morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-05-07
From: Hughes Gap

To: Bear Branch Rd
Miles today: 21.6

Beautiful views from the balds near Carvers Gap, but uphill 4 miles took its toll on me. Jane, Round, and Grassy Bald are where I hiked last year with my friends and family after my daughter Rachel's wedding. This is my favorite spot on the AT so far. But, the 6 mile hike up to the balds took a toll on me and I was tired and hurting for the rest of the very long day. It rained for about an hour and I stopped at a small shelter for lunch. Then came WHAT? More balds! Which on another day would have delighted me. But the skies were dark and thunder all around. I could see rain in every direction. I couldn't run but I sure tried. The views were so beautiful but I couldn't stop to enjoy them. I stopped for a few pictures. Even planned to lay down in the trail if lightning did start, since the worn trail was literally a narrow trench. When I finally got into the woods again I realized that I lost my pack cover so I had to backtrack some, back up and over rocks. I finally made it off the mountain to where Miyoshi had been waiting so patiently for an hour. Thank you again! Some of you may recognize Grandfather Mtn. in this picture. I saw it from all angles over the course of the day. The hot tub was the first thing on my agenda when we all got back to Buladean. Then ate dinner at 10:30pm and went to bed. Sara is coming tomorrow! She is bringing me new boots. My Merrells are about 3 years old and I have blow outs all over the place! Time for the new pair.
Date: 2015-05-09
From: USFS 293

To: Side Trail to Hampton, TN
Miles today: 13.8

Laurel Falls was beautiful. Sara hiked 14 miles today. We got trail magic at a home at Dennis Cove. Hikers were setting up camp in their yard alongside the river. They had hotdogs, hamburgers, baked potato bar, chips, and all sorts of beverages. The owner invited us into her home first to wash our hands and Sara was especially happy for the use of a restroom. We had a bunch of oranges and a drink and moved on. We were running late to our meet-up with Miyoshi. I had trouble with my new shoes and stopped several times to re-lace to stop the burning. I finally took the inserts out and that got me thru the day. Mike will send me the original insoles and I will use them until I get the shoes broke in, and then I can switch to my Spenco inserts. Hoping that will work. The trail just got more beautiful with rock walls along the river. A perfect day with Sara. But Miyoshi had to wait again for us. She has been so much fun I wish she was hiking with us! [Click on the ¢Photos¢ link on the left for lots more photos from today]
Date: 2015-05-10
From: Side Trail to Hampton, TN

To: Side Trail to Hamption, TN
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

This is where I landed last night after hiking 14 miles with Sara. We¢re staying on my sis' boats for the next few days. Taking a zero today and going out on their pontoon boat. Miyoshi, Advil, Sara, and I are staying on this boat, Mudder is staying on their other houseboat, which only has one bedroom and is for sale. We will slack pack about three more days and then it's back to my tent!
Date: 2015-05-11
From: Side Trail to Hamption, TN

To: Wilbur Dam Rd
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Stopped at the lake to soak my feet. Mudder and Advil swam. Had just taken a few steps into today¢s hike and guess who came walking out of the woods?? Jenn Pharr Davis. She was out trail running at Laurel Falls. We talked and I learned she is giving a workshop at trail days in Damascus on Friday night. I will be there for sure! Gee, I wonder if she was running all the way to Damascus from Asheville. Seeing her just made my day. If you want a good read, check out her books.
Date: 2015-05-13
From: TN 91

To: Abingdon Gap Shelter
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: clear sky

Let go of the wheel, Hiker Girl! Hiker Girl would like to boat to Maine. It was so nice of my family to let us stay on the boat while in the Watauga Lake area. Said goodbye this morning to my awesome sister, who has slack packed me, Advil, and Mudder over 100 miles. She provided the best trail magic ever!! My time with my sister has been very special to me. But it's time we head back to the trail with our full packs. Thank you for your awesome hospitality and totally spoiling me. Thank you OJ for sharing your wife with us and all you did for us. Love you both. Big trail magic by Riff Raff. Lots of people are here because we are getting close to Damascus where the three-day hiker festival, Trail Days, is. Because it¢s close to Damascus people camped here because trail magic was set up for several days and people aren¢t allowed to start camping until noon on Friday at Trail Days. Met up with the Orr family at the shelter, where I¢m tenting. Hadn¢t seen them since we left Hot Springs. Also Corky is here, she was at Buladean one night. Wings is here and Ron and his dog Bandit. They finally have trail names. The dog is Banjo and Ron is Kazoo. It's cool tonight and Mudder made a fire.
Date: 2015-05-14
From: Abingdon Gap Shelter

To: Damascus, VA - Water St.
Miles today: 9.9

Arrived in Damascus, VA just in time for Trail Days this weekend. Music, food, vendors, talks, hiker parade, gear repair, movies, etc. As soon as I got to Damascus, about 1pm today, Gregory (backpack company) was setting up. The rep saw me and stopped me and took my picture because I was wearing a Gregory pack. I told him the belt kept loosening and he took a look and said to go to the tent city to the Gregory repair tent on Friday and they would replace it. He helped with some other adjustments, too, because I often carry too much weight on my shoulders.
Date: 2015-05-15
From: Damascus, VA - Water St.

To: Damascus, VA - Water St.
Miles today: 0.0

This morning I wore my full pack and made my way to the vendors at tent city after a couple hours of walking around all the vendors. I left Advil and her two friends from Utah to hike some miles with her and Mudder as soon as we got to town. There is a seamstress at the Gregory booth. I filled out paperwork and added my name to the list. There were about ten packs ahead of mine getting some kind of work done. I had brought my pack fully loaded because I wanted them to see how it was fitting me. I left my pack and headed back to the Trail Day events area. I was a few blocks away when I realized I forgot my water bottle on the table so I went back and the seamstress was almost finished with my pack, so I waited about two minutes and she was done. Another pack rep told me to have the clips changed too, but I told her just to do the waist belt and I would wear it for the day and bring it back if that didn't fix the problem. Well, I didn¢t plan to wear it ALL day but I never saw Brad (Advil¢s friend, who brought us to town) until evening! Every time I ran into someone I knew they would ask if I just got to town (because I was wearing a pack!) and I would explain, no, I got here yesterday! It was all good though, because around 2pm I went to a free lunch put on by ALDHA (Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association) and a gentlemen named Hot Rock asked me how my hike was going. I told him I was going to try to get my pack weight down some more and was going to go to the outfitter for another shakedown. He said he would do that for me if I would like. He had hiked the AT twice, once SOBO then another year he did it NOBO. He got his name because he would heat up rocks and put them in his tent to keep warm! So in the lobby of the Rock School (actual name), I completely emptied my pack and he assured me I would not need some of the things I was carrying. When we were done he walked me to the outfitters and we weighed my pack. I dropped about 3 lbs! Then I went straight to the post office and mailed the items home. He also asked where I was staying and said that he and his girlfriend were letting hikers stay at their place, a three-acre farm, and that they had some young people there the night before whom they had to ask to leave because they didn¢t want to observe the house rules of no drugs and alcohol. They decided that they preferred older people like themselves and me. Which brings me to another subject I may write about someday and that is some interesting comments about my age! I thanked him for the offer but Advil¢s friends had already made arrangements for a quiet cabin about 7 miles from town. I went to 3 seminars. I caught up with Advil and her friends at a brewery around 10:30pm. I enjoyed the day very much doing my own thing, going to the different talks.
Date: 2015-05-16
From: Damascus, VA - Water St.

To: Damascus, VA - Water St.
Miles today: 0.0

Salt Lake City friends of Advil will hike with us tomorrow and then leave for home. Went to post office this morning and mailed more stuff home. I was in the hiker parade today! Crazy fun taking Contra Dance lessons from Warren Doyle. I'm hooked. Mudder and I will be starting a Contra meet-up in the Triangle!
Date: 2015-05-18
From: Pond campsite

To: VA 600, Elk Garden
Miles today: 12.1

The gentleman in the Hawaiian shirt (see ¢trail magic¢ photo) gave out trail magic at the Hwy 600 road crossing today. The hiker with the beard is Wizard and we leapfrog every few days. He's a professional photographer and made his own back pack which is ultralight and his poles are bamboo. Today¢s hike was steep and very humid. Met a kid from Ohio who just finished his first year of college and it was his first day on the trail. He could only go 50 feet and would have to stop. I assured him it would get easier and that he picked a tough place to begin! As Mudder said on his third day out: "the AT; it ain't no joke"! I fell today down a grassy bank sliding through stingy sticker plants. Tried to get up and fell again sliding through the stickers more! Had to take my pack off to get up. The stickers covered my arms and even went through my pants. I poured water down my pants to stop the stinging and washed off my arms and was good to go. We hiked to Hwy 600. This is where Chuck helped us set up a shuttle to leave the car of Advil¢s friends from Salt Lake City. Mudder discovered today that the shoes he bought in Damascus were too small so we decided when we got to the car to head to town and get a room so he could hit the outfitters first thing Tues. morning. Brad and Bill were especially happy with this new plan. They had hiked two days, camped in the rain, were hot, tired, in need of a bath, and had a 7:30 flight to catch Tuesday morning. So, we got a place in town with a kitchen and laundry. Mudder and I went to Food City and he made us a spaghetti dinner. Advil¢s friends slept until 3am and then left to catch their plane. I can assure you that the other passengers on that plane are glad they got a shower! The place we are staying at is actually one I spotted here during Trail Days. I had told Advil I wanted to come back here with Mike and stay here and ride the Virginia Creeper, a rails-to-trails bike path. Rhonda Jones, you would love this place, it sits right on the river.
Date: 2015-05-19
From: VA 600, Elk Garden

To: Thomas Knob Shelter
Miles today: 4.2
Weather: light rain

Hiked up Mt. Rogers and stopped at Thomas Knob Shelter for lunch. It had been clouding up all day and as soon as we finished eating the downpour began. Mudder and I got a spot in the shelter and Advil put her tent up in the rain. There were so many tent spots with beautiful views all around. We only hiked four miles today and after the rain stopped, the sun popped out. We sat in boulders and watched the sun set. I was talking to hikers about food and how I wasn't really hungry but I knew I needed to find higher calorie foods to keep my energy up, which is often in a downward spiral after about 2pm each day. They gave me several good suggestions. But the funniest one was, have you tried to smoke pot? Your appetite will definitely increase then. Oh, so that's why there is a lot of that going on out here. I'll have to pass on that, I have enough trouble dragging myself out of my tent at 7ish and hitting the trail! Check out the other photos.
Date: 2015-05-20
From: Thomas Knob Shelter

To: Hurrican Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 15.4

We enjoyed the day with the wild ponies and sat on boulders looking out at the landscape. It was a magical day. A hiker at the shelter was giving back massages, his trail magic! He asked if I wanted one, heck yeah! Tabasco made a 500-mile marker on the trail out of horse poop balls! Check out the other photos.
Date: 2015-05-21
From: Hurrican Mountain Shelter

To: Partnership Shelter
Miles today: 18.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Woke up to rain today. I was moving like a turtle. This is Partnership Shelter where I stayed Thursday night. It's behind the Mt Rogers visitor center. There¢s a phone outside the visitor center where hikers can call and order pizza. It's a very popular shelter. Signs are posted saying no tenting at this shelter, but there were two hammocks set up and a bunch of tents plus about 20 of us squeezed in the two-level shelter. I asked if they could make room for me when I got there as it was already full, and they squeezed me in so I didn't have to climb the ladder to the second floor. I was not going to pass by this shelter! It had showers, too, but they were solar and we didn¢t have sun today. But the pizza was so awesome.
Date: 2015-05-22
From: Partnership Shelter

To: VA 683, US 11, I-81
Miles today: 11.2

When the Mt Rogers visitor center opened I used the indoor plumbing and washed my face and hands three times in the hot water! And I used the hand dryer to dry my shoes. Saw a baby deer laying on the trail. The mountain laurel and rhododendron line the trail today; it¢s so beautiful! On the trail today was the Settlers Museum and the Lindamood School. It was a fun place to stop and enjoy the trail magic that was set up in the school. A local church placed coolers of drinks, snacks, fruit, and a huge box of thoughtful resupply items such as toothpaste and toothbrushes. I love these places that keep history alive. The one-room school house was well preserved and chalk was provided for the hikers to sign the chalk board. The area reminded me of Pioneer Village in Scott County in Iowa. We had a short hike from here to meet Mike! He picked me up along with Mudder and Advil and we stayed in Marion, VA. He will be our trail angel for the weekend, slack-packing Mudder, Advil, and me. Check out all the photos.
Date: 2015-05-24
From: VA 625, USFS 222

To: Laurel Creek, VA 615
Miles today: 20.3

Stopped at Chestnut Knob shelter for lunch. It was the first four-sided shelter I¢ve seen with bunks and a picnic table inside. Hiking 20 miles again today so the trail magic at mile 10 was a welcome sight! A father and son were grilling hamburgers with all the fixings. The son had section-hiked several years ago and his father was so impressed with the trail magic his son received that he wanted to return the magic! Thank you guys!   The power lunch gave me plenty of fuel to run a few miles of fairly level trail later down the trail. It felt good to run! Mike picked us up at Laurel Creek. Another foot soak in freezing cold water. I am amazed at the hikers that can go all the way into these mountain streams to bathe or just to cool off. The water is just too cold for me. It is so nice to see Mike waiting for me at the end of the day. Thanks, sweetie! On the way back to town after Mike picked us up, we hit a deer on the road. No real damage to the vehicle but the poor deer was a goner. So sad. One high point: stopped at Sonic for awesome shakes, half price! Check out all the photos.
Date: 2015-05-25
From: Laurel Creek, VA 615

To: Helveys Mill Shelter
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Mike dropped us off this morning and then drove home. He did some trail magic before he left by giving some hikers some leftover water and Cokes and collecting trash from them. I bought two big ¢honey bun¢ pastries yesterday and ate one for breakfast this morning. I swear these things weigh at least a pound - they¢re about 570 calories. I could not find *any* room in my pack or my clothes to carry the second one (I am not kidding!), so I asked Mudder to carry it and he did.
Date: 2015-05-26
From: Helveys Mill Shelter

To: VA 606, TrentÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Grocery
Miles today: 16.2

All afternoon it poured rain. Tented at Trent¢s Grocery. $6 for tent space, hot shower, no soap or towels, and free laundry. My food bag is still too heavy so I did not eat at the grocery/gas station. Check out the photos.
Date: 2015-05-27
From: VA 606, TrentÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Grocery

To: Sugar Run Gap, Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 15.2

My tent spot was next to a horse pasture and when I got out of my tent this morning a big hog was there with the horses. Hiked out of Trent¢s Grocery camp site in my raingear. It rained during the night so had to pack my wet tent. Maybe that water weight made my pack unbearably heavy today. Advil dropped her pack off and went to the falls while I stopped and changed out of my raingear. Sun had come out and I was drenched from sweat! I think I won't have to stop hiking to put rain gear on when the forecast calls for 80% chance of rain and then I have to stop and take it off! Never rained at all today! Had one nice view today. I was feeling bummed because my feet still hurt and I haven't been able to work out the issues I have been having with the boots Sara brought me from home on Mother¢s Day. I haven't had any feet problems at all with my boots up to now and this new pair is the same I always hiked in. The day just seemed to get harder as I was low on energy, feet were hurting, and my pack weight was doubling with every mile! So instead of camping at Woods Hole we all decided a zero was a good idea. So Mudder got to a road first and arranged a shuttle to take us to Pearisburg. I got to the road about an hour later and Skeeter, our driver, was waiting for me to drag my slow butt out of the woods. First thing I did when we got checked in was call REI and they are overnighting me a 1/2 size bigger shoe. Consensus on the trail is that hiker feet swell and grow so I am praying this bigger size fixes the problem. My other issue is that I have to get my pack weight down more. So I will be here in Pearisburg until Friday. Check out all the photos.
Date: 2015-05-28
From: Sugar Run Gap, Pearisburg, VA

To: Sugar Run Gap, Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 0.0

Mudder has already been out this morning for breakfast and brought Hardees biscuits back for Advil and me. We had to fight off bears and forage for food by the local watering hole - not. Actually, Mudder bought chicken legs and cooked them on the grill with bbq sauce, by the pool. I¢ve been in the pool twice; it felt really good. Hikers are arriving: Wings, Paisley, Ma'am, and Hardware. I walked to Rite-Aid to get more foot acid stuff to help my foot and foot blister Band-Aids and a bunch of fruit. I bought Tide because my clothes stink after using the cheap detergent at the hotel laundry. I hate the stink. Everything is out in the sun today drying from Tuesday¢s rain. Pee-ew! I JetBoil¢ed some baked beans today and they burned - bad idea. There is a reason JetBoil says not to cook food and to only boil water. (When you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? Thanks, Nancy)
Date: 2015-05-30
From: Lane St, Pearisburg, VA

To: Dickenson Gap stealth campsite
Miles today: 14.8

Morning: I hope my new boots make me happy. Their first day out will be a rainy one. Evening: Boots seem to be ok. Post office didn't open until 10 so I didn't get on the trail until about 11:30 and hiked until 7:30. Walked by a huge factory, a six mile climb, narrow overgrown trails, through ferns about as tall as me. Stopped at the Rice Field Shelter for lunch where I put my feet up for about half an hour. My new strategy to reduce the swelling in my feet is to give them rest outside of my boots for at least half an hour. After lunch we had a couple of great views. It looked like rain this morning, but skies cleared and it was a hot sunny day.
Date: 2015-05-31
From: Dickenson Gap stealth campsite

To: Wind Rock campsite
Miles today: 12.5

Hiked to "The Captain's". He was putting on a hiker feed on Saturday and we were hoping there were some leftovers on Sunday. He does this every year the second week after Trail Days. Hikers can camp in his yard anytime and he leaves soda on his porch. But his place is across a creek from the trail so you have to take a zip line to and from his place. We spent two hours there just chilling. The only food left was a delicious sweet watermelon and we devoured it. Stopped for a break at a shelter where Hiker Girl saw her first mouse; see photos. Tented at Wind Rock and watched the rain in the distance as the sun set. Beautiful day.
Date: 2015-06-01
From: Wind Rock campsite

To: stealth campsite
Miles today: 15.6

Rained today. Passed Keffer Oak, the largest oak tree on the AT in the south, and over 300 years old. Whoop-de-do. Another big climb and the rain had let up at mile 675, but looked like more rain was coming and thunder and was tired. Knew the trail down to the shelter was a steep 0.4 mile and because I didn't want to hike down a muddy trail tonight or up it in the morning I stopped at the first flat spot I found. And because I was tired. I am trying to do 20 mile days but the climbs are so steep they just kick my butt and I run out of steam. I may stay in a hostel tomorrow - it depends on the weather. I still have a dry pair of socks and can go another day without laundry. Today I was tired and down. I took a selfie today at Lone Pine Peak sitting on a rock overlooking a beautiful vista. I then looked at it and cried while I tried to figure out why I didn't have any energy and why my pack felt so hard to carry. But that lasted about a minute when I heard Hardware coming up the rocks. I gave him a tiny ¢hello¢, as he was interrupting my pity party. He says, ¢Well, that's not much of a greeting¢ so I gave him a resounding "Hardware! How the F$&@ Are You", to which he replied, ¢Well now, that's much better¢ and passed on by me. So I got up, put on my pack and hiked on. After hiking 10 more miles and sinking both feet into Sinking Creek my morale sunk. I knew there was a road ahead that led to a place a mile down the road called Joe¢s Trees that offered snacks and drinks. When I got to the road I sat down and took off my wet boots and socks. I waited for Mudder and Advil to see if they wanted a Coke as bad as I did. A local hiker came along and gave me the bad news that Joe¢s Trees is a Christmas tree farm and usually only open Oct - Dec. But, we could call them to see if they happened to be open. But there¢s no cell service. Mudder hiked on to find shelter before the brewing storm let loose. I finally gave up on a car coming by to take me anywhere and hiked on with Advil. We found a place to pitch our tents. The spot was so tight that she had to put one of her tent stakes inside my vestibule. I was still feeling blue so decided it was time for some aromatherapy. In the Smokies a hiker named Lightning had lit incense and it was so nice. So I lit a stick in my tent and gave Advil a stick for her tent. Miyoshi had bought it for me in Hot Springs and tonight was the night I gave myself an incense bath! Don't know if it helped my smell but it helped the funk I was in. And I quit thinking of that ice cold Coca-Cola. Rained, but not all night.
Date: 2015-06-02
From: stealth campsite

To: Trout Creek, VA 620
Miles today: 16.3

Today's hike started out ok. But I was increasingly tired and seemed to be really low on energy again. There was a bench at Brush Mtn. which seemed so out if place. I did not take the short side trail to see the Audie Murphy Monument. This was where he died in a plane crash. Camped at Trout Creek and tonight was the first night I set up my tent in the pouring rain. I think that's pretty awesome considering all the rain theres been.