morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-08-27
From: O'Lystery Picnic Area (VA 42) 

To: VA 625-FSR 222
Miles today: 6.5

Section Hike 07-19A, O'Lystery Picnic Area (VA 42).Day Hike, 6.5 miles. Monday, 27 August 2007 - During July and August, I try to do day hikes when ever road access permits. At this time during the summer it becomes warm and the bugs come out in force. Evenings at the shelters are also buggy and if you get warm at night and kick off your sleeping bag, you can wake up in the morning with all kinds of little insect bites. Another big reason for my day hikes is the water sources dry up in the late summer months and you can never be sure where you might find water.    This day hike was a short 6.4 miles with the normal number of climbs and descends. Crossed another Brushy Mountain. So far on my AT hiking, I think I have crossed at least six Brushy Mountains, and that is just in Virginia. Took mid day rest stop at Knob Maul Branch Shelter. Went on to Lynn Camp Creek, a gold trout stream but sadly, it was dry with only isolated pools of water in the stream bed.   Most of the wild flowers are gone now. There is not as much traffic on the trail now that the Thru-Hikers have long pass on their way to Maine. If you hike during the weekdays, you might not pass another hiker all day. Reach the top of Lynn Camp Mountain after hiking through a hemlock and pine forest. Trail was nice and the forest has started to thin out allowing me to see further into the woods.   Came upon another good trout stream when I reached Lick Creek, but again it was mostly dry. There was a slight trickle of water flowing in the stream bed. The Guide Book describes Lick Creek as a water source, but if you need water, you would have to dip it out slowly. Coming out of the forest, I come to Forest Road 222 and Judy is waiting. Whenever possible, we always scout out our road access meeting points to make sure we both know where to look for each other. Works good and we have not missed any of our designated pick up points.
Date: 2007-08-29
From: VA 61 Burke's Garden

To: Forest Road 222 (West of Bland, VA)
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Section Hike 07-19B, VA 623 (Burke's Garden) to FSR 222 (West of Bland, VA)Day Hike, 10.8 miles, Southbound.Wednesday, 29 August 2007 - Have been bouncing around going southbound at time on my day hikes. Trying to make the best of the location of our RV and available road access points. I try to keep Judy off the remote Forest Roads when possible.    Started this day hike up in Burke's Garden on VA 61. We crossed Burke's Garden and head up the mountain to my start. Normally I will hike northbound, but on this hike I will go southbound to keep from having to do a 2200 foot downhill trek. I had to cross over some large flat-face rocks, but the effort is easy. In the first five miles, I was along a ridge cliff with many rock outcroppings that could have allowed for a beautiful view of Burke's Garden, except for the many young trees blocking the view.   I came upon what looked like an old stone wall that had bordered a homestead. There were some very old fruit trees from a defunct grove, all evidence of someone trying to make a living off the land. As fall start to come, the tree are thinning out and the trail is filled with fallen leaves. I proceed down to Walker Gap and once I reach the bottom, I find a nice level area with several campsites and another dry creek bed.    Stopped at Chestnut Knob Shelter which sits on a large grassy field on top of a small bald. The setting is nice with a distant view of mountain ridges. The shelter is an old stone-walled cabin used by a game warden. Inside it has sleeping bunks for eight hikers. There is a water source about 300 feet to the left of the cabin.... and a privy. Ah, all the comforts of home.   I leave the cabin, leave the woods and enter a large pastureland. Then I start a gradual descent and reenter the woods. Another very steep descent with several switchbacks and then I am coming out on Forest Road 222, a gravel road that crosses the AT. Judy is due to arrive and pick me up at 4:15 PM.
Date: 2007-09-01
From: Forest Road 222 (West of Bland, VA)

To: VA 623 (West of Bland, VA)
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Section Hike 07-19C, VA 623 Burke's Garden to VA 615 (West of Bland, VA)Day Hike, 10.8 miles - Northbound.Saturday, 1 September 2007 - This will be my last AT hike for the 2007 summer. After this we will head home to Florida and another winter of planning the 2008 Hiking Season. Slowly I am getting my miles on the AT, but why hurry, after waiting all these years to start my AT venture. After all, next year when I start my 2008 venture I will be 74 years young.   We drive back across Burke's valley and to Garden Mountain, one of several mountains that rings the Burke's Garden enclosed valley. After dropping me off, Judy saw a black bear on the road, in addition to many deer. As for me, my hike takes me along a very rocky path on the crest of Garden Mountain. It is really quite beautiful with all the forest growth and the large flat-faced rocks that again fill the area and the trail. Fog is drifting into the mountain and makes for a beautiful morning. I love it when the sun shine through the woods and fog like rays.      I start a downhill descend of about 1400 feet and see three deer just off the trail. They stay in place and I am able to get a good picture. Shortly after I meet three backpackers on the trail. They are out to spend a week of hiking over the Labor Day Holiday.    Reach Jenkins Shelter. It has the usual picnic table, fire ring, privy and the shelter sleeps six hikers. There is a fair water source in a small seeping spring near the shelter, but it may be dry in a couple of weeks. I sign the Trail Register and continue on to yet another Brushy Mountain. Once over Brushy Mountain, I head down towards Little Wolf Creek. When I come within 100 yards of the creek, there is a High Water Bypass Trail Sign that I tells me that I must take new trail because a bridge has been washed out. I take the High Water Bypass Trail and it turns out to be a good trail mostly on an old logging road that goes on for three miles. Again, I spook three more deer, or rather they spook me by suddenly jumping out across the trail to get away.   I arrive at my road access point early and wait for Judy, who arrives fifteen minutes later. We are both sort of sad to see the end of our AT adventure end, but very happy to be heading home to Florida.
Date: 2008-04-30
From: VA 623 (West of Bland, VA)

To: Primitive campsite.
Miles today: 5.0

Section Hike 08-20A, US 52/VA 21 (Bland, VA) to Primitive campsite.Day 1, 5.0 miles, Northbound.   Wednesday, 30 April 2008, 5 miles - Following our normal shuttle routine, Judy dropped me off at the junction of US 52 and the AT. The trail leads down a paved road towards Interstate 77. I cross over the Interstate and thus starts my Hiking adventure for 2008. After crossing the Interstate, I move into a wooded area and start a climb up towards a gentle rolling ridge along the top of a series of mountains. Once I reach the mounntain ridge spines, the hiking is easy. I will be following the ridge spine until I return to the valley floor on my third day.    The trail is completely covered with matted down leaves. The trees and bushes are full of buds that only spring can bring. Since the leaves have not come out on the trees yet, I can see the valley from the trail through the trees.   I had considered staying at Helveys Mill Shelter, but when I arrive, it is still early and I feel good for my first day, so I continue on and to find a primitive campsite. No one is at the shelter so I sign the Trail Register announcing my return to the trail and go on my way.   There are a number of possible campsite along the trail, but most are just marginal, so I wait for a good site. I finally find a nice site on level ground and set up my tarp tent. My dinner consisted of rice, flavored with herbs and pepper, and lemon-flavored tuna. As evening approaches, I enjoy the valley views, a nice campfire and then retire to my tent and listen to my MP3 Player. Life is good in the woods.
Date: 2008-05-01
From: Primitive campsite.

To: Jenny Knob Shelter
Miles today: 7.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Section Hike 08-20B, Primitive campsite to Jenny Knob Shelter.Day two, 7.6 miles, Northbound.   Thursday, 1 May 2008 - Had a good night sleep, except that it dipped into the low 40s and my lower extremities were cold. Awoke at first light at 6:00 AM to the music of the birds singing. Broke camp and packed my tent and gear. It looks like it will be a good sunny day. I will wait and have my breakfast along the trail when I find a nice view.   It doesn't take long to find a nice rock with a view for my breakfast stop. I had packed a couple of hard boiled eggs and they make for a good breakfast. When the weather is good I will normally have my breakfast with a view. A good breakfast is cold cerial packed in a zip lock bag with powdered milk. I just add some water and I am ready to go.    Yesterday I did not see a single hiker along the trail. Since I have a slight jump on the starting Thur-Hikers, I may not see many for a couple of weeks. However, today I passed several day-hikers going south and two section hikers going north. Everyone is friendly and enjoying nature and the cool spring weather. Crossed gravel road VA 611, a road access point for many day-hikers. That explains the sudden population of hikers on the trail.   Arrive at Jenny Knob Shelter after climbing up and over the woody summit of yet another Brushy Mountain. That makes nine Brushy Mountains that I have climbed over since starting on the AT. At the shelter is a Thur-Hiker from Seattle. He is nursing a minor foot stress fracture and is not sure how much farther he can go on the trail. Later a second Thur-Hiker (Tourist) arrives and he has been hiking twenty-three miles today. He said that he normally hikes between twenty and twenty-five miles a day. He is twenty-three year old and I am seventy-four, but I still feel like a wimp. Tonight the evening will be much warner and I sleep very well.
Date: 2008-05-02
From: Jenny Knob Shelter

To: VA 606
Miles today: 6.5

Section Hike 08-20C, Jenny Knob Shelter to VA 606.Day 3, 6.5 miles, Northbound.   Friday, 2 May 2008 - My first section hike has been everything I expected. The forest is starting to display the early buds that will result in a beautiful blooming in about a month. The valley views are still visible through the trees, since the leaves have not fully popped. I am feeling some soreness in my legs, so I am right on schedule.   Tourist, the Thur-Hiker, is off at the crack of dawn. He is headed for Trent's, a favorite stop-over on VA 606 about six-and-a-half miles away. Trent's is an "All-You-Can-Eat" place, or as the hikers write in the Trail Registers .. "AYCE". He plans to enjoy a good home cooked breakfast. Also at the end of this hike for many hikers is the town of Pearisburg, a good zero day rest stop. The second Thur-Hiker, Parker, has also left so he can go into Pearisburg to have his foot stress fracture checked. I am the last northbound hiker out of the shelter. A mile and a half down the trail I stop and have my cold cerial with a view.    The hike down to VA 606 is very nice and easy. The trail descends through a large beautiful pasture with what appears to be an old orchard. The ground is covered in green grass, and the Kimberling River can be heard in the distance. A sweet aroma permeates the air as I pass amid the old fruit trees.   As I near Kimberling River, I can see the river at the bottom of a very steep ridge. The river is flowing very fast as a result of the recent rain storms. I cross a swaying suspension bridge and on the other side I can see our car waiting on VA 606. Judy is by the car and I can see her talking to Parker. He has made the decision to have his foot examined, but plans on stopping his hiking until his foot heals. We give him a ride into town and wish the best and speedy recovery.
Date: 2008-05-04
From: VA 606

To: Wapiti Shelter
Miles today: 7.1
Weather: clear sky

Section Hike 08-21A, VA 606 to Wapiti Shelter, Three Day Section Hike.Day 1, 7.1 Miles, Northbound.   Sunday, 4 May 2008, VA 606 - At the trailhead, I met "Steps" and "Grins". Both are Thur-Hikers headed to Maine. They leave the trailhead before I am ready to start. Within a couple of miles I come to a side trail to Dismal Falls. I was told that it was a beautiful cascading falls. In about fifteen minutes I am at the falls, take a picture and return to the trail. I end up following Dismal Falls all day to the shelter.   So far the trail has been reasonably level and easy to hike. It is very muddy in spots as a result of the recent rain storms, but the trail is matted down with leaves so that the mud does not cling to my boots. The forest is quite open and I am always looking and listening for wildlife.   Just after noon, I reach Wapiti Shelter and find Steps and Grins taking their lunch break. They finish up and continue down the trail headed for Doc's Knob Shelter. Wapiti Shelter sits in a wide open pine forest. Our water source will be Dismal Branch. I made a cup of coffee and I am relaxing in the shelter, when a deer comes right up to picnic table and grazes. He sees me, but continues to graze. We enjoy each others company for about thirty minutes and then the deer leave for "greener pastures."    Later in the afternoon I am joined at the shelter by a retired school teacher with the trail name of "Evergreen." I made a fire and we enjoy the quiet evening. Another hiker came to the shelter, but he set up his tent down from the shelter. It got cold, but I sleep good.
Date: 2008-05-05
From: Wapiti Shelter

To: Doc's Knob Shelter
Miles today: 8.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Section Hike 08-21B, Wapiti Shelter to Doc's Knob Shelter.Day 2, 8.4 miles, Northbound.   Monday, 5 May 2008 - I am off at 8:00 AM and looking forward to a sunny day of hiking. Following my normal routine, I have breakfast down the trail at a nice viewpoint. There is a good 1400 foot climb within the first hour after my breakfast, but I am ready.    I reach the top of the ridge and now I have easy hiking to the shelter. The trail is very rocky, having a mix of large slab rocks (easy) and many smaller fist size rocks (difficult). It would be easy to trip over the small rocks and fall, but my hiking poles have saved me more times than I care to recall.   After a while I enter a very dark and strange looking area. It is rather gray looking and it looks like a blight has killed off all of the trees. I look close at the branches of the trees and see that there are no buds. It is easy to snap off a branch which confirms the fact that the trees are dead. The dead zone extends along the top of the ridge and down the ridge to the forest floor below.   There is a radio tower in view ahead at Big Horse Gap. Not sure why they call it a gap as it really sits on top of the ridge. The radio tower is no longer in use. Passing the radio tower, I walk along an old logging road towards Doc's Knob Shelter. The trail has taken me along the side of a very rocky bluff on my right, but on left the ridge falls off very gently to the forest floor. I am back in the green trees and it is colorful again. At one overhanging rock outcropping I can see Wilburn Valley below. I just sit, enjoy the view and relax looking at the vista of ridges, farms and roads.   Doc's Knob Shelter is not in the open like Wapiti Shelter. In fact the shelter sits in a cut out site in the middle of a large rhododendron patch. To restock on my water, I had to go to a spring next to the shelter and reach down between large rocks and dip it out with a small cup. The reward was that the water was the best and coldest water I have ever tasted (after treating the water). Make another fire and then Evergreen comes into the shelter area. Later we are joined by three other hikers. The last bunch of hikers are young and making about twenty miles a day.
Date: 2008-05-06
From: Doc's Knob Shelter

To: Senator Shumate Bridge in Pearisburg, VA. 
Miles today: 8.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Section Hike 08-21C, Doc's Knob Shelter to Senator Shumate Bridge.Day 3, 8.3 Miles, Northbound.   Tuesday, 6 May 2008 - We had another cold night and I am glad to get on my way to warm up. Today Judy will pick me up after I cross over the Senator Shumate Bridge in Pearisburg, VA. I have a good hike of 8.3 miles with a long steep descent into Pearisburg. Before the descent, my hike will be over rolling ridges again.   Headed to Pearis Mountain Crest the trail is easy and enjoyable now that I am warmed up. I can hear all the birds singing and every once in a while I hear some brush noises indicating a small animal in the area. I am beginning to hear faint town and road noises, but still have a way before I reach Pearisburg. The trail continues along a high bluff about two thousand feet above the valley. The most outstanding view comes at Angels Rest, an outcrop that gives a perfect view of the town and New River.   Now I am into my steep descent into Pearisburg. The descent would be a real challenge, but switchbacks make it reasonable. I can feel my toes jamming against the front of my hiking boots. I know my toes will be a little sore for the next couple of days. Just before getting to Pearisburg, I pause and wait for Evergreen to catch up. We walk into town together for a short distance and then we part ways as she heads for a local motel. I keep on walking towards the bridge to meet Judy. Evergreen is having trouble with her knees and not sure if she will continue. A couple of days later I check at the motel to see if Evergreen had continued on the AT or gone home. The motel owner tells me she has quit and gone home. The AT does take its toll on hikers.   NOTE: I heard of an incident near the trail on the day that Evergreen and I were hiking towards Pearisburg. Seems that on Tuesday,6 May 2008, a local man was arrested in a non-fatal shooting of two fishermen camping on the river. The local man had a criminal record and had been in prison for murdering two AT hikers twenty years ago. After shooting the two fishermen, he stole one of their pick-up trucks and drove away. One of the wounded fishermen call 911 and reported the crime. Within hours the man was arrested after he overturned the truck running from the police. Later, the man who committed the crime was found dead in his cell.
Date: 2008-05-13
From: Pine Swamp Trailhead 

To: VA 641 near Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 17.6
Weather: clear sky

Section Hike 08-22A, Pine Swamp Trailhead to VA 641 (near Pearisburg, VA).Day hike, 17.6 Miles, Southbound   This day hike will be a complete change to my routine. I will go south instead of north; do my longest day hike ever at 17.6 miles; and carry my camelback pack instead of my backpack.   Tuesday, 13 May 2008 - The weather the past four days has been nothing but rain. Today was the only good weather window, so I jumped out onto the trail and will try and make up some miles. Skipped over to Pine Swamp Trailhead off a Forest Road and started south towards Peters Mountain. I am now in the White Rocks Recreation Area and the area for today will straddle the Virginia and West Virginia state line for a short while.   Shortly after my start, I arrive at Pine Swamp Shelter. The shelter roof has been damaged during a 2004 hurricane and remains unfit for use. A tree fell on the roof, but now the roof has been removed. Start a hard climb after the sheter and reach Pine Swamp ridge on top of Peter Mountain. There is a high mountain bog caused by erosion many years past. Rocks on the ridge are dated back 325 to 350 million years. The whole area is full of rocks of all sizes and hiking the trail is hard and slow.   Now I am up on a gentle rolling ridge with panoramic views to my right of West Virginia and to my left I see Virginia. This is Dickenson Gap. Trail changes from rocky to flat dirt and wanders into a mature pine forest. Coming out of the forest, I am in Symms Meadow, an open meadown where there once were several large apple orchards. The apple blossoms are out and it look amazing. I find a great primitive campsite under a tree and with a view. I'm just sorry I have to continue on because this would be a great place to spend the night and see the stars.    In today's hike, I will go under three different power lines. Each power line has a cleared strip below the wires and provides a good view of the valley. Pass Rice Field Shelter sitting about a hundred yards back off the trail, but still having a view of the valley and the sky. Descend 1500 feet down Peters Mountain to VA 641 where Judy will pick me up. My feet are really tired, but I feel good about doing this 17.6 mile trek, my longest so far.
Date: 2008-05-14
From: VA 635 at Pine Swamp

To: VA 635 at Interior, VA 
Miles today: 2.5

Section Hike 08-22B, VA 635 at Pine Swamp to VA 635 at Interior, VA.Day hike, 2.5 miles, Northbound.   Thursday, 15 May 2008 - There is a 2.5 mile section of trail that runs along VA 635. At the beginning of this short section, there WAS a foot bridge to let hikers cross Dismal Creek. However, during the hurricane storm that damaged Pine Swamp Shelter, it also washed out the foot bridge. Now a hiker must ford across the creek. Normally, the creek is only a foot to a foot and a half deep and getting across is easy if you are careful. But now the creek is full of rushing water about three feet deep and it would be dangerous to try and ford across.    The alternative is to hike beside the creek on VA 635 from Pine Swamp to the little town of Interior. So I start walking along the road and Judy drives on ahead and she start walking back toward me. We meet around the middle and return to the car. The walk was very refreshing with the creek beside us and there were a lot of wildflowers out. Saw some yellow Ladies Slippers and lot of white Trillium along the road. This is the shortest hike I have taken so far on the AT.