morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-06-02
From: Pearisburg, VA

To: Pine Swamp Branch Shelter
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: overcast clouds

I packed up this morning and stopped by Hardee's for breakfast. I think I prefer the DQ. Then back to the trail about 8:30am, hiking out of town with Allegheny, a retired investment advisor who started at Springer a couple of days after me. I was glad to leave Pearisburg, a very nice town that I've seen enough of. I called Eveready's room but got no answer.Shortly up the trail I met a couple hiking south to end a six-day section hike. I asked whether they had met anyone else on the trail this morning."Yes, a very distinguished looking gentleman." Did he have silver grey hair? "Yes, and looked very distinguished." Must be Eveready, except that I don't get he distinguished part.The climb up Pearis Mt was a stiff one and I took my time since I'm still dragging a little. I stopped for a snack and a short nap at the Rice Field shelter. Allegheny, Topknot, and Duch were there. Rice Field was pretty, covered in purple and white clover with great views of the valley to the west, on a sunny day with unlimited visibility and a cool breeze.About 5mi later I caught up to Eveready, who had called it a day after 13 or so miles and pitched his tent under a big tree on the edge of a field. He's ending his section hike at Troutville, about 4 days from now. We agreed to stay in touch and maybe do the John Muir trail next summer.I moved on slowly. The trail was easy walking along a ridgeline. I got to the Pine Swamp Branch shelter about 7:15pm in a light sprinkling of rain, tired but glad to be moving north again. Dinner was tuna and 'taters, then I took one of the top shelves and was off to sleep. The others in the shelter were Allegheny, Topknot, and Duch.
Date: 2004-06-04
From: Laurel Creek Shelter

To: Audie Murphy Memorial
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: moderate rain

A drizzle of rain started at midnight, increasing to a steady downfall by 3:00am. It was a dark wet morning. I waited for a while hoping the rain would stop before I hiked out, but this was not a rain to outwait. I gave up and left at 9:30am. Timing is everything sometimes. For most of the morning the trail led through fields, which are normally a welcome break from the woods. But today the waist high grass was wet and drooping over the trail and I was soon soaked. I hiked past four asses standing out in the rain - if you count me, there were five of us out there.The rain was continuous until tapering off about 3:00pm. One interesting sight was the Keffer Oak, estimated to be about 300 years old and about 18 feet or so in diameter. A magnificent tree that is a remnant of the forests that covered the eastern US before the European settlement. I took the quarter mile excursion down to Sarver Hollow shelter to find a dry spot for lunch. Topknot was there, having hiked to here last night and slept in today. Another thruhiker was also there along with his girlfriend who had come out to hike a few days with him. And a shelter cat that was as thin as the hikers coming through. I guess it had eaten all the mice and was surviving on hiker handouts. I gave it a dollop of my mashed potatoes which it refused to eat until I sprinkled on some bacon bits, then it gobbled down the whole thing. Goes to show that any recipe can be improved by adding bacon or chocolate!Crossing the Sinking Creek Mt ridgeline was a challenge. The trail along the ridge was mostly over big tilted slabs of weathered and very wet rock that were too slippery to walk across. Each had to be negotiated by walking around the bottom edge or by very careful foot placement on the few footholds. A slow and tedious mile or so, but I survived the slippery slabs of death.I stopped again at the Niday shelter and briefly considered calling it a day, but the shelter was already crowded with a group that had zeroed there to avoid the rain. I pushed on about 4:30pm. As I came up onto the ridgeline about 5mi later I was surprised to find OneLeg sitting there. Only slightly less surprising was that he was sitting on a bench! This was on a woods road that leads up to the Audie Murphy memorial and I guess someone has placed the bench there as a resting spot for people walking up. OneLeg had hiked most of the night before, then strung up his hammock and slept through today's rain. We hiked on up to the memorial. For those of you who don't know, Audie Murphy was the most decorated of WWII soldiers, including being awarded of the Medal of Honor. He died near the monument in 1971 in a plane crash.We took advantage of another bench at the monument to fix dinner. As we finished eating the fog rolled in, darkness started falling and the rain returned. We decided to call it a day and put up our hammocks. Off to sleep listening to the steady drip on the hammock fly. This was a wet day from start to finish.
Date: 2004-06-05
From: Audie Murphy Memorial

To: VA Hwy 311 (4 Pines Hostel)
Miles today: 16.7

I was up and out of camp about 7:30am. I hiked about a mile with OneLeg. The battery for his leg had run out of juice and there was no sunlight for the solar panel recharger. When the battery runs down the leg becomes straight and stiff. I thought about how I would cope if one of my knees locked up after a couple of cloudy days. This guy has a lot of grit.I wanted to get to Catawba today so I left OneLeg after hiking and talking for a bit. He was stopping at the next road for a hitch to a power outlet. The climb up Cove Mt was tough. The old AT as we knew it before southern VA has returned - big climbs up from the valleys, then ridge lines that fluctuate up and down continuously. Past Rawies Rest was a steep down section of rock climbing that had ladder rungs driven in at a couple of points. I was very glad that the rock was mostly dry.From there it was back down through a valley, a climb back up and a long up and down ridge walk over to VA Hwy 311 at Catawba. I was near the bottom of my energy reserves when I got there in spite of stopping several times for more food. Fortunately at Catawba is the Homeplace restaurant with a reputation of the best food on the trail. I didn't wait around for a ride, just hiked the mile to the restaurant. And the reputation is well deserved. Think of the best fried chicken that you've ever had. It was that good, and there was all you could eat, with all the vegetable side dishes and biscuits. Topknot and I just sat and ate for about an hour.Some of the other hikers were there and were staying at the 4 Pines Hostel back down the trail about 6 miles. I have sworn off hostels but the thought of a hot shower clouded my judgement, and when one of the restaurant customers offered us a ride over I said OK. The hostel was essentially a large shop-type building with mattress pads on the floor, a shower and sink, and a wood-burning stove. Basic but fine for an overnight. I took a hot shower, did some laundry and took a spot on the floor. Midnight came and went, people were still sitting around talking and the radio was still on. Finally around 2:00am those of us trying to sleep had to turn off the radio and light and tell the talkers to shut up. Then one or two people continued to move around and make noise for another couple of hours. You have to relearn things you know every now and then, and I relearned not to stay in a hostel and expect much sleep. Too many people around who want to socialize all night.
Date: 2004-06-06
From: VA Hwy 311 (4 Pines Hostel)

To: US Hwy 220 (Daleville, VA)
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: light rain

With almost no sleep from all the noise last night, I packed up and left around 8:00am and hiked down to the nearby grocery store where I bought some breakfast and a few supplies (like Honeybuns) to get me through the day. After a short while I got a ride from a nice lady in a giant pickup back up to the trail crossing at Catawba. Back on the trail at 10:00am with almost 20 miles to go to get to Daleville. If I had skipped the hostel I would have been a couple of miles farther down the trail, left a couple of hours earlier and had lots more sleep. No more hostels (until the next lapse in judgement).On the trail were a group of a dozen or so reservists out for a training day. We swapped places back and forth until I stopped for a break and they left me. The first climb was up McAfee Knob with great views off the rock cliffs. I stopped for lunch at the Campbell shelter with BigTree. Then it was up to Tinker Cliffs where the trail ran right along the cliff edge. I took a half hour break on one of the big flat rocks, hanging my still damp laundry in the sun and taking a short nap.I stopped for water at Lambert's Meadow shelter about 4:00pm. The shelter already had about 4 people in for the night. I met Gadget, named because of the GPS unit and armband radio that he wears. From there it was another 10mi to Daleville, with the trail going up and over every knob on the ridgeline. I made it to the Howard Johnson's about 8:30pm with a very sore left knee that I must have strained while sidehilling around a large blowdown on the trail today. It really hurt on the steep downhills. After a shower I went over to the Pizza Hut and downed most of a medium meat lovers pizza along with a big salad. It was raining lightly, but with a dry room for the night I could enjoy the rain for a change. Gadget was also there and told me that Sweetleaf had picked up my ground sheet from where I had walked off and left it at my last break before town. Always look around before you leave a spot - another lesson relearned.I'll take a zero day tomorrow to let my knee rest a bit. The soft bed feels great tonight.
Date: 2004-06-07
From: US Hwy 220 (Daleville, VA)

To: US Hwy 220 (Daleville, VA)
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: haze

I decided to take a zero day today, partly to let my knee rest a bit but mostly to pack in some calories. My reserves are about gone so it's time to replenish them a bit before I push on toward Harper's Ferry over the next few weeks.I started the day with a big breakfast at the hotel, then walked down to the shopping center for supplies. Gadget and Sweetleaf were waiting for the outfitter store to open. I bought Sweetleaf a large cup of chai as thanks for bringing my ground sheet. And I had a giant cinnamon roll with my coffee. By then the outfitter was open and I bought several items that I need, such as a small cup, a new headlight with brighter light, some socks and a new and lighter sleeping pad. Also an umbrella, which sounds like a strange item for a backpacker, but I'm tired of being wet. By then it was lunchtime and I went over to the BBQ restaurant for a big sandwich and fries. Then back to the grocery for supplies and to the room for a nap.In the afternoon I walked the mile up to the post office to mail my hammock home. I'm carrying the pound and a half hammock but only occasionally using it. I can sleep on the ground those few times if I need to and lighten my load a bit. On the way back I stopped at an ice cream stand for a cone. Back by the outfitter to return a pair of socks that were too small. Joker and Crash were there. They said Rainman had to get off the trail at Atkins because of a family emergency and it doesn't sound like he'll be back. Joker will get off in a few days to go to the Bonaroo music festival. Crash will be hiking on. No one has heard from My Little Pony since Damascus.I made my way through the interstate junction up to the Country Cookin' restaurant for steak and vegetables, then over to the Pilot truck stop to buy a small radio that will hopefully let me keep up with the news as I walk. The woods get a little boring sometimes.From there it was back to the hotel for the night. Lots of walking today, which is typical for a trail town stop. The interesting thing is that it's much easier to walk 10mi along the trail than to walk 2mi around town. This country is set up for cars, not foot travel.The knee feels much better and I did a reasonably good job of eating my way through the day. Back to the trail tomorrow. I'll be taking a break for a week when I get to Harper's Ferry and have to be there in two weeks and two days to meet the train and plane schedules. No time for any more zero days.
Date: 2004-06-08
From: US Hwy 220 (Daleville, VA)

To: Bobblets Field Shelter
Miles today: 18.5

Back on the trail today and I'm happy to report that the sore knee is fine. I'll have to be careful not to push it too hard. This was a rather uneventful day. I left the hotel at 8:30am after another big breakfast. From there it was up (always up from town) to the Fulhardt Knob shelter for a second breakfast and on to the Wilson Creek shelter for lunch, where I was caught by Lorax and Spiceman.You may wonder why most of the meal stops are at shelters. The answer is that they have tables, and it's a lot more comfortable to eat at a table than sitting on the ground. Also gives a chance to read the registers and to sign in yourself.I reached the first crossing of the Blue Ridge Parkway at Blackhorse Gap. The trail generally follows the parkway from here all the way through the Shenandoah National Park. One of the big advantages of crossing the parkway - trash cans at the pullouts.I made it in to the Bobblets Gap shelter about 6:30pm to stop for the night with Stillwater, Zen, Lorax, Spiceman, Buckwild and two other thruhikers who came in late and set up a tent because the shelter was full.
Date: 2004-06-09
From: Bobblets Field Shelter

To: Cornelius Creek Shelter
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: overcast clouds

I was out early for a change, leaving at 6:30am. Stillwater soon passed me, however. He will become a grandfather for the first time in a few weeks and is moving fast toward where he'll get off the trail for a few days.Reached the Cove Mt shelter about 10:00am, limping badly from a very sore and tender left ankle. I noticed yesterday that the ankle hurt with each step as the outer point touched the side of my shoe. Don't know why it got sore - probably from favoring the knee. Every change affects your body somewhere else. At any rate I decided to fix the problem, pulled out Big Blue (my one-inch swiss army knife) and cut a plug out of my shoe around the ankle.That seemed to fix the problem as I hiked down to Jennings Creek. There I took a short and refreshing dip in a deep pool of water, worked on the shoe a little more and took a nap on a big rock. Spiceman caught up and shared a homemade chocolate chip cookie. Lorax is getting off the trail today for a hitch to Bonaroo.From there we hiked over to the Bryant Ridge shelter where I cooked up a hot meal. This is a huge new shelter that sleeps about 20 people and has glass windows! From there it was an endless 2.5hr climb up Floyd Mt - 2200 vertical feet. I finally made it to the Cornelius Creek shelter after 6:00pm, totally shot from the climb. The mythical flatland of VA has yet to appear.Spiceman and Stillwater had gone on, but Gadget and Sweetleaf were in for the night. Gadget tented out back, leaving only myself and Sweetleaf in the shelter.
Date: 2004-06-10
From: Cornelius Creek Shelter

To: US Hwy 501 (Glasgow, VA)
Miles today: 19.9
Weather: few clouds

I was back on the trail about 7:30am, nursing another ailment. The cutdown shoe solved the ankle problem, but while favoring the ankle I developed a painful blister under the callus on my right heel. Each step on the heel causes a fiery pain. So now I'm walking more on the ball of my right foot and probably setting up another ailment.Gadget, Sweetleaf and I swapped places on the trail throughout the day. I stopped briefly at the Thunder Hill shelter but was driven on by the swarming bugs. Lunch was at Petite's Gap, then it was up ond over Highcock Knob. Just before the Marble Spring I came upon a big rattlesnake on the side of the trail. It refused to move until I extended my hiking pole as far as I could and gave it a poke. It slithered about five feet off the trail and was rattling steadily as I went by.Gadget caught me shortly afterward and as we moved toward the Marble Spring shelter the thunder started to roll. We both picked up the pace to try to make it to the shelter. My pack shifted as I stepped around a rock and I stepped off the edge of the trail and fell flat on my face. Nothing hurt but my pride. After that I slowed a bit. Better to get wet than injured. The irony was that when we got to the shelter it was wet but the rain had moved on. So we were hustling toward the rain instead of away from it. This was the first rain in 3 days.I continued on across the James River to the highway and got a hitch into town from a young gentleman who turned around, came back and picked me up. He was traveling through to I-81 from Lynchburg and when I told him I was going to Glasgow hes said "Where's that?" But we found it and I checked into the Mom and Pop motel. But only after a visit to the ATM, since they don't do credit cards.They did have an excellent buffet at the restaurant and I took full advantage, stowing away the pork chops, vegetables and salad. I even ate some beets and they tasted good too! Off to sleep in a soft bed.
Date: 2004-06-12
From: Brown Mt Creek Shelter

To: Seely-Woodworth Shelter
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: overcast clouds

I was out late at 8:30am after a damp and foggy night to hike away into the wet woods for a stiff climb up over Bald Knob at over 4000ft. Then back down and back up over Cold Mt. The top was grassy but there were no views because of the cloud. I stopped for lunch at Hog Camp Gap.The radio that I bought back in Daleville is working pretty well. Different stations on the same frequency fade in and out as you move over the ridges and down into the valleys. It was interesting listening to the Eagles singing Hotel California switching with O'Reilly berating the NY Times for suggesting that Ronald Reagan might be slightly less than the second coming of George Washington. The religious and country stations seem to always come in loud and clear.I made it into the shelter about 6:00pm after walking in the clouds all day. A group of young men from a school for troubled youth were camping nearby. Also a couple of scout leaders with 5 scouts over from Virginia Beach for a couple of nights. They had built a fire in front of the shelter and it felt good in the very cool air. Doc came in later and stayed in the shelter along with Fly and myself.One of the scout leaders is planning a long section hike later in the summer. I recommended that he add an umbrella to his kit. He looked at me like I was a little kooky. I can tell that there's no way he's gonna be seen on the trail under an umbrella.
Date: 2004-06-13
From: Seely-Woodworth Shelter

To: Maupin Field Shelter
Miles today: 20.5
Weather: broken clouds

I packed and repacked this morning, for some reason having a problem getting things together. Maybe because it was another wet and foggy morning? Finally out about 8:00am. The first stop was at The Priest shelter to bandage my blister and patch up an argument between two toes. Ursa Minor and Swan were slackpacking from the Dutch Haus Bed & Breakfast. Ursa Minor described how you were met at the door with a bathrobe and a basket for your dirty clothes, which were taken away and washed for you. When she started describing the meals I asked her to stop. Only 3 more miles last night and I could have been there! How did I miss that in the guide book?Just after I left the shelter I caught up with Allegheny, who lives in Mechanicsburg and has been slackpacking and sleeping at home for the past week or so. He was headed down to the Tye River to pick up his pack from his fiancee. We zoomed down the mountain, catching up on the news. He also promised food at the car. When we got there another group of hikers (Pacemaker and several family members) were sitting there finishing off the food! Shirley had given it to them not knowing that we were on the way. I did get a sausage biscuit, a chicken wing and a roll, which I shared with Fly. Timing is everything sometimes. Just before I left Shirley gave me a container of beans that Allegheny couldn't carry.From the river we made the long climb, almost 4000ft, up to Three Ridges. I stopped for a few minutes at Harpers Creek shelter and ate the beans cold. They were delicious. If Allegheny had any illusions about having some of those beans tonight he'll be disappointed.My left knee that I injured back before Daleville began acting up again. I think I strained it again in the rapid descent down to the Tye. Got to remember to hike within my capabilities! We were into the Maupin Field shelter about 6:30pm, where I caught Froggy Pete at last. He signs the registers very cryptically, "In for the night. Froggy Pete, Wells, Maine." This is his third time on the trail since his wife passed away in 2001. The first time he quit in NY because he lost so much weight. He started over and completed a thruhike last year. Now he's going to Harper's Ferry where he may get off and, as he said, go home and join a dating service on the internet. He's had no luck on the AT. Sounds like Froggy is Looking for love in all the wrong places.Froggy, Fly, 2 of Pacemaker's relatives and myself filled the shelter, with several others tenting nearby. Pacemaker's relatives, out for a few days so far, are feeling the pain. Allegheny gave me an ace bandage for my knee. Did I say that it's another foggy and wet night?