morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-03-08
From: Partnership Shelter

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I woke up and took the 50 cent trolley into Marion with my mouth watering for Hardees biscuits. I was dropped off at Wal-Mart and was told the loop bus (which ran downtown) would be by within 20 minutes. The first bus was headed to Atkins (the next town along the trail) and the next two busses passed me by as I scrambled my things together and ran(ish) after them waving my hiking poles. I had all but resigned to travel by foot when the Atkins bus arrived (transporting Frog Legs, much to my surprise). He asked why I was still there. I informed him of my slight misfortune and he waved me on the bus, driving to Hardees and refusing to accept my fare. Afterwards, I walked to the outfitters and chatted a bit with the owner, who allowed me to hang out on his couch and charge my electronics. I walked to the library in hopes of finding a more entertaining book than the Viking drama my wife had picked out for me. I picked up Girl with the Dragon Tattoo for 50 cents, but the librarian said it was on her. :-) Afterwards, I had some pints and wings at Macado¢s before catching the return bus with a 40 stowed away for later. When I arrived at the Vistor Center, I was surprised to see ¢Dese Nubs,¢ who my wife and I had dropped off at a bus station in Johnson City, TN 3 weeks prior. We had a wonderful evening sharing a pizza and a fire.
Date: 2016-03-10
From: Atkins, VA

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

I woke from my stay at the Relax Inn, which was not very relaxing¢¦or clean¢¦ and ate breakfast at the Barn (not recommended) while I waited for the ATC to open. I called and completed my incident report, and the ATC worker said he would be calling the Rangers and filing a report with them. Not wanting to get on the trail only a day¢s hike behind the obnoxious NOBO boys, I decided to get a free shuttle back into Marion, where I promptly went to Wal-Mart and purchased pepper spray. I was on my way out when a woman (Stacy) asked if I was hiking the trail. When I answered in the affirmative, she asked if I needed anything. Knowing the answer is always ¢no¢ if you don¢t ask, I took a risk and informed her I needed a place of respite for a few days. She inquired as to why and I explained I was trying to put distance between myself and a group of asshole boys. She hugged me and invited me to stay until she left town. I finished running errands with her, and she took me to her home and let me stay in her son¢s old room. After washing my clothes, I was introduced to her son and husband. We said grace before eating a delicious steak dinner with homemade chocolate chip cookies for desert. I love trail angels. I love how there is ALWAYS a silver lining when you keep an open mind and open heart.
Date: 2016-03-11
From: Marion, VA

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

After hearing from Steve (aka Santiago), Stacy was kind enough to drop me off at the Econo Lodge (worth the price and a much better alternative to the Relax Inn in Atkins). Steve and I stuffed our faces at the AYCE Pizza Hut buffet and discussed hiking together before I returned to my room to bath and veg out on mindless movies.
Date: 2016-03-12
From: Marion, VA

To: Davis Hollow campsite
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Back on the trail with my good buddy Steve (who honored me with my trail name), and it feels so damn good! I saw many more spring blossoms today and was happy to take part in eradicating hateful words. I saw a falcon, a decomposed deer, and a live deer today.
Date: 2016-03-13
From: Davis Hollow campsite

To: Knot Maul Branch Shelter
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: light rain

I walked for about 3 hours in the rain and discovered ponchos suck just as much as rain jackets. My next step is an umbrella¢¦I passed a sign indicating I had made it 14 of the way to Maine, though I¢m fairly certain it was in the wrong place. I saw deer legs¢¦no deer¢¦ and hiked through some amazing valleys and farmland. We had heat lightening at the shelter, a precursor to tomorrow¢s big storm.P.S. I killed 4 cockroaches in the shelter. YUK!P.P.S. I saw a frog jump in a pond today.
Date: 2016-03-14
From: Knot Maul Branch Shelter

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

Today was a great day for hiking. The sun was bright and warm, inspiring me to shed my shirt for part of the hike. I already have a crazy hiker tan from my knee braces. The climb up to Chestnut Ridge seemed daunting at first, with an elevation gain of 2,075 ft, but it was spread across 4.7 miles and only one mile was very challenging. The ridgeline is mostly an open clearing with some great views, the best of which was saved for last. From the shelter, you can gaze down into Burke¢s Garden, an 8x4 mile crater created by the collapse of limestone caverns. The shelter is by far one of the best I have thus encountered, with 4 walls, a door, and a picnic table inside. The only downfalls are the not-so-nocturnal mice and lack of water source. About 30 minutes after our arrival, it became apparent the thunderstorm forecasted for the day was fast approaching. I bid farewell to Steve, who found it prudent to avoid sleeping in a hammock on a ridgeline in a severe thunderstorm, and opted for a campsite a few miles and about 1,000 feet lower. I was happy with my decision not to follow suit when the deafening roar of hail pounded on the tin roof. I hope the storm passes by morning so I can see the sun rise over the crater.P.S. The man who gave Steve and I a lift to the trailhead from Marion kindly informed us backwoods lore held the bears ¢woke up¢ after the first spring thunderstorm.
Date: 2016-03-15
From: Chestnut Knob Shelter

To: Jenkins Shelter
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: light snow

While the storm cleared the fog remained, and I was denied a beautiful sunrise. It was another beautiful mild day and I was able to have a long lunch on a rock in the sun. Shortly thereafter, I came across a small green snake sunning on a rock in the middle of the trail. I arrived at the shelter fairly early (2:45) and set to making clothespins so I could hang my damp clothes and not have to sleep with them to dry. I was welcomed to the area by some colorful orange and red butterflies who apparently found my foot odor as sweet as a flower as they tended to perch on my socks and shoes. Steve came in a bit later and created an awesome feather stick out of some Hemlock to start the fire I had built. I will always have a place in my heart for this man and I am grateful for the opportunity to hike with and learn more about him.
Date: 2016-03-16
From: Jenkins Shelter

To: Bland, VA
Miles today: 11.4
Weather: clear sky

There are no roosters along the AT, but the spring time fowl provide a symphony for the sunrise. It was an easy hiking day and the prospect of a beer, burger, and shower had me hiking over 3 miles an hour. When I approached the gravel road which would lead me 0.6 miles to VA 52, I could not only smell, but could taste the pollution from the nearby interstate. I don't have much with which to compare the taste, as I typically don't intentionally and knowingly ingest pollution, but I would say it's how you'd (or I'd) think a battery would taste...bitter and metallic. Luckily, your sense of smell is the quickest to habituate to novel stimuli in your environment, so it wasn't long until the unpleasant experience came to an end. When I reached the road, I rolled a cigarette and sat on my pack with thumb extended. Several cars passed me by before Nancy, a nice older woman stopped with her dog (Lucy) and cat (unnamed, but described as having bowl irregularities) en route to the vet for the cat's monthly enema. Nancy was kind enough to drive me to Bland, VA and give me a tour of the town, which lasted approximately 3 minutes and included such exciting sights as: the grocery store, post office, mechanics, and the newly renovated court house. Afterwards, Nancy stopped at the Sunoco gas station, which doubled as the best local eatery, so I could buy a burger, fries, and Epsom salt before dropping me of at my final destination: The Big Walker motel, which was overpriced but clean. While eating my burger with the door open (a motel room is just far too confined when compared with the woods), I noticed one of the asshole NOBO boys I had been trying to evade. The hotel owner reported the other hikers had been there since the weekend due to an old injury flaring up. Karma sure is a bitch and glad she's on my side. That would be the second time his particular NOBO asshole had to get off trail due to injury/ illness after messing with me. Since Steve had yet to arrive, I finished my meal behind a locked door and drawn shades before showering and washing some of my clothes...in the shower. While I have previously washed my undies and socks (by far my smelliest pieces of garb) in the shower, due to the extensive amount of sweat and odor accumulated in my t-shirt and shorts, I threw them in as well. It took an entire bar of hotel soap and several rinses before brown water ceased to emerge from my clothing. I hung them to dry on a clothesline provided by the establishment and watched a bit of TV as I awaited Steve's arrival. Once he arrived and settled in, we walked to the gas station for a couple of tall boys and ordered a pizza. I Skyped my wife and had an Epsom bath before crashing for the eve.
Date: 2016-03-17
From: Bland, VA

To: Jenny Knob Shelter
Miles today: 11.9
Weather: clear sky

Despite not going to bed until 10pm, I still woke up at 6am. :-( I suppose my days of sleeping 12 hours are drawing to an end with the extended daylight hours. I had a bit of leftover pizza and coffee before taking another shower and heading out. Steve and I stopped by the Subway for more food...and then Dollar General...for more food and batteries. I also purchased a green Gatorade as a poor alternative for green beer in celebration of St. Patrick's Day. It took Steve and I about 20 minutes to hitch a ride to the trail head from Trail Dreamer, whose license plate read "H1KER." We stopped along a ridge line for lunch around 1pm and chatted with a section hiker who had become know as "Coffee Mate," as it was at one time his goal to provide a hot cup of joe to all his hiking acquaintances, so he carried a plethora of Java supplies, including various flavors of creamers. Sadly, he no longer aimed to fulfill this goal. Afterwards, I yawned for a few hours before arriving exhausted at the shelter. P.S. I've now broken/ disfigured each component of my MSR wind boiler. I will be glad to get my pocket rocket and pots at Woods Hole.
Date: 2016-03-18
From: Jenny Knob Shelter

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

I woke up at 6am to a black sky blanketed with stars. It being 40F and my body no longer accustomed to low temps, I opted to snooze until dawn. I was out by 8:45, and I believe Steve was just stirring as I left. My legs felt great and I powered on for 6.5 miles before stopping for a smoke after crossing the suspension bridge across Kimberly Creek. I stopped for lunch at Dismal Falls, which was far from dismal, and met a section hiker named EJ. With only 6 miles to go, I hoped to be at the shelter by 4pm, but my feet and the trail had other plans. After passing a man and his dog and a couple of weekenders, I sat for a spell so the throbbing in my feel would calm down a tad. I finished the last 0.5 miles and spent the night chatting at the shelter with EJ. I miss Steve.
Date: 2016-03-20
From: Woods Hole Hostel

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

I woke at 4:30 to pain and blood. It was one of those moments I felt less than positive about being a woman. Not wanting to wake Steve by rummaging through my pack (which was a few feet from his head) for aspirin, I laid cradling my abdomen until 6:30, when I stopped caring about being considerate. Steve woke up about an hour later and we went to the house for a scrumptious mostly organic breakfast of cheese grits, sausage with peppers, fried eggs, fresh made bread, coffee with extra special milk, juice, and orange wedges. Prior to breakfast, I had considered hiking on in hopes the physical exercise would alleviate my cramps, as the 850mg of acetaminophen wasn't cutting it. Afterwards, all I wanted was a warm bed and a book, which is precisely what I had. I took a shower and enjoyed one of the best massages of my life. Neville is tiny, but is damn strong, and did her best to work through the knots in my shoulders. She also massaged my abdomen, and entirely new experience for me. Afterwards, I fluttered around in a very relaxed/spacey head space. I had a lunch of beef jerky and chicken biscuit crackers and rode with Neville into Blacksburg, VA, where she had to do a bit of shopping and meet with a meditation group. We had some great conversations along the way and she dropped me off at a coffee shop with the hostel laptop so I could update my trail journal. Unfortunately, it could not connect to the Internet and I didn't have the mental capacity to figure it out, especially while being bombarded with the chatter, clatter, hiss, and clang of the coffee shop. I left in less than 20 minutes, after ingesting a Moca in hopes of stimulating the neurons in my brain to fire more accurately, in search of food and dismissed the idea of Wendy's after discovering the 4 for $4 did not include a variety of menu choices...just the 4. I prefer options. I left for the Mexican restaurant next door and indulged in a grande margarita, which very effectively brought me back to a relaxed state of being. On the way home, Neville stopped to pick up Jess, who was coming over to help out around the farm for a day. We ate a light dinner of salad, soup, and bread and I broke Neville's dryer; well, it broke after drying my things.
Date: 2016-03-21
To: Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: scattered clouds

After another amazing breakfast, I hit the trail with the temperature hovering around freezing. I enjoyed the views from Pearisburg Ledges much more than Angels Rest, though I was able to see the Walmart from that vantage point. There was a recently opened re-route into Pearisburg, which was not in AWOL or on Guthook, and I'm pretty sure it added a mile to my journey. After road walking for about a mile, I was able to hitch a ride from someone passing through, who drove me to the post office and the. The Holy Trinity Hostel, which is actually a converted storage barn. I dropped my gear and headed to the library to update my trail journal, but was only able to get about a week's worth of entries done before hunger drove me to Walmart for dinner and resupply.
Date: 2016-03-22
From: Pearisburg, VA

To: Rice Shelter
Miles today: 6.8
Weather: clear sky

I took a shower and headed to McDonalds for breakfast, where I was mistaken for a man twice. *Sigh* #shorthairproblems I updated my journal, charged my electronics, and attempted to resolve an issue with my insurance company, who had billed me "out of network" for visiting the urgent care center in Abigndon, VA I had visited on the recommendation of BCBS when I had strained my quad. #ihateinsurance I was unable to locate any fuel canisters in the city of Pearisburg, so (in a last ditch effort) I called Neville to see if she was headed into town. She was planning to leave within 10 minutes and agreed to meet me at La Barranca, where they had 32oz beers and $1 tacos (it was taco Tuesday). After filling my belly, I walked a bit unsteadily to the trailhead to begin my 6 mile climb. I passed the polymer pollution plant, which smelled like glue and did not seem at all in the spirit of the AT. Shortly thereafter, I passed a creek which had a sign advising against drinking. This is because it contained runoff from the landfill, which I also hiked along and which also smelled, though not of glue. I pushed on and was greeted at the shelter by "No Hurry," who had just returned to the trail after a 3 month break. I had beautiful views of the rising full moon and setting sun as well as the twinkling lights of the inhabitants of West Virginia on the adjacent ridge line. P. S. I've decided I don't care much for Pearisburg, VA.
Date: 2016-03-23
From: Rice Shelter

To: Pine Swamp Shelter
Miles today: 12.6

Had an early morning and was able to see the sun rise as the full moon set, which was rather pink and beautiful when not obstructed by clouds. After a few miles, I ran into Robbie, who is yellow blazing/ section hiking his way back to Canada during his sabbatical from teaching. He brought me some trail magic (thanks!!) and hiked along chatting with me until lunch. I was quite please he was not, in fact, a psycho, but a "pretty boy," as my wife often described men I find appealing, with a calming presence and a dreamer's disposition. We were joined just as we were wrapping up lunch by Swamp Turtle, with whom we conversed for another two hours, during which time we were passed by No Hurry, Steve, and an F-15...or 14...or 16...or some other combination of letters and numbers. Robbie and I hiked a bit further before he bid me farewell and hiked back to his car. I met up with No Hurry, who built a fire in the fireplace of the stone shelter and drank my wine in hopes of lightening my load for the following day.
Date: 2016-03-24
From: Pine Swamp Shelter

To: War Spur Shelter
Miles today: 12.7
Weather: broken clouds

It was a lazy morning after a bright moon-lit night accompanied by unknown creatures scurrying in the woods around the shelter. I headed out and stopped after only 30 minutes to enjoy the zipline and a cold pop courtesy of "The Capitan." Afterwards, I trudged uphill and ate lunch at Bailey Gap Shelter, where I shed my knee braces and switched to shorts. I say what I think was a "C" plane, as it had a curved nose, but I suppose it could have been a "B" plane or some other letter of the alphabet. After lunch, I hiked along a river of rocks and grew tired of that rather quickly. I had little motivation at the 1/2 mark of my day, so I decided to eat a Cliff bar and put on Twenty One Pilots, which had an immediate effect on my attitude and my stamina. So much, in fact, I had my first official faceplant while steaming along. It was as though it all happened in slo-motion and nothing I could do would prevent my forehead from greeting the ground. After a stream of swear words, I pushed on to the shelter, where I met "MaPa," a very late SOBO finishing his hike and a group of 3 SOBO flip-floppers. During the prep of dinner, my Ziplock broke (I believe because I had boiled oil in the water this time), spilling mashed potatoes and gravy on the shelter and on the ground. Oh well, at least the mice will be distracted tonight!
Date: 2016-03-26
From: Sarver Hollow

To: Pickle Branch Shelter
Miles today: 16.1
Weather: scattered clouds

I went from one blue blazed shelter to another today, stacking up 0.7 "bonus miles" and my feet are SORE! I had a group of white tailed deer snort at me as I made my way to the privy this morning. Had my first lunch at Niday Shelter, where I met a couple of section hikers who gave me pecans grown on their property and a thru-hiker named "60 also." I pushed on and made good timing up Brush Mountain. On the way up, I was passed by two youngins RUNNING...yes...RUNNING... up the mountain, one of whom complimented my pace. I made a deal with myself not to stop on the incline in order to have a 5 minute sit down once I reached the crest, where a bench was so thoughtfully located. As I eyed my prize, two day hikers who were headed to the Audie Murphy Monument from the parking lot (about a 4 mile flat hike) plopped down, so I simply collapsed on the ground. I stopped at the monument for my 2nd lunch before pushing on to the shelter, where I met 3 section hikers, one by the name of "Glow Worm." It was interesting to note the differences between a section and thru-hiker.
Date: 2016-03-27
From: Pickle Branch Shelter

To: 4 Pines Hostel
Miles today: 6.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Again I blue blazed from bed to bed, adding 0.6 bonus miles, which I was more than willing to accrue. It was a bit overcast upon waking, but I was told it was supposed to be warm and sunny, so I took my time heading to Dragon's Tooth. Along the way, I got a bit of cell service, so I checked the weather and discovered it was not going to clear up, so I quickened my pace. I was surprised at the crowd accruing once I reached my first destination of the day. Dozens of college-aged sauntered through at regular intervals and chose to climb the stone monolith. Of course I had to follow suit, fear of heights and vertigo be damned; I would likely never again have this opportunity, so I clamped up with my heart in my throat and sat for at least a full minute before returning to the safety of solid ground. It was EXHILARATING and I had to have a cigarette afterwards. Dragon's tooth was an appetizer to the main course of the first 0.7 mile hike down. This was my first experience having handles somehow affixed to the rock to assist in the ascent/descent. That near mile hike of scrambling has been one of the most exciting, adrenaline filed section of the trail so far. I'm not sure how much the promise of a hostel, food, and my wife colored my experience, but the day was amazing regardless. After arriving at the hostel, I had a safety meeting with another hiker and Joe, the owner, who I loved immediately as he arrived on his golf cart with a can in hand. We shot the shit as j waited for the 3 section hikers I had shared my shelter with the previous evening to go to The Homeplace for dinner. Courtesy of a shuttle from the hostel, I arrived at the eatery after 6 days with no shower and wearing the same clothes I had worn for nearly a week; most of the other guests were in their Sunday best. The place was PACKED and we waited nearly an hour and a half before being told "You can eat all you want while you're here, so let me know if you want more of anything." There was fried chicken, ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, pinto beans, coleslaw, and (of course) biscuits. I had two helpings of everything minus the apples and was almost able to fit my pants again. Caye from California, one of the section hikers with whom I shared a shelter the previous night, graciously paid for my meal. I bought some PBR before returning to the hostel and challenged Joe to a game of cornhole (if you beat him, he does your laundry for free). I lost...horribly...but had a great time nonetheless. I can define rely understand how 4 Pines was voted the best hostel along the trail.
Date: 2016-03-28
From: 4 Pines Hostel

To: Quality Inn
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Had a great breakfast at Four Pines with the section hikers and Fisherman (a SOBO thru-hiker). Fisherman made pancakes and I fried and scrambled farm fresh duck and chicken eggs, courtesy of Four Pines. I had my clothes washed and soaked my feet in Epsom while watching Joe play No Hurry and John (Poet something...I can't recall his trail name) in a few games of cornhole. Joe won, though No Hurry gave him a run for his money. I left to get a burger from the gas station and Annie arrived in my absence. Annie had reserved a king bed at the Howard Johnson, which is right of the trail, but they didn't have any king beds available (wtf?) and the "suite" the upgraded us to was absolutely deplorable, so we opted for the Quality Inn, which (for only $10 more) was of much higher quality. We went to Kroger so I could resupply and bought a pizza to take back to the hotel. I spent way too much time prepping for our hike and felt anxiety over not being able to spend time attending to my wife. Being the wonderful supportive woman she is, she reassured me she had 5 full days to spend with me and enjoyed simply being able to watch me work.