morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-05-03
From: 2 miles past Lost Mtn. shelter

To: Thomas knob shelter
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Its Saturday, which brings out more trail users, so I have seen dog walkers and day hikers and weekend backpackers, as well as the usual suspects. Since entering VA I have had many more encounters with interested people who say hello and ask about hiking. For me that's been a real treat, as I feel more involved with the overall hiking community, not just the long distance hikers. Lots of folks on the trail yesterday and today have looked and sounded content. Even happy. And that is a good thing.   This morning I believe I had my quickest departure from camp. I got up a little before seven, got the bear bag down, got back on my mat in the tent and fixed my cereal, a serving of cereal in a baggie wth dry milk on it. Pour in a little water and there you are. No cooking this morning. I got up and brushed my teeth, came back and packed each stuff sack with its contents. I stacked them outside, deflated the airmat, took down the tent, and loaded it all into my pack in order. Ready to roll at 8 am.   Jan and I left the piney woods and began the trek up the shoulders of White Rock and then Mt. Rogers. Winds were picking up and patches of very dark clouds came piling in from the west. We never really stopped for longer than 10" as we wanted to get to the first shelter before rain started.   About 2pm we rounded the bend and saw the shelter, log cabin siding and a metal roof, perched on a boulder pile. The rain came slashing down sideways about 10 minutes after we got in. Ha! Well done.   VanDyke from Minnesota was there, and soon Yazzie and Red Dog and Lucky Dog came in. A lively, caring family showed up, a Dad, his daughter and son, and Evan, a friend. V8 and I headed up to the loft, a nice dry spot with a new roof, and our family group joined us up there. The others stayed on the main floor.    I fetched water for us at a spring way below the shelter, and dealt with some wicked winds and rain while going down the rocky path. This spring was dribbling lethargically over a series of rocky obstacles,and was fenced in to keep the wild ponies out. I needed to scoop water with my little plastic scoop, into the 2 litre platys I had brought down. Tedious. It certainly sharpened my appreciation for "good" water sources.   Making our suppers was a bit chaotic, with pairs of people working in shifts at the picnic table, which was partly under cover. It was misting heavily by then, but folks were seated on the edge of the shelter and on the table, chatting amiably all the same.   V8 and I went to bed at dark, up under the eaves, and you would not have known there were 6 people up there. The kids were quiet and Dad was super organized and skilled at leadership.    Tomorrow, Grayson Highlands.Marcia JamrogAuntie Mame
Date: 2008-05-04
From: Thomas knob shelter

To: Hurricane Mtn. shelter
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: clear sky

This is a new experience, Jan and I are sitting in the beautiful new shelter with oodles of room, because no one else is here. We took on 16 miles today, a slow first 11, then a much quicker final 5.    We saw the Grayson Highlands, and had the sun shining the whole time. Picture rolling hills with almost western types of trees and boulders here and there. Spectacular. The elevation was 5000', so vegetation and climate were different. We met a small herd of wild ponies, a stallion, two mares and a foal. Ridge runners have told us all NOT to feed the ponies, and its easy to see why. The Dad of this group wandered over to V8 and put his nose right in her hand! I got a nice shot of this, so hope you will get to see it. We obeyed instructions and didn't feed the little guys, but it was so tempting!   This morning we awoke at Thomas Knob shelter, tucked up in the loft with a hiking family, Dad, Isaac, Hannah, and Isaac's buddy, Evan. It poured again last night around 3am, absolute torrents, which helps the creeks but makes it hard on campers in their tents. Needless to say, all of us were happy to have been under the new metal roof, even if we did have to climb a ladder to get up and down.   V8 and I split the day up a little differently, very few breaks til 3:30 when we stopped at Old Orchard shelter and cooked an early supper on the picnic table. By 4 we knew we could go on for another hour or two, so we came over here to Hurricane, with dinner all done, which made the evening easier.   Reached the 500 mile point today!   Congratulate yourself for the small accomplishments of the day, whatever they are. Marcia JamrogAuntie Mame
Date: 2008-05-06
From: Partnership shelter

To: Atkins, VA ( Relax Inn)
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Lots got done today, and we hiked 11.6 miles, as well. We got up and packed the tents up by 8, as technically no one is supposed to tent at that specific shelter. We didn't want to negatively affect the delicately balanced relationship between Nat'l Forest Services and the AT people. Best to be on the safe side.   Jan, excercising her growing skill at negotiating for services, deftly secured us a shuttle into Sugar Grove for breakfast, and then a ride to the foodstore in Marion. Buddy, brother of Peggy who owns the diner,arrived at the Forest Service driveway and picked us up in his brand new Pontiac. We had a great meal at the diner, home made rhubarb jam on toast being the flavor hit of the day for me. Buddy took us to buy food, and even made sure we had his discount card when we checked out. He was very kind to us, and was our trail angel of the week.   Once back at the Parks area we sat in the brilliant sun and condensed our purchases for travel. By 11:30 we were off on the trail. I started off with a bang, lots of energy and in the lead for the first two hours. After that, I faded, and it took some real motivational self talk to go the remaining 7 miles. I knew this would happen from time to time, just not this soon!   Midafternoon we rolled into the Chatfield shelter for a quick break. We met a couple, Toe Jam and Back There, who actually recognized Jan from her photo on Trailjournals! They have been hiking the AT a week at a time for the last 5 years, and happened to be spending the night there, so we talked and laughed up a storm. I wish they were hiking longer and in the same direction we are!   At that point, Leaping Turtle came by, and the three of us tromped out the last 4 miles to the highway at Atkins. V8 and I needed desperately to wash clothes and shower, so we checked into the Relax Inn and did both, promptly. I was able to order and consume a half pound cheeseburger with fries and Pepsi, at the Barn restaurant up the hill. And as far as I can tell, I've lost a few more pounds since Damascus.   I am going to bed to the sound of a train rolling through, and trucks whooshing by on the interstate. Tomorrow, 14 miles to Knot Maul shelter!Marcia JamrogAuntie Mame
Date: 2008-05-07
From: Atkins, VA ( Relax Inn)

To: north of Knot Maul shelter
Miles today: 14.1

The last two hours of hiking today seemed like an endless series of ups. There was a big range of terrain through out the day, from rock strewn, dusty, straight up the mountain paths, to rolling, lush farmland and pastures, to sedate, mountainside trails that switched-back lazily up and down the hills. Much of today's hike was lovely, punctuated by more birdsong than ever. But we were kind of tired from a few long days, and found the 14 miles hard on the feet and the attitude.   In the morning we packed up and headed out of the I81 interchange area by 9am. How weird it felt to walk down the secondary highway to the underpass, cars occasionally whizzing by, and me with my hiking duds and backpack. I found myself thinking about collective beliefs about people who do different things. Like long distance hikers.    How are we perceived? I have heard us considered to be bums, elitist vacationers, untrustworthy oddballs escaping real life, and as wonderful people. I started thinking about the phrase, "Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness...", and realized that long distance hiking on the AT is a right. It is also a privilege, as not everyone who wants to do that, can.   I think that I have been traveling on the AT apologetically, as if I shouldn't be there. But I feel as if I may take my place here a little more seriously, and accept that in my life, this is a huge and valuable experience. I think I may have unconsciously been compensating for an impression I had that thru hikers felt they deserved special attention and services. That never set very well with me. But it doesn't have to be my job to counterbalance that. Its a big group of diverse people out here, and I can attend to my own values as a hiker, just as I do in other contexts. Probably more on this later.   Jan and I got to the Knot Maul shelter, our goal for the day, and it was gloomy, dank and peculiar feeling. I went to fetch us water, and the path was so long, I gave up and came back empty handed. The LAST thing we wanted to do was to hike more, but we knew there was a small stream ahead and maybe some campsites. So we left and found water a few tenths of a mile ahead at a weak little stream, scooped 2 liters apiece and went on. Soon we found a camping spot where Barefoot and Gucci had already set up. That was it. We tucked in under the rhododendrons, set up tents and made supper, and are settled in for the night. It's threatening rain.    Its a 9 mile hike tomorrow, lets see what actually transpires.A wood thrush was calling tonight at dusk, so flutelike and musical. Ahh. Marcia JamrogAuntie Mame
Date: 2008-05-09
To: Uncle Tom 
Miles today: 0.0

Auntie Mame sent me her latest photo card . To view 10 new photos, go over to the photo section, then access the pull down menu and stsrt with the photo on 5/9 and then look though the new ones. First pics of the Mame with 20 less pounds, or as I describe it, 80 sticks of butter shed from her frame! Uncle Tom
Date: 2008-05-11
From: Bland, VA

To: Bland, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

High winds, thunderstorms and tornadoes, what a delightful weather mix we have predicted for today. We stayed put. With clothes all washed and the food store trip all made, we had a little more time to relax the feet and legs. Another Trailjournal hiker came in to Big Walker this morning, Stumpknocker, whose gear list was very helpful to me earlier this year. We met and exchanged photo opps, and later with The General, walked down to Subway for supper. Mike and Yazzie had lunch with us at DQ, with what looked like all of Bland, VA in their Sunday best.    You might wonder about the connection between what V8 writes in her journal, and what I write. Actually, we don't share anything about our journal entries until after they are written and sent. Every few days we read to each other if we need something to do, or just want to remember the last few days. Its always fun to hear her view of things and to hear how she captures certain experiences.   We are now positioning ourselves to arrive at Pearisburg on Thursday. Some of the sections look pretty rugged, but there is no telling until we actually walk the trail. Aqua Maria and Tailgate, Cannuck and Mango arrived today, so there are more familiar faces about. As seemingly moderate we have been in our pace, we are still within a day or two of many of the people with whom we started out. That's gratifying for me, and lots of fun, too.   I am really looking forward to a visit from Tom and a few days at Trail Days next weekend. Definitely more on that later. Auntie Mame
Date: 2008-05-12
From: Bland, VA

To: Jenny's Knob shelter
Miles today: 12.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Its cold! Dark! Windy! Drizzly!       I "manned up" as they say, and left the warm, clean comfort of Big Walker Motel a little before 10am. It does take some self control to head out when its still yucky out, with only a tentative guess from the weatherman as to when things might clear up. Jan had tried hard to find us a ride back to the trail head, with no luck at all. We were pretty sure we would be hitching down at the gas station while sheets of rain washed the pavement. One of those serendipitous things happened, however, in the form of two lovely women leaving their room just as we were walking by.    "Do you need a ride to the trail?"    Do we ever! Our benefactors were starting a week's hike, something they do annually, and were driving right to where we needed to resume our walk. A thousand thanks to these hikers who helped us out so much this morning. Its 4:30pm, and we arrived at this shelter area a few minutes ago. The skies are very heavy, and it feels like it will pour any minute, so I flew into action and got my tent up in record time. The flattest spot is right behind the shelter, but when I laid out the tent, saw that the roof would dump rain on it if left there, so I shimmied it over to what looks like a safer spot. It feels like March today, hovering in the low 50's and with roaring winds from the west all day, lots colder than that at times. VanDyke was here when we arrived, haven't seen him since Thomas Knob. Yazzie beat us to it, and Brad and Aggie did, too. but who's racing!?Now its 6:30pm and ten more hikers have arrived. Despite the moisture permeating the forest, the guys got a fire going. More folks are clacking down the path to the shelter now. The talk here ranges from commentary on the ex-con who shot a couple of fishermen near here, to how people are going to get to and from Trail Days once they get to Pearisburg.Sun broke through very briefly, offering a promise of things to come.We are planning on a 14 mile stretch tomorrow, which we will truly enjoy with a touch of sun. Marcia JamrogAuntie Mame
Date: 2008-05-14
From: Wapiti shelter

To: Plaza Motel, Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 16.6
Weather: overcast clouds

People are funny. There was a scenario at the shelter last night in which a couple of fellows arrived at dark with beer, and proceeded to enjoy themselves loudly, while stoking the smudgy fire. I was in my tent not too far from the shelter, on that precious FLAT spot, about to fall asleep, when these two started up. As often is the case, one or two others joined in the festivities, while the others tried to rest. Later still, more hikers walked in, and fixed their suppers, set up tents, etc. It was a lively night, and I learned that finding spots far from the shelter when possible, is a good practice.    In the morning sleepers and revelers had a little dialogue, which Yazzie initiated and also filmed. Sleepers: Shelters are for sleeping. Revelers: Shelters are for socializing. If sleepers don't like it,they should go set up their tents where its quiet. Isn't that an age old debate, though? It led to a plan to write a pamphlet:Identifying and Avoiding the AT Idiot. One half would be for the introverted, nature loving, rule abiding type, then it could be flipped over and voila, there's the half written for the extroverted, party-loving social butterfly. No doubt about it, we do irritate the daylights out of one another at times.    Alrighty, then. Let's move on. Needless to say, it was a short night, and so getting up early was actually a relief. A little before six a.m. V8 fetched the food bags and quietly dropped mine beside my tent. I rolled into action, determined to be as efficient as possible, and lo, we were heading out of the gate at 7:15 a.m.   It was in the low 60's and cloudy with growing humidity all day. Much of the trail was rolling hills, neither too steep nor too cluttered with rocks. The two miles leading to Doc's Knob shelter were the exception. It felt like an obstacle course, over boulders and stones, rocks and slabs of every description. I had to pick my way through and after the first mile of this, found my cheerful mood eroding by the minute. At Doc's Knob we ate our lunches, and that helped bring me back to fighting form, as it were.   16.6 miles later we were entering Pearisburg, and it had not rained on us, for which we were extremely grateful. Rounding the corner onto the main drag we spotted Leaping Turtle and hailed him down. We exchanged pleasantries and continued on our way to the Rendezvous Motel where boxes were waiting for us, as was, we hoped, a room.    We had a lovely time with Brenda, who kindly dug out our boxes from the pile of hiker mail, but alas, the motel was full. Way beyond the call of duty, Brenda told us to hop in her car, boxes, packs and all, and she drove us to the Plaza where Linda had one room left. Phew! That was a close one. And after 16 miles, the dogs were barking.    Praise be to small towns and good women along the Appalachian Trail corridor. Marcia JamrogAuntie Mame
Date: 2008-05-15
From: Plaza Motel, Pearisburg, VA

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

Let the games begin! It is the eve of 2008 Trail Days, and I am enviably perched a few miles outside of town in a small guest apartment with "Uncle" Tom and V8. We can go to town when we want to, and tuck back in up here when we need a break. Its after 10pm, and we are rehashing the day, how Tom took his flight out of Portland, veered to Chicago, of all things, then landed in Roanoke. While he was in the air, I was waking up in Pearisburg to a drizzly day, then walking to the Courthouse Cafe, the town coffee shop, for breakfast sticky buns and a cuppa joe. I got a chance to glance at the Internet, but no time to write or answer email. The further north we go, the harder its been to find internet connections.    Mid day, I did a few errands, found shorts and wind pants at Goodwill, and a few groceries for the weekend at Food Lion. The piece du resistance, of course, was the 2 hour nap I was able to indulge in this afternoon. By late afternoon, I was peering out the window watching for Tom's car, all packed and ready to go when he came in. He came walking around the door into the room a little after 6pm, and off we went for a Chinese dinner and a run through Food Lion again for the perishables. Aqua Maria and Tailgate were going to ride with us back to Damascus, so we loaded up the Ford Focus with 5 packs, 10 bags of food, miscellaneous boxes, and 5 adults. Off we went, arriving at the Bike Loft at 9pm.    Uncle Tom ran our two passengers down to Tent City at Damascus, and called it a day. We all called it a day, actually, with 3 days off ahead of us, and a lovely setting to spend it in. Ta-ta from Virginia... Marcia JamrogAuntie Mame
Date: 2008-05-16
From: Damascus, VA

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

This is the way to do a family visit and a festival, slow and easy. Its after 8 pm, and this little crew of three is in various stages of winding down for the night. Baths, crossword puzzles and junk magazines are really, really pleasurable after months on the trail. Since we have 3 days with no hiking, we have elbow room for frivolous things like those. Lest you should think we are slacking a bit much, we have also been seam sealing a new rain garment, packing and repacking a lighter weight pack, adding pockets to another light pack, and actually cooking a real breakfast and a real dinner.    We drove to Damascus early today, to visit the notary to have some loan related documents signed. Long distance hiking doesn't stop the clock, and a remortgage I started investigating in February was ready to sign off on in May. Thanks, Tom, for all your work on this.   From Mt Rogers Outfitters to the lecture by Gene Espey, to the stroll through the vendors' exhibits, we met new friends and old, which was just tons of fun. Bama, Frosty, Mango, Mawee, all came up to us and chatted awhile. Then there were a lot of Tom's buddies from last year.    I enjoyed talking with the Jacks at JRB, and looking at The Packa, which I invested in for the rest of the trip. Bye bye poncho, pack cover and rain jacket. This little item is all three in one. I looked at pockets for my Granite Gear Vapor Ki pack, which Tom sent down from home. I'm going to try those and see if I can ditch the front pack I have always carried when backpacking. I bought a 1 gal. water carrier that acts like a little bucket, is made of silnylon and weighs 1.5oz.    The munchies struck by 11 am, so I had pizza and an ice cream. I had a second ice cream walking back to the car in the afternoon. I made big, juicy hamburgers for supper: they were so satisfying.    Tomorrow we will go back in and catch a film or two, see the things we missed today, and hopefully get to chat with others both known and unknown. Hikers are a wonderful bunch of hobbiests to meet! Marcia JamrogAuntie Mame
Date: 2008-05-17
From: Damascus, VA

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

Sprite, Lipstick and Raccoon, Sunbeam, Starlyte, The Gen'l,Crazy Horse, Stumpknocker, Gucci and Barefoot, Aqua Maria and Tailgate, and Bronco were some of the fine folks I met today at the Trail Days fairgrounds. The sun came out in all its heartening glory, creating an enthusiastic and high spirited crowd.The General first appeared under a shade tree in a barber's chair, having a complimentary buzz cut. The second time I saw him was on Main St right after the parade, strolling by in blue scrubs and a stylish black wig. Crazy Horse came by with Baggins following close behind, who was playing all-purpose sherpa for the afternoon. Bronco hailed us near MRO, and we were thoughtfully greeted by Mr Price, dachshund Dad from the Creeper Trail two weeks ago, who was in town with family for Trail Days. Gucci and Barefoot were at the Backpacker Magazine 6pm raffle and drawing extravaganza, and actually won a carton of goodies from sponsors of this event. Aqua Maria and Tailgate were learning the finer points of hammock hanging today, consulting with various masters of the art. Stumpknocker was holding forth over at Trailjournals, settled comfortably in a real chair next to Leif, our honored webmaster. In the morning we were milling about near the BBQ booth when we saw a familiar face !coming toward us. Lipstick, aka Cathy Benton, is a hikers best ally, on line and in the field... or gap or mountainside. We have connected online for awhile, and Tom had met her last year while hiking. She has been so supportive and encouraging about our hike, it was like meeting a long lost friend. Ed Benton, going by Raccoon, is on the trail now and chewing up the miles admirably. Hope we see you on the trail, both of you! Today I thought about the unique quality of long distance hiking on the AT, stimulated by the exposure to so many people who love to hike. After being on the trail two and a half months, I know more about what happens inside. When I start a long distance hike I enter a context in which my feet and legs are the only things that move me. Vehicles are gone. Commerce disappears. Media falls away. Day after day is dominated by the quality of the air and light. By time of day. By how I feel inside, and the terrain around me. Eliminating the pervasive effects of radio, TV, magazines, stores, computer, automobiles, artificial light, enclosed buildings and swarms of other people who are dealing with those same influences: well, its a profound shift. Subtract stimulus from industrialization, and add that of nature. Maybe that's it in a nutshell. At 10 weeks out, I certainly percieve the culture I come from with very different eyes. Like veils falling away, simpler, more fundamental realities reveal themselves the longer I stay on the trail. Since I have been surrounded by industrial America for 57 years, it makes sense that grasping the other world takes repeated exposure and lots of time.   Marcia JamrogAuntie Mame