morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-04-26
From: Damascus

To: Saunders Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Last night was an experiment in back pain at The Place. I was on my ThermaRest on a board, much like the shelters. Lying on my back was out of the question; I tossed from one side to the other. I felt sorry for the women in the bunk next to me. The one on top didn't sleep much either. I think I slept 4am-6am. I took a shower amongst the Boy Scout clatter and yelling leaders. I went down to the outfitter with wet hair to do a Virtual cache. I was on the trail by 7:45am. I found a few GX's along the way. I took the Creeper Trail. Last time I hiked, an experienced thru-hiker told me to take it because "Everybody does". I saw one other hiker (I think he was a hiker) on the Creeper and several in the woods on the A.T.above the Creeper. There were probably many on the A.T. I didn't see. I guess since it was my first day out, I'd do it again. It would've been very discouraging for a dozen hikers to fly by me. I don't know if it was last night's bologna sandwiches or the Hostel water or the altitude, but I had to take a digger along the Creeper. There were LOTS of bikers on a Sunday. Then I had to stop again for a wet fart. When I got to where the Creeper met the A.T., my GPS showed .61 to the shelter. I thought "cool" and finished up all but a little squirt of my water. I took a boots-off break next to a stream and saw a brown watersnake with dark bands or squares on him. I headed up, up, up, to a sign that said "2 miles to shelter'. I thought "Oh, I should be there within a couple hours. OMFG. I gave up on the GPS because I went back and forth on switchbacks, up, up, up, never getting any closer. It was also very hot today and I needed water bad. There was none to be found. My legs started cramping. People say it snowed last week, but I missed it when I postponed my start date. I had several long sit-downs which didn't help. When I FINALLY got to the shelter, HalleFrickinleuiah, the water was 300' down MORE frickin switchbacks. I had decided to hang my hammock before my back breaks, but I was so frickin exhausted I spread out all my crap and promptly fell asleep. I guessed I could make it the night. There was one organized guy there who must've been horrified at my "gearspread". It is so notlikeme, but I was too tired to care. Two women passed through. One of them had a bright red face and did the 2 miles up nearly getting heat stroke. It was her first day on the trail too. She had been off for two weeks and was out of shape already! After my nap I cooked chicken and rice and gave half the chicken to another hiker who pulled in all the way from Abingdon Gap (Joe Kickass). I ate a few spoonfulls and had to make a run for the privy. I had a couple more spoonfulls later but had to throw out about half of it. My stomach just isn't settled.Highlights: morrel mushroom, dogwood, American Chestnut, water snake
Date: 2009-04-27
From: Saunders Shelter

To: Frog Pond Campsite
Miles today: 0.0

I slept better than expected last night. The other three hikers tented, so it was just me and the mice in the shelter. Right at sunset, the mice came around to check things out. After they determined I had nothing edible, they dispersed. It is most painful trying to get up off the floor.The others woke me up around 6:30 with their rattling, clanging, zipping and talking. They did their packing at the picnic table in front of the shelter. Finally the commotion stopped and I slept until 9:30. I took my sweet time packing. I found a GX just 400' behind the shelter. I met a nice couple who were stopping for lunch. I put duct tape on my left heel and right instep and hit the trail at a sonic 11:30! I was dragging ass and my legs felt weak and shakey. My feet were in misery. I stopped for several breaks; at one high spot I was able to get through to C. He was having a busy day and Dolly had only snarled at Ruffles twice. I told C yesterday sucked and I had it too good at home - I didn't know if I could do this. However, today I had my first downhills and views and maybe I could make it afterall!I knew when I got up this morning (painfully) that I would be hammocking tonight rain or shine. When I got to a pretty little pond with pine-needle lined campsites, I told my feet their misery was over (for today). I don't know how the same boots and the same feet that got me from Neel's gap to Damascus in 2007 could be so incompatible. The couple from the shelter were setting up their tent although it was only 2:30. I sat on the pine needles a looong time, looking at the pond. Finally I told Joe and Fran "You talked me into it - I'm staying." I honestly thought I had hiked 4 miles - when I went to record it, I found out I had only hiked 2.5! Oh well, the hammock was already hung and I was completely wiped out. There is a GX .12 from the campsite, but it'll have to wait till morning. I barely had the energy to get water from the spring. I was too lazy to cook - I had cheese and a Snickers in the hammock. Then I shit my pants. I was wanting to collect everything that is going home into one bag, but without a table or shelter to spread out on, it will have to wait. Hopefully tomorrow I will have enough energy to get things organized at Lost Mountain Shelter (4.1 miles away).Highlights: first views, first downhills, talking to C, hammocking.
Date: 2009-04-28
From: Frog Pond Campsite

To: Lost Mtn. Shelter
Miles today: 0.0

I slept "ok" last night by the pond. Joe & Fran were in their tent by 6:30 and snoring before 8pm. I hope I didn't bother them with my coming and going with diarrhea. In the morning they started chatting with passerbys and called my name at 8am because "You weren't moving and we wanted to make sure you're alright". Thanx a bunch. I'm not moving because I'm frickin' asleep! Anyways, I found the nearby GX first thing then pumped water, brushed my teeth and hit the trail just before 10:30. I was moving right along. I found another GX and a historical marker. About 5-6 times there was a little down, then cross a stream, then a little up, and repeat. I started to wonder if it was the same stream. I saw another water snake; this one was very light - almost cream colored. I was too far above him to see any markings. The last two miles to the shelter were up (again). Day one's up was complete misery. This one just sucked. What made it nicer was following a stream with numerous mini-waterfalls. I daydreamed my way up-- Day 1: feetDay 2: legsDay 3: heart & lungsDays 4+: a mixture of the above.Related to Day 2 - I noticed the ass of my pants is less tight this morning. I was thinking about my poor little heart, beating away, and made a promise to never let things get so bad again. I almost felt like changing my trailname to "Little Heart".I got to the shelter right about when I expected. That didn't stop me from having aural hallucinations while climbing - thinking I heard people talking just ahead. When I got there, there was a big bunch of guys waiting for the temperature to drop. I felt intimidated not knowing any of them. I just said "Hi" to Fran and went to find a good spot for my hammock. I found out later one of the guys was Hellbender, possibly a GXer.I was hungry but was waiting for the shelter to clear out. I took about a half-hour nap then just rested till it got quiet. Finally I took my cooking gear and made dinner with Rolling Stone, his dog Coal, Red Leg, Isis (loved his burrito craftmanship), and Joe & Fran. Rolling Stone and Coal are in my historical marker photo at Luther C. Hassinger bridge. Red Legs said hammocks are an issue in the Whites because they are above treeline. I had never heard that before.After three days of diarrhea and the next shelter 12.2 miles away, I have been having "Bail" thoughts. What kind of a loser am I?! I am just doubting that I will be able to make the 5 miles uphill in the morning :0{ Someone wrote in the register that they were sick so were going 1.1 miles to a road to hitch back to Damascus. I wish I wouldn't have read that!Highlights: watersnake, partridgeberry, GXs and HM, privy.
Date: 2009-05-01
From: Dave's Place

To: Dave's Place
Miles today: 0.0

Oh boy. I slept fairly well despite the fact that I dropped one of my earplugs in the toilet while I was cleaning them. It was raining when I got up, but I was prepared - I would just wear my SealSkin sox and everything would be fine. I showered and packed up. I took my stuff out to the lounge and stepped outside to look at it pouring. I asked the two slightly hungover hikers there if they were heading out - nope. They probably thought I was crazy. One said "I don't even want to walk across the street!" The other said "It's probably freezing up in those mountains!" OMG - I hadn't considered that. Those were the magic words and I decided to stay another day. This was a 60% chance of rain day; the next week every day is a 30-40% chance of rain day.After an hour or so the rain lightened up. I put on my raincoat and went across the street to get yet another night on my 3 mattresses and postpone the shuttle. Now I have to be ready at 8am tomorrow. I don't have an alarm clock. Not that this has to do with anything, but someone said Franklin, NC reported 30% more hikers this year. I've noticed waaay more females, too.I had a banana, a pear and Fritos for breakfast. I took a little nap then went to hang out at the library, where they have comfortable furniture. I looked up swine flu stats - 15/562 cases have been fatal; I know at least a few of them were babies or kids. A group of four guys came in; two of them sat across from me. They started talking about Food City so I gave them my Food City gimmick card. It was humorous - suddenly they were planning their entire day around this stupid grocery card and smiled, winked and thanked me like I had given them each a pint of my blood. I hope the card works - I never did check my receipt.Around 2:30 I went to Quincey's for a 1/2# cheeseburger and over-salted fries. I had to loosen my pants back up. Crazy Horse was there telling some tales about black widow spiders and rattlesnakes. I had wondered if he makes stuff up. When he told his friend that he and I survived a blizzard together, I got that he just embellishes...we stayed at the same hostel for a few days in '07 when it snowed :0)I stopped in at the outfitter to snap a picture of Gramma Gatewood's shoes. I think she may be the one who whispered in my ear the other night. I think about her on the trail when the going gets Ruff.I had a mattress scare this afternoon. Sunseeker checked into the second bunk in my room. She was disappointed with the "mattress". She took a shower, went to dinner and found a nice B&B with real beds down the street. In the meantime I got to know a little about Cowboy, the hostel manager. He is from Pensacola and has thru-hiked 21 times! I told him he must have a high pain threshhold.Hilights: cheeseburger, ducks at the hostel.
Date: 2009-05-02
From: Dave's Place

To: Wise Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Silly me - you don't need an alarm clock in a hostel! I finally got out of Damascus. Dave said it would be $5 for the shuttle. The guy in the store tried to rob me of $30. A nervous guy who was slacking south (Grits) got out at Elk Garden. Three Australians went on to Massie Gap and I bumped into them at Thomas Knob Shelter. The climb up, 5 miles, only took me 3 hours! I was amazed. The trail kept going up and over every damn spit of rocks sticking up. It was overcast and windy up high. I decided not to kid myself and just plan on making it to Harper's Ferry. I also was thinking this is just too hard and I can't do it. I would've been fine going 5 miles today to Thoms Knob, but it was super windy and freezing up there. I hate to think how cold it would be after sunset. I had to go on another 5 miles to Wise Shelter. I am really not a happy person after 7-8 miles. I did get to see a bunch of ponies at Grayson and Mt. Rogers today (thank You God). It is still cold so I am on my ONE mattress in the shelter. I am going to take ibuprofen at bedtime. There is a group of about 10 here tonight and the only one who would talk to the fat girl in the corner was a Canadian southbounder (Sandflower). Short entry since my fingers are getting cold. Yay! G got his braces off today!Hilights: ponies, Fritos honey BBQ twists.
Date: 2009-05-03
From: Wise Shelter

To: Old Orchard Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

It was another grey, drizzly day. It was cold out on the open plain away from trees. I was tempted to take a shortcut twice. Pretty early into my hike was a sign that said "The Scales, 1 mile". I had seen "The Scales" in my guidebook. The AT took 3 miles, up over a mountain to get there. The other trail probably stayed at road grade. I walked about 50' on the other trail and thought "What am I doing? I'm only going 6 miles today - I can hack it." It turned out to be a nice, quiet walk in the woods with wildflowers, mossy rocks and hemlock. I'll bet that other trail didn't have any of that. I also saw more ponies today. The trail was sloppy and there were some wet rocky spots but I was cautious as usual. Funny - I thought I was hallucinating again - that tree looks like a corner of a shelter and that rock looks like a tent set up next to it. Haha-it really was the shelter!Only a few people passed me all day and I met up with them all at the shelter (they were finishing their breaks and moving on another 5). I found out one bald guy is from Florida and we chatted a bit. Just when I thought I would have the shelter all to myself, another solo female showed up (I pegged Lone Wolfie as a teacher within minutes of meeting her). Soon a nice Canadian couple with colds came in (Black Kat and Lost Acadian). We had a nice conversation and were tucked in for the rainy night when around 12am six college kids from Richmond carried in an injured hiker. They were just out for a couple days and one of the guys got a painful inguinal hernia. He lay down, popped some kind of pills, and was quiet the rest of the night. Black Kat comforted him since he just had a hernia repaired the previous year. I'm glad it wasn't appendicitis - he seemed feverish when he came in, but the pain was on his left side. That would've been a 911 evac. I slept when I could, with back pain and hardly room to roll over with 7 in the "sleeps six" 1970s shelter. In the morning I noticed the college kids had packed in books and crap.Highlights: ponies, 500 mile mark, enchanting forests, and what little health I have.
Date: 2009-05-04
From: Old Orchard Shelter

To: Troutdale Baptist Hostel
Miles today: 0.0

Once I had room to get up, it was around 9am and raining steady. There were six little eyes in the shelter watching every move LW and I made as we ate and packed. Then there were eight. Then there were ten as they crowded us out. They couldn't wait for us to get out, and I couldn't wait to get out of there. Several fast hikers from Wise shelter stopped by and said they and everyone from the last full shelter were going to Troutdale. The rain stopped just as I was putting on my boots! I was thinking "I don't need to go to a crowded hostel today - I'll just head to the next shelter (5 miles). I wouldn't stand a chance getting a bunk, anyways, with faster hikers flying by. Oboy. The trail was, in a word, TREACHEROUS! I could see the skid marks of the guys who went before me. The one thing C worried about was my getting hurt on the trail. I'm not insured and I'm not too fond of pain, either. I took the first road crossing 1.7 miles north and the first pickup truck took me to Troutdale and dropped me right in front of the bunkhouse. I put on the raincoat and walked down to Jerry's for a veggie pizza (with banana peppers by request). The prices are very reasonable and there is Internet so I zapped C an e-mail telling him I'd look for a payphone. On the way back to the bunkhouse, two fast hikers pulled up and took a top and a bottom bunk. There are only eight bunks. I guess Joe & Fran are in the other room - they are at the doctor's this morning because Fran is having trouble with swollen feet. I took a shower and a massive digger and sat on the porch to watch the rain. Hikers rolled in all day - over 10 more: Josie, Ironman, Motor, Freeze, the whole fast pack. Cool guys. I had a good day. I went back to Jerry's for an appetizer sampler - jalapeno poppers, broccoli puffs, and mozarella sticks I couldn't finish. I talked to C & G on the payphone then read the e-mail with pictures C sent. Ruffles is truly adorable!The guys had the bunkhouse heater on high to dry things out so it was 90 degrees in there. That forced me to sit outside with the hoomans. Joe & Fran left their bunks for others to go and stay with a local. She is on Lasix therapy until Thursday. I slept pretty well despite the bit of foam and Therma-Rest on-a-board. I guess all these fast guys are early birds, too - I was up around 7am to watch the foggy drizzle.Highlights: appetizers, roof
Date: 2009-05-05
From: Troutdale Baptist Hostel

To: Troutdale Baptist Hostel
Miles today: 0.0

Josie and I were the only ones who didn't leave this morning. He talked to me about the weather for about 45 minutes. When I asked him a personal question (is Josie your real name) he suddenly had to go check his drying clothes. He moved to the other bunkroom because I kept turning the heat off. He had the other room at 90 degrees all day today. I don't know how a molecule of H2O could've survived. He's a good guy - I dig his voice and he looks like John Travolta. I had biscuits & gravy, eggs and bacon then a longer nap than I'm going to admit. It was clouds, fog and rain all day. I had an awesome ribeye, home fries and roll around 3pm. I chatted with the Phillipino cook and she gave me a free piece of Oreo cake. Around 7pm the sun came out briefly. I have to decide tonight if it is raining in the morning, whether to catch a ride with Mountain Man to Marion. I could take the Greyhound home and try again in a few weeks. I am just sooo disgusted with the weather. This place wants you out after two nights and there are no more cheap hostels up the way as far north as the guidebook pages I have. I can't afford to wait out the rain in a $35 hotel room. The guys coming in today said the little stream crossings with rocks to pick your way across are now raging torrents and the stepping stones are submerged! Ugggh. I am sick of hanging around in hostels. They are probably sick of me, too.Highlights: ribeye
Date: 2009-05-06
From: Troutdale Baptist Hostel

To: Trimpi Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

When I woke up, it was foggy out and the birds were singing. I was glad not to be bumming a ride to the Greyhound station in Marion today. I had biscuits & gravy for breakfast and checked ticket prices online - $150 for a 33 hour ride with 3 transfers. Being home still sounds great, but that bus ride would be a killer. Tiger announced that he got us a ride to the trailhead just as the national weather radar popped up on the screen of the TV at Jerry's. OMG. I moaned out loud and put my face in my hands. A huge green and yellow blob hung over the center third of the country. They zoomed in to this area to show where the flood watches are in effect. I saw the town of Pearisburg right on the squall line. If not for Tiger's "hurry up," I would be heading to Marion right now. Instead, I climbed up a mountain in cool, dry weather the 4 miles in just 2 hours. Once I got there and had a candy bar and used the privy with no privacy, the sky opened up. Now at least I don't feel guilty about parking here so early. A guy in a kilt who talks fast, eats fast, and changes clothes fast came in and layed out his mat and bag for a nap. Then 4 guys from the Troutdale hostel showed up and started claiming their sleeping spots, so I rolled mine out too around 2pm! The 4 guys had gone 10 miles, I think, from the gap where I actually got off the trail. They were all soaked and had two lines and countless hooks filled with wet, skanky clothes. They had a fire going and one of them (Sneaks) scorched his new shoes. I am sleeping next to a stranger with either a bad cold or sinus problems. I don't want to be here.I met a guy (Hulk) who remembered me from Icewater Spring Shelter in the Smokys in 2007! I don't know how people can remember a face for so long.Hilights: getting out of the hostel, getting closer to the Greyhound station and sunny Florida
Date: 2009-05-07
From: Trimpi Shelter

To: Virginia House Inn
Miles today: 0.0

It is no surprise that I ended up in Marion today. Although it only rained this morning as we were packing up, the trail is a wreck. In many places, the trail is literally a stream for hundreds of feet at a time. Plenty of other places are sloppy and slippery. At "stream crossings", the stepping stones are completely submerged. I had to take my boots off and wade across several rushing streams today. I walked the last mile or so in my flip-flops, I was so sick of jumping puddles. I got to Partnership shelter around 3pm (not bad!) and rinsed my feet off in the famous shower. I was not thrilled about sleeping in another shelter on the floor with stanky hikers. I had been thinking of home all day so I told everyone I was going to try to get a ride to Marion for a hotel and laundry. There was the phone number of a local couple and a telephone on the outside of the visitor's center. The Clarks and Coco were there within 45 minutes. In the meantime Spirit and Hulk had pizzas delivered and the 4 kids came back from their shopping trip. They had eaten at the KFC buffet and although Hulk had just put away a medium pizza, he was asking for specific KFC details. I'll miss this group, although they don't smell very good. The Clarks dropped me at the Virginia House, $30/night - no laundry. I booked two nights, showered, and hit up the KFC buffet. It was starting to cloud up and I saw some lightening as I was finishing up, but I couldn't get myfatass out of the booth! I was walking funny and belching my way back to the room. I stopped at Dollar General on the way back because I lost my comb today. I got another bra and T-shirt so I can do all my skanky laundry tomorrow. At this point, I don't know if I am staying on the trail or going home. It will have a lot to do with the weather forecast. I guess I left home too early - but I thought I had a shot at Maine this time - hahaha. Hilights: wintergreen, carpet of mayapples, Coco, buffet