morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-04-13
From: Route 91

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 21.0

I got up in the middle of the night to consider a moonlit night hike, but it was a bit overcast. I got up at the crack of dawn, had breakfast in bed & hit the Trail before the sun was barely up. The terrain was smooth, and I made easy miles through weather that was overcast with a sprinkle of rain. As I slowly descended toward Damascus, the weather turned sunny.I made it to Damascus, VA by 5pm & went to a hostel called "The Place." A big house with kitchen, community rooms, showers & dozens of bunks...all for $4 a night! I had a shower & headed to the Baja Cafe for a taco salad & beer. The hostel had many familiar faces - Tofurky, Buree, Bugs, Sundancer, Cookie; new faces of people I'd read of in the journals - Orangutan, Stinky, Yeti, Sparrowhawk...and others around town too. Damascus is known as "the friendliest town on the AT," and there were lots of things to do in the evening. Sparrowhawk and I went to Dave's Place (another hostel in town), then to Dot's (a little cantina), and then to The Mill (a bar/restaurant). Had some drinks & was bushed by 11pm. To the bunk!
Date: 2006-04-14
From: Damascus, VA

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 0.0

Woke up & did a lot of eating! First was a big breakfast at Dairy King - then laundry - then a chicken lunch at Dairy King! I did some gear adjustment - packed up a few things to send home. I stopped by the outfitter for some new light weight titanium pots & stuff sacks...then a midday calzone. I headed back to The Place hostel & hung out with the crowd there - Alexander, Piece of Work, Mango, Coach - and some south-bound section hikers Brave & Squaw. I had some chocolate & attempted to go for a beer at Baja Cafe - but my stomach was full & I thought better of it. I ended up laying down for a nap at 6:30pm - and I was out for the night. Ahhhh, what a "zero" day!
Date: 2006-04-15
From: Damascus, VA

To: Saunders shelter
Miles today: 9.4

Woke up fairly early & felt refreshed. Had a cup of coffee compliments of Squaw and Brave, had a shower, and headed to Dairy King with Bandit for breakfast. I made some calls & ran some errands & got packed up. I stopped at the outfitters before leaving town & weighed my pack - base weight 24 pounds! I cut some weight & can feel it.I was off...well, not quite. I stopped at a convenience store/grill for a double cheese burger, fries & pie...hey, it was lunch time! There was another outfitter on the way out of town with internet, so I stopped in to do some journal updating & add my "bio" to my 20th class reunion page. Then I was off!Sunny & warm, but I was feeling a little down...going from towns & the comforts they afford (food, shower, communication with loved ones) is tough. The beauty of nature cheered me 'tho, and I made the 9 miles to Saunders shelter in a few hours. Big 19 mile daqy in big mountains tomorrow, so time for some shut-eye!
Date: 2006-04-16
From: Saunders shelter

To: Thomas Knob shelter
Miles today: 18.6

Woke up before the sunrise - I was the only on in the shelter. There were some overnighters camping close to the shelter, but they kept to themselves. Nice warm day with a fairly easy morning turning to a difficult afternoon with a 2,000+ foot climb to Whitetop Mountain. The forest floor in the wooded areas of the mountain was covered by thousands of beautiful & delicate white flowers - stretching as far as the eye could see. The mountain tops had a lot of balds with stunning vistas to the surrounding mountains & an active sky. I came across Gary & his dog Pepper about 1 mile from the shelter, so we headed to camp for the night. He's 47, retired & from Ohio.We met Mudman & Preacher - two section hikers already settled in for the evening. We sat around & cooked dinner & before long two more hikers showed up. A father Bill & son Jeff doing a section hike. They had a bottle of vodka, so they made friends quickly. After chatting for awhile as the darkness rolled in, I decided to call it a night & crawled into my bag.
Date: 2006-04-17
From: Thomas Knob shelter

To: Hurricane Mountain shelter
Miles today: 14.9

Woke up & got an early start. Nice views from the balds & some technical hiking through rocks & "fatman squeeze tunnel." The clouds were thick & the wind was strong, but occasionally the sun peeked through. On one bald I saw a half dozen wild ponies. Very cute & quite photogenic! The weather began to turn as I was crossing a bald, and I saw a small campground with a covered information sign in the distance. It began to rain & I made a run for it. Just in time to put on my rain suit & pack cover, and I had adequate shelter to weather a thunderstorm with hail lasting about one half hour. A section day hiker was caught there, too. He didn't have rain gear, but he was only parked a few miles away. There was a mobile home 20 yards away - for the camp ground supervisor. I was hoping someone would come out to offer me a cheeseburger, but could tell nobody was home. The rain let up & I continued on. I got to the next shelter & had lunch. Before long, Jebus with his dog Jackson, Orangutan & Stinky showed up. They're in their teens & 20's...except Jackson - he's about 10 dog years. There was a little bit of drizzle for the rest of the afternoon, but pretty hiking. I made it to a new shelter called Hurricane Mountain shelter - a few people there: Cookie, Jaywalker & two section hikers. I felt like continuing on, but it was after 5pm & the next shelter was over 10 miles away. I decided to call it a day.I'm a bit concerned about a toothache I'm starting to get. It's in a molar that had a root canal & crown. I'm going to call my dentist ASAP as I can't chew on my left side - ouch!
Date: 2006-04-18
From: Hurricane Mountain shelter

To: Partnership shelter
Miles today: 20.8

Woke to a crisp & clear sunrise. The section hikers were still trying to dry their gear from yesterday's rainstorm & didn't seem too happy about their situation. I told them "It's looking like a beautiful day - just wear your clothes dry." That's what I have to do as I wear most of the clothes I carry. They just gave a scowl - it's all attitude I guess. A bit of Trail magic from Sourdough...a nice piece of honeybun! He was a late arrival last night - about 9:30pm. He's 50 & has a trail dog named Action Jackson.I hit the Trail & the miles flew by. I had gone 6 miles before I needed a drink of water, and at 10 miles I hit Trimpi shelter - my lunch spot. I met Cookie there - he's 61 & a member of the Optimists club. He's hiking as a fundraiser & will be showcased at their national convention in Nashville this July. Before long Red Dog, 365 & Sourdough w/Action Jackson showed up.Time to make some miles! I crossed some fences into a pasture...full of cattle. Some were laying under trees, calves were sunning themselves, and still others were standing right on the Trail staring at me. They let me take a few pictures & I moseyed through the crowd. I decided to push myself for the last miles - about 10 left - just to see what my body could do. I made really good time with little exertion. A 20+ mile day to my final destination - Partnership shelter. The shelter is located 1/10 of a mile from the Mt. Rogers Nat'l Recreation Area (NRA) headquarters. This building has a phone, and a local restaurant delivers! A dozen of us got our orders together & we made the call. After an hour, we all went down to the front gate of the headquarters & paced like hungry wolves. Food arrived & the glut was on! I put away a large pepperoni & mushroom pie w/ 2 beers. Everyone was full & happy - and we sat around the campfire chatting for awhile. Before long, the food hit me & it was time to hit the sack.
Date: 2006-04-19
From: Partnership shelter

To: Atkins, VA
Miles today: 11.6

There was certainly evidence of a pizza party at Partnership shelter this morning, but we were all quick to clean up. I had no need for breakfast as I was still full from my whole pizza the night before - but I did drink a 2 liter bottle of Pepsi! Skies were overcast, and a thunderstorm rolled in. A couple of close bolts kept me at the shelter for awhile, then I headed to the nearby recreation headquarters. I milled around & sent a few postcards. I finally hit the Trail around 10am.Foggy and overcast with a bit of drizzle made the woods haunting. The dampness made the mosses & greenery stand out. After lunch, the skies cleared, and I was hiking through low lying swamp and pasture land. Songbirds and sweet smells filled the area, and I was soon at Atkins - and a change of scenery. An interstate, train, manufacturing plant & all of the accompanying sounds soon replaced the peace of the Trail, but a hotel room waited for me - hot bath, bed & laundry!I've been doing some big mile days, and after some calculations, I've decided to cut back. I have a mail drop in Bland, VA - not even 50 miles, and four days to get there for my scheduled 4/24 mail drop. After I do some hiking with my friend Jon Graf, I'll push the big days, but it doesn't make any sense to push ahead of my plan. I'm meeting Graf in Big Island, VA - about 200 miles beyond Bland, VA. That gives me 2 solid weeks to cover 200 miles, so 15 mile days are more than enough. Time to slow down & enjoy!
Date: 2006-04-20
From: Atkins, VA

To: Crawfish Valley
Miles today: 5.2

Wit my new schedule outlook, I took a leisurely morning. I went to the convenience store for a grilled breakfast of ham, eggs, biscuits & coffee. Back to the Relax Inn to make a couple of calls & to read in a hot bath. The last book I read was Thoreau's "Walden", and I'm currently reading Charlotte P Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper & Other Stories". I got packed up & headed to a picnic table in the sun to continue reading & drink a 2 liter Pepsi. Sourdough drove by with a friend & said good morning. I headed toward the Trail & stopped at the convenience store for lunch where I ran into Jebus & Grizzly. They had walked back to town from the last shelter - backtracking 2.5 miles for breakfast! Being April 20th, a day of "Bacchan Rage," we got some beer to share later in the evening.It was sunny & mid 70's & the terrain was easy. The three of us didn't make it very far before coming upon Stinky & Orangutan sprawled out at a beautiful campsite on the Trail - we knew we had finished our hiking day. It was an afternoon & evening "420" celebration - revelry & LOTS of munchies! Sourdough & Action Jackson showed up & camped too.For this one day, I feel partying was in order, but this won't be a regular happening for me on the Trail. I guess at this point in my life, a bunch of guys sprawled around a campfire surrounded by snack bags & beer cans isn't my idea of communing with nature & finding a "higher" experience on the AT...but it was FUN!
Date: 2006-04-21
From: Crawfish Valley

To: Chestnut Knob
Miles today: 16.7

Woke up to clouds - in the sky & in my head. Some early morning rain had me packing up my wet tent. Just a light drizzle in the morning, but I had my jacket out by lunch. It seems counterintuitive, but the forest brightens during rainy days. The tree bark & leaf litter take on a darker hue & the leaves and flowers seem more vivid because of the increased contrast. I saw a racer snake & a small snapper turtle today...a herd of cattle on a mountain top- and I dug "ramps." Ramps are an edible bulb plant that taste like shallots (onion/garlic). Lots of exploring during my near 17 mile day & I made it to Chestnut Knob shelter well before sunset. 365 was settled in with his friend, Uncle & 2 section hikers. I cooked ramin noodles with chicken & peanut sauce...and RAMPS! The shelter is quite cozy as it is one of the few that is fully enclosed. The wind is prety fierce this evening, and there's a chance for a storm tonight. I'm glad to be inside.
Date: 2006-04-22
From: Chestnut Knob

To: Bland, VA
Miles today: 21.5

Stinky & Orangutan arrived at Chestnut Knob shelter late - maybe 11pm & woke us all up. There were no bunks left, so they had to sleep on the floor. The we hours brought heavy rain which woke us all again with a roar on the tin roof. In the morning I made my breakfast in bed & even did the dishes from my sleeping bag. It was a rainy & misty morning, but I did see some beautiful views to the valley below.The morning hike was leisurely & I met up with 365 (named because he enjoyed the "365 degree vista" from Clingman's Dome in the Smokies), Overflow (cooks food until it cascades from her pot) & Sourdough for lunch. Sourdough had to go to Bland, VA for dogfood for Jackson & suggested calling his friend Ed to see if he might put us up for the night. My phone was low on batteries, but we decided to head up Brushy Mountain to try to make the call. We ran into 2 section hikers we had seen previously & they loaned us their phone. Ed agreed to meet us at 9pm. We had 12 more miles to make in less than 5 hours, so we had to hustle. We hiked with Overflow who was headed to the shelter after Bland. We made great time on relatively easy terrain & arrived at the Bland, VA road crossing at sunset. Ed arived & had a cooler of beer & plans to take us to dinner. It was after 9pm, so we headed to KFC & Sourdough and I split a 10 piece meal. After a 1/2 hour drive, we made it to Ed's place in W. Virginia. Sourdough and I took showers & unwound with a couple of drinks. Ed is in his early 50's & has been friends with Sourdough since they were in their teens. Incredible hospitality...I was given my own room with a comfy bed & private bath. It was definitely worth the 21.5 mile hike for such luxury!
Date: 2006-04-23
From: Bland, VA

To: Bland, VA
Miles today: 0.0

It was nice to wake in a comfy bed to the smell of brewing coffee. I went to the kitchen & Ed poured me a hot, strong cup of Kona coffee. Sourdough soon woke & we prepared to go to a breakfast buffet at "The Lodge" in Pipestem State Park. We were met by Terry, his wife Beth Ann & their son. Terry and Beth Ann have been close friends with Ed & Sourdough for years. They manage "The Lodge" among other restaurants & were kind enough to treat us - it still baffles me to see how giving people are to thru-hikers! A few trips to the buffet & I had my fill. Nice scenery all around & we saw a few fawns on the way back to Ed's place. For the rest of the morning & early afternoon, Sourdough and I aired our gear & caught up on some R & R. Ed went to an Aunts birthday party while Sourdough and I hit the market for resupply & food for dinner. We got back to Ed's house & started preparing the food. For hours, we enjoyed good music, drinks & conversation. by 9pm, we sat down to a meal of grilled ribeye steak & shrimp, salad & baked potatoes. We forgot about a frozen apple pie we bought for dessert, so we stuck it in the oven & did our packing while it cooked. 11:30pm was the dessert hour, then off to bed for an early a.m. rise & shine.
Date: 2006-04-24
From: Bland, VA

To: Dismal Falls
Miles today: 21.0

Nice morning at Ed's house in Princeton, WV. Had coffee & we packed up and headed out. The first stop was the Bland, VA post office for my mail drop. Got recharged phone & camera batteries from Mom & a nice box of goodies from my friend Jeanne...thanx!We said good-bye to Ed at the Trail head & I made some phone calls & tried unsuccessfully to do some "Trail magic" with half an apple pie from the night before. I ate the pie & hit the Trail. I didn't pick up my hiking rhythm until 10 miles into the day. I stopped at Jenny Knob shelter for a snack and water & met 2 section hikers named Gamer & Jet Ski. I pulled out half a box of Oreo's & a big chocolate easter egg - we talked & snacked for awhile.It was after 6pm & I had only done 12 miles, so I pushed on with quite a sugar rush. I crossed a long rocky ridge as the sun set & I descended into a darkened fragrant hollow toward a campsite at Kimberley Creek. I crossed a suspension bridge at the creek & barely noticed a note under a rock on the steps down. As I was digging for my head lamp, I noticed a pick-up truck pull down a dirt road & stop about 30 yards from me. I heard "Orangeman!" It was Sourdough. He had run into the two section hikers who had only 2 days ago loaned us their phone to call Ed. They had all gone to a restaurant for BBQ (yeah, I was jealous!). Sourdough and I decided to do some night hiking together as Kimberley Creek was adjacent to a road & the campsites were a bit "overused."We hiked a couple of miles to Dismal Creek Falls & thought we'd "cowboy camp" on some huge flat rocks 10 feet from the falls. Cowboy camping is without a tent - just a sleeping bag under the stars. We built a small fire & I cooked myself some dinner. After a 20+ mile day, it was great to lie down looking up at the stars & listen to the rush of the falls - beautiful & relaxing!
Date: 2006-04-25
From: Dismal Falls

To: Sugar Run Gap
Miles today: 12.0

Woke up to a beautiful sunny day by Dismal Falls. Clear water, flowers, trees unfurling leaves, butterflies by the dozens - incredible! I made breakfast & Sourdough & Action Jackson hit the Trail. I decided to relax for awhile & enjoy the scene. I went for a swim & sat in the sun for quite some time. The clouds began to thicken & I knew the forecast called for afternoon thunderstorms. I thought I'd better put in some miles.I wasn't making good time, but I was having a great time - taking pictures & enjoying little side trails of the wonderfully lush & fragrant valley. I did 5 miles to Wapiti shelter by 2pm & met Sourdough there. I lunched & we pushed up the ridge toward the next shelter. By the time we reached the top of the ridge, the clouds were threatening & there was an occasional sprinkle. We saw a sign for Wood's Hole hostel a bit closer than the next shelter, so we decided to beat the rain & head there. The sign said "open 4/1," but we arived to vacant buildings. Luckily, the bunkhouse was an open floor plan on the 1st floor, so we set up camp in a protected area just as it began to get dark & storm heavily. It was quite a cozy spot.Tomorrow I'm off to Perisburg for some journal updating, hit the market for resupply & probably stay at a hotel to make some calls & organize some gear to send home.
Date: 2006-04-26
From: Sugar Run Gap

To: Perisburg, VA
Miles today: 10.4

A decent rain fell throughout the morning as Sourdough and I went about our morning routines at Wood's Hole hostel. Sourdough left 1/2 hour before I did as I was doing some writing & relaxing. I packed up & was finally underway. As I walked through the drizzle, I ran into Dr Jones & Rosie - a couple in their late 30's or early 40's from Nashville. I then met an older gentleman named Papa Bear and a guy in his 20's named Carefree. Carefree looks like he could be my brother. Foggy & damp hiking on the way to Perisburg, and the clouds were too thick for any views from Angel's Rest overlook - supposedly a stunning view...rats!I made it into Perisburg by 2pm and got a room at the Motor Lodge. A quick shower & change into "town clothes" & I was off to a nearby pub for a burger, fries & beer. Fed & clean, I hit the market for provisions & snacks for the evening. a pint of Ben & Jerry's, cadbury chocolate eggs, doritos & gator ade...I quickly fell into a food coma & woke up around midnight with the TV on. I couldn't let bad cable go to waste, so I watched "101 More Things Removed from the Human Body." Sweet dreams!
Date: 2006-04-27
From: Perisburg, VA

To: Peter's Mountain
Miles today: 8.1

I woke up & felt quite refreshed. I headed across the street to get a cup of coffee from the gas station & then did some journal updating at the hotel's computer. Back to my room to make some calls, pack up & hit the road. I stopped at Pizza Plus for some chicken wings & I was on the Trail by 2pm.The first miles skirted town through highways & industrial areas, then it was an 1800 foot climb up Peter's mountain. Great views from a big bald near Rice Field shelter, and I headed on. I found a nice spot near a spring as the sun was setting & made camp. Beautiful evening & I lightened my food bag. Creamy pasta with chicken, miso soup, tea & a cadbury egg made a nice dinner. I reviewed some maps & schedules, made my journal entry & I'm off to bed!
Date: 2006-04-28
From: Peter's Mountain

To: Wind Rock
Miles today: 18.7

The sun rose early on the ridge, and I was up early having my breakfast in bed. Pleasant hiking on Peter's mountain - great vistas, flowering trees humming with bees & butterflies, wonderful smells & great weather. I made 10 miles to Pine swamp Branch shelter for lunch where I met 2 section hikers named Nonami & Troj. I also saw a note in the shelter journal from Sourdough saying to catch up because he found morel mushrooms. I hit the Trail & soon came upon some Trail magic - it was from The Captain. A cooler of soda, and packs of cupcakes - I got to snackin'. To my surprise, The Captain himself walked down the Trail. We talked for a bit, he put some ice in the cooler & left. He was gone for a minute & came back with a sandwich for me! Cold cuts, chese...the works! I had just had lunch, but I made room. I continued on & up 1000 feet to Bailey Gap shelter. I checked the journal - another note from Sourdough. I had to catch up. The last few miles were rough rock fields, but I grinned & bared (bore?) it. I finally found Sourdough at Wind Rock just before sunset. He was frying morels & immediately offered me one...good stuff! We headed up to a crowded Wind Rock to watch the sunset. There were 2 groups of college students camping - about 12 total. Nice sunset & it was time to make dinner. Sourdough kept frying the morels & I kept eating them...followed by red beans & rice, miso soup & tea. Sourdough, Freebird (a new thru-hiker face!) and I went to a group of students & chatted for awhile. They offered us marshmallows & popcorn...full Yogi in effect! It was getting chilly & I was tired, so I called it an early night & turned in.
Date: 2006-04-29
From: Wind Rock

To: Sarver Hollow shelter
Miles today: 17.1

Tough sleeping last night. The college kids were partying all night. Woke up a bit groggy & didn't hit the Trail 'til 9:30. I did 10 miles over a 1,500 foot descent followed by a climb of the same height. Stopped at Kelly Knob for lunch & then got out my sleeping bag, took my boots off & took a nap on some flat rocks on a high cliff - good snooze in the sun! I had about 7 miles to Sarver Hollow shelter, so I got a move-on. Another 1,500 foot descent into a lovely valley of pasture land complete with cows & donkeys. Great vistas, flowers & smells. I caught a whiff of black licorice & was reminded of fresh pitzelles from South Philly. The sun was low & I had another 1,500 foot climb. I passed the Keffer Oak which is an awesome tree estimated to be 300 years old. It's 18 feet in diameter, and the branches themselves were like regular sized trees.I made it to the shelter just as the sun was setting. Sourdough greeted me, and I found Hermes & 2 section hikers there as well. Hermes is a fast ultralight style hiker, but he just started hiking in sandals. His callouses dried out & cracked - ouch! I made dinner & checked out my maps. Hermes, Sourdough & I are planning to go to the Homeplace restaurant for "linner" & we need to work out the logistics as it will require some hitch hiking or favors from friends. More adventure awaits!