morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-05-02
From: Nolichucky River ( Erwin, TN)

To: Cherry Gap Shelter
Miles today: 16.4
Weather: broken clouds

There is not enough I can say about my stay at Miss Janet¢s place. She is a very kind, caring, and good-hearted person who goes way beyond what you would ever expect from someone you¢ve only just met. After having the usual great breakfast that Miss Janet provides we got a ride back to the trail. It was predicted to be another hot day, and I knew the heat would slow me down considerably. Any time you go into town you can be assured that you will have a day of predominantly uphill travel going back out of town, and today looked to be no different. We didn¢t get back on the trail until nearly 10:30, and I considered staying at the Curley Maple Gap Shelter for the night. It was so early in the day when I arrived that I decided to push on to the next shelter. The long uphill climb to Beauty Spot was well worth the effort, and I saw my first copperhead on the way. Actually, I nearly stepped on it as it was sunning itself on the trail. The open views on top of Beauty Spot were beautiful in all directions from the top of the bald. I guess that¢s why it¢s called Beauty Spot. Except for being without water for four miles in the afternoon, the rest of this very warm day proved to be uneventful. When I stopped at Curley Maple Gap Shelter Earlier in the day I was too busy talking with everyone there and forgot to check on my water supply. I certainly don¢t like getting caught without enough water, but it is likely to happen again because I have a tendency to carry as little water as possible. After getting water at Deep Gap and making the long climb up to the summit of Unaka Mountain there were no views on the pine covered summit, but the trail reminded me of my hikes through the pine forests in Michigan. Eventually, I rolled into Cherry Gap Shelter around 7:00 pm, and found One Day, Skip, Third Times A Charm, and Hong Kong Fuey were also there for the night. Total Ascent:        5,030'Total Descent:        2,810'
Date: 2007-05-03
From: Cherry Gap Shelter

To: Roan High Knob Shelter
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Everyone in the shelter was up for an early start so there was no use in trying to sleep in. During the morning most of the trail turned out to be a series of medium length ascents and descents, and I stopped at the Clyde Smith Shelter for lunch and to get water. After eating lunch I made the climb up to Little Rock Knob where there were some great views from the rock ledges. As I made my way down to Hughes Gap I could hear thunder and lightning beginning to rumble in the distance, so I was a little hesitant about continuing beyond the gap and beginning the long 2,000¢ climb to the top of Roan Mountain. When I made it to the road crossing at the gap I decided to push on until the lightning was closer than it was. It didn¢t take long for the fast moving storm to arrive, and, even at that, I decided to continue on because I still had good tree cover. One Day caught up to me when we were a little more than half way to the summit, and eventually we made it to the foggy summit without incident. By the time I reached Roan High Knob Shelter it had stopped raining, but I could hear more thunder in the distance. Rather than taking any more chances with the weather, I decided to stay there for the night. One Day pushed on because he was meeting up with a friend at Carver Gap, but the decision to stay was a good one for me because it began to rain again and continued on until about 9:00 pm. It wasn¢t long after I settled in for the night that Flyer rolled in and a little later Hong Kong Fuey decided to escape the rain and spend the night too.Total Ascent:        6,160'Total Descent:        3,910'
Date: 2007-05-04
From: Roan High Knob Shelter

To: U.S. 19 E
Miles today: 15.2

As is always the case, I was looking forward to a nice day on the trail after yesterday¢s rain. It¢s not that the rain itself is so bad, but rather the wetness and dampness of your gear that makes it a pain. When I woke up the sun was shining very nicely, but by the time I left the shelter the clouds were already beginning to move in. The trail leading down to Carver Gap was very wide and easy travel, so I thought One Day had a fairly easy trip yesterday evening to meet up with his friend even though it was in the rain. By the time I got to the gap it was evident it was going to rain soon, and it did start even before I finished taking a short break there. The fog also rolled in eliminating any chance for good views from the balds I was about to climb and traverse. By the time I made it to Stan Murray Shelter the rain had stopped, and I caught up again to One Day, who was there drying out. From there I went on to Overmountain Shelter, a barn converted into a shelter, for lunch. There were terrific views of the valley and mountains ahead of me, and I took my time drying out a little and enjoying this beautiful spot. The climb up Little Hump and Hump Mountain was spectacular with views in all directions from the balds, even on this cloudy afternoon. By the time I began my descent from Hump Mountain it was threatening rain again, and it wasn¢t long after descending back into the forest the rain started again, only this time with a little lightning and hail mixed in to make it a little more interesting. Eventually I made it to the US 19E crossing where I walked down to the Mountain Harbor Bed & Breakfast for the night. The bunk room was full when I got there, but the owner let me stay in his trailer that he uses for overflow. Later Starvin Marvin and Pearl joined me in the trailer for the night. One Day also came in a little later, and the two of us along with Hong Kong Fuey got a ride into town where we had a fantastic dinner.Total Ascent:        3,230'Total Descent:        6,560'
Date: 2007-05-05
From: U.S. 19 E

To: Moreland Gap Shelter
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: light rain

After being served a very good breakfast at the Mountain Harbor B&B we started the day¢s hike out in the rain. It wasn¢t very heavy but just enough to keep you guessing about putting on the rain gear. I chose the rain gear, but it never did rain enough to justify wearing it. We passed by Jones Falls and Mountaineer Falls during the first half of the day. Jones falls was the most beautiful I had seen on the trip so far, and then we stopped at the new Mountaineer Shelter above Mountaineer Falls for lunch. Beyond the shelter the trail was mostly a series of short ascents and descents until the final climb and descent to the Moreland Gap Shelter, where I decided to stay for the night. One Day decided to push on to Kincora Hostel for the night, so I¢m not sure if we will meet up again. Hong Kong Fuey, Yogi, and I opted to stay in the shelter and Doodles, Genesis, April, Torpedo, and Nice Enuff all camped next to the shelter. I hope the rain holds off tonight because it looks like this shelter leaks.Total Ascent:        4,630'Total Descent:        3,650'
Date: 2007-05-06
From: Moreland Gap Shelter

To: Dennis Cove Road
Miles today: 6.1

We woke up to the sound of rain this morning, so it was a major boost in morale when it lasted only about 30 minutes, and then the skies cleared. During the night Yogi scored a major victory by capturing a mouse in the trap he had set, but suffered a major blow when he discovered that he had rolled over and slept on his hydration system bite valve. Of course that meant something we all try to avoid like the plague . . . a wet sleeping bag. It was such a pleasure not to be hiking in my rain gear again, and the short hike to Dennis Cove Road went by rather quickly. Actually it was one of the most pleasing hikes, in terms of weather, of the trip so far. It was especially pleasing to see that everything is finally turning green at the lower elevations. Once I reached the crossing at Dennis Cove Road, I walked the short distance to the Kincora Hostel to spend the night. Bob Peoples shuttled us into town from the hostel for resupply and to eat dinner. The rest of the day was spent relaxing because I am planning some big miles to get to Damascus in the next 2 ¢ 2.5 days. We¢ll see what my legs have to say about that. Among those in the full house for the night were O2, Glenn, Torpedo, and Nice Enuff.Total Ascent:        1,120'Total Descent:        2,340'
Date: 2007-05-07
From: Dennis Cove Road

To: Vandeventer Shelter
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: clear sky

I woke up wishing I could get more sleep, but I wanted to get an early start. Between the guy messing around with his gear in the bunkroom until 1:00 am and the early birds leaving real early I didn¢t get much sleep, so I knew it was going to be a long day. It got rather cool overnight, and the early morning was nothing but blue skies and bright sunshine. The descent down to Laurel Falls was a slow and deliberate one picking my way through the rocks and the rock staircase that was constructed by Bob Peoples and his crew. After that I tackled the big climb of the day to the summit of Pond Mountain, and then a very long and gradual descent to Watauga Lake. I stopped there and took a nice break basking in the warm sunshine. After skirting around one side of the lake the remainder of the day was spent up on a ridge high above the lake. Finally, in the late afternoon I reached Vandeventer Shelter, where I decided to stay for the night. Immediately behind the shelter is a rock ledge with the most spectacular view I have ever seen from a shelter. Of course, not all was good about the shelter. The water source was only 0.3 of a mile away but was a very steep 350¢ drop in elevation to get there. That definitely was one trip I wanted to make only once! Also in for the night were Yogi and a section hiker.Total Ascent:        5,110'Total Descent:        3,960'
Date: 2007-05-08
From: Vandeventer Shelter

To: Abingdon Gap Shelter
Miles today: 22.7
Weather: clear sky

I slept in a little later than usual in the morning because I didn¢t want to leave the warmth of my sleeping bag on this very cool morning. I left the shelter right at 8:00 am and began what turned out to be a series of long ridge walks during the day. Of course, walking along a ridge always means you will have many short ascents and descents on what looks to be ¢flat¢ terrain on the elevation profiles. I stopped at Iron Mountain Shelter for a late morning break and read in the shelter register about a big black bear in the area. After reading that, I tried to be more ¢bear aware¢ as I hiked on to Double Springs Shelter.   When I arrived, Hong Kong Fuey, who was in the middle of his 40 miles in-a-day attempt, was just leaving, and, after a short conversation about how his day was going, I took the time to refill my water bottles and eat lunch. Beyond Double Springs Shelter the trail turned into a series of longer ascents and descents all the way to the Abingdon Gap Shelter, where I decided to stop for the night. I considered going on to Damascus, but decided against that because it would have involved some night hiking. I¢ve tried to avoid that if possible, since it really goes against my desire to ¢see¢ the trail as I hike. Also staying at the shelter for the night was Glenn and Critter¢s Daddy. There were reports of a bear in the area so we are taking extra precautions with our food tonight.Total Ascent:        4,820'Total Descent:        4,540'
Date: 2007-05-09
From: Abingdon Gap Shelter

To: Damascus, VA (Apple Tree B&B)
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: scattered clouds

When I got up in the middle of the night I couldn¢t believe the number of stars in the sky. I wish there wasn¢t so much tree cover because the view would have been awesome. Glenn and I both got up early in the morning, anxious to make it into Damascus before noon. Initially the trail was characterized by a series of short ascents and descents, but slowly I did make my way down the mountain. I took a short break at 9:30 to celebrate making it to the Virginia state line marker, something, at times, I was not sure would happen because it seemed so far away. I got to Damascus shortly before 11:00 am, and I found Glenn who had already checked us into the Apple Tree B&B for the next two nights. My first order of business in town was to get new shoes as my old ones were beginning to come apart. Later in the day Glenn and I met with One Day and O2 at the Old Mill for a very good dinner and relaxing time to catch up on each other¢s adventures.Total Ascent:           890'Total Descent:        2,750'
Date: 2007-05-11
From: Damascus, VA (Apple Tree B&B)

To: Lost Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: broken clouds

We had our last breakfast with Judy and Bob first thing in the morning, and, after packing up, I was anxious to get back on the trail. I was a little nervous about hiking a full day with the new shoes I had purchased at Mt. Rogers Outfitters because, even though they are trail shoes, I have always found they require a short breaking in period. Fortunately it is not as long as what is required for regular hiking boots. We didn¢t get on the road until nearly 9:45, and it was already really warm as Glenn and I walked along the streets leading us out of town. After following the trail back into the woods we made two good climbs before reaching Saunders Shelter, where I stopped to get water and take a nice lunch break. From there the trail turned out to be a nice walk in the woods until making one final climb up to the Lost Mountain Shelter, where I decided to stay for the night. There was quite a crowd when I arrived, and among those there was Mr. Tyvek. He is hiking the trail barefoot (ouch!) to promote a bill in congress that would require mandatory testing for post traumatic stress disorder when members of the armed services are discharged from active duty. What's more, most of his clothing and gear was made from Tyvek, and, thus the name Mr. Tyvek. Also among those there for the night were Coach, Handyman, Genesis, and April, who all provided us with some nice live music before drifting off to sleep.Total Ascent:        4,050'Total Descent:        2,600'
Date: 2007-05-12
From: Lost Mountain Shelter

To: Thomas Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: broken clouds

As is always the case, I didn¢t sleep very well in the crowded shelter, and when that happens it usually doesn¢t bode well for the rest of the day. I was out of the shelter and on the trail early enough in the morning, but when I got going there was no doubt my energy level just was not there with the lack of sleep. First up was a 2,000'+ climb to near the summit of Whitetop Mountain, and by the time I got there it began to rain very lightly. It never did rain enough during the day to justify putting on my rain gear, but at times I was very close. I took my time on the long climb up to Mount Rogers, and I even took the blue blaze to the summit since that is the state¢s high point in Virginia. The actual summit is in the middle of the forest so there were no views. From the summit, Thomas Knob Shelter was only a short hike away, and, even though it was still rather early in the day, I just couldn¢t pass up spending the night at such a beautiful place with its panoramic views. Also among those who came in for the night were Glenn, Hikernut, and Mountain Man.Total Ascent:        4,010'Total Descent:        2,040'
Date: 2007-05-13
From: Thomas Knob Shelter

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

I was very disappointed to wake up to a thick fog in the morning, and it was definitely not something I wanted to see for hiking across Grayson Highlands. I decided to delay leaving the shelter as long as possible and was rewarded with the sun burning through the fog shortly before I was ready to leave. After leaving I wasn¢t more than 50 yards from the shelter when I ran into the first group of ponies I would see during the day. They really were very beautiful creatures, and to see them so close was really exciting. As I continued to hike across the Highlands I was in complete awe at the beauty of this place. It was easily the most beautiful area I had traveled through to date, and I took my time hiking through it. Eventually I did make my way to Wise Shelter for a mid morning break as I descended from the Highlands. From there I climbed to the summit of Pine Mountain and took a nice lunch break at the Old Orchard Shelter. The final climb of the day found my way up to Hurricane Mountain and then downhill to the Hurricane Mountain Shelter, where I decided to spend the night. Also there for the night was Glenn, Lunar, and two other section hikers.Total Ascent:        2,300'Total Descent:        3,930'
Date: 2007-05-14
From: Hurricane Mountain Shelter

To: Partnership Shelter
Miles today: 19.7
Weather: clear sky

I woke up around 2:30 in the morning with a stomach ache, so I got up to take an antacid tablet. At the time I didn¢t think much of it, but when I got up in the morning I knew it was something much worse than just a stomach ache. I decided to just pack up and leave without eating breakfast because my stomach felt too upset for any food. Early in the morning I passed Comers Creek Falls, and I enjoyed this beautiful little spot as well as I could. Later I stopped at Trimpi Shelter for lunch and, with the way I was feeling, a long break so I could decide if I should continue on for the day. I did manage to eat a package of Pop Tarts and crackers with no adverse effects, so I decided to continue on. It wasn¢t long after leaving the shelter that I tripped over a rock and fell while on a downhill portion of the trail. I just kind of laid there for a few minutes to gather my senses, and then I continued on in spite of the blood trickling from my knee. With the combination of being sick and my leg hurting from the fall, it took me much longer than normal to hike the distance to the next shelter. And then to top it off, about one half hour before reaching the shelter I hurled up the Pop Tarts and crackers I had eaten for lunch. I did feel slightly better after that, but when I arrived at the shelter my stomach was still too upset to eat anything. We had talked about getting pizzas when we got to Partnership Shelter for the past two weeks, but on this day I could only watch the others enjoy theirs. There were many tenting near the shelter for the night, but, oddly enough, only one other person was sleeping inside this huge shelter. That turned out to be a good thing for me because I crawled into my sleeping bag very early. This has been one day I won¢t soon forget even though I would very much like to.Total Ascent:        3,440'Total Descent:        4,020'
Date: 2007-05-15
From: Partnership Shelter

To: US 11/I 81 Atkins, VA
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: clear sky

I was cautiously optimistic about the day when I felt good enough to eat in the morning, and that was in contrast to hiking nearly 20 miles yesterday with virtually nothing to eat.   But I was feeling very weak and thought it would be better for me to hike the 12 miles to Glenclose, where I could get a room for the night and see a doctor if necessary. It was a warm and beautiful day, and with the short mileage day planned I took my time making what climbs there were in the morning. When I got to the Chatfield Shelter I decided to stop for lunch and rest a little while. Again, I decided to eat a small amount and just before leaving I decided to use the privy. Well, it took two more trips back to the privy before I finally left the shelter, and many times off the trail after that. By that time the only thing that was on my mind on this sunny and breezy day was to make it to Glenclose. When I arrived at the US 11 road crossing I walked the short distance to the Relax Inn and got a room for the night. After cleaning up I did manage to eat a good meal, but I¢m still making far too many trips to the restroom to feel much better about whatever it is that I have come down with. Hopefully, I¢ll feel much better in the morning than I do right now.Total Ascent:        2,350'Total Descent:        2,990'
Date: 2007-05-18
From: US 11/I 81 Atkins, VA

To: Knot Maul Branch Shelter
Miles today: 13.9
Weather: overcast clouds

I had hoped to get a good breakfast before getting back on the trail, but it just did not work out. I did make it back on the trail by 9:00 am on this cool and breezy morning, and, even though I was apprehensive about how the day would go, I was glad to be back on the trail and moving again. Most of the climbing for the day was early in the day, which is almost a given coming out of town. After making the climbs the trail lead through some beautiful rhododendron in full bloom and some lush cow pastures. At one point the cows were blocking the trail, and I had to bushwhack around them through the tall, wet grass. Overall, the day's hike was the most pleasing of the trip in terms of simple beauty, ease of the trail, and weather conditions to hike in. I sorely needed a day like this because I was still weak from being sick. It did start to rain very briefly when I got to the picnic pavilion at the VA 42 road crossing, but I waited that out before continuing on. I finally made it to the shelter around 5:00 in the evening. Also coming in for the night was Wille and Erin (aka Wille Goat and Trail Dancer), who I had not seen for quite some time, and August. Overall, the trail was very quiet today because most had gone back to Damascus for Trail Days.Total Ascent:        3,890'Total Descent:        3,520'
Date: 2007-05-19
From: Knot Maul Branch Shelter

To: Jenkins Shelter
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: broken clouds

I was really reluctant to get out of my sleeping bag this morning because it was so cold for this time of year. Consequently, I was the last one out of the shelter, and I got off to a later start than I had wanted. I made the tough climb up to Chestnut Knob without much difficultly, but it was a very long and consistent climb. The views along the ridge on the way to the top were beautiful to say the least, and when I stopped at Chestnut Knob Shelter for lunch the views from the top of this bald were awesome. Once I reached the top of Chestnut Knob I thought the hardest part of the day would be over, but that turned out not to be the case. After making a fairly steep descent I climbed back to the top of a very long ridgeline, and once on the ridge the trail followed a continual series of very short ascents and descents while weaving through the rocks. It made for some very slow and tiring hiking. I finally made it to Jenkins Shelter for the night around 6:30, and wanting to get a good night¢s rest I decided to set up my tent. Also coming later in the evening was Willie Goat, Trail Dancer, August, Uno Maniac, and some other section hikers.Total Ascent:        4,980'Total Descent:        5,200'
Date: 2007-05-20
From: Jenkins Shelter

To: US 21/52 ÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ Bland, VA
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: few clouds

Over the past two nights I had discovered my sleeping pad had a hole in it. I got up early in the morning and decided to go into Bland for the night so I could try to repair it. It was either do that or wait until I reached Pearisburg, and sleeping on a flat inflatable sleeping pad until that time did not sound too appealing. The trail climbed up onto a ridge early in the day and, with the exception of one descent down to a road crossing and back up again, the trail followed the ridge until I reached the US 52/21 road crossing. With the fairly easy terrain I made very good time getting there, and it only took me about two minutes to hitch a ride into town. The man who picked me up was even kind enough to drive me right to the motel even though it was a short distance outside of town. After checking into the hotel, the first thing I did was water test my sleeping pad. I located one hole, and, after drying the pad outside in the warm sunshine, I made the repair. I spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing, doing the usual ¢town¢ chores, and of course a fair amount of eating.Total Ascent:        2,630'Total Descent:        2,280'