morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-05-08
From: Boxed spring pond

To: Hemlock Hallow Farm
Miles today: 11.4

During the early morning, rain pounded the top of our tent. We woke up looking at each other thinking oh no, not rain all day. Breaking down camp in the rain is not fun! All of the stuff gets wet and packed in the backpack gets everything else wet, yuck. Since I wasn't feeling well, we layed in our sleeping bags talking and day dreaming. We decided to see if the rain would quit and let us enjoy another sunny day. Well thank God, it did, about 8:00 the rain quit and we cooked breakfast, packed up camp and started the hike for Log Cabin Drive. I was hoping to hike into the hostel and rest for a day to get rid of this aching cough. We hiked up to the firetower at Rich Mountain, climbed it and had our lunch. It was cold and windy on top, we sat in the tower squatting below the wall to keep us warm but it didn't help, it was still cold. After lunch, we continued the trek toward our goal, lots of mountains to climb. The good thing about the hike, wildflowers were blooming everywhere! White, purple, yellow, beautiful, even some of the Rhododendrons were blooming. It was a nice aversion to the hard breathing I was doing. We came upto the shelter called Spring Mountain, it is another old small shelter, sleeping only 6. There is an electrical outlet installed for hikers (not really working, just for fun). It was hilarious. In the register, Wild Poodle had stopped about 30 minutes earlier and said she saw a rattlesnake about the size of her hiking stick, basking in the sun across the trail. She took photos, then made her own trail around the snake through the brush. We stopped for a privy break and continued the hike. About 1/4 mile into the hike, a stumbled in my new boots on a rock and twisted my left ankle. Left ankle - 5, right ankle 7. This time I fell all the way to the ground and it hurt tremendously. Half Left came running back to see what happened. He rubbed it for a couple of minutes, then I got up and hobbled briefly before carrying on. No hiking for crybabies on this trail. It took us until nearly 5:30 to reach the hostel. It was a welcoming site, wonderful people, log cabin looking building built around a creek. To see what a wonderful place, www.hemlockhollow.net they have a small resupply store, kitchen, cabins and a bunkhouse. Half Left and I called and reserved the cabin for $48 because I knew I would be hacking all night and didn't want to disturb others. Wild Poodle was already at the hostel enjoying being clean and fresh. Hattie (the owner) heard me coughing and made me some honey lemon tea she had, wow what a nice difference it made on my throat, thanks!Half Left and I got a cheeseburger and ice cream to share, talked with Hattie and then she took us to our cabin on a golf cart. I told Half Left this will be the closest he will be to golfing for a while so he better enjoy it! His buddy Mike who moved to Richmond is going to take us golfing when we get to his area in Virginia, he can't wait.The cabin is quaint, just what the doctor ordered. A hot shower, cold tabs and bed.
Date: 2010-05-11
From: No business knob shelter

To: Erwin, TN
Miles today: 5.7
Weather: broken clouds

Jay Bird got up about 6:30 and quietly left camp. It had rained during the night, so we were all glad to be in a shelter. We all got up about 7:30, mostly because Half Left was clanging stuff around. He was upset because "all the women in the shelter were snoring". He had forgotten his earplugs in his bag and didn't want to disturb everyone getting them out last night. Poor baby!We all made our breakfast, coffee, etc. and packed our stuff anxious to get to Erwin at Uncle Johnny's Nolichucky Hostel. The hike from the shelter to there was another easy stroll up and down a beautiful, jungle looking forest. After about 3 miles, the river could be seen. We caught up to Red Baron, on the phone. The signal at camp had been bad and his wife couldn't get through so he stopped to leave her a message. She is a school teacher back in New Jersey. We arrived at Uncle Johnny's early enough to catch the all you can eat pizza shuttle. Yum, we were all hungry!!! We had asked for a cabin at the hostel, but one was not available at the time. I asked if everyone wanted to go into Johnson City and stay at a hotel. We all decided it would be a good idea. Wild Poodle said the bunkroom was dirty and she didn't want to stay anyway. So done deal, now to work on a ride.One of my customer back in Jacksonville Beach, Andy Hollingsworth told me of a man and women who lived right behind the hostel named, Danny and Leslie Honrath. He said, go say hi to them when you get there. So I asked Johnny about them, he said, yes they are friends, go knock on their door and by the way, Leslie makes the best Beef Jerky around. We picked up a bag and yes he is right! Half Left and I went to their house. Danny is a wonderful man, from Jax Beach, he and his wife both graduated from our High School, Fletcher. I know his brother, David also. He offered us a soda and we talked about how small a world we live in. He also shuttles for Johnny, so he said he could give us a ride into Johnson City. I called Andy and let him know we were in Erwin and would see Danny. Arriving early, we checked into the hotel, got our stinky clothes together, showered and went to the laundrymat. One of the first town duties!!! Clean, we went to eat at Logan's, get beer and then watched American Idol. Go Crystal!!! My favorite from the beginning.
Date: 2010-05-12
From: Erwin, TN

To: Damascus
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Cahoda is picking us up soon to take us to Trail Days in Damascus. TrailDays.org if your interested in finding out more. We are all excited to go and see hikers we have met on the trail, get our gear tuned up, buy bargin gear and just have a great time. More later when I can get to another computer.I am sending another disk today for Samantha so maybe more pictures in a week or so.See you in Damascus...
Date: 2010-05-16
From: Erwin, TN

To: Beauty Spot
Miles today: 12.0

Trail Days was great. More information on it later. Not much time to update this morning. We are hiking out of Erwin going to a really nice area called beauty spot. It is a bald on top of the mountain. Wild Poodle stayed behind at the hotel with a intestinal bug. She and Cahoda will hook up to get her back caught up with us. Brent (Steel Horse) and Paula (Iron Maiden) got their "offical" trail names during their stay at trail days. They brought lots of comfort stuff for us including a dual chair for Half Left and I to enjoy sitting in. I tried to talk Half Left into carrying it for me but he said no. Bummer. Steel Horse and Iron Maiden brought lots of good barbeque for us along with pasta salad, cucumber salad, lots of specialty beer for Half Left.Others joining us during the fun weekend, Home Brew, great to see him!, Pee Wee, Dune, Low Key (who went on the work day with Bob Peeples), Red Baron (who is still hiking with us), Early Mon, Solo (who seranaded us with his nice music), Crazy Train and his bunch (who got arrested at the church for disorderly conduct), Peach and Bam Bam.Also, Wags, Gansta, Loon and their bunch camped right behind us. I followed their journals last year and finally got to meet them in person! They are really nice girls, Wags ran in a race they were having and did well.Dutch Tape and Cabana boy wandered by so I also got to meet them. She is still nursing a injury so we may see them again. HD Mama I met in the parade, really sweet lady. Llano camped with us and hung out some. She is ahead of us also and is also really nice. Trail Days besides the really ridiculous people who howl all night was fun. I will expand more later.Now off to the trail. Photos as soon as we can.See you on the trail...
Date: 2010-05-20
From: Carver Gap

To:  Overmountain Shelter
Miles today: 5.2

We are leaving Greasy Creek this morning. Sad face, she is a really cool woman and you should plan a stay if you are travelling through the area. She has named the dog "Wednesday", I think she is keeping her.We plan to go to Overmountain Shelter tonight which is an old converted red barn. It is a must stay on the trail. We have to pass over another bald that overlooks Roan Mountain, we are very excited. I called Wild Poodle this morning, but her phone was turned off. I also tried Cahoda and got no answer. Not sure where they are but we will see them soon. Red Baron is slightly ahead of us so it's doubtful we will catch up to him.Today is sunny and 78, much different than the steady rain we have had so we are excited about the views today. Rain is expected tomorrow, our destination will be Mountain Harbor B & B where our fudge from mom awaits. Can't wait!!!Off again, see you on the trail...UpdateWow, a beautiful day hiking over Round Top and Jane Bald. At the top of Round Top which was a gradual uphill, we broke out the stove and cooked up some Ramen Noodles for lunch. The views of Roan Mountain and Jane Bald were spectacular to say the least. It was nice to sit on a rock perched high above the traffic and noise of the vacationing crowds. Lot of people seem to frequent the area to day hike and take in the views. We sat for about 30 minutes enjoying lunch and people watching then off to hike up Jane Bald, a higher peak, with much more viewing. While hiking up the trail, a group of home schooled kids on the debate team were site-seeing. They had the energy I wish I had, climbing like goats with no sense of reality. We said hello and continued on, only to be overrun by an Israeli making an attempt to make the fastest thru hike, he had started on May 7. Well remember we started March 27. Didn't he also make us feel bad! Looking back after cresting Jane Bald was another spectacular sight, what could come close?We continued northward, past Stan Murray shelter. Stan Murray was an avid ATC member and contributed much to the trail. The shelter is one that needs upgrading and not many hikers use it because Overmountain Shelter is 2 more miles. Overmountain is the converted barn that used to house Revolutionary war soldiers while fighting in the war. It houses at least 30 people, the book says 20. We hiked to the barn where some hikers were sleeping and reading. They were some we had met and a father and daughter team who had thru hiked in 2008. They said this was their favorite part of the trail and they wanted to repeat it. We placed our sleeping bag on the deck overlooking the impending peak for tomorrow. We cooked, had great conversations and relaxed for the evening.
Date: 2010-05-22
From: Elk Park

To: Walnut Mountain Road
Miles today: 10.4

Slackpacking is the bomb!!! Thru hikers love to slackpack and I certainly do. More miles and more smiles.We started the hike about 9:30, southbound. Rainy but warm, we hiked first to the shelter, a new one called Mountaineer. It was built a few years ago, 3 stories and sleeps 14. It is really nice, noone was there, we read the journal, signed it and continued on. Jones falls was about 3.5 more miles and we were excited to get there so we hurried our pace following each other up and down gradual slopes. It was an easy hike for a change. The rain got harder and we were hoping it wouldn't get really hard, it never did but we were still wet as yarddogs.We arrived at Jones Falls, a 100 foot falls made of huge 30 foot wide rocks, the water cascading down, spewing out about 5 feet at some points. Half Left videoed the falls, while I stared at how unreal it was. Because of the rain, we continued on the 5 more miles back to the hostel.On the trail back, Half Left brushed against some poison oak. CC from Greasy Creek told us of the remedy, Jewel Weed. I found some on the side of the road, he squished it between his fingers and rubbed it on the area, magically it relieved the itching.We got back to the hostel, showered and did the grocery run. I was not wanting trail food for dinner. Zues, Big R and I went to the steakhouse while Half Left stayed at the hostel. I brought him food back and order Wild Poodle takeout in hopes she would show up tonight. While we were eating our salads, in popped Wild Poodle, smiling and happy to be off the trail. Mary had picked her up at the crossing and brought her to the restaurant. So GOOD to see her!!! We ate and went back to see Half Left with his dinner, a seafood platter he was glad to have.During the evening, "The Goonies" showed up, Jurasic, Special Needs (2 Aussies), Giggles, Dirty Thirty, Mohawk, Flying Colors and a few others that had slacked 24 miles from Kincora. They were also excited to be somewhere comforting. We enjoyed the trail stories and camaraderie. It wasn't your usual hiker midnight it was midnight when we all finally sacked out.
Date: 2010-05-23
From: Walnut Mountain Road

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Zero day for us while Wild Poodle slack packed what we did yesterday. We bought chicken for the grill, I made a spiral rotini salad and corn. They hostel cleared out and new hikers in. Tomorrow off to Kincora, then Watauga lake. We are renting a boat, fun fun fun.See you on the trail...
Date: 2010-05-24
From: Walnut Mountain Road

To: Dennis Cove
Miles today: 14.0

The dinner cooked after Wild Poodle slacked was well needed and wonderful! Half Left grilled the chicken, I made the spiral rotoni salad as well as the corn on the cob. It was a welcome meal for all of us. On the trail we eat the same old nasty trail food like Lipton sides with tuna or ramen noodles with tuna or some other quick cooking noodle thing with meat that is packaged to carry easily. Chicken, tuna, salmon and spam seems to be the only meats available and none of them are my favorite. We woke up in the morning, made breakfast in the welcoming kitchen at the hostel then got shuttled to Walnut Road, 14 miles from our destination. We started our hike about 8:30 am. The hike was an easy hike for a change, small uphill incline for 10 miles. We decided to eat our lunch (leftover chicken and rotoni) beside a beautiful stream. At the stream was Warren Doyles wife breaking also. They teach hiking and are doing the trail with some of the class from this year. While we were eating, Zeus an 82 year old hiker we have bumped into a few times arrived. A party on the trail, fun meeting other hikers like that because you can talk about the terrain and their day. We all ate and continued our trek. We arrived about 5:00 at Kincora, a hostel run by Bob Peeples who is an avid trail friend. He works on the trail every Tuesday and gets groups called Hardcore workers to maintain and redirect the trail. What a nice man!We got a private room at the hostel, got a ride to the grocery store, and bought Arby's for dinner. Today the hike although 14 miles was easy for us. The feet still hurt but we could actually function normal at the end of the day.Tomorrow Watauga Lake and a nero day. Much looking forward to.
Date: 2010-05-25
From: Dennis Cove

To: Watauga Lake
Miles today: 9.2
Weather: clear sky

Last night we stayed at Kincora, Bob Peeples hostel in a private (sort of) room with a double bed. It was the usual rustic bunkhouse we have become accustom to with log walls, wooden slatted floors, spider webs and that sweet hiker smell. Bob is well known on the trail because of his love of the hiker community. His is very charismatic and everyone either knows him or knows of him. He gathers past thru hikers, trail lovers and supporters to do a "hardcore" work project every year the Sunday and Monday after trail days. About 150 people get together with him and do trail maintenance on a section he chooses. This year they worked on a section south of Roan Mountain adding switchbacks instead of the steep uphill. The project did not get completed because of rain but he will continue to work on it until finished. These projects help so much, thanks Bob!We left the hostel about 8:00am heading for the lake. We have so looked forward to camping by the lake. The Goonies (Jurasic, Flying Colors, Giggles, Mohawk, Very Needy, Dirty Thirty and a few others) camped in the same spot a few nights ago. They told us of boat rentals, beautiful scenery, swimming and the bear that rummaged through their campsite. We were excited not because of the bear but the leisurely resting by the lake.We set up camp in the same spot they did across from the public area. The views were all they made them to be! On the way, a duck with it's babies in tow came up to the shore. A military guy had given me some MRE rationing bread. I broke them out and fed them. They were so cute. Our camp was in the perfect spot. Other campers hiked by wishing they could join us. Some locals set up came right behind us, Gabe and his girlfriend Kesha from Roan Mountain. They invited us for some by the campfire music played by their friend. I can't remember his name but it was nice to hear music on the trail. Three other hikers made camp beside them, Rome, Squid and ?. Rome hollered over, "Can I pick on your guitar?" Sure, come join us! He came over with Squid and sang some amazing songs he had written. Two of my sons also play and write their own music so it was nice to hear this young man it made me feel like home. We all had a few adult beverages around the fire until we were exhausted. Wild Poodle had "put herself down" earlier and never heard the music. After our dinner of cheddar brats she decided to head to her tent. The bear everyone talked about didn't show up at our campsite but tenters a few hundred feet away saw him as well as "Big R" another hiker that camped farther up the trail on the lake.There was clear skies and an almost full moon, so the camp was lit up even after dark. It was very serene.
Date: 2010-05-26
From: Watauga Lake

To: Turkeypen Gap
Miles today: 11.4

We woke up early, about 6:30am. Half Left and I made our way backwards on the trail to the public restrooms to get water and see if they had showers. No showers but welcoming sinks to clean up a bit and get water for the day. We got back to camp, packed our stuff and began our hike for the day. Wild Poodle started a little bit ahead of us. Our hike today included the Watauga Dam crossing and climbing up to the top of the ridge ALL DAY! It was a brutal up, up, up and more up. Clear skies and HOT temps made it even more strenuous. When we crossed the dam, Wild Poodle was stopped talking to two section hikers, Jakebreak and Just Don. They are from South Carolina and filling in sections to complete Jakebrakes thru hike. We talked trail talk for about 15 minutes and all began the steep uphill out of the dam. We stopped for snack at Wilbur Dam Road as Wild Poodle continued on the trail. We were approaching the next shelter, Vandeventer when Half Left said "Hey honey, hurry up there's a bear" I said "Get a picture!" He grabbed the camera and clicked a picture as I hurried to see. Just as I looked over the cliff, I saw him scurrying away. He was probably 150 pounds. We both smiled because this is our first trail siting of a bear. We continued on when all the sudden the bushes moved beside Half Left, he jumped I went, Whoooo. It was two wild turkeys in the bushes trying to fly but getting the wings caught in the bushes. He still had the camera and shot a quick video. I thought they must have been protecting some babies or something because they were so excited. He got the video of them hollering and gobbling.We arrived at the shelter to snack, not planning on staying because it was still early. At the shelter was Wild Poodle, Jakebrake and Just Don. They were talking about our friends Cimmarron and Bearbag from Pensacola. Apparently they are friends also. Small world!We continued on about 3 more miles to a campsite. Joining us camping was Jakebrake, Just Don, Big R and of course the "Wild Poodle". It was another nice evening. It is also our friend Paula's birthday, so we made the Happy Birthday call and filled her in on our progress. She will be joining us June 2nd to hike about 3 weeks.Everyone went to bed at hiker's midnight. Just Don got up about 5:30am and scurried out of camp. We all heard him but not ready to get up that early. The rest of us got up about 6:30 and ate breakfast, broke down camp and started our hike.
Date: 2010-05-28
From: McQueen's Knob Shelter

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 12.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Bright and sunny skies, yay. A welcome sight as opposed to the hail the night before. Wild Poodle, Half Left and I made our breakfast, broke down camp and packed for our hike into Damascus. It was something we have been looking forward to since trail days a few weeks earlier. Another highlight of the day is crossing the Virginia border, finally being done with the North Carolina/Tennessee states that moseyed back and forth across the trail for almost 400 miles.Half Left started before us, because water has been scarce on this part of the trail. He was going to Abingdon Gap Shelter to get water which is down a steep hill, .2 miles behind the shelter. Wild Poodle and I finished our packing and duties then hiked the 1.4 miles to the shelter. Half Left was still down at the water, his pack and phone layed on the picnic table. We grabbed the register to see who had been there the night before when Half Left came up over the crest, dripping sweat, tired and winded. He said the statement on the sign to the water is true, steep, long downhill. Wild Poodle decided she wasn't going to make the trip, Half Left gave her some of the water he had collected. Wild Poodle called Suzanne from the Hiker Inn to reserve space for us and also called Cahoda to see when she would arrive in Damascus. It is Memorial weekend so we wanted to make sure we had space to stay. I called Apple Tree B & B to see if they had a private room for the night, yes one night and includes breakfast. We jumped on the reservation, cancelled 2 bunks for the night at Hiker Inn and were happy to have a nice private room for a least one night.We started hiking following Half Left and his amazing pace, I call him Sgt. Porter. We got to the border, took photos and a snack. In the distance we could hear the thunder again. Half Left says, the storms are going to start earlier today, we better get into town soon! He decided to go ahead of us and make sure we could get our bump box from the post office before it closes. I started off before Wild Poodle who was eating some tuna and relaxing at the border. About 30 minutes into the decent, here came the rain, lightning and HAIL! Quickly putting on rain gear and pack cover, I never stopped. The trail turned into a river, the hail hitting me about the size of marbles but I felt it was better making it to town. It took about an hour to get the the bottom, 3 more miles down. I never saw Poodle again, she hunkered down under a fallen tree. I made it to the Apple Tree B & B, soaking wet but relieved to be there. Greeted at the door by Debbie, the proprietor, she said we were just coming to find you, your quick. I said thanks, I never stopped. She invited me in her house, dripping wet. Half Left saw me and was relieved I was there also. A warm shower, clean dry clothes and a hot meal, we were in town. Yay!!!
Date: 2010-05-29
From: Damascus, VA

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Debbie served a wonderful hot breakfast, complete with my daughter Samantha's favorite, Lemon Poppyseed bread. We ate with other hikers and enjoyed have a meal other that oatmeal! If you are ever in Damascus, go see Debbie and Les at the Apple Tree Inn, worth the extra $!!! Thanks for a nice inviting stay.Moving over to the Hiker Inn to join Wild Poodle. Suzanne has a double bed room waiting for us.