morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-04-27
From: VA600, Elk Garden

To: Old Orchard Shelter
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: clear sky

Could you tell that I was cold and miserable last night? Actually my hands were shaking as I typed into the pocketmail. Brrrr! Well, when we woke this morning I could see my breath in the tent but I could also see sunshine on the wall. Hooray!   It turned out to be a First Rate Day! Sunshine, blue sky without a cloud, warm temps and a lovely breeze. How perfect for this to be the day that we go over Mount Rogers.   Mount Rogers, the highest mountain in VA at 5729', is named for William Barton Rogers, a former VA state geologist but also the founder and first president of The Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It's a magnificent mountain and it was a joy to climb today. The trail twisted gently up the forested mountainside, then wound across fields of grass up to the shelter at the top called the The Thomas Knob Shelter. In the shelter a ladder leads up to a fully enclosed sleeping loft above the main floor. The privy is high tech with a solar powered fan. We talked with Ed Clayton, a Forest Service Volunteer who was greeting hikers, and learned about the herd of ponies that lives up there and how they're maintained, the Dance Hall that Eleanor Roosevelt once visited that used to be on Whiterock Mt., the origin of the Barter Theater in Abingdon, and so many more interesting facts. It was a treat to have so knowledgeable a person spend time talking with us. Thanks, Ed. We had a lunch break and met Tanglefoot, a hiker from England, and Ranger Rick.   The trail crossed Grayson Highlands State Park, and it was an open trail with miles of views, grassy with interesting rock outcroppings that made for a variety of hiking terrain. It's here that the trail goes through "Fatman Squeeze Tube", a natural rock tunnel about 75' long. We made it through!   Since it was the weekend, we saw many others out enjoying this awesome place - many day hikers and section hikers, rock climbers practicing, and horses and riders on special trails just for them. Grayson Highlands and Mt. Rogers are definitely on our list of places to return to someday.   We arrived at the next shelter, Wise Shelter, and since we felt good and there were still some more hours of daylight, we continued 5.9 miles further to Old Orchard Shelter which overlooks a grassy field where we're camping tonight.   Thank you, Lord, for not only today's sunshine, but for the whole day - the unique scenery, wonderful views and the interesting folks we met.
Date: 2003-04-28
From: Old Orchard Shelter

To: Troutdale, VA
Miles today: 10.2

Did you notice our total miles? We passed the 500 mile mark today! You know, in the beginning I thought, "I can't walk over 1,000 miles!" But guess what...all I have to walk is a little bit each day and it all adds up. Lesson to self - Self, don't be overwhelmed by a goal that seems enormous...just break it down into do-able bits and persistently keep at it until it's accomplished.   Today's 10 miles was done on a warm day, in sun that beat down steadily so that we appreciated each bit of shade. As we hiked along near the 9-mile mark, hot and dripping wet, coming toward us down the trail was former thruhiker Gator and his wife bestowing trail magic on each passing thruhiker. He gave us cold Coke and a big juicy orange! What a treat, and it couldn't have come at a better time! Newly refreshed, we eagerly finished our goal of reaching the highway.    We quickly got a ride into Troutdale, went to the P.O., and then to the Hiker Hostel that the Troutdale Baptist Church runs. What a wonderful place! They seem to have thought of every need that a tired dirty thruhiker might have. There are bathrooms, hot showers, a washer and dryer with detergent, a phone, and a bunkhouse under construction.   We're sleeping on the floor of the bunkhouse in what seems like a very fancy shelter because it has windows with screens. There was a special meeting at the Troutdale Baptist Church tonight that we decided to attend since we miss Hope Church so much. The service was excellent - the pastor was dynamic, the message was a great one, and it was so good to sing some hymns again.   We're the only hikers here at the hostel tonight which really makes it special. We'll get back on the trail again tomorrow since this town trip was only for the purpose of picking up a package. It's sure fun to taste the flavor of another small town though - physically and this time spiritually.   Thank you, Lord, for this faithful group of Believers. Bless the Troutdale Baptist Church as they minister to the hikers at their hostel.
Date: 2003-04-29
From: Troutdale, VA

To: Partnership Shelter
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: broken clouds

We saw a beautiful red sunrise this morning (Hikers take warning?) from the hillside above the Baptist Church. Breakfast at the Trading Post was excellent and we went there with our packs ready to go as soon as we were finished eating.   As we left the restaurant there was an ominous blackness in the western sky and within minutes it was raining. Regardless, we walked out to the road to hitch a ride back to the trail. Results were almost immediate and in pouring rain we resumed our hiking.   To our surprise, the sun began to shine and within 10 minutes we took off our raingear and it became a gorgeous hot day!    We had a lovely hike all day over mostly smooth trails, up Brushy Mtn. and up to Partnership Shelter which is a beauty. It sits behind the Mount Rogers Headquarters and Visitor Center so there's access to a phone and garbage dumpsters for trash which is wonderful. Backpackers normally carry all their trash, sometimes for miles, until they get to a garbage can.    The shelter is beautiful, with a large second story sleeping area and ...A HOT SHOWER! What luxury! And to make this situation even better, pizza and soda can be ordered from the nearby town and it's delivered right here. Does it get any better than that? On the trail, no.   Now when we arrived, the lower sleeping area had room for only one more, but our friend Fido Dido quickly offered to move to the top floor (up a high ladder) so we could both stay below. He joked about the downstairs "geriatric floor" since the younger guys are all up above.   To thank him, we ordered the traditional take-out pizza and soda and the 3 of us sat out by the Visitors Center and had a feast.   Here also, are our hiker friends Virginia Creeper and Badger whom we hadn't seen since Damascus. Their section hike is almost over and we'll miss running into them on the trail. It's quiet here tonight except for the sound of the Spring Peepers coming from the woods.   Thank you, Lord, for the unexpected sunshine all day today and the beautiful area we hiked over.
Date: 2003-04-30
From: Partnership Shelter

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

This morning was a quiet one as everyone left Partnership Shelter one by one. It seemed that nobody slept in today, not even the younger hikers, and by 8:30 the shelter was empty.   Not far in front of the shelter near the main road is the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area Headquarters and Visitor's Center in a beautiful modern stone building. Last night when we walked up there to use the phone to order our pizza it was closed so we wanted to visit this morning before we left.   There were displays on all aspects of the area with respect to recreational usage - camping, biking, hiking and horseback riding. The history of area iron smelting was shown as well as old newspaper articles telling of Eleanor Roosevelt's visit. There was a gift shop of local crafts and A.T books and nature guides.   After looking around we walked with our packs to the main road and quickly got a ride in to Marion, VA by a local restaurant and B&B owner. She was very friendly and dropped us off at the P.O. where we got our food drop box.      Our Thru-Hiker's Handbook suggested The Virginia House Inn as a good place to stay so we got directions and found that it was at least a mile away, so we began walking. Up the Main Street we went, packs on our backs, with Greylock carrying our box of food we had just picked up, and I carried all 4 trekking poles.   Past all the usual fast food eateries and the food stores, and the gas stations, and of course the Walmart shopping center, we walked in the hot Virginia sun looking for our motel. At last we spotted it and checked in, glad that our hike alongside the traffic was over.   While doing laundry, I asked a lady where the library is located and to my dismay she said it's behind the P.O. so we'll be taking the same walk tomorrow to use their computers.   Thunderstorms rolled in while we were in the laundromat, so all our afternoon walking was while dodging raindrops.    So today covered no miles on the AT, but we're tired from the necessary walking in this spread-out town. Tomorrow we'll stay one more day here before heading back to the trail.   Thank you, Lord, for the friendly, helpful folks who saw us standing by the side of the road and immediately pulled over to give us a ride.
Date: 2003-05-01
From: Marion, VA

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

Marion, VA - Day 2   This was a super day! We had unexpected good fortune in getting to the P.O. to mail some packages this morning and to the library to use the computers. We knew that there were little white shuttle buses in town but didn't know their routes or schedules.    Greylock asked at the motel office and when the receptionist called for information, we found that we could get a pick-up right at the motel door and we could get off right at the P.O. What a nice surprise!   The library was only 2 blocks from the P.O. so we easily walked up there and spent the morning online. At noon, the shuttle bus returned for us and we rode back to the motel.      Right next to the motel is a cute little restaurant where we went for dinner with local flavor rather than one of the "chain" types and it was excellent.   Our little white bus will again pick us up in the morning to take us back to the bottom of the hill that leads up to the Mount Rogers Visitors Center and we'll get a hitch up to the top and return to the trail. It's been a good two days but we're ready to move on.   Thank you, Lord, for time to rest, reschedule our mileage, connect with family, and reorganize.
Date: 2003-05-02
From: Partnership Shelter

To: Relax Inn, US11/VA683
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: scattered clouds

The air was heavy today with the sweet fragrance of honeysuckle, flowering fruit trees, lilacs, and wildflowers. It was simply a lovely day.   We left Marion right after breakfast and quickly got a hitch back up to the Mount Rogers Visitors Center where we continued north on the trail. After several small ups and downs we followed a clear rushing stream down the last rhododendron filled valley and right up to Chatfield Shelter. It's in a beautiful location there by the stream and we took a long lunch break while visiting with our friend CoolFoot. The weather was warm and sunny with cool breezes in spite of the forecast for thunderstorms in the P.M.    The trail continued down along the stream, crossing it on rocks several times before coming out of the woods in farmland. While the trail tries to avoid populated areas, several houses and farms were nearby, and we twisted back and forth across grassy fields full of fragrant trees and bushes.    We wound down a lush green valley, crossed a railroad tracks and a bog bridge made of old RR ties, and then zig-zagged back up the other side. It was fun to see such variety in terrain and vegetation.   As we crossed the last hill heading down, we saw the highway below with the motel, Relax Inn, right on the trail. Well, that was just too convenient so we had to stop. So, again tonight we had a real dinner at the Barn Restaurant and will sleep in a real bed. This is just too nice!   On the way up the street to the restaurant a thunderstorm did pass over, but was gone by the time we were ready to leave. The Weather Channel says it will rain off and on for the next few days so we're keeping raingear handy and we did coat my boots with a thick layer of mink oil to try and waterproof them.   Thank you, Lord, for not only the lovely flowers of Springtime adorning the woods and hillsides, but the pleasure of smelling their fragrance while hiking.
Date: 2003-05-03
From: US11/VA683

To: Knot Maul Branch Shelter
Miles today: 13.9
Weather: moderate rain

An unexpected tender moment awaited me at Davis Path Shelter this morning where we stopped for a break.   We had packed up this morning, and walked up the trail which runs beside the road and right up to the Barn Restaurant where we had dinner last night. They were open for breakfast and it did seem rude to just walk past without stopping. Heavier now by a "Hungry Man Breakfast" for Greylock and French Toast for me, we started out again and crossed under Rt. 81 and went into the woods.   Davis Path Shelter was only 2 1/2 miles away, so we stopped for a snack break and I checked the register as I always do. I noticed that it went back a whole year so for fun I tried to see if daughter Kristy/KayDeeDid and her husband Todd/Popeye had stayed there and to read their message. I turned page after page and then I spotted Kristy's handwriting and there it was!   It was in June of 2002 and it happened to be Father's Day and I found myself reading a sweet Father's Day greeting to all fathers and a special message to her own dad in heaven, who died of cancer in 1994. I know that when she wrote it she had no idea that I'd ever be there to read it, but it was an unexpected and especially touching moment.   We left the shelter and from then on, it was on/off showers, and on/off rain gear. The trail went over one stile after another as we went across fields of cattle, across several streams on bridges, and at one point we even encountered some cows on the trail. It was obvious that they were slack packing since they didn't have backpacks. :)         At the top of our last mountain of the day, we saw pink rhododendron in bloom. These are the first we've seen and they were a lovely surprise. Until now, the rhododendron have all been in bud.   After many ups and downs we arrived at Knot Maul Shelter where we are tonight along with Coolfoot and 2 section hikers. It's a quiet night... a little chilly but not enough to warrant putting up the tent.      Thank you, Lord, for unexpected blessings that You give us because You love us.
Date: 2003-05-04
From: Knot Maul Branch Shelter

To: Chestnut Knob Shelter
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: clear sky

We did an easy day today, mostly because we arrived at a most interesting shelter on the very top of Chestnut Knob(4410'). Let me describe it. It's completely enclosed, just like a cabin, with windows and a door, and it's all made of stone. While the walls look old, the roof and bunks inside apparently were built in 1994 since that date is written in cement at the entrance.   It is about 15'x30' and there are 3 lower bunks (one of these is a large one and that's where Greylock and I and Mighty Mouse are sleeping tonight) and 2 upper ones (Commander-in-Chief is above us). In the center of the room is a large picnic table.   Outside on the way to the privy, the footings for 4 legs of a fire tower (maybe?) can be seen. It certainly would have been the perfect spot and perhaps the shelter of today was once the living quarters for the fire warden of years past.   Chestnut Knob(4410') is at the northern end of Chestnut Ridge, which is a long open grassy ridgeline that slopes up gently to the top where the shelter sits.   It was a long climb to reach the top and thankfully, it was a sunny day with a cool breeze. Our handbook let us know that there was no water up here and also where to get it on the climb up, so we had full containers when we arrived. Other hikers arrived without noting that important fact and so decided not to stay but head down to the next gap before dark, where a spring is.    There were beautiful views when we first arrived of God's Thumbprint, a lovely green valley to the north, but the mist has drifted over to hide all but the immediate treeline visible from the window.   It's warm inside the shelter; warmer than a conventional shelter would be. We've cooked and eaten our dumpling dinner and moved to the bunk so the others have room to fix theirs. Each person has a stove on the table in front of them and they sit around the picnic table cooking, eating, and talking.   Thank you, Lord, for this unique place to sleep tonight, and its warmth on a chilly evening.
Date: 2003-05-05
From: Chestnut Knob Shelter

To: Jenkins Shelter
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: light rain

As darkness settled over the summit of Chestnut Knob last night, the mist had closed us in completely. In the night, though, the wind began to howl and the rain drummed on the shelter roof.   We woke up to intermittent rain, wind, and the surrounding whiteness of fog. One by one we packed up and left, the NOBO's (northbounders) heading north and one man heading south. Everyone had on rain jackets and pack covers expecting a rainy day.   As we left the summit, the wind lessened and the fog gradually disappeared. We were walking a ridgeline and for the morning we walked the rocky trail as it went up and down following the mountaintops.   We stopped for lunch along the trail and sat on a log to eat. Slowly the sun began to evaporate the cloud cover and by the time we were done, it was a sunny day. We put the rain gear away, and for the rest of the day it was lovely. We've begun to see bright orange azaleas blooming in the woods along with the white dogwood which looks stunning against the dark background.   At the end of the ridgeline, the trail dropped down over 1500' to Jenkins Shelter where we are camped in back. The shelter is full. Here tonight are Josh and Peaches who we haven't seen since Franklin, NC, DejaVu and Songbird, and the Commander in Chief, along with several men.   This privy is unlike any other because of its artwork. There are paintings on all 3 walls and even on the floor around the seat, in bright psychedelic colors reminiscent of the '60s.    Thank you, Lord, for this shelter full of mostly older hikers like ourselves. What a blessing it is to be healthy enough to be out here hiking each day.
Date: 2003-05-06
From: Jenkins Shelter

To: Bland, VA
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: overcast clouds

"Creative Stream Crossing" was the name of today's most challenging activity and we're proud to say we made it without slipping in the water, although it was close!   We started out with a climb up Brushy Mtn. It was drizzling but it felt good - not enough to get us wet but enough to cool us off. It never did rain more than a drizzle all day.   At the bottom of Brushy Mtn. on the north side is Little Wolf Creek, and the A.T crosses it 12 times in 2 miles. There was an alternate high trail to use if the creek was impassable but we opted to try the low trail.   Each crossing was a little different depending upon the stream depth, the rocks in the water, and the drop in elevation. Sometimes it was rushing and deep and only about 6' across. Other times it was quieter and spread out to 15' or so. The rocks were sometimes moss-covered and slippery so we chose our way carefully and proceeded cautiously.      At one crossing Greylock went first because I wanted to take his picture. About 1 second after the shutter clicked, he began to slide down the slippery rock he was on and if he hadn't plunged his trekking poles in the creek hard to stop the slide, he would have been wet for sure. Needless to say, I crossed at a different spot, but here is a good example of how trekking poles can save the day.    At the final crossing, there was a picnic area with a large cooler filled with an assortment of juices, apple, orange and V8, put there by a local church's Appalachian Trail Hiker Ministry. What a treat! Thank you, New Hope Church!   The trail went over another Brushy Mtn.(FYI, there are apparently lots of them down here), and eventually came out to the highway where we got a quick hitch into Bland, VA.   Is this an exciting town? Or is it Bland? Is it oozing with Southern charm? Or is it Bland? Is the air pungent with fragrant blooms from the local flower beds? Or is it Bland? LOL! I've gotta stop. The name of this town so inspires me!   Actually, we've met such friendly, helpful people in Bland, including the P.O. clerk who came outside the P.O. offering his cordless phone for us to use. Pine Cone, a local hiker, who saw us outside the IGA, asked if we needed a ride and shuttled us to our motel, and George Ziegenfuss, a retired minister who was shot while hiking the A.T. last year and who would have given us lodging if he didn't have to leave for a Dr. appt early in the morning. He apologized again and again, bless his heart. For a small town, Bland has lots of Southern hospitality and flavor.   We're staying at the only motel in town along with Dag and Mag, who recovered from the trail bug they also caught in Damascus. We had dinner together at the Dairy Queen across the street.   We'll hitch back to the trailhead in the morning and head for Pearisburg, VA.      Thank you, Lord, for the safe stream crossings today and for the friendly folks in Bland.
Date: 2003-05-07
From: Bland, VA

To: Jenny Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: overcast clouds

It's funny the way things work out sometimes. When we got the trail magic yesterday at the cooler by the stream, there was just the name of a church on the cooler. Those bottles of juice really hit the spot and I wished I had an address to drop the church a note of thanks.   When we got to the motel I checked the phone book and there was no New Hope Church listed so since it looked like a dead end, I didn't pursue it.   This morning we packed up and walked to town, had breakfast, and went out to hitch a ride back to the trail. We stood at the roadside for probably a half hour with no success and were considering walking, when a pickup truck stopped.   It was the man who fills the ice chest with the Trail Magic! When I asked him for the church address, he handed me a New Testament with the church address on the back. Not only do they put bottles and cans of juices by the trail daily, but they fix breakfast for the hikers right at that same spot each Monday morning. How nice!   He dropped us off at the trail and after an initial climb, we followed a ridgeline for most of the day and waited for the "severe weather" forecast for the afternoon. Thankfully it never materialized, and it was a beautiful hiking day.    We climbed Brushy Mtn. (again? yet another one? who knows?) and dropped down to Jenny Knob Shelter where Four Bears was already cooking dinner. Cloud Walker, Pez, and Overshot arrived later so there are 6 of us here tonight, wondering if the storm will come in the night or maybe not at all.   Thank you, Lord, for the great day today in spite of the threatening forecast.