morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-06-10
From: Atkins, Virginia

To: Davis Path Campsite
Miles today: 3.2

What a crazy NERO day this has been - severe weather alerts, downpours and warnings for flash floods and wind. The trail buzz has it that this has been the rainiest AT hiking season since 2003. I was on pins and needles awaiting the arrival of my correct hiking boots. I had my pack ready to go this morning, so I have been waiting outside all day. The PO was supposed to deliver them between 1:00 and 3:00 PM. About 2:30 the mail truck arrived but NO BOOTS. I called Barbara and she checked the tracking number online and all it said was "scheduled for delivery on Monday, June 10th." So I called the local RURAL RETREAT Post Office to find out more. The conversation went something like this...ME: Hello, I'm calling about a package that is supposed to be delivered today. The mail truck just arrived but no package came for me. Can you help?POSTAL WORKER: Well, sir, for some reason we had a HUGE amount of mail to go out today. THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE! So we sent out all the letters in the truck this morning. The packages had to stay behind and will be delivered on a second round late this afternoon.ME: Do you have any idea when?PW: Well, it's gonna be at least another 2 hours or more. On one hand I was glad to hear that my boots were in the PO but on the other hand I was frustrated this further delay would have to happen TODAY of all days! The good news is that the severe weather appears to have passed. My boots arrived a little after 4:30 PM. I put them on and immediately took off. The trail is again wet and slippery after all the rain today. I only hiked 3.2 miles to Davis Path Campsite. My tent is set up and I am about to cook my supper. So glad to finally be back on the trail!
Date: 2013-06-11
From: Davis Path Campsite

To: Knot Maul Branch Shelter
Miles today: 10.7

My first full day back on the trail since getting my correctly sized hiking boots. I only had them on for about ten minutes yesterday before they were wet and muddy, but it felt oh so good not to have any more toe pain. Today I have been walking through waist high hay fields that were wet from all the rain on Monday so it didn't take long for my feet to get drenched. It has been overcast most of the day but thankfully no rain. The trail is wet, wet, wet and quite slick. There is about 1 1/2" of mud to slide through on each step. It all adds up to slow going. I passed over a couple of fence stiles bordering on private property and made about 10.7 miles. Am camping at Knot Maul Branch Shelter.
Date: 2013-06-12
From: Knot Maul Branch Shelter

To: Chestnut Knob Shelter
Miles today: 9.1

Last night I was joined in the shelter by 3 guys in their fifties and a dog. Slept pretty well last night after slogging through the mud for ten hours. Today started off with a bang! I was up at 6:30 and was packed and ready to go at 7:00. I stopped at a nearby stream to filter some water and then promptly at 7:30 the skies opened up for one slam bang hard thunderstorm. Lightning was popping all around me. I hastily put on my pack cover and was thinking that my metal hiking poles might not be the best at this very moment as I hiked on. The storm lasted a good half hour to 45 minutes and then, thankfully, it stopped. My big climb today was 5 miles up Chestnut Knob. It was a long, steady uphill from 2271 ft to 4411 ft. Out in the grasslands it has dried out on this hot and windy day. But under the trees in the green tunnel it is a different story. The leaves are all leafed out and so any sun is blocked out, which keeps the trail wet and muddy. The wind is whipping through here between 30 and 40 mph and the sun FINALLY is out. It came out about 1:30 this afternoon. I was glad for the wind to keep the sweat down as I hiked uphill most of the day. The weather may take a turn for the worse tonight and tomorrow so I made the call to stop hiking early - 3 PM - and stay at the Chestnut Knob Shelter. It's a concrete block shelter, fully enclosed with a door! Most of the shelters are only 3-sided so this one is the Hilton of shelters. It looks like it might once have been a cow barn. Check my photos for a look at the inside. Time to pull off my wet socks and boots and dry out!
Date: 2013-06-13
From: Chestnut Knob Shelter

To: Jenkins Shelter
Miles today: 10.0

I am sure glad I was able to sleep inside the shelter last night. The winds were howling all night, up to 50 mph. By nightfall we had a full house. There were eight of us and 2 dogs. Let's see, there was HICKORY, CANNERY and her agility dog BANDIT, CHAINSAW, DUCT TAPE and BUZZ with their dog ANGEL. HICKORY has already hiked the AT south to north, north to south, and now is on his 3rd thru hike. He gave me a bit of trail magic! I was pretty tired from my uphill slog yesterday and did not fill up my water bottles. In fact I only had half a liter left. I had seen a scummy pond near the shelter but didn't realize there was running water from a pipe at the north end. HICKORY volunteered to fill up my water bottle for me and I was all too glad to have him do it. Thank you HICKORY! This morning I woke up at 6:30 but was still in bed at 7:10. We are socked in with clouds and can't see 50 ft. in front of us. The wind is still blowing pretty good. I did finally get on the trail and am hiking alone. It is not sunny but at least it is not raining. I have been hiking three hours and hope to hike the 10 miles to Jenkins Shelter to beat any afternoon thunderstorms.
Date: 2013-06-14
From: Jenkins Shelter

To: Bland, Virginia
Miles today: 11.7

Yesterday I came within half an hour of Jenkins Shelter before the skies opened up and I got soaked again. Last night was not a good sleeping night. Between the snoring, one of the hikers passing gas off and on all night, and the two dogs getting up and down it wasn't the most restful! I was up early and back on the trail for a mostly breezy and partly sunny day. It turned out to be a bit cool as a matter of fact. When I stopped to call Barbara midday I got chilled and my Reynaud's kicked in. I noticed that my fingers were turning white. I put my wet clothes in an extra trash bag and stowed it in my pack. My toes are feeling much better although the toenail on the middle toe on my left foot is turning black. The big toenail is discolored. The terrain was great today. Walking on pine needles sure beats sliding across ooze for hours on end. The trail has really dried out! I saw 2 deer deer today and a 5ft. black snake. It was too wet to find kindling to cook with this morning so I just headed out and munched on a Snickers bar throughout the day. I came across a young kid - 16 or 17yrs. old - who had just started hiking the trail. He had an army belt, 2 canteens, a hiker's pack and a bowie knife. He told me he was carrying that knife for "protection." I'm not sure if he meant agains bears or humans. He did not have a trail name and seemed kind of unfamiliar with hiking. Trail buzz has it that one of the thru hikers named WAFFLE overdosed and died in Pearisburg, just a few days from here. I made it to Bland, Virginia today after 8 hours, hitchhiking into town to resupply, eat a Subway sandwich and spend the night at the Big Walker hotel. I took a hot bath and then washed my clothes in the bath water.   The water was about black! I strung a line up in the bathroom and hung my clothes to dry. Hope they are dry by morning. After resting a bit and calling Barbara I walked down the hill to the convenience store in my Underarmor long johns and top along with my camp flip flops. I am sure I was a sight to behold. But I was warm , clean and dry!
Date: 2013-06-15
From: Bland, Virginia

To: Jenny Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.1

I started off the day rested, dry and clean. Walked downhill to a Dairy Queen to have their egg biscuit and potatoes for breakfast before catching the shuttle back to the trail. DUCT TAPE, CHAIN SAW and BUZZ plus their dog also stayed at the Big Walker last night so we shared a shuttle ride. Eating at the DQ was a big mistake as my stomach has been upset all day. I have been hiking alone under the trees. It's been a perfect day for hiking. The temperature is just right and the trail is dry. The woods here look so much like New Hampshire. I stopped to sip some water and eat a banana and started to feel better for a bit. But then a while later I threw up! Yuck! More of concern to me is my water situation. All the streams and springs indicating water on my trail guide have been totally dry. The shuttle driver said that there has been no rain here in several days. I guess this side of the mountains stayed dry during all the storms I went through. I am at Jenny Knob Shelter and the spring here is also dry. The water situation has been feast or famine! I just took my last sip of water... I need to stay here tonight because I am feeling kind of worn out from this upset stomach. I have been hiking ahead of DUCT TAPE and crew but they were planning on stopping here for the night. Hope I can get a bit of water from them. There are supposed to be two streams less than a mile from here so I should be able to refill - camel up- in the morning. If not, coming up is TRENT'S GROCERY 5 miles from here. My appetite is coming back so I will eat a bit of dry food tonight and get some rest.ADDENDUM: DUCT TAPE and crew arrived around 6 PM and gave me some water. One of them also hiked ahead a bit and found a stream with water ( yay!) and filled up my bottles for me. So trail magic has hit again! I drank a half liter or so and now am feeling much better. I am in my sleeping bag and ready for bed.
Date: 2013-06-16
From: Jenny Knob Shelter

To: Trent's Grocery and campground
Miles today: 7.0

Today started off just fine as I was feeling so much better. The morning was clear and sunny so I got back on the trail after saying good-bye to DUCT TAPE and friends and especially their dog ANGEL. It was ANGEL who carried my water bottles back and forth to the stream to get refilled yesterday when I really needed water. ANGEL is the perfect name for this canine trail angel. I drank another liter of water before heading out. My stomach feels back to normal although yesterday took it's toll on me. I filled up my bottles at the very next stream and had a pleasant walk in the woods. I met up with a local day hiker who took a picture of me crossing the suspension bridge at Kimberling Creek. We hiked together for a while. It was the first time I have hiked with anyone this whole trip so far. I yellow blazed off the trail a half mile to TRENT'S GROCERY and CAMPGROUND and decided to stay there for the rest of the day and night. Time to rest up after the strain of yesterday and celebrate Father's Day with a Bacon Cheeseburger!   Besides it's looking kind of black up in the sky and I think we are going to get rained on. My tent is set up in a green patch behind the store. There are laundry facilities so I washed my clothes again - this time for real and not in a bathtub. Also took a shower and recharged my Ipad before it started raining. All this for $6. What a deal!I called Barbara and later we were able to Skype. I am in my tent under an oak tree, laying on my Thermarest and listening to the rain hitting my tent fly. It's nice to be dry and warm...
Date: 2013-06-17
From: Trent's Grocery and campground

To: Wapiti Shelter
Miles today: 8.2

It literally poured all night. Water ended up streaming into my tent and getting the thermarest wet. I was up and packed at 6:30. Had a quick breakfast at Trent's Grocery and headed out at 7:45. It was a half mile road walk to get back to the trail head. The trail was very wet but the hiking was easy. There were about a dozen foot bridges today so plenty of water. Either not enough or too much water lately! Got to the Wapiti shelter about 12:30 and ate lunch. It was really too early to quit but the sun came out and I decided to try and dry out some gear - especially my tent, sleeping bag, and thermarest! I spent the night here with about 15 other hikers. Six of us were in the shelter and everyone else was camping in their tents close by.
Date: 2013-06-18
From: Wapiti Shelter

To: Wood's Hole Hostel
Miles today: 8.0

NOTE FROM BARBARA: Had a brief call from Peter tonight. He has been hiking in more downpours for the last two days and there has been no cell service. In all this rain he has found an oasis of warmth, dryness and home cooked meals at the Woods Hole Hostel, just a half mile off the trail. The owners were kind enough to let him call from their phone. Stay tuned for more details tomorrow when he gets to Pearisburg.ADDENDUM: I got up at 6:30 and left the Wapiti shelter at 7:15. The rain had started at 7:10! I was in a hard cold rain all the way to the Woods Hole hostel, hiking in flowing muddy water in places. As always in the rain there is mud, wet rocks, wet roots, etc.. I got quite chilled and was shivering. I did not wear my Frog Tog top but instead placed it on the top of my pack to give an extra layer of protection against the heavy rains. I didn't want everything in my pack soaked. I kept my pace as fast as I could to keep warm but after several hours I was just plain COLD. I arrived at Wood's Hole Hostel about noon after a 0.5 mi road hike in from the trail. I was sure glad to arrive as I was pretty chilled! This is a wonderful hiker hostel run by a young couple -Neville and her husband, Michael. Neville's grand parents opened the hostel in 1986. They are trying to grow and raise their own food. They have 20 odd head of cattle, 50 hogs, 150 chickens, with a dozen goats and also ducks and geese. They also make their own soap and gather honey. I stayed in the hiker bunkhouse which is separate from the main house where meals are served. After I had a hot shower and dried off it took me a good two hours to stop shivering and feel warm again. One of the younger girl hikers told me she was unhappy with her trail name of SOCKS and wanted to change it. She was cavorting around in a bathrobe from one of the fancier rooms for rent and so I told her she should be called ROBE. So we had a little dubbing ceremony. I picked up my hiker poles, tapped her on each shoulder and said, "By the power invested upon me by the gods of the AT I pronounce you ROBE." She loved it! Supper was served family style. We all sat around the table and held hands. Then each of gave our hiker name and said what we were thankful for. When it came to me I said, "My name is SEEKER and I am thankful for my wife and being dry!" We all had a very nice supper of a large salad of fresh veggies home grown, home made dressing, and fresh baked bread. It was followed by a hardy soup that was more of a bean stew over rice. Two helpings for me! We all helped clear the table and stack the dishwasher. Then it was time for raspberry ice cream cones. Yum! ,Twelve of us for supper! Got to call Barbara on their land line as there was still no cell coverage. I felt so lucky to have come to this hostel on such a rainy, cold day.
Date: 2013-06-19
From: Wood's Hole Hostel

To: Pearisburg, Virginia
Miles today: 15.9

This has not been the best day, but at least it wasn't raining. It has just been cloudy and overcast. I discovered this morning that I was ROBBED sometime yesterday at the hostel - either when I was in the shower or at dinner. My credit card, debit card, license and about $50 cash are all gone.   Could have been that I just lost my plastic case with all these things but I don't think so as it was way down in the bottom of my pack. Anyway I left as soon as it was light and hiked into Pearisburg, VA , checked into the Plaza Motel and called my wife. She canceled my credit card and renewed my drivers license, which I was going to need to do in a couple of months anyways. I had to call my bank to cancel the bank card. This is all a pain in the butt but not the end of the world! I walked 10.9 miles to town. Walked the 2.5 miles to the Walmart to get some more eye drops and than back to the motel. I got some more resupply at the Walmart while I waited for my prescription. Then later on I stopped at the Dollar Store for a few more breakfast items. Looks like I might be out on the trail for 7 days before I can resupply so I need to stock up. Glad I had my cash in three different places and still have enough to hike on! Some of the hikers I have met lately are GRINDER (about my age), TRIPLE M (a little younger than me), ROBE (traveling with her mother and sister), BUTTERFLY who is a med tech, and a middle-aged woman named JUNO who is trying to get a group to slack pack 22 miles tomorrow. At Wapiti Shelter there was a group of 20 something's led by CAVEMAN.
Date: 2013-06-20
From: Pearisburg, Virginia

To: Campsite 2mi north of Rice Field Shelter
Miles today: 10.4

I had a much better day today and ABSOLUTELY NO RAIN! I left Pearisburg early and completed the 1 mile road walk to get back to the trail head. I came to a powerline and from there it was a 1600 ft. climb of 3 miles. I spent the whole morning ascending this rocky terrain. It was fairly cool down among the trees. I reached RICE FIELD SHELTER about 12:30 and ran into another New Hampshire boy - AXLE. He told me that he used to ski at Ragged Mountain all the time. (That's not 15 minutes from our NH log cabin.) He was laid up in the shelter with a badly sprained left ankle. His three friends had arrived to figure out how to help him down. Nearby there was a cell tower with an access road so they decided to follow that in hopes of finding an easier way down than that rocky ascent I had just come up. I am trying to be very careful as I hike as I do not want a sprained ankle like AXLE or any other injuries. I was able to call Barbara and give her an update and also send a couple of pictures. I met a SOBO (Southbounder) named NOUDINI and later on 6 women headed to Pearisburg to complete their section hike. At 3:15 PM I got to my campsite. I set up my tent in DRY WEATHER and filtered a liter of water. I cooked a hot supper and in the morning will filter another liter to take with me as there is no water till I arrive at PINE SWAMP BRANCH SHELTER, about 11 miles from here. All in all it has been a great day - great weather for hiking and I actually got to see a view!
Date: 2013-06-21
From: Campsite 2mi north of Rice Field Shelter

To: Pine Swamp Branch Shelter
Miles today: 10.9

It was very misty early this morning and when I went to get my bear bag down from the tree my boots got quickly wet in the grass. It was great having another day with no rain. In fact, there was real sun, not filtered sun. At one point I hiked through a meadow with waist high grass and got wet from the waist down but it I'll take that any day over the torrential rains and downpours I have been walking through this trip. The forest here looks a lot like New Hampshire forests - except I know that there are rattlers and copperheads around. I haven't seen any, though. It's been a really nice hiking day. I decided to stay at the Pine Swamp Branch Shelter. Later on in the day BUTTERFLY and a girlfriend arrived. They were still sleeping when I left this morning.
Date: 2013-06-22
From: Pine Swamp Branch Shelter

To: War Spur Shelter
Miles today: 12.7

I left Pine Swamp Branch Shelter at 7:30 and got to Bailey's Gap Shelter at 10:15, where I had a bite to eat with LUCKY. He had made too much coffee so shared it with me- instant black. I was back on the trail on this beautiful, sunny day and saw a deer. I also scared up a hen turkey. I sat on a rock for a while and rested. There are a few bugs but no rain. I can't believe I have had 3 days in a row with sunny skies. It is like heaven to have dry feet and boots. The rest of the day I saw no other hikers. i spent the night at War Spur Shelter after hiking 12.7 miles. NOMAD, a young guy from Colorado, spent the night at the shelter with me.
Date: 2013-06-23
From: War Spur Shelter

To: Kieffer Oak Tree
Miles today: 9.5

I was out of the shelter and back on the trail about 7:30. At 9:30 I found trail magic - a cooler with soft drinks and oranges! I had two of each. Couldn't have come at a better time as I had been hiking uphill for 2 hours straight. There had been beer too but no beer for me. I saw that CAVEMAN had gotten there before me and had left a thank you note for the beer. Thanks SUPER DAVE for the MAGIC! I stopped to rest here while I ate my oranges. It was a long climb all morning and the climb is not over yet. NORMAN passed me about 15 minutes ago and I have not seen any other hikers yet. I came within 50 feet of a Piliated Woodpecker. The views at Kelly's Knob were good so I took a couple of pictures and have added them here to my photo file.   I finally did run into some hikers- two professors from Virginia Tech out for a day hike. Also two older women came by and tried to take my picture but they put my Ipad on the video setting by mistake. I finally got some cell service so called Barbara and sent along my photos. Then on I hiked to Keiffer Oak. It's a magnificent old oak tree - over 300 years old and big! It is the largest oak tree on the AT south - over 18 feet around. (The Dover Oak in the AT north in NY is slightly larger.) I set up my tent around 5:30 PM and camped right by this beautiful tree for the night. I hiked 9.5 miles today, mostly uphill. I pulled 8 ticks off myself today as there was lots of field hiking, but none of the ticks had bitten me. I am very tired but happy.
Date: 2013-06-24
From: Kieffer Oak Tree

To: Sarver Hollow shelter
Miles today: 3.1

Short day for me today. The humidity has kicked in so I decided to take a NERO ( near Zero) day and rest up. I walked through some rolling farmland and pitched my tent at Sarver Hollow Shelter early in the day. Some twentysomethings came along later- HUMMINGBIRD, POT TART and SALAMANDER. We found some Magic Cards that had been left in the shelter - Woo hoo! So we played a few games. For some reason they were surprised I knew how to play. Maybe because I am such an old geezer - Ha! Anyway, I had a good rest today and am ready to hit the trail tomorrow. My food and water supplies are good and my cell phone and IPad still have a good charge. Good night!
Date: 2013-06-25
From: Sarver Hollow shelter

To: Niday Shelter
Miles today: 6.4

Got going at 7:30 and reached the trail after 0.4 miles up hill from the shelter. Called Barbara and got through! Today is our anniversary. It is a very different trail today with lots of rock. About a mile of ridge was on sloping rock at maybe 45 degrees so very hard on your feet. I was very glad that it was dry. It would have been dangerous if the rock was wet. Saw a deer and a fawn, then later I scared up a ruffled grouse. I passed the Eastern Continental Divide today and made it to Niday Shelter. There were about a dozen twentysomethings in and around the shelter so I decided to pitch my tent close by. So a total of 6.4 miles today.
Date: 2013-06-26
From: Niday Shelter

To: Pickle Branch Shelter
Miles today: 10.1

The rains have returned, at least for today. I crossed a lot streams on footbridges and passed by the Audie Murphy Monument. He was the most decorated American soldier of World War II. On May 28, 1971, Murphy was killed when the private plane in which he was a passenger crashed into Brush Mountain, near Catawba, Virginia, 20 miles west of Roanoke in conditions of rain, clouds, fog and zero visibility. The monument was placed here right near the AT close to where the crash happened. Spent some time there and added my rock to the pile and took two pictures. Due to the rain I decided it would be better to spend the night in a shelter. I made it to Pickle Branch Shelter, took off my wet clothes and strung up a line to try and dry them out. But it is so humid and wet that I don't think they will dry by morning. At least I am out of the rain. There is water available on a steep trail about .2 mile downhill from the shelter.Got here 20 minutes after the rain hit in a strong thunder storm. I felt like my trekking poles were lightning rods! Three other hikers stayed here - STRIDER and WILDERNESS (a girl) were two. It rained all afternoon and most of the night.