morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-05-15
From: tent campsite

To: Hampton, Tennessee
Miles today: 13.4

It was another beautiful day of hiking!Though, my feet are still killing me. It seems to be getting worse, but the good news is my legs no longer bother me. I guess the body is finally getting in shape after loosing a few pounds left over from my desk job!I made it into Hampton, Tennessee and headed over to the Kincora Hiker Hostel, run by Bob and Pat Peoples. They are both retired and love doing this more than their former paid professions. Bob is also a maintainer of the AT and is always looking for volunteers to help on the trail. So, if anyone lives near him, please give him some of your time!They only request a $4 donation for one of their 18 bunks. So, I grabbed one of those, showered, did laundry, and ran into town to pick up some food.
Date: 2006-05-16
From: Hampton, Tennessee

To: Watauga Lake Shelter
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: overcast clouds

I came across a college class today. There was about 20 students on a two week inspirational hike. They are from Virginia too, so it's been fun talking with them about the thru hike and what they are trying to get out of their hike.I hiked through some spectacular scenery today. I passed Laurel Water Falls and then made a steep climb. The climb down was easy and dumped us off on Watauga Lake, which was a suprise to me. For some reason, I didn't notice that in the guidebook, so it was a real joy. We spend so much time in the woods, so the change was refreshing.I hiked to Watauga Lake Shelter assuming it would be on the lake. I was wrong. The shelter was off the trail a mile or two, so we weren't able to enjoy the view through the evening.
Date: 2006-05-17
From: Watauga Lake Shelter

To: Iron Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 13.6
Weather: light rain

The rumor is that the trail from Dennis Cover to Damascus, VA is so easy that people can hike the 50 miles in 2 1/2 days. Well, that wasn't the case for me... it took me 3 1/2 days.People where passing me, saying they were going to walk 25 to 30 miles that day. Some might have made it, but most of the people I talked to didn't make it that far because the trail was more difficult then they thought. All in all, I believe most folks did get in more miles. Also, the Trail Days was about to start in Damascus, everyone's adrenaline was pushing them a bit.The town of Damascus, VA holds a Trail Days every year. Hikers and wannabe hikers come here from all over the world. This town of 900 will see thousands of hikers over a period of a few days.The temperatures dropped to the 30's again and the rain came in. I was glad I decided to stay in the shelter instead of pitching my tent.
Date: 2006-05-18
From: Iron Mountain Shelter

To: Abingdon Shelter
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: light rain

Another day of rain... That always seems to dampened the spirits of the hikers, especially since we've been hit with so much of it!A lot of new hikers are on the trail for the festival in Damascus. Some are even shuttled to a point a few miles away just so they can experience hiking into the town for the Trail Days celebration.As a result, the shelters and tent sites are full for the first time on this trip. It's always interesting to hear the stories of the people hiking into town.The Abingdon Shelter is about 7 miles from the Virigina state line. This is especially exciting for me because that's where my home is!
Date: 2006-05-19
From: Abingdon Shelter

To: Damascus, Virginia
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: broken clouds

Virginia! I'm home... well, not really I guess, but pretty close!The trail was easy and the sun came out, so everyone seemed to be smiling again.Wasp caught up with me and we took our pictures at the state line. It was a big day for Wasp since she was completing the Appalachian Trail at Damascus! Wow, what an accomplishment. Congratulations to Wasp!We got into Damascus around noon. It's a quaint small town. Booths were set up with hiking vendors, bands were playing, food everywhere, etc. I also found schedules of events for the next several days. It's unbelievable what this little town does for hikers.We set up our tents in "Tent City", which I'm sure will not be very quiet today. It poured all night, so Tent City was a lake! I love it!
Date: 2006-05-20
From: Damascus, Virginia

To: ***Zero Day!
Miles today: 0.0

Damascus is a great little town!The schedule of events for Trail Days is unbelievable. It includes free food (always a big successes with hikers), free medical exam, a free foot clinic, free hair cuts, live bands on Friday and Saturday, dancing, shows, etc. There was also a free shuttle service into town and the local church would drive up to 100 miles to pick up or drop off a hiker that either hiked pasted Damascus or didn't quite make it to Damascus yet.One of my favorite is the hikers parade complete with a band, horses, fire trucks, floats, and eveything else that makes a parade a parade!About an hour before the celebration, the town folk line up along the sidewalks armed with squirt guns, hoses, and water balloons to throw at the hikers (current and former) as they walk by. It's all in fun (I hope!) and everyone seemed to have a grand time.I wouldn't mind coming back here for Trail Days again. Though, next time I don't think I'll stay in Tent City. It was too much of a frat party for me. One time is enough!
Date: 2006-05-21
From: Damascus, Virginia

To: Saunders Shelter
Miles today: 9.4
Weather: clear sky

I was exhausted today, but it wasn't from hiking!I had to run around town trying to get everything done... laundry, shopping, and trying to partake in some of the town events. I don't think "Zero Day" is a very good term because I'm usually busier on these days than on hiking days! One of these days I will take two consecutive zero days so I can acutally enjoy a day off and not have to walk anywhere!While hiking out of Damascus today, the locals would honk their horns and wave goodbye. You would think they would be tired of their town taken over by thousands of hikers, but it sure didn't seem like that. Now I see how they were named the "Friendiest Town on the Trail".Virginia is beautiful. The weather has been perfect and the hiking is gorgeous. There are lots of waterways and rolling hills for scenery. The hikers were really commenting on it during the course of the day.
Date: 2006-05-22
From: Saunders Shelter

To: Whitetop Mountain Campsite
Miles today: 11.9

The hiking continues to be wonderful.I especilly love walking next to the waterfalls, streams, and rivers. They make a hot day seem so much cooler.I climbed Whitetop Mountain, which is the second highest peak in Virginia, then set up camp with another hiker. We wanted to get this climb in before the day was finished because the following day we would climb to the highest peak in Virginia.It was nice and quiet and the stars were out in full bloom. When you are far away from city lights, there is nothing as spectacular as the celestial night show. Nothing on TV can compare to this.
Date: 2006-05-23
From: Whitetop Mountain Campsite

To: Wise Shelter
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: clear sky

I love the beauty of Virginia. It really is how I imagined the Appalachian Trail to be.I climbed Mount Rogers, the highest point in Virginia, an I was awarded with an inspirational view that just took my breath away.I hiked onto Thomas Knob Shelter, which had even more stunning views. I stopped for lunch and asked about the wild ponies in Grayson Highlands State Park. I was told that there are at least two herds in the area! I immediately packed up the remainder of my lunch headed off the find the poinies.Luckily, it didn't take long. They were just as magnificent as I'd hoped they would be. How adorable and friendly they were, even the foals. I spent as much time as I could with them before the stallion came and pulled them away.The sun was hot and scortching, a big change from the cloudy and rainy days I've had so far.Two Trail Angels pulled me off the trail and fed me hard boiled eggs, chocolate, and cookies. What a great meal, especially since I missed my lunch. They even took my trash!One of the Trail Angels asked if I knew who the other Trail Angel was... I didn't. It turned out to be Annie Dillard, a well known and respected writer. What a suprise! She loves going to the park to see the ponies and feed a thru-hiker. I was the fortunate hiker that day!I stopped at Wise Shelter for the night and shortly after, Partner and Stand By Me walk in! I haven't seen them in a long time, so it was a nice surprise. There was only the three of us so we talked late (10:00 pm) to catch up on what was happening.
Date: 2006-05-24
From: Wise Shelter

To: Troutdale Campsite
Miles today: 16.1

The weather is hot, Hot, HOT! I hope this is not an indication of how the summer is going to be.The scenery was nice today, but not as nice as it has been for the previous days. But, I'm not complaining. On days like this, it gives you a chance to reflect on the journey so far.I saw a couple of baby snakes today and that made me realize that I haven't seen much wildlife since starting the hike. A few snakes, frogs, toads, two deer (a flash), mice, chipmunks, and some birds. That's about it! I hear a lot of woodpeckers pounding away, but I haven't seen one yet. Once the vegitation was in full bloom, I thought for sure we would see more mammals but that hasn't happened yet. I haven't even seen a possum yet!
Date: 2006-05-25
From: Troutdale Campsite

To: Partner Shelter
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: clear sky

I hiked a lot of miles again today. I wanted to get to Marion because they have a Walmart and I need another chip for my camera!I planned to walk more, but after arriving at the Partner Shelter, the hikers talked me into spending the night there because it was the "special" shelter. This shelter is designed like a cabin with an upstairs and downstairs for sleeping. It also has a HOT SHOWER and a toilet (not the flushing kind, but much nicer then the usual privy.)The biggest bonus is the pay phone where you can order pizza, soda, etc. What a night! We also had a Trail Angel that sent us a few cans of cold beer. We were in heaven and sat up until 11:00 just talking and relaxing.
Date: 2006-05-26
From: Partner Shelter

To: Marion, Virginia
Miles today: 0.1

I got into town and planned on taking a zero day so I could do a few more things other than buying a new chip for my camera.Since the town was so big and spread out, I decided to rent a car. Actually, the real reason for the car rental was so I could drive into the next town to see "The DiVinci Code"! It was strange driving a car around after all these months, but I really enjoyed driving to the laundromat and the grocery store instead of walking. As I've mentioned before, Zero Days aren't really days of inactivity.There are not a lot of hikers in this town because it is 6 miles from the trail. The next town is much closer, so most go there. You can alwyas spot a hiker in town because we wear funny clothes. Since we don't have much to wear, we have to wear whatever is left over while doing laundry. It is not unusual for us to wear our rain gear no matter how dry it is outside.
Date: 2006-05-27
From: Marion, Virginia

To: Atkins, Virginia
Miles today: 11.5

For the last 2 weeks, I seemed to be shadowing Popcorn and Timber, two thru hikers. I never met them before, but everytime I saw Popcorn's name, I knew it was a sign to go to the movie! I did get to the movie yesterday. The film was just OK, but the popcorn was wonderful!As I was checking out of the hotel, there were two other hikers that left their hotel next door. I asked them where they were headed and gave them a ride. It turned out to be Popcorn and Timber... we finally met! I dropped them off and headed back to return the rental car. Later that day, I got to the shelter for lunch and found that they had left me a nice thank you in the register.I hiked into Atkins where we cross a road where there is a restraunt, motel, and gas station with a convience store. It sounded good to me since it was so hot and humid. I rented the last room at the hotel and then walked to the resturant to eat with the other hikers that were staying at the hotel. I think I could get used to camping like this!
Date: 2006-05-28
From: Atkins, Virginia

To: Knot Maul Branch Shelter
Miles today: 13.9
Weather: scattered clouds

I ran into an interesting sign today. It said "Use this water source because the next one is contanimated because of a dead cow".I wasn't sure water source the sign refered to because it did not tell you which direction, nor was the note dated. I'm pretty sure it wasn't an official sign. Nevertheless, it's better to be safe than sorry, so I replenished my water and headed out. It was another hot humid day and I didn't want to be short on water. In the end, I never did see a dead cow.When I came across a beautiful stream, I decided to take a long, leisurely lunch. I also washed up a bit and dumped a whole gallon of water over my head. Even though my clothes were still filthy, I felt so much cleaner!
Date: 2006-05-29
From: Knot Maul Branch Shelter

To: Jenkins Shelter
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Wow, this hot weather is really draining us! And this is only the beginning of summer!Today, we had a huge climb ahead of us, so I started out a hour earlier then usual so I could get over the hump before noon.Water sources were scare, so everytime I found a stream I made sure my bottles were filled. But, by the time I climbed to the top I was out of water! Thank goodness hikers are always willing to help each other out and share because that's exactly what they did for me.I ate lunch at the top of the mountain in a shelter called Chestnut Knob. It was a former fire warden's cabin and later converted into a hikers' shelter. Unfortunately, there is no water at the shelter, so few hikers stay. Instead, they continue on, but that means a total of 19 miles!I didn't think I could go the entire distance with the heat and lack of water. My fellow hikers were sure I could locate the next water source because the path is marked so I would know where to look. Once I got rehydrated, I felt good and kept on truckin'. By the end of the day, I did my first 19 mile hike!
Date: 2006-05-30
From: Jenkins Shelter

To: Helveys Mill Shelter
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: few clouds

We found great note from one of the local churches offering a free, hot breakfast. If we could reach the road between 9:30am and Noon, they would have a shuttle service that would take us to breakfast, return us to the trail, or take us into town for groceries, etc.These folks really outdid themselves! They fed us pancakes, grits, biscuits, apple sauce, eggs, pizza, juice, coffee, and milk. It was absolutely delicious. They also provided us goodies to take with us. Once I got back on the trail, the church left a cooler filled with ice and apple and orange juice. What a great way to start a morning after our big day yesterday.I'm glad I was able to start off the day like this because it was a tough climb after breakfast. Some hikers decided to stay in town, but i was glad to get back on the trail so I could get this mountain under my belt. I was getting worried because I was starting to run low on water again, but just then I came across some Trail Magic. Somebody left bottles of water. What a lifesaver!On the label of the bottles was a dedication to someone that planned to do a thru hike of the Appalachian Trail but died in a tragic accident before he could even begin to hike. So, his family had the bottles of water made up in his memory for Memorial Day. What a great idea, not to mention very helpful for us on the trail.
Date: 2006-05-31
From: Helveys Mill Shelter

To: Jenny Knob Shelter
Miles today: 9.8
Weather: scattered clouds

I decided to take a short day today.I ran into Fargo on the trail today after not seeing her for a week. So, we hiked for awhile and got each other's stories for the previous week.We got into the shelter for lunch and Cresent City, Wonder Women, Anne Princess, and Fred talked me into staying. Since we've been hiking so many miles in this heat, I decided to stay and have a relaxing afternoon.Washing my hair sounded like a good idea. Unfortunately, the water source was difficult to get to so I only managed to get enough water for dinner.Fred is an amazing person. He is so knowlegable about the outdoors, plants, and animals. He made me a cup of tea made out of the leaves of plants he picked along the way. It was the best tasting tea I'd ever had! I told him he should market it, but he said he just enjoys treating people and didn't want to make it into something more difficult like a job. It's true... sometimes we work so much, we forget about the joy that something so simple can bring.
Date: 2006-06-01
From: Jenny Knob Shelter

To: Wapiti Shelter
Miles today: 14.2
Weather: clear sky

Today, we had to cross two roads, both of which had a convenience store anywhere between 0.3 and 0.8 miles from the trail. Normally, I would take advantage of this since they were close to the trail, but I plan to hike 30 miles over the next two days to get to Pearisburg, VA and didn't want to waste time by taking any side trips.Again, the heat was intense. I can't believe I miss the rainy days! There was a waterfall just off the trail. Most of the hikers went there for a cool and refreshing swim. It felt good to get all the salt off your body after sweating so much over the last week. The shelter had a good water source, so Fred went fishing after he made us a batch of tea. He took pictures of his catch before throwing them back in the stream.We had a bit of excitement when a four foot black snake came into the camp. Instead of running in fear like non-hikers, everyone ran to get their cameras. We don't usually get an animal that is willing to pose for us.Gator made it into camp rather late because both of his knees are bothering him. He lost a lot of weight, too much really, and needs to eat more often. Though, every time I see him he is eating. His wife is coming to visit him in Pearisburg and he thinks she will be on his case about putting some pounds on! As long as he keeps hiking, I can't see that happening.
Date: 2006-06-02
From: Wapiti Shelter

To: Pearisburg, Virginia
Miles today: 16.6

I had to hike almost 17 miles to get into town today. Even though I started early, I didn't get here until after 7:00pm! The trail was rocky almost all the way and that makes hiking extremely difficult. You must be careful not to twist an ankle.Wonder Woman and Anne Princess are section hikers and were getting off the trail here. They are from Chicago and try to hike the Appalachian Trail 1 to 2 times per year. They were so likable that I hope I run into them again.Cresent City is a thru-hiker from New Orleans and survived Hurricane Katrina last year. She is hiking the AT to raise money for a cause. Her goal is to raise enough money to buy 2174 trees. Before Katrina hit, the vegitation in that part of Louisiana was beautiful, but the hurricane took out most of this.So far, she has raised about $20,000, but needs about $100,000 to accomplish her goal. I donated and also volunteered to help plant the trees. If you want to donate, buy a tree, or volunteer your time to help plant trres, please visit:Hike for KaTREEna
Date: 2006-06-03
From: Pearisburg, Virginia

To: ***Zero Day!
Miles today: 0.0

I decided to take a zero day. I took a day trip out to Woodshole, a hikers hostel that is not far out of Pearisburg. There are signs on the trail giving directions to there. I passed by in the morning and did not stop, so I'm taking this opportunity to see it.Ms. Till Wood and her husband initally rented Woodshole while her husband worked on thesis study of Elk. They fell in love with the place and bought the cabin and surrounding 100 acres in the early 40's for $300!They started running into thru hikers on the AT and decided to build a bunk house so the hikers would have a free place to stay and be able to take a shower. So, every year they would come in from Georgia to open up the cabin during the peak hiking season and stay for a few months.Even after Ms. Tilley's husband passed away, she continued to support the hikers. This is Ms. Tilley's last year, but her grandaughter will continue the tradition. This place is a really a hidden jewel on the Appalachian Trail.
Date: 2006-06-04
From: ***Zero Day!

To: ***Zero Day!
Miles today: 0.0

Another zero day! My package did not arrive at the post office yet, so I decided to take another day to rest my sore feet.There is a Goodwill store in town. It appears that all the hikers visit there, including me! As I mentioned before, you can always spot a fellow hiker in town by the way we dress. Most hikers wear Crocs, a brand of rubber sandals/shoes and that is a real give away.However, in this town the hikers suddenly had a different style. They were wearing Hawaiian shirts, polyester shorts, etc. (I didn't say a better style, just a different one!) After seeing what the Goodwill store sold, I understood where this was coming from. I didn't buy any clothes, but I did pick up a light weight fleece blanket to use in place of my sleeping bag during this summer heat.
Date: 2006-06-05
From: Pearisburg, Virginia

To: Symms Gap Meadow
Miles today: 11.6

I got my package from the post office early this morning then headed straight onto the trail.The temperatures dropped quickly to the low 60's, but this is nice since it's been so hot. This is a good trial for using my fleece blanket instead of a sleeping bag. Since I didn't want to carry both the blanket and sleeping bag, I shipped the bag to a town a week away in case my new blanket did not work out.With the colder temperatures during the night, I put on all my clothes including my rain gear before going to sleep. I manage to stay warm enough and figured that if that was the coldest it got during the summer, then the blanket would be just fine.
Date: 2006-06-06
From: Symms Gap Meadow

To: Bailey Gap Shelter
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: scattered clouds

It rained during the night. But, I awoke to a beautiful sunrise over the mountains of West Virginia.I poked around camp longer then usual hoping that the tent would dry out. The extra water on a wet tent adds weight, so you want it to be as dry as possible. I didn't want any extra worries because the walk on the trail is always refreshing after a rain.I suprised a fawn laying about 4 feet from the trail. At first, I thought it was a Bobcat trying to get out of the tree and away from me quickly, but I finally realized that it was just a little deer with wobbly legs from its youth. I felt bad for scaring it! Once she got away, I could hear her calling for her mother for help. A frightened youngster crying for its mother. That is something that transcends species.
Date: 2006-06-07
From: Bailey Gap Shelter

To: Laurel Creek Shelter
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Central Virginia is rocky... very, very rocky. We are getting tired of the rocks and dreading Pennsylvania because the word is that they are even worse there.I hiked 9 miles in the morning then took a long lunch break at War Spur Shelter; it is a beautiful location with a running stream right in front of the shelter. I bathed, washed some clothes, cooked a hot meal, and rested before heading out again. I wanted to climb Rocky Gap Mountain later in the day because it was hot out.I managed to get close to the next shelter, but it was starting to get dark so I just set up my tent right off the trail. My fellow hikers were worried about me since I didn't get to the shelter yet, so they asked another hiker that came in if he saw me. He said that he did not, but he did see a tent about 100 yards from the shelter. Brok and Low Gear hiked to my tent to bring water and see if it was me in there. It was! I can't believe I was that close.