morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-04-18
From: Thomas Knob Shelter

To: Old Orchard Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: broken clouds

It was warmer this morning to get out of the sleeping bag. So breakfast was had and off I went. I had a lot rocky trails today. It was up over big rock piles and scrubby terrain. We saw wild ponies in this area. They were too tame and needed some encouragement to go away. (see photos later) We had a pony from hell. There was a park bench way out there and I put my pack on it. I had to find a bush for a restroom. Well, I got back and a pony was trying to eat Catfish's snacks. I tried to drive the pony away from us. So he turned his back and kicked at me. Well, he missed me. To his luck he could have had a serious neck injury. Catfish walked around the bench to get away from the pony and the dumb thing tried to kick him as well! It was a bad day for meeting stupid ponies. We left the ponies and the bad rocky area behind us. We stopped at Old Orchard Shelter for rest and relaxation. We ended up with 11 miles which wasn't bad for all the rock climbing. Today I met Cliff Walker and Stakes. I saw a cliff with lots of ice on it. (see photo later)Thought for the day:Never measure the height of a mountain until you have reached the top.
Date: 2014-04-19
From: Old Orchard Shelter

To: Dickey Gap
Miles today: 10.2

I woke up in my tent early this morning. I was on the trail at 7:45 AM. It was easier getting out of my sleeping bag because it was warmer. I had 10.2 miles to get to Dickey Gap to a road crossing to get off the trail. My stomach was hurting for some reason since Wednesday afternoon and last night my supper came back up to stay in the woods. We had trail magic at road crossing VA 603. There was a cooler beside the trail with soda, beer, apples, oranges, water and other snacks. I took a coke and an orange. So THANK YOU trail angels. You know who you are. The food hit the spot. I had just been thinking a coke might settle my belly and there it was. SMILE. I had nice walking today. The weather was fine and the scenery was great. The spring flowers are coming up and I crossed a nice foot bridge that had a nice waterfall. I had some nice rhody tunnels to walk through. After many rests, I got to VA 650 and rested. I tried to call a shuttle but had no phone service. It's really a boon dock out here. Jon - Catfish now - and I started hiking down the road toward Marion, VA using our thumbs now for the next mile. A lady came along in a tan/gold pickup and picked us up. She said I appeared to be staggering a bit so she decided to give us a lift. She took us right to the Travel Inn in Marion. Now here it gets interesting about this story. She said she wanted to get to I-81 and she was tired of driving on the road she was on so she got on VA 16 and then found us needing a ride. This lady was not from VA but was going somewhere through VA. How can you explain this trail angel service, my friend? I couldn't even pay her anything. So young lady whoever you are, you made 2 hikers's day complete. I was so glad to see a motel and a have a nice shower and good food. I had my last shower on Monday evening. Oops! I will try to figure out my stomach problems Sunday and maybe Monday. Today we met Reset at Dickey Gap.Thought for the day:The kindness of strangers will never be lost by me.Would you please surprise a complete stranger with some kindness for me?
Date: 2014-04-20
From: Marion, VA

To: Marion, VA
Miles today: 0.0

Happy Easter! I woke up this morning in a warm room and comfy bed. My guts felt a lot better. We went to Mickey D's for breakfast. I washed all my camp cooking stuff. I made adjustments to my backpack. Hopefully life will be better now. The hurt in my stomach is a lot better. I wrote my journals and just plain rested for back-to-the-trail life. We are short on mileage and we have 26 miles to our next food drop at the Relax Inn and food at The Barn Restaurant.Thought for the day:Right now there's an energy pushing you to stay on your path.****Okay folks listen up. I'm about to tell you a good story about my good and helpful wife. I have an uncomplaining wife. She willingly has driven over 1900 miles to take me back to the AT and deliver food up north (in VA) for me. She had 450 walking miles to deliver food to 7 food drops that took 2 days and not one word of complaint. I feel very proud to have such a helpful wife. There will be no trading her off. She is a keeper my friends. If you see her or talk to her thank her for being so helpful.From a grateful husband. Thank you Dear!
Date: 2014-04-21
From: Marion, VA

To: Marion, VA
Miles today: 0.0

I got up from a bed again at the motel and it sure felt good. I stayed around town to let my belly heal a bit more. I went shopping for food and supplies. I had a good Wendy's lunch and mexican food for supper. I dialed up my good wife and discussed trail and home things. My wife said the mower repair man brought back the mower in fine shape. This is very good. Thanks Lyle! I will return to the AT with Catfish Tuesday morning at Dickey Gap and head for Atkins, VA.Thought for the day:No one stands alone. We all need each other. Be good to yourself.****This story should be read after looking up information on the growing habits of the Pink Lady's Slipper - AKA - Moccasin flower-Cyprepedium-AcauleOnce upon a time deep in the Virginia mountains in the fertile soil grew a happy family of Pink Lady Slippers. As I gazed out over the happy and beautiful patch of Pink Lady Slippers I noticed out of the corner of my right eye an empty spot. Is there a missing Pink Lady Slipper? My friend! Did you lift the Pink Lady Slipper? If you lifted her, oh my friend, why? Did you take her? Is she well taken care of? Are you watering and feeding her, my friend? Oh, can bees find her, my friend? Please. As the morning sun covered the forest floor and the dew lay heavy, the Pink Lady Slipper's family's heads were bowed with dew and and sorrow for their lifted friend. The dewdrops slowly slid off their bowed heads as tears onto the forest floor. The family circle has been broken. The silent drops will freshen the forest floor to grow a new family member. My friend, lift no more. Be still my friend. Listen and see what the forest floor has to show you.
Date: 2014-04-22
From: Dickey Gap

To: Partnership Shelter
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: clear sky

I left the motel a little before 8:00 AM and the shuttle dropped me off at Dickey Gap. I felt a lot better and my body was functioning again. It was bright sunshine but it was supposed to rain in the afternoon and it did just that. The rain wasn't too bad and Catfish and I kept moving right along. We were going for an 8 mile day and we stopped at Trimpi Shelter to eat and there were 2 hikers there that creeped us out. This is the first time in 500 miles that I felt a different kind of energy. I had big Catfish and my guardian angel with me so I wasn't too scared. The one hiker tried his best to start me into an argument. It was almost like I could see demons in his eyes. Catfish was also uneasy. Catfish told me later that the guy said to his partner that he was from hell. I now realize why he wanted to argue. If he was from hell he could see my guardian angel and was trying to cause trouble. The look in his eyes and his actions wouldn't have surprised me if he would have sprouted horns and a flaming pitchfork would have appeared in his hand. I'm not an angel but I have at my reach more than he can deal with. I can call my guardian angel and God and poof I have legions of angels and a protection. The man's flaming pitchfork will crumble like sand and he would vanish in a cloud of dust. Good bye evil. We headed on and our 8 mile campsite wasn't a good one plus hikers were there with a barking dog. We headed on down the trail for over 6 more miles to Partnership Shelter then we couldn't camp within 1/4 mile of it. DA. We now had 14.5 miles. This was one big dude of a day. We had sunshine, rain, evil, and mostly good. Scary, isn't it.Thought for the day:Good trumps evil. Please don't forget it.
Date: 2014-04-23
From: Partnership Shelter

To: VA 683, US 11, I-81
Miles today: 11.6

We got out of our tents and swished up breakfast. We stopped at the visitor center at Partnership Shelter. We looked around and then headed for Athens, VA where a food drop awaited us. We had a lot of uphill climbs today until the last 6 miles. We met Tracy and Cassidy on the trail today - two happy hiking ladies. I had to rest a lot today because of the 14 miles yesterday and the hills this morning. We had sunshine all day. After 11.6 miles we came to our motel and food drop. We stopped at the motel and dropped our backpacks there and then hiked to the Food Barn Restaurant for some good home cooked food instead of trail food. I took a very long soak bath to get rid of some aches. We had laundry to do too plus writing my journal. Some flowers we saw today were bluets, wild strawberry, skunk cabbage, bloodroot, wild geraniums, and mayapples.Thought for the day:If it seems impossible, it most likely isn't.
Date: 2014-04-24
From: VA 683, US 11, I-81

To: Crawfish Trail
Miles today: 6.3

I got up at 6:45 AM for a brand new day. I slowly got myself dressed to go for a big breakfast at The Barn Restaurant. I had 2 eggs, hash browns and a big 8 oz burger steak. I dumped in some tea and water. When I got back to the motel I put my 5-day food supply in my pack and Catfish and I headed out. When we got under the I-81 overpass our shuttle driver from Tuesday pulled up so we talked a while. We headed out for the 5-day wilderness trek again. The first 3 miles were great. The next 3.3 miles were a lot of big uphill climbs. We arrived at our campsite around 3:00 PM and our demon man was there. Oops. I didn't talk to him so he couldn't argue. After a while another hiker came that knew demon man. He said he is harmless but strange. He said the guy's mom doesn't even know what country he is in - strange. The friend said he could tell something was wrong as soon as he walked into camp because The Leopard and Catfish weren't talking and he could feel something was in the air. Our day was only 6.30 miles because of the hills and water supply. We have about 16 more miles of hills before it gets better. I had the best hiking day yet. Catfish and I didn't even sleep before supper and I ate all my supper too. We had trail magic at our first road crossing today. I had tried to get fruit at the restaurant and gas station to no avail. Then this morning at the road crossing I got an outstanding apple for free. How about that! Thought for the day:Sometimes it pays to wait on things a bit and then it appears.
Date: 2014-04-25
From: Crawfish Trail

To: Lynn Camp Creek
Miles today: 8.8

I got an early start this morning because I had a lot of hills to leap over. The going was good and we had several pastures to go through. There was not too much picture taking today. While stopping for lunch the rains came for about one hour. The sun came back out but there were still rain clouds hanging around. We stopped at Knot Maul Branch Shelter for a rest and it looked like more rain so we hiked 1.2 miles further downhill to a campsite. It started to rain before the campsite just enough to get wet while setting up the tents. I ate supper in my tent after putting on dry clothes. The mileage today was 8.8 and it rained a lot while I was in my tent DRY!Thought for the day:Rain is nice.We need rain.The flowers and trees need rain.The rivers need rain.Rain and hiking and tenting are not so good.Good day.
Date: 2014-04-26
From: Lynn Camp Creek

To: Chestnut Knob Shelter
Miles today: 7.9
Weather: clear sky

I woke up chilly this morning and everything else was wet. I put stuff on the bushes and trees to dry out. It was not a pretty feeling at all. The good thing was the sun was shining and it dried most of my stuff. I stopped for a lunch snack and rest and hung my wet clothes out again. We had big climbs today and one old man was tired out. The last 4 miles were all up and up. I gained 2200 ft in 4 miles way up to 4400 ft where the birds play. We stopped at Chestnut Knob Shelter and let the sun dry out more stuff. Supper was made and writing came next. We saw trillium and dutchman's britches today. That's about all of the new flowers for now. We had to get our water for cooking about 1.7 miles before the shelter. There's no water up this high and in the morning it's 1.3 miles to water. It was a leg working 7.9 miles today.Thought for the day:The days seem a lot nicer if the sun shines - which it did all day. Life seemed good again.
Date: 2014-04-27
From: Chestnut Knob Shelter

To: Jenkins Shelter
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I woke up to a nice sunrise and Catfish flopped out of his tent too. I had shredded wheat in cold water and some dried beef for breakfast. The water stop this morning is 1.3 miles away and very importantly there is no water for the next 9 miles and it's a 70+ degree day. Ouch. I walked over rocks and more rocks and some were bigger than trains. (see photos later) It was a grueling 10 mile walk. I saw a lot of pretty little flowers today. My guardian bird is following me again which is pretty nice. I met up with Storm today. I had met him at TN 91 on April 14. Storm is 67 years old and we are the same bubble people. Storm was out of water so I shared about 8 oz of mine. We stopped at Jenkins Shelter and set up our tents for the night. I had to use my bear bag rope here because they had bears prowling around at night. In camp tonight was Catfish, The Leopard, Dog Man (he had a dog), Pokey Stokey and Bro Bull Dog and a 69 year old man whose name I didn't get. We had trail magic at VA 623. A 75 year old man from Georgia and his daughter Froggin who was section hiking had bottled water, tangerines, candy bars, homemade cookies, and bananas. A real nice get up and go booster.Thought for the day:Be kind to a stranger today. You don't know when you will be the stranger and need something.
Date: 2014-04-28
From: Jenkins Shelter

To: Laurel Creek VA 615
Miles today: 4.8

I woke up about 5:30 and started getting ready to roll out. There was a plaque on the shelter wall that said "free pick up and free breakfast every Monday from 4/1/14-6/1/14 if we get to VA 615 between 9:30-11:30." Catfish and I left camp at 6:45 with 4.8 miles to go and we made it in 2 1/4 hours. We windmilled our way through the forest like kids after candy. We waited about 10 minutes at the road and it started to rain and then Pat the shuttle driver from New Hope Union church drove up. We were off to a wonderful home cooked breakfast. We had breakfast casserole, egg/ham sandwiches, pancakes, applesauce, hash brown casserole, OJ, and coffee. Now this was great and it was all you could eat. Thank you New Hope church. I believe these folks have been doing this for 13 years. (see photos later) I even got a new grandma there. She sure was a nice lady. We got a free ride to a motel in Bland, VA. A storm was coming and my knee was hurting a little. We will take a zero day on Tuesday to wait out the coming storm. We are at the Big Walker motel and it's the cleanest motel we have found so far on the trail. Listen up hikers, this is the place to stay. It's clean, smells clean, and everything works! It's american owned and operated. Nice people. We had a really really bad and dirty motel earlier for the same price as our clean one. We named those owners Goofball and Dimbulb and the lady Mad Agnes. Back to the wonderful breakfast. I forgot to mention the homegrown true maple syrup from their own trees!Thought for the day:When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Where does that leave me?Smile, someone is watching.
Date: 2014-04-29
From: Laurel Creek VA 615

To: Laurel Creek VA 615
Miles today: 0.0

I slept in this morning at the motel. I had looked outside and there was fog and rain. Oh yuck. We went to breakfast at the DQ and then came back to the room. I cleaned all my cooking gear and got my backpack in order. We went to the DQ for supper and met a couple named Bismark and Hopper that we had seen days ago on the trail. What a nice couple. I made a bunch of phone calls to friends and relatives while I had cell phone service. The other night at camp we heard whippoorwills calling. It was nice. I didn't hear any bears tiptoeing through camp Sunday night which was good for us. We don't make very good bear food. I got off the trail Monday which made it the 5th day out in the woods. Yes, no shower, no electric, no bathroom. Just the great outdoors. Then a fellow wonders where all the funny smells come from. Yikes. I washed all my clothes in the motel bathtub and hung them all over the room to dry. I am living it up, folks! Hey folks, you remember my friend from 2013 the one and only WhiteSidewalls? He called me tonight to check up on me which was nice. He called Greasy Creek Friendly to check on the weather and they said don't come down for a couple days. He wants to start at Greasy Creek Friendly and walk to Damascus, VA then has some other plans. One is to drive to Alaska to visit his son. Thought for the day: by guest CatfishThe most inspirations come from outside of four walls.
Date: 2014-04-30
From: Laurel Creek VA 615

To: Laurel Creek VA 615
Miles today: 0.0

It was a long day at the motel. It was supposed to storm today but the rain quit about 9:30 AM and then sunshine. About 8:00 PM the rain started again. We hope to get on the trail Thursday morning about 8:00-9:00 AM. We have a 3 day walk to Trent's Grocery for a food drop and shower and laundry. I spent another night at the Big Walker motel waiting on the storms to pass. There is a saying that wind and rain and hiking don't mix well. It's hard to dodge falling trees and raging storms. This is a story about living in the forest at night when it's dark and you don't know what is creeping outside your tent. You must remember there are no yard lights. There are only stars and the moon if there are no clouds. The other night Catfish left a towel hanging in a small tree and the next morning it was on the ground with a hole chewed in it. Oops.Thought for the day: from guest AmandaCompassion has no limit. Kindness has no enemy.THE ULTIMATE BATHROOM EXPERIENCEThis is a must lifetime bathroom break. In the forest about 2:00 AM on a cold snow covered ground about 22 degrees your bladder is crying out for relief. You get out of your warm sleeping bag, put on a coat and slip on your cold shoes. You unzip the tent door and slowly unzip the outer tent flap. You slowly scan the area for beady eyes looking at you. If the eyes are low it may be a mouse. If the beady eyes are about 6"-12" high it's a coon or opossum. If they are 24"-36" you just might have a bear or coyote staring at you and your bladder is screaming for relief. If the beady eyes are 6'-7' up then you have Bigfoot glaring at you. If there are no beady eyes you stand up and check around you and behind your tent. Now you look for a small tree and not a big one. You don't know what's behind the big tree. Finally some relief. Just then an owl hoots right above you and you do a triple dance and pee on your hand. Oops. You find a wet wipe and hand sanitizer and finish up. You now have a happy bladder and a laughing owl. You creep back to your tent, knock the snow off your shoes, take off your coat, and slip back into a cold sleeping bag. Oh, what joy in this moment.
Date: 2014-05-01
From: Laurel Creek VA 615

To: Helveys Mill Shelter
Miles today: 9.2
Weather: overcast clouds

I was up at 6:15 and slowly got dressed for the day. It's today that we hit the trail again. We were shuttled to Laurel Creek by Bubba. We had a lot of good terrain but my leg bothered me. We went 9.2 miles to Helveys Mill Shelter. I met a young goof named Rat Pak and he was different. I also met a couple named Ace and Holy Moly. Wow. We met a 63 yr old man named Penguin Man and his sidekick Money Maker. We got to the shelter by 3:00 PM and my leg was killing me. But as they say, "no pain, no Maine." I had to stop and wrap my knee which helped some. I called my helpful wife Marilyn and said to send my knee brace to Trent's Grocery. That place is 15 miles away and I hope to hobble de hoy that far. I saw some kind of yellow primrose today and some other flowers that weren't blooming yet. It was foggy this morning but then the sun came out and it was a fantastic day to walk (or hobble). My bird companion has been following me almost daily. Sometimes I tell it, "Yes Mom-I hear you", then it is quiet for a while but then returns to me again. It is wonderful.Thought for the day:Four walls don't make me happy. No walls and the earth beneath my feet make me happy.
Date: 2014-05-02
From: Helveys Mill Shelter

To: VA 611
Miles today: 6.7

I got up this morning with a terrible feeling knee and I wasn't sure I could walk 6.7 miles to the first road crossing. I wrapped my leg and hobbled along and my first 1/4 mile in 11 minutes gave me a not-so-good feeling. I stopped numerous times to rest and one section hiker gave me another wrap to double wrap my leg. Another hiker gave me a very strong pain pill. The pill took away a little of the sharp pain but mostly it made me not care. So on we went and reached the road crossing 5 1/4 hours later. I was never so glad to see a road crossing. I called Trent's Grocery and he came and picked us up. Oh what a relief. Trent's had a room for us so we took it. We had some very big and delicious sandwiches at Trent's. The owners Jimmy and Sherry are very nice and helpful. I need a chiropractor to get my knee back in place and Sherry gave me three names to call. I called and have to wait until Monday. I called my Dr. Hendricks and the suggestion was to ice my knee and that is helping a lot. Well, so I play the waiting game until Monday. I did have a half-good hiking day. My bird companion was chirping today and I saw and heard other birds too. One was a red and black one that sang real nice. I met Penguin Man and Money Maker again. I also met Manbo#5.Thought for the day:In my second life I want to come back as a pretty red bird and sing in the forest.
Date: 2014-05-03
From: VA 611

To: VA 611
Miles today: 0.0

I slept until 7:30 this morning because there is nothing I can except keep ice on my knee and eat. I had several egg and bacon sandwiches for breakfast. Oh yummy. Catfish and I are staying in a room behind Trent's Grocery until I can walk again. We cleaned the apartment so we wouldn't go crazy. I called home and my sister was mowing the yard. Thanks sis. My son cut off the broken limb out of the tree that the storm thought should come down. Thanks Jim and Bryce. My wife said she was cleaning up in the basement. Sounds like things are getting done without me. I was keeping ice on my leg while all this was going on. All I can do is wait and as they say "weight is what broke the wagon." Trail news is that the tree leaves are slowly showing themselves. The earth is slowly warming up and the new ferns are unfurling themselves.Thought for the day: guest daughter-in-law DebThe rules of running work for hikers too. Start where you are. Go where you want. Take as long as you like. Good luck.
Date: 2014-05-04
From: VA 611

To: VA 611
Miles today: 0.0

Sunday at Trent's Grocery apartment was boring. I could hardly walk and not much was going on. I ate breakfast then at 1:30 I had a big chef salad. I kept my knee on ice as much as I could stand. Catfish wanted to fill the tub with ice and make me sit in it. I had news for him and that was a solid NO! At supper I had some buffalo wings and sprite and off to our room we went. I'm waiting for Monday and a doctor for my knee and my knee brace from home. On Friday while hiking I saw the first small blue irises standing tall and beautiful. In the woods they only grow 6-8" tall. At this point in time if I could walk I would call it trail magic. I get around the room on my hands and knees or down on all fours like a dog. It ain't no fun buddy.Thought for the day:If hope did not whisper in our ear that tomorrow will be better, how would anyone have the courage to endure today? --Robert Burns