy named Seth at the shelter who gave us a ride to our hotel. What a great guy. Man, I was so tired I couldn't wait to get there.We saw beautiful views today, Andrew almost stepped on another snake, and I was attacked by a group of children and their teachers as I came off the trail. It's a little overstimulating to come out of the woods after six days and see a hundred people running around at an overlook in the Smokies. Andrew and I had a lot of fun answering the questions the teacher and the students had. We got the biggest reaction out of them when they found out we hadn't had a shower for a week. The were so great and had wonderful questions.A great day but ready for a break.
Date: 2004-04-24
From: A Shower

To: Microtel - Gatlinburg, TN
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Wheeew! We had showers, did our laundry and had a good meal. We relaxed a lot and enjoyed watching a slew of Harleys drive through town. There's some sort of bike thing going on. The best thing about today was we called care group and got to talk to everyone! That really helps our motivational level when we talk to people back home. It's easy to think you've been forgotten about when you're in the woods for so long.We've also found out that not a single renter has paid their rent. However it's under control thanks to Roger Cox, "The Great". We're not going to let that change this hike.
Date: 2004-04-25
From: Microtel - Gatlinburg, TN

To: Microtel - Gatlinburg, TN
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

We're still here because Scott can't pick us up 'til Monday to take us north to the other part of the trail. That's fine with me! I really needed the rest, though the energizer bunny (Andrew) could keep going forever. I think I'm going to give him to science to find out why he doesn't get tired.When I woke up this morning Andrew came out of the bathroom and had shaved off his beard. It had grown so big and fluffy we thought he should get dreadlocks. He really got sick of his meals being left in it for later. Now he looks about ten years old.
Date: 2004-04-26
From: Microtel - Gatlinburg, TN

To: Erwin, TN
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

Scott was unable to pick us up until the evening. So we checked out late and went out for dinner and waited for him. It was so great to see a familiar face! We got to Erwin about 11:00 and had to check into Super 8. From one hotel to the next. We're really ready to get back out to the trail. We have found that by being in these hotels we are more desperate to be outside. After living outside for awhile the rooms feel so cramped.
Date: 2004-04-27
From: Hughes Gap

To: Overmountain Shelter
Miles today: 9.8
Weather: light rain

Look at that! We hiked today! Thank goodness. Miss Janet dropped us off at the Gap. She couldn't do it until lunch time. Just a note to anyone that may want to backpack...don't eat a foot long chili cheese dog with onions right before you go.We went over several balds, the grassy top mountains. It was a beautiful hike all day. HOWEVER! We got to the highest shelter on the entire A.T. at 6285 feet and it snowed! YES it did! So we cooked our sad little noodles and left. We went down to 4682 feet to a shelter that's really a red barn with a beautiful view of the sun hitting the mountains. It was used as a backdrop for the movie "Winter People".I'd love to show you a picture but I don't get my camera cards til Thursday. I won't do that again.
Date: 2004-04-28
From: Overmountain Shelter

To: Apple House Shelter
Miles today: 8.2

We left the wonderful barn shelter real late. 10:30AM but we knew we weren't going far today and enjoyed being there so much. It was such a pretty site as we walked away but I don't get my camera cards 'til tomorrow.The temperature was much warmer, around fifty degrees to start and the sky didn't have a cloud in it.We climbed over Hump Mountain which was another huge grassy bald, the most beautiful yet. The view was truly amazing but I don't get my camera cards 'til tomorrow. We had lunch on top surrounded 360 degrees by mountains.As we came down the other side I was just hiking along, counting the cow patties, 32...33...34..., then Andrew says "uh oh". "What?" "Look!" There had to be a dozen long horn steer walking around. Three of them were laying on the trail. We weren't sure how to behave. So very slooowly we removed our red bandanas from our packs and put them in our pockets. Later I remembered my ENTIRE pack is red. Anyway, the head steer eyeballed everything we did. There were calves everywhere too and we weren't sure if they were protective or not. So we walked way around them then back to the trail. Would have been a great picture but I don't get my camera cards 'til tomorrow. We laughed at our fear and the only knowledge we had was from the movies, the bandana thing and well, don't poke them in the eye.A little later I was hissed at by a snake I almost stepped on. That little booger was mad! We're seeing them a lot now.With all this stress I started to get a headache. No sooner did I swallow the Tylenol a stick fell from the tree and whacked me in the forehead! Next thing I knew I was waking up in the hospital emergency room. Just kidding. I said it was a stick, not an entire branch! Gee whiz!We're at camp now with Salt Lick and Coyote, two really great people. They have stinky armpit contests and smell each other's then claim that their's is worse than the other. I warned Andrew that we will not be doing this. I told them I was putting it in the journal. They responded with "Oh no! Candid Journal!"A fabulous day today. I get my camera cards tomorrow.Forever smiles.
Date: 2004-04-29
From: Apple House Shelter

To: Campsite on river
Miles today: 6.7

We had a wonderful goof off day! We camped only 1/2 mile from the road so we went into Roan Mountain, TN to resupply and have breakfast! Yay! Andrew's boot is falling apart so he called the manufacturer and they're sending him new ones in Damascus, VA. We hope to be there in seven days. Woo hoo!I got my camera cards! Yay! Salt Lick went with us and we all resupplied and hitched back to the trail where we received trail magic! Moon pies and ice cold Capri-Sun. Yum! We hiked about three miles, got hungry, Andrew started his thing where he talks about hamburgers, came to a road, hitched back to the same restaurant, ate hamburgers, onion rings, soda, and ice cream cones! man! We are slackers! What a great day. Yippee!We saw a beautiful waterfall, I was attacked by a butterfly, our tummy's hurt, we hiked 3.7 more miles and set up camp with about twelve other people. Yay! Happy Birthday Melissa!
Date: 2004-04-30
From: Campsite on river

To: Moreland Gap Shelter
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: moderate rain

Today started off easy then became more difficult. For the most part though it was just a day of hiking. We got into the shelter around 3:00 and had a long evening off. There were a ton of people. Hold on, I'll count them...19. It's been fun, everyone's telling stories. A girl named Lonesome Dove saw a bear today. She said it darted off right away. I thought I was about to see a bear because I could hear it breaking branches and moving around but it turned out to be a hiker collecting firewood.
Date: 2004-05-01
From: Moreland Gap Shelter

To: Pond Flats Campsite
Miles today: 11.8

Our first day with rain for a long time, but it still wasn't bad. We were so hot we didn't bother with our raincoats. The sky was grey and the weather muggy.We found out everyone was going to a hostel at a road crossing. We are waiting for VA for our next day off, so we simply went to the hostel for a cheeseburger, baked beans, chips, Coke and a Little Debbie. Imagine that!We hiked along another beautiful river and saw another fabulous waterfall. THEN...IT HAPPENED! The unexpected 2000 foot climb that about killed us both. It's the first time we ran out of water but for only about thirty minutes, so we're just fine.I'm so excited about my new attitude! I really started questioning this whole trip, then I talked to our care group leader, Linda Farlow, who prayed with us right on the phone about my attitude and sure enough it took a one eighty. I'm so happy to be out here and am seeing the good side of everything. Like...not that my feet hurt but that I get to rest them every night and what this will bring to our lives in the end. Norman and Linda standing at the end in Maine waiting for us is something we love to think about.P.S. Hiker rule - no - Life rule #1: Don't eat 1/2 box of grape nuts in one sitting. It blows up in your tummy like Alka Seltzer in a pelican! Just ask Andrew; he's done it for the last two mornings and is begging me not to let him do it again. Silly...silly man.
Date: 2004-05-02
From: Pond Flats Campsite

To: Watauga Lake Shelter
Miles today: 4.9
Weather: light rain

OK, just to be sure I do this...because I can't remember anyone's birthdates. Happy Birthday (sometime within the first two weeks of May) to Misi, Linda, and Deitre! There, now I don't have to worry if I'm putting them on the right dates.We hiked a measly 3.2 miles to a road to get some food and fuel for the stove. We woke up to rain and it rained lightly all day. We ran into a bunch of hikers at the grocery then went to a hostel called Braemar Castle to get the fuel and only one other hiker was there. We had to wait an hour for the fuel, but that's fine since the rain picked up. Then "IT" happened... Seco, the thru hiker that's on his 14th go, lives in an apartment off the Castle. He showed us around his garden (he's off the trail to tend his garden then he'll go back out) then took us in and fed us enchiladas and refried beans with cheese AND chocolate Swirl Cheesecake with a brownie, almond caramel crust. HOMEMADE. OH...MY...GOD! Yes, it was heaven.He told us all sorts of information about the trail, where the tough climbs are, where the good tent sites are, who makes the best food. He helped us figure out how to lighten our packs some more, then he took us back to the trail and gave Andrew last minute advice on how to wear his pack to stop the pinching in his back. What a great guy!Hiked 1.7 miles to the shelter in the rain, hung out with everyone (Michigoose, Lefty, EZdoesit, Catdog, Wizard) in the rain then cozied up in the tent and listened to the rain some more. Hey man! It ain't snow!
Date: 2004-05-03
From: Watauga Lake Shelter

To: Campsite
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: overcast clouds

May 3rd! Why, oh why is it only 38 degrees?! Why did it snow on us today? Even if it was for a few seconds. I made a deal with God today. "God, I'll close my eyes and count to three and you'll transport me to New Smyrna Beach. Then I'll be happy."I'm still here in the bitter cold wondering how people live their whole lives outside of Florida.We were both a little low on energy today but we still got to our destination. Had a campfire with Doc and discussed lightening our loads in Damascus. We need to get in more miles than what we're doing and we believe the answer is less weight.Good night to all and while you're tanning in the sun think of us.
Date: 2004-05-04
From: One Campsite

To: Another Campsite
Miles today: 14.1
Weather: clear sky

We find we're preferring campsites over shelters.Tonight we're with Big Stick who brought his guitar, which we love, Quest, Papa Bear Badger and Tank. The weather was way better today, around 55 degrees. Much better! We had blue sky all day.We had one little incident where we had a misunderstanding about our campsite. I thought we lost each other and I was very nervous.But we're here now and all is good.
Date: 2004-05-05
From: Campsite in Tennessee

To: Campsite in Virginia
Miles today: 13.0

Yippee!! We crossed the Virginia state line. Wow! That's exciting! We did our happy butt dance and jumped back and forth over the line. Goodbye Tennessee!We had a great hike today. The terrain was easy and we moved quickly. The weather couldn't be better. We're camping with Zinger and Steamer tonight, two really great section hikers.This is really becoming a way of life. As happy as we'll be when it's time to go home I can tell we'll miss the trail a lot. Every night we set up camp it just feels like home sweet home.We go into Damascus, Virginia tomorrow to resupply, do our laundry and take our first shower in nine days. Nine days is long enough! Maybe too long.
Date: 2004-05-06
From: Campsite in Virginia

To: Damascus, Virginia
Miles today: 1.9
Weather: few clouds

Wheeew! What a hike! Man! We're so worn out! 1.9 miles is nothing to laugh at. Well, I guess it is something to laugh at, but don't.We got our showers, read our emails, ate like pigs, changed out some gear, ate again and hungout.Damascus is a great little town. Everyone wants to do something for the hikers.We have a little wooden room with a bunk in it and a cement floor for $5 each. We like it.Tomorrow we'll stay all day then leave on Saturday.
Date: 2004-05-07
From: Damascus, Virginia

To: Damascus, Virginia
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Andrew has worked it out so we have lost over twenty pounds off our packs together. That'll make for much better hiking. He loves playing around with all the gear and figuring out the best way to do everything.He also spoke to Roger back home who's got the rentals under control. It's wierd to be out here and all your renters leave on you but then there's someone to make it work so we don't go insane.We also met a guy named Lonewolf who took us to the next town over to get me a new pair of glasses; my old ones broke so I got a pair of blue frames for kicks.
Date: 2004-05-08
From: Campsite

To: Stream Campsite
Miles today: 6.9
Weather: clear sky

We left Damascus today. What a great town! It seems we'll be back next Friday and Saturday for "Trail Days". A huge event they do every year to celebrate the trail for the last twenty years. They have 20,000 people attend and will grow again this year. Thru-hikers from years past show up to reunite with people they met on the trail. Our friend, Merridith (Starburst 02') will pick us up down the trail and take us back to Damascus.It was 80* today! Oh my goodness! Where's the snow when you need it?! Just kidding. No snow!!!! It's a beautiful day. We didn't go any further than 6.9 because we found a beautiful site along a huge river and really wanted to stay there.We both agree we're just falling in love with being out here. That's good news, since it would stink if we hated it, huh?
Date: 2004-05-09
From: Stream Campsite

To: Campsite on top of Whitetop Mtn.
Miles today: 14.2

"IT" finally happened! While we were having our lunch at a picnic table at Lost Mtn. shelter we heard noices coming from the trees. We stopped talking and listened. Eyes wide, hearts beating. A bear! Sure enough! He wasn't afraid either. He had to be 6 feet tall! He came right up to the shelter and started looking around. We knew he wanted our food. Andrew threw him a package of tuna, afraid he was going to keep getting closer. He didn't want it. My heart was beating so hard I could hear it! Andrew then thought to take the lid off the peanut butter jar and threw it. Neither one of us could speak. We just threw everything together and grabbed our packs while that bear licked the dickens out of that jar. The only way away from the shelter was between the picnic table and the bear. We were both so scared to walk toward him, but we did. Andrew went first then it seemed o.k. (I guess Jiff is a good brand) Then I started to go. I don't know what came over me! I suddenly thought "it's now or never." I decided I was going to TOUCH that bear! I slid my hand right down his side as I walked by! He turned quickly to look at me but went right back to the jar. We walked off in total shock.Man! What a story to tell for years to come. If only it were true....
Date: 2004-05-10
From: Campsite on top of Whitetop Mtn.

To: Campsite near Stone Mtn.
Miles today: 13.2

It all started off normal...Poor Andrew kept stumbling and tripping. His boots didn't get to Damascus when we were there.(like they were supposed to) So he's wearing his boots that are falling apart. The sole is pulling off the bottom and he keeps getting rocks in there. Not little ones but big ones. Ouch! He was getting frustrated with the stumbling. Later he took a wrong turn and went down the wrong trail. I waited and waited finally he showed up all out of breath because both trails were up hill. Then... as he's "oh so carefully" watching where he's going he slams his head right into a tree that had fallen across the trail. I mean SLAMS! He was knocked right off his feet, trecking poles went flying and he hollered. I went right into my panic run, where I'm running with my knees touching my nose so I don't trip and yelling "Baby! Are you o.k.!" He's fine just a couple of welts. After the drama we came across wild ponies! For a couple of miles. We kept seeing more and more. You could go right up to them, pet them, feed them. They were so friendly. They seem to love Andrew. They kept nugging on my pack for me to give them more food. That was a real treat, we must have seen 40 - 50 of them. The views from the same area were beautiful. It turned into a wonderful day. Even saw two deer. These are the days that make the yucky ones worth it. Thanks God!
Date: 2004-05-11
From: Campsite near Stone Mtn.

To: Trail intersection to Hurricane Campground
Miles today: 12.8

We got to dee more wild ponies today. I love that so much!We also crossed the 500 mile mark! 1667.2 to go. We hitched into Troutdale, VA for 2 days worth of food and ate lunch then went back out to the trail. Took our chances on finding and unlisted campsite and sure enough we found one. (Our book lists where some spots are but we wanted to get in a couple more miles.) Just another great day.
Date: 2004-05-12
From: Trail intersection to Hurricane Campground

To: Partnership shelter
Miles today: 16.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Virginia's awesome! I can hike 16 miles and not die! For the most part it was a regular day until we got to the shelter...We ordered pizza! The shelter was .1 from a phone, had a shower (solar heated), a real nice privy and even a sink.Everyone pigged out on pizza then some played hacky sack. One guy, Sierre Marmot, played his guitar and Gracy played her fiddle by the fire.We got here faster than we expected and Merridith and Straycat are picking us up here on Friday so we'll have to get a hotel. It's just aweful... a clean bed, private shower, phone, T.V. ...just aweful.
Date: 2004-05-14
From: Econolodge

To: Hampton Inn - Abingdon, VA
Miles today: 0.0

Merridith and Straycat picked us up around lunch time and we all went for Mexican, which is what we had for dinner last night. We all love mexican food!We made our way to Abingdon and checked into the Hampton Inn. This is the next town over from Damascus. Then we went to what was happening at Trail Days. There were lots of reps from different backpacking companies and we spotted a few people we met on the trail. Starburst (Merridith) and Straycat were bouncing all over the place reuniting with 2002 hikers.As for me ... while eating my Italian dinner the Mexican meals attacked. This is not good...
Date: 2004-05-15
From: Hampton Inn - Abingdon, VA

To: Hampton Inn
Miles today: 0.0

While everyone else went back to trail days I stayed in the hotel room by the bathroom. LOVE that Mexican food! NOT!They all seemed to have a good time. Reps cleaned and repaired tons of thru hiker equipment for free just to help them stay on the trail. Andrew also got his boots replaced, finally.I watched two movies at the hotel room then was able to go out to dinner with everyone when they returned. We had a nice night but wanting to get back out there. Too much of this hotel stuff kinda' melts your mind.
Date: 2004-05-16
From: Hampton Inn

To: Campsite by stream
Miles today: 7.5

We spoke with Jack and Sherry today. The highlight of the day! They told us the church was having a big picnic today. We're so sad to not be there. We've started a new craving for fried chicken. I said to Andrew "I bet there's some fried chicken at that ol' picnic." "Yep." he said. "I bet it's Janice's fried chicken too." "Don't mention that again!" (I guess we better get some fried chicken next time we go to town.We only started hiking at lunch time so we didn't go far. Everything is growning so much it's just beautiful. It seemed like a rain forest today. Everything smelled great! Terrific day!
Date: 2004-05-17
From: Campsite by stream

To: Campsite near VA42
Miles today: 15.8

Long day today. The hike was rather boring, not much to see until... we popped out of the woods onto a main road and across the street from Dairy Queen! How cool is that!? We had an early lunch of chicken strips, fries and of course ice cream sundaes.Later we found ourselves walking in our first downpour. It was kind of nice until Andrew's boots got wet on the inside. Later he slipped, fell down and went boom! We were tired and ready to camp but we had to walk 3 miles on private property (no camping) before we could find a spot. We thought we were never going to get there. It makes us a little nervous because we're not big on night hiking like some people are. The sky was cloudy and we new when the sun goes down it will be very dark.
Date: 2004-05-18
From: Campsite near VA42

To: Campsite by pond
Miles today: 9.3

Not motivated! Both of us are just blah. Our feet are hurting. Andrew is trying to break his boots in and it's just aweful. For some unknown reason my toes are being rubbed raw and two toenails are trying to fall off. What's up with that?! We were doing so well.The insects are out like crazy. It's amazing how many there are that I've never seen before. Some are kind of cute and some just are not! The one's that fly love to annoy your face. Worms, caterpillars and salamanders are everywhere. Lots of snakes too. Today I saw one whose pattern would look nice on a set of china.Andrew loves to play with salamanders. He even talks to them. I play with the tiny spiders that dangle down from the bill of my hat.We stopped eary due to sore feet and are camping with 3 other guys. In for the night by 4:00.
Date: 2004-05-19
From: Campsite by pond

To: Campsite by river
Miles today: 16.5

It seemed crazy today. It rained a lot. Boots are soaked! I have 2 new blisters which makes about 15 that I have right now. Andrew's feet are sore but he doesn't seem to blister. We had to cross 1 river 12 times. We wished they could have been more spread out through the day because we went a long way in the biginning of the day in need of a water source. The rocks were so slippery we spent most of our time sliding and hollering because we thought we were going in. Andrew changed to his sandals due to sore feet. He's wearing p.j. pants for hiking now because there light weight and cool. He's so darn cute! The sky finally cleared up but not enough time to dry our boots. This could be a problem. I've been having trouble getting food down. Seems to get a little worse each day. I just gag on everything. Started to have trouble simply drinking water yesterday. It's 2:00 am - having trouble sleeping for the 2nd night in a row. I end up really hungry this time of night but all our food is hanging up in a tree and not worth the trouble. I'll just think about Jamacian Steak and torchure myself. We go to town to resupply tomorrow.