morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2012-05-29
From: Pine Swamp Brach Shelter

To: War Spur Shelter
Miles today: 12.7
Weather: few clouds

Retread woke me up this morning, he just could not believe the crow purched above us did not wake me. The other morning when we tented at Trent, a goose walked by just in front of our tents with its whanck-whanck-whanck, it continued for fifty yards down the trail. I went from a deep sleep to wide eyed alertness doing my best to figure out where I was and why there was a goose outside my tent.  We didn't get up so it turned around and passed in front of us again, like hey you still asleep, whanck-whanck-whanck. This time brown banana from Zurich, who tented near us, broke out in a histercal laugh that was funnier than the crazy goose. We got nailed by another storm today. It was so hot today, retread didn't down his rain jacket taking time to only slip his pack cover on so I told him he could move on and I would catch up to him. In the short length of time it took me to my packa on I couldn't even see him. I stepped up the pace to no avail I still couldn't even see him up ahead. I literally broke in to a sprint to close in on him. When I finally closed the gap, I ask why the heck he was walking so fast, he said he didn't realize he was. Retread is a very cautious hiker normally but something about the rain drives him to increase his pace using less caution when he should be the most cautious. It would have been impossible to get wetter than we were in the the first 30 seconds and we were still hours from the nearest shelter so there was nothing to gain but injury or death from moving as fast as he was. I discussed it with him and agreed but every couple of minutes I would have to reminde him to slow down. He automatically or instinctively raced to get out of the rain from a life time of doing the same, ignoring the cold hard truth that there is no getting out of the rain out here.This time the rain didn't stop for us to get up the tents. I managed to get my own up without two much water inside but it's impossible to keep it all out. Not fun by any stretch but I guess I'm getting used to it because it really didn't make much difference to me, it was only mildly annoying. Lot of Fire pinks blooming and seen my first Jack and the Pulpit or I should say, the first that was pointed out to me. Retread is really educating me on the flora along the trail, it's hard to believe I've lived this long and know so little about plants, flowers, wild berries and trees, vines and bushes and shrubs in the wild form. This has made the hiking easer and more worth while than just putting one foot in front of the other.
Date: 2012-05-30
From: War Spur Shelter

To: Sarver Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: clear sky

Everything I have was wet this morning. We made a plan to dry out our gear at Kelly's Knob. The first climb was 1800 feet and I felt strong so I moved ahead of retread and had my gear strung out all over the rocks for an hour before I started worrying about him. He missed the trail to the views and never slowed down. I started back south to look for him and then met rhino going north and he hadn't seen him. Pretty sure he was north of me so I chased him the rest of the day after learning from a south bound hiker that he was 3 miles ahead of me and trying to catch me. Later I found out he had went to the knob but not far enough, if he would have followed the side trail 20 more yards to Kelly's knob he would have seen me. Still feeling strong I set out to catch him moving at faster clip than I have to date. I slowed down in awe of a huge tree Virginia has named the Keiffer Oak, at 18' around its the second largest oak on the AT and I'm sure it has slowed a lot of hikers down. By the time I reached the second big climb (and I'm not mentioning all the roller coaster hills that always look flat on the AT guides profile that lie between all the real climbs) I run out of gas. Halfway up the very steep, no switch back 1700' climb I lay down on big flat rock and said the hell with it. I later would regret taking the break because it turned out I would have overtaken retread had I not stopped. I regret it because our planned destination was way the heck down and off the trail and we didn't notice this important fact when we planed it. Retread had to go down because he wrongly thought I did and had to because I knew he would have but had I caught him no way we would have went down there. I can't explain it but a geologic phenomenon has transplanted  Georgia mountain terrain right here in Virginia. VA is tough lately, they don't have any really big mountains so they make what they do have just as hard as they can. I would say this was the toughest day I've had in a month. At least it didn't rain, Yet.....
Date: 2012-05-31
From: Sarver Hollow Shelter

To: Camping just beyand Pickle Branch Shelter
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: clear sky

Sarved Hollow is the best shelter I've seen but it's not worth it, if I had it to do over I would not have walked the .4 down to it. We tented inside the shelter because there was only three of us and we thought it was going to rain and the bugs were bad. It didn't rain and the bugs went home after dark but it all worked out anyway. After the long climb back up to the trail it was a fairly level grade for a long while. I enjoyed the ridge more than any other I've hiked. The AT Guide list only 2 views but almost all of the ridge has nice views of the valley bellow. We were blessed with trail magic when we reached the bottom at Craig creek rd, a ice chest full of orange sodas, chips, candy and water. This was extra special because we were expecting to go 9 miles without water. A well done switchback climb of Brush mountain 1700 feet, which was a surprise, we had began to think Virginia forgot how to make switchbacks. The top is where Audie Murphy's plane crashed and there is a monument set up there in his name. He was the most decorated soldier of world war ll and his monument was pleasing and appropriate. Retread needs to get in town early saturday so we decided to forgo the next shelter in the hopes we would find a good tent site. A strom moved in and we are trapped up here on a fairly exposed ridge. We managed to get our tents up on a very small flat spot before the rain started, but boy oh boy am I not comfortable with it. The shelter we passed up was .3 off the trail with another .2 down steep for water so we packed water in from a creek five miles back to camp here. Seemed like a good ideal at the time but if I had a chance to walk down to that shelter I would. Damned if you do damned if you don't.
Date: 2012-06-01
From: Camping just beyand Pickle Branch Shelter

To: Campbell Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 13.6
Weather: light rain

It rained several hours last night but we lived thru it. Not only were we not struck by lightning but a strong wind after the rain completely dried our tents by morning. Hiked in a whiteout most the morning. Missed the views at dragons teeth but it was way cool anyway. It was close to the most difficult section of rock scrambling so far, I loved it. Retread didn't like it at all and he agreed with a section hiker, saying it was ridiculous. The rocks sapped all the energy out of his body (I think mind) and he no longer wanted to do the 20 mile day we planed. It rained pretty hard after lunch and then again a few hours later, but each time we dried out while hiking. I thought the second rain would ruin the views at McAfee Knob but luck was still on our side because it cleared up just as we reached the top. Easy the most spectacular overlook yet bar none. Virginia has been hard easy scenic dull and everything in between, I still love it.
Date: 2012-06-02
From: Campbell Mountain Shelter

To: DaleVillie VA
Miles today: 17.5

Left camp in good time with pizza on our mind. Tinkers Cliffs slowed me down more than retread, he needed to get to the outfitters more than I did. I just could not resist the awesome views. Tinker Cliffs views to me are more spectacular than MCAfee.I have now developed the so called hiker appetite, I am always hungry. After the views were over we hiked incredible fast with the prospect of food on our minds. I eat more in 4 hours today than I ever have before. I like the trail but it sure makes you appreciate town life more than I could have imagined it would.
Date: 2012-06-04
From: Dalevillie

To: Bobblets Gap Shelter
Miles today: 18.4
Weather: clear sky

Left town at 9am after I blew up three hard boiled eggs in the microwave. The motel staff was not amused even after I told them I only set it for one minute. Had so many things I needed to do I didn't have time  to enjoy the zero. By the time we went to two outfitters, patched the holes in my tent and seam sealed it, resupplied for food on the trail and walked to no less than five restaurants and eating at the same, it was time for bed. The trail had mercy on us today with my favorite kind of switchbacks and a easy grade. We are now walking along the blue ridge parkway, I stepped on it not long after completing 1/3 of the trail.
Date: 2012-06-05
From: Bobblets Gap Shelter

To: Cornelius Creek Shelter
Miles today: 18.4
Weather: light rain

Left the shelter at 8:13 without sleep or almost, lots of snoring going on last night. I had no choice but to sleep in the shelter for there were no tent sites. Retread saw his first bear today. I didn't see it as he was about 30 yards ahead of me. Later we seen a fawn and was able to get within 20 yards before it run down the trail. We had a 10% chance of rain today and 100% of that 10% dumped on us. I'm in a shelter again tonight because we didn't want to tent in the rain. Retread was going to put his tent up inside the shelter because he was cold last night but then it was to long  and wouldn't fit like he wanted it to so at last light he moved outside. It has stopped raining so he will probably be happier out there than I will be in here. The Terrain was not as forgiving as it was yesterday and we did the same miles and I am beat.
Date: 2012-06-06
From: Cornelius Creek Shelter

To: BRP 76.3
Miles today: 5.1

Retread nearly froze as he put it. He didn't get any sleep and he was not in a good mood. He said his new sleeping bag is worthless and dead weight. He downed all his clothing, even his rain gear, wore socks on his hands and his liner but the 54 degree bag would do nothing to keep him warm. We had  20 miles to do today and then would resupply in Glascow and we wasn't sure we would make it.  He wanted to get out to the blue ridge parkway and get a ride in to get a blanket to help keep him warm. He felt pretty strong about it so that's what we did. The plan is to get back out early tomorrow. Hopefully the blanket will keep him warm until we get to Waynesboro where he can yet again go to an outfitters.
Date: 2012-06-07
From: BRP 76.3

To: Johns Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Great views on Thunder Ridge this morning. It was cool to be above the clouds again, it's been awhile since I was looking down on the clouds rather than them looking down on me. Scatter showers today, we bumped into to hikers that got wet but we never did, a nice change it's usually us getting soaked. Couple of short knobs to climb but mostly down hill, really down, from 4000' all the way down to 678' lowest I can remember on the whole trail. The AT parallels the James river for awhile and then crosses the longest footbridge on the trail. It's popular place for hikers to dive off the bridge but the water is too cold for that this hiker. It's really not that much of a jump like I had heard it was. I've jumped from higher at chimney rock back home but there were some kids there cheering each other on, no one took the plunge while I was there. We are still only at 1000' at the shelter. We planned 25 miles but when took a break here we never left. We pulled in around 4:00 and it give us a chance to calculate when we would finish.  Retread was disappointed to learn it would likely be the end of September rather than the end of August like he had planned.  Fun easy day on the AT life is good.
Date: 2012-06-08
From: Johns Hollow Shelter

To: Brown Mountain Creek Shelter
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: few clouds

Went for a walk today, because that's what I do. Get up eat breakfast, break camp, get water, strap life's essentials on back and walk. I'm a lot better at it these days, I never stop because I'm tired, when I stop now it's because I feel like it. Even at the end of the day. I stop because I'm tired of walking not because my body is tired. The trail, as usual, went back up the opposite side of the ridge so that I was looking back at the ridge I was on the day before. It gives you a different prospective of the valley below, as well as gives you the opportunity to walk up and down day after day. I don't just walk everyday, I walk up and down everyday, nothing is flat here in Virginia or anywhere else that I've been the pass nine weeks. What can I say? I walked up to Big Rocky Row, walked down Saddle Gap, walked further down Saltlog Gap, walked up Bluff Mountain, walked up Punchbow Mountain, walked across a gravel road, walked up Rice Mountain, walked down to Pedlar Bridge, walked around Lynchburg Reservoir and walked up here to Brown Mountain. It's a lot of walking!! Best part is, I get to walk some more tomorrow. Why do I keep walking? What is it that's driving me north? I don't know, other than I started and nothing is going to stop me. There is a monument on Bluff MT in the exact spot where a little girls body was found on April 5, 1891 after she strayed from school on Nov. 9, 7 miles away. Her name was Ottie Cline Powell, she was 4 years old. Rocky Row has a fabulous view. The footbridge over Pedlar river looks expensive and very well built all so I can keep walking. The trail is still crossing back and forth over the Blue Ridge Parkway, the best thing about that is, they have trash cans and I can rid myself of all my trash I would otherwise have to carry until the next town. The privys here are sweet, all of the ones I've seen are hands down the best on the trail so far. Brown MT was occupied long ago by freed slaves, several family's etched out a meager living up here. Retread and I are tenting next to Browns Creek, the water is noisily flowing 20 feet from our tents as it rushes down the mountain. We should sleep well.
Date: 2012-06-09
From: Brown Mountain Creek Shelter

To: Seeley Woodworth Shelter
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Little late out of the shelter this morning. We got going at a fair clip but in less than 2 miles at US 60 trail magic was waiting for us, pops and cookies stalled us for a half hour. Then Long MT had some steep sections that slowed progress a little, it was a 3000' gain in elevation. Near the top I already was doubting we would make the 22 miles we planed. Today will be remembered as the day of the rattlesnake. Retread walked within eight inches of a better than 4' rattlesnake next to the trail. I may have done the same but as he passed it it reared it's head up and turned  toward retreads leg like it would strike. Even though the big fat boy wasn't coiled up and didn't actually strike, it was a fairly unsettling sight I'd just as soon not seen. Retread (snake lover) didn't seem to think he was in any danger even after I told him he only thought that because he didn't see what I had seen. There was a dead bird only a foot away and we assumed it was trailing the bird when we interrupted it's meal. We snapped some pics, counted its rattles (eight and a button) and moved off, but I noticed it started moving as soon as we walked off. I decided to keep my distance and watch to see if it would find the bird. Snaking it's tongue out to taste the air and moving on and off the trail it was obviously looking for it when scooby (a thru hiker) came into view. He was moving fast and didn't slow down much when pointing with my hiking pole, I told him there was a rattlesnake next to the trail. He stopped and ask where and I said right beside you. He had his eyes to far up the trail and I told him no, its right beside your foot, finally he seen it and backed off with a few choice words. It was much bigger than he expected, it scared him and he didn't seem to worry much about us knowing about it. All together the snake cost us  about 40 minutes of walking. We barely got going again when halted yet again by trail magic, this time hotdogs and sodas (thanks Chevy and matchstick last years thru hikers) it was an unexpected stroke of luck and delicious. It cost us another hour and a half but totally worth it. We finally made here quite a bit short of our destination, happy, full, dry and next to a shelter with a privy.
Date: 2012-06-10
From: Seeley Woodworth Shelter

To: Maupin Field Shelter
Miles today: 20.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Today's profile, started at 3822' went down to 3454' up 3793' down 3280' up 4063' down 970' up 2090' down 1756' and up 3870' typical day in Virginia. Many people along the trail told me Virginia is flat and easy. Not true, not even close. Day hikers, motel staff, outfitters and thru hikers alike all wrong, this state is tough and to say otherwise would be careless. The Applachain trail is a monstrous undertaking and Virginia is monumental alone. I've read that only 14000 people of the worlds populaition, past and present have thru hiked it in one calender year. We had a fun rock scramble at the end of the day and retread hated it, he can't stand the big rocks. Late in the day he turned suddenly and said "where does the guy that made this plan live at?"it was hilarious, he almost look serious. He was referring to a total stranger that I have modeled the plan I'm using after. He run near dry of energy on the last climb and I gave him a energy drink that I've been saving for an emergency. It worked so well he pondered the thought of living on the drink alone. The views were great today but it was to hazy for pictures. The weather was hotter than what we are use to, hottest day we've had to date. Almost hot enough to wish for the damn rain, almost.
Date: 2012-06-13
From: Waynesboro

To: Blackrock Hut
Miles today: 19.8
Weather: clear sky

Stepped off skyline drive and entered the Shenandoah National Park, seems like it took forever to get here. So far I'm unimpressed just another tunnel of trees. The trail came out of the trees for communication towers (did have some cool tractor seats to sit on) and to cross skyline dr. a few times. No excitement today, seen a deer feeding that barely  noticed I was there, thru hiker joe4 was hiking just ahead of me and saw a bear, I walked within 10 yards of a turkey, the bear was the only animal that run. Hope to get some great views of the valley tomorrow.
Date: 2012-06-14
From: Blackrock Hut

To: Pinefield Hut
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: broken clouds

I tried to sleep in but a whippoorwill would have none of that nonsense. Something was walking around my tent last night, but it sounded heavy, thinking it could be a bear or a late arrival hiker I went back to sleep. This morning there was talk of a bear in camp so I guess it was bear. The animals in the SNP are crazy. I've walked right up to deer and they act as if they don't see me. The only thing that runs are the bears, go figure. I spotted a bear up the trail twenty yards in front of retread, I said bear but he didn't hear me and kept walking with his head down so I said it louder which spooked it in the brush. Retread seen it run but I couldn't from my angle. When I first seen it it was siting on its hunches like a dog, dead ahead on the trail. I was frantically trying to get my camera out and stop retread but I failed miserably at both. Seen another rattlesnake but smaller at only 3' or so, but this one rattled the whole time retread was taking pictures of it, little thing was sure trying to be tough. Loft MT has store next to the trail and we stopped for food and then on a little further a wayside for burgers and fries. They make Blackberry shakes for $4.25 for a small cup, it was good but holly smoke that's a lot for that little thing. I climbed to Black Rocks summit this morning. It used to be a cliff and it cracked, broke up and fell, what's left is a big pile of rocks. The views in SNP are (what few there are) are unspectacular. When I went in the wayside to get a postcard to send  to my mother, the lady working said the skyline drive used to be the AT trail and the views are all on the road. The SNP is nothing like I expected, other than the quick side trails to food, I would say two days in has been my least favorite part of Virginia.
Date: 2012-06-15
From: Pinefield Hut

To: Lewis Mtn Canpground
Miles today: 19.9

Packed and on the trail by 6:30 this morning, really good for me. I can't remember when I was on the trail that early. Woke up in the night in the middle of rolling over and spooked a deer outside my tent. I know was a deer because it blowed like a deer does, no clue what it was feeding on. Finally had a fair to midlin view today. It was nice enough to stop and have lunch. Still nothing like I expected. Again I had deer let me get within feet of them, one wouldn't even get off the trail she just mozyed along in front of me. Seen three more bear today but those suckers are hard to get a picture of when their running. The first was a cub on my left, the second two hundred yards later on my right and maybe momma but I never seen the two together. Retread was behind me when I saw those two but walked right by the third one without seeing it. I looked up and seen it walking parallel with retread and stopped to get my camera and off it went. We are camped at a camp ground with lots of car campers because we couldn't resist the camp store, read food.  You can tell most of these people are not hikers because it's after hiker midnight and they show no signs of going to bed anytime soon.
Date: 2012-06-16
From: Lewis Mtn Canpground

To: Skyland Resort (is a motel or cabin?)
Miles today: 16.6

We we're entertained by a doe that weaved her way through all the tents and popup campers full of sleeping people. Strangely, she walked up to us, the only ones awake, even more strange she stayed inside our camp section as we packed our stuff. For 20 minutes she grazed around as close as three feet from the picnic table, retread or me. Seen bear this morning and again in the evening, I've lost count now but I think the last one was bear number eight. I was fast enough with my camera to get a snap shot of big male but it's not a great picture. Later I finally had one pose for me, like the deer, he payed us no mind, I would say he was in the middle as far as the size we've seen. The weather so far in the SNP has been very good. It rained one night while we were sleeping but had long stopped by morning. It gets chilly at night and I've been zipping up my bag to stay warm, perfect for sleeping. We've eat at a wayside all but one day while in the park. I can honestly say I've seen more wildlife in 20 miles of the SNP than I did in the 800 miles behind me. Still, I must say I'm disappointed in the park and am ready to get it and all it's regulation behind me.
Date: 2012-02-23
To: working hard,soon to go
Miles today: 0.0

We have been working hard for work and all the preparations to get started on the trail, 3/22/12. N.H. has some snow but the weather has been great for training. 35 lb pack, microspikes and persistence leads me to climb the mountain in my back yard and beyond. Stevie, my Hiking partner/daughter is in the flatlands of Mississippi, but she says she to will be prepared. Certainly it has not been easy to shut down a busy 20yr medical practice for a 6 month sabatical. Appreciate all those who have made this possible. Will start further input at my date of departure from N.H. 3/20/11, fly to Mississippi to meet up with my daughter and her mate. Drive to Springer mountain, then to our hike.We will keep in touch, Gumpy ( Eric)