morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-06-08
From: Abington Shelter

To: Damascus
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: overcast clouds

6-8 --- 10.0 miles Abington shelter to Damascus.Nice easy day down the Tennessee Turnpike....called that because you can fly. I did ten miles in four hours so I guess I was flying too. Did I mention the new sandwich I invented? Now, this is not for the dieter or someone counting carbs but for trail food it was awesome. I guess I did mention the pepperoni and chocolate chip cookie sandwich BUT it was so good that it is worth mentioning again! Go try one....you will love it.Yesterday I was in some thunder and lightning and let me tell you, it's a diferent ballgame when you are right in the storm and not below it. One thing was funny because instead of saying it was a 20% chance of rain he decided to change his outlook and he said 80% chance of a great day. Of course I kinof disagreed.....even with rain I thought it was an awesome day. Right when it started to rain I came upon a small shelter built in 1934 that wasn't on my maps. It was perfect timing. I rested my feet and put on dry clothes (not wet because of rain but sweat) and took a nap. It was a perfect afternoon. The thunder and lightning was close but it was beyond my control so I snoozed. I half thought about staying there but I knew K-bear and One thing were waiting for me and there was no water supply and it was only 1.5 miles away. So, when the rain lightened up I put on my rain gear and headed out. I was singing and dancing "singing in the rain".....I was even splashing in th!e puddles cause I knew I had new boots waiting for me in Damascus so I wasn't worried about them getting wet. The whole time I have my head down watching the trail though....cause that's what hikers do....especially when it's raining and the trail is slipperry. Right at the big finish I look up and two southbounders are staring at me. I don't know if I scared them but they sure scared me! They asked if I was Karen and when I said yes they told me how close the shelter was. I have been caught singing a few times on the trail but this had choreography and everything. Thank God I will never have to see them again!Here's what I learned today. As an American, if we were to ever visit Austraila we should say.....ozzy, not aussie....if you say Aussie they will laugh at you. So, travelors beware. K-bear always gets on Onething and I for trying to use an Aussie acsent. We say at least a few times a day..."maybe the dingo ate your baby". She hates it so of course we just say it more and more. When will these Aussies learn? Lol!I know I am mising so much but the more miles I do the more tired I am.Oh, by Damascus half of the people who started at Springer are off the trail. So, I am doing good. Around 460 miles so far and I said goodbye to Tennesee today. For the next couple of months it is all about Virginia.......woohoo!over and outspare pocket
Date: 2004-06-11
From: Damascus

To: Saunders Shelter
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: overcast clouds

6/1110.0 milesYesterday was uneventful. Those zero days are exhausting though. All you do is run around and do chores. All day. My feet were tired.....my head was tired. I am so happy to be hiking again. One Thing, K-bear and myself have kindof decided that our next zero day will be on the trail....because that's the only way we will truly get a rest day. We will go into town....do our chores and leave....go about 4 miles and then rest. Well, something like that anyhow.We added a fourth to our threesome. A puppy that was hanging around the hostel followed K-bear and myself out of town. We did that whole ignore the dog thing and it will go away....and it didn't. K-bear tried talking mean to it.......in a soft Austrailian voice she says..."go home puppy". I'm sure it was her meanest voice too! At one point he started down the trail going south.....got about twenty feet away and K-bear says..."I didn"t mean it". And that puppy ran back. So, we have the cutest litle puppy.....maybe three months old and she is the spitting image of Joe dog. Well, after 4 miles we decided to take responsibility for her. Gary has dubbed her Tag. Short for tagalong. She seems to know her name and is a natural trail dog. She stays right behind Stacey. She stops and looks back for me but behind K-bear seems to be the best spot for her. She doesn't wander off the trail and when we stop she lays down and rests. She did try to get into our packs but it was! just cause she was really hungry. Some hikers gave us some food and advice for Tag. Right now she is fast asleep under the shelter and I am rehydrating her some food. The walk seemed easy today and my new boots seem fine also.
Date: 2004-06-12
From: Saunders Shelter

To: Whitetop Virginia
Miles today: 18.6

6/1218.6 miles.A tough day for me and not because of the miles. Everything was hard. Maybe I didn't eat right or something. A bolt of lightning was about a hundred yards away from me in the morning. Holy smokes that woke me up....I caught up to K-bear and One thing who ducked into some rhodedendrams and were putting there pack covers on. Gary asked me where I was going and I was way too scared to stop. Storms were looming all day. Lots and lots of thunder. Yesterday seems like such a blur already. I walked through a bunch of cows grazing on a bald with a storm coming. I love watching the storms come, I just don't like it too close. It just seemed like a bunch of climbing yesterday and my head was not into it. The last four miles didn't seem too bad....even when a man hiking thought Gary was my husband and Stacey, my daughter. I was so tired I just agreed. And twenty minutes before I hit the shelter the rain started. I was already wet so I really didn't care. But, you know what I hate ? Walking into a shelter late.....exhausted and wet and the place is full. Ughhhh. I felt like I was on stage preforming with everyone watching me take my boots off.Tag was a big hit with everyone and seemed to do just fine with the mileage. She is a fabulous pup and has really attached herself to K-bear. And K-bear who is not really fond of dogs has fell in love with this pup. We would love to keep her with us but we are not sure what is best for her. There are lots of dogs who hike but she is still a puppy.A doe hung out at the shelter. I took some pictures of her and then all I really wanted to do was pee but the privy was down the path that she was on. Finally I just decided to walk past her. I did.....hopped on the privy....and just as I wiped, I turned my head and that doe had followed me down and was watching me pee. What kind of doe is that?Let's see.....I got rid of my thermarest repair kit at The place in Damscus and what happens??? My pad has a leak. Why do I do that?Tag slept practically on my head all night and at least my head was warm.tired so tiredsparepocket
Date: 2004-06-15
From: Looking for Foster Home for Puppy

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

ok, here's the thing. I've got this puppy. Very cute and smart shepard mix. I would love to keep him but I have 4 months left of the trail. So, what I would love is for someone to give him a foster home BUT if I can do that I would just love to give her a great home. People have seen her on the trail and have fallen in love with her. Her name is Tag....short for tag a long. I am taking a couple of days off to do this. I will be in Atkins Va, at the Relax Inn....I will leave a number later when I get one for the room so if someone wants to talk to me. She will be a great trail dog someday too but she is too small right now. Any ideas from anyone???? sparepocket
Date: 2004-06-16
To: In Rural Retreat, VA The Relax Inn
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Wednesday 6/16Just a note from the Editor: Sparepocket, K-Bear and One Thing are resting at the Relax Inn today and will be on trail tomorrow. Tag, the small german shepherd puppy was picked up last night by a wonderful man and his son, who work with the German Shepherd Rescue Org. in Virgina. The pup will be brought current on all shots and be available for adoption eventually. If she is still available when Karen gets off trail, Karen will adopt her. Thanks to those of you who offered advise and suggestions.Sparepocket received a huge mail drop from me, and one from two women she had hiked with briefly on the trail, Mary and Terry - unfortunately they had to end their thru hike due to injuries. Thanks Ladies -Sparepocket was so happy to receive your package!!Gertie(new pictures will be on tomorrow)
Date: 2004-06-17
From: In Rural Retreat, VA The Relax Inn

To: Relax Inn
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: broken clouds

Karen sent me this entry 6/17 it refers to a few days back at the Troutsdale Church Hostel - They are leaving the Relax Inn this morning, Thursday 6/17/04.just 5 miles today.We decided to stop in at Troutdale to resupply until Atkins. The hike was easy. Although One thing got a little turned around and did a few extra miles. We keep telling him to get rid of his maps and just follow the white blazes. The maps aren't always right with the trail relocations. I love maps but these just help to confuse you. We hitched a ride into Troutdale and the man who picked us up happened to be the owner of the relax Inn. We decided to still go to the hostel though. It was an old baptist church. They just leave the door open and everything is on the honor system. We did laundry and had showers. And we decided we HAD to find a place for Tag. He peed on Gary's sleeping bag in the morning. NOT a good thing and Gary was not a happy camper. She is a great puppy but the trail is no place to train a dog. So, I did some thinking and decided to take Tag to the relax inn and find her either a home or a foster home. Darrel, the owner of the relax inn came an!d picked me up and dropped K-bear and One thing off at the trail. I will have to make up that 25 miles. No big deal and the puppy is so worth it. On the way to the inn Darrel said he had to pick up a woman at the hospital who had poison ivy really bad and it turns out it was Doosie. She had it all over her face and in her nose and arms and legs. She got some drugs and cream and was feeling better.In the meantime I started the phone call brigade to find the puppy a home. I found a german shepard rescue place and they hooked me up with a woman named Donna Belcher who was so helpful. Her husband and son drove down 40 minutes just to pick up Tag. I would love to have that puppy in four months but at least I know she has a good home. It was difficult handing that puppy over but it felt right.Back on the trail tomorrow. Woohoo. Enough of this city stuff. It is so tiring.over and outspare pocket
Date: 2004-06-18
From: Relax Inn

To: Knot Maul Shelter
Miles today: 14.9
Weather: light rain

13.9 milesrelax inn to knot maul shelter.tough day for me. My belly decided to give me fits. K-bear and Moxi also had belly aches so we wondered if it wasn't the water at the Inn. Lots of diahrea and bad headaches and felt like puking for a while. My legs felt great but everything else was tough. Before I forget. Thanks Mary for the care package.....it was wonderful! And all of my favorite things too!Tomorrow is 19 miles and I feel poopy so this is going to be short today.later that evening.....I don't know what the record is for using one privy the most consecutive times but I think I won.K-bear comes in second. She also sprained her ankle today though so she wins.Speaking of winning....I am beating her at gin rummy. We are playing until a million. And when we get to Mt Kahtahdin we are playinf a hand , no matter what the weather, and whoever wins gets 1,000 bonus points. Two smelly hobbits came into the shelter......boy do they stink! And the guys socks are about 3 ft. from my nose. yucko....why do hobits always smell so bad?over and out sparepocket
Date: 2004-06-19
From: Knot Maul Branch Shelter

To: Jenkins Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Here's my morning so far. I was up about four times during the night running to the privy. Then the bugs decided to attack me. I left the shelter at 6:15 a.m. Besides the stomach thing i was feeling pretty good.....until 6:30 at which point I slipped and fell on a bridge. My poles went flying into the creek.....how I didn't fall off of that bridge I will never know. Usually I can twist myself on a fall so the pack to take the fall. But not this time. I am not sure what I did but it hurts pretty bad....especially when I am trying to hike. I either severely bruised my pelvic bone or something is fractured. I am pretty sure if I broke something that I wouldn't be able to walk so bruised it must be. I am pretty sure my 19 mile day is done. It hurts going up, it hurts going down......sharp pains on steps and trying to cross a blowdown was excruciating. I am sitting at a road trying to decide what to do. No traffic so I think I will try for the next shelter. 4.5 miles. Right now it feels like an eternity. I guess I better get moving. The pain has not gotten any better . It took me nearly 7 hours to do 8 miles......and it was all painful. And then the rain and wind started. Normally I would love it to help coolme off but I wasn't moving fastenough to stay warm. I am walking in a field, pouring down rain and the wind is blowing everything sideways. I make it to the shelter and gary and stacy are waiting for me. I was so happy to see them yet I feel a ton of guilt that they waited. I had pretty much made up my mind that I was going to stay. I am in too much pain to hike anymore and soaking wet. So, I don't know what is going to happen....right now I am just hoping that some overnight rest and I will at least be able to hike tomorrow. The pain is bad but the frustration I feel is worse. This WILL NOT end my hike. It may put a cramp in it but I won't let it end it. With that said I am feeling very low today. I just haven't been feeling good. My legs and feet feel great but the rest of my body has not been feeling good. I am tired ALL of the time and my joints and hips have been just aching.....and the fall has just magnified everything. Things have to start getting better, right?
Date: 2004-06-21
From: Pearisburg, Va 

To: still at the hostel
Miles today: 0.0

Here I am at the library. Some of those pictures are great. I am so glad I just brought my old camera....it works just fine. Today is "nude hiking day". I am so glad I am still re-cooping at the hostel. Someone else came in with an injury today.....soooo muddy. My hip is still bugging me but it can't be broke....so, just an injured butt. My belly is still hurting too but it seems to be something that is going around. So, I take the immodium and drink alot and run to the bathroom alot and I am so grateful that I have a toilet to sit on right now. That squatting in the woods when you don't feel good is not a good thing. Especially when you have steep inclines on either side of you. Now I can see where that guy got the trail name of poopy pants. It wouldn't be hard to do.K-bear and one thing should be coming in tonight. I hope. I don't feel great but I want to be hiking. I got my pants today in the mail. Thanks H! And they fit! Well, off to surf a bit.over and outsparepocket
Date: 2004-06-21
From: still at the hostel

To: No Where
Miles today: 0.0

still no K-bear or One thing. I tried to make my escape out of this hostel I call the black hole but it didn't work. I had my bags packed and asked Bill, the caretaker, if he could take me to the rendevous hotel....and he said, "well, what about your friends?" I replied that if they came today they would want to stay a day and that would be two more days for me. He told me that he didn't want me wasting my money on a motel......and here I am. Bored out of my skull. This is a great town but nothing is close. So, what's the point of resting if I have to walk everywhere? At least at the motel, there is tv and telephone and a bathtub. But here I am. I have already taken a nap. Now what? Nothing good to read.On a better note. My belly feels better for the first time in days. My hip still hurts but I think it is just going to hurt for a while.Perhaps another nap?
Date: 2004-06-21
From: still at the hostel

To: No Where but Here
Miles today: 0.0

Still the 21st. I forgot to mention that this morning, wipeout, bluebird and myself were sitting in front of the walmart and I was thinking.....wouldn't it be nice if some guy who owned a pickup truck came out and asked us if we wanted a ride? Not less than five minutes later a well dressed man walked out and said, "I have a truck, would you ladies care for a ride?" It was so bizarre. It happened just like that too.I don't think K-bear an one thing are going to show up tonight. And Stephanie dropped by and left a note with a couple of Dr.s names on it so I may see if one of them can see me tomorrow. My belly just doesn't seem to be getting better and it is wiping me out. Maybe the tough Aussie won't go see a doc but I am older and wiser, right? ;-)sparepocket
Date: 2004-06-23
From: No Where but Here

To: Still Pearisburg
Miles today: 0.0

6/23Well, they FINALLY came. I was never so happy to see two people. Gary twisted his ankle. That last section was just murder on people. One guy left this hostel and went to the first shelter. Only seven miles away. In the morning he said that the clouds below were so beautiful that it looked like the ocean. And with that he decided that the ocean was the place he needed to be. So he walked back to the hostel and found a shuttle and off the trail he is. Good for him. At least he knows what he wants and he is going there.And what do I want? I don't know a lot but I know I want to be back on the trail. One Thing is spending the day here tomorrow and I am not sure what K-bear is doing yet but I am moving on tomorrow. The black hole that this town is, is letting me go. Woohoooooo.....I feel like tomorrow is christmas. One thing and K-bear are fast walkers so they will catch up and I get to be liesurely at my walk. By the way, I hear there are boyscouts from Ohio out there reading this. Hey to you from sparepocket and k-bear and one thing. What part of Ohio are you from???K-bear needed a perscription today and the walmart wouldn't fill a rx from Austraila. Well, we had to go see a dr. The Dr. wouldn't just write an rx without seeing her. And that was going to cost between 50.00 and 126.00 dollars. Well, thank you Stepanie Smith! We used some name dropping and out came the nurse with an rx. It was such a wonderful suprise....and K-bear really needed it. The only down part was that the meds were soooo expensive. She was shocked. Welcome to America. I am going to have trouble going to sleep tonight I am so excited. Life is good!Sparepocket
Date: 2004-06-24
From: Pearisburg, Va 

To: North
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: few clouds

6/2412. something miles. I think. Not too sure and it doesn't matter much anyhow. I am moving again. That was such a long stay in Pearisburg but SO well worth it. I felt like I did a month ago. The hip may be what took me off the trail but I think the belly was the bigger of the problems. My stomach has never felt better and I had a blast today. The weather was perfect. My hip is still hurting but much improved. If I climb over a stile I have to take me pack off. Any really big steps are really painful....even if I push up with my other leg. Fortunately there wasn't too much of that. I got to the shelter I planned on staying the night at 12:30. A tad too early for even me. Especially since the weather was so perfect. I had some great views today. All the to West Virginia. 30 mile views.....unusual since most of my views seem to be closer to 30 feet. IF I'm lucky. Saw a bunch of deer. A frog. Zillions of little bugs that bite. And the bluest sky I have ever s!een. I even got a good radio station. Can life get any better? Of course it can. I have the Appalachian tv going. It's a little early but the bugs were feasting on me. I am on top of some mt....with incredible views and it looks like an incredible sunset is going to thrill me. I wish K-bear and One thing were here to share in this but they were healing their ankles....and everything just seems to work out the way it is supposed to. I will meet them at a shelter in a few days if they haven't caught up. That rest did me a world of good and I hope it does the same for them.Tomorrow there is a 60% chance of rain. Frankly, it doesn't mean a thing to me. If it wasn't for the rain I wouldn't have had those great berries today. I am walking faster again so I will keep warm....I just have to be careful with things getting slippery.Life is Good.Sparepocket
Date: 2004-06-26
From: North

To: Catawba
Miles today: 28.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Entry posted 6/30/04Ok, Ok........I have been really bad about writing. I wish I could give good accurate accounts of the last couple of days. I feel soooooo much better. How's that for starters? Done lots of miles....but I am too tired to remember how many and when.Yesterday was 12.6 (6/28) and today was 16.7 (6/29)Saw lots of animals. Lots of deer. And yesterday I ran into some mules. 4 of them. They were the friendliest mules I have ever met. I fed them Luna bars and fruit gummy bears. Of course they wanted more though. They tried eating my hat and my camera and they especially liked my knees. One of them grabbed my finger and would not let go. She only let go when I yelled. I hung out with them for about an hour. Beautiful views and beautiful weather. We passed an old oak tree called the Keffer oak. 18 foot in circumference and is estimated to be more than 300 years old. It was awesome. I took pictures but I'm not sure how much justice they will do.I passed by a cherry tree too. Nice and ripe. I ate a ton of them and picked a liter also. My comrades were not too impressed. I was dissapointed a tad but got over it and threw most of them out. I was scared if I ate too many a bellyache would ensue so I let comon sense prevail.There was a nice little cat at the shelter which I did NOT try to rescue. Anyone proud of me for that? And she was a nice kitty.Today I hiked with very little pain. It is amazing to hike and not be in pain. I hope it continues.I will try to do better about writing in the future.over and outsparepocket
Date: 2004-07-01
From: Dragon's Tooth

To: Catawba
Miles today: 6.0
Weather: light rain

June 306 miles today. It doesn't seem like much does it? It was a tough section. We hiked to dragons tooth.Last night I couldn't sleep. I grabbed my sleeping pad and mat and went outside and it was beautiful. The moon was peeking through the trees and I could hear the water below. I slept in and didn't get out of camp until 8:15 a.m.Lots of climbing. And a ton of rocks. I think back to Albert Mountain and that was so tough for me but this was a lot tougher.....but so am I! I hiked on and off with Gretel...and when we got to Dragons tooth.....it was amazing. There were some kids there who said we could actually climb the tooth and I figured.....what the heck....when will I be here again? I took a ton of pictures so you will be able to see them pretty soon. I took off my pack and climbed. I am not sure how tall it was but it was awesome. I have never really climbed like that before. I would have preferred to have a saftey belt on but there was nothing to tie on to. I got within ten feet of the top and couldn't go any further. A former thru hiker named Viking took our picture with Gretels camera so hopefully it will be on her site on trail journals eventually. I carried my camera up so I got all the high pictures. Thanks Gretel.....I couldn't have gone that last ten feet without your encourage!ment. The rest of the hike was lots and lots more rocks. It took like 5 hours to hike just six miles. The heat is what really gets to me. I had two liters and I could have used two more. There was no water to be had today. Lots and lots of pictures. Heehee.....I am happy again.....and while my hip reminds me that I have fallen at least I can hike. I have had three great days of hiking. My belly feels better every day. I am a happy camper!Sparepocket