morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-04-24
From: Turkey Gap

To: Abington gap shelter
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: clear sky

V is for Violets, Voices, and VirginiaAn early rise for Beatbox and I; the desire to avoid the heat is stronger than the desire to sleep for us. The heat never came; it remained warm but never became intolerably hot. The terrain was kind to us and no one had any particularly broken parts for their bodies. Rocksteady hiked much of the day with a wad of beef jerky in his lower jaw, chewing on it when the risk of choking was at a reduced level (flat parts).Violets- they fringe the trail. Such lovely companions they make during the day, along with the forget-me-nots and other small perfect blooms that remain nameless to me. There is a similar flower to the violet in yellow, is that the canary? It does please me to see them push up through the dead brown leaves that canvas the forest floor.Voices- always a good sign? No. Not when they are inside your head, or when they are carried by an evil wind, and worse still if you think you have found yourself a private space to relieve yourself and suddenly you are feeling all but relief. Yet voices can be benign, even a beautiful note on the ear. Voices mean I am near other hikers, or nearing camp or a nice spot to take a load off the old dogs. If the voices in my head are telling me to keep going, giving me positive affirmation that this is best thing for me right now I will listen, then maybe grow slightly concerned and seek out more land based voices.Virginia- tomorrow we will cross into Virginia. Some 540 miles of it. I hope it is as beautiful as everyone suggests. I hope it is not too mind numbing, as many say. I know I can make it through without the "Virginia Blues" but Sampson bought a harmonica just in case.Tomorrow town! The guidebook notes, "for North-bounders (that's me) the trail into Damascus is mostly downhill and mildly sloping". It is that qualifier of "mostly" that we will investigate tomorrow.
Date: 2008-04-25
From: Abington gap shelter

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: light rain

W is for Water, Walking, WaistlineOkay, the book didn't lie, it was mostly downhill and we covered ten miles in less than three and a half hours. I was up early and excited, as I was due to meet up with my mom (Momma Cluck) in Damascus. We were all ready to have some relaxation and I was really plussed to see my mum.Water ¢ really heavy, really important, no way to avoid it. I can feel it, I least I am convinced I can, and while going up hill I drink water to lighten my load. Backwards motives I am sure but all to the greater benefit of me- hydration and a lighter pack. There are notations in the data book where water "should" be. I have treated all my water; I don't want to wait nervously 3-5 days for the ingested Giardia to reach maximum gut ripping levels. The polar pure has been so far so good, my skin has not turned to the color of iodine, and the taste is totally non-offensive.Walking ¢ some days more than others. Some days the nature of the trail and its footing allows you to fly. Other days you are stepping more than hiking, noting where each foot lands and all the obstacles lying in wait to throw you down to your face. The days you can glide along the trail feel like gifts, rewards for your hard fought miles.Waistline ¢ the boys are shrinking and the ladies are getting tough!! Gentlemen try the A.T. diet ¢ hike all day, eat all you like, lose twenty pounds a month. As our appetites increase we will be hard pressed to carry all we will want to eat. We will try, and we will achieve our lofty food bag goal.Tomorrow a zero with my Momma.
Date: 2008-04-26
From: Damascus, VA

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Loving the zero day with mom, I give it an A+She drove across seven states to shuttle me and my grubby friends around. Never before would I believe that a Honda Civic could hold six adults and five thru hiker packs. That car was firing on all four inline cylinders, and choking!Mom you are fantastic! Thanks for the food, love, shower, bed, new spoon etc, etc, etc. A dream come true. And thanks for tolerating all our potty humor, and odors! Ten points!Back to the trail, and the alphabet tomorrow.
Date: 2008-04-27
From: Damascus, VA

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

X is for Xerox, X-ray, and XylophoneWe bid goodbye to my mum and broke a record ¢ we left town before noon! I made some calls from the front porch of a very gracious man who allows hikers to make long distance calls for free! Fantastic levels of generosity are often found out here on the trail."The trail provides and the Dude abides."We headed out via the Virginia Creeper trail, an old railroad bed that follows a trout stocked stream. More of this trail used to be part of the AT but now they overlap only for small sections. Once again my pack was heavy but I knew I had a veggie delite sandwich from Subway waiting for me when I reached camp, motivation in vegetables. The day started out warm and sunny but soon the clouds came and poured their fury down on us. Thunder and lighting and a very persistent deluge. The trail was obliterated at times and we were just walking through pools of water. The shelter was full when I arrived, so out to the rain with me. Beatbox had just bought a hammock and while setting up grew saddened to find no rainfly in the kit. He hiked into town to go back to the outfitter and we will rendezvous tomorrow. He was much calmer about the findings than I would have been.Xerox ¢ No two hikers do the trail the same way. There are no identical gear lists and no preprinted dates to follow. Each hike is different to each hiker. Even if they cover the same miles, and even though we all walk the same path there are no ditto copy reproductions, no right or single way to do this. I enjoy that liberation. The miles will be there for me; all I have to do is walk them. X-ray ¢ I hope to never need one out here. Sometimes as I hike I can see points of danger and envision the potential carnage. On falls and near falls I mentally track the projected course of my body and think of who would find me first and just how we would relocate my shoulder. Morbid maybe, helpful perhaps ¢ I haven't needed an x-ray yet.Xylophone ¢ A ridiculous thing to carry but I don't know that I would be surprised. Last year a guy carried a tuba! Often hikers carry a metaphorical xylophone. I carry a chicken, Butters has a whiffle ball and bat, Slim has a garden gnome, Rocksteady has a guitar, Troutbum has his fishing pole and I have seen cook sets better stocked than my kitchen. We all may look at one another with amazement but if you can carry your own xylophone that is all that really matters.Tomorrow ¢ putting on clothes that are still soaking as the rain continues.
Date: 2008-04-28
From: Lost Mountain Shelter

To: Thomas Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: moderate rain

Y is for Yelps, Youth, and YearningWaking in the rain- pleasant. Waking in the rain while camping ¢ bothersome. Waking in the rain in a wet tent knowing you have to put on your wet clothes from the rainy day before and hike all day in the rain- doody. It was tough to get started this morning, and I barely hit the trail before noon. Butters¢ sleeping bag was soaking wet from his single wall tent and he was going to need to go back to town to dry it. If not, hypothermia was a high risk as a possibility. Sampson and Rocksteady looked to be fairly permanent when I left and they did not catch up all day (I guess they stayed). The group seemed truly splintered until by great coincidence I was crossing the road just as Beatbox was arriving from his Damascus boom-a-rang hammock adventure. We hiked through some light rain and winds to Mt. Rogers and called it a night at the shelter. It was a two-story shelter with the second floor fully enclosed. Stomp, Shuffles, Slim, Bogey, and Troutbum were all upstairs, so I too nestled in. It was sure to be cold, the winds had picked up and even with all those bodies we were snuggled in deep.Yelps ¢ I yelp a lot. Yelps for falls, slips, near falls, rolled ankles, wet puddle surprises, and sighting of an anticipated shelter. I try and keep them quiet or modify them to tiny "meows" when others are around to limit the startle factor. When it is just me and the woods, no holds barred. "YELP" it wakens the hiking mind.Youth ¢ People of all ages hike the A.T. There seems to be two major age groups ¢ twenty somethings and new retirees. After four hundred miles on the trail we are all youth. Groups mingle and mesh. We joke together, hike together and look forward to each other¢s company. Without jobs, income brackets, family structures, or social pretenses there are no youth, no elderly ¢ just A.T. Hikers. We are all youth, just with elderly knees.Yearning ¢ for something different each day and each moment. I almost never think of Katadin, but more likely of the next campsite, next town, next meal, downhill, chance to eat town food, opportunity to rest the feet etc, etc. The AT leaves you always yearning. It is good to know that you always want more.We will see what this stormy evening holds; the picture is a spoiler. Tomorrow wild ponies! Or is it wild horses???
Date: 2008-04-29
From: Thomas Knob Shelter

To: Old Orchard Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: broken clouds

A most notable day worthy of one final interruption in the alphabet series.When we last left our fearful hiker she was hunkered down in the attic of the Thomas Knob Shelter breathlessly awaiting an impending storm. Because of her spoiler picture (see 4/28) you know the nature of said storm.....The wind sounded fierce. No one was truly asleep and you could feel each body tense as we expected the roof to fly off. Wisely Beatbox had abandoned his hammock and also moved into the attic due to the bitter cold. A deeper thunder than I had ever heard rolled through the valley and up the mountain shaking our limbs. Then came the rain, sleet, and snow. The snow found its way into the shelter and you could feel it land on your hardly exposed face. We started to stir in the morning ¢ 17 degrees in the shelter (without the wind chills) and all of our boots, clothing, socks, and food - frozen. The wind continued to gust, shaking the shelter and none of us were moving until the sun turned up a bit. Troutbum heard a weather report talking of regional tornados with injuries numbering in the two hundreds and we were thankful to all be safe. With another day and night in the thirties predicted we all knew it was best to leave. Slowly the pack up started. Snow, ice and mud covered the ground making for dangerous footing- despite the desire to get warm it was slow going. Beatbox had sent all his pants home but luckily found an abandoned pair of small women¢s pants in the shelter. Putting on frozen boots and leaving the "warmer" sleeping bag were the hardest parts. We waited until noon to leave and by then the winds had calmed and the sun had started to heat the earth. It was slow hiking but beautiful. Like a Christmas card. As we dropped in elevation it was if it was a different day. The snow was melting and the winds only mildly biting. We made our way off Thomas Knob and to the Greyson Highlands.They told me I would see wild ponies at the Greyson Highlands. They were right! At least twenty of them, wild as can be but trained to approach the sound of wrinkled plastic. Beatbox and I stopped and fed, pet and talked with the ponies and their new foals for some time. What a treat. Like something out of a magical fairy tale; a land beyond the ice and snow, where wild ponies play and green grass grows.We called it a day early because of the late start and with hopes to see the rest of our hiking crew soon. Tonight I am going to sleep in the shelter to avoid packing up a frozen tent. As an aside, today I crossed the 500 mile line- big deal...... Yeah it is huge deal! Yippee! Next step- quarter way point. Soon enough but we will have to wait...
Date: 2008-04-30
From: Old Orchard Shelter

To: Trimpi Shelter
Miles today: 14.1
Weather: clear sky

Z is for Zero, Zoom, and ZappedI woke again to frost, glad I stayed in the shelter. Packing up a frozen tent is tough on the wee bare hands. Beatbox made a wind wall with our tent and hammock flys to cut the cold in the shelter. This of course generated a number of rumors. Good trail gossip fodder. Hiking weather was great and we even managed to get in and out of Troutdale in two hours (short term re-supply, wifi, and burgers)! We had hoped to see more of the five-knuckle shuffle tonight but no signs so far. Reports from faster hikers note they are no more than five miles back. There is a nice crew at the shelter tonight, cooking marshmallows and hotdogs on the fire. It is warmer so it should be a better nights sleep. My body wants out from all these constant layers. Literally it is making quite a stink!Zero- As you know a zero is a day when "zero" miles are completed. These are taken for any number of reasons- injury, fatigue, family, weather, sanity or without any reason at all. I have had my share of zeros for now. "Town makes you soft." The softer you are the harder it is to get going. I am in a going mood so, besides a potential trip home, I hope to roll in and out of the next few towns were I have re-supply planned.Zoom- Some days my legs, my whole body feels like a machine, a single unit finely tuned to cover trail at a blistering pace- ZOOM. Some people really do zoom right past me; people who started weeks after me are passing me! That has a tendency to make me feel...Zapped- but I need to hike my own hike. Zoom when I can, zero when I want and avoid feeling zapped.That concludes our alphabet series; I hope you all enjoyed it. Tomorrow is May Day and our sights are on the Partnership Shelter. Why? I will tell you tomorrow.
Date: 2008-05-01
From: Trimpi Shelter

To: Partnership Shelter
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: clear sky

Happy May DayMay first, I cannot believe how time flies. I woke this morning warm and refreshed after a comfortable, satisfying night of sound sleep. Beatbox spent his first full night in his hammock, leaving it only to seek out a "large unknown noise" in the night. He found no answers.The plan was a quick smooth ten miles to Partnership Shelter, a most heavenly place. Why is that you ask? It is 0.1 miles from the Mt. Rogers visitor center where there is a phone and a menu for a local restaurant that delivers pizza, burgers, you name it. On top of that the shelter is fairly new, very well kept and features potable water and a HOT shower! Dream come true. We got there quickly and ate, made some calls and waited for Sampson and Rocksteady to arrive while Beatbox hitched into town to get his mail drop. As hikers trickled in there were reports of our friends whereabouts but they were ill. Rather Sampson was ill, vomiting all day. Beatbox pressed on and I waited until 5:30 to start packing up. Just as I was about to pick up my pack here comes Sampson and Rocksteady. Reports are that Rocksteady was a true friend in Sampson's grimmest hour. Sampson is resting in his tent still unable to eat or drink. We will have to play tomorrow by ear. I met a swath of new people who for some time had only been a half a day behind, crazy linear world. A great day, albeit short.With the alphabet complete and this being May AND my love of alliterations, May will feature Monday's Menus. Each Monday, no secrets kept, no calories hidden- a thru hikers full 24 hour ingestion. Hold on tight.
Date: 2008-05-02
From: Partnership Shelter

To: Atkins, VA
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: clear sky

R+R at the Relax InnI woke early this morning, the sun seems to be growing more and more eager to start me on my merry way. Sampson was up shortly after and feeling quite a bit better, but rather taxed and dehydrated from the prior 24hours of vomiting and oral intolerance. We thought we would play the day by ear and go nice and slow. It was going to be sunny and warm which could intensify feelings of internal blah resultant from low levels of body fuel.Rocksteady grew more powerful today going 7.1 miles in about two hours! So powerful! Sampson and I arrived about an hour later. By the by, sick Sampson is still faster than me. Sigh. Samp felt pretty peeked and wanted to call it an early day, get lots of fluids in slowly, and get a good nights sleep. We set our sights on the Relax Inn.In order for certain hotels to have four and five stars some have to have one or two. Not having to share a bathroom, good, mouse poo in the bible drawer bad. Right next to the trail good, just rudimentary enough to not let you get to comfortable also good, mystery splatters on the wall not good. Trail rating- two stars. I expect it will be fairly easy to get going but just as nice to get clean, wash my clothing, and let Sampson mend. Tonight a gas station dinner and bad TV watching. Ahhh trail/town life. Tomorrow perhaps we will see Beatbox again.
Date: 2008-05-03
From: Atkins, VA

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

25% Passed30% Perspiration45% PrecipitationAh, waking up with a pillow in a bed slows the body, blackout curtains numb a hiker's sun based waking response system. What does it all mean really, for us- another long morning. When breakfast can also function as lunch. We had a huge and delicious breakfast at the restaurant up the street named "The Barn". Breakfast out is my favorite. Coffee, cheap eggs and here in the south, biscuits- doesn't get much better. In the real world coffee encourages one to loiter, here it seems more on the side of, let's say, inspiring. So good.We made it to the first shelter early and ran into some familiar faces. The forecast called for rain and the sky and wind appeared to agree. We pushed on hoping to get some more miles in and narrow the gap on Beatbox, all the while wondering where Butters is too. It rained on and off, harder at times. It slowed for one climb, just enough for me to get good and hot and I realized that the summit was the quarter mark! Meager I know, but an accomplishment nonetheless. I was happy and had a tiny solo celebration right there at the summit. The miles seemed to move quickly and the terrain was mild. When we got to camp we learned Beatbox had left a few hours ago but may have had nine miles planned. Pooped we all went to bed early, maybe tomorrow...Soon I will teach you of the dangers of the trail.
Date: 2008-05-04
From: Knot Maul Branch Shelter

To: Jenkins shelter
Miles today: 19.1
Weather: clear sky

Least favorite game- "Who Moved the Shelter?"A solids nights¢ sleep, I had a couple of stressful dreams and it was reported that I did a bit of rudimentary communication in my sleep. At this point I am so familiar with my shelter mates that this no longer embarrassing. It does however provide a good deal of teasing for the next few days.We started the day with a big 2000+ foot climb. At the top, nine miles into the day, I came to a beautiful, fully enclosed shelter, and there stood Beatbox! When Rocksteady came up the hill and saw Beatbox he fell over, must have been with joy. We faffed around for two in the sun then decided to try for another ten miles.Ten miles felt like twenty. This happens sometimes, particularly as the miles increase and the sun gets lower in the sky. Then as you calculate where the shelter ought to be and where you want it to be, that is where things get hairy. You start shelter searching with your eyes, convincing yourself that logs are roofs and rocks are walls as you trip distractedly over roots and stumble down cliff edges. Minutes seem like hours and you start thinking that you passed a side trail, or maybe someone moved the shelter. It is possible, you rationalize, that someone may have moved it just a few miles on. When the shelter finally appears, you look for someone to agree that yes- that did seem far, much further than your guidebook, maps, and your buddy¢s guidebook suggested, they must ALL have been wrong.Possible or not, tomorrow Bland, VA and our first May Monday Menu featuring the fully recovered Sampson.
Date: 2008-05-05
From: Jenkins shelter

To: Helvey's Mill shelter
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: scattered clouds

May's Mondays MenusFeaturing- Town Trip SampsonThere was a little note at Jenkins Shelter noting that every Monday morning there was an all you can eat breakfast five miles up the trail offered between 9:30 and 12. We were going to be there. Sampson, Beatbox, Rocksteady, Dr. Zayus, and Creek Diver all beat me out of camp- unparalleled the haste of hikers with the promise of free food. We all went that five miles in less than ninety minutes. It was mostly downhill, and I may have jogged a lame variation of a hiker jog to catch up. The food and kindness was amazing. We left so stuffed we walked only about twenty paces before lying down in the sun to rest and digest. Forty-five minutes later we could consider hiking. The terrain was pleasantly rolling and pine needles paved the path. We made it to the road and quickly managed a hitch into the town of Bland, VA in the back of a pickup. Unfortunately, on the windy ride Rocksteady's ground cloth and sleeping pad flew from the back of the truck. Despite an exhaustive search on the way out (from a kindly hiker/geologist) only the ground cloth was recovered. Bland 1: Rocksteady 0. We ate, recharged various electronics, and re-supplied and hopped back on the trail- a first!Sampson eats- Unique because of the occurrence of trail magic and town trip in the same day. (Sampson would like to say that this is a paltry day, and he may still be recovering, and if he had more time he could have done better work at breakfast.) Amounts are approx. And note that a helping is a bit larger than a set serving size:Orange juice 10 ozCoffee- one cupScrambled eggs- 2 helpingsEgg and sausage casserole- 2 helpingsSausage on a biscuit- 2Fried grit patty- 1Pancake with strawberry perseves-1Molasses- spoonfulApples, baked- bowlfulNature valley granola bar-1Apple-1Propel fitness water-24 ozMeatball sub with the works- 1 footDoritos-1bag (single serving)Fritos-1 bag (single serving)Nilla wafers- 15Cookie homemade- 1.5Mellow Yellow- 2 medium sizedAh, what a hiker eats! Sampson has lost so much weight he can no longer get the hip belt on his pack tight enough to support the weight of his bag. It doesn't cinch down small enough!Tomorrow the hunt for Butters, and perhaps a trip to Dismal Falls (sounds lovely really).
Date: 2008-05-06
From: Helvey's Mill shelter

To: Kimberling Creek
Miles today: 16.3

Another beautiful day on the trail. We have experienced a lovely run of warm sunny days without piercing heat. I left camp a little later than usual due to delays in costume changes. I know it is going to be warm, I know that once I put that pack on my back and start moving the sweat will start brewing. I also know that it feels really nice to keep my long sleeves on in the morning, and maybe even a jacket. I know that if I wait just a bit longer the sun will heat up just a touch making the transition all the easier. How can a silly girl know so much?The woods smelled wonderful and the sunlight gentle this morning. We all regrouped at Jenny Knob Shelter for a late, long lunch. Although there were no monumental climbs today fatigue and claims of pizza called us in to shorten the day a bit. We got pizza at Trent's Grocery with a new mate, Downstairs. Full bellies directed us to a tent nearby where much desired showers where an option. Our hair needs no gel to style it and our socks can be held parallel to the ground with one hand. A grubby crew we are.Of note we did have two climbs named "Brushy Mountain" today, making for a total of three in two days. Maybe there were not a lot of creative or egotistical types when this stretch was being named. Other options: Shrub Mt., No Tree Mt., Great View Mt., scratchy on your legs Mt., great place for snakes Mt., McCarthy Mt. (just brain storming).Maybe brushy is not so bad after all. News reports suggest Butters is nearing, we hope to see him soon. Tomorrow I will promptly ruin all the good a shower has done.Lying in my tent I can hear cop cars and ambulances flying by, and a helicopter buzzes overhead. Busy night for the AT, tomorrow back to the quiet of the woods.