morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-05-31
From: Approach to pond gap

To: Wilbur Dam Rd
Miles today: 9.4

After an uneventful night, we packed up and got ready for the remainder of the climb up the mountain with the water source being at the top. We only had a little water left from yesterday and so we had to skip the coffee this morning and ration what we had. The climb which had previously been very steep and rocky changed to a nice smooth trail with few rocks which surprised us both. When we got to the water source it had almost dried up but we managed to get a few liters filtered which was enough to get us down the other side of the mountain. The trail brought us to Lake Watauga recreation area and there were people sunbathing, swimming, fishing and boating. We watched as a boy reeled in a good sized carp before releasing him, and took a nice break there in the shade before setting off again. The next three miles were part of the no camping, picnicking or loitering area due to aggressive bear activity. The woods were dark and spooky but no bears were seen. The trail followed the lake to the dam and we crossed over and had to hike up a paved, very sunny and hot road and then finally back into the woods. Found a nice campsite a few miles later and pitched tent. It was then we saw another sign that stated no camping due to bear activity but I was too tired to move on and hike any further. We hung our food away from the tent and called it a night.
Date: 2016-06-01
From: Wilbur Dam Rd

To: Campground
Miles today: 8.5
Weather: overcast clouds

We did not encounter any bears during the night and began our day in search of water. Again. We knew that it would be at least three more miles before we would find any and so, as always, we begin the climb. Why is it always uphill? We finally find water,   drink up what we need to quench our thirst and then fill up to get us to our next source. It hasn't rained much lately so some of the sources are drying up. It was a strange day of wildlife encounters. First we saw a little frog at the creek. Then we actually passed a turtle walking north (of course)...how did he get to the top of the mountain? As we continued to hike in the heat of the day, I heard something familiar....a rattle! Great Gramps had already passed the rattlesnake without seeing or hearing it. I heard it and stopped dead in my tracks and saw the snake was coiled and rattling like crazy! We could not get it to move so I finally inched my way past keeping as far to the other side of the trail as I could and keeping my poles in front of me to try and shield myself. Needless to say, we were both rattled! (Haha). We finally got to a campsite and since it had a water source available, we decided to spend the night. Suddenly, in the campground there appeared a black cat! I am so thirsty all the time and Great Gramps is hungry all the time. And there is no surplus of either food or water. Can't wait to get to Damascus!
Date: 2016-06-02
From: Campground

To: Locust knob
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Not a lot new today. We had good weather and good trails. Thank you TN!We see very few hikers and spend the day walking together but alone about 100 feet apart. It is lovely in the woods, cool and quiet and alone with our thoughts. Met a maintenance crew coming into Shady Valley and thanked them for their work and for making our lives easier. We passed through an "accessible" trail and then through a cow pasture before entering the woods again. Then the skies opened and the rain pelted us. We had almost two miles to go to get to the next shelter area and the rain diminished as we got close. Great Gramps had his rain jacket draped over the tent bag so it would stay dry. We were able to find a flat spot and pitched our tent before the big thunderstorm hit and it rained well into the night. Great Gramps slept through it but I lay watching the lightening and listening to the thunder and strangely, feeling quite safe. My tent is my home.
Date: 2016-06-03
From: Locust knob

To: Abington Gabriel shelter
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: light rain

Slow start today. We are tired and just want to get to town for a break. We are running low on food and are rationing our snacks. We had enough water for coffee this morning and was hoping for the little kick that would give us. It was another nice day with nice trails. We walked. Took a break at the upcoming shelter, replenished our water and continued. Just trying to put on miles and get to town. Lots of bugs now and we are having to use a lot of bug spray and head nets just to cook and be outside the tent.Water is getting more scarce and we are conserving. Town is one day away.
Date: 2016-06-04
From: Abington Gabriel shelter

To: Damascus
Miles today: 0.0

We walk. Eight miles to go. We reach the Virginia state line and get a second wind. We do our eight miles in record time. But we are tired and it is a push and we dig deep. The trail in VA is wider, soft and easy to walk...except nothing is easy on the AT. We reach Damascus and walk through to the downtown area, can't be more than a mile in length and consists of 900 people. We stop at a Mexican restaurant and immediately feast and start to feel a little better. We have reserved a cabin for two days (to try and heal my blisters) but we are a day early. We find a room at Hikers Inn and are lucky enough to have the whole hostel to ourselves. It is a wonderful place and the host had two Vanagons (jealous dana?) in his driveway as well as an airstream! There was a scale and Great Gramps lost 15 lbs (back to his high school weight) and I lost 27! No wonder we have lost our energy! But we will try and make up for it in the next few days.
Date: 2016-06-05
From: Damascus

To: Damascus
Miles today: 6.0

We were able to check into our cabin a little before noon. The owner gave us a ride to the best breakfast place in town and we had the best blueberry pancakes ever! We walked back to our cabin on the river after visiting the three outfitters in town and checking out the equipment. Great Gramps bought a new and lighter sleeping bag since it is heating up outside. I am soaking my feet every few hours trying to heal my blisters. We have a TV here so the afternoon passed very nicely plus we are able to watch the river and the ducks from the deck. Definitely a nice, quiet afternoon. We walked one block to the best restaurant in town for dinner and are now back in the cabin watching the basketball game. Life is good and we are appreciating all aspects of it.
Date: 2016-06-06
From: Damascus

To: Zero
Miles today: 0.0

We do all our errands today in town. We picked up our resupply package at the post office and mail the last of the old winter equipment home. Then we walk about a mile to the grocery store and supplement what we think we will need to curb the weight loss we are experiencing.Then off to the outfitters to get Gramps a new backpack (his third so far) and other equipment that we will need and to the drug store to get blister bandages. The cabin owner comes by to check on us and to let us know that we can stay another night if we would like. We like! Especially since we can watch the hockey game tonight and tomorrow will be the day we don't walk anywhere! Finally! The cabin is on a river but the duck wants to walk up the driveway to drink water out of a pothole! Too funny!
Date: 2016-06-07
From: Zero

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

Last night of rest. We will head out in the morning and get back on the trail with lots of energy after a very relaxing stay at the Damascus cabin. We really needed that! I have self diagnosed my ankle to be a case of posterior tibial tendinitis and have started to do stretches to help it heal. The blisters are almost completely gone so I am looking forward to resuming our forward progress. The weather is forecasted to be sunny all week so things are looking up!
Date: 2016-06-08
To: Virginia creeper
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Set the alarm to try and get a fairly early start. After packing up and straightening up the cabin, we walk across town to Mojo's for coffee and breakfast. The AT goes right through town and the stop is right on our way. As we head out from the coffee shop we meet an elderly gentlemen who stopped us and asked which way we were headed and then made the suggestion to follow the Virginia Creeper Trail north until it joined with the AT in about sixteen miles. He informed us that the trail used to be the old railroad and that it was beautifully groomed with only a slow, long grade uphill and ran along the river with about thirty tressels to cross as we go north. We decided to take his advice and were so happy we did. Today was one of the easiest and most pleasant days we have had...if only the blister didn't return! I am doomed! Tonight I begin again to doctor my feet...will it ever end? One of the highlights of the trail today was the unexpected appearance of the Virginia Creeper Cafe...a double scoop ice cream cone and a soda later, we were on our way. Great Gramps loves his new ULA backpack (his third) and his new sleeping bag (also his third). I think I need to change shoes soon, which will be my third. There are many places to camp along the river so we stop at suppertime, mainly because I can't walk anymore.
Date: 2016-06-09
From: Virginia creeper

To: Buzzard Rock
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

We left the Virginia Creeper Trail this morning and back into the woods we go. Great Gramps had donned his full bug screen gear in anticipation of mosquitos. I chose to use chemical spay on my clothes and head because I was afraid the net would impair my vision and I already have enough issues to deal with. It was nice to be back in the woods. We hiked a few miles and took a break at the Iron Mountain Shelter which had a nice camping/tenting area, better than most. Then we set off on a long and rocky uphill to Buzzards Rock and rationing our water as we go. There was a beautiful view from the top but we were really tired after the long rocky climb and were happy when we finally made it to the campsite. Chatted with a lady from Scotland who was section hiking with her son and then ate dinner and passed out. It was a long day!
Date: 2016-06-10
From: Buzzard Rock

To: Mt Rogers 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

It was really hard to get up and get going today but with a little help from a cup of coffee, of we went... slowly. We went about three miles to Elk Garden (nothing but a highway and parking area) and I knew I was in bigger trouble. I now had shin splints on my left leg in addition to the tendinitis and blisters on my right foot! It probably developed because I was favoring the right foot for so long. I was so discouraged and there happened to be a shuttle driver in the parking lot who offered to take us back to Damascus. Decision time. What to do? I decided to continue on slowly and stretch frequently and cut down on the distance we were trying to cover and see what happens. We continued up toward Mt Rogers, going slowly and picking our way among the rocks. We met three great ladies (Corabell?) and friends that we leapfrogged with the next couple of days. They made us laugh at each encounter and cheered me up!We only hiked about 6 miles today because of the number of rocks we encountered and the subsequent foot pain. We found a great campsite and within minutes of setting up the tent we had a visit from a deer!
Date: 2016-06-11
From: Mt Rogers 

To: Grayson Highlands
Miles today: 0.0

Great Gramps here. Today two milestones were reached, one noteworthy, the other perhaps not. First, we passed the 500 mile mark! For someone whose longest prior backpacking experience was 7 miles, having completed 500 miles on the AT feels quite noteworthy to me. Now for the other milestone. Although it is unofficial at this point, pending confirmation from the ATC, we believe we have set a record for being passed by more people doing a north bound thru hike than any other hiker/hikers in AT history! A dubious distinction you may say, but a distinction nonetheless!
Date: 2016-06-12
From: Grayson Highlands

To: Hurricane Mt Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Today is a better day as yesterday was my lowest point. And at the end of it I just sat down and cried in frustration. I have been in so much pain just walking and it was wearing me down both physically and mentally. But I am not ready to give up and have this hike be over so I went through my medical supplies and got creative. After covering the blister with a hydrocolloidal dressing, I cut window dressings out of moleskin and then again with old padded Dr Schol's feet cushions and duck taped them to my foot so it would alleviate all pressure. And it worked pretty well! That and some nsaids got me through the day and I am finally doing better! We were able to hike about 10 miles and are back on track, more or less. We passed through a livestock corral and met Paul who was training his 3yo horse. He chatted for a few moments and then pulled a cold mountain dew out of his sattle bag for us to have! Unexpected trail magic! Thanks Paul! We saw Corabell and friends one more time and also met a group of 9 women, all hiking a section of the trail with large, heavy backpacks. Some of the women looked quite elderly (as though I should talk) and they were quite impressive! If they can do it, certainly I can! And the section that they were hiking was not easy so I hope they all made it safely and enjoyed themselves. We passed lots of creeks today including one deep enough that several hikers enjoyed wading in and cooling off. We had a long but well graded climb at the end of the day and camped next to a creek. The bugs were bad but we managed with our nets on. It rained hard after we set up the tent but only for a short time so everything will be dry in the morning.
Date: 2016-06-13
From: Hurricane Mt Shelter

To: Trimming Shelter
Miles today: 0.0

Since we are behind where we anticipated being on the trail by this time, we are a little low on some supplies. We decided that sharing a cup of coffee in the morning for two days was better than having a full cup each one day and nothing the next day. That was a good decision! The trail improved with less rocks and no really streep inclines so life was a little bit easier today. We crossed Comer Creek and the Falls which was pretty. There were no other north bound hikers but being summer, there were many south bound day and section hikers mostly heading to see the waterfall. We crossed Dickey Gap and entered the Raccoon Wilderness and didn't see anyone else for the rest of the day until we got to camp. No raccoons either. The woods were very quiet and we were the only moving creatures in the wilderness. Kind of eerie. We arrived earlier than expected at the shelter area so we took advantage and had a nice fire in the pit while we cooked dinner. Great Gramps chatted with the 73 year old hiker who set up his hammock across the trail and he told us about the shooting in Orlando. So tragic! We will make it to Marion tomorrow and hopefully get new shoes/insoles at the outfitters there. And town food!
Date: 2016-06-14
From: Trimming Shelter

To: Marion, Va
Miles today: 0.0

After our half cup of coffee, we commit to making it to Marion in the afternoon. The day was hot but the woods were fairly cool and stretches of the trail were flat and beautiful and easy hiking. We made good time but still had to ration water for a section. Great Gramps was only taking 3 sips an hour! He manages much better than I do. I take a little sip every time I stop to mop my perspiring face and neck, I know we are both dehydrated but managing. We finally reach a creek and have our fill of the cold mountain water and it is delicious! I don't think we can ever get used to tap water again! We make it to route 16 at the Mt Rogers Visitor Center and were able to hitch a ride into town. We were picked up by a trail angel who was already giving a ride to another hiker. People can be so helpful and generous to the hiker community and I can't wait to pay back my debt!We check into the motel and get something cold out of the vending machine and some ice and are in heaven. Then a shower and food....my oh my!
Date: 2016-06-15
From: Marion, Va

To: Marion, Va
Miles today: 63.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Nothing like sleeping in a bed in an air conditioned room! Ah, the things we take for granted...We find out that the outfitter here in Marion is closed indefinately and now we have more decisions to make. My blisters are better but now I don't have anywhere to get superfeet insoles or new hiking shoes. We decide to rent a car and drive back to Damascus where there are three outfitters and more choices available. I can't take the chance that the blisters won't open up again without making some major changes. I think I am a slow learner. So we will spend an extra day here and hopefully will get our problems solved. Great Gramps may even get a new pair and hopefully we will have less problems going forward and can concentrate on going north.Adjusting the mileage to our current destination.
Date: 2016-06-16
From: Marion, Va

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Last night of comfort and luxury. We drove to damascus in our rental car and Great Gramps got a new pair of shoes (Hoka of course! ) and I got my insoles. We resupplied with fuel and other odds and ends and we are ready to go. And go we will. We are not planning to go into town for about 100 miles so this next section will be a real trial for us. Maybe a make or break trial. Good thing we are stubborn old goats!
Date: 2016-06-17
From: Mt Rogers Visitor Center

To: Chatfield Shelter
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: light rain

It seems to always be harder to get going from town back to the trail. We finally manage to get our act together and got a ride back to the trailhead from the car rental agency. It was a cool day and good for hiking but as usual, it was very rocky. Have I mentioned that I hate rocks? Great Gramps loves his new shoes and my insoles seem to be helping ease the foot discomfort so we are both happy as we hike along. Shortly after two o'clock it started raining very lightly, just enough to put on our rain jackets but it was cool so that worked out ok.Then the heavy rain started about four o'clock and we still had a couple miles to the shelter. We were soaked by the time we got there and while the shelter was small, there was only one other hiker there besides us. We hung our clothes everywhere hoping they would dry by morning but I don't think that will happen as it is supposed to rain through most of the night.   Another hiker appeared about an hour later and there was plenty of room for the four of us. We were all seniors and I found it hilarious that at the age of 65, I was the youngest one there! That will never happen again! We did not have any mice or bear encounters but we did have one hiker that had the noisiest sleeping pad ever and woke everyone every time he turned. While I don't normally like sleeping in shelters, it was very peaceful looking out into the woods in the moonlight and listening to the babble of the creek a few yards away. One of the nicer nights we have experienced.
Date: 2016-06-18
From: Chatfield Shelter

To: Davis Path Campsite
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Woke to sunshine this morning and no rain in the forecast. Some of our things had not dried completely so we hung them off the backpacks to dry as we hiked. It was a slow start but the trail finally cleared and without the rocks, it was very pleasant hiking. The trail brought us through the town of Atkins (two gas stations, one motel and a restaurant). We stopped and had lunch (great Gramps had ice cream too ) and we were on our way again. Crossed a large open meadow And suffered the heat of the day and was happy when we got back into the woods. So much cooler! We hiked a short day of eight miles and I was not even limping at the end of the hike! Love the insoles. I think the blister/pressure sore is just about healed completely and the only thing left to whine about is the left tibia...shin splint or stress fracture? Time will tell but til then I take it easy! I think we should think about new trail names- Gimpy and the Billy Goat. Great Gramps can climb hills without hardly pausing till he gets to the top! Amazing!
Date: 2016-06-19
From: Davis Path Campsite

To: Va 42
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: broken clouds

I wished Great Gramps and Fred, aka Proddy, a Happy Father's Day as we sat at the picnic table and had coffee. I had enough of a phone connection to send a message to my son also so I was happy. We had two uphills today and at least one search for water. It was cool and the trail remained nice and easy for hiking so it was starting out to be a good day. The first uphill, Little Brushy Mt was a little steeper than expected but we made it through in relatively good time. We arrived at Reed Creek and took a lunch break and resupplied water but since the next reliable water was pretty far, we had to carry water up the second climb. And water is heavy! The climb up Walker Mt was not as steep but was about two miles long. We kept looking for a campsite later in the afternoon but couldn't find one so we kept going slowly, across hay fields in the sun and climbing over fence stiles. We finally found a little clearing, were greeted by a rabbit, and set up our tent and cooked dinner. My ankle is painful and swollen again and I am concerned. Because of the discomfort, we can't increase our milage and water is scarce and it is difficult to carry what we need. Poor Great Gramps, he has really had to carry the burden of the weight and he is so strong but I am afraid it will take it's toll on him. What to do....
Date: 2016-06-20
From: Va 42

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.9
Weather: clear sky

Today marks three months that we have been hiking! Certainly a long time but not as long as we would have liked.It makes sense to us that I do not continue to push my feet and ankles past their limit. Neither of us are mentally or emotionally ready to call it a day but it seems like this is the right time. We hiked down to the next road and called for a shuttle to take us into town. We will rent a car and take a little time to go north to Connecticut to my sister's house and my car and then head west and back to California. No regrets of any kind. This journey will be carried in our minds and hearts always and has enriched our lives and made us stronger in every way. Thanks to all of you who have helped, encouraged and supported us along the way. Especially Christian and Carolynn who were in charge of the resupply boxes, we could not have managed without you. I look forward to repaying our debt to all those trail angels whose magic changed our days with their kindness and generosity. Thank you!
Date: 2019-07-02
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

It has been a couple of years now since we had to get off the AT due to a probable stress fracture in my right ankle. I wore an immobilizer boot for a few months but it was many months before it seemed back to normal. In the meantime, we got all of our belongings out of storage after we bought a house in Grass Valley with a few acres to spread out in and just relaxed. Sort of! I (Farmor) keep dreaming about hiking and just can't seem to let it go. I hear the ticking of the clock and know that my window of opportunity will close soon as I am past the age of retirement. Great Gramps seems to sleep fine and any dreams about hiking are more like nightmares for him!Fortunately for me, I have friends and family that want to backpack and so I look to the PCT for fulfillment. We will do many (hopefully) section hikes in no particular order. My friend and former co-worker Ellie and I will start at the Ca/Or border and try the first leg. Back in the saddle again and loving it! This will be Ellie's first backpacking experience and I hope she loves it as much as I do.