morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-04-27
From: Abingdon Gap Shelter

To: Saunders Shelter
Miles today: 19.4
Weather: light rain

¢Woke up to the sound of pouring rain, wind would whisper and I¢d think of you. All the tears you cry they fall in vain, cause you¢ll always be my dream come true¢¦.Oh my darling, I Love You! Remember yesterday¢¢¦¢¦.One of the best rock ballads ever written and it seems ironic and very fitting this morning as the rain ¢snapped and popped¢ off my tightly pitched tent as I woke from my dream. My dream was filled with comfort. I was with my girl, the bed was warm, the heat in the room was just right and the smell of coffee perked up my senses. Although it was just a dream, those kinds of thoughts will get me through the tough times and see me home soon.Heard Brian and Glenn (The BG¢s) rustling around at 2 a.m. They packed up in the middle of the night and headed for Damascus. They seem to have good luck cause around 4 a.m. it started pouring! Thought it would be 10 miles in the rain to Damascus for me, but it let up at about mile 6. Cross into VA today, the state that owns 14 of the trail at 500 miles! That¢s more than I¢ve done since I¢ve started! Spent 2 12 hours in Damascus, VA. Picked up duck tape and fuel at the outfitters. Re-supplied with food and dog food at Family Dollar, ate lunch at a sub shop and I was off on the trail again. I made sure to stay focused. I knew all my hiker buddies were taking a ¢0¢, so I wanted to avoid the temptation as the trail goes right through town with/ blazes on all the telephone poles. I let Bono take a swim in the stream before we crossed the road and up the wood steps to the trail. Got a voicemail from Coach Tom Callos of the Ultimate Black Belt Test (UBBT). He led 30 of us on the Pacific Crest Trail. The 30 miles we did that weekend sparked the idea that would later become my Appalachian Trail journey. I still owe him a testimonial, which will be a future journal entry¢¦.He wished me luck. The day after I did double duty with Bono¢s pack, my feet were throbbing. When I took a look to see they were shinny and plump! There was some blood where the toe meets the cuticle, so I think I will kick it back a notch and only do 15 miles tomorrow. I have an interview with ¢E-Z Duzit¢ tomorrow. I¢ve been writing in the shelter journals that I will give everyone who gives me 15 min. of their time a free copy when completed. He saw my entry and asked to be interviewed.Starting to get some bumps and sores from not being too personally hygienic (if that¢s a word?) on my feet and some other unmentionable places (LOL). Oh well, they¢ll go away eventually (I Hope!). The last climb of the day to get to Saunders Shelter was up ¢Mt. Straight¢ HA! There were so many switch backs I thought I¢d never top off! I must have counted 30-40 of them! Anyway, it¢s always tough coming out of town when you re-supply. You¢re always hungry and you buy way too much food and you pay the price in the extra weight!
Date: 2007-04-28
From: Saunders Shelter

To: Thomas Knob Shelter
Miles today: 18.6
Weather: light rain

My diverse wardrobe (as dictated by the weather) started out with baseball hat, cold weather tights, shorts over tights, lightweight hiking shirt and gloves. Next stop the tights and gloves got put away, along with baseball hat, down to shorts, lightweight hike shirt and gators. It started to rain, so I put on my poncho. Bono got his pack cover on. Hiked up to White Top at 5150 ft. with poncho on the whole time, even though there was no rain. Man was it cold up there with fog rolling in and strong winds. My poncho kept me warm and comfortable. I was supposed to camp out with E-Z Duzit, but I could not see the site. I took a break and put the poncho away. Time for warm weather gear. I¢m freezing! North Face hat and jacket, gloves and a quick snack. No ¢EZ¢ so despite the pleas from my feet to stop (incidentally, I found why my toes were bleeding. The stitch from my sock hits right on where skin meets toenail) and my quads screaming with each step up, the desire to move forward was too strong. So that¢s what I did. My 10-mile day soon became an 18.6! Oh, hold on! Another wardrobe change! Off with the North Face Coat and now to my Frogs Toggs wind breaker, North Face hat and gloves. Up to Mt. Rogers, VA's highest peak. This climb wasn¢t as bad since I was already at 4434 ft. It was still quite windy until we got around to the other side and the wind calmed a bit. Bono met a Black Lab female named ¢Summit¢ on the way up. He¢s great with other dogs.As we started to approach the summit of Mt. Rogers, I finally spotted some movement in the tall grass. It was what I read about, but now I was about to witness first hand, the Grayson Highland wild horses! Bono! ¢Be Nice!¢ He stayed still, slight deep growl at first, but then he settled. Amazing! A white and brown foal popped his head up and made his way across our path, not more than 15 ft. from us! Exhilarating! This is truly a special place. As I staggered into the shelter, I spotted a deer and took its picture. I asked the folks at the shelter if there was a place to pitch? They pointed up the hill. After I pitched the tent, probably in the worst place imaginable again! (Heavy winds) I went to the shelter to fetch water. I had my North Face hat, Froggs Toggs coat (hood on, North Face Coat (hood on), so I could not really hear myself ask the question, ¢Can you please tell me where the water is?¢ Just then a lady in a black coat sitting at the table, her back turned to me jumped up ¢Bowleg ¢ Bono!¢ It was M&M! Last time I saw her was in Hot Springs on 4-7-07! I knew I was close because of her entries in the shelter journals, but I thought she was 1 shelter ahead. Gave her a hug and she introduced me to her friends (all very nice). We chatted for a bit then turned in since it was late and I still had chores to do.
Date: 2007-04-29
From: Thomas Knob Shelter

To: VA 603 Fox Creek
Miles today: 12.7

With both our backs turned to this old barbwire fence, we were both caught off guard by a wild pony that just trotted through out campsite! It I could of translated Bono¢s bark to human; it would have gone something like this, ¢Hey! What the heck!¢ My thoughts exactly. Scared the ¢Bajesus¢ out of me also. I¢ve been with headache for a couple of days now (NC), has to be from lack of sleep and last night was no different in the wind storm) once again Bowleg chose the worst tent site!) If I would have just walked 150 ft. or more down the trail, 30-50 tents set up here and there on the nicest sites imaginable. Level, plenty of grass and no wind! Oh well! Seems I might have been first out on the trail as I was hoping. What happened next was the highlight of this journey so far. As Bono and I made our way through the Grayson Highlands and crested this one hill, there they were ¢ the wild horses grazing as they do undisturbed and seemingly without fear of humans. Could I capture an encounter with Bono and a wild horse? I believed I knew my dog well enough and I told everyone I would have a pick of Bono nose to nose with one, but there of course was a tiny bit of doubt that either party would not cooperate. But I would soon find out. There were four, one with a baby foal. As we sat, Bono became the respectful observer. I was very proud of him. I coaxed the most outgoing of the group towards us. He came closer and then a bit closer, until finally he was face to face (or nose to nose I should say) to Bono. I held my breath until finally their noses met and instantly as if they both got shocked, they popped back away from each other. The horse still curious sniffed at Bono for a few seconds more with Bono staying oh so still - the horse finally moved on! I could not believe my eyes! How cool! And I captured it on tape as well as stills. As we made our way to VA 603, I stopped to change my coat, the wind caught the bed roll and Bono and I watched it fly away about 100 ft. Not thinking he would, but worth a try, I said ¢Bono, go get your bed.¢ 2 minutes later Bono by my side with bed in mouth! Amazing! Good boy! After 13 miles we got a shuttle back to Damascus where I would have a bed and shower for the first time in 10 days, clean clothes and a change in menu. Blue Sky saw Bono outside the restaurant and came inside. He was bummed to say he had to send ¢Blue¢ home. I felt for him from one dog owner to another that really stinks. Dave and Terry will be dropping me, Bono and M&M off at the trailhead tomorrow at 7:30 for an easy day of 11 miles ¢ man it feels great to sleep in a bed with clean sheets!
Date: 2007-04-30
From: VA 603 Fox Creek

To: Partnership Shelter
Miles today: 23.0
Weather: clear sky

Ended up leaving three ¢sodas¢ back at the Hikers Inn for others to enjoy. Right as I was stepping on the trail to start my hike, I noticed trail magic in the ice-cold stream. Someone had left all kinds of ¢sodas¢ for the taking, so I had 2 for the road. M&M started out first (as usual). We planned to make it an easy day (11 miles) and meet at the Trimpi Shelter. Since it was going to be an easy day, I took my time and let Bono hit every stream we came across. Along the way we saw deer. The first one got spooked (as Bono) when a jet fighter screeched over us at low altitude. Bono came running by my side and the deer went flying down the hill. The second one stopped and stared then took off when I yelled to Bono to sit. The 3rd we came up on and it bolted down the ravine. Made it to Trimpi Shelter at 1:00 p.m. ¢ no M&M? I bet she passed on through deciding not to stay. There were two ¢sketchy¢ looking guys so I assumed she felt uneasy and split. I thought the 11 miles was rather easy and planned on catching her. I spent about 45 min. getting water, soaking my feet and eating lunch. When I went to leave, I checked the shelter journal to see if she left notice ¢ nothing! So off we went to catch her. Our 11-mile day just turned into a 23-mile day. We clipped right along with Bono slowing slightly from the heat and mileage. I made sure to splash him and send him into every river we came across. I know he¢s getting tired when he gives up the lead and is content on following. Strolled into Partnership Shelter at 6 p.m. No M&M? I asked the kid sitting at the picnic table and he said ¢M¢ said she was meeting ¢Bowleg¢ at Trimpi Shelter for an easy day! How could I have passed her? She was in front! He said she checked out the Hurrican Trail, that what happened, which she went the side trail, I continued straight! She did go to Trimpi after all! Darn! Oh well, I called her phone to leave a message. What a nice shelter. Hot shower, enclosed real working bathroom and a free phone where you can order out for pizza. So I did! It was pizza hut and not that great, but the Mountain Dew was very good. I drank a 2-liter bottle of it as I talked to my FG as bats flew overhead. I will probably stay here tomorrow and wait for M&M to catch up.
Date: 2007-05-01
From: Partnership Shelter

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

Was nice to be able to pitch a tent on level grassy plot of land. I¢m so used to dirt, unlevel places. This was a treat. The pizza and 2-liter Mountain Dew I had for dinner was also a treat. When I got up I hitched into town for re-supply. This nice guy picked me up and brought me to town. After I found most of my things on the list, I flagged down a taxi. Big mistake! After I went with him on all his errands s far as pick up and drop off, he waited for me no more than 5 minutes outside Rite Aide. On the way back I asked him how much it was going to cost, a question I should have asked before I got the ride, 25 bucks!!!!!! Boy did I feel ¢taken¢ for a ride in the wallet dept. What was I to do, I was stuck and had to pay. As I drove around and listened to him bad mouth the town he lived in. He casually mentioned he was ¢packing¢ a gun. Live and learn, I guess. Once back at the shelter I took care of some chores. I sewed my foot print bag. Seam sealed my tent and consolidated and figured out what I could send home. I also picked up a razor blade so I could cut out the pages I need from my companion book. No need to carry the whole thing.Just about as I was finishing all I needed to get done, M&M showed up just about the time I thought she would. ¢What happened?¢ were the first words out of her mouth. What happened was what I wanted to know, but I guess these things happen. She ordered pizza, wings, garlic bread, salad and we all ate like kings and queens. We left the shelter around 3:30. M&M and Sniper left before me. I went to send the items home. I now realize (as I realized before) that Bono will not do well in the heat, so tomorrow it¢s up at 4:30 a.m. to see how far we get. Mid afternoon break and back to do more mileage from 4:30 or 5ish to dark. It¢s the only way. I want my hiking partner to enjoy the experience, not dread it.After dinner I set my alarm and soaked my feet in the stream for 5 min. Looked around to feel a crawfish on my foot. Thought about scaring the girls with it, but I¢m too tired and 4:30 a.m. comes early. They offered me a space in the shelter since it¢s just the 3 of us, but I decided to pitch. Besides the seam seal hadn¢t dried and I had to set the tent up before it stuck to everything.
Date: 2007-05-02
From: Chatfield Shelter

To: Knot Maul Branch Shelter
Miles today: 18.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Up at 4:30 a.m. - on trail by 5 a.m. Trying to beat the heat by getting up early. Bono doesn't do well in the heat. Anything over 75 degrees he has it tough. Quite eerie hiking in the dark, also a bit risky, I must say. My headlamp isn¢t that great, so you really have to watch your footing. Also, this was my first time by myself so of course I was looking for other glowing eyes besides Bono¢s. It ends up being 1 hour of dark hiking with the sun coming up at around 6 a.m.   The day got hot (around 80 degrees) and I made sure to let Bono into every stream we crossed. Crawfish Valley had a nice one and we spent 45 minutes to an hour on a well-deserved lunch break. There were a couple of incidences involving Bono during this 18-mile day. The first was when I called out to Bono (who¢s usually 15-20 ft ahead of me). Bono! As he swings around to face me with that quizzical look, only he could give. In between him and me is a 5 ft black snake! Directly in the trail! Now I know the snake did not all of a sudden shoot onto the trail, it was already there. I also know Bono did not go off trail. No sure how he managed not to get bit? He ended up walking directly over this huge snake directly underneath him between his legs. The snake wasn¢t coiled, yet it wasn¢t stretched straight. It was in that in-between posture. Once Bono saw it start moving, he started to bark. When I poked at it to get it moving off the trail, it was highly aggressive and it¢s tail vibrated in the leaves. Still amazed how he escaped a bite.The other was the farmers ladders we had to climb. Very tricky with barbwire. What I was doing worked ok. I¢d grab his handle and help him up. One time I wanted to see him give it a try, not knowing he was going to do it like Evil Kanevil. When his hind foot missed a step, he fell back (on his back) and I thought he broke his leg! Last thing I need! After he stopped crying I had a brilliant idea. Why not just lift the barbwire close to the ground? That worked great, but I would still like to train him to climb the ladder. My feet felt great until the end of the day when at mild 15 of 18 it goes straight up and, of course, with up comes down and ¢the jam your toes into your boot¢ Technique! Not fun! (NC) Managed to beat out the t-storm so on to the next day.
Date: 2007-05-03
From: Knot Maul Branch Shelter

To: Jenkins Shelter
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: moderate rain

Second day up at 4:30 a.m. and out by 5 a.m. Boy am I dragging! Feels like I have two cinder blocks for boots! Crossed a river around 6 a.m. and let Bono go for a morning swim. It¢s been one of those cloudy, foggy days, ¢hum drum hiking¢ head down moving forward. Stopped at 10 a.m. after 5 hrs. of hiking to get water, soak my feet, eat something and also to check why both my little piggies were throbbing? Taped them with duck tape, tried my cell (no luck) and continued on. Came to a farm pond and threw a few sticks for Bono. Off into the fog. OH! Here comes the rain, fish out the poncho (actually put it right on top) and cover Bono¢s packs. Today¢s hike felt like I did a full circle with the fog and all. It was raining earlier, but after ¢Father Christmas¢ passed me it really started to rain! The heavens opened up and the floodgates were on! Cold, wet, heavy rain! Within an hour I was sloshing in ankle deep water. Boots soaked, hands freezing and 5 more miles to Jenkins Shelter. I knew this type of weather would really test me. I never had a problem with heat. But being wet all the time is a challenge. Today would make probably the 100th time I wanted to quit! But wanting to quit and quitting are two different things. You can want to quit as many times as you want. I won¢t quit, unless I¢m injured really bad. I¢m going all the way home! I took on this challenge to set an example and also to prove to myself I could do it. It¢s that pride (not an award) that comes from knowing you stuck with your commitment to see the task to the end.Got into the shelter at 4 p.m. Everyone was drying out in the shelter. It was still raining and I had to set my tent up, not fun! All my stuff got wet as if it wasn¢t already. It¢s supposed to rain tomorrow. Its raining right now, 8:30 p.m. If that¢s the case I will hike the 13 to town and get a room and try to dry out my gear. If it¢s sunny, I will re-supply and hike to the next shelter. Good night!
Date: 2007-05-04
From: Jenkins Shelter

To: Helveys Mill Shelter
Miles today: 13.6
Weather: moderate rain

Left out of Jenkins Shelter at 7 a.m., slow start, but no hurry¢¦it¢s raining! Hiking 12.5 to Bland, VA to re-supply. Got into Bland at 12 noon and met Mr. Easy at the road. Back up for a second, met an interesting hiker hiking SOBO barefoot named ¢Tyvek. Ex-marine who stopped wearing shoes in 1972. He had all this Tyvek material fashioned like a soldiers military belt. He was walking for a cause and said his website was ¢The long walk home.¢ Barefoot from Mt. Katadin ME (started Memorial Day) and now has less than 600 miles to go! As I was walking away I thought, ¢How interesting.¢ The next thing I wanted to do was kick myself for not taking out my camera! Hitched into town with Mr. Easy and Bono. Got picked up by this older couple in a red pickup truck. Re-supplied and ate lunch and headed back to the trail ¢ thumb out. Got picked up ironically enough by the same couple! This time they had a full load of plywood in the bed. Up we go Bono and hold on! Got soaked on the drive back to the trailhead (trailhead is where you left off the trail) and met up with ¢Not Yet¢ who was hoping for a ride into town with no luck. Just as I was leaving with poncho on, someone pulled over for him! I gave him a yee ha! And was on my way down the road. It was quite a bit of road walking today over no longer used over passed and forgotten roads until we finally hit the woods again. Got a message on my phone from ¢M&M.¢ She had a room in town and asked if I wanted to split the cost. Originally I was going to, but after meeting the guy ¢Tyvek,¢ if he can walk barefoot, I can spend two days and nights wet. It won¢t kill me.It was nice talking to Cheryl and finally getting reception. It had been 3 days since we spoke. She¢s up for a promotion! I¢m so happy for her, she deserves it! The fog and rain have been thick and heavy all day. Kind of getting used to the wet boot feeling, ya know, I¢ve always thought I had a pretty high tolerance to pain. Thought I had good self-discipline, but when you wake up from a previous wet, cold day of hiking and you crawl out of your warm sleeping bag, you know you have to put your hiking clothes on, your wet cold socks, your soggy boots, wet shorts and a wet shirt, so cold your nipples get so hard they could cut glass! Well, it would bring the toughest karate master to his knees crying like a ¢girlyman!¢ This will be the first time I sleep in a shelter since I started. Thought I would be by myself since this shelter is off the AT by 14 mile. I had all my stuff hanging in an attempt to get some type of drying to take place and ¢Early Bird¢ shows up at 4:30 The water is far away from what I read in the journal and I wasn¢t looking forward to putting on my wet boots to get it, since I never did pick up another pair of camp shoes, but someone left a pair of dry sneakers that will work just swell! That¢s some pretty good trail magic! It works for me. Little things like this can make a good ending to a not-so-good day of hiking.
Date: 2007-05-05
From: Helveys Mill Shelter

To: Stealth Campsite Probably 3 mi Short of Wapiti
Miles today: 22.1

Man! That ¢Lil Cubit¢ can cut some cordwood! I thought it was her boyfriend, but she had that shelter shaking and she was next to Bono and me. No hurry to get up, I did hear my alarm at 4:30 a.m., but got up with the daylight at 6 a.m. Still rain/fog outside my tent and clothes never did dry out, so back in the bag and hope for the weather to break later on. Was nice and level hiking early on and I ended up pulling my wrist straps tight and dragging my sticks since my hands were a bit chilly. Started swinging my arms like the ladies you see at lunchtime doing their power walks when the weather starts getting nice. Came upon two middle-aged women section hiking. They asked if I was going north. I said yes. I think they were confused by their map. One of the ladies was originally from Wolfborough, NH; small world! I ended up doing 10 miles by 11 a.m., not bad for 4 hours work. Again it was very level.Stopped at Jenny Knob Shelter for lunch. Someone had left a Sea to Summit bag with all kinds of first aid and tape, etc. I helped myself to Tums, Imodium and some band aides. Spent about 20 minutes for lunch and was off again. Was trying to go 24 miles today and thought I could do it, but fell a few miles short. Well there goes my perfect record for not falling; fell not once, but twice today! Trails were very slick with mud. Also lots of poison ivy along the trail. Once I got through it I rubbed my legs with Purell hand sanitizer. ¢Early Bird¢ and me were playing slot cars at midday until I finally lost him. I had to stop a couple times to put my poncho on because of the rain. He¢s staying at a campsite 5 miles back. Bono and me went as far as we could today. Felt my feet feeling a bit funny, so I decided to pitch my tent out and hope it would dry. No sun, but at least no rain. When I took my boots off I couldn¢t believe the shape my feet were in after walking two days in wet boots! Looked like the start of trench foot, all white and wrinkled with a blister starting on my big toe. Poor Bono rubbed his elbow raw from his pack, still wants to play after carrying 15 lbs. For 18 miles! Amazing! I¢ll doctor it up tomorrow and put some duck tape on it. I¢ll have to keep my ears open for rain tonight. I want to grab all the stuff that kind of started to dry tonight, that¢s why I figured I would stop since it was 5:30.   Some air (even though no sun) was better than rain. My Achilles tendon was sore, so I forced myself to stand in the ice-cold stream. Hope it helps. Well, time for these 2 wounded cowboys to call it a night.