morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-05-04
From: Flint Mountain Shelter

To: Bald Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: clear sky

Today was hills, hills, and more hills. At one point late in the day I glance up from the trail and spy a bald high on the summit of the next mountain over. I wonder briefly if the trail will take me up to this peak and before long I wonder no longer as the trail clearly begins snaking in that direction. The trail designers opt for the direct route rather than switchbacks in this case and at one point it feels like a Stairmaster workout with stone steps leading up a near vertical climb to the summit of Big Bald. The Bald is a nice reward though with a panoramic 360 degree view. The wind is light and breezy and fortunately it's not too buggy making this a very enjoyable spot to enjoy a 30 minute break.The shelter is nearby making a total mileage of 18.9 on the day. I'm tempted to push a bit further to a campsite making the days hike into Erwin (17 miles) that much shorter tomorrow but I have to listen to my body. Over 21 miles yesterday, 19 today, and 17 tomorrow adds up and so I decide to 'hike my own hike' and stay at the shelter while Squirrel, Scatters, Ugly Tuna, Miles, and Hand Me Down push on for 3.5 more miles to a campsite, and with that I have my first shelter to myself. Miles and I make tentative plans to share a bunk and I assure him I'll get an early start to catch up. I'd rather try to get up and hit the trail early than push too much tonight. I've been getting up early anyway so don't think this will be a problem.I prepare dinner, as usual, in my Jetboil. Some kind of Knorr side that calls for 1 1/2 cups water and 1/2 cup milk. Last time I added milk (powdered) it immediately boiled over upon reaching the boiling point. I'm careful this time and stir frequently while tending to the temperature but something doesn't doesn't seem right. I add the pasta to the mix and a dash of instant mashed potatoes to thicken things up but by the smell I'm having doubts about the quality of this meal. After cooking I try a bite, and while the taste isn't bad it isn't exactly good either. I think the milk burned on the bottom and now the the whole thing has a nauseating smell. I add some spice but it's quickly clear that this meal is hopeless and you know it's awful when a hungry hiker won't touch it. I recede into the woods and launch the disaster as far as I can before returning to begin scrubbing the bottom of my Jetboil. After cleaning I try to put the nesting pieces inside and find they no longer fit! Somehow the plastic ring around the burner has also melted adding insult to injury for my already tortured meal. I try to carve back the protruding plastic with my pocket knife but my small knife is no match for the hard plastic, at which point I resort to my Bic lighter in attempt to re-melt and reshape the plastic. My efforts are passable in that the piece finally nests although the melted burner now bares the scars of its resistance. I'll probably have to replace the whole burner but will worry about that another day.
Date: 2010-05-05
From: Bald Mountain Shelter

To: Erwin, TN
Miles today: 16.9
Weather: clear sky

I make good on my word and after a very restless night of sleep (allergy & sinus issues) arise at 5:00a. At this early morning hour the stars are bright in the sky, the moon is low on the horizon, and the faintest swatch of orange paints the eastern rim of the sky. I pack my gear by the light of my headlight and have reached a level of efficiency that completes this task in 45 minutes even by the dim illumination. The eastern sky is a bit rosier when I hit the trail at 5:45a but the darkness and starlight still pervade and so for the first time I set out on the trail hiking by headlight. The lighting is sufficient but not great and I take it slow minding the rocks and roots on the trail. I hike like this for about 30 minutes before dawn begins to wrest the nighttime grip and I pack away my light.I'm motivated this morning, energized by the new experience of night hiking, eager to catch up with companions down the trail, and always excited on 'town' days and the luxury of shower and bed. Tonight I'll stay at Uncle Johnny's Nolichucky Hostel, situated on the wide and rapid flowing Nolichucky river in Erwin, TN. I bustle along the trail and am surprised to come upon my friends still breaking camp; I assumed they'd be equally motivated and already on the trail in the time it takes me to make up the 3.5 miles. They're in various stages of bringing down tents, brushing teeth, and munching on breakfast. We share a few words about plans and I continue on.The morning is nice and cool and makes the climb up both of today's gaps a little easier. Midway through the day I enter the Pisgah National Forest and am taken by this lush forest, easily one of the most pleasant on the trail. The trail is not very taxing with hills in this section making this just a very nice walk in the woods.I arrive at the hostel at noon and catch a quick shower before the shuttle rolls into town for the pizza buffet. I return for a power nap before the evening dinner and grocery resupply shuttle sets out. The rest of the evening is spent organizing gear for tomorrow's hike and enjoying the hiker company in the mild evening air. An added bonus, Puma is giving free mohawks to any and all takers. I politely defer but several guys take him up on the offer and 1 girl goes for the full head shave.
Date: 2010-05-06
From: Erwin, TN

To: Cherry Gap Shelter
Miles today: 16.6
Weather: scattered clouds

I slept well in the hostel last night and found the bed comfortable. The plan is 16 miles today so I don't feel rushed to get on the trail, getting up and rolling out of the hostel around 9:00a. I have 2 goals today - 1) don't push the pace (this is an experiment to see how my feet feel at the end of a day without hiking too ambitiously), and 2) enjoy the delicious Subway sandwich I'm carrying in my pack at a relaxing spot on the trail. In fact there's actually a location called 'Beauty Spot' on today's hike around the 10 mile mark that I already have my sights on for my lunch.Before I get there though I encounter my next installment of 'Snakes on a Trail'. This one is fairly thick and dark gray with some lighter markings. I set my camera on video and start rolling. The snake is aware of me and begins to assume a defensive posture around the time I hold my pole next to him in order to get some scale in the shot. The snake is not amused and quickly goes from defensive to really pissed as he strikes at my pole a first and second time. He quickly tires of my charades and speeds off into the forest. Later at camp I show the video and H.M.D. thinks it might be a copperhead. I really have no clue although it didn't look like the copperhead pictures I studied before I left. The 'Beauty Spot' sits atop a hill (of course, don't they all) but the irony is that the climb to the top passes through forest that bears the scars of a not too distant forest fire. There are many burned husks and some scrabby plants struggling to take root and reclaim the land and this what I hike through, this distressed hill, void of any leafy shade and under a hot hot sun to reach this little piece of nirvana on top. I arrive at the 'Beauty Spot', a grassy knob with a nice view, plop down, retrieve the sandwich I've hauled up the mountain and savor every bite. Afterward I lay back in the grass, pull my hat down a little bit to block the sun and watch the clouds drift lazily across the sky. There's a light breeze and bugs and dragonflies dancing in the air as I allow my eyes to close and enjoy this wonderful, relaxing moment.
Date: 2010-05-08
From: Overmountain Shelter

To: Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: few clouds

I wake in the barn (Overmountain Shelter) at 6:30a and it's quite dark out. I heard reports of a chance of rain during the night and morning and as I'm laying in my sleeping bag it actually seems to be getting darker -- not a good sign. The temperature has dropped, the wind is gusting mightily, and the blue skies have been replaced with a dark gray curtain of clouds. It's not raining but looks murky so I put the pack cover on my pack in case of rain but I'll hold off on the rain jacket until I feel drops. My rain karma ultimately holds out as the skies stop at gray without dropping any rain.I set out into the windy drear and face an immediate climb. The area I climb this morning is known as the Roan Highlands and is a series of high grassy hills with a few boulders in the fields and some of the most majestic views on the trail. The climb is arduous though, not because of the steepness but because of a chill, fierce wind that is funneled up and over this treeless hill. I lean into the cross-breeze and am frequently dislodged from the trail, walking in a drunken line upward. I pull my hat low but it still feels loose in the wind so I stop to tighten it before moving on. At the crest I'm treated to a fantastic 360 degree view of TN and NC. The gale wind makes it uncomfortable to linger and so I move on in short order.Some of us talk of grabbing lunch around the 10 mile mark at a roadhouse near the highway crossing but just before the road crossing I come upon a family with a cart set up by the trail dishing out trail magic! They're making ham and turkey sandwiches, handing out cookies and crackers and bottles of water all for the hikers. I sit down and enjoy 2 turkey sandwiches and a handful of cookies before moving on.The rest of the hike is leisurely over mildly rolling terrain and I share this time with Paul Bunyan and H.M.D. We talk about music, TV programs, and a variety of other topics making the afternoon go by quickly. The trail passes through fields, forests, and by rivers and the varied terrain adds to the enjoyment and leisure of the afternoon. We arrive at the shelter around 4:00p, relatively early allowing plenty of time to relax in the shelter for the evening.
Date: 2010-05-09
From: Mountain Shelter

To: Dennis Cove Road
Miles today: 15.6

Happy Mother's Day! Today marks my 1 month anniversary from when I set out from Springer Mountain-what now seems so long ago. I've walked over 400 miles and parts of 3 states, entering my 4th (Virginia) next week. Those first days and weeks already seem so distant and since then I've gained so much knowledge that only comes with the passage of those days and miles.I stop at Bob People's Kincora Hostel for the night. Bob and his hostel are one of those 'legends of the trail' places that are worth the stop. There's no charge for the bunk, laundry, or shower but the suggested donation is a whopping $4. At that price it's easy to see why hikers will often spend 2 or 3 days here, but I will press on tomorrow.My next town stop is 3 days away in Damascus, VA. I'm eager to get there as I've got a couple more gear issues that I need to deal with, one minor and one potentially major. The minor is the rubber tips of my shoes that are separating from the upper which I hope some 'shoe goo' will remedy. Of greater concern is the stitching of the waist belt on my pack that is beginning to unravel and I hope I can make it to Damascus for repairs before it gets too severe. I don't have any other options at the moment but there are outfitters that should be able to help when I get there.
Date: 2010-05-10
From: Dennis Cove Road

To: Vandeventer Shelter
Miles today: 17.8
Weather: clear sky

I get up this morning and enjoy a bowl of cereal with milk, treats I bought for myself on last nights resupply run. This is my first bowl of cereal in over a month. While packing my gear I get a piece of duct tape and ask Scatters to help tape under my arm. I have a chaffed spot from poling that's been irritating me and I hope the tape will help. I want to say 'bye' to Bob Peoples who runs the hostel but unfortunately his dog passed away during the night so he's out this morning digging a grave to bury his dog. Bob's a great guy and a real friend of the trail.I set out on the trail and for the first time in about 3 weeks my friends won't be joining me. Paul Bunyan and Squirrel take zeros, Scatters 'slack packs' 9 miles and will stay at the hostel one more night, and H.M.D. has to go into town to pick up a supply box. I generally hike by myself but it's nice to meet up with my friends at the shelters in the evening. That's life on the trail though and in a sense it's a good thing as it opens you up to new friendships, stories, and experiences. The morning hike treats me to a nice waterfall and I off my pack to sit and enjoy it for a spell. This is easily the nicest waterfall since Amicalola, GA and I sit and enjoy it with hiker, Kudzu. We chat for a while and shortly another hiker comes along, Lifeguard. Lifeguard is a bit older and at one point was hiking southbound though today that's not the case. Making light of this Kudzu jovially yells out, "Hey Lifeguard, you're going the wrong way." Lifeguard totally misinterprets his comment, taking offense and giving Kudzu a piece of his mind. This exchange reminds me of the the nature of trail acquaintances which are often swift and fleeting. The trail can be a relaxed place, easy to assume a level of familiarity with people you barely know or only just met. In this case Lifeguard moves on after Kudzu's apology and Kudzu is left scratching his head at the exchange. I continue on my hike and note that Kudzu later catches up to Lifeguard, again offering his apology. I don't stick around but later see them hiking together and by all appearances it seems that they've mended fences.I stop of Vandeventer shelter for the evening at just under 18 miles and enjoy my time with Too Soon and Too Late, husband and wife retirees from Ohio, and Mousehat who thru-hiked a few years ago. Too Soon and Too Late are fun, chatty companions and we talk and tell stories late into the evening darkness.
Date: 2010-05-11
From: Vandeventer Shelter

To: Abingdon Gap Shelter
Miles today: 22.7
Weather: light rain

I pass Braveheart and his wife on the trail this morning. As you might imagine Braveheart hikes in a kilt. They have a tarp set up to block the wind, a groundcloth laid out, and most of their pack contents out. I assume this was their campsite from the previous night and comment on their nice location. Braveheart tells me that this isn't their campsite but just a morning break and they tented further back during the night. I'm somewhat incredulous at their spread for a 9:30a morning break. They're having tea and snacks and look fairly comfortable and settled. Braveheart says that you have to hike your own hike but when you're hiking with your spouse you have to share your hike, and that his wife likes to take frequent (if not somewhat elaborate) breaks. My idea of a break is more like 5 minutes on a log where I rest my feet and alleviate my pack weight without actually removing my pack while enjoying a nutri-grain bar.Each day that I hike my mind and emotions run the gamut between the euphoria and freedom of being on the trail and the longing for family and home. At times I feel great, my strides strong and sure, Maine firmly in my sites and the beautiful landscape and vistas rolling by. At other times I find myself yearning for home, family, friends, favorite restaurants, and other comforts. The various stresses of hiking, hills, heat, hunger, and weather are often sufficient triggers to force or alter my mood and emotions making Maine feel like some distant land and leaving me to wonder what I'm doing out here. I soldier through these doldrums and ultimately they pass but the combination of physical strain and emotional longing are my most challenging times on the trail, and managing and balancing these forces can be a difficult challenge.Tomorrow I hike into Damascus, VA and my 4th state. Coincidentally Damascus is hosting Trail Days this weekend, the largest hiker gathering on the trail. Hikers on the trail now hitch-hike forward or back to Damascus for this event and previous hikers return for the event as well. It's been said that Trail Days is to the hiking community what Sturgess is to the biker community. I didn't plan to be in Damascus during Trail Days but it just worked out that way based on my April 9 start date and hike pace. Trail Days might be fun but the bittersweet irony is that every B&B and hostel has been booked months in advance so the estimated 3000 influx mostly resides in a tent city. I'm not excited about tenting in town -- I get plenty of tenting on the trail -- so my expectations are lukewarm at the moment. Someone said they're bringing FEMA trailers in for showers and restrooms so there's that to look forward to. Despite my reservations though I'm open to the experience and have found that some of my best, most memorable times and experiences come at the least expected times. Perhaps this will be such an experience.
Date: 2010-05-12
From: Abingdon Gap Shelter

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 10.2
Weather: overcast clouds

I can now say with some authority that it's possible to walk from GA to Virginia in 34 days! At 10:35a this morning I pass a simple wooden sign indicating my passage into the Jefferson Natl. Forest and hand-scrawled on the post are the letters TN/VA. With that I pass into my 4th state. I'm on the trail with Bluebird and Dayglow at the time and we snap pictures of each other by this marker. There's no perceptible change in the scenery but crossing a state line is always a milestone that provides a psychological boost and extra spring to the step.Today (and possibly through the weekend) is a town day. I walk into Damascus on the eve of Trail Days and hikers are already beginning to make their presence felt by their gathering numbers. I hear varying estimates but safe to say that a least a couple thousand hikers will descend on this small town with a single main street over the weekend. The town is ready for it though and does a lot to accommodate. The Baptist church holds a free cookout at 4:30 are there many other events planned over the weekend. I get lucky and score a room at a B&B for 2 nights, sharing this accommodation with a new trail buddy, Bismarck, who so happens is from Bismarck, ND. I also meet up with my friend, Scatters, who had some good B&B luck of her own sharing a space with Graham Crackers and Lift-and-Step.I decide to slack pack 23 miles tomorrow. To 'slack pack' means to take a shuttle to a point forward on the trail and then walk back to your starting point while carrying only minimal gear -- food, water, water filter, and maybe a rain jacket. The shuttle service even lends me a day pack so I don't have to slack with my own larger pack. I like the idea of slack packing in this situation since it gives me an opportunity to add miles to my journey while still allowing me the chance to enjoy some of the events at Trail Days over the next couple days.
Date: 2010-05-13
From: Damascus, VA

To: Elk Garden
Miles today: 23.8
Weather: broken clouds

My friend Scatters slack-packed last week at Kincora Hostel. I ask her what she thought of the experience and she replies that you remember why you liked hiking in the first place. I can concur with her sentiment now after slack-packing today as well.I wear a small day pack for the hike, carrying only the essentials -- food, water, water filter, and rain jacket. Compared to my normal 30-plus pound load this pack feels weightless. I hit the trail and immediately feel like an animal unleashed. I want to run, or bound, or skip down the trial; anything but walk. I feel like I've gained some new super power as I effortlessly leap up rocks, scale hills, and scoot along the downhills like a gold medal skier. Euphoric is perhaps too strong a term but the sensation upon first hitting the trail with only a day pack is something akin. Even slack packing though I'm still cognizant that 23 miles a long way and so settle myself into a comfortable, slightly accelerated pace.About half way through the hike I make a decision that I want to finish no later than 4:30p. The reason is that I still need to get the hip belt repaired on my backpack and the gear repair booths close at 5:00. I do some quick calculations and realize that I need to get moving if I hope to make this time, and that even a brisk walking pace likely won't get me back in time. Feeling good, I cinch the straps tighter on my day pack and begin jogging down the trail to make up some time. It actually feels nice jogging, using different muscles, and pushing my body in different ways. Nine miles is still a long ways to go though and I know that this pace is unsustainable over the remaining distance so I pick spots to lift my pace, usually downhills and flats (when it's not too rocky), and walk the uphills. This works for a while but in pushing myself I'm also sacrificing food and water and soon my body begins to remind me of this deficit. I'm sweating too much and start to feel cranky with 3 miles still to go, a sure sign that my body is making demands that my mind has ignored for too long. I have to stop and pump more water and also take in some calories if I'm going to have any chance of making 4:30. After re-fueling I being to feel a little better although after 20 miles I'm now footsore and no longer able to jog, but I still maintain a brisk pace. The trail undulates before beginning its final descent, spitting me out on the road on the outskirts of town. It's 4:30 and I'm back -- I still have a chance to get to the B&B, get my pack, and hustle to the gear repair booth. I'm wiped out but I press on, reaching the gear repair at 5:00 on the nose. I drop off my pack, explaining its ailment, and am given assurance that it will be good as new by noon tomorrow. The vendor is good enough to give me a ride back to the B&B as well. The only thing left now is a hot shower and good dinner before getting my relax on for the evening.