morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-04-22
From: Thomas Knob Shelter

To: Hurricane Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: clear sky

Today was filled with beautiful sights and lots more nice people. This Sunday started out really nicely because about 10 minutes up the trail I saw the Boy Scout Troop I had met the day before. They were all gathering around as I walked up to talk to them. They were about to have devotionals and asked if I wanted to join them...I did. They were a pretty special group of boys and leaders. The scenery had started changing yesterday, and was getting even more different as I traveled on today through the Grayson Highlands. I saw quite a few more feral ponies and colts today as well. All-in-all...another great day!
Date: 2007-04-23
From: Hurricane Mountain Shelter

To: Partnership Shelter
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: clear sky

I'm probably sounding like a broken record, but the hiking weather and views were awesome today. I came upon a deer today, just about 15 minutes north of Dickey Gap that I could have hit with a rock if I threw it underhanded. It didn't seem to care much that I was there...I just kept on hiking after getting a couple of photos. Wow...I wish all shelters were like the one I hiked to today. It had a shower and wash basin with hot and cold running water. It was more like a log cabin than a shelter. And just a few hundred yards away was a place to use a phone to order in pizza...so I did! We also had our very own shelter cat (see the photos)...so no mice.
Date: 2007-04-24
From: Partnership Shelter

To: Relax Inn, VA 683
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: light rain

Short day today. I was looking forward to a shower and a hot meal so I didn't dilly-dally today. I met two southbounders today (Pearls and Starvin Marvin). They started near the southern end of the Shenendoahs and were headed for Springer Mountain, GA. Then they were going back to where they started and going north to Katahdin...so, maybe I'll see them again up the trail somewhere. The VA farm country I have started seeing from the trail is just beautiful. I ran into lots of other hikers after I got to town, but they were all heading on down the trail. I did see DC Turtle at the hotel with her husband and we visited outside our rooms for a while. I got my laundry done, got some supplies at the gas station, ate several times at local restaurants, caught up on the news a little and had a great night's sleep. Headed north tomorrow...
Date: 2007-04-25
From: Relax Inn, VA 683

To: Chestnut Knob Shelter
Miles today: 22.9
Weather: clear sky

Wow...it just keeps getting better. I grabbed an egg salad sandwich and a coffee at the gas station before hitting the trail at about 7:45. The skies looked like I might see rain, but they didn't look TOO threatening. I meandered through some pretty gentle farmland for quite a while today. The terrain was so gentle that I made much better time than anticipated. I got to my "target" shelter at 1:30 in the afternoon, so I decided to head on to the next shelter instead. I passed a major milestone today...I have now completed over 25% of the AT. Pretty significant I thought.
Date: 2007-04-26
From: Chestnut Knob Shelter

To: Bland, VA
Miles today: 21.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Trail magic and rain were the order of the day today. Besides the trail magic story with the associated picture, I came across a cooler filled with gatorade for hikers and a bunch of bottled water placed along the trail for hikers. This particular stretch of trail has some long dry spots, so people put drinks out there for hikers to enjoy. Oh...I also found a fresh bottle pretty early in the day and it turns out a section hiker had left it for us. I topped off my bottle because I was already in water-conservation mode to get to the next water source. It started raining about 2:30 and pretty much rained all afternoon. It wasn't a hard rain, but enough to soak my feet and make me uncomfortable. When I got to the road crossing near Bland, I decided to hitch in to town and get a motel room for the night. It only took about 10 minutes to get picked up. The warm shower felt extra nice after being cold and wet for a few hours. As I was leaving my room to get a bite to eat, Speedo, Fidel and Duckwalk showed up too. They had the same idea. Speedo and Fidel got a room and I split mine with Duckwalk. It was a good night to be out of the weather.
Date: 2007-04-27
From: Bland, VA

To: Jenny Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: light rain

I was in no rush to get going this morning. It was still raining and I knew I only wanted to go about 12 miles today. I was hoping the rain would taper off before I had to leave. It did. I had a little trouble hitching a ride to the trail head this morning. I think I walked about half of the 3.3 miles to the trail head before I caught a ride. Oh well...could have been worse. Speedo and Duckwalk got dropped off right after I did, so we hiked together for a bit. I ran across Ben and Amanda a little later in the day...see the story with the associated picture about Ben and Amanda's trail magic. I got to the shelter pretty early, even though I did get a later start this morning. Most days I'd have kept on going, but I just felt like stopping for the day. Quite a few folks came and went while I was there, so I got to visit with some folks for a while. Caterpillar stopped as well. He told me he had gotten turned around and wound up going in a circle that cost him 10 extra miles the day before. Every hikers nightmare.
Date: 2007-04-28
From: Jenny Knob Shelter

To: Doc's Knob Shelter
Miles today: 22.6
Weather: broken clouds

Lots more pretty terrain today. I took a little break at a road crossing just past the suspension bridge. As I was leaving I saw a car pull up and drop some hikers off. One turned out to be a hiker I hadn't seen since the first week on the trail. He went by Buckeye back then, but was now going by Flick. I had seen the name in the trail registers, but didn't realize it was him. The other two turned out to be Caboose and CB. I had read a lot of their register entries but hadn't met them yet. As the day wore on, I was feeling pretty good and making good time, so I started thinking about pushing all the way in to Pearisburg today. I knew if I did, I'd have to keep a pretty aggressive pace, so I started to experiment with a longer stride when going uphill. Bad idea. About 3 or 4 miles from the Doc's Knob shelter I started feeling a pain in my right shin. It kept getting worse, and by the time I got to Doc's Knob Shelter I knew I wasn't going any furhter today. I had made it over 600 miles before getting a shin splint, but now I needed to take care of one. I had to get to town the next day (a little over 8 miles) but wanted to do it as gently as possible so I didn't aggravate the injury. When Ben and Amanda arrived, Ben told me he had done exactly the same thing, so they spent the night at the shelter as well. I also met Jake at the shelter. He has through-hiked the AT once and has section hiked 3 or 4 more times. Seemed like a really neat guy.
Date: 2007-04-29
From: Doc's Knob Shelter

To: Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 8.2
Weather: scattered clouds

I babied my leg on my way in to Pearisburg and it didn't bother me too much. I'm hoping it is minor and I'll be back on the trail (all healed up) rather quickly. I went to the Plaza Hotel, which I HIGHLY recommend to all thru-hikers, and got a room. I planned on resting my leg and icing it off and on all day. I called my brother and he also recommended I keep it elevated, get a compression bandage for it and take something like Ibuprofin to help reduce the swelling, so I did. It was feeling much better by the end of the day.
Date: 2007-04-30
From: Pearisburg, VA

To: Pearisburg VA (Plaza Motel)
Miles today: 0.0

I continued to care for my leg today. As I type this at about 8:30 PM it is feeling MUCH better. I still haven't decided whether I will leave tomorrow or not. I'd rather be safe than sorry, so I may give it one more day to heal before getting back on the trail. I was a couple blocks up town from the hotel today as I walked by a woman taking picture of the courthouse, when she turned and looked at me and exclaimed "357 Magnum!" I didn't know her from Adam (or Eve for that matter) and she said "I'm First Wife!" It was Beach Bum's wife. She had just dropped Beach Bum off at the trail head and was doing some sight seeing before heading back home. We chatted for a bit...she gave me some bananas and cookies...and she headed for home. It was really nice to finally get to meet her. We agreed to see if we could all meet up (Beach Bum, First Wife, my wife and myself) in Harper's Ferry, WV next month. Turns out her and Beach Bum had planned on meeting up there and so did my wife and I. If the timing works out, maybe the four of us could go out for dinner one night. People continue to be wonderful to me both on the trail and in these towns. I hitched a ride out to Wal-Mart...that was where he happened to be going when he picked me up. He asked if I wanted a ride back in to town when I was done shopping. He said he'd wait for me if he was done first. I shopped fast and finished before him and caught a ride back with him. The folks here at the Plaza Motel are as nice as could be...they'd bend over backwards for you. I've been the recipient of so many acts of kindness I can't keep track of them all. I'm having a wonderful time! Signing off until I get to another computer somewhere north of here...Cheers...357 Magnum (Wow...tomorrow is May)
Date: 2007-05-01
From: Pearisburg VA (Plaza Motel)

To: Pearisburg VA (Plaza Motel)
Miles today: 0.0

Staying another day to let my shin splints heal. I highly recommend taking care of these things right away and not trying to "push through the pain." I took my brother's advice and used the R-I-C-E treatment. Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation. Tough to do if you try to stay on the trail. For compression, I got an ACE bandage that has inserts that velcro in and run parallel up and down each side of the shin bone. It helps tremendously. Hope you never get them, but if you do...take care of them right away...Cheers...357 Magnum
Date: 2007-05-02
From: Pearisburg VA (Plaza Motel)

To: Rice Field Shelter
Miles today: 6.7
Weather: overcast clouds

I decided to do short miles my first day out of Pearisburg...only 6.7 today. Still, it was a pretty steep climb out of town (as usual) and the pack seemed particularly heavy. I had decided to "beef up" on the food I carry for each day and I think my food bag was much heavier than ever before. I started adding "meat" to each supper meal. Some nights it is foil packets of chicken breast, others a summer sausage. For one night I got a package of real bacon bits to add to my mashed potatoes. I also added more snacks for each day. Seemed heavy, but I was glad I did it at supper time each night. I stopped at the DQ one more time on the way out of town and had a large choco-cherry blizzard. Mmmm-mmmm-good! The leg felt great all day long, but that night I took the bandage off and was smashing a can after supper (with the leg I had shin splints in...not smart I know) and I felt the pain again. I put the splint right back on and that "reminder" served me well over the next few days to really take care of that leg. I've seen way too many fellow hikers have to leave the trail due to injuries...I don't want that to happen to me. I think the psychological worries that it could get worse was more disconcerting to me than any of the physical pain associated with it. But...as I write this on 8 May I am feeling much better and much more confident that it is under control. Thanks to all of you (and I know there are many) who have been prating for me all along the way. There is not a doubt in my mind that your prayers have made a difference. the view from near Rice Shelter was just great. I saw Blissful and paul bunyan when I got there, but they were strapping on their packs to head north. We chatted a bit and they took off. Looks like a rainy night ahead...glad I'm in a shelter...Cheers...357 Magnum
Date: 2007-05-03
From: Rice Field Shelter

To: Bailey Gap Shelter
Miles today: 16.2
Weather: light rain

Don't mean to confuse anyone, but this picture was actually taken on 5 May, not 3 May. I didn't take any pictures on 3 May because I had my camera in a ziplock bag buried deep in my pack to protect it from the inclement weather. There wasn't much to take pictures of anyhow...I felt like I was hiking in a rain cloud pretty much all day. There wasn't a dry spot on me when I got to camp. It sure felt good to get to a shelter, strip everything off, dry as best I could and get into some dry clothes. I didn't even bother with rain gear today, I just hiked in a t-shirt and shorts. I've found that when it is warm enough this is better than hiking in rain gear. I sweat so much in the rain gear that I'm just as soaked, and actually more uncomfortable, when I hike with the rain gear on. this way my rain gear stays dry inside and out and I can use it as an additional layer in camp at night. If it is cold and/or windy when I'm hiking though, I'll wear to rain gear for protection from hypothermia. I went by a shelter today that a tree had fallen on a week or so earlier. The tree was still on the roof...fortunately no one was hurt even though there were people inside when it happened. We had 13 people show up at a 6-man shelter tonight. Glad I got there early! We crammed a seventh in, but the rest slept in tents around the shelter. I felt bad because the weather was pretty wet and miserable. Everyone kept a good attitude about it though and we all made it through the night.
Date: 2007-05-04
From: Bailey Gap Shelter

To: Laurel Creek Shelter
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: light rain

No pics again today...it is wet out here. I actually didn't get much rain today but it was misty/foggy almost all day. I sure wasn't looking forward to putting my wet hiking clothes back on, but I knew I needed to keep my dry clothes dry so I'd have something dry to put on when I got to camp that night. It actually wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, and once I had been hiking for 15 minutes or so I was fine (yet wet) again. Shin splints still seem to be healing nicely...I really have to slow down on loose rock areas and downhills, but on level ground and uphill areas I almost feel back to 100%. Hoping the wet weather breaks soon...it has already lasted longer than the forecast said. Cheers...357 Magnum
Date: 2007-05-05
From: Laurel Creek Shelter

To: Pickle Branch Shelter
Miles today: 22.3
Weather: light rain

The shelter spacing today helped me decide to do a bigger (22.3 miles) day today. There was a shelter at about 12 miles, then the next one was at 22.3 miles. I just didn't want to stop when I got to the forst, so I decided to do a bigger day. Shins held up well though. There was a stream crossing first thing this morning that I found to be a little precarious. With all the wet weather the stream was high and the rocks were wet...I got on one big rock trying to make my way across and started sliding toward the water. My hiking stick saved me though and I was able to get across without getting immersed in a cold mountain stream. Too bad it was overcast again all day today. I passed some spots that I am pretty sure would have been spectacular views on a better day. I'd like to go back some day and see some of these spots again, especially at different times of the year to get the different perspectives that different seasons can bring. I ran in to No-Problem and Chocolate-Bandito today. I hadn't met No-Problem before, but had met Chocolate-Bandito in the first week or two on the trail. Turns out they had hitched a ride north from Damascus and were hiking south back to Damascus to get there by trail days. I passed a tree today that had recently been struck by lightning and burned. I don't know if the fire went out on its own or not, but as I walked by the tree I could still feel heat eminating from it. When I got to the Audie Murphy Monument there was a section hiker named Mama Cass there...she was slack packing. We chatted for a while and she offered me a pack of peanut-butter crackers...guess I must be losing weight or something, most people I meet now are offering me food. I accepted. She took a couple of photos for me and we headed our separate directions (me north, her south). By the end of the (22.3 mile) day I was getting really pooped. There were lots of rocks and steep descents, especially late in the day, and I was very happy to see the shelter when I got there. Newest weather forecast has extended the chance of rain...60% tonight, lingering into the morning hours. Please stop! Supposed to be nice by Monday though....yea!!!!!
Date: 2007-05-06
From: Pickle Branch Shelter

To: Campbell Shelter
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: clear sky

Sure enough...rain during the night, still threatening in the morning...time to put on the wet clothes once more and hit the trail. I did see a couple of glimeses of blue as I was getting ready to hike, but they were gone in a flash. Trash bag, Rodeo Clown, Fidel and his buddy from home were all at the shelter last night. They weren't too excited about getting back out in the rain again either beause I left later than normal but was the first one gone. I had been on the trail about an hour and had made my way up to a ridge line when the winds really started whipping around. I knew I was in for a weather change, I just couldn't tell if it was a good or bad change. About half an hour later, I had my answer. I could see the clouds getting pushed out and more and more gloriously blue sky becoming visible. Within an hour it was simply gorgeous and my spirits were lifted immeasurably. The last few days had been the wettest, gloomiest stretch of days I had experienced so far on the trail, and they can take a psychological toll on you. Still...I should not complain because I have been incredibly blessed with the ratio of good to bad weather I have experienced in the last couple of months. Isn't McAfee Knob neat? The views from there are said to be some of the best in Virginia along the AT. My camera will take about a 90 degree panorama, but you had wonderful valley views at least 180 degrees around you from up there. I was so thankful that the weather had broken in time for me to be able to enjoy those views. Everyone on the trail had been talking for a week about a restaurant at the VA 311 road crossing, so when I got there I headed 1.3 miles down the road to the Homeplace restaurant. I'm glad I did...it was an old farm house completely renovated into a nice restaurant. They serve you family style and it is all-you-can-eat. They had some wonderful home cooking and I left there well fed. As I walked out I ran in to my "perpetual" trail angel Skipper. He gave me a ride back to the trail head where he was going to wait for his family Blissful and Paul Bunyan to get in. I met two local high-schoolers (Josh and Kyle) in the parking lot there...they were about to hike up to McAfee Knob, so we hiked up together. they were very interested in hiking the AT so I answered their questions as we hiked. They actually took the photos for me up on the knob (thanks guys). My shelter was only about 3/4 of a mile past the knob, so I had a nice easy hike to the shelter from there and got ready for the night. For only the second time in about two months I wound up having the shelter all to my self.
Date: 2007-05-07
From: Campbell Shelter

To: Daleville, VA
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: clear sky

I can just imagine a platter full of these things all fried up, maybe with a batch of fresh fish. Seeing this made me a little homesick because they are hunting these things and catching crappie back home right now. Missing out this year, but it is worth it to get the chance to hike the AT. I went over Tinker Cliffs today. It was another really neat section of trail, about 1/2 a mile long, with view after spectacular view. When I got to town I misread the map in my AT book and turned the wrong way. It doesn't show which way you are coming in from on the maps and I guessed wrong, so I headed down US 220 in the wrong direction. Turns out to be a good thing though. I stopped at a Wendy's restaurant for a bite of lunch and there were ben and Amanda just getting ready to leave town. We had a great chat and they introduced me to Del Schechterly, a local trail angel, who offered me a ride to the PO. He had me leave my pack at Wendy's with the manager's permission and ran me to the PO and waited while I got my packages. Then he ran me back to Wendy's and gave me his card and told me to call if I needed anything while I was in town. What a great guy. (Thanks Del) So...my wrong turn actually gave me the chance to see good friends again, meet another trail angel, and save me a hike to the PO. I had a box of supplies (and a card) from Kim, a card and some candy for the trail from Stacy & Jere and a card and some pictures from Cris & Nate. What a great (day-before-my) birthday treat! When I got to the Comfort Inn I was greeted by Duckwalk and Beach Bum. before long I saw Skipper, Blissful, Paul Bunyan, Iceman, backyard boogie, and Toe Socks 1 & 2. We all went out to eat at a local AYCE buffet that night...what a blast. they all wound up singing Happy Birthday to me in the restaurant. Another great day with good people!!!
Date: 2007-05-08
From: Daleville, VA

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

I had a great birthday today. Took a zero in town to resupply, relax and enjoy myself a bit. I have talked to both my daughters, my mom and will be calling my wife real soon. In the oft repeated words of Beach Bum...headed north tomorrow...Cheers...357 Magnum
Date: 2007-05-09
From: Daleville, VA

To: Wilson Creek Shelter
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: overcast clouds

I decided to leave town with a pretty easy hiking day...just 11.2 miles. I wanted to pick up steam pretty quickly in the days ahead and not zero for over a week. I had a good breakfast at the motel, then headed for the UPS store to mail some stuff back home to Kim. From the UPS store I couldn't quite pass the specialty coffee shop without stopping in for a "calorie-filled" mocha. I sat out front and drank it and, while there, met "Walking Cowboy." He got a coffee too because he was waiting for the outfitter to open before hitting the trail. I finally headed down the road to get to the trail head and hit the AT at about 9:30...plenty early for such a short day. The hiking was gentle with well graded trails. I got to my shelter at about 1:30 PM and debated going further, but stuck to my plan and set up to stay the night. Eventually Rodeo Clown, Trash Bag, and Walking Cowboy showed up to spend the night at the same shelter.
Date: 2007-05-10
From: Wilson Creek Shelter

To: Bryant Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 20.6
Weather: broken clouds

Didn't sleep real well last night...at least not at first. There was someone snoring incredibly loudly, so for the second time on the trail I left the shelter around midnight and slept under the stars. I'm very thankful it was a clear night. It was actually beautiful, and I lay there for a while watching the stars up through the canopy of trees above me. With that perspective you can actually see the rotation of the earth. The hiking in the morning was pretty gentle, but got tougher in the afternoon. I was pretty tired by the time the hiking day was done. I started crossing (and often paralleling) the Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP) today. You frequently can't see it, but whenever a car goes by you know it is there. I took an early afternoon swim in Jennings creek today...that was really refreshing. The climb out of there was pretty intense...too bad the stream wasn't at the other end of that climb! The shelter I'm at is very nice. It sleeps 20 and we have about 13 here tonight. I mentioned my poor sleep to Toe Socks 1 and she gave me an extra set of ear pligs she had with her. I should have brought some of my own, because they have proven to be very helpful on several occasions since I got them.