morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-03-20
From: Erwin, Tenn., Miss Janets

To: Zero Day (Miss Janets)
Miles today: 0.0

Took a zero day at Miss Janets. The weather helped me make up my mind. This morning a wet snow/sleet mix started falling. Later in the day it turned to rain. I have a head cold and am really congested so I figured why not take a day off.Moleman continued north anyway. Mrs Gorp decided on a zero day too. Jolly Green Giant, Gary with Pepper the dog and Nuts (yay!) came in today. Went to CVS and had my camera developed and put on disk so I will hopefully be able to get some pictures uploaded after I am done typing this. Nuts had to change out the floppy drive with one Miss Janet had from another old computer because the one in the PC wouldn't read my disk. We went to Eats Diner for dinner. We (all the hikers) ordered Downtown Burgers and got the biggest hamburgers I have ever seen. Made the hungry hiker burger from Smoky Mountain Diner in Hot Springs look like a crumb. We all posed for pictures. Giant was the 1st to get his down and Nuts finished his. Both Gary and I had to get a to go box. A local patron came over to congratulate Giant on his tremendous feat and congratulated all of us for trying. The waitress wasn't aware of thru hikers being in town and thought that Miss Janet had brought in a band of homeless people.Hope to continue north tomorrow and make Kincora Lodge in about 5 days, but there are 2 big climbs (Unaka at 5,000+ and Roan, over 6,000') which might be snow covered. To make Kincora in 5 days I need to average about 15 miles a day.Hostels are one of the highlights of the trail. It isn't to hard to make a decision to stay at one and it is hard to make a decision to leave one. Moleman slackpacked around Erwin a few days and stayed here 3 nights, and almost a 4th. That is all for now. Hope to update again at Kincora, if not there, it will be in Damascus Virginia about 4 days after Kincora.
Date: 2006-03-21
From: Miss Janets

To: Cherry Gap Shelter
Miles today: 16.4
Weather: light snow

Miss Janet dropped me and Jolly Green Giant off at Chestoa Bridge over the Nolichucky River. Mrs Gorp went for a section hike and brought Fabian with her. The weather started out fine, reaching 60 at one point but dropped down to about 45 as I gained elevation. Started to see more snow on the ground around Curly Maple Gap.Crossed Beauty Spot where there should have been some good views but the only view I had was the fog blowing across the summit. I would have camped in Beauty Spot Gap, but the ground was still covered with slushy snow. Sleeping on top of that didn't seem wise. Once I reached Unaka Mtn, a little over 5,000', it started to rain hard enough to put on rain gear. Got to Low Gap about 7 p.m. and put my headlamp on so I could see. The rain was really coming down now, wind blown and still foggy. That made it pretty hard to see the blazes on the trees and the mud was getting slick. I did a banana flip after stepping over a log water bar.Got to the shelter about 7:40 to find it occupied by Jolly Green Giant and The 4 Brothers, section hikers headed SOBO. They were all zipped up in there bags sleeping and I didn't waste any time doing the same.
Date: 2006-03-22
From: Cherry Gap Shelter

To: Clyde Smith Shelter
Miles today: 8.9
Weather: clear sky

It got really cold last night after the rain stopped, dropping down to the low 20's. The ground is frosted and frozen. Everyone left before me. I planned a short day was waiting for it to warm up some so my boots would thaw out.Only went 8.9 miles today because a 2,200 foot climb up Roan Mountain was ahead. A 15 mile day would have put me at the summit and I didn't want to sleep in the "coldest shelter on the AT", even though I would have had the priviledge of saying I had slept in the highest shelter on the trail. Glad it was a short mileage day because I didn't feel that good physically. Legs never felt like they ever got warmed up. By 7 p.m. the temp was down to 30. Looked like another nippy night.Hit & Miss stopped at the shelter for a bite to eat. They are flip-floppers from New York doing there NOBO section. Taco joined me for the night shortly after. He had done about 20 miles today. I ate 2 meals while at Clyde Smith in preparation for the climb up Roan. I wanted to make it to Overmountain Shelter or maybe Apple Tree, which would make a big mileage day.
Date: 2006-03-23
From: Clyde Smith Shelter

To: Overmountain Shelter
Miles today: 13.3
Weather: broken clouds

Left Clyde Smith about 8 a.m. and reached Roan High Knob at 12:15. Took me about 2 1/2 hours to climb up the mountain. Near the top the trail was covered with a lot of snow and ice and past the shelter it was pretty much the same with snow and ice where a few springs crossed the trail.Crossing over the 1st bald past Carvers gap there was a couple out day hiking. They had many questions about my thru hike and wished me luck. Reached Overmountain Shelter, which is an old tobacco barn, about 4 p.m. Decided it was too late to go any farther. I spent the night alone. It was my first solo shelter stop since leaving Springer Mtn.Noticed some clouds coming in before dark. Looked like rain. I was quite surprised when I got up to find a few inches of snow on the ground!
Date: 2006-03-24
From: Overmountain Shelter

To: Route 19 (near Roan Mtn, Tenn)
Miles today: 8.7

Departed Overmountain shelter and walked most of the way across the balds and high ground in a light snow. Decided I would never make it to Moreland gap shelter which was 24 miles down the trail and I am still reluctant camp on the snow. I want to make sure I keep my gear dry while the temps are still getting low.So my brainstorm plan was to hitch a ride to Roan Mountain once I reached Rt 19 and call Bob Peoples at Kincora Hostel. On the way Guns of Jesus caught up to me. He had stayed at Stan Murray shelter the night before. My plan worked beautifully. I got picked up about 2/10 of a mile from the trail head and got dropped in the small town of Roan Mountain, TN at a Shell/Subway store. I had coffee and cookies at the Subway then got a cheeseburger, fries and more coffee at Bobs Dairyland. Gave Bob a call and he picked me up at about 4:10.There was a hiker reunion going on at Kincora becuase of the snow. Sunset, Trev, Pebbles, Elizabeth, Lewis, Moleman, Mark, Bonepac, Hit & Miss were all there. So was Mother Mary and she had cooked up a pot of spaghetti, sauce and a few pans of potatos.
Date: 2006-03-25
From: Route 19 (near Roan Mtn, Tenn)

To: Kincora Hostel
Miles today: 23.8

Last night we got a few inches of snow but I decided to go out an get some miles in anyway. I had Bob drop me off on 19 and I slack packed back to Kincora Hostel. It snowed on and off all day and the going got harder and harder since I was breaking a fresh trail in the snow. I knew I would be late when I passed the third road about 10 miles into the section a little after 1:00 p.m.The fresh coat of snow was beautiful, but as the day progressed it got deeper and deeper. In some places it had drifted onto the trail and was almost knee high. I got back to the hostel a human popsicle about 8:20. The trip took me over 11 hours.I passed Moreland Gap shelter around 5 p.m. and it was empty at that time. Later I found out that I had been breaking trail for Guns of Jesus and the Travelling Dingleberries. They were surprised to not mind me at the shelter.
Date: 2006-03-26
From: 321 (Watauga Lake)

To: Kincora Hostel
Miles today: 8.9

Did some more slack packing today. Covered the 8.9 miles rom Watauga Lake back to Kincora. Trev and Pebbles hiked ahead of me and Elizabeth and Lewis brought up the rear. In the morning Moleman and Mark continued north toward Damascus. On this section we passed Laurel Falls, the first real water fall I've seen on the trail. It was only a 40 foot drop but it was still pretty impressive due to the high water volume. Southbound was also a good choice for a direction because it saved me from having to climb some very steep sections had I been waling north. I passed taco by the river and he was also at Moreland Gap shelter last night and thanked me for breaking trail. He pitched his tent in the shelter because the floor of the shelter was covered with snow.Back at the hostel, Guns and the Dingleberries had arrived. We went to town for groceries and on the way picked up Moleman at the lake. He had to come back for something he had left behind. We stopped at Quarterbacks BBQ to bring some food home. I ordered $20 worth of food and ate it all!More Impossible Maintenance/Trail Support Requests2. Volunteers to clear the trail of snow when it is greater than 2" in depth3. Solar powered escalators (with battery back up for inclement periods of weather) on grades greater than 10%4. Toilet paper (soft!), hand sanitizer and baby wipes stocked in all privies5. Cups and saucers at all water sources, which are of course, piped.
Date: 2006-03-27
From: 321 (Watauga Lake)

To: Double Spring Shelter
Miles today: 23.0
Weather: clear sky

Got up and cooked a few cheese omelettes for whatever hungry hiker would eat one. Also did some sausage, baked beans and toast. Myself and 5 others headed out from the lake at 8:30 a.m. Set a new record today. Hiked for 11 hours and 40 minutes to make it the 23 miles to the shelter. I made the best time on the last 8 miles due to the grade of the trail, which was pretty user friendly all the way. The hardest part was climbing the ridge to get up to elevation which stayed pretty close to 3,500' to 4,000' most of the way. Along the way I met Fred, a section hiker from Michigan, who was down with a group of kids hiking back to Damascus along the Iron Mountain Ridge above Watauga Lake.Got to the shelter and had to squeeze in between Moleman and 2 hikers who had decided to sleep perpendicular to the opening. I didn't waste a lot of time getting in the sleeping bag since I had stopped to eat dinner and fueled up at the previous shelter. My boots were soaked from walking on the slushy trail. While getting ready for bed I saw at least 2 mice running around.
Date: 2006-03-28
From: Double Spring Shelter

To: Damascus VA
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Woke up with Damascus fever. The only way to cure it was by getting to Damascus, VA, the 1st major milestone on the trail. It also put 2 more states behind me. Much of the trail in NC and Tenn travels along the border of the 2 states.Arrived in Damascus at 3 p.m. My 1st priority stop was at Sicilys and I gobbled down mozzarella sticks and most of a pizza. I was like a celebrity there, being questioned about my hike by a group of folks eating lunch. One of the group had no idea that people thru hiked the AT and was quite impressed with my progress so far. Another who did have some hiking experience congratulated me and wished me well on my journey. Same thing happened when I dropped in to Mount Rogers Outfitters to see Jeff and get a room at Daves Place (the MRO hostel). I told Jeff how much I appreciated the head lamp he sent me and how useful it had been for my after dark hiking.I shared a room with Moleman but he ended up sleeping on the couch anyway. I asked him if my snoring was bothering him and he politely declined by saying that he always slept on the couch at home.
Date: 2006-03-29
From: Damascus VA

To: Zero Day (Abingdon VA)
Miles today: 0.0

Took my 1st zero day in Damascus waiting for Linda to get here. Did some wash then went to Cowboys for breakfast. Later I did some gear maintenance. Jeff worked on my trekking poles to stop the squeaking which at times drove me crazy on the trail when I was tuned into it.Guns, the Dingleberries, Elizabeth and Lewis all came in to the hostel today. Trev, Pebbles and Moleman went back out NOBO. Mark had been at the Hikers Inn with Sunset (he left yesterday) and was leaving today.Linda got to Damascus about 1:30. As I approached the car Annie saw me but don't think she recognized me with my beard. She didn't get excited at 1st, but when she figured out it was me she started going crazy. We got some good lunch at the Baja Cafe; went to Abingdon and got our room; got my pictures developed at CVS (should have brought them with me here to the library to get them on line); had dinner at Harbor House then crashed. All this hiking really makes me tired (and/or hungry!)
Date: 2006-03-30
From: Abingdon VA

To: Zero Day (Abingdon VA)
Miles today: 0.0

2nd zero in Damascus. Repacked my back pack and weighed it at MRO: 40 lbs without water. Linda and I went to Blue Blaze bike shop and rented bikes to ride down the Virginia Creeper Trail. Got about a mile down the trail and my front tire blew! Rode the flat a few more miles to the Trailside General Store and called the shop. They sent me up a new bike on the next shuttle.After we took a ride to White Top Mountain and let the dogs run around. By then it was time to head back to Abingdon for dinner and then to the library to do this.
Date: 2006-03-31
From: Damascus VA

To: Campsite
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: clear sky

Said goodbye this morning to Linda, Missy and Annie. It was hard to let them go. I wanted to go home yet I wanted to stay on the trail to complete my journey. I followed the Creeper Trail out of Damascus since I have already hiked all of the AT north of town to Dickeys Gap. I stopped at the Creeper Trail Cafe for yet another cheeseburger and fries. Turned off the Creeper Trail onto the AT about 10.8 miles from Damascus. Stopped at lost Mountain shelter for water and a break. It was still early so I kept moving.The clouds started looking mean around 4:00 and rain was expected. I filled up with water as I passed a spring and set up a campsite about 5:00 in a grove of pine trees at the base of White Top Mountain. While I was setting 2 SOBO's passed by hustling at a pretty good pace. Figured they were trying to reach Lost Mtn about 3 or 4 miles south before it started raining. The rain started around 6:00 and continued on and off through the night. I stayed dry. I had put up my tarp and set up the bivy sack underneath it.
Date: 2006-04-01
From: Campsite

To: Campsite
Miles today: 19.5
Weather: light rain

In the morning, the fog got really thick as I climbed Whitetop. Visibility was about 20-30 feet. Crossing over the open areas near Buzzard Rocks the wind was really honking. One blast of wind blew me right off the footpath.Taco caught me just after entering Lewis Fork wilderness as I was taking a break. He moved out ahead of me, then I caught him at Thomas Knob on his break. A few minutes later The Travelling Dingleberries (Brian and Walt) came in. The 3 of them headed out and planned on reaching Old Orchard. I blue blazed across Pine mountain trail, which put me back in front of them. I missed all the wild ponies but had them them before.Crossing the road at Fox Creek was approximately the 500 mile point. I was headed for the new Hurricane Shelter but saw Guns of Jesus camped on the side of the trail near a stream just short of the shelter. He thought that the shelter might be full since it was a Saturday (I saw plenty of weekend hikers inside Grayson Highlands) so I decided to camp with him.
Date: 2006-04-02
From: Campsite

To: Partnership Shelter
Miles today: 21.0
Weather: clear sky

Hiked with Guns most of the day. Found a couple of cans of soda left by a tree at Dickeys Gap. Stopped at Trimpi Shelter for lunch. Lewis and Elizabeth were there. We all decided to get pizza at Partnership. Guns arrived at Partnership 1st, me 2nd and Lewabeth came in around 5:45. We called Tuscan Restaurant in Marion. There minimum delivery charge to the shelter, which is located at the Mt Rogers NRA headquarters was a $35 order. There was even a free phone and menu posted outside the visitor center to use. A few minutes later Taco and the Dingleberries came in so Lewis called the restaurant back and added to the order. Between the 7 of us we ordered almost $100 worth of food.Partnership shelter set the standard for all other shelters so far. It slept 16, with a loft upstairs. With warmer weather, there is a shower available for use (with hot water) and a tub sink for doing dishes or hand laundry. Unfortunately for us the water was not yet turned on.Noticed a big change in the scenery today. Virginia has some nice views of rolling farmland and grassy valleys. The trail was not as rugged as the southern mountains, plus our trail conditioning makes climbing much easier. Descents still bother my knees some depending on how fast I have been travelling. The length of the climbs and descents are much shorter, too. Todays weather was also fantastic, sunny but not too hot and no humidity.
Date: 2006-04-03
From: Partnership Shelter

To: Relax Inn (Atkins, VA. I-81)
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: light rain

Today was my shortest mileage day in the last week or so. It only took me 5 hours to get to the Relax Inn along I-81 near Atkins, VA pretty early. Hindsight is 20/20 and I wished I had got my bounce box and moved on. The room wasn't quite worth the money i spent on it, but it did have a hot shower, a bed and a TV, which I actually watched a little bit. We also had bad weather later in the day. The temp cooled off, very windy and rain (some snow at higher elevations). The group from Partnership kind of split up here. A few of the others had mail drops at various places or continued on the trail. I had another cheeseburger and seasoned fries up the road at the Barn restaurant. I've had so many cheeseburgers since starting the AT I've lost count.
Date: 2006-04-04
From: Relax Inn

To: Chestnut Knob Shelter
Miles today: 22.9
Weather: clear sky

Today was the 1st of three consecutive 20+ mile days. I also saw the first deer on the trip shorthly after leaving I-81. They were grazing in a field the trail crossed but they had run away before I could very close. Stopped at davis Path for breakfast and later knot maul for lunch. On the way to knot Maul I passed Lewabeth sunning in a field and drying some of there stuff. I also met SOBO section hiker Bronco Billy from Charlotte, NC. Passed over ullion Mountain today which marked approximately 25% of the trail behind me. The trail was mostly easy going with lots of ridgeline. Only 2 climbs I considered hard. The last few miles to Chestnut Knob was along a grassy ridgeline and the wind was really making the wind chill kick in. The air temp was 50, but wind speeds had to be gusting about 40 mph.The shelter was an old fire wardens cabin. Taco, Guns, the Dingleberries and 2 section hikers had occupied it before I arrived. We were all glad the shelter was closed in. There were still a few remnants of snow on the ground from yesterdays precipitation.
Date: 2006-04-05
From: Chestnut Knob Shelter

To: Helveys Mill Shelter
Miles today: 23.8
Weather: clear sky

Been doing the 20 mile days but they are taking me all day to do them. I got to the shelter about 8 p.m. but had to tent. The Tennessee Boys (William, Graham, John who I had not seen since the Franklin, NC area), Taco and the Dingleberries were already in the 6 person shelter. Guns went into Bland for a maildrop. It was a long walk down a switchback trail to get water, which stinks after such a long day. I slept under my tarp, no bivy, since it was not supposed to rain.The bridge over Laurel Creek was out which forced us to take the blue blaze high water detour. After regaining the AT, we found a cooler full of fruit drinks provided by a local UMC. They were good and cold! The long mileage days are taking a toll on my ankles. If I don't keep moving they sort of get really stiff and kind of lock up on me so I have to hobble around. I also blew a seam in my left boot. If i didn't have a goretex liner in them I would have had to tape them up with duct tape.10 Best things about the AT:1. The Adventure2. Birds singing in the morning (now that it is warming up)3. No traffic and/or road raging drivers
Date: 2006-04-06
From: Helveys Mill Shelter

To: Wapiti Shelter
Miles today: 24.0
Weather: clear sky

My longest day mileage wise. A lot of the distance was ovre flat or very gradual grades. I finished in about 11 hours which included a little over 1 1/2 hours of lunch an breaks. I saw 2 headlamps pass by my tarp around 5 a.m. It was John, Graham and Coby. I felt really sluggish in the morning. I didn't drink any coffee with breakfast. After Taco passed me about 9:30 i stopped for some gatorade and gorp. The Dingleberries caught me on lunch at the next shelter. After that I was really feeling better after eating again (plus i had coffee for lunch!).I crossed a suspension bridge over a river today just before crossing a main road. Not sure what the river was. Found out later that the Dingleberries went down this road for a bite to eat at a country store.Even though it was fairly flat, I stumbled along the last 8 miles using my poles to keep me upright. The 1st sprinkes of rain started about 4:15 and got a bit steadier around 6:00. I really tried to move and I got the last spot in the shelter. It was another 6 person shelter. The Tennesseans, Taco and Steve (Scott maybe?), a section hiker, were there.The Dingleberries came in then Guns. They had to tent. Guns brought in a bag of Chip Ahoys. What a guy!10 Best things about the AT4. Hostels5. Hiker camaraderie6. Trail Magic & Trail Angels
Date: 2006-04-07
From: Wapiti Shelter

To: Pearisburg, VA, Holy Family Church Hostel
Miles today: 16.2
Weather: clear sky

I saw a pair of deer again today. The trail was turning to the right and they were walking parrallel to the trail after the turn. I don't think the first on saw me. The 2nd one noticed me and bounded away. I got a little closer to the first one before she looked at me. At first she seemed surprised before it too ran away flashing its white tail at me.When I arrived in Pearisburg, I turned the wrong way on the road and was heading away from town. Once I reached the bridge where the road crosses the New River I figured out I had my map oriented the wrong way. I then turned and headed back toward town. It took a little while to get a lift, but I was eventually picked up by a very nice man named Mr Leece, (I couldn't remember his first name but think I spelled his last name correct). He drove me to the post office and arrived just at closing time. I got my packages and he offered to drive me back to Pizza Plus and waited for me to get my order, then he drove me to the Holy Family Church hostel. I really appreciated that.I was surprised to find that Trev, Pebbles and Moleman had arrived there the same day. Everybody from Wapiti spent the night in motels. A bit later, Bill Gautier arrived at the hostel. He is the man responsible for running it. He talked with us for a while and gave us some helpful information. One thing he said was that the cobbler shop that is in town was no longer open. I was going to try to get my boots repaired. Hope they have more miles left on them before they completely fall apart. Bill offered to pick me up in the morning to drive me back to the PO so I could mail some of my now unneeded equipment home.The descent into Pearisburg was quite steep. I developed a small blister but think it will be okay. I need a zero day to left my knees, ankles and feet recover a little bit. In the last 8 days I've covered about 160 miles.10 Best things about the AT7. Scenery & the panoramic views8. Seeing wildlife9. The peace of being with nature10. Hostels deserve a 2nd spot on this list