morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-05-08
From: Hot Springs, North Carolina

To: Spring Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: clear sky

Great breakfast at the Sunnybank - Muesli cereal,frittata, fruit. Won't eat like this for a long time now. Ran to library, spent 3 hours looking at emails and updating my journal. Started hiking at 1:30, went to almost 8. Started alone, but a fellow Sunnybank boarder caught up to me, Jim, and we hiked together for most of the day until I started slowing down due to fatigue. Meanwhile, 2 highlights - an encounter with a 5-6' black snake just laying out on the trail. We ended up walking into the woods so we wouldn't disturb him. Later we walked by an old hay/tobacco field. I imagined the hard scrabble life this family had, but perhaps their consolation was that they lived in such a beautiful place.I found a neoprene knee brace in the hiker box at Sunnybank, and used it, and had a fairly pain free day. Of course there was not much downhill so I'm not sure how much of a test it was. But lack of pain is lack of pain.Near the end of the day ran into an inspiring retired married couple who seem to be devoting their retirement to hiking - they are near completion of section hikes of the AT and the PCT. They were Tortoise and Just A Few Steps More.At the shelter: Ran into Ranger Jan again!, also caught back up with Jim, plus Glenn and Trifecta.
Date: 2007-05-09
From: Spring Mountain Shelter

To: Jerry's Cabin Shelter
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: few clouds

I started the day hiking with Ranger Jan. I wasn't energetic, and he got ahead of me, but not before he took some shots of me hiking for a video he is putting together. This could be the start of something big!?I ran into Scottie (now Otter) and Max, who again retrieved me and took me to Otter (too cute). Otter has a serious problem with his shins but plans on doing 10 miles per day until he feels better. Otter is one of the funniest people on the trail, as well as a really neat guy. His jokes are all the funnier because he has a Scottish brogue. The joke about the guy going to jail in particular, who's punchline became a mantra on the trail for a while.Today I discovered just how important my knee brace is. I was hiking pain free until it seemed like the brace was cutting off circulation to my feet. I loosened the brace, and immediately the pain came on. After a while my feet felt better, so I retightened the brace. The pain disappeared again except at the very end of the day when I encountered some steep downhills. I'm on to something.I encountered some rock climbs today along a very scenic ridge, the most out and out hiking fun I've had on the trip so far. The picture is taken from the top of a section I had just climbed. The views were great too - We seemed to be hiking the edge of the Appalachians, so there was a flat valley to my left and neverending mountains to my right.At the shelter I caught up with Trifecta and Jim, and met a young section hiker named Todd. In spite of bear warnings, Todd left his food in the shelter right over where I was getting ready to sleep. I moved it so the bears could take his food without disturbing me. Then, in a classic demonstration of passive resistance, I put up my bear bag on one of the trees he hung his hammock on.
Date: 2007-05-10
From: Jerry's Cabin Shelter

To: Hogback Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: broken clouds

Hiked alone in the am. Took a side trail w/o my pack to find a vista, turned out it was a bypass like yesterday to avoid a rocky section. So, I had to go back(using the AT, not the bypass), pick up my pack, and rewalk the AT with my pack on. Do I get double credit? Heck, no. But it was fun to climb the rocks. Later I got almost completely lost when I kept going straight when I was supposed to turn. The path probably WAS the trail at one time, but trails get redirected. Anyway, the path became narrower and more overgrown, so I started getting concerned that, if I WAS wrong, I would not be able to retrace my steps. So, I went back and found my error. In the evening I found out that Trifecta made the same mistake, only he kept going even further. This is my 3rd wrong turn in a week (leaving Standing Bear hostel, yesterday turning down a fire road, and this). I need to avoid getting into reveries on this seemingly mindless task, and stay focussed on following the white blazes.At lunch I ran into Todd and Jim. Hike the rest of the day with Jim, more pleasant bookish conversation. I really enjoy walking with him. The miles went by well, but after lunch the ups and downs were intense. In fact, my knee spasmed within 1/2 mile of the shelter (lucky for me - I thought it was still 3 miles away!). Spent the night with the same group as last night - Jim, Trifecta, Todd.
Date: 2007-05-11
From: Hogback Ridge Shelter

To: No Business Knob Shelter
Miles today: 20.6
Weather: broken clouds

I dedicate this day's incredibly successful hike to my parents, especially appropriate since today is my father's birthday and Mother's Day is the 13th. I reflected today on how they made this trip possible for me. First, I inherited genes with a tendency towards durability and tenacity. Second, I was raised with certain values - the importance of education, obedience, hard work and patience, which allowed me to thrive in corporate America, while maintaining independence of mind and a savings ethic that allowed me to know when it was time to cut and run and to be able to afford to do it. And, last but least, my parents gave me a birthday present this year that essentially sponsors the trip. Thanks for everything - I love you for it all!   The day started inauspiciously. Jim and I planned to hike about 10 miles, maybe a little more since that sounded short. It was 1 pm when I arrived at the 10 mile destination. We looked at a campground 6 miles further. Met there, and decided we felt good enough to keep going to the next shelter - This would give us a very quick, short hike into town the next day, affording extra time to do..... whatever - eat, wash, shower, drink, socialize, update journal, touch base with the home front. This turned out to be my longest hiking day yet.   At the 1 pm stop, I read the register and a hiker named The Dude had written a hilarious poem with a vaguely familiar rhyme scheme. The topic of the poem was a bald we had just hiked across - Big Bald. I only recall the first 2 lines, and they went:   "I'm ever hiker trash, low society, God's gift to AT notoriety" A quiz for readers: What song is this? If you need a hint, the band's name is a reference to either electricity or sexual orientation.   At the same shelter, I met Yellowstone, along with Jim and Trifecta. Yellowstone lives near that park, and does a lot of hiking there. He told of his 3 encounters with grizzly bears, allegedly more dangerous than black bears that you see on the AT. All 3 stories include the grizzly bear running away from him. Also, I read the register and found that Sanford had issued a "shout-back" (saying hello to someone behind you) to me and a number of other hikers he had encountered along the way. That was heartening, because I certainly have fond memories of our days together as well, and I look forward to seeing him in Damascus. At the end of the day, I met several new hikers I had heard about or seen in registers - Bonnie & Clyde, Xenon and Wormwood, Piggy and Wooly.
Date: 2007-05-12
From: No Business Knob Shelter

To: Nolichucky River
Miles today: 6.3

Hiked to a hostel on the Nolichucky River, Uncle Johnnie's. Did 6.3 miles in less than 2 hours - a new land speed record! Of course, it was mostly downhill, with an almost food-free pack, but it is what it is. I watched Trifecta jog much of the trail, since he was trying to get to the Post Office before it closed. He succeeded, and I keep trying to change his name to Running Man, a la the Arnold Schwarzenegger movie, but he seems attached to his other name, even though it is a scatological reference. During the hike, I had a discussion with Xenon about how he got his trail name (it is for an intermediate product of nuclear fission, and he coaches a little league team named the Xenon Transients). I ended up getting a lecture on nuclear plant technology, reminding me of a part of my old life I miss, though hardly enough to jump off trail. Once I got off trail, I spent much of the rest of the day talking and emailing family and friends. I realized how important this was when another hiker confided in me that he almost dropped out of the trail due to homesickness. I also spent a lot of time eating - starting with an AYCE pizza and salad place while washing clothes. Unbelievable quantities of food intake, but then I've been using a lot of calories, and my current trail diet isn't keeping up 100%. Ultimately I got to see a lot of fellow hikers that are 1-3 days ahead - Corker, Cheeseburger, Candyman, Are We There Yet, Peach, Just Glenn, Tatonka, Dog Man, Joker, Sizzers, plus of course Jim and Trifecta who I have been traveling with, plus a lot of the folks from last nights shelter. It was great catching up with the folks ahead of me, especially Cheeseburger and Peach, who are so far ahead that it is getting unlikely I'll see much of them anymore, especially given their plans to hike to Damascus for Trail Days, while I only plan to hike to Hampton Tennessee and then drive there. One neat thing is that they sign in the shelter registers alot, so I can monitor their progress. Apparently they are reading my trail journal when they are in towns, so they have a way to keep tabs on me too. Good luck guys!
Date: 2007-05-13
From: Nolichucky River

To: Beauty Spot
Miles today: 10.6

My trowel is dirty now! Thank goodness I never lost it - thanks to Grace and Eddie for their prayers. The Tennessee Eastman Club does not believe in privies, and the vast amount of food I consumed in town required action. I was pleased with my accuracy for a first timer. If you haven't done this before, it is not as unpleasant as you might think. I was the beneficiary of some trail magic today - I talked to a couple about my hike, and they told me their cooler was on my way to camp - there were 3 beers left in it, I could have them. Needless to say I shared with my campmates, keeping the oatmeal porter for myself. More trail magic happened that night as Politician, who was taking an off day, brought more beer, as well as pizza and marshmallows to the campsite. I think he may be running for Appalachian Trail Council president. He has my vote. Thanks, Politician!Also at Beauty Spot was Tatonka, Dog Man, Joker, Moss and Sizzers. Joker's girlfriend, Tinkerbell, was visiting him, and hiking as well. I met a new group, who I had heard of, consisting of Crockett, Wolf Taffy, Gourmand, Candy Bar, and Rootdown. A very friendly bunch, they had brought steaks and corn on the cob with them from Erwin. When they were done, Wolf Taffy and Gourmand played some banjo/mandolin, and later Dog Man played the mandolin as well, with Gourmand moving to the harmonica. We had a hard time convincing Tinkerbell that life on the trail is an event of suffering and hardship. A big part of the reason to camp at Beauty Spot was to see the sunset, which did not disappoint (picture forthcoming). I slept under the stars for the second time this trip, hoping to see shooting stars, but clouds in the eastern sky prevented it. It was the coldest night since the first 2 days, so it was an interesting evening.
Date: 2007-05-14
From: Beauty Spot

To: Clyde Smith Shelter
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: scattered clouds

My streak of pain-free days is up to 5 - knock on wood! It took 9 hours to hike the 14 miles, but I don't know why. Everyone else seemed to have the same issue and question.At the shelter, the same crew as last night except that Bum-Bum and Doodles stayed at a hostel. Another elaborate meal prepared by the Crockett group. I enjoyed my pasta with chicken flavor and ramps, with an appetizer of gorp and a Baby Ruth bar, and cocoa for dessert.
Date: 2007-05-16
From: Overmountain Shelter

To: Mountaineer Falls Shelter
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Passed the 400 mile mark today!I hiked alone early in the day, but joined with Tatonka later.    The 3 "little old ladies" from the shelter yesterday turned out to be fountains of information. I encountered them on the trail, and they showed me some interesting plants - Jack in the Pulpit, and red trillium (I had thought something else was red trillium), and told me a little about the history of the area I was about to hike - an iron mining area after the Civil War. This is an aspect of the trip I hadn't thought about, made me wish I could know more as I walked through all the areas I did and will hike. Oh well. One historical aspect I am acutely aware of is that some of this land was condemned by the government to make parks out of it. Some people in Roan Mountain NC and Elk Park TN are still offended by this, and vandalize the trail. While I find their behavior offensive, every time I pass gravestones, structures, fences and open pastures/fields, I ask myself - did these families leave their land because the life was just too hard, or was their life's work of converting this inhospitable environment into a livable beautiful place taken from them? I really enjoyed hiking through the open fields - the grass is giving off a strong sweet smell right now. I spoke to a local named Steve who had been section hiking with friends about a particular pretty bird call that consisted of 3 sets of 4 sounds (3 notes and a trill) with an odd pattern, the most varied bird call I have heard. He suggested it might be a wood thrush, as some others had as well.  The last 2 hours of the day had the makings of the nightmare scenario for hiking - heavy rains and cooling temperatures. As it turned, out the hiking was ok once our bodies adjusted to it. As far as camping, we were fortunate too. There was room for everyone inside and the weather cleared about an hour after we got there. But I had visions of wet everything the next day - bringing with it coldness, blisters, slippery hiking. Yuck. When I got water it was yellow, but not really from particles - maybe tannin from the leaves in the stream. Treated it, tasted ok. A group of section hikers was there, with a puppy who had adopted them as its caretakers, following them from Roan Mountain. It was limping badly. I found the situation depressing and tried to avoid contact with the dog.
Date: 2007-05-17
From: Mountaineer Falls Shelter

To: Dennis Cove Rd - Laurel Falls Hostel
Miles today: 13.4

I hiked all day with Tatonka. Lots of talk about careers and future ambitions for both of us. He seems more interested in thinking/talking about his future than anyone else on the trail. It was a goal of mine to do the same, but I can't seem to focus on it much with all the distractions available.When we got to the Kincora area, Tatonka and I split up. He went to Kincora hostel, the cheapest alternative and a trail tradition. I went to Laurel Forks Inn to meet Mary. She was late because MAPQUEST gave her absurd directions - for some reason, they indicated she should drive on the AT for 3 miles! When she would ask the locals how to get to the AT, none of them knew where it was (Never mind that she wasn't going to be able to drive on it!). Finally, she mentioned the street address of the Inn, and that solved the problem. We finally caught up, and we picked up Tatonka at Kincora to go into town for dinner. Ate at the Bridges Restaurant - good food, pigged out, and a bluegrass quartet played through our dinner. We were the only diners in the room while they played. It was a big hit. On the way home, I tried to pick up my food drop at the Kincora Hostel. Bob Peeples was not going to give it to me because I wasn't staying there. I had to remind him I gave him right of first refusal - he didn't have a room available, or I would have stayed there. So he relented ;-)It will be a while before I hike with Tatonka again - he is going home for a week to attend his grandfather's birthday celebration. Hopefully we will catch up down the road - I am taking a lot of time off at Harpers Ferry.
Date: 2007-05-20
From: Trail Days

To: Dennis Cove Rd - Laurel Creek Hostel
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Mary and I took a quick trip to the Laurel Falls, about 1 mile in on the AT from Dennis Cove Road. Very scenic. Also found some trees cut down by beavers as evidenced by the chew patterns. Asked some locals, they said beavers don't live near the AT but do live in some nearby ponds. Maybe a stray just looking for something to chew on. Met Bunkers, a through hiking mom with an 8 yr old daughter. Hikes very independently and does a lot of night hiking but a very engaging person. Back at the hostel, met Phillip and Miles, a father/son section hiking team, Miles is from Carroll County. Their running joke, actually true, is that at the rate they are going, they will finish the trail by the time Dad is 118.
Date: 2007-05-21
From: Dennis Cove Rd - Laurel Creek Hostel

To: Vandeventer Shelter
Miles today: 19.2
Weather: clear sky

Started a bit late, 9:30 am, alone and not sure what my plan was. There was a beach at the 9 mile mark, and I met Bunkers again and Bhikkhu. I hung out there over an hour - thought other hikers might show up, especially Dog Man, Joker, Sizzers and Moss. No one did so I decided to take up the "Corker challenge" - Dennis Cove Rd to Damascus (about 51 miles) in 2 days. Corker did it by stopping at the Vandeventer shelter, the 19 mile mark, and then did 32 miles the second day, claiming it was so level it was easy (and boring, so why not blast through). I did accomplish day 1, reaching the shelter at 7:30 pm.    Earlier in the day, ran into a mother/daughter section hiking team, Firefly and Dawn. Next I ran into Miles and Phillip who were slackpacking SOBO for the day, and chatted briefly. Then of course the beach meetings. Late in the day, caught up with Bhikkhu. The name means a bhuddist ascetic who wanders in the woods, a kind of monk. Particularly apt since he is Bhuddist. Also ran into Bunkers again, both in the woods and at the shelter. We were the only ones at the shelter, which was fine since she is very engaging, and knowledgeable about hiking among other things. A bit crowd averse, so the lack of other hikers probably helped convince her to stay.I needed water badly, so I ignored the warnings about how far away the water was. They were right, though.... a long way downhill to the water. On the way down, I disturbed a bear that must live in the valley (a few days later some other hikers said they saw one at the same spot)
Date: 2007-05-22
From: Vandeventer Shelter

To: Abingdon Gap Shelter
Miles today: 22.7
Weather: clear sky

Well, I did not succeed in the Corker Challenge. Came up about 9 miles short. But.... I was not bored by this section as he was. It was a very interesting fun day for several reasons. First, I played leapfrog with Bunkers, Nature Boy, and a family group of section hikers all day, as well as passing some SOBOs, so there was lots of people contact. Second, now the shrubs are beginning to flower (until now it has only been ground level wildflowers. Flame azaleas (bright orange), white azaleas with brown or red lines in them are in full bloom. And, giving a hint of what the rhododendron thickets will look like in full bloom, the first few plants are covered in incredible purple flowers. Third, I saw another bear. No drama this time - he ran away from the trail. I whistled for a while afterward anyway, just to be nice, to let the bear know I was leaving. Fourth, a stray dog started following me. It was a 2 yr old coon dog, with a beautiful disposition. He followed me for a while, then took the lead, turned down a side trail and whined like he was Lassie and I was Timmy. So I followed him, and he turned onto a road and quickly lost me. I figured I was done, so I went back onto the main trail. A few minutes later I feel a nudge on my calf, and there is JD, back to following me. He ended up following a number of hikers, we took turns being his master. In fact, he got half of my second lunch because I am such a soft hearted guy. The dog was so hungry he even ate half of a vanilla crisp power bar! At the end of the day, a group of SOBO hikers(including Bullwinkle) took him, with their 3 dogs, so I knew he was in good hands. They are hoping to find his owner in Kincora, and I promised to ask around in Damascus.   Fifth, met some couples that do volunteer trail work, in the Beauty Spot area that I camped at. Sixth, hit an excellent trail magic, sponsored by a husband & wife 2006 thru hiker team, Head-N-Out and Tag-N-Along. They couldn't give us enough food. Had 2 hot dogs, 3 sodas, 3 candy bars, mega cookies. Ended up not eating my own dinner. Asked them what their favorite thing about the trail was, and they said the White Mtns. One aspect they particularly liked was that they got to stay in huts for free the whole way through, via work and trail magic tickets from day hikers. Seventh, I got tired of wearing my knee brace so I took it off with no problems. Eighth, even though I didn't get to Damascus, this was my longest hike to date. Ninth, good people at the shelter. I ran into Trifecta again. He has had many nicknames, since he is quite a character, and has settled on Auslander now. Also met Rosie, a thru hiker from CA who has already done the PCT. Bunkers showed up at the shelter, as did Nature Boy, a section hiker named Jim and the family team I'd met during the day. The only down thing about the day was that the flies were peskier than they had ever been.    So, though Corker had more miles, I had more smiles. I think I succeeded after all!
Date: 2007-05-23
From: Abingdon Gap Shelter

To: Damascus, VIRGINIA!
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: scattered clouds

3 down, 10 to go! Entered Virginia today! Actually the day started on a negative note - I found out that my snoring was so loud that all the folks that stayed in the shelter lost quite a bit of sleep. One of them actually left the shelter and pitched their tent after half an hour. I will start tenting myself to spare others the inconvenience. Fortunately everyone is a good sport about it to my face but one of them has been complaining loudly about it to others when he thinks I'm not around. I'm staying at a hostel that advertised private rooms, but actually I have a roommate. He is a known snorer as well so I'm ok. In fact, it is Tortuga, who I met several times before.   Highlights of the day: Crossed the border, saw another bear (yes, that makes it 3 days in a row), This one was on the trail and ran right off when he heard my hiking pole hit a rock. Never looked at me, just took off. Hiked without my knee brace, pain free (actually I finally felt the pains I had been expecting on my "bad" knee, but they were mild and I know how to control them). Got my latest mail package (thanks, Mel!), eating like crazy again, met a few folks I didn't expect to see - Tortuga, Lion, Hans, Skittles, and Greg. Lion was particularly puzzling because he puts in major miles. Turns out he was off trail for 9 days. That sounds right. Plus the crowd I'd been hiking with - Rosie, Auslander, Jim, Bunkers, the father, son, friend section hiking team(Dave, Josh, Matt).I have been putting in so many miles that I need to adjust my food drops - assume fewer hiking days between stops. I actually put together my next food drop (Atkins VA) using leftovers from the Damascus food drop.