morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-05-12
From: Doll Flats Campsite

To: Laurel Creek Lodge
Miles today: 26.6
Weather: broken clouds

may 12, my birthday. about 2 weeks ago, i decided i'd try to hike 26 miles on my 26th birthday. i looked at the profile map (the one that tells you how steep the mountains are) and i wanted to stop at this hostel called kincora in hampton, tn, because i'd heard so much about it. i woke up around 6:30 at doll flats campsite, broke down camp, and started hiking at 7:15. the first 11 miles were pretty good, at that point i reached a shelter and took a short break. after i left the shelter, it started raining (of course). nothing too bad, especially since i was under a lot of tree cover, until around 1:30. at that point i had about 6 miles left to the next shelter where i was planning to stop and have lunch, which i figured would be at around 4:00 or so. then the rain started coming down harder, and i thought about stopping and putting on my rain jacket (i already had on my rain pants and pack cover) but i was making really good time and didn't want to stop the groove i was in. the harder it rained, the harder i hiked, and i went like that for the next 4 miles or so until i hit a wall. i had to stop for about 15 minutes, got a few snacks in me while i sat in the rain, and finally moved on. got to the shelter, and it quit raining within 2 minutes (of course). stayed for about an hour and a half, and then did the last 6 miles of the day. total i did about 27.2 miles counting the walking to the hostel, but trail distance i did 26.6. longest day yet, puts me at 409.3 miles total. only 50 miles left to damascus, virginia!
Date: 2007-05-13
From: Laurel Creek Lodge

To: Laurel Fork Shelter
Miles today: 2.0
Weather: clear sky

Short hiking day -- only 2 miles. Woke up at the Laurel Creek Lodge around 7 or so and hung around most of the day. Watched a few movies (Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?, Mallrats, and some of Liar Liar), resupplied, wound up hiking to the next shelter. Great hike to it, passed a huge waterfall and hiked next to a river for a mile or so before getting to the shelter. Met up with a couple of section hikers for the night there, really good company.
Date: 2007-05-14
From: Laurel Fork Shelter

To: Vandeventer Shelter
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: scattered clouds

A little bit of hard hiking today, had to go up and over Pond Flats, which has an incredibly steep climb near the top. After that there was a nice downhill for a while and then Lake Watauga, where one of the locals told me I didn't even have to go up and over Pond Flats. There was a blue-blaze side trail that goes around the mountain. Not that I would've taken it even if I had known about it. Hung out at the lake for about an hour or so, had lunch, and soon after I got back on the trail I met up with a guy named C-shot. Great guy from Virginia, he carries a guitar with him. I think I've talked about him previously. Anyway, we're hiking around the lake and suddenly this big black hound comes running at us down the trail barking his head off. At first I just stopped and took a step back, then I started yelling back at it, saying "HEY! HEY! HEYYYYYY!!!!!" The damn thing kept barking at us, so I started pointing at it and screaming "NO! NO! GO ON! GIT! GIT!" I was screaming at the top of my lungs, and started walking at it, bowing up and just giving it hell. As I got closer I noticed it was foaming at the mouth. When I charged at him or walked towards him he would retreat, so I kept doing that down the trail until I heard somebody off in the woods yelling "Nigel! Nigel! Git on ovah here, Nigel!" Eventually I saw some woman on a horse on a side trail and asked her to come get her dog. She just looked at me and rode on, and the dog kept barking at me. I bent over to pick up a rock and when I did the dog ran away. C-shot and I hiked on, we were talking about the dog and everything, and 5 minutes down the trail the dog comes back, barking again and looking pretty mad. So I started yelling at it and running at it again. At one point we just kept on hiking but he kept following us, so I picked up a rock and again it ran off, fortunately for good this time. Stopped at Watauga Lake Shelter for a bit and then hiked on to Vandeventer Shelter. Very hard hiking between the two, got to the Watauga Dam, which had some really great views but it was out in the sun so it was really hot. Two or three really long, steep uphill sections. Got to the shelter, the water source was 0.5 miles away DOWNHILL, which meant that I had to come back UPHILL carry a full load of water. As I was walking down, I got more and more frustrated, and at one point I yelled out "CHRIST!" Right after I said that, I heard somebody say "Yeah?" I was only a few more seconds away from the water and didn't realize it because it around the bend. Flaxseed, a 71-year old Asian man, was there and heard me yell.
Date: 2007-05-15
From: Vandeventer Shelter

To: Double Springs Shelter
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Very easy hiking today, ridgeline walking for the most part. I made it to Double Springs shelter in pretty good time, too. I stopped at Iron Mtn. shelter for lunch, about 7 miles in for the day, and met a guy named Tyvec. He's a southbound hiker who made his pack out of Tyvec, which is this material used in building houses that is sorta like canvas. If you don't know what it is, google it and find out. Anyway, I talked with him for about 5 minutes or so, very interesting character, I wish he was hiking northbound because he's pretty crazy in a good kind of way. He told me he's called either Tyvec or The Holy Shit Man because that's what people say when they see him. He also walks barefoot, and his feet are black and pretty busted looking. Our conversation ended and I said "Well, good luck on the rest of your hike south, there are some really great spots that I'm going to visit after I finish my hike." Then he said, "Yeah, there's a really great spot in Connecticut that I'm going back to." I said, "Oh yeah, which one is that?" He said "Well, I found a meteor in the ground there. I'm gonna go back and dig that sucker up." Later I got to the shelter and there was a father-son duo out for a few days. They started hiking to a campsite further up the trail and returned about an hour later. They weren't saying anything, and somebody at the shelter said "D'you forget something?" The son said "We saw a family of bears." They had gone probably a mile and a half and came up on 4 or 5 bears that were walking towards them; when the bears saw them, they all ran off, which is what black bears usually do when they see humans. The father and son decided it'd be best if they stayed at the shelter for the night.
Date: 2007-05-16
From: Double Springs Shelter

To: Damascus
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Long day of hiking but it was all very easy. Got started at around 7:15 or so, hiked about 12 minutes and realized I had forgotten a shirt and a pair of socks at the shelter. So I put down my pack and went back and grabbed them. Then I was at a road crossing about 4 miles from the shelter, and another hiker named Tuna Bag got to the crossing. He said "Hey Boognish, did you leave a tent at the shelter?" I did. Wound up one of the guys who stayed at the shelter the night before picked it up for me, so I bought him a beer here in town. Nice to have people looking out for you.
Date: 2007-05-20
From: Damascus

To: Saunders Shelter
Miles today: 9.4
Weather: few clouds

Slow start to the day, I didn't get hiking until around 3 or 4. I got to the far end of town and then remembered the Braves and Red Sox were playing, and Tim Hudson was starting, so I turned around to go to the Baja Cafe and hang out and watch the game. Game time came around, and I switched the TV to TBS only to find Saved By The Bell is on, and in the upper left corner it says "Braves Rain Delay." So I sat around and watched that dumb show for like 10 minutes and figured I'd get back on the trail. Hiking was good, a good challenging hike coming out of Damascus, but not even 10 miles. Hung out at the shelter with some new people - Bump, a section from Maine; Bill and Ted, two hikers who're planning a thru-hike for next year; and BP, who is testing gear for Backpacker magazine. Sweetwater was there too, with his brother, Disco Banjo. He is joining Sweetwater just for a few days. All really great guys, lots of fun to hang out with. After being off the trail for 4 nights, it was surprising how comfortable I felt getting back in the woods. It felt like I was returning to my home -- wasn't worried about where I had to be the next day or where any of my stuff was or anything like that. Some highlights from Trail Days:- Getting paid to dress like a woman in the Saturday parade (pictures to come later) and dancing in front of hundreds of people- Got new gear at Mt. Rogers Outfitters in town -- new pack (Gregory Z55), new shoes (Montrail Hard Rocks), new cookware (MSR Titan Kettle)- Tent City: I've never been to Bonnaroo but I've heard that Tent City is just like it, only without the music.- Meeting all the different people - either hikers from this year, past thru-hikers, etc. Lots of people who're just in front of me on the trail or right behind me.
Date: 2007-05-21
From: Saunders Shelter

To: Whitetop Mtn. Road Campsite
Miles today: 11.9

Started at Saunders Shelter, great weather today. Stopped at Lost Mtn. Shelter for lunch, met up with a few other hikers before moving on. No rush today, it was real nice. I'm meeting up with my parents this weekend in Atkins and it's not too far north so this whole week is extremely laid back, I can stop and nap at spots if I want to. Had a long 2 and 1/2 mile uphill that was easier than I thought it'd be, then got up to the top of Whitetop Mountain, which has one of the best views I've seen yet. I could see for miles, off to the east there were clear skies and to the west there were dark clouds rolling in. I stood and watched it for about 20 minutes or so and thought about how lucky and blessed I am to have made it this far, and hopefully, I'll be able to last the whole way. Got to Whitetop Mtn Road and there was a thru-hiker from last year, Danger Zone, who I got to hang out with for about an hour or so with Bump and another guy, Sanford, who thru-hiked last year. We sat around, had a few beers, and talked about the trail. Trail magic like that really makes this whole experience worthwhile -- I hope that I'll be able to pass it on in the future.
Date: 2007-05-22
From: Whitetop Mtn. Road Campsite

To: Wise Shelter
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: broken clouds

Great hiking today, started out at the campsite and easy morning hike. Went over Elk Garden, where I hiked over a few fields that was really something, and then up to Briar Ridge, a spot with vistas over meadows. As I got there I ran into a few thru-hikers from '05 (or was it '06?): Snowdog, KB, and Espy (sorry if I misspelled any names). Espy gave me a Rice Krispie Treat, and Snowdog gave me a beer. And we sat and told trail stories for a good half hour. I know a lot of you have read "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson, for those of you who haven't, he talks about the bond that is formed between thru-hikers even if they cross each others' paths for only a few minutes. I've definitely experienced that over and over again, and this was definitely one of those times. Went past Mt. Rogers, the highest point in Virginia, but didn't go up it. There was a side trail, 0.5 miles to the top, and there isn't a view. Had lunch at Thomas Knob Shelter (on top of a big hill -- really cool place), then got into Grayson Highlands. Awesome place to hike through, a lot of people compare it to Big Sky, Montana. I've never been there, so I don't know how similar it is, it's great. There are ponies that roam around the trail pretty regularly, and I saw two or three groups of ten or more close up. By the way, I know that my list of adjectives isn't really big. I am aware that I use the same words over and over to describe my experiences, words like "incredible", "amazing", "cool", "great", etc. I don't really know how else to describe this other than to use those words, I only hope some of you can join me or do this someday so you can experience it for yourself. And I definitely go through bad times where I'm lonely and pissed off and my whole body hurts and I gotta take a dump and it's raining out and my butt itches and everything sucks, but most of the time when I write these things I'm looking back on the day and I'm thinking of the good stuff.
Date: 2007-05-23
From: Wise Shelter

To: Trimpi Shelter 
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: broken clouds

Big miles today and I wasn't planning on doing it from the start. Got started around 9, great hiking through Stone Mtn and "The Scales" (a spot where they used to round up cattle and weigh them), big open fields with big boulders and ponies running around crapping all over the place. Stopped at Old Orchard Shelter for lunch, then went on to Hurricane Mtn Shelter. Thought about staying there, but I still had more miles in me, so I decided to go on to Troutdale, a city that has a church hostel. I got up to Dickey Gap, where VA highway 650 passes through and tried hitchhiking into town but didn't have any luck. I had already gone 16 miles, most of it uphill, and didn't have much of a choice but to go on to the next shelter, 4 miles north. I got to a sign that read "Trimpi Shelter 1.6 miles", started hiking down the trail, and suddenly heard something running around in the woods. I looked up the mountain to the left of the trail and saw a big black bear running away from me. I stopped, thought "Hey a bear, I'm finally seeing one" and then it stopped running and turned around and looked at me. At this point it was about 75 feet away from me, and I banged my hiking poles together. The bear looked at me for a second and then turned and ran away. Then it stopped again, looked back at me, and I started yelling at it. It looked at me for a good 5 seconds or so before SLOWLY turning around and running up the hill. I wasn't really scared, but adrenaline rushed through me and I ran pretty much the whole way to the shelter. I think I made it the last 1.5 miles in like 20 minutes, which is pretty damn good when you've got 30 pounds on your back and you've gone 18.5 miles already.
Date: 2007-05-24
From: Trimpi Shelter 

To: Partnership Shelter
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: light rain

Great hiking today, got to Partnership Shelter which is a really nice shelter -- two stories with a hot shower and right next to Mt. Rogers Visitors Center. You can order pizza from town and have it delivered there, so a bunch of people made it to the shelter for the night. All in all we ordered something like 16 pizzas for probably 20-25 people and a bunch of beer. I went into town to grab a few things and got a ride back from a mother and son who had just gone to a yard sale. They had the backseat full of stuff -- jackets, blankets, bed sheets, etc. I was talking to the mother about all she got and then she pulls out this big sky blue pillow with the words "BLING BLING" written on it and two diamond rings drawn under the words. I was like "Hey, BLING BLING, alright!" She said "You want it? I was gonna give it to my grandkids but they probably jus' gonna fight over it" and I said "HELL YEAH I WANT IT!" So she let me take it, it's one of those foam pillows that is really comfortable, and it says BLING BLING on it. It's too big to carry in the pack, though, so I'll probably get Mom and Dad to take it back to Alpharetta when I see them this weekend. One of the best nights on the trail so far at the shelter -- one guy had a guitar so we sat around the campfire singing songs eating pizza drinking beer. You know, really roughing it out on the trail. I played a few Ween songs.
Date: 2007-05-25
From: Partnership Shelter

To: US11/Atkins
Miles today: 11.6

Hiked with a few guys from Partnership Shelter to Atkins, met up with Mom and Dad last night and enjoying seeing them. Not a whole lot from yesterday, just a real lazy day hiking over some really big open fields. Saw a few rabbits, went to a farm museum thing that was pretty cool (right off the trail). Hanging out with Mom and Dad today, I think we're about to go on a short hike.
Date: 2007-05-27
From: US11/Atkins

To: Knot Maul Branch Shelter
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: clear sky

Hard day, not really in the hiking (although there were a few tough spots) but more so because I had to say bye to Mom and Dad in the morning. The rest of the day I didn't really see anybody on the trail, not even when I got to the shelter, so it was a pretty lonely, quiet day. Got a new sleeping bag - an REI Kilo Flash 40 degree (shout out and thanks to Ryan Chapman for suggesting that to me back when he and Nick joined up with me) that is AWESOME. It's a down bag, so it stuffs down into a sack about as big as my rainjacket and weighs only a pound. Really comfortable, too -- nice and soft. It's hard to get up in the morning. Also got an iPod for my birthday, Mom and Dad brought it up to Atkins and David loaded it with music. Tons of good stuff -- Ween (of course), Gillian Welch, Don Chambers, John Hartford, Bob Dylan, Arcade Fire, Neil Young, Pearl Jam, Old Crow, Sam Cooke, etc. It's good to listen to while I'm hiking at times, like when I've got a tough uphill, but other times I like keeping my ears open and listening for wildlife.
Date: 2007-05-28
From: Knot Maul Branch Shelter

To: Davis Farm Campsite
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Was trying to put in a 19 mile day today to Jenkins Shelter but I got a late start in the morning and couldn't get into a groove throughout the day. Big long 5 mile uphill over Chestnut Knob, really steep in the beginning but after that it was all gradual. Took me a little under 2 hours to get to the top of it. It was really hot, too, so I hiked without a shirt and now I kind of regret it because I've got a pack rash where my back meets my butt and it sometimes hits it when I hike. Had lunch at the shelter on top of Chestnut Knob, took a nice nap for about an hour, then headed out. The hiking from there was pretty much ridgewalking, up and down and pretty tiring. I got to Davis Farm Campsite, which was 0.5 mile downhill (which meant I had an uphill first thing in the morning). It's a really small spot, there were 3 guys from a local church (one adult and two teenagers) already there. I talked with them and hung out with them for a little bit while I got my tent set up. They were sleeping out in the open. When it got close to dark, I helped them get their bear bag up and about a half hour later one of the teenagers had a big bowl of rice that he was eating. I told him, "You're gonna want to put that bowl in the bear bag once you're finished," and he said, "Ehh, I'll just rinse it out when I'm done." I said, "UHHHH, that's not how it works out here, but if that's what you want to do, ok." Then he said, "OK, I'll put it in the bag when I'm finished," but of course, HE DIDN'T. So I went to bed in my tent and woke up a few hours later. One of the guys was whispering "Psss.....hey Ben....there's a bear!" I laid there for a minute waiting to see if anything happened but nothing did. The next morning I woke up and the adult said he saw the bear, it was probably around 250-300 pounds and only about 15 feet from the campsite. It walked by, sat down for only a minute, and walked on. I knew that was gonna happen, too.
Date: 2007-05-29
From: Davis Farm Campsite

To: Helveys Mill Shelter
Miles today: 16.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Long day to Helveys Mill Shelter. Hot and muggy, lots of bugs flying around my head. A lot of times there'll be one bug -- ONE BUG -- that comes up and lands on my head and just follows me for a mile or two. I'll try swatting him off but he just buzzes around and lands on another spot. Then I'll stop and he stops with me, as if to say "Oh you wanna take a break huh? Well I'll take one witcha!" It's funny because in my mind I'm having a conversation with the bug -- speaking to it and imagining what it is saying back to me. A lot of ridgewalking again today, some good uphill sections but nothing I couldn't handle. There was a stretch of a mile or two where I had to walk over roads and it was pretty frustrating because it's out in the sun and there are cars driving around and the asphalt is hot and it's just annoying. Big uphill climb at the end of the day to the shelter, and the water source at the shelter was about a half mile downhill, switchback after switchback. And the privy was filled. All the way to the top. So I couldn't...you know...take care of business like I wanted to. Met up with a few other guys there - Lion, Tchako, and Wolftaffy. Good group. Lot of bugs at the shelter, I'd wake up in the middle of the night smacking myself trying to get rid of them.
Date: 2007-05-30
From: Helveys Mill Shelter

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

24 mile day, second longest of the trip for me so far. Not really a lot of bad hiking, some rocky parts and stuff, but 24 miles is 24 miles. By the end my feet were hurting pretty bad and the bugs were following me. At one point there were about 4 or 5 buzzing around my head and I had both of my hands swatting at them. I wanted to get out my head net but that would've meant stopping and digging it out of my pack, and at that point I was only a couple miles away from the shelter so I just dealt with it. Stopped at Trent's Store, which is about 0.4 miles off the trail, and got a sandwich and a couple of Gatorades. Some of the locals there were giving me funny looks so I got out of there pretty quick (I was expecting on of them to come up and say in a deep southern drawl "Say, boy, you sure got a pretty mouth, hehhhh hehhhhh hehhhh" and his buddy would be like "Hurr hurr, yeahyah, heee shurrrr doo") and got back on the trail to go the last 7 miles to the shelter. The last 7 miles weren't challenging, it just seemed to take forever to get there. I got to a point where I was looking for the shelter sign, and finally I got up to a mileage marker that said "Wapiti Shelter 1.9" I got a little angry, but then realized it was only another 40-45 minutes before I got there. Met back up with Lion, Tchako, and Wolftaffy at the shelter, also a woman named Waterfall from Manitoba was there. Really nice lady, good time at the shelter.