morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-04-28
From: Carvers Gap

To: Apple House Shelter
Miles today: 13.9

Today was an amazing day. Started out with a beautiful breakfast at Mountain Harbor Hostel that I just couldn't stomach. I figure I was about 80%. Me, Mrs Joy, Mountain Man and Stickwalker and Belle shuttled up to Carvers Gap and imagine our surprise when we turned a corner and Roan and her adjacent balds were covered in snow. I was feeling sort of queasy anyway and I admit I had my doubts about all of this for a bit. I eventually managed to get into the spirit of the hike and thank goodness, it was beautiful!!! It was a real delight to hike in the snow, knowing it would all be gone later. The weather was clear and bright. Perfect for a day on the mountain tops.Lunch was at Overmountain Shelter which is a picturesque old barn at the head of a canyon. Views there were also gorgeous and well worth the walk down to it. After lunch it was on over Little Hump (not so little) and Hump Mountains. Snow had melted yet there was plenty of wind. I could see forever. It was completely amazing.After Hump Mountain it was 5 rocky miles down to Apple House Shelter where all 4 of us camped. A very long good day.
Date: 2010-04-29
From: Apple House Shelter

To: Campsite at 401
Miles today: 13.1

Got a late start from camp, lots going on. Crossed Hwy 19E just less than a mile from Mtn Harbor, but we kept on going, Stickwalker and I. Made our way up through a lovely meadow and were talking so much we completely missed a turn in the trail, then spent at least an hour trying to locate the trail. Always go back to the last white blaze!! Anyway, when we finally figured it out we backtracked so as to not miss hiking a part of the trail. A lengthy detour. From there it was up through another meadow where we leapfrogged Winston and Churchill a good bit of the day. Two nice men from England. We had lunch at Jones Falls and soaked our feet a bit, then the trail took us down along the Elk River. This was a very pretty stretch. From there, up and up again, past Mountaineer Shelter, and we crossed the 400 mile line. Whoohoo!! But feet were well sore, ready for camp after all the wandering earlier in the day. When we got there Mrs Joy told us that Mtn Man had decided to move on as he is ready to do bigger miles now. He would have told us himself but we missed him at lunch due to being lost. I'll miss hiking with him but am excited for him to see him going for it. Good man.
Date: 2010-04-30
From: Campsite at 401

To: Dennis Cove, Kincora
Miles today: 11.6

Packed up camp and got moving as quick as I could. The little site by the creek was nice enough and we followed the creek a while as we hiked. Stickwalker had a maildrop at the post office so he took off, wanting to get there before the PO closed. Passed Mrs Joy who was not feeling all that great. Headed up to Moreland Gap Shelter where I met Supermax, Rabid, and Cheese. When Mrs Joy arrived at the shelter she was really feeling bad with a potential migraine coming on. Rabid had some Excedrin that apparently did the trick, yay. I was feeling bad because back at Mountain Harbor I had encouraged her to get rid of her Excedrin. Don't mess with another person's medicine cabinet!From the shelter it was on to Kincora to try and make the evening shuttle to the grocery store. Done, me and Stick shared a rotisserie chicken and a big ole salad, yummy! Real food. I didn't get there in time to get a bunk but was quite happy to tent out back. Mrs Joy got in also and was doing fine.
Date: 2010-05-01
From: Dennis Cove, Kincora

To: Ponds Flat Campsite
Miles today: 5.7

Decided to take a leisurely morning and cook breakfast, do laundry, inventory food bag, etc, so got up in no particular hurry. Said goodbye to Stickwalker and Belly Rub as they are off to do big miles which I am not quite ready for. I'll miss them both, it was great fun hiking together!The hike started in a recreational area called Laurel Falls. Truly lovely, and serious climbing down to the falls and back up again. Being Saturday afternoon there were people all over the place. Fun! From there the grind up Pond Mtn. Started out all switchbacks, then changed to one of those ridgeline climbs. Tough enough for me. Near the top a mild thunderstorm moved through, didn't last long but I was wet and sweaty by the time it was over. Continued on to the campsite, sorted out tentsites, water, etc. Mrs Joy arrived, we had our dinner, bear bagged our food, and went off to bed. We were the only people there. More rain after bedtime, but nothing severe.
Date: 2010-05-02
From: Ponds Flat Campsite

To: Vandeventer Shelter
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: few clouds

Got going and moved out as quickly as possible. Gnats were bad so I ate breakfast in my tent. Timed myself going down the mountain, 2.56 mph, which is fast enough for me to be satisfied. Folks, that's not very fast. Sat on the shore of Watauga Lake a solid hour soaking up rays. Waded in up to my shorts which felt really good on my feet. Oh, forgot to mention, met Aspen and Toothpick slackpacking (carrying daypacks only) going southbound on Pond Mtn. She had caught the crud so they got held up. They'll be within half a day of me, yay!From the lakeshore it was on to Watauga Lake Shelter where apparently Stick and Belle had stayed the night before. There was a bear incident! From the journal it seems maybe Belle scared it away, but I'm not certain. It appears all involved are fine.From there the big slog up Iron Mountain and along the way I ran into Holy Smoke. He had extended a kindness to me when I was sick and I'm always happy to run into him. We leapfrogged up the hill, not a lot of water and we were both running low so were glad to find a spring. From there it was on to the shelter. Someone had scribbled a note about Bob Peoples on the wall, see pic above. Bob gives an awful lot of himself to Kincora and the AT. I'm so glad I got to meet him. Besides me, Smoke, Mrs Joy, Supermax showed up at the shelter. She had a bear encounter during her hike so was all excited about that. I walked through the same area and saw nothing. She saw a mama and a cub. Wow! Holy Smoke regaled us with scary bear stories before bed, so we were good and wound up. It poured rain overnight.
Date: 2010-05-03
From: Vandeventer Shelter

To: Double Springs Shelter
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: light rain

Off to my usual tortoise-paced start leaving Vandeventer Shelter. Started the morning pouring rain but by the time I was finally moving there was no more rain. Once again, PROCRASTINATION PAYS. This is a little known, yet obvious, truism. It has worked for me many many times, and this morning was one! Took my first break a couple of hours in at a campsite, shed the pack, had a snack and a bit of a look around, just trying to rest my bod a few minutes. I've become a big believer in jelly beans along the trail, just the right little yummy for a moment, then on again I went. Had lunch of tuna and cheese and crackers at Iron Mountain Shelter with Mrs Joy. She leaves earlier than me and we usually meet up around lunch, then she leaves again and we meet up at night. During the day I hike alone a lot which suits me fine. Shortly after lunch I passed by the Nick Grindstaff monument. He was a hermit who lived in the area, the marker said:Uncle Nick GrindstaffLived alone, suffered alone, died alone Sad, eh? Yet some niece or nephew put up a marker. Hmm. About this time I came up with the 3 mile challenge, which is to identify a 3 mile landmark, then go at it as hard as I can. I try to challenge myself once a day, after all, if you don't try to do any better, you'll never do any better, right? So, from Nick's marker to TN hwy 91 was my course and off I went. I'm trying to do a 3 mile per hour pace. Just a bit before the highway what did I find, trail magic! A local church group had a secured box in the woods with sodas and little debbie cakes! I realized I had just blown my 3 mile challenge when I caught myself just standing there gaping. So, I gobbled goodies instead. There will be other days for 3 mile challenges. One must honor her priorities. Just beyond the highway is a half-mile handicapped-accessible stretch which had a stunningly beautiful view into Shady Valley Tn. More gaping ensued. There's even a bench to sit on while gaping. I did. From there, on to Double Springs Shelter for my biggest hiking day to date. Whoohoo!!!! I love how I feel on a great hiking day!
Date: 2010-05-06
From: Damascus, VA

To: Campsite by 2 ponds
Miles today: 10.7

A long day for 10 miles! Had breakfast with Mrs Joy and she headed out. Went back to my room to try and cram all the food I bought into my pack. Took 3 tries! According to the scale my pack was bustin' at 44 pounds! Very bad, but I had a lot of food I like.Set off down the highway out of Damascus, then soon was back in the woods. I like it better there. Along the way I saw rhododendren in bloom and I think penstemon (red kind of spindly flower, 5 split petals). Quite lovely. The trail parallels the Virginia Creeper trail which looks like it would be fun to ride a bike on. Well, I'm hiking the AT, so pretty soon I started up Feathercamp Ridge and Straight Mountain. Man, that pack was breaking my back! Took some of the fun out of this day, so I learned a lesson I'd say. Along the way I met two Konnarock Crew trail crews working. One group was taking down a tree to construct a boardwalk so I had to wait a bit. Wow! I never saw a big tree come down, it makes a big noise and big mess! Thanks to all the trail crews who make the AT possible. Saw a lot of blowdowns too.I had planned to hike farther this day, but when I found Mrs Joy camped by two ponds I said enuff and threw down my pack. It was a charming spot with a marvelous frog serenade to lull me to sleep.
Date: 2010-05-07
From: Campsite by 2 ponds

To: Thomas Knob Shelter
Miles today: 16.2
Weather: clear sky

Set off from the campsite bound for Lost Mtn shelter, my planned destination of yesterday. Saw my first columbine along the trail and she was a beauty. At Lost Mtn had snacks with Hot Pocket and talked about great sites in DC. Had a nice meadow walk as well on leaving the ponds. A few miles beyond Lost Mtn began the climb up to Buzzard Rock on Whitetop Mtn. Whew, what a slog! It went on what seemed forever and my pack was still stupid heavy from Damascus. It was hard work getting up there.   Wow, was it ever worth it. Near the top, an alpine meadow with my favorite mountain flower, the little bluet. They were in big massive drifts all over the meadow. So pretty! The views were breathtaking too. From Buzzard Rock it was on to Whitetop Mtn, also quite nice with a sweet little spring surrounded in what? Bluets! Love it. Then on through a spruce mix forest to Elk Garden where I found the 2 sisters Just Blue Skies and Web Walker camped. Considered briefly camping with them, but decided to go for Thomas Knob instead. It was 6:15 and there was a good chance I would be hiking in in the dark, but I went for it anyway. Elk Garden was all meadow and mountain and flowers and lovely, then a climb, then Deep Gap, where I had thought I might stealth camp if I chickened out on the night hiking. No need, I kept on, another climb, then finally got near the top of Mt Rogers. Very cool spruce forest, all bavarian and Hansel and Gretel-ish, but I was on a mission. I made it to the shelter in just two hours and before it got dark. I'll night hike another day. The views up there are breathtaking. It's a very special place.
Date: 2010-05-08
From: Thomas Knob Shelter

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

Another fantastic day! Overnight there was such a windstorm, I thought it might blow the roof off! Really! Just before sunup there was a brief thunderstorm, then the fog and the mist and the clouds set in. I rolled over and went back to sleep. When I woke again the mist was clearing and we got such a treat! As I lay in my sleeping bag, the feral ponies of Mt Rogers moved from one pasture to another, parading right down the AT in front of the shelter. I had a primo viewing spot. Way, way, cool! Little colts even!Well that got me going all right. Spent my day on the Grayson Highlands, loving the views. Being Saturday there were people everywhere, and why not? It was a fine spring day in the highlands. Very very windy, but I really can not complain about that. Met Mrs Joy who was slackpacking courtesy of her visiting hubby, so that was fun. Mostly spent my day just loving the views. Lotta rocks, but hey, mountains are made of rocks, right? Hiked on to Wise Shelter where I had lunch with a boy scout troop. Kinda fun. On to the Scales where the farmers used to weigh their livestock before driving it down the mountain. Found a public restroom there so I unloaded all my trash! Pack weight finally beginning to get reasonable! From there it was on through the forest and over Pine Mtn to Old Orchard Shelter. Chose not to tent, me and another guy went with the shelter. Bad decision! It was log cabin style and if there ever was chinking it was long gone. That wind howled up the gap and thru the wind tunnel that is Old Orchard. Didn't sleep much. Didn't matter. It was an awesome day. Oh. I saw a foot long snake in the trail, slithering away from me. I can handle that.
Date: 2010-05-09
From: Old Orchard Shelter

To: Trimpi Shelter
Miles today: 14.1
Weather: broken clouds

It was a cold start today, frozen toes and fingers. Got on my way as quick as I could and warmed up by hiking. Lots of people going southbound, headed for Damascus and Trail Days. Met Holy Smoke along the way. He shaved his beard off! I would not have recognized him except for his voice. He was sobo too. It's Mothers Day so I stopped several times to see if I could get a signal, no luck. Had lunch with 96, Number One Son, Aspen, Toothpick, and Mrs Joy who is rejoining us after a weekend with her hubby. Late in the day finally a signal so called Mom and got the bonus of finding my daughter at Mom's house as well. Had a message from my son too.From there it was off to Trimpi Shelter where Aspen and Toothpick built a lovely fire to begin the celebration of Mrs Joy's birthday.
Date: 2010-05-10
From: Trimpi Shelter

To: Partnership Shelter
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: clear sky

What a great day! Headed out from the shelter and set off through a pasture. Other hikers saw cattle there but not me. Crossed the South Fork of the Holston River where I stood watching the river flow for a bit. Didn't see a single fish but lots of nice flowers along the banks.Headed up on the ridge where baby grasshoppers were popping like corn in the sunny parts of the trail, bouncing off my legs. Lots of crunchy snacks for baby birds, LOL. A deer startled me by bounding across the trail abruptly. Made my heart beat faster!The highlight of my day was meeting my friend Judo along the trail. She is headed southbound to Damascus for Trail Days, so we sat on the trail and visited for a bit. Fun fun fun!From there on to Partnership Shelter which is right next door to the Mt Rogers Visitors Center. You can order delivery pizza there, so I did.   Mmm. A very good day.
Date: 2010-05-11
From: Partnership Shelter

To: Atkins
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: light rain

Started the day out hiking with Aspen and Toothpick until they went on ahead of me on the hills. I like being around those two, they are so positive. The ferns are getting pretty big now and I saw some lovely fern gardens along the way. It was threatening rain most of the day, a bit dreary. Had lunch with Mrs Joy, Aspen and Toothpick where we met some other northbounders going sobo to Damascus. From there we headed for Atkins and Happy Hiker Hollow Hostel. The place is run by Rambunny who is so awesome! She cooked a wonderful dinner for us and made a birthday cake for Mrs Joy! I slept so soundly. What a great place!
Date: 2010-05-12
From: Atkins

To: Knot Maul Branch Shelter
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: light rain

Took forever to get my stuff together this morning at Rambunny's place. Great breakfast by the way, she took great care of us! After a late start we set off across the meadows near Atkins. This was a day of weaving our way thru and around the farms of southwest Va. Very very pretty scenes today, lots of pasture walks, and lots of stiles! A stile is a wooden construction built to get over, around or through fences. We figure there were at least 12 this day. Climbing over these with a pack on is challenging.Had first lunch at Davis Path Campsite and second lunch at Crawfish Valley. Yes, some days we eat 2 lunches! I finished my pizza from partnership Shelter a few days back.   Yummy!Got in to Knot Maul Branch Shelter where we had margaritas! Yes, we packed in the remainder from Mrs Joy's birthday celebration of yesterday. Nice way to end the day.
Date: 2010-05-13
From: Knot Maul Branch Shelter

To: VA 623, Garden Mtn
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: broken clouds

Well, we're getting up into Virginia now, it's time to pick up the miles. This is where you put in the miles that make it possible to get to Maine before Baxter Park closes in October. I still have a long way to go, but at Crawfish Valley yesterday we passed the one quarter mark! Yay for us, but many miles to go yet.Mrs Joy and I hiked together most of the day. It was a long long slog up Chestnut Knob Mtn, took us the better part of the day. Our goal for the day was 16 miles, so it was discouraging to be at 9 miles late in the afternoon. We hiked on a bit, tossing around ideas for night hikes to make our goal distance, but we realized as we talked that the two of us have different ideas of what we want to get done each day. Sadly, we decided to not be hiking partners anymore. This makes me so sad, we both cried. Mrs Joy found a place to camp and I hustled on to VA 623. I set up my little camp in the dark and felt very lonely and sad. I will miss her a lot, she is so bright, funny, and positive. She really is Mrs JOY.
Date: 2010-05-14
From: VA 623, Garden Mtn

To: Bland, VA
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: light rain

Left out of camp as usual around 9:00. I must get better at this camping thing! Hiked the near 4 miles to Jenkins Shelter where I had a snack and checked the register to find I was just behind Aspen and Toothpick. My plan for today was to get to Helveys Mill Shelter, I figured I'd find them there. Up and over Brushy Mtn and a few road walks too. The terrain today was pretty gentle and on I went. Trail magic at Laurel Creek, apples and Mtn Dew. Thank you! The weather was quite threatening, low growling thunder all afternoon. I hiked on and on, by the time I got to Rt 52 I talked myself into going in to Bland instead of continuing on to the shelter. I guess I sissied out, my back and feet hurt, I was tired. There were storms in the area. So here I am in Bland. I don't know if I'll zero tomorrow or not.
Date: 2010-05-15
From: Bland, VA

To: Jenny's Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: scattered clouds

Well what a day. Decided yesterday's funk was nothing more than a little feeling sorry for myself. Luckily the unofficial assistant coach for Team Cody was available to help get my head straight, so by lunchtime I was off and hiking.The terrain was kind and I had time to mull over what's been on mind. Plain and simple, I forgot for a bit that I am the luckiest girl in the world. I want to do this, I chose to do this, I get to do this.Today I met a three foot black snake in the trail who would not give way for me. I had to go around thru the brush and about the time I did he slithered off the other direction.Tonight I am in my first thunderstorm in my tent. So far so good, we'll see when morning gets here. The trail has been mighty dry so this is good. I'm trying not to be scared.BG, I am carrying you in my heart everyday. I wish I could do more. I love you girlfriend!TG, I found out the HB&G is behind the Willows Motel where nekkid bike rides (with chaps) and cannonballs have been known to happen. The margaritas will flow! I can't wait!
Date: 2010-05-16
From: Jenny's Knob Shelter

To: Wapiti Shelter
Miles today: 14.2
Weather: light rain

Today I was seduced by a hamburger. Almost done me in. Left Jenny Knob Shelter at my usual late departure time. Did a lazy job of getting water the night before, so had to go back for more before heading out, meaning I did not gather enough the night before. I did see a deer at the spring however. I'm seeing a lot of deer lately. About the time I was leaving the first of the 25 milers of the day showed up from an early start at the previous shelter. My gosh, this guy had 10 miles in before I ever got going! I see these guys one day only and they really amaze me. Right out of the shelter my right foot just decided on one particular step to go down a different way than usual and in a wink there I was, left knee in the side of the mountain, covered in mud. Off to a spectacular start on the day! Hiked on for a bit, then the 25 miler guy blew past me, talking about making a stop at Trent's Store. Well, camping there had been in my original plan, before getting off at Bland, but I had kind of decided to skip it now that I was behind and trying to catch friends ahead of me. But Blue Rooster (25 miler's trail name) just kept talking about stashing his pack in the woods and heading over for there for lunch. It's a half mile off the trail. Then the Blue Rooster was gone, I was eatin his dust. Man, that guy moves fast. That left me alone to consider the pros and cons of hamburgers, hotdogs and pizzas. I'm pretty much for all of them. I had bought a hamburger at the Dairy Queen in Bland, but just didn't feel good, couldn't eat the thing after I ordered it. Very depressing. By the time I got to the road I had convinced myself if it was before 1:30 I would allow myself 1 hour to run to Trents, get and eat a hamburger, put that bad Bland experience behind me, then still get on to the next shelter on time. Well, I'm a really good dally-er. And I got on the phone with my daughter. So I was late getting back to the trail. And, earlier in the day a friend had told me there was serious rain heading my way. Yes, like the minute I got back on the trail. And I still had 8 miles to go! Remember, I am not a fast hiker.   Well, I hiked fast in the rain today for sure, in three hours I was at the shelter. I was of course the last one in, so my stuff did not get prime location, but I was under a roof and glad of it, even if it was Wapiti shelter. I also fell for the second time this day, this time on a bridge (slick as owl sh*t some might say). It was like I was on a hockey rink, I could see and feel myself going down, but could do nothing about it. I am seriously lucky that I did not go into the creek. Some days are just a comedy of errors. I survived in pretty darn good spirits in spite of it all. It was a good day's hike.
Date: 2010-05-17
From: Wapiti Shelter

To: VA 634 Pearisburg
Miles today: 16.1
Weather: light rain

It rained solid all night! Never let up a bit. My clothes were in a mud puddle this morning, so I thought hey, I'll just go to Pearisburg. So I did. Today I put on the iPod and hiked in the rain. I think there were probably some excellent views from the mountain I was on, but my feet were on the ground and my head was in the clouds. It's pretty foggy, wet, and cold up there. I didn't see much. I listened to two episodes of "This American Life" then music the rest of the day, and I mean all day. Didn't take the thing out of my ears until I got to the road. I stopped at Doc Knob Shelter for lunch and to use the privy. I still had the iPod going in my ears and this Dave Matthews song that starts with a dog barking came on. I didn't realize it was the iPod, I thought there was a dog outside, and since I had the door propped open (privies kind of creep me out) I started yelling at the dog I heard, LOL! Luckily nobody was around for this little event, but no matter, now you know. I had a good laugh at myself for that one. Not much else to report, except I did indeed catch Aspen, Toothpick, Mtn Man, and others I know. Fun to see everyone.