morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-06-05
From: Knot Maul Branch Shelter tentsite

To: Jenkins Shelter
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I am writing this entry a day late, because by the time I got to the shelter at 7:15 I was wiped. A combination of heat, humidity, allergies and allergy medication, limited water on the trail and a tough 6 rocky miles on the ridge made it the most difficult 19 miles I've done. Amazingly, it didn't look that bad on the map. I wasn't the only one who had a tough time. Other people at the shelter totally ran out of water for the last few miles. None of us are used to the warm weather yet, and we all ended up exhausted and dehydrated. It was Stovepipe's last day on the trail, so to celebrate she made us pistachio pudding, which we garnished with shaved dark chocolate. That went a long way towards improving everyone's mood!
Date: 2005-06-06
From: Jenkins Shelter

To: Helveys Mills Shelter
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: few clouds

I decided to take the afternoon off today. It's hot again, and the next shelter is 10 miles north with no water or camping in between. This shelter is a little run down and the water is way down hill, but I got here at around 3 and am hanging out, resting and doing chores. I did a little laundry, which is a good thing. My hiking shorts and shirt were so stiff with sweat they could probably walk by themselves. The weather is actually really nice if you are not trying to carry a heavy pack up hill, and there's a nice breeze. No one else is here, so it's nice and quiet. Stopping here actually works well for my plan to get into Pearisburg in two days, if I can do a 20+ day in day after tomorrow. There's a store with a campground and a shower(!) about 16 miles from here, and then it's about 24 into town. If I can't make the whole distance there is a good hostel 10 miles from town, but I don't mind getting into town late if I'm going to be there for the next day and can sleep in.VA has snakes! Yesterday I saw a big black snake (almost stepped on him) in the middle of the trail. He (she?) was reared back like a cobra, glaring at me. I backed up hastily and he slithered off. Then, today, first thing in the morning, (this works better than caffeine to wake you up) I met my first rattlesnake! I took a picture from a safe distance (zoom lenses are great things) and blue blazed up the hill around it, beady eyes watching me the whole time. Ugh!The people of Bland and/or Bastian (the local towns) have been real trail angels. At one road crossing they offered to drive me to their church for a free breakfast. As I'd already had two breakfasts, I declined. There was a cooler full of iced apple juice there as well, and a printout of the weather forecast for the week. At the next road crossing, just as I was running short of water, someone had left a jug of spring water, and the weather forecast (It hadn't changed). Bless all trail angels! After yesterdays experience I'm thinking that sometimes they can make a difference not just to your comfort but to your health and safety.
Date: 2005-06-07
From: Helveys Mills Shelter

To: Stealth Camp Off Trail
Miles today: 20.0

Well, today started out pretty well. I got going by just after 8, and the 10 miles to the next shelter for lunch just whizzed by. I was there by sortly after 12 and enjoying lunch and a good water source. My plan was to do another 10 or 12 and camp, as the next shelter was a little far for one day. I was getting tired but doing well after climbing Brushy Mountain for the 4th time in 2 days, when the trail went through a field of shoulder high blooming grass. My allergy symptoms which had improved so much I stopped taking the Claritin, began to worsen, and it began to rain, thunderstorm, in fact. You would think the rain would help, but it was too late, I guess. Not only was I sneezing down the trail, but my eyes swelled up and my contacts weren't working at all well. No more Claritin, and the stuff I do have I knew would likely put me to sleep, so it was time to call it a day. I found a level spot near a little stream and set up my tent between raindrops. After I did I noticed a distinct odor of skunk, so we'll hope the skunk is a) long gone and b) will keep away other animals. My tent spot is cozy and I'm warm and dry, although it is a little lonely. Its nice to see people at a shelter at the end of the day, even if you tent near by.I made my 20 miles, though, give or take a few tenths,and tomorrow should be only 20 into Pearisburg. There is a 1500 ft climb before lunch, but on the other side and about 13 miles on is my zero day! And boy do I need it! I'm tired. I'm cranky. I smell bad and my hair is filthy. I itch all over from bug bites. OK. I could go on, but you get the picture.In the past two days I have climbed Brushy Mountain 4 times, over a trail distance of 25 miles. Either it is one big mountain, every mountainin VA is named Brushy, or I am going around in circles. It is a little demoralizing. I suspect a demented cartographer early in VA's history. Anyway today, I believe I have now seen the last of Brushy Mountain (or the last Brushy Mountain) so that should give me a feeling of progress if nothing else does.
Date: 2005-06-08
From: Stealth Camp Off Trail

To: Pearisberg, VA
Miles today: 20.2
Weather: scattered clouds

It was a good thing I didn't take that allergy pill last night and try to walk. I was out like a light 20 min. after I took it. I probably would have fallen asleep in the middle of the trail. I slept really well, too. There is nothing more comfortable than a tent on a carpet of fallen leaves. Soft and supportive, like a great mattress. The skunk stayed away too. Unfortunately my eyes were still bothering me this morning from the allergies, so, to stay awake, I had three Penguin mints (caffeinated) with my allergy pill. Wow! I roared up the 1900 ft gain in record time. I was actually pretty fast all day, and made the 20 miles by 7 in spite of some long breaks and an hour and a half lunch break,when I shared tea and conversation with Rain, Dance and Brandy, the dog. Brandy entertained us by cleaning out the peanut butter left in a jar. An impressive performance, done by holding the jar between her paws while licking the inside of the jar and keeping an eye on us to make sure we weren't going to steal it.The hike was mostly along ridgetops today and very fast, but with limited views. Lots of lovely flame azalea and rhododendrons, though.Pearisburg is somewhat of a disappointment. OK, but not a great place to take a day off, which is what I planned to do. Since I still feel pretty good, I'm thinking of doing my chores tomorrow morning and then leaving before lunch. Then I will take my zero in 4 days in Catawba, VA, where there is a B&B and a good restaurant. I'll see how I feel tomorrow, as I have been walking now for 11 days straight, and am about due for a rest. Tomorrow I send home my winter long johns! Summer is here. It was hot again today with another afternoon thunderstorm. Its impossible to keep clean when it is so hot. I washed my shorts and shirt two days ago, but you never would have known it today! It feels so good to be clean!
Date: 2005-06-09
From: Pearisberg, VA

To: Rice Field Shelter
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: broken clouds

Yeah, I know it looks bad, but this was supposed to be a zero day. The more time I spent in Pearisburg the more depressed I got. I don't know what it was about the town. The people were really nice, but it was not a good place to be. This morning while I was in the supermarket trying to make up my mind what to do, I ran into Rain and Dance, who had spent the night at the same motel and were also feeling a little cranky (at least Dance was). She said she hoped to walk with me awhile since our pace is similar and she is usually alone behind Rain and Brandy. I was also feeling lonely and was ready for a little company on the trail beyond my own mind, so when I went back to my room and thought about it it seemed a much better option than spending a zero day getting bummed out. I caught up with them before they left town and had company on the trail (uphill in a thunderstorm) and at the shelter tonight. We didn't leave until 2 and it was nice to arrive early at the shelter and have a leisurely dinner. Although, unfortunately another very sick hiker arrived during dinner and proceeded to barf all over the ground near the shelter. Yuck! I hope its not virulently contagious. He's sleeping in a tent as are Rain, Dance and Brandy (although she started out with me), so I'm alone in the shelter with a lot of wet gear (everyone got wet) and whatever mice there are. The shelter has a great view out over a field and is nice and new and relatively clean. It's been nice to have company today. We are all struggling with the VA blues. It seems that as the trail has gotten easier, so we don't have to focus on the hiking as much we're all feeling we're spending more time with our own minds than is good. It's been nice to hike with a dog too. She cleans up the dishes, and entertains everyone by chasing hapless animals, for which she gets yelled at. She is very affectionate and licks you every time she sees you. Smart, too. A good hiking companion. She even carries her own food. Well, tomorrow its back to work with some serious miles. According to a SOBO its fast and easy, so it should be possible to be in Daleville in another 4 days. Then maybe my zero!
Date: 2005-06-10
From: Rice Field Shelter

To: Campsite north of Wind Rock
Miles today: 21.3

My first experience with night hiking! Two miles of rocks late in the day put us (Dance and me) just enough behind that we didn't make camp until around 9:15, with the last half mile in the dark with headlamps. What made it more exciting was that both of us thought it was only .4 after Wind Rock, not the 1.2 it actually was, so we were afraid that somehow we had missed Rain and the dog and hiked past. Boy were we glad to see his headlamp and her eyes glowing green and spooky in the dark. So then it was a quick set up of tents and quick dinner, but it is still almost 11 and I'm just getting to bed. I don't know how early I'll be up tomorrow, but I know I'll sleep well tonight! I'm glad I had company for this. It would be a lot more scary alone.
Date: 2005-06-11
From: Campsite north of Wind Rock

To: Sarver Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: broken clouds

That was it for today! At 7 we walked the .3 miles down to the shelter and I knew if I walked down I wasn't going to make it back up. Rain and Dance went back up to the ridge and on another couple of miles to a dry camp on the ridge. I'm feeling bad that I didn't keep going, but the last climb out of Sinking Creek Valley was exhausting as was the late night last night. There are a bunch of other people in the shelter, but the area around is rocky and there was at least one copperhead sighted so I decided not to tent. I'd still like to be in Daleville in two days but it may not happen, since it is 48 miles away now. I'd hoped for another 6 today, but I'm too pooped, so my zero may be 3 not 2 days away. We'll see how I feel tomorrow.
Date: 2005-06-12
From: Sarver Hollow Shelter

To: Camp by stream off trail south of VA 624
Miles today: 22.4

An exciting day! I started early after a not so great night in the shelter. I was afraid to camp because there was at least one copperhead around and lots of rocks for them to hang out in. There were no mice in the shelter, of course, but the other people stayed up pretty late listening to a radio and talking, so it was hard to sleep.I caught up with Rain, Dance and Brandy (whose trail name is Wet Dog) at the first shelter after about 7 miles. We walked together off and on and took breaks together.The day was not just long, but challenging, ending with the climb up and back down Dragon's Tooth with rocks and rebar and we were all pooped when we got to the stream at around 9 and set up camp in the dark. I got a nice cool bath in the stream and am camped next to it on some nice soft pine needles. I can hear the stream flowing, an owl hooting, and in the distance coyotes. I know I will sleep well tonight! A good reward for a hard days work.
Date: 2005-06-13
From: Camp by stream off trail south of VA 624

To: Lamberts Meadow Campsite
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: broken clouds

Past the 700 mile mark! A third of the way through. It's hard to believe I've walked that far.Well, the plan to get to Daleville today didn't quite jell. We are still short about 9 miles. This was the last water for 9 miles and we didn't get here until after 7, so we decided to make it a short day. We should be in town for lunch tomorrow. Rain, Dance and Wet Dog will move on the next day because they have to be in Waynesboro in time to go home for a wedding, but I am determined to take a zero this time. Although I am doing surprisingly well, I am beginning to feel a kind of chronic tiredness. Amazingly most of my aches and pains are gone, just numb toes and a little ache in the knees.Today the hiking was considerably easier than yesterday's climb up and down Dragon's Teeth. The views, particularly from Tinker Cliffs were great. There were 6 or 7 turkey buzzards playing in the drafts off of the cliffs. They came so close we were afraid we might lose the dog over the edge if she chased them. She had a great deer chasing day today, ending this evening with chasing a herd of five way over a hill. Her pack tends to get all tangled up when she runs off, so her people get annoyed with her, but it's obviously worth it. I have greatly enjoyed the company of all three of them for the last 5 days, and will miss them after tomorrow, when they go on and I take my zero. We may be in the same place again when they get back from the wedding, if they can catch up, but this is how it happens on the trail. You go the same way for awhile, and then something happens to change some ones pace and you don't see each other again, even though you may be only a day apart. They have been great company and helped me through a period of feeling very blue and discouraged. My zest for hiking has come back, and now I know how to set up camp in the dark!I'm ready to be in town again. There's a motel with a pool, and a restaurant with a salad bar, not to mention showers, beds, laundry and other wonderful things!
Date: 2005-06-14
From: Lamberts Meadow Campsite

To: Econolodge, Daleville, VA
Miles today: 9.1
Weather: scattered clouds

It was hot today! At 7 at night it was still 93 degrees, so I'm glad we did our walking in the morning. We got into town around 12:30 and checked in at the Econolodge where they take dogs and have a pool. They were still cleaning the rooms so we had a swim in the pool while we waited which washed off a little of the grime. I have never enjoyed a swim more! It was nice to know I was thin enough and toned enough not to feel uncomfortable in my sports bra and shorts too. I have a very different body than the one I started with.For one thing, it's always hungry! So, once my room was cleaned, we put the dog in it (she promptly went in the bathroom and lay down on the cool tiles. The heat was hard on her too.) and took a hair-raising walk along an interstate exchange to an AYCE (all you can eat) salad/dessert bar restaurant where we pigged out. Yum!Then it was time to go to the outfitters where my mail drop was and the grocery store, etc. Rain and Dance had a bounce box at the PO which was quite a walk, but we hadn't gone more than a hundred yards before a trail angel offered us a ride! This one had a business card with his name and trail angel printed on it, so we could call him if we needed him. Cool! I had a great time playing in the outfitters (All thru-hikers love outfitters) and bought some light weight sleeveless tops. They get less smelly than tops with sleeves so I am sending home my short sleeved top and replacing it with these, which total about the same weight. It was so gross after 3 days that I couldn't stand to wear it, and washing it out didn't do much to help.After that I hung out at the coffee bar at the corner of the little shopping plaza while Rain and Dance did their grocery shopping, and drank iced latte and talked to a bunch of other thru-hikers there. Ah! Civilization!We got another ride on the way back up the hill with our stuff from a young woman whose brother thru-hiked two years ago. A great trail town! I'm so glad I waited to zero here.After a late dinner at a Mexican restaurant, it's time for bed and I have all day tomorrow to do my chores and nap and swim in the pool. This was a great day all in all.
Date: 2005-06-15
From: Econolodge, Daleville, VA

To: Daleville, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Ah.. Zeros are great, and this was a good one. I'm so glad I waited until I got here. This has been a great place for a zero. People couldn't have been nicer or more helpful, and they made a special effort for hikers. The lady at the front desk arranged to have my mail sent out with the motel's because she knew it would be hard for me to get to a PO, so, I hope, my Father's Day card will get there on time. If not, and you read this first, Dad, Happy Father's Day! Anytime I had to walk any distance people stopped and offered rides, and the motel was clean and comfortable with a microwave and refrigerator, so I didn't have to go out for meals.The day started with a large latte and cheesecake at the local coffee house which I ate while reading the 5th book of the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy; very funny and very appropriate for thru-hiking. The coffee house has books, a sofa, wireless, and lots of thru-hikers hanging around. Not so many at 10 in the morning. The early risers were already on the trail.Speaking of which, I said goodbye to Rain, Dance and Wet Dog today. I hope their hike to Rockfish Gap goes well. I hope Brandy is enjoying her special stamina-increasing peanut butter flavored dog treats I got here at the outfitter(I couldn't resist). I'll be a day behind them for the next week or so, and looking for their register entries at shelters. I already miss them, but its good to be on my own again, too, although it seems like I am catching up to the wave enough so the trail is beginning to get a little crowded. Probably there will be no more sleeping alone in shelters, but that's what tents are for! Alas, all good things come to an end, so I plan to be up and out before 8 tomorrow, for, I hope, a 19 mile day, beginning with a full pack up a steep climb out of town. Sigh! Back to work. I'm a little anxious about the trail between here and Rockfish Gap. There are 3 big climbs over 3000 ft. I keep trying to remind myself not to climb it before I get to it, but I'm still really slow on the uphills so I know its going to be hard and frustrating. I do have a secret weapon, however. I have some Penguin mints (caffeinated mints) that my son left in the glove compartment of my car. Three are the equivalent of drinking a soda, and they really help on the long days, as I discovered when I took them to counteract the drowsiness caused by the antihistamine I was taking. I don't want to get used to them because they won't work as well, so they are for long hills when I am really beat. I also can't take them too late in the day or I won't sleep, so they are definitely for special occasions.
Date: 2005-06-16
From: Daleville, VA

To: Bobblets Gap Shelter campsite
Miles today: 18.5
Weather: scattered clouds

This was a really nice day to hike. The sun was shining, and the weather was warm, but cooler than it has been, with a nice breeze. I even made the climb out of town without too much suffering, despite 8 days worth of food. The extra weight got to me in the last couple of miles, but I was headed for dinner and the shelter by then. I've been working hard all day to eat as much heavy stuff as I can, but its going to take a few days, and my first big climb is tomorrow, alas. This shelter has an awesome privy, big enough and clean enough to sleep in! I believe its handicapped accessible, which is silly because it is .2 off the trail down a series of killer switchbacks. I am tenting because the shelter is small and crowded, but the only halfway level site is on a rock field, so the night may be less than comfortable. Oh well. I'm tired enough to sleep anyway.I think the zero helped a lot. I seem to be much more energetic, and was happy to be back on the trail.Today the trail crossed the Blue Ridge Parkway for the first time and has been following it since. There have been some nice views, but I understand why people blue blaze here. If you follow the road it is easier and more level and you get all the views. The trail is mostly in the woods and full of ups and downs. Frustrating.
Date: 2005-06-17
From: Bobblets Gap Shelter campsite

To: Cornelius Creek shelter campsite
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: few clouds

Another nice day for a hike,sunny, warm, nice breeze. The thing that would have made it perfect would have been a nap in the middle of the day when it was a little hot, but I was afraid I wouldn't wake up until 6 or something.The trail in this section is lovely, through mixed deciduous and conifer forest with periodic views across valleys. There were lots of wildflowers, the new ones being sundrops and foxgloves, as well as lots of mountain laurel blooming and blueberry bushes with green berries. The other day I found one almost ripe berry and ate it. Pretty good.The shelter where I had lunch was the most elaborate I have ever seen. Three stories with a loft with skylights, but it was too early to stop so I went on to climb another 2000 ft to this shelter where I am camping.I may have to give up shelters. This is the second time I have been eating dinner at a shelter when a very sick hiker herked up his lunch all over the place. Yuck! There is apparently some bug that they keep passing back and forth. This is the third time I have been around someone with it. I clean my hands every chance I get, but I think it will be a miracle if I don't get it. I already stopped staying in hostels to avoid it and I camp at shelters. The last thing I want is a 24 hour flu! I'm hoping for 20 miles tomorrow so to bed now.
Date: 2005-06-18
From: Cornelius Creek shelter campsite

To: Johns Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 21.6
Weather: broken clouds

Well, what was going to be just another boring 21 mile day turned exciting when I got caught in a thunderstorm about an hour and a half from the next shelter. I was soaked, so I decided to hike on in the hopes of drying out (the fastest way to dry clothes is with body heat). It was a quick 4 miles to the next shelter over the James River. I wasn't exactly dry when I got here, but the shelter was full, and some enterprising soul had started a fire, so I toasted myself dry. My socks are only damp now instead of wringing wet. I met a bunch of people whose names I knew from the shelter registers, all coming from a day in a nearby town. All told there are 11 people here tonight, two in hammocks, one tenting (me), and the rest in the shelter. Although everyone looks healthy enough, after last night I'm not taking any chances!Today was one of those great days where you get into a groove and you feel like you can go forever. Hiking was a lot of fun today, even with the rain storm. I fear we may have more rain for the next few days,though, in which case it will definitely lose its charm. Particularly because my pack cover seems to have a design flaw, and pools water in the bottom, which soaks the bottom of my pack. I'm going to try drainage holes. The odd thing is that it didn't do this until a couple of weeks ago. If that doesn't work I may need to buy a new one. Phooey!I haven't said a lot about wildlife recently, maybe because I'm getting blase, but today was a great day for wildlife. I saw a huge black snake, two charming young bucks with half-grown antlers, and was scared out of my wits by a momma grouse exploding out of the bushes to my left, and then a second baby explosion to the right, a baby grouse, very cute.