morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2012-07-15
From: Bailey Shelter

To: Niday Shelter
Miles today: 27.0
Weather: scattered clouds

When we woke up we got packed up and said our goodbyes again and headed out. We hiked 8 miles to War Spur in lightning speed. I was the first one to get there and when I did I was frustrated with my shoes falling apart. I was loud. There was a woman there putting up her tent. Turns out the shelter was full last night so it was probably a good thing we stayed at Bailey's Shelter with Otter and Kit Kat. Also, there were a couple of copperhead snakes at War Spur. We got our water, had some lunch and then left for Niday Shelter. On the way up the mountain we hit some trail magic. There were apples, grapefruits, bananas, soda and some beer. This was a great pick me up. We caught all the people who were staying at War Spur the night before. We even got a chance to see a great view at the top. When we got to Laurel Creek Shelter we had some lunch. Otter and Kit Kat caught us. Then we headed out again. Up to this point, we hiked 14.3 miles. We all hiked to VA 42 where Otter left us and got picked up and Kit Kat stayed at Laurel Creek Shelter. When we got to VA 630 we took a break and let our stuff dry out and soaked our wet feet in the creek. After a while we left and passed the largest tree in the south, the Keffer Oak. We hiked up Sinking Creek Mountain. It was super steep and really hot out, but I did not stop. I pushed through it. I continued to the Sarver Hollow Shelter sign where I waited 45 minutes for Spook and Songbird. We were low on water but Server Hollow Shelter was straight .5 miles so we skipped it. While I was waiting I ate some more food when Spook and Songbird caught up we headed out. We hiked on a ridgeline for most of the night while there was thunder and lightning. We were trying to out run the storm. It was getting dark when we rolled up to Niday Shelter. We hiked 27 miles today. When we got to the shelter 2 guys had a nice fire going. I went and collected water while Spook and Songbird set up and started cooking dinner. When I got back, I cooked up dinner and tried to clean my feet. The guys we met, laughed at my shoes. We went to bed while the other guy kept stoking the fire. They let the fire burn all night. I did not sleep well at all so when the other guys left at 4 am I was still rolling around. My alarm went off at 5am. We were so tired we decided to sleep another hour.
Date: 2012-07-16
From: Niday Shelter

To: Four Pines Hostel
Miles today: 16.8
Weather: scattered clouds

After an hour snooze button (haha) we got up and started packing up. That's when I started having a freak-out. I could not find my camera. I thought I had lost it. So without logically thinking, I decided to walk 2 miles back down the trail in case I dropped it or it fell out of my pocket. I had been distracted the night before by the storm. After not finding my camera I started walking back and that is when I figured out where it was. When I got back to the shelter, Spook and Songbird were long gone. I found my camera cord in leaves under the steps to the shelter. It fell out when I put my pack down the night before. Finding my camera was such a relief, all those memories were not lost. So now that I felt better I started hiking about 1 mile down the trail. I met a really nice guy with a beautiful puppy. I talked with him for about 5 minutes then was off again. I hiked 9 miles in three hours and that included climbing from 1540 feet to 3100 feet and then back down to 1525 feet elevation. I caught Spook and Songbird at the bottom eating lunch. There was more trail magic. There were Cokes at the bridge crossing the stream. Then after enjoying a Coke we started hiking again. We stopped at Pickle Branch Shelter where I cooked lunch and Spook and Songbird rested to get out of the heat. There was a camp group there of about 15 young teens and 2 counselors. After I got water we hiked to Cove Mountain and Dragons Tooth. This rock climbing experience was awesome! The view was amazing. We spent some time taking pictures and then we had to continue. Dragon's Tooth was peaceful. When we got to VA 624 we walked 1/4 mile to a gas station and got dinner. I had a double cheeseburger, 2 hot dogs and 2 Gatorades. I made the decision to stay at Four Pines Hostel while Spook and Songbird continued to John's Spring Shelter. I had a package in Catawba. That is why I stopped. Also since I am a faster hiker we all decided I would just catch Spook and Songbird in Daleville the next day. When I got to Four Pines I met the guy in charge and he told me the scoop. I slept in the garage on a couch after running into the 2 guys from the day before at Niday Shelter. There was another guy (trail name Serge). He was just passing thru. Funny guy though. He tried to convince me a flip-flop was best. I still don't buy it. I want to hike the trail straight thru. I showered and cleaned out my blisters, washed my clothes in the sink and went to bed at 10pm. I set the alarm for 5am and fell asleep. The couch was pretty comfy and I slept pretty good.
Date: 2012-07-17
From: Four Pines Hostel

To: Daleville-Super 8 Hotel
Miles today: 25.7
Weather: few clouds

When I woke up the time was 4:45 am so perfect timing. I turned off my alarm and jumped into the shower. I packed up my stuff and left my donation and started hiking. I walked the .4 miles back to the trail by 6 am. I hiked the 5.9 miles and got a chance to watch the sunrise on my way to Catawba. When I actually got to VA 311 there was a parking lot. I was getting ready to hike a mile down the road to the post office when an older man struck up a conversation with me about hiking. His name was Steve he laughed at my shoes and offered me a ride into town. Talk about trail magic. He drove me to the post office and waited for me and drove me back to the trail. He also gave me duct tape to tape up my shoe. He was going bird watching with a really nice camera. Real nice guy and thank you if you are reading. Your generosity is greatly appreciated. I got a package from my aunt and uncle. There was food in it a ot of freeze dried stuff. Very good. Thank you Scott and Anne. My goal for the day was to catch Spook and Songbird. I enjoyed McAfee Knob. It was a beautiful view. I passed a guy shortly after Camp Campbell Shelter who had no water. So I gave him a liter of mine. I hiked up to Tinker Cliffs all up hill. It was super hot-=I think it was 108 degrees! Took some nice pics though. I expected to get water at Lamberts Meadow Shelter but it was dry-so no water. The terrain was so dry I felt like I was walking through a desert. I ran out of water with 4 miles to Dalesville. So I took several 10 minute breaks to try to cool myself down. I had a freak-out at one point. I blame it on heat exhaustion. When I got to the sign before the road I saw a note a from Spook and Songbird. When I got into town I went straight to the gas station and chugged 2 Gatorades. I called Spook and he told me they were staying across the street at a Super 8 hotel. I went over, met up with them showered quickly and walked to the outfitter and grocery store to resupply. We wanted to go out for dinner so when we got back Songbird and I walked to Cracker Barrel while Spook got Mexican somewhere else. Dinner was really good and I got a chance to catch up with Songbird because I had not really hiked with her for 3 days. After dinner I called my Mom talked to her for a while, then snacked on all my fruit I bought at the grocery store. I had to go across the street to a gas station twice at 11 pm and 12am to get more quarters to do laundry. So I took bath shower and really cleaned out my blisters because my feet really started hurting. I went to bed at 1 am after my laundry was finished. The plan for the next day was for me to go to the post office while Spook and Songbird left before me. Daleville was good to us. Sleeping was amazing, the room was cold and the bed was so comfy. I shared a bed with Songbird. I hiked 26 miles today in just under 11 hours.
Date: 2012-07-18
From: Daleville-Super 8 Hotel

To: Bobblets Gap Shelter
Miles today: 18.5
Weather: broken clouds

Waking up in the hotel was real nice. I slept until 7 am. Then we ate the rest of our fruit and snacks. Spook went down to the free breakfast while I showered. Since I had a package at the post office in Daleville and Spook and Songbird didn't-they left before me. I got all my stuff ready then proceeded to go to the free hotel breakfast. It was pretty good. I had a lot of cereal since it had been over 2 months since I had cereal and I love cereal. After breakfast I started walking the mile down the busy road to the post office. It was Hot with a capital H. and I didn't know exactly where the post office was. When a car pulled up and asked me if I wanted a ride. This is where I met Karen Dillard. She was amazing, one of the nicest people I have ever met. She drove me to the post office and then back to the trail. She offered to take me anywhere I needed to go or buy me a Gatorade but I had everything I needed. She gave me her number and told me if I needed anything over the next week or so to give her a call. I stuffed all the food my parents sent me into my pack and started hiking. My pack was really heavy but I was hiking really fast to catch up with Spook and Songbird. I stopped at a stream to get water and eat some snacks when I met a hiker named Crow. Crow and I hiked together to Wilson Creek Shelter. On the way to Wilson Creek Shelter I passed 7 firefighters. When I walked up behind them I scared the one in the back of the line. They asked me if I was okay so I said Yea I am great and asked how they were-(haha) apparently they were out looking for someone who called and asked for help. When we got to Wilson Shelter Spook and Songbird were finishing up lunch. There was also a homeless guy there who gave me an uneasy feeling. Spook and Songbird left shortly after I got there. After a 10 minute sit down break and getting weird vibes from the homeless guy, I was ready to go. It still takes about 1/4 mile hiking slow before my feet get numb or something to where I can hike faster., When I got to the first overlook-Taylors Mountain Overlook-it started raining a little. I took some pictures anyway. I experimented with taking pics with a timer on my camera. It only rained for about 15 minutes then it stopped. I passed the Montvale Overlook and took more pictures. Then I passed Harvey's Knob Overlook and took a 15 minute break. Took some pictures and threw some trash away. When I got to Bobblets Gap Shelter Spook and Songbird were just hanging out. We got water out of a slow moving stream and all cooked dinner. We traded some food with Crow along with drink mixes. When it finally got dark we all started getting ready for bed. Crow slept in his hammock while the 3 of us slept in the shelter. I slept so good on this night but my feet were hurting. I set my alarm and passed out.
Date: 2012-07-19
From: Bobblets Gap Shelter

To: Thunder Hill Shelter
Miles today: 23.7
Weather: broken clouds

Waking up at 5am is sometimes tough since it is still dark out, but we all got up and snacked on something for breakfast. Then we packed up, I visited the privy while Spook and Songbird left. I caught them at VA 43, the road into Buchanan. While hiking to Cove Mountain Shelter we passed an older couple (husband and wife) who never hiked before. She did not look like she was having a lot of fun. We stopped at the shelter, looked at the map, had a quick snack and tried to rehydrate. We stayed and talked to the couple when they caught up for a little bit. When we got to Jennings Creek we ate lunch and went swimming. It was very refreshing. After swimming we went from 951 ft elevation to 2042 ft. hiking up Fork Mountain. On the way up I had to stop and tape up a blister. The day passed by pretty quickly after that. We stopped at Bryant Ridge Shelter to get water. This was the nicest Shelter I have seen on the trail. It had 3 levels. After a quick snack break and rehydration we continued our uphill climb for the day. We stopped at Cornelius Creek Shelter, got water and ate dinner. Songbird left first and then Spook and I left a little after. The plan was to go see a 200ft waterfall down the Apple Orchard Falls Trail. The sign said 1 mile but it was closer to 2 miles downhill. Spook and I put our pack covers on our packs and hid them at the top next to the AT. After hiking 2 miles down it started getting dark with rain clouds. The waterfall was not worth my time, I was not impressed. We were heading back up when the thunder started. As soon as Songbird got her nice camera back in her pack, it started pouring. I got soaked walking back uphill to the AT and my pack. We hiked in the rain for a while trying to get to Thunder Hill Shelter. We hiked up Apple Orchard Mountain in the rain. My feet were killing me. They hurt and I couldn't figure out why they hurt so bad. Then it got dark because it was 9:15pm. I was moving slow but Songbird was encouraging me. We hiked the last .3 miles with our headlights on. When we finally got to the shelter, I took off my wet shoes and socks to find a huge blister on the bottom of my right big toe. That is why my foot hurt. We all got ready for bed and fell asleep to the rain on the roof of the shelter. I started getting lazy and just keeping my food in my pack. It took a while to fall asleep because my feet were so sore.
Date: 2012-07-20
From: Thunder Hill Shelter

To: Punchbowl Shelter
Miles today: 25.1
Weather: moderate rain

We woke up at 5am again but were discouraged by the heavy rain. Everyone was moving pretty slow this morning. Songbird was ready first, so she left. I taped up my feet, packed up my stuff and took a video with my camera on how I am starting to not like rain (haha). I took a bunch of Ibuprofen and headed out in the rain. Spook was still eating when I left. I was moving slow but then I passed a section hiker named Roundabout. He gave me a message from Songbird. To hurry up and stop hiking like a Pansy. (haha) Well, that's not exactly what she said but that is what I heard. She was a little nicer. Roundabout was a really cool guy. I talked with him for at least 10 to 15 minutes. After that I tried hiking faster with little success. Spook passed me on one of the roads so I was now in the back. I was hurting but pushing through it. When I finally got to Max Creek Shelter Songbird and Spook had been there for a while. I cooked up lunch while Songbird left. I packed up, Spook left and I left 10 minutes behind him. Once again I was in pain hiking and my shoes were really falling apart now. When I passed the James River it was foggy and people were jumping off the foot bridge into the water. I pushed onward to John's Hollow Shelter. Spook and Songbird were there waiting for me. I am starting to feel guilty for holding them back but they keep reassuring me it is OK. We talk about staying here so I can rest up or pushing on. I tell them we should push on. I now have another blister from my broken shoes. I taped up my feet again really well and was able to stick with Spook and Songbird all the way up to Bluff Mountain. I do better on the hills, it hurts less. I have to pretty much limp when going downhill. I made it to the shelter. When we got there, we me Sherlock. He had his hammock hung up in the shelter. We cooked dinner and tried to get water but there was no good water. Then we set the alarm and went to bed.
Date: 2012-07-21
From: Punchbowl Shelter

To: Seeley Woodworth Shelter
Miles today: 25.3
Weather: light rain

I woke up to my alarm and started packing up my stuff. Songbird has been yelling at us to hurry up so Spook called her a slave driver. Songbird left first, followed by me limping away and then Spook was last. I stopped at the road to get water and that is when Spook caught me. Today was up and down. I did hike with the group for awhile today, which was a win for me. I also hiked by myself a bunch today. I listened to my I-Pod a lot. I found some trail magic, a jug of water, so I filled up my empty water bottle. Then I hiked up Bald Knob which went up forever (2065 ft to 4059 ft). We passed the Cow Camp Gap Shelter where someone was killed recently. We decided to not even stop there. It was .6 miles off the trail, so what's the point. I was still trying to catch Spook and Songbird. I found them on top of Cold Mountain eating blackberries. It is funny even at my slowest I am not that much slower than the others. We crossed the Tar Jacket Ridge which is where Spook and Songbird pulled away from me. I met up with them again at Seeley Woodworth Shelter. There was a great water source here. We all cooked dinner and used up most of our food because we are stopping at Montebello tomorrow for resupply. I finished the freeze dried food my Aunt and Uncle sent me,   I cleaned my feet as best I could. Then we got ready for bed. We heard all kinds of animals tonight around our shelter but I was so tired I passed out. I had to get up in the middle of the night to pee and while doing this, I heard a bear close by. The whole time my thought process was please let me finishing peeing first before I have to deal with a bear. But it didn't bother me and I went back to bed. A scary moment though (haha).
Date: 2012-07-22
From: Seeley Woodworth Shelter

To: Harpers Creek Shelter
Miles today: 14.2
Weather: light rain

In the morning we were all excited because it is a re-supply day. I packed up and left first because I was moving slow. Songbird passed me and asked how I was doing. I caught back up to her at Spy Rock Road. We called for a shuttle and they told us to walk one mile down the road. Once we got to the bottom of the hill, a guy was waiting for us. He drove us to the store and said he would be back in one hour to take us back. We re-supplied and had a real breakfast. I had eggs, pancakes, two sausage biscuits and bacon. It was delicious. I got so full, almost too full. The people who ran the breakfast place offered us showers but we decided since we would be in Waynesboro tomorrow, and it was already 10am, we turned them down. We were very grateful. After an hour the guy came back, picked us up and took us back to where we started. We hiked the one mile up Spy Rock Road back to the AT. When we got there we caught our breath and started up hill to Priest Shelter. We refilled on water and took a nice little break. I visited the privy. I guess breakfast was too filling. (haha) Then we left and hiked up Priest Mountain. I was fine going up, my feet did not hurt too badly and I was able to make pretty good time. Coming down the other side was a different story. I got passed by two guys. This is the first time I ever got passed by other hikers. When I got to the bottom the guys that passed me offered me Peanut M&M's which I gladly accepted. Then I started back up hill but I was exhausted. I had to take a break every 10 to 15 minutes and felt like I was going to pass out. When I stumbled across the Mau-Har Trail which is a shorter, harder trail, I had to take another break. When I made it to the shelter Spook and Songbird were there waiting. The plan was to make Maupin Field Shelter. I felt sick so I told them to keep going. It was another seven miles. I ate dinner, tried to clean my dirty, bloody feet. I felt hot so I put a cold rag on my forehead. I passed out and sweated out a fever tonight so it is a good thing I decided to stop. Spook and Songbird decided to stay with me which I really appreciated. Our group morale actually went up tonight. We talked about how we were going to do this together and that was very encouraging. I slept on one side of the shelter and Spook and Songbird slept way on the other side of the shelter.
Date: 2012-07-23
From: Harpers Creek Shelter

To: Waynesboro, VA
Miles today: 27.0
Weather: broken clouds

When we woke up in the morning I felt much better. My fever was gone but my sleeping bag was soaked with sweat. I was excited today because I was finally getting my new pair of shoes and could throw away my old torn apart pair. We all got up and packed up our stuff. I taped up my feet as best I could. I went and got water down by the stream, then we all left for Waynesboro. Like I mentioned in past journals, I much prefer going up hill because of the pulled shin muscle which is swollen and it hurts my feet less. We hiked up Chimney Rocks and Three Ridges. I caught up to Spook and Songbird at Maupin Field Shelter where I stopped to have a snack. When we left we ran into Bigfoot who we had met previously in Daleville. He was day hiking. That is when Spook and Songbird pulled away. I felt the blister on my left big toe was getting worse but decided to keep pushing forward. My right shoe completely fell apart. The bottom sole of my shoe fell off so it really hurt walking on the rocks. I was hiking pretty slowly and was worried about not being able to make it to Waynesboro. I stopped and Cedar Cliffs and turned my phone on while hanging my feet over the side of the cliffs. My shin was swollen and my blisters and feet hurt. I called my friend Sarah, who is an athletic trainer and asked her about my injuries. I talked to her for about 15 minutes and got some good advise. I called both Spook and Songbird and left a message. I also texted them saying my shoes fell apart and I was going to try and hitch hike. So I walked out to the road and sat in the Dripping Rock parking area. I ate some lunch and waited. I passed a woman and her son on my way to the road. I tried hitch hiking with little success.   I waited for two hours and she came back to her car. She made a comment about my holey shoes. (haha) I explained to her I was trying to get a ride into Waynesboro. She offered me a ride and drove me 15 minutes to the Outfitter in Waynesboro. Her name was Emily and she hiked the trail in 1999. We shared stories. Emily if you are reading this, thank you for the ride. I really appreciated it. At the Outfitters, I picked up my package and my new shoes. Then I ate some snacks. When the Outfitter closed at 6pm, the guy that works there gave me a ride to the Quality Inn. I got a room and then examined my feet. I had some bad blisters and my shin and ankle were quite swollen. I waited for Spook and Songbird to call. I watched some TV and tried cleaning my feet. When Spook and Songbird called, I told them about the Trail Angel System. They got a ride from a very nice woman named Cindy Davis. We all showered and then got a ride to Outback Steakhouse from Cindy. Dinner was delicious but took forever. We were one of the last ones out. Cindy picked us up as well at 10:30pm and took us back to the Quality Inn. We planned out next re-supply and got ready for bed. I shared a bed with Songbird. We decided to sleep in until 8am, which was a huge treat. I slept so good in the comfy bed and the cold air conditioning.