morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-05-02
From: Climbing Chestnut Ridge

To: Above Kimberling Creek
Miles today: 26.4

Unfortunately, the event that sticks in my mind on this otherwise beautiful day was meeting my first unpleasant hiker. I met an ugly person at a dirty shelter. There was used toilet paper lying around and some obnoxious young kid full of himself spouting obscenities and complaints about nearly everything. Two reasons I don't stay in shelters.Otherwise it was a fine day of great hiking, over 26 miles of it. And we got baths at an almost nice swimming hole (it was close to a road and someone had broken glass all over), some juice at a roadside cooler (Methodist Church trail magic), and met some more NOBO hikers at the Chestnut Knob shelter this morning. But we left them all behind with our long day.We hope to resupply tomorrow at a small grocery in 18 miles, then get 25 more miles to Pearisburg by Sunday evening. It will be 7 days and 160 miles without a town stop for us, a good stretch.I got a minor pain in my left knee. I felt it a couple of weeks ago and it went away.There was a fine rocky ridge walk for many miles this morning, a good destination by itself. We met some dayhikers in the area, and two section hikers, older guys, brothers, just out having a blast. They gave us some extra food, too!
Date: 2008-05-03
From: Above Kimberling Creek

To: Wapiti Shelter area
Miles today: 25.0
Weather: scattered clouds

We hiked 25 miles, made two side trips, had a big deli lunch and bought groceries, all be 6 pm. We're wondering what to do with the free evening. Quick miles today, easy grade, smooth trails. Pickle calls it the G&M RR (Georgia & Maine) when it's so easily graded.We hiked 0.4 miles to a small town for deli and groceries, then 0.3 miles to the Dismal Falls. The falls trip was in the company of 8 VA Tech students taking a study break during finals week. Ah, the memories. Life is good now.We also met a large group of fun and friendly NOBO hikers. We'll all make it to town together tomorrow.The knee feels better today. We're both ready for a town stop and cooked food and shower and especially laundry/We had a couple of brief showers on this warm and muggy day. The showers cooled me off a bit. I now think I'm ready for my summer clothing and bag waiting (hopefully) in Pearisburg. I really doubted it on Tuesday in the wind and cold, and will still look at the long term forecast before committing to it.
Date: 2008-05-04
From: Wapiti Shelter area

To: Pearisburg
Miles today: 16.6
Weather: clear sky

The strange thing today was hiking downhill into some very cold air. It was warm and damp from last night's rain this morning when we broke camp. Then it got very cold, freezing nearly, as we descended toward town. But the trail continued to be very good walking and we were in town by 200, with the help of an unsolicited ride. Our first hitch, and we weren't even hitching. We took a couple of side trails to some nice viewpoints, including teh "Angel's Rest" above town for the purpose of eating the last of our food. Yes, we walked into town once again with empty food bags. We're getting pretty good at that.It's been a nice and friendly town with several hikers in the same hotel. We got some very nice birthday cards here, along with our new shoes and socks and summer bags. But I will carry a down vest for a few more days because of this cold spell. We had a nice Italian dinner next door and did our shopping for the next 67 miles to Daleville, where we may get another hotel break. We are not proud of the fact that we each ate two pints of Ben & Jerry's today.
Date: 2008-05-05
From: Pearisburg

To: Bailey Gap shelter area
Miles today: 23.2
Weather: few clouds

Pickle is trying, but I don't think a photo will do justice to this day. We're walking on a ridge looking down into West Virginia, surrounded by fragrant blooming trees, grassy meadows, bees, songbirds, even a spring-fed pond. A bee just stung me and I don't even care. This is simply one of the best days of my life. I'd heard that the AT could do this to a person. Well it has. We took a short break just to drink it in (literally--great water, too).The town stop in Pearisburg was very nice. We had fun this morning at breakfast with the coffee shop owner, a transplant from Chicago, where I grew up. He let us use his PCs for no charge, too. It was nice to catch up on a few things.It just occurred to me that I think Pickle and I are actually taking more time out of our long hiking days to simply enjoy a few things, like the falls at Dismal Creek the other day. Noone else we saw that day bothered. I was concerned that our faster pace would cause us to miss stuff. From what I've seen so far, to opposite seems to be true. It seems many other hikers just spend more time huddled up at a shelter. Not my hike.Despite the late (930) start, we got in 23 miles by sunset (blood-red, just finished the show). We had our first creek ford at a ruined bridge. Pickle said he's never forded a creek before in 2800 miles of AT hiking. The last 4 miles seemed harder than the previous 19--it got steeper and rougher.Surprise! Noone at this shelter! I think we found a gap in the NOBO hikers. We only saw two SOBOs today. We hear there's still a large group ahead of us.I hope I can stay warm enough in my new 45 degree summer bag tonight. It's just a little chilly.
Date: 2008-05-06
From: Bailey Gap shelter area

To: Niday shelter area
Miles today: 27.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I had very little problem staying warm in the new bag, though we estimate the overnight temp at about 40. I slept in my hiking clothes and ended up draping the down vest over my torso, outside the bag. Pickle had more problems than I did, and says he had his first night of poor sleep on this whole trip. He added clothing, but found it hard to sleep even after warming up.Happy Birthday, Dad! My father is 82 today, and he sounds to me to be as happy as he's ever been. The other day we were talking on the phone about all the snow we've had on the trail, and he said, "Well, it's better than rain, isn't it?" Pickle and I had agreed on that earlier, and when I told Pickle that my dad had made the same deduction, he said that's where I must get my smarts from! Nice compliment to me and my dad from Pickle.We walked through some large groves of blooming azaleas, and we had some very nice ridge walking today, though at the price of some steep climbs and rocky trail. Dry, toko--I got pretty thirsty for the first time on the AT. Our 27 miles today did not come easy, but it was a fun day with some good challenges. As usual, we kept in good humor. We met a SOBO who just complained about everything, so we laughed about that, too.No complaints from either of us about feet, joints, or anything. Good day.
Date: 2008-05-07
From: Niday shelter area

To: Johns Spring Shelter area
Miles today: 23.7
Weather: clear sky

Flowers today! Even a rare orchid, the Pink Lady's Slipper, about six of them. And the rhododendrons are finally blooming. More azaleas, too.Tough climbs and descents, especially at the Dragon's Tooth. But what rewards! We met some nice college kids at Dragon's Tooth, too.We met a SOBO section hiker and we were impressed with this confident, experienced person and at how much he was enjoying the hike. Quite the opposite of the people we met yesterday, full of complaints.The Catawba Grocery was a little disappointing in the meal department, with no place to even sit, but it was well-stocked. We set for Daleville now.I got thirsty again today, marginally dehydrated. The little I peed was dark yellow. Where I got one liter from a creek before a big climb I should have gotten two. Pickle had the same complaint. The good springs are getting farther apart now, it seems.No matter, there's good water here and soft level ground.
Date: 2008-05-08
From: Johns Spring Shelter area

To: Daleville town
Miles today: 18.6
Weather: broken clouds

It was very warm today with some light showers last night. We both slept well. Today we got to see McAfee's Knob and Tinker Cliffs, cool rock formations on a rocky ridge. We took the requisite photos sitting on the overhang at McAfee's Knob, of course. The day got warm and humid as we descended to town, and we really needed showers and laundry by the time we got here. The sweat would not evaporate and there was four day's worth.We stayed at the Howard Johnsons. They have laundry and a breakfast buffet and are close to evertything else we need. I got a new pair of socks and Pickle got a new pole tip at the outfitter. We mailed home the last of our cold-weather clothing at the UPS store. We got a good value AYCE salad/veggie/dessert bar for $6. We got our grocery shopping done for the next 100-mile stretch to Montebello (Dutch Haus B&B). So it hasn't been exactly relaxing, but stays in town seldom are.And we met a new group of NOBO hikers taking a zero day here. We'd heard they were ahead of us, but didn't expect to see them so soon. We had dinner with them and covered the usual ground of pace, gear, weather, etc.
Date: 2008-05-09
From: Daleville town

To: Cove Mountain
Miles today: 22.1
Weather: broken clouds

Every day I get to hike this trail is a blessing. Even if, for some reason, I can't or won't finish, I'm counting every day out here on the credit side of the balance sheet.What a great day. Though it was a bit warm and humid in town, we quickly climbed up into cooler and drier air. There were (and are) a few light showers. The best part was the trail itself. The rocky ridges of the last week are gone. And we got up on the Blue Ridge--a great feeling (I feel a little affinity--the acoustic guitar I've owned for nearly 40 years is a Gibson Blue Ridge.)Pickle tells me we're now in the Chesapeake Bay drainage. I get some pleasure every time I pee, thinking that some day, maybe some politician in Washington may perhaps drink a miniscule portion of it.So even with a late (930) start from Daleville, we made a comfortable 22+ miles. After a few footsore and fatiguing days, what a pleasure.We're seeing some new wildflowers, and suddenly some lizard life, maybe a chameleon, too.There was a severe storm in town last night, more forecast for today, so we pitched tarps accordingly.We had a very restful town stop, slept very well in a quiet room. That's seldom the case, it seems.
Date: 2008-05-10
From: Cove Mountain

To: Marble Spring
Miles today: 26.7

Trillium fields! Acres of them. In the Pacific Northwest where I first saw one, they're somewhat rare. Here, they can MOW them! And there are several different colors. What we saw today were mostly lavender. We also saw more orchids, and even some morel mushrooms. Appalachian spring!It seems we did a lot of socializing today. Shelters were 5 to 6 miles apart, right on the trail, including the excellent Bryant Ridge shelter. And we caught up with a group of nice hikers, interesting folksThe last two nights we've had an annoying whipoorwill going off most of the night. Last night we also had a violent thunderstorm. I just closed the tent door and went back to sleep, completely confident in the tarptent and the site. Tonight may be dry--I hope so, the site is not as nice, flat dirt.Lots of climbing today, about 5400' but good trail. Tomorrow we descent to the James River, which I'm looking forward to seeing. Less climbing then, I think. The left knee hurts a little again right now.
Date: 2008-05-11
From: Marble Spring

To: Brown Mt Creek shelter area
Miles today: 27.7

This was a record mileage day for the Deli Duo on the AT, even with a 2 hour afternoon break for a severe thunderstorm, at Punchbowl Shelter (the haunted one). We spend all morning nearly freezing in the high winds and misty rains on Bluff Mt, over the James River Valley. Just as the rain got severe, we walked into the shelter. Then two hours later, we had blue skies and sunshine and we walked another 10 miles.Amazing rhododendron blooms today, also our first mountain laurel blooms.It was neat crossing the historic James River on the longest footbridge on the AT.I got cold last night and had to put on my Marmot Driclime jacket to get warm again. It's pretty cold again tonight, but not as windy in this area, and a little lower.The left knee is still a little sore, and I have a nagging tender spot on my right heel. Pickle made a padded torus out of duct tape for a similar problem, maybe I'll do the same.We didn't expect to make such high miles these last few days. The trail has been excellent, and the cool weather forces us to keep going sometimes to stay warm. So we'll be at our next town stop a day early, it seems.Happy Mother's Day, Mom! Sorry I didn't get a chance to call. I thought about you all day, and how I inherited my love of walking from you. Thank you for that and everything.We didn't see anyone out on a stroll with Mom on this blustery, stormy day in Virginia. We keep telling ourselves that the hot days will come and we'll miss these cold ones.
Date: 2008-05-12
From: Brown Mt Creek shelter area

To: Fish Hatchery Road
Miles today: 18.6

Wow--another day of survival in the cold. It was nearly a carbon copy of yesterday, except the route stayed higher today and it was a little colder. It was just short of snowing up there. We ate breakfast huddled in the lee of a large tree as hypothermia began to settle in. After eating, though, things got better as the fuel kicked in. We got a little below the cloud layer and got some views and started enjoying things a little.As I shivered through breakfast, I was thinking, "It's not for everybody". I was also cursing my decision to send home my hat and gloves at Daleville. For the first time in my life I used socks for mittens, but still lost most of the use of my hands. You should have seen us trying to open ziplock bags at breakfast. But we made it to the town of Montebello and the Dutch Haus B&B, with hot showers and a warm bunk room. We were thanking our good luck that we were able to stay dry the last few days in the heavy rain, or things could have been way different.We will resupply here for a walk into Shenandoah Park.
Date: 2008-05-13
From: Fish Hatchery Road

To: Harpers Creek Shelter area
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: clear sky

We spent half the day in the Dutch Haus B&B, enjoying a rare slow morning away from the trail. We decided to take a half day off here, and our hosts offered to shuttle us the short distance to the trailhead at noon.Garlic here. One reason I wanted to spend some time here this morning was to be able to talk to my spouse, GreasePot (GA->ME '02, PCT '04). As of today, we've been married for 25 years. The only reason I could possibly think of to not be hiking this trail right now is to be with her. And since she's a through hiker, she definitely understands. We talked about plans for her to come visit soon, something we both need.Later, I heard a raptor's cry from a high ridge on The Priest Mt, and looked up and saw a kestrel in flight. I love that.This appears to be our last multiple-thousand foot climb for a long time, at least in the section of guidebook I have with me, which goes to the NJ border. That makes this a significant climb to us.Pickle is a bit shaken by the news of the death of friend and fellow hiker, Wu Li. I also met Wu Li back on a 2002 section hike here on the AT. We talked a little about mortality on the climb out of town today.The unsettled stormy weather is now gone, replaced today by stable cold air. It may get chilly tonight. I had a brief fright when I could not find my jacket in my pack and thought I'd left it back at the B&B. But it was in my clothes bag, not where I normally pack it.I had my second Marmot zipper fail in one year, on my "Essence" rain jacket. I buy the expensive stuff when I need reliability, so I'm disappointed. GreasePot will help me get a replacement.The knee feels OK today, despite a small stumble that put a huge impact on it (internal impact, not a fall--I just caught all my weight on the joint). The feet feel great after the restful day, too.But it looks like a bit of a push coming up. We may try to get the next 105 miles done in four days, to meet a friend of Pickle's this weekend. If the trail is good, that may be possible.
Date: 2008-05-14
From: Harpers Creek Shelter area

To: Waynesboro town
Miles today: 27.0

Today we had several people tell us we look too good to be through hikers, and one of them was a section-hiking MD. So today was an ego-boost. We also out-hiked a couple of much younger guys who were trying to reach town from the same place we started. The last time we saw them they were licking their wounds. So I guess we're doing relatively well.Waynesboro has organized trail angels! There's a list at the visitor center at the trailhead you can call from. The first guy we called came right out and brought us to town. We couldn't believe it. So by 7 pm we were showered and sitting down to dinner, and we expected to still be hiking by then.Yesterday I got more trail magic in the form of a bunch of high quality hiker food from two SOBO section hikers at the Dutch Haus. (These are the same hikers who didn't finish their dinners (the hiker hunger hadn't kicked in yet for them) and I shamelessly cleaned their plates--I'm not proud.) I didn't even need to go shopping. Thanks, everyone!We ate many plates at the AYCE chinese buffet and then did our resupply shopping, so we're all set for an early departure tomorrow. The same trail angel will pick us up here! We still have not had to hitch on this trail, and I can't believe it.Very nice weather today, sunny and cool, like yesterday.We talked a while about applying engineering formulae to real life, which will be the subject of Pickle's book when he gets around to it. Chief would have been bored silly by this topic, we had fun with it for a while.
Date: 2008-05-15
From: Waynesboro town

To: Loft Mt Campground area
Miles today: 27.4

Today was our second consecutive 27+ mile day. We're trying to do 105 miles in four days without hurting ourselves. If the trail continues with this excellent quality, we may just do it. We did today's hike with a later (800) start from town, too, so we're quite happy.Thanks again to the trail angels of Waynesboro, especially Bill G, incredibly nice volunteers.Our stay in town went very well, very efficient, everything close. We didn't do laundry except for socks and underwear in the hotel room, so that made things easier.Today's fine walk was mostly in Shenandoah NP. I can't believe I'm finally here, what a great place to be in the Spring. It started raining late in the evening and we got some postcard views in the mist from Loft Mt.We stopped for dinner, water, and a nice social hour at Blackrock shelter before continuing on another seven miles in the evening. We made a great pace (3 mph) while walking today, so the long break was nice. We hope to do the same for the next two days, then we'll probably take a zero.Lots of deer here and I saw a huge tom turkey, which I at first thought was a deer. The mountain laurel here are just starting to bloom, and these are a darker shade of lavender. Lots of azaleas a few of what looks like dogwood, but we thought they were long dropped by now.Lots of hikers in the Park, too, and we met a few NOBOs at the shelter.I found a mouse chew-hole in my tortillas. They must have gotten them when we stopped for lunch--I hope not at the store.
Date: 2008-05-16
From: Loft Mt Campground area

To: Lewis Mt Campground area
Miles today: 25.7

Nine bears today! That's a record for both of us. Early this morning we saw a sow with three cubs, and I was thinking I'd never see that again in my life. A few hours later, we did. Wow. They were all either on the trail or within 50 feet of it. We saw way more bear than hikers. We didn't see any through hikers today.It was a bit of a forced march to make it to the campstore here to resupply before they closed. The morning seemed tougher than usual. But we made good time and the afternoon seemed a little easier.It rained nearly all night last night, and the Henry Shires Tarptents worked perfectly. Just a few showers today, and it stayed pretty warm. But now, in camp, it's very cold and very windy. I will wear all my clothes and jacket to bed tonight.After several pain-free days, my left knee has some problems, pain and swelling. I will favor it for a few days.Tomorrow we'll hike out to Hwy 211 to meet Pickle's friend and we'll take a rest day on Sunday.
Date: 2008-05-17
From: Lewis Mt Campground area

To: Thornton Gap
Miles today: 26.4

Today I got a significant view, I think--a first look at Virginia's Piedmont Plateau to the east. This is the first time I can think of that I looked east and didn't see endless rows of mountains.The knee feels a little better today, even after 26 fast miles. Pickle reports no pains or problems at all.It was very windy and cold last night, at the edge of comfort with all our insulation on. But it was clear and sunny and we warmed up in a couple of hours (yes, tongue in cheek) this morning.We met a few NOBO hikers today around the Skyland Lodge area where we spend an hour and ate a couple of lunches each. Very nice break.No more bear sightings today, way too many people around the central area of the Park. I can see why there are more people, the trails are spectacular around here. Perfect hiking today, clear and cool.We heard you can see the Washington Monument on a perfect day from Mary's Rock, just before the descent to Thornton Gap.Pickle's old friend met us at the Gap and brought us home for the next two nights. It will be wonderful to rest and resupply here in Washington, VA.
Date: 2008-05-18
From: Thornton Gap

To: Thornton Gap
Miles today: 0.0

A great zero day for us! We got a tour of the Rappahannock County historical sites by a John, our host, and a member of the local historical society. Some interesting "affairs" took place here, not quite battles, one of them called, affectionately, "Custer's First Last Stand". Custer was forced into retreat here after being flanked by Rebel forces. We stood at the historic road intersection where Lee split his forces on his approach to Gettysburg. Heady stuff, thinking that they saw these same stone walls and some of the same buildings.We also shopped at the closest grocery store, 19 miles away in Front Royal. We plan on hiking past Front Royal, so it was good to get an auto tour, at least, and to have ice cream at Spelunkers. Spelunkers is highly recommended by "Jack Heacock's Guide to Ice Cream in Virginia".We had access to a computer with a camera card reader today, so we uploaded some new photos from the last few weeks. Tomorrow we're back on trail, heading next to Harper's Ferry!
Date: 2008-05-19
From: Thornton Gap

To: Tom Floyd Wayside
Miles today: 24.8
Weather: broken clouds

It was a little upsetting to see an appparently abandoned fawn lying helplessly in the trail today. We can only hope that mom will come back for it.We're back at "work" after a day off. According to John's bathroom scale, I gained 4 pounds there. Awesome! Feels great.We had mostly unremarkable scenery today, not spectacular like the previous day in the Park. We got some great views, but not from precipitous cliffs like we had earlier. But it was fine trail and cool sunny weather.We met some hikers this morning who had gotten very cold overnight.We stopped at the Elkwallow Wayside for delicious blackberry milkshakes. We hike out of the Park this evening, so no more Skyline Drive crossings and services.The tenting here is pretty lousy. But there is a great spring. We found good water all day.We made almost 25 miles in 10 hours, without trying to hike fast. I'm taking it easy on the knee, which felt fine today except for one twitch late in the day, which is probably normal anyway.