morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2011-05-14
From: Pearisburg, Rendezvous Motel

To: Stealth camp mile, 1.7 past rice field
Miles today: 8.4
Weather: broken clouds

Woke rested despite cramped quarters. Faith restored by Snowy River's kindness. Glad I did not have to take the long walk back to town forked supplies or breakfast. Spent an hour cleaning and patching huge blister w new supplies from rite aid. Actual much improved due to careful tape job at Woods Hole. Tried out knee high support hose EE sent. Right leg still much thicker.up journal on way out of town before losing service. Felt cheerful leaving town excited by crossing of New River. Remember it fondly from canoeing/tubing in 1974, my one year at Virginia Tech. A pileated wood pecker flew up 5 ft in front of me and flew straight ahead on trail.,. "just follow me jimdog !"I wanted to a few more miles but it started raining. Found a tent spot with a fire pit. Got tent up and bear line hung (empty) in a tree, just before it started pouring. I prepared dinner and cooked under my tarp tent's vestibule. I don't like to do this as odor can attract bears. Ive heard reports of mother and 2 cubs in this area. Still haven't seen pne myself but plenty of scat. My first time cooked nice hot meal and ate, being careful not spill and creat bear bait. It kept pouring so I bagged all food, pots, stove, toothpaste etc in a large dry bag to run out and quickly hang in the tree. Waited a little more for rain to let up but dozed off. Woke to large animal footsteps. Nearest person at least 1/2 mile away. Jdog barked like very large dog and footsteps went away. Now fully awake finally went out and hung the food ... Except it was total fog and couldn't find the tree with my line. After nervously stumbling around for a while found the line and hung food ok. Now my tent has disappeared. Could not see it till 10th from it. Slept like a tired rock in dry but damp tent. This was also first time to start morning w no water left. Unfortunately guide shows next water 8 miles away. So was happy to find small seasonal frog pond w H2O. This is dirtiest looking water I've drunk. Swampy flavor even after filtering so used chlorine back up pills for first time.
Date: 2011-05-15
From: Stealth camp, 1.7 mile past rice field

To: Wind Rock view
Miles today: 18.7
Weather: clear sky

Cold and foggy when I arrive at Wind Rock. Fogged in no view, but rain down to drizzle, so set up tent(already soaked from last night) in nice grassy area with big logs to sit on. Luxury! Site even has lots of good easy tree limbs to hang bear bag. At 8 pm It can be a pain to find secure limb to hang food. Rain holds off while I cook. It's luxury to have big logs and rocks to cook on like a table so no squatting down. Just as dinner is done cooking the clouds break and I get a nice sunset view all to my self. Put on all the warm clothes I still have and eat out on the view rock. Still get chilled in the wind, due to soaking wet pants and feet. At dark around 9 I go to sleep in the tent. Comfortable but instead of steady rain which lulls me, it keeps making sudden sharp bursts of big drops...BAP BAP BAP.....pause.....BAP BAP! BAP!....BAP. Ah the natural world, so unpredictable.
Date: 2011-05-16
From: Wind Rock view

To: Stealth camp ridge mile 674
Miles today: 19.6

Stopped on ridge at 673.3 and cooked killer rice curry. Had to stop due to extreme beauty of view when rain and fog paused briefly. Rainbow and puffs of clouds zipping along below. Also want to avoid cooking in tent after animal footsteps spooked me last night when eating in tent! Glad to have rocks to sit and cook on. Packed and moved on at 8pm hoping rain will hold and I can find small flat spot to set up tent. Ridge is too rocky and narrow. I put fresh batteries in my headlamp just in case I need to go the 4 miles to next shelter in dark. At about 8:45 find nice flat spot right next to trail about 10ft x 6 ft. Just right for little tent. There is strong wind but rain holds off so hang damp sleepingbag in tree while wiping put inside of wet tent with my little chamois cloth. I have hard time throwing bear line in almost dark. All good branches are too high to hit and or guarded by brushy small branches. Each throw which misses, the 60ft line tangles on branches and briars. Finally a perfect throw, but line slides down too close to the trunk. I am hanging my whole pack because a zip lock failed and coated whole wet pack with very aromatic chocolate protien powder. Rig 2nd line to pull pack away from trunk. Good job at last. Fully dark, I cut extra stakes from branches to secure tent w extra lines on windy exposed ridge. By this time tent and sleeping bag dry enough (thank you wind) to be semi comfy. Just as I shove sleeping bag in tent, it starts to pour, which lasts all night. The wind loosens the Velcro and water runs in..   1st time after maybe 20 nights tenting in rain. But all water collects under air mattress. Miraculously every thing stays dry. The rain and wet are beating up my feet. Every night I wonder if I will be able to walk at all in the morning,let alone do the 20 or so miles planned. My careful tap jobs have mostly healed the original heel blister, but now have worse one at edge of the tape!
Date: 2011-05-17
From: Stealth camp ridge mile 674

To: VA 624 Newport Rd. 4 Pines Hostel
Miles today: 20.1

It rained hard all night. This the first time rain water runs into my tent. Fell asleep before fully closing the flap. But I stay dry (damp actually) as all water collects under the air mattress, none on me or stuff! Rain again stops at 5:30 am so I hurry to pack. But it takes 35 min to fix up sores on my feet. Start walking at 7:15 raining by 7:30. I make 3 miles down hill to Niday Shelter. I find Where In The Blazes and his fianc©, He Bee Gee Bee still cooking breakfast. Haven't seen him since the day Hondo bit the dust. W I T B is famous on the trail for his guitar playing, singing and being a really good guy. HBGB is also very cool. Cubby and Tomahawk and Keyan also say hi before departing.Feeling waterlogged, I would like a big day so as to reach Troutville and dry out in a hotel. 46 miles 2 days doesn't look good unless terrain is fast. Steady 1700 ft climb up Brush Mt is fairly fast 2 1/2 mph uphill. Top of mt is super easy smooth flat road.. 3 1/2 mph. Sacrilege: I skip the side trail to Audie Murphy Monument, flying along dreaming of dry hotel. At Trout Creek, VA 620, there is a sign post "4.1" to Dragon's Tooth. and "7" to Catawba Grocery store. Thinking It's in the bag I plow on wout checking my AWOL guide. Unfortunately real distances are double the sign's. The 1100ft ridge climb up to Dragon's Tooth turns out much harder. There are steep rocky slippery in the rain ups and downs. More rugged than it looks on the profile. Now going less than 1 mph even as I rush to beat black clouds and winds which like tornado spawning conditions. Rain and fog break when I reach the top and hurry down blue blaze to find Dragon's Tooth. There are trails every direction. Get off the main one while looking at all rocks trying to figure out which is most like a Dragon Tooth. Slip on wet rocks and tear my pack cover. So put phone and camera in zip locks and leave pack. Fog closes in. No view but cool rocks and trail magic by "The Magician's Nephew". Fresh orange juice and fire works. ?Dragon's breath to go with Tooth? It starts to rain so get damaged rain cover and pack and head back to main AT. Think I'm done with rock scrambling.. Lightning thunder starts to pour mixed with hail. In 5 min there is 6" of water standing on the flat parts of trail. Except most of the trail is rock lots of cliff bands to scramble. This is the toughest terrain so far since starting in Georgia. Pretty easy if it wasn't pouring buckets. Slow and deliberate eventually get out of rocks with out falls.   There is long section of thick Rodedendrons in full bloom. The most spectacular display of pink flowers yet.   Rain slows to just steady hard as I reach first road crossing with store. Walk to store and get pizza hot dogs 3 little Debbie pies etc etc. They tell me about 4 Pines Hostel, just reopened and call Joe to pick me up! A shower and chance to dry out instead of wet tent in the rain!
Date: 2011-05-18
From: VA 624 Newport Rd. 4 Pines Hostel

To: VA 311, Catawba, VA then Waynesboro
Miles today: 5.9

Kept fire going all night in the stove to dry gear. Stoked it again am attempting to dry last items: heavy wool socks and Gortex shoes. Socks took till 10:30 to dry complete. Gortex shoes take days to dry completely. On long wet trips where even Gortex is sure to be soaked, it becomes a liability. The shoes are still damp when I hit the trail at 11, but they did shrink. My feet however have swollen with with lots of new blisters from the wet. 100 yards from the road the foot bridge is washed out. From the high water marks, it looks like creek was 6th deep in flood yesterday. Good thing I stopped at 4 Pines yesterday eve instead of trying for 6 more mile. Now it is only 2 ft deep, possible to cross safely but step stones under water so wading fills newly dried shoes w water.After not raining all morning, it starts as soon as I do. My feet are sore. No way making 26 miles to dry hotel today. Decide to stop after 6 miles and try to get shuttle to Waynesboro for the family bike ride. This will save brother Rick a long drive to get me. Sun comes out for a minute so call Del Schechterly, shuttle driver. He tells me I'm only 10 min from the 311 crossing. He will be there in 15. I am relieved and proud to make reasonable decision instead of pushing on so I can say I've finished 1/3 of whole AT and 1/2 of Virginia. I'm sure 5 nights in hotels will fix my feet. Del swings by Gander Mt Outfitters to pick up three Germans and drop them at Hojo Troutville. How covenient! Get repair kit for my torn Packa, raincoat/packcover and an extra pair of my favorite smartwool socks. 1 1/2 Hr drive on interstate. Del's tiny minature Doberman keeps us company. I settle in at Quality Inn w hiker rate discount. Rick can't pick me up till 4 tommorrow so time to lick wounds rest and repair plus check out Waynesboro.
Date: 2011-05-19
From: VA 311, Catawba, VA then Waynesboro

To: Skyland Hotel
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

My feet hurt worse after drying out and first day rest, so back to bed after breakfast till kick out time at 11. I walk to Weasies diner and do laundry across the street w double soap. Visit the music store and get harmonica instruction book. Can't find wifi with place to elevate sore feet. Head for Kroger to get more food .. Need powdered Gatorade to go with protien powder from CVS. Feet are really sore as I pass shoe repair store. No way I can hike at all with toes too tight and pressure sores from having toes squeezed together. Drop off my only shoes for few days to have them stretched. I got to talking to shoe repair shop owner's daughter about trail instruments. She got out her uke & kazoo and played a few #s. Tried out new new C harmonica I bought for Henry. Rick is bringing bigger boots and Crocs. No One in Kroger says anything about bare socks my and I'm stocked for 8 days when Rick picks me up.   I can barely get a pair of XXXL Crocs on over all swollen blisters. I can barely walk slowly and tenderly. We drive up to Skyland and meet some of the bike riders. Henry and Elena are still riding. It starts raining pretty hard so drive to check on them. Due to big climb they are plenty warm in the rain and keep riding. We have a great dinner.
Date: 2011-05-20
From: Skyland Hotel

To: Waynesboro VA, Quality Inn
Miles today: 0.0

Had a great breakfast in dining room then bikers headed South in Sunny morning. My feet still really sore and now very swollen, I stayed in room with feet up till kicked out at 11 by clean staff. Went to lobby TP use wi fi and met several hikers. Including Breeze last seen just before Hot Springs. His friend, The Mayor, getting off after section needs ride to Waynesboro, so he goes with when I drive in to pick up shoes from shop.Mostly sunny but some good showers mostly while bikers were in Loft Mt Wayside for lunch soMissed getting rained on. Drove N 1/4 mile and found handsome young black bear spotted earlier. Got stuffed at Scotto's for dinner.
Date: 2011-05-21
From: Waynesboro VA, Quality Inn

To: Luray, VA, Mimslyn Inn
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Dr. Bill Robinett looked at my toes and suggested I might want to call it quits.. Pressure sores will never heal until the rub is removed. Might take several weeks to heal even with rest and care! Also have swollen very sore right thumb. Look like bad splinter. Maybe from splitting oak with cold wet hands/ no gloves at 4 Pines? Maybe bruised it with handholds on wet rocks at Dragon's Tooth?Also blister on right heel looks infected.Brother Rick is real sick in am, so we decide to take to ER Augusta Regional Hospital. It will take 4 plus hrs to check him out for gastro enteritis. It seems like a good place, and they are taking good care of him, so I check in too.They do a thorough ultra sound for deep vein blood clots suspected because of gross swelling in rt foot and ankle: negative. Dr says pressure sores pm my toe are bad, deep possibly into the bone doing permanent damage. Months to heal. Toe and blister both look infected. She wants to open the swollen thumb and remove foreign object. They bring in her set of carving knives, but decide to X ray first to see where and what to look for. Diagnosis: bone chip fractured off / no splinter. So another vote to get off trail for at least a couple months if every thing heals ok,They can't find anything with Rick. Both of us are too tired to go out for dinner. 6 Lance pbutter/ cheese snacks and out for the night.
Date: 2011-05-30
From: Brother Rick's house, Herndon, VA

To: Sister Elena's Falls Church, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Memorial DayRested at Elena's and did elevated foot exercises. Except started a little project replacing wheels on her sliding glass patio door. Generic wheel mounts Rick bought almost fit. With only a tiny hacksaw it took 2 hrs modify them. It surprised me that all went back together and worked wout breaking anything or hurting anybody. Tried out Rick's old Chrysler convertible going to Home Depot. Pretty cool and funky, but real hot in 95 deg 95%humid!Went to the cemetery to visit my parents graves. Stayed for a couple of hours sitting on the grave and sewed my jacket and pants. Calming and patient. Reminded me of countless hrs mother spent sewing for us.Elena bought Dandelions at the oriental market to cheer me up and make me feel at home. Bigger and more tender than big field Dandelions. They were good. Nice to have more than 1 pot and burner to make multiple dishes. On trail everything in one pot.
Date: 2011-05-31
From: Sister, Elena's, Falls Church, VA

To: Sister Elena's, Falls Church, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Tried to rest my feet. They have swollen back up and gotten really painful again, despite attempts at rest and treatments. Had dentist appointments in morning and afternoon, evaluation then routine cleaning. Both broken teeth need crowns but no root canals or implants. Sort of good news.   Frustrated that feet got worse, so stopped soaking in water with vinegar and using ointment from foot doc. Both seem to irritate sores. Amazingly, supplies sent by EE arrived. I barely emailed her list by 5 Sat. Somehow she was able to gather stuff and mail before PO closed!Will try the prescription antibiotic cream from the foot clinic in Franklin, NC. It seemed to work 2 mos ago when I was hanging out with Chopper at NOC.
Date: 2011-06-01
From: Sister Elena's, Falls Church, VA

To: Brother Rick's house, Herndon, VA
Miles today: 0.0

Another rest day trying to get inflammation and sores to calm down. Writing chronology of Dr visits and symptoms in prep for first apt with Dr Cheng, rheumatologist tomorrow. Also go back to Dentist in Herndon to prep for 1 of 2 crowns.Hopefully Dr Cheng will be able to figure out what has been causing all (or at least most) of odd symptoms I've experienced over the last year. It's a daunting task to collect and organize all the info so visit can be effective. Did more research on Drug induced Lupus and Lyme Disease. Discovered more facts which seem to make Lupus more likely and Lyme less.Real hot here record hot upper nineties today. Driving Rick's funky Chrysler Lebaron convertible wout air. Would be fun with normal temperatures. Lots of traffic jams and real long lights in Northern VA. Wonder if there is any chance of getting back on the trail before the dog days of summer. Still in limbo waiting for diagnosis. Trying to stay positive but frustrated that sores are healing so slow and even have some new sores despite rest and keeping elevated. Swelling keeps coming back. Seems like I need more exercise to improve circulation but skin is ultra sensitive. Tried short walk and wore my new hike boots to the dentist to start break in. Worked on gear repairs which helps me feel like making progress to return. Little things: cleaned and deodorized pack, reinforced temporary patches on torn packcover /rainjacket. Sew torn hoodie. Cleaned, disinfected and patched torn spots on my big Montrail Helium boots. These boots have the most toe room of any shoe I have. Hence best chance of avoiding new pressure sores. Also sterilized and backflushed my gravity filtration system. Set up Find Me Spot account. Added booster battery case to my IPhone. Sew repair my long pants, etc etc etc. Boring details except the effort gives me hope. Every night I dream that I return to hiking and that walking in the woods makes my feet get better.
Date: 2011-06-09
From: Harper's Ferry Shenandoah Bridge

To: Maryland side of Potamac Bridge
Miles today: 1.1

Took the day off to recover from near heat exhaustion yesterday. One more body part falling off...left knee now is sore. Maybe the footbeds combined with the rocks on the Roller Coaster got it.Drove around HF in the morning until I found Daydreamer gave her the mail drop box which Wisconsin and Saturday picked up for her at Bear's den.Had giant relaxed breakfast at County Cafe with Wisconsin, Saturday and Daydreamer. Where in the Blazes? joined us along with HBGB, Sarah and H3. Nice local diner type place. After researching maps online at the library and figuring out all kinds of complicated plans to flip flop the car, we decided it was too late and too hot so we said our good byes, then Wisconsin and his Dad left for the next shelter. I decided to finish West VA. My family used to go to Harper's Ferry when I was a young boy. Many great memories climbing on Jefferson's Rock with brother Henry and sister Elena. Brother Rick still a baby. Also catching salamanders. HF trips were the most happy family trips I can remember with whole family in harmony.Walked in bathing suit and crocs thinking to jump in river but got side tracked playing harmonica with trains sharing the bridges across the Potamac.Drove back to Rick's in Herndon. Beautiful drive in convertible with showers at last to cool things down..sweet.
Date: 2011-06-14
From: Brother Rick's Herndon N VA

To: Home Salt Lake City
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

I'm headed home with mixed emotions. 1/2 whipped puppy, 1/2 excited to see EE and Kathleen. I'm proud to have hiked 758 official trail miles. Over 1/3 of the whole trail and over 1/2 of Virginia. Completed the states of Georgia, North Carolina, Tennesee
Date: 2011-06-15
From: Home Salt Lake City

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0

"The dust that Hondo ate down South, ended up in jimdog's mouth"I've been slow to update while trying to honestly assess my physical condition. It is wonderfully cool here. EE has kept everything ship shape. House and yard are beautiful in late spring. First day home made appointments with 5 doctors. Also visited Tom, the luthier, at Local Music to check out Hondo(my trail guitar) Here's where we are today:HONDOBad:Back smashed in. 12", 6" and 4" jagged gashesNeck and finger board coming loose. Most internal braces loose or fallen outBridge saddle lostSides 75% torn away from top and bottomGood:Top solid spruce sound board perfectTom's verdict: $450 to fix a $50 guitar she's totaled.JimdogLeft knee too sore to walk on2 1/2 missing toenails, one more coming offToe joints swollen and hypersensitive. One joint has flared up after 4 wk rest.Sores and blisters from trenchfoot healing very slowlytwo broken teethRight thumb now only 2 times normal but blister and red gone. A liitle sore but serviceable.Both artificial hips acheHeat rash mostly healed and healing good.Upset stomache diarrhea for 2 weeksStrength and endurance about 50%weight down 10 lb. (gained 10 lb back resting month)Severe sinus infectionBoth feet swollen purple and burningLow red and white blood countsTHE PLANJdog will try to fix Hondo. Tom gave enough good advice to make feasible.Jdog will see Foot Dr, hip Dr, Knee doc and Rheumatologist. No hiking till sores healed and cleared by Docs.EE can see right thru me. She knows I'm "secretly" scheming to try and finish my hike this year.
Date: 2011-06-20
From: Home

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Special glue for Hondo arrived. Started repairs. Could use smaller hands and another 10 clamps. Won't know if she be playable till done and try. Saw Doc Cooper. He confirmed MRI showed torn meniscus. I trust him and Kim. They are looking after my best interest and schedule arthoscpic surgery for next week. If it goes well 6 week return to normal activities.
Date: 2011-06-22
From: Home

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0

More Doctors. Had my artificial hips checked out. Doc was concerned that both hips got sore and the scar on one hip turned red and started oozing. Suspicious timing after completing course of antibiotics for trench foot. Hips checked out A OK. Scar healed back up nicely and promptly. No infection. It was just heat rash exacerbated by skin at the scar being a little more sensitive. I was also concerned after reading all the headlines about recalls on total hips with steel on steel bearing surfaces. Elevated metal ions can be an indicator of excessive wear. Dr Jill also said I am an outlier. She has never had a double hip patient with such ridiculously high demands on their hips. Happily, metal ions in my blood are lower than average for her patients and way below levels which cause concern. No recalls for the Biomet Magnum M2A! The U of U is very proud of the way my hips are working as well they should be. A real miracle. I am so thankful.
Date: 2011-07-15
From: Home

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Still recuperating. Hondo, the guitar is all good to go. Wish I could be put back together so cheaply with couple dollars worth of titebond glue. EE is working real hard painting every day. I try to help by framing and critiquing her work. I'm meaner and more critical than her art friends. But lots of encouragement since she is loaded w natural talent. Also like to hang out when she is painting by roadside to serenade w Hondo and keep her company.I decided to skip knee surgery until one more try at conservative approach. No more pain after a couple weeks biking and swimming.   I am breaking in new Dr orthotics, which have a strong effect on the knee. So far so good. Longest hike yet 3 hrs up a jeep trail on Boulder Mt, near Capitol Reef. Made a plan to start South bound from Katahdin in early Aug. Went thru and re did mail drops. Also went thru gear and got a bigger pack cover. Hondo can ride inside my pack w sleep bag and clothes. Got some long skinny stuff sacks around the out side to act like boat dock bumpers. Maybe over optimistic. Lots of stuff has to get better first:1. Get rid gastro intestinal pains and diarrhea after 6 weeks.2. Figure out how to deal w toe arthritis and foot sores. Feet are pretty well healed and no swelling for last 2 weeks. But now have a new toe joint flared up with open sore. Definitely can't be blamed on hiking. Will try cortisone shot.3. If I can work up to 10 milers in the Wasatch w 4,000 -5,000 ft climbs, and still feel good then I'll hit the AT. Mt Olympus is a pretty good match w big K.If not, then it looks like regroup for next year.