morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-04-24
From: Roaring Fork Shelter

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 18.8
Weather: few clouds

Well, I was motivated by a double cheeseburger and the thought of a hot shower -- not to mention the scuzzy looking homeless group that was 'at home' in the Walnut Mountain Shelter...It was chilly and rainy... I missed the views of Max Patch -- all I saw was fog and rain -- perhaps with a little sleet thrown-in at altitude...Elmer's had two bunks left and I received the Captain's Bed in a side bedroom. It was great except for the street lights, that stayed on all night from two directions in the doormer-style windows. I was able to block most of the light with my rain jacket and several other items from my backpack, so it worked out and my roomy was quiet and congenial...
Date: 2008-04-25
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Little Laurel Shelter
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: broken clouds

More rain and fog, at least where I was. It might have been a sunny day on the other side of the mountain, though...The chilly night required my full Appalachian Modular Sleep System (the lighter JRB Large Biker Quilt with my Brigade Quartermaster Thinsulate-lined Improved Infantry Poncho Liner). It was toasty warm. Nobody shared the shelter tonight except for a couple of section hikers who didn't say much...
Date: 2008-04-28
From: No Business Knob Shelter

To: Erwin, TN
Miles today: 6.4
Weather: light rain

Uncle Johnny's Hostel is a great place to stay -- especially with freezing temperatures expected tonight. The Nolichucky River looks nice too, but it's really too cold and windy to enjoy a very long 'sit' along its banks.I'm told the 120 miles between here and Damascue includes the First Forty Miles, which are rather difficult; followed by the Second Forty which are about average; and then the Final Forty, which are supposed to be rather easy as Appalachian Trail goes...We'll see. I met Pick, the Thinker, Rabid, and BaBoo so far today. Everybody but BaBoo was eating pizza and planning to move on up the Trail this afternoon. I imagine there'll be more hikers here later today because of the expected freezing temperatures tonight.Northward in the morning...UPDATE: Folks I've met today: Mary Poppins, Bluebelle, Bear Bait, Professor Long Johns, Racoon, the Happy Hikers, Crabby Appleton and Chewy (also on Trail Journals as well as cabin mates), Chill (last seen hundreds of miles ago), Mustang Sally, Pony Boy, Gator, Bulldog (a retired USMC Gunny and sharing a cabin), and Red (who helps Uncle Johnny and a very nice lady).It's getting very cold and the sun is just now going down. With sustained winds on the mountain, this would be a very cold night -- but we have a space heater in the cabin and an offer to slackpack from Iron Mountain Gap back to Erwin tomorrow. I'm very tempted to do this, especially with the low temps and steep and sustained climb out of here... More as it develops, but I'm really considering the slackpack tomorrow (A.T. Purists, please close your ears).
Date: 2008-04-29
From: Erwin, TN

To: Iron Mountain Gap
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: overcast clouds

This was a great day of slack-packing which started off very chilly and continued to require my silk-weight Polartec liners.There was snow on Unaka Mountain in the deep Hemlock forest above the 5,000 foot level. I enjoyed hiking in it...Water was a little scarce today, but we managed. Uncle Johnny dropped four of us at Iron Mountain Gap and Mustang Sally continued to hike northward while Baboo, Raccoon, and I slack-packed south back into Erwin (I listed it the other way to keep the mileage calculator straight).People we passed (who were slugging it up the 14 mile incline northward): Gobbles and Kevin; Cayanne and Tailgate; Marly and Chill; the Happy Hikers; and many of the other backpackers who shared Uncle Johnny's Hostel the night before.A special thank you to Lipstick and Raccoon for taking me to the Shoney's for their buffet (in Johnson City!). Lipstick, Raccoon's wife, trekked northward last year and drove down to visit him here. I like her. I also REALLY appreciate the invitation to go out to dinner with them...Did I mention that this 19 miles is a great stretch for a slack-pack? It is -- believe me.I'll continue northward toward Damascus tomorrow. It's supposed to be sunny and hot. I'm going to have to portage around Roan Mountain, however. Today on Unaka Mountain (only 5,180 feet) I experienced many of the same symptoms as I did in the Smokies at the higher altitudes. Today I simply wobbled over the mountain and took great care not to get hurt, but I simply cannot risk another evacuation from 5,400 + feet of elevation. Sorry Purists, but medical reasons dictate that I hike the hike that's right for me...
Date: 2008-04-30
From: Iron Mountain Gap

To: US19E
Miles today: 25.2

This was long day which included an overnight stay at the Mountain Harbour B&B. Thanks Terry and Mary (and son Tyler) for the hospitality and for letting me stay in the bunk above the horses.With me that night were Mustang Sally; Flying Eagle, a GATC member on a site survey for a July expedition, amd Breeze. Up in the main house were Nyquil and Motor Butt (and perhaps others, but I left in the VERY early hours of the morning and so didn't stay for breakfast, which I understand from others is out of this world).
Date: 2008-05-01
From: US19E

To: Denis Cove
Miles today: 28.6

I couldn't sleep last night, and so about 2:00am I packed up, made a cup of instant coffee and oatmeal, and off into the darkness by headlamp I went...Yes, I became lost in the darkness for a short time (somebody needs to talk to those who maintain trail markings...), but I recovered and did the big loop, eating lunch with Resin at the Moreland Gap Shelter.I found a bunk at the Kincora Hostel (thanks again, Mr. Peeples for the hospitality and a very great trail bargain). Many folks were there, and I finally caught up with Hot Tang, Ufda, Earthbound, Jitterbug and Hoover, and many more who were staying the night (some were up until hours after Hiker Midnight hooting and playing several board games, but I went to bed and dashed out early once again -- headed northward).Oh, and I saw Mountain Squid briefly in the Hostel's parking lot and told him that I'd see him once again at Trail Days in Damascus, Virginia.
Date: 2008-05-02
From: Denis Cove

To: Iron Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 25.8
Weather: broken clouds

Well, I admit that I pushed it to get into a good position for a final vault into Damascus, Virginia...Otis, a SOBO hiker on his way to Springer, and South Paw were at the shelter tonight. I had expected it to be more crowded, but Jitterbug and Hoover had camped three miles earlier (with the water stop) and perhaps others were moving faster than normal speed (also reaching for Damascus in the next day or two).I screwed up. I put the rock into my normal little bag on the end of my bear bag cord and threw it up into an old oak tree, but it was the kind with the shaggy bark and the thing simply stuck and wrapped itself about three times around the limb. Otis, being the helpful SOBO that he is, tried to help me to get it down and used a park service sign on the metal angle bar -- which also became lodged about 10 or more feet above the ground an directly over the A.T!We laughed so hard, our sides hurt. Perhaps it was the elevation... Otis has promised to send me a copy of his picture to post it for you. We had rain on and off during the day and a couple of cloudbursts into the night as well...
Date: 2008-05-03
From: Iron Mountain Shelter

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 25.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Yes, once again I was up early and literally running down hills (a few more than normal, it seems) to make it into DAMASCUS VIRGINIA! I'm in another state and ready for continued progress northward...I checked into Dave's Place (across from Mount Rogers Outfitters) and I'm now typing this on the computer at SunDog Outfitters (thinks Pepper).No cell phone service here for ATT (this is a Sprint kind of town...).Several water sources were dry or little frog ponds as I made my way into Virginia.Somebody also told me that the last 20 miles into Damascus is all down hill -- RIGHT... And they expect me to believe that by now...Onward to SubWay for a $5.00 12-inch special. The Dancing Bear Hostel is also throwing an Ice Cream Social for thru-hikers in a few minutes. Gotta go for now. More later. Thanks for reading.
Date: 2008-05-04
From: Damascus, VA

To: Thomas Knob Shelter
Miles today: 28.0
Weather: clear sky

What a great day to trek up and out of Damascus! Thanks, Larry, for allowing me the use of your phone to call home on my way out of town...For those who don't know it, the pull of Damascus, with all of its hiker-friendly conveniences, is similar to the Sirens' Song -- calling the seamen onto the rocks... I resisted and although it was tempting to take a Zero Day, I packed my pack and moved out smartly. The way out of a Trail Town is always up...I passed Alberto, Liberty, and several others who looked to be spending the night at Lost Mountain Shelter. It looked tempting, and it was mid- to late afternoon, but I wanted to try to make the next (fairly far away) shelter before stopping for the night...Because of my issues with altitude and because of an incoming low pressure front, Trail Maintainer Jim helped me to portage around Whitetop Mountain, enroute. I did climb through the Virginia Highlands and over Mount Rogers, however (pictures of the ponies to follow when I can find a computer without the restrictions to upload them from my email account).The last couple of miles saw me -- an altitude zombie at that point (5,500 along Briar Ridge, for instance) -- staggering over the rocky trail and down a few hundred feet to the Thomas Knob Shelter.It was an interesting sight, however. From that ridge I could see the roof of the shelter in the distance, and what appeared to be both humans and ponies(?) in front of it. Still more ponies were also visible behind the shelter and near the lower end of a small triangular corral (too small for a bunch of ponies...).It turns out that the ponies were 'visiting' the shelter occupants -- Retread, Jackaroo, and Walrus -- and would be gone by the time I made it down there. The small corral was actually a barrier to the ponies to protect our water source from pony pee... Yes, they can drink from the same source, but downstream below the fence. This wasn't flowing very well, however.It was probably as close to 'freezing' tonight as possible without actually freezing the water in the bottles. I'm really glad that I resisted the temptation to ship some winter stuff home from Damascus.I have a couple of great pictures of a brown pony who came up to the picnic table later, having smelled the six-inch SubWay ham and cheese sub that I had carried from Damascus... Yes, I shared a couple of bites with him, and a pack of dry Ramen Noodles (without the seasoning pack of course), but the ungrateful horse refused to eat two sections of the pink grapefruit I carried up that mountain just for him... It's just impossible to please some individuals, isn't it? *laughing*By the way, I must have just missed Stumpknocker, who had evidently been standing there with the ponies only minutes before... I'll meet him further up the trail, perhaps...
Date: 2008-05-05
From: Thomas Knob Shelter

To: Dickey Gap
Miles today: 21.2

I rose early, as did the others from last night, and moved out into the early morning light and through two herds of hungry ponies -- three colts included!They let me pass, but you should have seen the long looks... [a horse goes into a bar and the bartender asks, "Why the long face..."]. Sorry folks, they get worse at altitude too...I neglected to mention that the Thomas Knob Shelter has a NEW PRIVY. It's like the Swiss Chalet of the A.T. World, built to the new Federal Standards, with handicapped access rails, ramp, and lots of space (one could almost camp inside of it with room to spare). Did I neglect to tell you the trail is so rocky, anyone who is mobility impared would need a helicopter ride into the place? *shaking my head*Anyway, I had my 'pony fix' and continued northward to find Canabal (also on Trail Journals) and Genuine Draft just pulling down their hammocks and preparing to move out at Old Orchard Shelter.I caught a ride with Gilligan (AT 2000) and his wife, Ruby, to the Baptist Hostel in Troutdale, Virginia. They shoved some great cake in my hand as they bid me farewell, and I certainly hope they get those jobs in North Carolina! Thanks for the help, you two.Pastor Ken and the Troutdale Baptist Church have a clean but simple Hostel on the main road through Troutdale. It's actually in a defunct Methodist Church and theirs is across the street. They offer showers, some great porch gliders under a large shady pavillion, and a clean couple of community-style rooms with a space heater, a couple of pieces of mattress foam and comforters, and a coffee maker with coffee provided. I washed my socks and hiking clothing out in the shower sink and then hung it on a nearby clothesline to dry in the sun...Meanwhile, Canabal and Genuine Draft had a reservation in Marion (her feet looked rather rough...) and were dropped by Susan of the Troutdale Trading Post to await a further shuttle ride around 9:30pm (which turned into Susan again around 10:30pm). They were great company. Other than them, I had the Hostel to myself for the night -- it was a great night's sleep without snoring and other body sounds in the night...I have to mention also the great hospitality and just general hiker-friendliness of Jerry and Susan at the Troutdale Trading Post. They provide shuttles and local information, as well as some great food as good prices and perhaps a little short-term resupply in their little store (adjacent to the restaraunt). Good show, folks! Charlie Mitchell came out to introduce himself as I was trekking from the Trading Post to the Hostel, and he took me on an auto tour of the entire area -- including the new gated community with lots for sale... Thank you, Sir.I could tell from the Hostel's Register that the G-Town Colonel had just left the day before, so perhaps we'll again cross paths... Jerry gave me a shuttle to the trailhead and I was again trekking northward.
Date: 2008-05-07
From: Partnership Shelter

To: Marion, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

OK, I was about due for a Zero Day, after all...Thank you, so much, Lynn (Nugget) from the Mount Rogers Planning District Commission, for the shuttle into Marion to the doctor's office, and the follow-on windshield tour of downtown Marion followed by a drop-off at the Library. It would be a different and much more difficult Trail Experience without such Trail Angels as you, helping poor, limping hikers...As suggested by the Ranger up at the Mount Rogers NRA Headquarters, Doctor Brown, a very hiker-friendly person (who also collects pictures of Thru-Hikers and pebbles from the Northern Terminus of the Trail...), took time out of his busy schedule to check my knee, which he says is inflamed and needs a couple of days of ice therapy (along with a lighter backpack -- yes Sir, I'll send the Winter Kit home just as soon as I can trust the weather a little more...).By the way, just before Lynn scooped me up from the Headquarters, I met Brown Bag, Aqua Maria, and Tailgate (her male companion -- not the renamed, 'Rie' from Cayanne and Tailgate -- although both seem to follow their fellows close enough to have gained that name...). I also caught up with the G-Town Colonel and Lynn took our picture together with his camera.OK, now to contact the Transit Bus System in Marion for a pick-up back to Walmart for some medicines, followed by food and an ice session at the Rodedway Inn (called the Virginia House Inn in the Thru-Hiker Handbook, but they've had a change in owners since as I understand it). It also looks as though the next couple of days might bring some severe weather, so it's probably a good time to rest my knee...Thanks for reading. I think the miles, above, are off a little, but I'll do my best to unscrew them in coming days. They should now read 523.3 -- THAT'S ALMOST 1/4 OF THE WAY NORTH! I like how that sounds...Thanks for all of the entries in my Guest Book. I'll do my best to reply as time permits.
Date: 2008-05-08
From: Marion, VA

To: Marion, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Sorry, but the Marion Library will not let me download pictures from my Verizon Account onto Trail Journals, so the pony pictures will just have to wait a while longer...I'm still in the Rodeway Inn in Marion, performing trail-town chores and keeping ice on my knees (trying to get the inflamation down for the Week-Long Side Trip for Diamond Hunting in Arkansas, which starts tomorrow...).A few comments about the Rodehouse Inn, if I may:- The Hiker Rate is $39.00 per night and it includes a simple but ample breakfast across the street at the Best Western [which, for their Hiker Rate of $49.00 also includes this breakfast and HBO]- The Rodehouse Inn is the typical 70's style motel with nothing but an ice machine, which doesn't always give ice (but there's a secret technique to release the ice when the mechanism gets stuck)- There are no laundry facilities close to either motel. The only laundro-mat in Marion appears to be the one down by the tracks about a mile or so down Main Street (lots of machines and in good running order for a change...)- It's a far better place to wait out the current and future (later tonight) thunderstorms than the facilities on the nearby A.T...- About a block away are a fruit market; Walmart; SubWay; Arby's; Little Caesars (doesn't deliver); and Ingle's Food Mart. The Library is 2-1/2 miles south, just off of Main Street, but a Transit Bus runs as far north as the Walmart for $.50 per rideThe people of Marion have been very friendly and helpful and the area is a quiet one, generally -- good for a Zero Day or two...HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM! I'm sorry that I couldn't be there for it, nor for Mother's Day -- but Bette and I'll be headed for the Crater of Diamonds State Park and perhaps find you one...TO MY DARLING WIFE OF MANY YEARS: Happy Mother's Day and I miss you very much. If the situation at home gets to be too much for you, simply say the word and I'll step back into the Real World to help. I'd like to complete a thru-hike this year, Ma'am, but if it's not possible, I'll stop what I'm doing and be satisfied with the occasional section hike instead. I mean that.There is LIFE after a trek on the Appalachian Trail.If I don't get to update this journal again before Trail Days, I'll see many of you there. I'll be the guy making a fool of himself on the Gazebo Stage during the Hiker Talent Contest...
Date: 2008-05-16
From: Murfreesboro, Arkansas!

To: Trail Days!
Miles today: 0.0

Well, my Sister dropped me -- as planned -- in Damascus for Trail Days. I'll update this section in coming days, but please take a look at the new pictures in my Photo Section. There are more of these to follow as time and computer permit.For those who haven't heard, my wife messed up her knee. At first I thought that she'd broken her leg, but having returned home from Damascus late this afternoon, I've found that it's probably a soft tissue injury under the patella (MRI to confirm this, but she's still not getting around as usual).Thank you so much, Butch Cassidy, for the ride to Fredericksburg and for lunch and great conversations along the way. You're a true Trail Angel and I hope to be able to pay this favor forward in the future.I'll also let you know my future trail plans as soon as I've had some time to talk this over with my wife, but I'm guessing this layover will be perhaps two weeks long since I also have to travel to Maryland to visit my Mother and Father as well as to retrieve my tents and other gear Bette and I used on our diamond hunting expedition.As far as I know right now, we didn't find a diamond this year, but she carried four buckets of concentrates back to Maryland for future processing and they might have diamonds in them. More to follow on this. We did, however, find several other semi-precious stones and I'll fill you in later on this as well...I saw a lot of old trail friends and met many new ones at Trail Days. Yes, I sang in the Hiker Talent Contest and I think the song was well received, generally. No, I didn't win the contest, but my prize was a Granite Gear Vapor Trail Backpack. Not bad for a runner-up's prize...
Date: 2008-05-20
From: Home in Fredericksburg for a Week or Two

To: Concluding This Year's Long Section Hike
Miles today: 0.0

There are more things going on at home than I realized when I left Damascus for Fredericksburg. I have mentioned some of these issues, but there are others that I can't go into on Trail Journals.I'm certain that although I'm officially closing out this year's long distance trek, I'll still be seen on the Appalachian Trail for several days at a time -- in and around Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland. It just wouldn't be fair for me to return for more this year...Again, I can't thank the many Trail Angels enough. Thanks also to my family and friends for their support. I'll probably post another time or two, perhaps to cover issues or deep thoughts as they come to me, but for now this year's projected thru-hike will come to a close.I'll be following your journals so don't quit writing them. Thanks again and I'll see you up the trail...
Date: 2008-05-28
From: Concluding This Year's Long Section Hike

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

FYI, Son Number One underwent a second surgery on his back yesterday and seems to be doing well except for the intense pain (pretty normal for this type of surgery as I understand it).I haven't hiked once since my return home -- unless one counts the trips back and forth across the yard with the mower... I'm hoping to get out for about 1/2 day in the local area tomorrow.I miss the Trail, but especially the PEOPLE. If you're on the Trail right now, you missed a 'Deadliest Catch' Marathon on the Discovery Channel yesterday...
Date: 2008-06-24
From: Home

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Itchy Feet... Itchy Feet... No, not fungus -- wanderlust...I know that I'm still needed at home, but that Trail Urge is building, despite the many day hikes recently.Hmmmmmm... Signage is supposed to be driving to Maine to finish her trek from last year... Perhaps a Flip-Flop might be in order. After all, I've been carrying around a fully packed backpack...FYI, I really miss my GoLite Trek backpack that GoLite Customer Service traded me for an Odyssey back in Damascus. It's a nice and very roomy pack, but I REALLY MISS my Trek. This thing is about 1-1/2 pounds heavier than my old reliable Trek, and a wierd shade of blue as well.Yes, there's also the Granite Gear Vapor Trail that I won at the Trail Days Hiker Talent Contest, and I've added a bucket-lid pocket to it... I'm still working on a modification that will yield a large front pocket, and if successful, then for slightly more weight I'll have a "Trek Equivalent."I've posted a "wanted" to Craigslist in Denver (near GoLite), and perhaps somebody will pull out of their dumpster the Olive-Colored Medium Trek Backpack that I sent back to them... CAUTION: I hadn't washed it before turn-in, so hold it at arm's length to avoid the rather foul trail odor...UPDATE: Thanks, Mountainmandoug, for the quick and painless deal on your slightly used GoLite Trek Backpack! Perhaps we'll see each other on the trail some day.Now, should I email Signage to see if she has room for one plus backpack to Maine?