morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2022-09-11
From: Punchbowl shelter, VA 797.8

To: James River Bridge/501 VA 787.1
Miles today: 10.7

Well, it poured last night. The rain did not ease until 5 or 6 in the morning. One key thing I had learned in researching this hike was the importance of keeping a dry set of clothes for sleeping, and it saved my bacon last night. My hiking clothes were soaked , and there was just enough chill in the air that it would have been pretty uncomfortable. Instead, with the thrum of the rain on the roof, in dry sleep clothes, and (happily) no snorers in the shelter, I slept pretty well. I headed out at 7:30, aiming for the James River bridge and the town of Glasgow, with the plan to stay at Stanimal¢s hostel. It was still drizzling, but it kept the temperatures cool - and since I had put on my wet hiking clothes this morning, it didn¢t really matter. Views were non-existent as I summited Bluff Mountain, but I noticed that, at elevation, leaves are starting to turn. I am really looking forward to fall foliage in a couple of weeks. Of course, that will also mean cooler weather - so I will be supplementing my gear with some warmer clothing in a week. I am at the hostel now. By this point, I know/recognize many of the hikers here as we are all traveling in roughly the same 30 mile window. They are all faster than I am, but I am trying to take fewer zeros, so I periodically catch up. The hostel has all the fixings - a shoe dryer, a hiker fridge, a massage chair, and pancakes for breakfast. Charlie, who has managed the hostel for the past couple of years, really understands hikers and what they need. I¢ve hit the 3 week mark on my hike, and I am about 25% of the way done with this fall¢s southern swing. Still learning every day.
Date: 2022-09-12
From: James River Bridge/501 VA 787.1

To: Thunder Ridge Overlook, VA 773.9
Miles today: 13.2

I did another reverse slackpack today, getting ferried 13 miles south then hiking back northwards to the hostel. This let me:Stay a second night at the hostel while still advancing milesReverse the steep grade up and out of Glasgow to a downhillAvoid a forecast 4pm thunderstorm. I am finding that strategically slackpacking is helping me to maintain miles and manage weather. I will probably do this about 1/week for the rest of this fall. The hike itself was pleasant, if slightly buggy. It was also viewless - the cloud cover hung low in the valley, so while I was above it hiking in the sunshine, I could only see clouds at the viewpoints.  The trail itself was well graded. I passed Beer Girl on the way, climbing out of Glasgow. Although it was sunny, the ground was wet. I am paying special attention to my feet these days - if feet stay wet too long, the skin starts breaking down, with painful cracks and blisters. I try to take shoes and socks off every 6-7 miles to air out at a break, then make sure they are dried at the end of the day. I have been lucky so far. The hike finished by crossing the James River on the James River Foot Bridge (a footbridge, but actually named after William Foot), 623¢ in length. This is the longest footbridge on the AT. There is a tradition of thru-hikers jumping off the bridge into the river below - but it is highly discouraged by the authorities, and there was no action today. The evening back at the hostel was fairly convivial, with Manchego, Living Proof, All is Good, Not Yet and I all huddled over Charlie¢s dessert, a warm blueberry cinnamon sheet cake with vanilla ice cream. The servings were large and Charlie¢s dad jokes (¢What¢s Smoky the Bear¢s middle name?¢) entertaining. It poured again overnight - glad to be inside. <whisper> The forecast for the next 7 days is for no rain. <end whisper>
Date: 2022-09-13
From: Thunder Ridge Overlook, VA 773.9

To: Jennings Creek, VA 758.5
Miles today: 15.4

The rain overnight cleared out all the humidity, and we woke to a clear, crisp morning. After a breakfast of blueberry pancakes, I was dropped off at Thunder Ridge overlook to continue south. Yesterday, this view was largely obscured by clouds; today it was expansive over the valley below. I had a long, downhill section planned today with no deadline, so I dawdled along the way. It was cool up on the ridge and there were a couple of lovely meadows, and the light filtered appealingly through the forested sections.There were dense stands of rhododendrons that reminded me of those surrounding my childhood home, where we used to play hide and seek - they must be spectacular in bloom. I also passed through one geological feature akin to a Sword of Damocles, with a rock caught between two stone pillars. Of course the trail passed underneath!The final section was a steep downhill, and my thighs were screaming by the time I hit my target. I am staying tonight at the Middle Creek campground, a mile or so from the trailhead. Great cheeseburger at the grill!
Date: 2022-09-14
From: Jennings Creek, VA 758.5

To: Blackhorse Gap, VA 743.9
Miles today: 14.6

A spectacular day for hiking. I left the Middle Creek campground at 8:15 and climbed out of the gap from Jennings Creek some 1700 feet, then was treated to view after view of the valley below, each more spectacular than the last, many of them overlooks on the Blue Ridge Parkway, which the trail crossed multiple times today. At one such overlook, Harvey¢s Knob, I had another trail magic opportunity from Allen, an avid bird watcher. Apparently, over the next 2 weeks there is a major migration of hawks through this portion of VA. Harvey¢s Knob commands almost a 360 degree view, and a hardy band of watchers gathers each year to count the hawks as they go by. I spotted a couple soaring in the breeze while there. Allen has outfitted his truck to also offer trail magic (including cooked meals) to hikers as they cross through. I had decided to head into Daleville for the night to get a jump on my resupply (a major one). I will return to the same place I finished tomorrow and finish my hike into Daleville. My shuttle driver, Homer, regaled me with tales of his thru-hike with his wife and 2 children (11 and 8) in 2002. Amazing to think of those kids hiking 2000+ miles. Homer and his family now look after 16 shelters in this part of VA, a monumental task. Talk about giving back!One of my tasks during my upcoming resupply is to add blaze orange items to my kit. Hunting is permitted on more than 1250 of the AT¢s 2200 miles, and autumn is an active period - but each state has different seasons. For example, here are the deer seasons for the 4 states I will be in over the next 8 weeks (dates are last year¢s, but representative):Virginia: Oct 2 - Jan 1Tennessee: Aug 27 - Jan 9North Carolina: Sept 11 - Jan 1Georgia: Sept 11 - Jan 31There are also seasons for bear, elk, turkey, etc. Best to just wear orange throughout the fall as best as I can tell. And not look like a deer!
Date: 2022-09-15
From: Blackhorse Gap, VA 743.9

To: Daleville, VA 730.3
Miles today: 13.6

I started at Blackhorse Gap to cover the remaining miles into Daleville, a popular AT trail town (¢the land of milk and honey¢ as the Glasgow hostel manager referred to it). It has great BBQ and Mexican restaurants, a Kroger, an outfitter, and several inexpensive hotels.  The shelters along this section show evidence of being well maintained by Homer and his family, and the trail was generally well graded (although with a couple of steep sections to keep me honest). Views were significantly fewer than yesterday as I worked my way down in elevation. Interestingly, the last 2-12 miles had a signpost that noted that the AT trail corridor was particularly narrow at that point, urging hikers to keep to the trail. As I have mentioned before, parts of the AT are a patchwork, particularly in the valleys. This appears to be one such patch. The excitement for the day was when one of my 25,000 steps almost landed on top of a 4 foot timber rattlesnake snoozing in the middle of the trail. This is the first time I have seen one live - but the rattle was unmistakable. I gave it a wide berth. I ran into Float about 5 miles from Daleville and we hiked together for a while. He has been nursing an injured ankle - otherwise he would be several days ahead of me by now. With more than 1400 miles under his belt, he has given me some great tips. S-s-s-still learning every day!
Date: 2022-09-16
From: Daleville, VA 730.3

To: Daleville, VA
Miles today: 0.0

I took a zero day (I am shooting to do this every 2 weeks) but, contrary to the picture above, I was crazy busy. I:planned out my next 2 weeks and made hostel and shuttle reservationsshopped for food to supplement the food my husband sent, and sorted it into what I need for the next 3 days plus 3 resupply mailings replaced my water filter, which was starting to leakreplaced my water purification drops, which I had run out ofSwapped out my 50 degree quilt for a 20 degree quiltwashed my clothesreplaced my pack liner (which was a bit fragile) with something more robust to protect my sleeping gear when it rainsreplaced my phone screen protector, which cracked after I knelt on it in my tent one eveningwent to the UPS store and mailed the resupply packages down trail and excess gear homedid 4 business callsPhew! Can hardly wait to get back on trail to relax!The next hiking section, the Virginia Triple Crown (McAfee Knob, Tinker Cliffs, and Dragon Tooth) is one of the most popular. Really looking forward to it, although I will need to step up my effort a bit more. Maybe ¢relax¢ on trail is a bit of a misnomer¢¦.
Date: 2022-09-17
From: Daleville, VA 730.3

To: Campbell shelter, VA 714.9
Miles today: 15.4

Today¢s hike was beautiful. I woke up early, so was on the trail at first light leaving Daleville and heading south towards the Triple Crown. An early mist kept the temperature cool but highlighted the spider webs across the trail. While it fogged out some of the early views, by the time I reached Tinker Cliffs the mist had burned off and a 180 degree view of the valley spread out before me as I munched on my lunch. One of the things I particularly enjoyed was the number of large boulders at improbable angles and heights through the first half of the day, like a giant had been playing with building blocks. As the weather was dry, these were fun to scramble up and over. It was a long, steep day (for me), but I am increasingly confident with 14-15 mile days. I can¢t always hit that target because of shelter/water spacing and elevation changes, but I am revising my future plans a bit. It is nice to have greater flexibility in range. I am now at Campbell shelter, right below McAfee Knob, and hope to be up there for sunrise tomorrow.
Date: 2022-09-18
From: Campbell shelter, VA 714.9

To: Pickle Branch shelter, VA 697.9
Miles today: 17.0

Crazy day, wonderful hike. I set off from camp 45 minutes before sunrise, my first night hiking, to climb the last 0.7 mile from the shelter to McAfee Knob. It was a steep hike, but I took it slow and got there in plenty of time. (I had a great headlamp, an investment after I got lost in the dark on a previous hike with a weak headlamp). I was not alone when I reached the top. There were approximately 10 section and thru hikers all gathered for the sunrise, and we were not disappointed.  McAfee Knob¢s view of the valley below is iconic, and the color palette of the sky was rich and textured. I heated up some tea at the top of the cliff and enjoyed. After that climactic start to my day, I had to choose whether to go 10 miles or 17 for the rest of the day¢s hike. The original plan had been 10 - but with the early start that would have put me into camp at lunchtime, with nothing to do for 8-9 hours. So instead, I put on my big girl panties and decided to go up and over Dragon¢s Tooth, the 3rd of the triple crown features.  Dragon Tooth¢s climb has a bit of a reputation because it involves some almost-technical rock scrambling for the last half mile or so of the route. Better, I thought, to do this on a weekend when there were plenty of day hikers to pick up the pieces if I had a problem. I did pass many day and section hikers today - the beautiful weather and this particularly scenic area being major attractions. One couple I met, Frodo and Misdirection, had met each other when they thruhiker in 2021, and were returning to capture the missed McAfee sunrise. The climb up Dragon¢s Tooth was indeed tough (see the arrows for the ¢trail¢ in the picture), and I stowed my trekking poles for the last bit because I needed to use my hands to pull up and over some of the ledges and rebar. But I had a blast. The dry rock was very grippy and I felt confident scrambling up. Dragon¢s Tooth itself is a large monolith on top of Cove Mountain, with yet another great view. There were many day hikers, some with dogs (!) who were doing the climb. I ended up giving my remaining water to two dogs whose owners had failed to bring water on the hike (expecting water fountains at the top?), so by the time I dragged myself into camp 4 miles later I was tired, hungry, and thirsty. At the shelter were 3 siblings - 74, 69, and 65 - out to do a section hike. The youngest was learning the ropes from her two older brothers¢¦.it was difficult for me to moan about how tired I was when they were making a go of it!Overall, it was a great day. I loved the Triple Crown section and glad I got to do it in beautiful weather. Note to future hikers - SOBO through this section seemed much better than NOBO. Easier to get the McAfee sunrise from the close by shelter, and the scramble UP Dragon¢s Tooth was much better than having to climb down it.
Date: 2022-09-19
From: Pickle Branch shelter, VA 697.9

To: Hwy 621, VA 689.3
Miles today: 8.6

A short day today as I make my way to Blacksburg to pick up a resupply of food and fuel. Just as well, because after the last two days my legs could use a break.  I had a long climb up Brush Mountain, on the top of which is a memorial to Audie Murphy, whose plane crashed nearby in 1971. He was the most decorated soldier of WWII, inspiring many. There were several benches nearby, and I paused for a bit - both recovering for a bit as well as reflecting on the contributions of that generation (including my father-in-law, who was a radio operator in the Pacific). After that brief respite, I came down the mountain to meet my shuttle driver and headed into town, doing multiple errands. I have a 4 day stretch coming up to get to Pearisburg, and I want to be rested.
Date: 2022-09-20
From: Hwy 621, VA 689.3

To: Laurel Creek shelter, VA 675.2
Miles today: 14.1

Today was a tough hike over Sinking Creek mountain, but it had a little bit of everything to keep my interest up. First, after a long hike up I crossed the Eastern Continental divide. I think this means that instead of leaning left to fill my water bottle as I head south I need to lean right¢¦but my water bottle will still be filled. The ridge itself of the mountain had many views, but was largely covered by slabs of rock at 45 degree angles. This was slow going and a bit tiring on the ankles after several miles, but I was grateful that the rocks were dry so that the traction was good. It would have been very tricky in the rain. Occasional relief from the rocks came from stands of forest as I traversed the ridge, abloom in white snakeroot. At the end of the ridge were approximately 20 stone cairns. Signs of a lost civilization? Alien beacons? Failed attempts to clear fields for farming on the ridge? Difficult to decide. The final leg of the hike took me through some beautiful meadows and pastures in the valley below. I passed the Keffer oak, the oldest oak tree on the AT in the south, estimated at 300 years old. It was massive. I know many people object to the introduction of technology into the wilderness experience, but one of the ways I amuse myself as I hike is to try to identify species of plants or animals (visually) or birds (by birdsong) that I don¢t recognize. I use two apps - Seek, which identifies plants and animals using the phone camera, and Merlin, which records birdsong and identifies the bird species.  I find this adds an extra dimension (or welcome diversion) as I hike through the many environments on the Appalachian Trail. Tonight¢s shelter is in a stand of rhododendrons and is lovely. I am the only hiker here tonight, which still happens occasionally - I will probably snuggle up in my tent and listen to an audiobook. Tomorrow - over two mountains to Bailey Gap shelter.
Date: 2022-09-21
From: Laurel Creek shelter, VA 675.2

To: Pine Swamp Branch shelter, VA. 656.7
Miles today: 18.5

I am a planner by nature. I¢ve loved sketching out the details of each stage of this hike, from gear to food to hiking plans. Consistent with the last entry, I¢ve used a few key apps to help:AWOL¢s guide, which is available as a book, but I have downloaded as a pdf on my IPhone. Great for planning as it shows the mile marker for every major feature along the trail, plus helpful maps of trail towns and lists of hostels and shuttles. Gaia, which allows me to map out the daily routes I am planning with detailed elevation calculations so I can evaluate the difficulty. I can also export these maps to my watch (Garmin Fenix) so I can track my progress during the day. FarOut, which gives me more real-time information on shelters and water availability, crowd sourced from other thruhikers. While I hesitate to confess this, I started off this 3 month hike with a plan for each day on where I would start and stop, along with mileage and elevation gain estimates. At this point in my hike I have met enough other hikers to understand that this is highly unusual¢¦most of my peers plan out their schedules at most 2 or 3 days in advance, and generally just focus on how much food they will carry. I have been adjusting the plan as I get a better feel for what I can handle, but have upper limits on what I attempt each day. So, imagine my joy today when I got to my planned stopping point, a shelter a reasonable 14.5 miles from the last spot, to discover that there was no water at the shelter!  The hike itself had been remarkably unremarkable, probably my least favorite day so far. I climbed two mountains (Kelly Knob and Salt Pond Mountain) with no views for the effort but lots of ugly ankle twisting rocks on their ridges, and had arrived at Bailey Gap shelter at 4:30.  I was tired, and had just finished the water I had carried. It turned out Bailey Gap¢s water source had dried up. So - afterburner time. Sunset would be at 7:20 pm, I hike about 2 miles an hour, and I had 4 miles to go to the next shelter. I got a move on, powering through thick stands of rhododendrons almost 20¢ high and tightly woven together (feeling almost primordial in the gathering gloom) and arrived at Pine Swamp Branch shelter as dusk was falling, having hiked my longest day to date. I got the last tent site (there were 5 hikers already in residence), quickly cooked dinner, and crashed. Like I said, learning every day.
Date: 2022-09-22
From: Pine Swamp Branch shelter, VA. 656.7

To: Pearisburg, VA 636.1
Miles today: 20.6

Today¢s hike was¢¦an experience. It started off innocently enough, with a well graded switch-backed climb up Peter¢s Mountain. The sun was shining and I was looking forward to the walk along the ridge line to Rice Fields shelter, reputed to have beautiful views.  I have had remarkably good weather so far, and another sunny day was in the forecast. By 8:30, the wind had started to pick up as I neared the mountain top and the sky was turning gray. It started to gently sprinkle, just enough to turn the rocks slippery. I made sure my gear was stowed away safely in my backpack and donned my stylish rain kilt (a waterproof skirt that goes over your shorts and keeps you dry down to your knees while not overheating - pretty much a fancy trash bag). My shirt was already soaked through from sweat, but I put on a rain jacket as well. I continued along the ridge for a piece, carefully navigating the slick rocks. I was startled to be approached by a small herd of goats. They did not ask me riddles, but politely inquired whether I would be willing to feed them hiker treats. When I politely demurred, they retired, disappointed (I heard from a later hiker that they stole his food bag and a hiking pole - in retribution, I am sure). But then the wind started picking up, as well as the rain. I was still on top of the ridge and the fog and mist rolled in. The great views that I had anticipated evaporated, and I was starting to get chilled. I picked up my hiking pace to keep warm, and finally reached Rice Fields shelter (after backtracking in the fog) a little after 1pm. I quickly changed into dry clothes to get warm and decided I had no desire to remain on the ridge in the fog for the rest of the day. Happily, I was able to get through to a nearby hostel and book a room for the night. Down the mountain I went, punching through the fog back into the sunshine by 3 and fully dry by 5:30. This turned out to be my longest day yet, and first over 20 miles. I am now snug and warm at the hostel, and happy that when I needed them, enough reserves were there to allow me to power through. The past couple of days have been great reminders about my need to be adaptable to trail conditions. Nature is a Mother.
Date: 2022-09-23
From: Pearisburg, VA 636.1

To: Woods Hole hostel VA 625.4
Miles today: 10.7

I arrived last night at Woods Hole hostel, a tiny slice of heaven approximately 10 miles south of Pearisburg VA. Run by Neville, granddaughter of the original owners, the hostel is part hiker hostel, part organic farm, part bed and breakfast, and part retreat. I had first heard about Woods Hole when researching the trail (¢top hostel¢), and later listened to several interviews that Neville had given. I liked what I had heard, so made sure my hiking schedule included a stop. Best decision ever. Neville, a hiker-whisperer and healer of lost souls, runs the 100 acre property (including cabin, bunkhouse, safari tents, and numerous pets) with such a caring attitude and generosity of spirit that it is impossible not to be touched. Dinner and breakfast are communal affairs, with the majority of the food sourced from her garden or other nearby farms. The food has been terrific, and my stay is one of the highlights of my hike so far. On the Camino de Santiago trail in Spain, the hostels/albergues have a rating system so that the travelers know what to expect - eg, a castle or a shack. The AT does not have an equivalent system, but so far I have seen roughly 4 levels:Basic: somebody¢s converted garage. No heat or indoor plumbing, but protection from the elements. Acceptable: indoor sleeping quarters, showers, laundry facilities, TV, available hiker food, and shuttles into town for resupply. Good: all the above plus comfortable outdoor area for relaxation, nicer/cleaner bathrooms and bunk rooms, breakfast and/or dinner offerings, nearby town has broader restaurant and retail offerings. Woods HoleFor some reason, this particular stretch of trail (Pearisburg to Atkinson) has a number of good hostels, so I am planning on doing some hostel-hopping over the next week. After yesterday¢s storm, temperatures dropped more than 20 degrees and, with wind chill, it felt like 39 degrees (as opposed to the balmy 60¢s) when I set off this morning. My goal was to hike back to Pearisburg to pick up the miles I had skipped yesterday when I came out to Woods Hole. It was a pleasant, downhill gradient, and by 2:00 I was downing a Blizzard at the Pearisburg Dairy Queen. Then back up to Woods Hole for another great dinner. Oh - and I hit 400 miles today!