morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-05-04
From: Chestnut Ridge Camp (bloody cold) 

To: Laurel Creek Camp (VA615) 
Miles today: 16.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 49 Well that was just about as cold as it¢s been on the trail. Temperature was in the 20¢s when I went to sleep. Blue eye was wearing everything he had to sleep. On the bright side he pointed out he had little to pack as he was wearing everything. We broke camp early and hiked up to Chestnut Knob Shelter. Formally a fire warden¢s cabin. It¢s built of stone and has a privy with a view. Vision Quest & Jax were the only hikers there yesterday. The next 10 miles were upon a ridge looking down into Burkes Garden. Burkes Garden is mostly made up of farms and has about a 300 population.Today was not a happy hiking day. It was cool, my legs had no strength, and I felt weak. I learned long ago not to fight the trail it always wins. Nobody told the trail as it beat me anyway. I tripped & stumbled over rock & roots, poles got stuck, basically a bad day. I wasn¢t the only one. Blue eye thinks that maybe because it was so cold last night that our bodies were trying to keep warm instead of resting. We had lunch at Jenkins Shelter then move on another 5 miles to camp. We hiked up and over Brushy Mountain, which Virginia has a surplus of. Either they drag us up and over the same mountain five times or they just weren¢t that creative with names. After Brushy the trail crossed Wolf Creek 12 times in two miles all without bridges. Camp is at Laurel Creek VA615. Northman, Vision Quest, Jax, Blue eye, Pennsylvania Pod¢s (4) and me are here. There¢s a free breakfast with shuttle tomorrow morning at 9:30am. Blue eye and I are thinking of skipping it and doing the 7 miles into Bland Va. Getting a room and some much needed rest.
Date: 2005-05-05
From: Laurel Creek Camp (VA615) 

To: Bland VA ÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂBig Walker MotelÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ 
Miles today: 6.8

Day 50 A late start this morning 9am. Another cold night happy times the picnic tables were about 50 yards up the trail. The trail itself went over another brushy mountain. It was switched back and gentle grades for the 7 miles to town. We got to see more appliances dumped in the woods. Tires are more popular, but always exciting to see a whole refrigerator in the middle of nowhere. The traffic was kinda a slow so we walked the 2.5 miles into Bland VA. It was a cool overcast day and the walk was all downhill. The Walker motel was home for the night. Northman was also spending the night. The Subway was the biggest and nicest I¢ve ever seen. Blue eye would like you to know that the soup was very bland. I almost forgot when you do set to town the motel is almost a mile out in another direction. We had start the walk as we¢ve come this far when a lady we¢ll call her ¢Betty¢ as we think this is her name, though neither of us can remember swerves her car over and gives us a ride. We instantly forget everyone¢s name. We were quite grateful for the ride. Blue eye is glued to the TV right now as they are having power tool racing on the discovery channel. I must recommend the brownie batter blizzard from DQ. I had a couple and was very pleased. Interestingly Bland is the county seat it is also the only town in the county.
Date: 2005-05-06
From: Bland VA ÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂBig Walker MotelÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ 

To: Dismal Creek Falls (tent) 
Miles today: 20.5

Day 51 We are up early for a motel, 6:30am. We head down to DQ for breakfast Biscuits & gravy a good idea, biscuits & gravy at DQ not so good idea We pay for a shuttle back to the trail. Can you put a price on not walking? Yes, and its worth every penny. Northman, Blue eye and I cross over I-77 and back into the wood. Rodeo is just breaking camp and somehow had missed Bland. We climbed several brushy mountains today, but for the most part we walked up on a ridge. On our way down to Kimberling creek everything was green, wildflowers were out and stuff was blooming. So spring has arrived here and there. I also ran into Nimblefoot from Wisconsin. He¢s quite a character. He headed in to Trent¢s Grocery to eat & tent while we headed to Dismal Falls to eat & camp.Odd yesterday Blue suggests we stay in a hotel and today No Worries skips a restaurant? In the morning I stuck a King size snickers bar into Blue eye¢s pack. They are entirely too heavy. With his keen powers of observation he found it before he started. 5 miles later I run into him taking a break and ask what he¢s doing? He reply¢s I¢m waiting for my snickers. My powers of observation are evidently lacking. I thought he was being a little to helpful loading the truck. I guess the highlight today was crossing the 150ft suspension bridge over the Kimberling Creek. I¢m thinking of sending the top to my pack home to save weight. It¢s all the rage; all the kids are doing it. I¢ll be hardcore! Only one more day hiking with Blue eye Sunday his girlfriend comes down and he¢s taking a week off. I¢ll be stowed away in the trunk I think. I hope she doesn¢t rent a compact car.
Date: 2005-05-07
From: Dismal Creek Falls (tent) 

To: ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ½ mile before Angels Rest
Miles today: 19.5

Day 52 We left camp before 8am and it was brr¢¦cold. Before long the sun was out and it was almost warm. The trail was relatively flat before Wapiti Shelter about 6 miles. Northman was headed for Pearisburg today. Blue eye and I are going to try to camp just before. When I got to the shelter Milkman and Num-tum were there. Num-tum had Doritos¢s Not Guilty and Zeek pulled out a loaf of bread, peanut butter and a glass jar of jelly, which got us all happy. Then he said watch this! He pulled out 3 beers. So many thanks to Zeek for the beer. After a 2hour lunch break we decide we should get moving. We briefly stop by Doc Knobs Shelter where Not Guilty is the lone quest. We move on to about 2 12 miles out of Pearisburg high up on a ridge. It rained on and off then pretty good as we decided to camp. We choose to save a few bucks by camping. I hope thunderstorms don¢t roll through tonight. Into the ¢burg early for breakfast. The trail had a little of everything up/down, rocks, woods, roads and at the tail end, a death climb straight up. Cooked dinner over looking Pearisburg. This is my last full day of hiking with Blue eye. His girlfriend Angie arrives tomorrow and they are going to gallivant around Virginia for a week. Leaving No Worries all alone what will Worries do? Who will hang his food bag? How will he get Girl Scout cookies now? I¢ll probably do what I did when Blazer left. Curl up on the trail in the fetal position and cry. Only back then the trail was wet and cold so I thought it would be better to curl up in Gatlinburg with 33oz beers. It won¢t be the same without Blue eye, but you can only carry someone so far he taught me that one could hike and camp in the rain, god knows why you¢d want to? I mean you can drink nail polish remover but you don¢t. It will be a different hike when he¢s gone. He has made my hike entertaining. I don¢t think I¢ve laughed that hard in a long time. It¢s no fun making fun of other hikers by yourself, I kid..It was good to hike with someone that didn¢t shelter hop. Probably one of the most layed back easygoing hiker except around Sweet & Sour sauce, oddly. So once again I¢m off on my own. I started out with Professor (section hiker), which only had 4 days. Hey professor hope the knee is getting better. Then I hiked with Blazer who was doing a section hike to Fontana Dam. Note to Blazer¢s wife: can Blazer come out and play? Just thought I¢d ask. There is a possibility that my good friend Bullfoon who hiked the A.T. with your author in ¢99 and is your current transcriber might hike a week or two in Northern Virginia/Shenandoah¢s. He¢s gifted in the dark art of Yogi. The uncanny ability of willing people (picnickers, day hikers) into offering you food and or beverage. It¢s a fine line that is danced between Yoging and begging. Did you all catch the Wingfoot joke¢¦funny stuff
Date: 2005-05-08
From: ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ½ mile before Angels Rest

To: The Plaza Motel (Pearisburg VA) 
Miles today: 2.5

Day 53 Up terribly early, but wait it¢s not cold? There was a happy sunrise and low clouds through the valley. Very picturesque. One of the best campsites so far. The last day on the trail with Blue eye a whole 2.5 miles down to the bustling town of Pearisburg. We first walked to the Holiday Motor Lodge then thought it had seen it¢s better days. Perhaps the Plaza. There were no rooms ready to go we walked the mile and a 12 to Wal-Mart and I put my pictures on CD. Then across the parking lot to Friends & Family restaurant for a killer breakfast. Today, eggs over easy, home fries, bacon, biscuits & gravy and pancakes. By noon we were back at the motel Not Guilty was already there. Did the town thing, laundry, food lion, saw Zeek and Num-tum there, they are down at the Rendezvous Motel. Angie showed up with a rental car and lots of goodies including homemade cookies she drove us to Wal-Mart for a few things then dinner at Subway. We watch a lady dig through the trash out front of our rooms.Today the high was around 80 and sunny. I plan to take a zero tomorrow. My body needs rest, I still have to get my post office drop, and I just haven¢t had one for a month. Tomorrow looks just as sunny, but don¢t worry a chance of rain the rest of the week. Have you all seen the new Family Guy? I teared up I have a whole new love for the Fox Network. Spent the rest of the night chatting with Not Guilty, Zeek & Num-tum. Had 2 Guinness and went to bed. Happy Mothers day!
Date: 2005-05-09
From: The Plaza Motel (Pearisburg VA) 

To: The Plaza Motel (Pearisburg VA) 
Miles today: 0.0

Day 54 Well I decided not to fight Blue eye¢s girlfriend. Basically I didn¢t want to get beat up. I hope they have a good time. We went out to breakfast at Family & Friends again. Much quicker in a car I might add. I picked up my mail drop. Said bye to Blue eye and Angie. Not Guilty and I made the walk to the library at 10:30 only to find Num-tum at a picnic table as the library doesn¢t open till noon. Good to know we all sat in the shade and chatted. Checked the email said hey to Nimblefoot. A local was singing something behind me as I tried hardest not to laugh. Not Guilty and I had lunch at the Lucky Star Buffet (Chinese). They had no Crab Rangoon¢s. What? I kid you not! That like the Colonel not having chicken, DQ not having ice cream, Taco Bell without tacos. Where¢s my fortune cookie? I then made a visit to Magic Mart. Magic it was for those of you that have never been, you¢ll be ok. I guess it¢s like K-mart only cheaper. They did have Count Chocola & Boo Berry though. Good news there is rain on all 7 days in the future forecast. Num-tum is headed to the first shelter today. We tried to talk her out of her silliness. Instead she had a Blizzard with us. Disturbing that she had never heard of Count Chocola & Boo Berry. Nimblefoot, Not Guilty and I went to the Pizza Plus to dine. Had some good laughs and head back to the suite. Sadly no dumpster diving tonight. Talked to my brother Mike he¢s getting a hotel room in Daleville/Troutville for me on Saturday. Ninety miles by noon on Saturday. Some mad hiking! What Not Guilty had 2 fortune cookies? Now for a Nimblefoot culinary moment: ¢When backpacking be sure to squeeze your oranges therefore saving weight. When you reach your destination just add water¢ hmm¢¦thinkin¢ of leaving early tomorrow and doing 19 or maybe 24 miles? Mike also helped me with my camera. I had him look up my journal. Turns out my first 100 pictures were 1meg. Now they are 6 megs so no: Know what most of the buttons on my camera do. Watched Futurama with Not Guilty.
Date: 2005-05-10
From: The Plaza Motel (Pearisburg VA) 

To: Pine Swamp Branch Shelter (tent)
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 55 Well I had planned on an early start today, but went back to sleep. Zero days are very tiring. Packed up and left the motel around 8:30am and walked back to where I got into Pearisburg. I was a bit confused where the trail actually went. I¢m pretty resourceful, so I eventually came up with a solution. You should see me fight my way out of a wet paper bag! The trail went through the woods and plopped you out on a bridge over the New River. You go down some stairs, over some roads, cross a stream with dire warnings not to drink, then up a big hill. It was warm and very humid out. So Worries solo tour started out with little fan-fare. Oddly the stream with the warnings said the bacteria was naturally occurring, but there was a dump right up the hill hum¢¦ I got to Rice Field Shelter jus as Chickadee & Neighbor were leaving. I took a quick break and started towards Pine Swamp Branch Shelter. After about 45 minutes the clouds started to make a noise. I turn around and the sky is a nice color of dark. I out hiked it for a bit. I was stuck up on a ridge for 10 miles, not much I could do. A real pretty meadow came up, always fun in a storm. Everything was blooming but I took no pictures as I was doing my best to stay alive. You think I could have one sunny day on my 1st day alone. The rain came, the temperature dropped and the lightning got scary close. Every once and a while the trail would take you over to the edge to give you a closer look at the storm. The trail drops down to Pine Swamp Branch Shelter. I chat with Neighbor who is from Massachusetts and Chickadee who is from New Hampshire. Finn joined us at the shelter. I thought about pushing on, but tented next to it. I hung my food bag in the shelter. We all chatted and had dinner. I got the low down on everybody behind me. Chickadee saw a big black snake on the trail and got a good picture. I didn¢t see much I did see a gecko on the way into Pearisburg. He wasn¢t in his red car or doing the robot, but too quick for a picture. I left a note in the journal at Rice Field Shelter that Blue eye had run off to the circus to pursue his love for the trapeze. I read back a little someone had put he left for a lucrative modeling career.
Date: 2005-05-11
From: Pine Swamp Branch Shelter (tent)

To: Laurel Creek Shelter (tent) 
Miles today: 18.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 56 Up with the sun and on the trail after 7am. Almost immediately you come to a sign telling you a bridge is washed out due to last years hurricane and there¢s an alternate route if one wishes. Being the hard-core hiker I am, I choose to ford mighty Stony Creek. Several miles later I get my chance. Thought about rock hopping, but the 1st rock was more of a jump then a hop. So I dawned my clogs (croc¢s) and crossed the mid-shin high cold Stony Creek. Brought back memories of Maine in ¢99. My feet seemed to have liked it. It was then a 1500ft climb. Today was actually nice out. On the ridges the temp¢s were mid-high 70¢s and in the valleys low 80¢s. I stopped at Wind Rock for lunch with Neighbor & Chickadee. Great views and killer breeze. We then hike the ridge till it drops into War Spur Shelter where I take an hour break. Chubbs & Rocko are there along with Neighbor & Chickadee. We all decide to move over Kelly Knob to Laurel Creek Shelter. There was a cooler for trail magic, but sadly it was empty I signed the journal anyway. Super Dave hiked in 2002 & 2003. I walked a little further and take a break with Chubbs. My mid-afternoon thunderstorm was running late thought I¢d wait for it. No storms today as I wander the last mile straight down to the shelter. Five of us tonight though I¢m in my tent. I set up on the absolutely flattest site I¢ve seen all trip. Of course it¢s smack under a very large, leaning pine tree. Got all gourmet at dinner and had Spanish rice with crushed triscuts and chunks of cheese. Rodeo showed up always has great stories, keeps me entertained. Story time with Worries: This is a story that Rodeo told me and is much funnier to see in person. Rodeo had asked to sit in on an ADLHA meeting or whatever that hiking club initials are. There are about 15 people 12 of which are giving speeches including Warren Doyle and 3 spectators. One being a thru-hiker, and the other is Rodeo. The subject of guns comes up. So the story goes that a thru-hiker had a loaded 9mm in his pack, which he left out front of the ATC building in Harpers Ferry. It was of course stolen. The hiker tells the police and gets yeah I¢ll get right on that. A couple hours later the hiker returns to the police and adds did I mention the 9mm? Well that got a response. The police rounded up the usual suspects and made a couple house calls. They found the pack and gun. When the story was done the thru-hiker next to Rodeo says: is the moral of the story ¢if you get your pack stolen say there is a gun in it so they look?¢ Apparently there¢s not a lot of humor with these folks. Today I saw 3 deer and a really small garter snake.
Date: 2005-05-12
From: Laurel Creek Shelter (tent) 

To: Pine Branch Shelter (tent) 
Miles today: 22.3

Day 57 If I titled my journal this one would be ¢When animals attack!¢ Up bright and early again. Out of camp a little after 7am. Rodeo stopped by what he called the Blair Witch House. Old house in the middle of nowhere. I moved on as the trail descended into pastures. I love walking through farm fields in the morning. As I rounded a corner there was a donkey in my way. It scurried up the hill and I moved by. I heard pretty loud hoof steps behind me and there he was. So I started hiking and he followed. I picked up the pace as I¢ve heard about movies on the Internet about this sort of stuff. I was unaware that a donkey could gallop, but there it was. I reached the stile and leaped over. I was pretty sure cows couldn¢t climb them, but who knows about donkeys? Next was a 1500ft climb. It¢s always good to be oozing sweat at 9:30am. Up top I met the family who thru-hiked in 1998. 3 of the 6 were there. One was 10 years old in 1998 and at the time the youngest to thru-hike. I took a break with them where the trail for Sarvers Shelter was. They have a new trail and shelter, but I went 1999 when it went straight down. I¢ll hang out up top. I also passed the big Oak tree I missed last time. The trail runs along the top of the ridge mostly over big boulders and you bake in the sun. I had lunch at Niday Shelter with Deep Sea and his wife. Deep Sea agrees that the donkey needed his hoofs clipped. I left the shelter skipping down the trail with my headphones on. In what I believe to be a strong argument against wearing headphones happened shortly. As I was in the middle of my mid-afternoon 1500ft climb I heard a terrible rattling over my music and the sticks on the ground were moving. Sitting in the trail was one angry snake. After leaping out of my skin I hopped back to catch my breath and grab my heart that was sitting on a branch above. Then I grab my camera and took a picture or two. It wasn¢t a huge snake, but it was pretty pissed. It wouldn¢t leave the trail either so I went around. The bugs that were just being a nuisance decided that they¢d eat me despite the stench. I also saw and took pictures of a nest full of baby birds where the trail register should be. A lizard that climbed up a tree then did push-ups for me. Tonight my feet aren¢t talking to me. It was a 22.3-mile day up and down some steep terrain. The shelter was 12 mile off the trail and the water was down stairs to the river. Neighbor, Chickadee, Num-tum, and the 2 section hikers I met previously were there. The last 10 miles I saw no one and I¢m camped .01 miles above the shelter. The wind is blowing I hope that doesn¢t mean anything. Coming off the ridge it was 82° and sunny with a great cool breeze. So all is happy again.
Date: 2005-05-13
From: Pine Branch Shelter (tent) 

To: Lamberts Meadow Shelter (tent) 
Miles today: 23.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 58 On the trail by 7am. I was quite happy with myself as I was breaking down camp at 6:30am, until Num-tum came hiking by. It seemed to take forever to reach Dragons Tooth. The day was overcast to begin with, but the Tooth was buried in a cloud. Soon as you got to the top of one hill there was another. Sorry no pictures of the Tooth. I don¢t know how far I¢d climb it in sunny weather. I scurried over rocks, down rocks, in-between rocks, through meadows and up over stiles. I had lunch with the cows. I hiked 7 hours alone without seeing anyone. I¢m thinking Friday the 13th and I¢m alone in the Virginia woods..nice. I stopped at John¢s Spring Shelter for a break and Num-tum was there. Shortly there after Neighbor, Chickadee & Finn show up. It¢s rush hour on the A.T. We all climb up McAffee knob, probably the easiest 1000ft climb on the A.T. Up top we pose for the popular photo. Neighbor, Chickadee & Finn al stop at Campbell Shelter. I push on over Tinker Cliffs where I pass Num-tum. After 6 miles we get to Lambert Meadow Shelter. There was one person in a hammock tent. I tried to get Num-tum to poke at him and find out whom it was. He eventually got up and chatted with us during dinner. I was going to spend my first night in a shelter, as I was feeling particularly lazy. Until I saw mice. They to came out for dinner as well. The section hiker ¢Highway¢ I think is from Lexington Ky. He¢s hiking to Harpers Ferry. Num-yum I found out attempted a thru-hike in 2000. She¢s 23 now waiting to start grad school. She¢s highly entertaining and I hope she makes it this time. Oh and she has this kickass tattoo I set up my tent in the dark. I wasn¢t ready to room with mice yet. Tomorrow the Holiday Inn Express. Just a moment ago I was pretty sure that a 747 was landing in, on, or pretty damn close to my tent. I poked out my head to see if it went through the mountain. As planes are usually only this loud when one is landing on the runway.