morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2017-03-18
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

I am so excited to be returning to the trail. I will be starting my thru-hike on Sunday, April 2, from Atkins, VA hiking north to Mt Katahdin where Mark, my husband, will pick me up and I¢ll return to Atkins, VA hiking south to Springer Mountain. Depending on when I reach Mt Katahdin, I will either go directly to Atkins to hike south or return home for a couple weeks before going to Atkins. We have an extended family vacation planned in September that will help determine what I do.Why Atkins? The main reason is that I¢ve hiked everything south of Atkins before. In 2009, I hiked from Springer to Damascus, VA and while living in North Carolina I hiked the Damascus to Atkins section. I really liked the Grayson Highlands area and did quite a few overnight trips in this area. So, if for some reason this hike ends early, I will have covered new ground. Atkins also allows for some shorter sections with Trent¢s Grocery, Pearisburg, Four Pines Hostel and Daleville nicely spaced for resupply and showers during the beginning of the hike.Hopefully, I will be avoiding the huge bubbles. I love being around other hikers and everything that includes, but not as large as what is hitting the Smokies this week. The snow storm has them stacked up in large numbers right now. I read in someone¢s journal that as many as 60 hikers left Fontana Dam on Thursday to enter the park. I¢d like to avoid numbers quite that large. The main group leaving Springer will undoubtedly reach me, but the number of hikers should be smaller then what originally started.By starting at mile 544 on April 2, the time constraint of hitting Mt Katahdin before it closes is pretty much eliminated unless I go at quite the snail¢s pace. This allows me a little more freedom with my time and pace. I want to keep it about the journey and not the destination.
Date: 2017-03-19
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

I got off the trail in 2009 for several reasons: my feet were killing me, it stopped being fun and I missed Mark tremendously.I never did really figure out what was going on with my feet. I have an extremely high arch and the front of my foot is very wide although not long enough to be able to wear men¢s shoes. I now hike with arch supports and I finally found a pair of boots that gives the front of my foot plenty of space even at the end of the day when my feet are tired and swollen. Last time I hiked in trail runners, but have chosen the La Sportive FC 4.0 GTX Hiking Boots this time. I like the vibram sole which reduces the pounding the front of my foot takes. They feel lighter on my feet then most boots and really give the front of my foot plenty of space while allowing me to lock the heel in place. My feet may very well end up being as sore as last time. I¢ll let you know in May.I really need to make sure I hike my own hike and keep the trip about the journey and not the destination. At the beginning of my 2009, I was having a wonderful time. I actually hiked down other trails to see some sights when it was so foggy I couldn¢t see any of the sights on the trail. The last couple of weeks I started hiking with another hiker. I really liked hiking with Tanglefoot, but I lost control somewhat of my hike. It started being about the miles, picking up the pace and the final destination. I need to stay in control of my hike. Missing Mark. Oh how I missed him during my 2009 hike. It seemed like I hardly ever had a signal in the towns on my phone and I didn¢t¢ have texting capabilities. This time if I have a signal on top of a mountain in the middle of the wilderness, I will call home even if it is just to say hello. We can also text to stay in better touch. I can also text other family and friends which will help with the homesickness. Since we live in Ohio instead of Texas this time, he is a lot closer if I just HAVE to see him. Bottom line: I know more about what to expect on a long distance hike and I am, hopefully, mentally tougher.
Date: 2017-03-19
To: The Third Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I need three entries to go live, so I thought I¢d talk a little about a few things I hope to do differently.In 2009, I stayed in shelters the majority of the time. There are so many positives about staying around the shelters. They usually have a reliable water source close by, the other hikers that congregate around them in the evening provide some wonderful social interaction, most have privies and when it¢s raining they draw me in like bee to honey. However, they aren¢t always spaced well for me and I never sleep all that well. Of course, I still plan on using them, but if I get to a shelter early and it¢s too far to the next one, I will tent somewhere along the way. Between Awol¢s trail guide and Guthook¢s phone app, I should be able to look ahead and figure out the likelihood of finding an adequate tent site. The army did teach me to read topographical maps which will also help in this endeavor. I may not have a site with water, but I will plan accordingly.Make my daily mileage about how my body feels that day instead of hitting predetermined location. This sounds like common sense, but I tended to make a plan for stops for the next section while in the preceding town. I then followed that plan. If I got to a shelter early, I¢d stop early. If I was exhausted, I¢d do the miles anyway as there was a deadline of hitting My Katahdin before it closed. I hope this time to listen to my body more. I¢m a planner, this will be easier said than done. But I will try to stay aware.I am doing maildrops again; however, it will only include breakfast and dinners and my dinners will include much more variety. I will buy lunches and snacks in the towns according to what I want at that time. All my dinners in 2009 were just add boiling water and wait. I have some of those, some Lipton sides with ingredients to add and some ¢homemade¢ meals. Some of these do require some ¢cooking¢, but I like food and I like variety. And whenever possible, take lunch/dinner from a Subway or some other portable ¢real¢ food as I leave town.I¢m excited to get this hike going. I am a much more experienced backpacker and I¢m ready.
Date: 2017-04-03
From: Knot Maul Branch Shelter

To: Chestnut Knob Shelter
Miles today: 9.4
Weather: clear sky

I slept really well last night. I was off a bit from the shelter and it was extremely quiet and peaceful. I was up and packed and on the trail by 7:30. There are thunderstorms in the forecast and I will be going up and across an open ridge line. The biggest climb of the week is today with a 2000 feet of elevation change. I talked to Salesman and Script as I was leaving. Salesman is headed to the next hostel and Script is headed to the next shelter 10 miles from this one. One thing about starting at Atkins is that everyone I see already has their trail legs and soon leave me behind. I just have to do what I can do. Script did say there was a slower group behind me but wasn't sure how far behind. But with the miles Script can do, I'm not sure what slower really means.The hike started out pretty nice this morning with a nice downhill start. It was fairly warm, but overcast. Definitely a nice way to start the day. I was soon headed up the first upgrade. Salesman passed me and said it was just a bump. It felt like it was bigger then a bump to me! Then some more downhill until I started the 2000 ft climb. It had a lot of steps built in and it was very steep in sections. I just kept putting one foot in front of the other. Did you just see that? Script flew past at a very fast clip. I just kept plodding along. About 4 miles to my destination, I walked into the open clearing of Chestnut Ridge. The climbing wasn't as bad from this point forward There were many little birds in the clearing and I enjoyed their company. I love to hear them sing. About 2 miles from my destination is a pretty little pond which is also the water source for the shelter. I stopped to fill up with water and it started to drizzle. I went ahead and put my pack cover on and my rain gear. As I continued my trek, the fog started rolling in as well as getting quite windy. And then the skies opened and buckets started falling. The fog was getting quite dense and I was hoping I didn't just walk right past the shelter. And then I saw a four sided shelter with a door!!!! Marvelous shelter. When I walked in Script was still there eating lunch. We talked a bit while he packed up. I got here quite early after only doing a little over nine miles, but this is my home for the night. The shelter has a tin roof and I can barely here myself think it is so loud. But I'm warm and dry and happy. The privy is a three sided affair that I will only visit in between lulls in the rain. I hope there are some lulls anyway. So this evening, I will read and relax. Tomorrow has a lot of down, but I will have to tent somewhere tomorrow night. The shelters are about 10 miles apart and 10 isn't enough and 20 is too far. Hopefully the weather is a little better. But I am extremely happy to be here and dry. The rain ended in time for me to see a beautiful sunset. I can also see the views from up here on the ridge. Looking south is a wonderful mountain view with the sunset make the clouds very colorful. Looking north is a beautiful valley view, but I don't know what town I'm looking at. Pretty though.
Date: 2017-04-04
From: Chestnut Knob Shelter

To: Laurel Creek Campsite
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: light snow

I did not sleep well last night. The wind was gusting causing the door to bounce open and shut. Once I didn't think any other hikers were going to show up, I looped a rope that was around the door handle and some nails there. Once that was quiet the mice were out. They buried acorns in my boots and chewed a hole in my compactor bag, both noisy and pesty. There was another hiker there with me with a newer Thermarest. It is more comfortable and lighter weight then the old one, but it makes a tremendous amount of noise whenever the sleeper moves. In the morning, she thought I had slept well, but I just said I have a quieter sleeping pad. I packed up early and hit the trail. It was quite foggy and windy up on top of the ridge when I set out. For awhile I would dip down below the fog (would that make it clouds instead of fog) and then climb back up into the fog. It finally cleared up and ended up being another magnificent day. AWOL's guide to the Appalachian Trail showed very little elevation gain today, but it pretty much went up and down all day just in smaller amounts at one time then yesterday. One of the features listed in AWOL's guide to the Appalachian Trail today was the Garden Mountain, rock outcropping at mile 570.5 (mileage is from Springer Mountain in Georgia). However, I saw so many rock outcroppings today I have no idea which he was referencing. So I picked one in the sun and had my morning snack. Rocks were definitely a part of the hike today. They make me walk a bit slower as I have to adjust to step on, over, or around them. Some of the white blazes have been painted brown. What is up with that?!?!? Several times I thought I had somehow gotten on another trail marked with brown blazes. I'd walk a bit further and see a white blaze. Not sure what the brown blazes are for. I've heard of white, blue, pink and yellow blazes, but not brown. I only saw a couple people today. One woman I met at 3:30 or so that was hiking to the shelter I left at 7:30 in the morning. She must be a much faster hiker then me. I saw another woman just out for a day hike with her baby. Great day for a day hike! I saw two other backpackers going the same direction as me, but they were towards the end of their day and we're exhausted and not in the mood for talking. I am at a great campsite tonight, it even has a picnic table. Picnic tables always make me smile. There are pine trees around a nice flowing creek. The babbling creek should make sleeping nice tonight. Hope so anyway. On that note I'm going to hit the sleeping bag.
Date: 2017-04-06
From: Stealth site north of VA 611

To: Stealth site at Dismal Creek
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: broken clouds

Wow what to say about today... I woke up, threw back my tent fly door and had breakfast in bed. I must have disturbed a turkey when I was getting my feed bag out of the tree, because he gobbled until I left. I had a hard time packing up because I was trying to beat the rain but kept messing things up. Was finally out of there by 8 AM. My destination today was Trent's Grocery for a hamburger, shower and laundry. Day started with an uphill which warmed me up. The weather couldn't decide whether it wanted to rain or be sunny. I took my rain jacket on and off several times and finally just left it on even though I get warm with it on. I had some good views today much like the ones I have everyday. These are to be savored because once the trees leaf out the majority of those will be gone. I saw a blue jay but that was about it for wildlife. As I was dropping down into the valley to head to Trent's, I started seeing different kinds of wildflowers. Oh I forget to tell you yesterday that I saw dogwood's blooming or I thought they were blooming anyway. The bushes and trees in the lower elevations are showing signs of life as well. When I arrived at VA 606, I called for a shuttle, but no one was available to come get me. So I did another half mile road walk. I was able to get a delicious hamburger with fries and a Pepsi; however, she wasn't sure if the showers and laundry we're available. Originally, I had planned to just camp there at the store, but I was the only hiker around and didn't want to camp there by myself. I decided to skip the shower and just head back to find a campsite. I bought a few items and walked the half mile back to the trail. I called Woods Hole Hostel to make a reservation for tomorrow night. They don't take reservations, but he thinks there should be room in the bunkhouse. It's 13 miles up the trail and I look forward to being out of the weather for the night. I found a lovely little campsite by Dismal Creek that I'd love to visit in warmer months. Tonight it is just a refuse for me. There are conflicting weather reports about what is coming tonight. So rain and somewhere between 0 and 2 inches of snow. If I don't feel safe hiking out of here tomorrow, I will just hunker down. I have the equipment, plenty of food and water to be fine. I'd be bored out of my mind, but I'll be fine. It isn't really supposed to get below freezing, so I think hiking out will be fine. The trail tomorrow starts with a tough climb up, but that will help me stay warm. I hope to be at the hostel tomorrow afternoon sometime.
Date: 2017-04-09
From: Pearisburg, VA

To: Sister's House
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

There is something wrong with my right big toe. It looks like I have a plum stuck on the end of it. I haven't had a blister on it and I haven't injured it in anyway, but it keeps getting worse every day. It doesn't really hurt and I have no idea what is going on with it. My sister, Lynn, is planning on coming down to spend the day and I think the fun day we had planned is going to change to getting the toe looked at. There isn't an urgent care in Pearisburg, but a nearby town has one. We'll see...Ends up I have an infection under my toenail. The nurse practitioner couldn't believe it didn't hurt when she moved the nail around. It was like it was floating. She drained it which seriously hurt! She said it is usually caused by an ingrown toenail and not anything I'd done in the past couple of days. I'd probably just cut my nails to short before starting the trail last week and gotten an ingrown toenail. Never had one before. I asked her if I could keep hiking and she said yes, but I'd need to soak it three or four times a day in a warm Epsom salt solution and keep the hole she put in it super clean. She also said it would take longer to heal if I kept hiking. Well, I just couldn't imagine trying to soak my big toe in my little cook pot or keeping my feet super clean. So even though the weather is looking absolutely fabulous this week, I'm headed back to my sister's home for the week. She doesn't live far and can bring me back next weekend. Really bummed me out, but I know I made the right decision to let it heal. Something that would be a very minor blip in my everyday life normally has brought me to a total standstill.
Date: 2017-04-16
From: Sister's House

To: Wind Rock
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: clear sky

The sunset last night was a wonderful way to end the day. I slept okay last night, but not great. I woke up several times throughout the night. I hope this isn't a trend. I had breakfast in bed again and was welcomed to the morning with a fabulous sunrise. What a great way to start Easter Day. By the way, Happy Easter everyone!   Besides the great sunrise, I met some great hikers today: The father - daughter duo of Grits and Treeline and a couple named Farley and Bird (I don't know if they were a couple, but they were hiking together). I played leapfrog with them several times as they hiked faster, but took lots of breaks. They went 5 miles past my site tonight, so I probably won't see them again. I would have enjoyed getting to know them better, but the ones that started at Springer have way better endurance then me and I usually don't see them again. The trail was tough today. I had to go about 7 miles before I arrived at the first water source of the day. I was very happy to fill up and drank quite a bit right there. There were several hard ups spread out over the day and a couple sections that had a tremendous amount of rocks and boulders. The trail just didn't have many redeeming qualities at all today. Several of the ups seemed especially steep and could have used a few switchbacks. The really steep sections take a lot out of me and I have to stop to catch my breath. If they are more gradual, then I can hike constantly although slowly. It started drizzling on the last four miles. Part of it was very rocky and they can get slick when they get wet. I tried to stay very aware of my foot placements and I made it to my campsite with no problems. It stopped drizzling just as I pulled in to my campsite. Windrock is another great campsite with some great views and another lovely sunset was given. It is a dry campsite like last night's, so water had to be carted up from below.   I have been joined by three hikers tonight, but I'm not sure if they are staying or just enjoying the views. They haven't set up camp, but out enjoying the night sky on the rocks. I went up to watch the sunset with them, but came down as it got dark. I am quite tired tonight and I'm hoping for a better sleep tonight.
Date: 2017-04-23
From: Daleville, VA

To: Daleville, VA
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: broken clouds

I didn't really hike 12.9 miles today, but my mileage is off and I wanted to fix it. I slept like a log last night and I must have slept on my face. I think the bags under my eyes have bags of there own. I am feeling more myself today. Thank goodness. Instead of the free breakfast downstairs, I walked to Cracker Barrel over in Troutville. The map from the data book shows the way may be closed due to construction. I ask downstairs and she says it would be open to people walking, but cars have to go on quite the detour. I'm also hoping that the traffic along the way will be much lighter on a Sunday morning. I've been thinking about this breakfast since the beginning of the week when I had a discussion with some other hikers at a shelter. Breakfast is my favorite meal when I get to town. I know that LG or Gigline would have driven me over there yesterday if I had asked, but I really didn't feel up to it then. It was a little over a mile to walk over, but the traffic wasn't too bad and once I hit the construction I had the road to myself. So besides having to dodge the cars getting off and on I-81 and a guy making an illegal U-turn, it wasn't too bad. I ordered a lot and enjoyed every bite and I don't even have my hiker appetite yet. An older lady was watching me in amazement, but man did it taste good. Love me some breakfast!I finished putting my food and pack back together. I mostly just chilled today. Rain sure is coming down hard and there are flood warnings all over the area. I'm glad I decided to just stay in town today. It is supposed to rain thru Tuesday, but it is going to let up some. I have noticed something while out on the trail. The gnats love me. I can be sitting with several other hikers and I'm the only one getting bugged by gnats. Not fair!! I googled it yesterday and read that they are attracted to sweet or fruity smells. I guarantee you that after not taking a shower for days that I do not smell sweet or fruity. I stink like every other backpacker out there. The gnats drive me crazy! I bought some bug spray and I will try spraying my hat to see if that helps. If anybody has any suggestions, please let me know. I have plenty of time to think while out on the trail and have decided to change my hike from a flip-flop to a LASH (long ass section hike). I will just hike from Atkins to Mt Katahdin. I will not be a thru-hiker, but I will have hiked every mile of the trail. I am happy about this decision. Of course, I can change my mind once I get to Mt Katahdin, but I started introducing myself as a lasher late in the week and it fit very well. Tonight I'm just going to stay dry, warm and chill. I'm looking forward to heading out tomorrow and hiking this next section even though I will be heading out in the rain. Hike your own hike and enjoy your time in the woods!!