morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2017-04-23
From: Wise Shelter Camping Area

To: Trimpi Shelter
Miles today: 20.1
Weather: moderate rain

After s tough weather/hiking day yesterday in Grayson Highlands, I was hoping for a reprieve from the bad weather conditions. Unfortunately things turned from bad to worse today in what would become my hardest day on the trail to date. Our hiking bubble had collectively decided to hike 20 miles today which would set us up for a short 10 mile hike into Marion, Va. on Monday for resupply. It sounded like a great plan until the Monsoon's hit on Sunday with cooler temps.The trails that were like rivers yesterday had turned into ponds today. We were walking in ankle deep water all day and trying to maneuver around rocks, boulders and tree roots. It was a hard pouring rain all day with major wind gusts and dropping temps. It truly was a test for all the hikers and it took every ounce of energy and intestinal fortitude to finish the day. I stopped at Old Orchard Shelter at the 7 mile mark to warmup and snack. A few other hikers in our bubble stopped as well and we gave each other a lot of encouragement and offfered concerns for each other's safety. I hiked on another 4 miles to Hurricane Mountain Shelter where I found 4 thru hikers stripping off their wet clothes and jumping into sleeping bags to warm up. They appeared hypothermic and could not stop shivering. We offered care and support and moved on when they appeared to be stable. A few hikers decided to hitchhike at the road crossing into Troutville. There was a church Hostel with bunk beds and a warm shower. I thought this was a smart move on their part. I had 4 miles to go to reach our planned destination of the night at Trimpi Shelter. I was cold and my right knee was acting up along with blisters on my left foot. My feet have been soaking wet for 3 days and we're appearing macerated from all the moisture. After nearly 11 hours on the trail, I finally arrived at the Shelter and quickly setup my tent and hung my Bear bag in the rain. I changed into dry clothes, put on my puffy coat and got into my sleeping bag. I was so thankful to make it in without injury or other weather related problems. Our plan is to be up by 5:00 AM and hike the 10 miles into Marion to dry out. I believenow that if I can survive a day like this on the trail, I should be able to handle anything. Thanks for the prayers and well wishes! TTFN
Date: 2017-04-24
From: Trimpi Shelter

To: Marion, Va.
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: light rain

We were up and out on the trail by 6:40 AM with the goal of reaching the Mt. Rogers Visiitor Center by 11:00 AM. The city offers a transit bus to Thru hikers with pickup times of 9:00, 11:00 and 2:30. They only charge $.50 for the five mile ride into town. The visitor center also provided a phone and contact numbers for motels, B&B's, etc. I called the Hiker Inn and got a reservation with early check in. We couldn't wait to take a hot shower and get all of our gear dried out.Since thru hikers are always hungry, we decided to stop at the Mexican restaurant next to the motel for lunch. It hit the spot, but we were already thinking about dinner later this evening. I got into my room and quickly showered before heading down to do laundry. It was so nice to have a washer/dryer on-site for us dirty hikers. I then setup my tent outside to dry out. Thankfully the Cuben Fiber material dried quickly with a little wind. My sleeping bag and air mattress were also damp, so I aired them out in front of the heater in the room. I had every piece of gear, food bag and storage bags scattered throughout the room. After several hours everything was dry and to be repacked.Dinner options were limited by walking distance, so we chose a nearby Chinese buffet. This is right up a thru hikers alley with the tasty all you can eat options. We were fueled up, clean and dried out after a tough few days on the trail. Finally, we had to do a food resupply at the local Ingles grocery store. We picked up enough food and snacks for our next four days up to Bland, Va. Our moods are much brighter as we look forward to sunny days and warmer temps. The entire hiking bubble came into town and we all shared the same sense of relief for surviving some of the hardest days on the trail. We support and encourage one another just like a normal family member would. That's pretty cool! TTFN
Date: 2017-04-25
From: Marion, Va.

To: Davis Hallow Campsites, Va.
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: overcast clouds

It was a bit of a slow morning getting out of Marion, but was much needed by our entire hiking bubble. The city transit bus picked us up at 11:00 AM and drove us back to the Mt. Rogers Visitor Center trailhead. We only had 13.5 miles to do today and the trail map looked fairly easy. There were only minor climbs and downhills which was a pleasant change. We did experience heavy mud and waterlogged trails at the end of the day, but nothing like we had on Sunday. The only bad part was getting our shoes soaking wet again. It's just impossible to get them dried out overnight. We had a couple cool highlights and pleasant surprises today. First, we came across an old schoolhouse in the Virginia countryside that to seemed to appear out of nowhere. Inside, we discovered major trail magic that was provided by a local church in Wytheville, Va. They had cold drinks, chips, snacks and hiker resupply items. It was amazing! The second highlight was having dinner at the Barn Restaurant in Atkins, Va. it was right on the trail is well known to Thru hikers for their famous one pound Hiker burger. Our entire hiking bubble stopped here to eat and to enjoy some end of day conversation. We only had 2 miles to reach our campsite for the night. We're in a beautiful spot in the woods just off some rolling meadows and cow pastures. It's a very nice evening and I'm just so thankful to be here. I got some great news from my wife Cindy that she was coming to hike with me on Thursday and Friday. It will be great to see her and introduce her to all the great people in our hiking bubble. I'll take a Zero day with her on Saturday in Roanoke to celebrate my birthday. I can't wait!TTFN
Date: 2017-04-26
From: Davis Hallow Campsites, Va.

To: Lynn Camp Creek Campsite
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: clear sky

We woke up to clear sky's and sunshine and felt liked we just won the lottery. It put a pep in our step and big smiles on our faces. Since we only had 14 miles today, we were able to have a slow and relaxing morning in camp before hitting the trail. Normally we're at a hectic pace to finish camp chores and get to hiking. We rarely cook breakfast or boil water for coffee. I need to change this plan and take more time each morning. We were on the AT by 9:15 and really looking forward to the day ahead.The sun was bright and strong throughout the day. I had to wear sunscreen to keep from getting burned. It got warm quick which added a new challenge to our hiking day. No one complained because this was such a wonderful change from the terrible weather this past weekend. The miles flew by as we went from hiking in the woods to beautiful meadows and pastures. The Virginia countryside is some of the prettiest anywhere. I love this state!Our entire hiking bubble (see photos) is here at the campsite tonight right next to lovely stream. I all ate together with lots of laughter and positivity. The sunshine changed our whole perspective.I'll be meeting Cindy tomorrow at a road crossing towards the end of our hiking day. She'll spend the night on the trail with me tomorrow and hike 25 miles into Bland, Va. in Friday. She'll love being out there and meeting all my fellow thru hikers. It will be great to see her!TTFN
Date: 2017-04-27
From: Lynn Camp Creek Campsite

To: VA 623 to St. Lukes Hostel
Miles today: 14.2
Weather: overcast clouds

In anticipation of Cindy's arrival this afternoon, I was on the trail by 6:45 AM. She'll park her car in Bland, Va. near I-77 and have a shuttle drive her to the VA 623 Trail head about 30 minutes away. I was excited to see her which gave me some "extra pep in my step" today. We had the longest climb since entering Virginia up to 4400 feet. The best part of this climb was going thru the Chestnut Ridge Bald near the summit. There are very few trees and appears like a large open meadow. You have 360 degree views and can see forever on a clear day. What a nice treat! I reached Chestnut Ridge Shelter at the top by late morning and had lunch. It's an old stone shelter that is fully enclosed. It opened up to incredible views of the valley below. We learned that the plush valley and farmlands were formed by a limestone sinkhole thousands of years ago. It's beauty is indescribable!I had six miles to go to reach the meeting point with Cindy. I hustled down the mountain and arrived two minutes before our agreed upon meeting time. The shuttle driver dropped her off minutes later and it was a seeet reunion. She had a chance to meet several folks from my hiking bubble who were coming down the mountain behind me. A thunderstorm was quickly approaching so I decided to take re to a nearby hostel instead of exposing her to severe weather tonight. I called St. Luke's Hostel who arrived in 20 minutes to shuttle us back to the converted farmhouse. We had a private room with great views back towards Chestnut Ridge. We were even treated to a beautiful rainbow following the storm. It was a good decision today stay here, but I was feeling bad for my trailmates. We'll hike back to the car in the morning and take a Zero in Roanoke on Saturday. Looking forward to spending time with my lovely bride of 34 years.TTFNTIGGER
Date: 2017-04-28
From: VA 623 to St. Lukes Hostel

To: Laurel Creek, VA 615
Miles today: 8.9

We had a great stay at the hostel last night and were shuttled back to the trailhead by 9:30. The sun was shining brightly with clear blue sky's. What a perfect day for Cindy to enjoy the AT. The trail was easy today as we hiked back to where Cindy parked the car. We met fellow thru hikers Trainwreck and Lobo for the first time today. They were very engaging and quite delightful to be around. I really like these kind of folks who like me understand that the journey is more about the people and experiences versus just doing the miles.We made it back to the car by mid afternoon and headed towards Roanoke for a zero day. This was one of the best days on the trail so far and great to share it with Cindy.TTFNTigger
Date: 2017-04-29
From: Laurel Creek, VA 615

To: Roanoke, Va.
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

After a restful night in a hotel outside of Roanoke, we headed downtown to one of our favorite country markets in the country. We lived here in the early 90's and have been coming back every summer since. It's like our second home! The downtown market is unlike traditional farmers markets and includes art, craft jewelry, bakery items, cool restaurants and breweries. We love the Star City!Cindy took me out to our favorite restaurant on the outskirts of downtown for a birthday lunch. I've been looking forward to coming to the Wildflour Cafe for a couple weeks now because of their delicious cakes and entrees. They make my favorite cake in the whole world...Coconut Cake. If you ever visit Roanoke make sure to stop by this awesome eatery. Our server Karen was so kind and gracious and was really happy to hear about my journey on the AT. She surprised me with a piece of Cocunut Cake to go on her. Thank you Karen, you are a true trail angel! Cindy and I had a great day together which also gave me renewed energy for the trail. It's always so uplifting and encouraging to have support and encouragement from home. We finished up some resuuply chores at Walmart and Target and headed back to the hotel. At this point getting off my feet and some rest was critical. Feeling thankful and blessed!TTFNTigger
Date: 2017-04-30
From: Laurel Creek, VA 615

To: Helveys Mill Shelter Campsites
Miles today: 9.1
Weather: clear sky

We got a late start out of Roanoke after a big breakfast and repacking my backpack. It's been such a great weekend together, but now I have to start making miles again on the AT. We arrived at the spot where we left off on Friday and said our emotional goodbyes. I was back in the trail by 1:45 PM. The trail was fast and easy for the firstv7 mikes into Bland. It was nice to have path with few rocks and roots to worry about. The last half mile was a gravel road that connected directly to Rt. 52. This route takes you into either Bland or Bastian, but the AT goes in the opposite direction. We had a short downhill before crossing over Interstate 77 which was cool. The trail then began a quick climb back up the mountain on the other side. I had been joined by fellow thru hiker McGyver who I had not seen since Hiawassee, Ga. It was great to see him and catch up on his journey. We appear to be on similar pace now and will probably pass each other often in the coming weeks. I also ran into Reroute at the shelter. She was the hiker I mentioned a week ago who had hypothermia from the severe cold and rain. She's doing much better now and I gave her props for not quitting or giving in. We also have a couple of section hikers here tonight from Virginia Beach. They seem to enjoy our stories and experiences along with a few of their own. It's a really good group of people to just hang out with.It's past hikers midnight and I need some rest for a big mile day tomorrow. We're also expecting storms from 9:00 AM until 4:00 PM. Hopefully we dodge this bullet. I hope everyone has a great week. Thanks again for following along!TTFNTIGGER
Date: 2017-05-01
From: Helveys Mill Shelter Campsites

To: VA 606: Trent's Grocery
Miles today: 16.2
Weather: moderate rain

I was up and out on the trail by 8:00 after a lite breakfast and coffee. Rain drops began to fall around 6:00, but it didn't require my rain jacket until later in the afternoon. My hope was to hike st least 20 miles today, but only if my blisters could handle it. I've been dealing with a blister on the ball of my left foot for nearly two weeks. It started with wet feet from all the rain along with a shoe insert that was breaking down. I spend 20-30 minutes each morning on treatment and reassess it throughout the day. I'm using a thin hydrocolloid dressing that is used in hospitals and homecare for similar wounds. It's improving, but has been a slow process due to the location and constant foot pressure, moisture and heat.The trail was once again easy and fast compared to earlier on the AT. The only difficult spot was hiking over wet rocks during an afternoon rain. We finished the day with a smooth downhill to Kimberling Creek. Today's pic shows the Suspension Bridge over the creek leading to the next road crossing. This road takes you to Trent's Grocery.I've heard about Trent's Grocery for a couple years because of the unique services it offers thru hikers. First, you can camp in the field behind the store which includes a shower and laundry. The best part though is they serve burgers, hotdogs, deli sandwiches, fries and more inside the store. You can also get ice cream and milkshakes. Several of us ate together tonight including McGyver, Pogo, Bulletproof and Solomon. Pogo is a nice young man from Maryland and Bulletproof is another fierce 20 something female hiker from Canada. We all went to our tents with full bellies and thoughts of breakfast sandwiches in the morning. What a cool little spot. My goal for tomorrow is 18-20 mikes in order to set up an early morning arrival into Perisburg on Wednesday. Thankfully The forecast looks good for tomorrow. Heading to bed now since it's past hikers midnight.TTFNTIGGER
Date: 2017-05-02
From: VA 606: Trent's Grocery

To: Pearisburg, Va.
Miles today: 28.8
Weather: clear sky

After chatting up some local guys over coffee at Trent's Grocery, I hit the trail by 7:50 AM. This may have been the most perfect weather day for hiking since I started. Temps were in the 50's with low humidity and beautiful sunny skies. The first 8 miles to Wapiti Shelter were rather easy with very few ups and downs. I passed by Dismal Falls and followed the Creek for a couple of miles. I scared up my first bear who was hiding in a rhododendron tunnel (click photos). He came out behind me and right in front of a fellow hiker. He was never a threat. I had lunch at Wapiti with Pogo and Bulletproof. This Shelter is famous because of two murders that occurred here in 1981. The killer went to prison, but somehow got released in 2007. He came back to the area and shot two fisherman near Dismal Falls. They survived and the shooter was killed following a police pursuit. This is such a rare occurrence on the AT which is historically the safest place to be in the U.S.I had planned on an 18 mile day to Doc's Knob Shelter, but decided to move in to Pearisburg after dinner there. It was 6:00 PM and I had 8 more miles into town. The hearty meal energized me and I was making quick miles until dark. I had to use my headlamp for the last 2.5 miles. The trail into town is a steep downhill with at least 20 switchbacks. The last 2 miles seemed to take forever and I had another 0.7 miles of road walking to reach downtown Pearisburg. By now I was hungry again and hit up the local Hardee's for a late dinner. I checked into the hostel after 10:00, showered and got to bed. I'll resupply at Food Lion in the morning and get back in the trail by noon with a goal of 15 miles. Glad this long day is over. TTFNTIGGER
Date: 2017-05-03
From: Pearisburg, Va.

To: Campsite At MM 649
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: light rain

I had a short nights sleep after a long day yesterday and was up by 6:30. I headed across the street to Hardee's for some bacon and egg biscuits with coffee. In my normal life I would never go here for breakfast, but our tastes are different on the AT. I ran into CBiscuit who I last saw in Marion. He's of similar age and continues to make good progress on the trail. Happy to see that!After breakfast I did laundry to get rid of the hiker stink. Thankfully the motel/Hostel had a washer and dryer on site; that's always a bonus. While waiting for laundry to finish I went thru my food bag to see what I would need for resupply. I made my list and went to Food Lion when my clothes were done. Since all these stores are new to me, I have to walk each aisle to find what I need. It went fairly quickly and I was able to get a full resupply for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. I'm good to go for up to 5 days. I was ready to leave town by noon and get back in the trail. I couldn't resist one last stop at the DQ for a large shake and burger. This would fuel me up for the climb ahead.The first 6 miles out of town was uphill. It was a good workout, but nothing like we had in Georgia and North Carolina. At the top was a Bald with incredible views of the town and valleys below. The trail followed the ridge for the remaining part of the day. We had fantastic views all afternoon. The weather once again was perfect for hiking.I had 2 more bears run out in front of me today. They were moving fast and showed little interest in me. I also spooked a whitetail deer right before reaching our campsite. I caught up to half of the hiking bubble and we have our tents bunched together at a small trail side campsite for the night. I'm looking forward to a good nights rest.TTFNTIGGER
Date: 2017-05-04
From: Campsite At MM 649

To: Wind Rock Campsite 
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: clear sky

I was up before 6:00 after getting only a few hours sleep, but felt the need to get going. The trail today was much slower and more technical due to the large amount of rocks. You have everything from small rocks to bolders that you have to maneuver around and over for long periods of time. It is my least favorite type of trail to hike on. We had a few climbs today, but one in particular was straight up for over a mile which got the heart pumping pretty good.Once in awhile on the trail you pass by sites that are well known to the thru hiking community. Today I passed "The Captains" which is known for its zip line across a stream into a backyard. For many years this gentleman has allowed hikers to zip line with backpacks into his yard and camp for free. Pretty cool!I've been pushing hard this week with big miles and it finally caught up with me. With rains coming in at 5:00 I decided to setup camp early on the backside of an overlook. No one else is here tonight, but I'm happy I beat the rain. I need better and longer sleep in order to match my energy output from each day. I average 5-6 hours now, but need 8. Hopefully I get some good rest tonight. TTFNTIGGER
Date: 2017-05-05
From: Wind Rock Campsite 

To: Sarver Hallow Shelter Campsites
Miles today: 17.1
Weather: moderate rain

What a difference a good nights sleep makes! Even though it rained all night I was able to get 9 hours of sleep which is the most I've had on the trail. I felt refreshed and rejuvenated and easily hiked 17.1 miles today. We even had two major climbs of 1700 feet and 1000 feet today. The group of hikers that I had hiked with since last Sunday caught back up with me by late morning. It was great to see them and have some familiar faces to hike with the rest of the day. They include McGyver, Pogo, Bulletproif, Pom Pom and Deep Cheeks. We're all together tonight at the Shelter and had a great time talking over dinner. It's a very diverse group of really nice people.We passed the Keffer Oak tree today which is the biggest Oak on the southern part of the AT. It's 18 ft around and over 300 years old. Very impressive! TTFNTIGGER
Date: 2017-05-06
From: Sarver Hallow Shelter Campsites

To: Pickle Branch Shelter Campsites
Miles today: 16.1
Weather: scattered clouds

After another night of rain I was up by 6:15 to start morning chores, make coffee and eat some breakfast bars. Sarver Hollow Shelter was extremely nice , including a front porch, but it was .4 miles off the AT. It was all uphill to get back to the trail this morning. I started off fast before hitting the rock ledges on the edge of the mountain (click photo). These were quite tricky and required great caution. The views of the Blue Ridge Mountains from this vantage point were incredible. Shortly thereafter I passed the Eastern Continental Divide sign. Pretty cool!The trail continued downhill to Craig's Creek which had several footbridge crossovers. It's kind of a small world because I used to fish this Creek often in the early 90's when we lived in nearby Roanoke. I took one final snack before starting the big climb of the day. We had a 1500 ft vertical climb over 3 miles to reach the top of Brush Mountain. Here is where I discovered the highlight of the day...the Audie Murphy Monument. Audie Murphy was the most decorated American soldier of World War II. Sadly, he died in plane crash on this mountain in 1971. It was a very moving tribute to see veterans from past and current wars leave things like Dog Tags and Service Coins around the monument. He was a true American hero!The final 5 miles were fast with a lot of downhill. I made it to camp by 4:15 which is ideal. I had plenty of time to relax, complete camp chores and make dinner. We all ate together around a campfire which helped take the chill out of the air. It was an unseasonably cool day with just enough rain to make it uncomfortable. We have a short 6 miles to 4 Pines Hostel tomorrow. Our main goal is to shower and all go together to the Home Place for an all you can eat country cooking meal. We've been talking about this place for 3 days. Nothing better for a group of hungry hikers! TTFNTIGGER