morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-03-31
From: Damascus VA

To: Saunders Shelter
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: overcast clouds

10 miles todayWoke early this morning, after a squeaky door night. One of the doors in the hostel needs oil on its hinges, with the breeze blowing down the hallway. We jammed a paperback book in the side space to keep it from moving. The 5 of us walked to the other side of town to the Creek Side Cafe for breakfast. We took the Virginia Creeper Trail. That is a bike trail that used to be RR tracks during the logging boom. We got our resupply boxes from the post office at 9 am. Thank goodness!! Fiber was torn between waiting with us and moving on, but...the Team Florida are staying together!! Left town at about 11:30 am. Suds & Subman have Dr appt at 2 today.We arrived at Saunders Shelter at 4:30, after a little sprinkle at 2:30-ish. It did rain a little at about 5:30; but we were safe & at the shelter. It was hot & humid today and we saw the sun for only about a hour. We had our first trail detour....a bridge was out and we walked the Creeper Trail again, which runs along the river. Very pretty!! All that running water....We passed a few trees that had chew marks and wire mesh over that chew area. Guess the beavers in the area wanna stop the water and the humans put a stop to it. Say yippy to the privy!! Virginia allows a privy, so....at shelters we don't have to dig cat holes....praise the Lord!! Critters: crows, heard dogs barking in the distance and we kicked up 2 grouse; and yes, Suds....I saw it, I saw it!!
Date: 2016-04-01
From: Saunders Shelter

To: Thomas Knob Shelter
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Saunders Shelter to Thomas Knob Shelter for 19 milesIt was a long day of hiking. We saw several day hikers today, as well as section hikers on spring break. Dad and daughter, Addy, at Lost Mountain Shelter were so very nice. They even trail Angel us, by offering to take our trash. We had very little, since only one night out, but still a blessing!! We also met a couple a couple miles from Thomas Knob that said there is a couple dads with sons there. One of the sons is 7 and was going on and on to them about being tired. He told about staying at his grandparents and having all nighter....yadah yadah. Well, we saw them at the shelter and Big Cypress said you must be 7 and relayed all that he had told that couple. The boy was dumbfounded!! His look was priceless. We told him that word travels faster than the internet out on the trail!! Then told him that we met the couple and they told us his story!   We all got a good giggle!!So....We thought we had to wait until tomorrow to see the wild ponies, but we saw 2 right before the shelter tonight. So cool!! Passed lots of streams and hiked on the Creeper Trail again.Critters: Chipmunk, Rabbit, Crows and heard a frog singing.
Date: 2016-04-02
From: Thomas Knob Shelter

To: Hurricane Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 16.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Thomas Knob Shelter to Hurricane Mountain Shelter for 16.5 milesLots and lots of day hikers, since it's Saturday. Went through the Fatman Squeeze / rock tunnel this morning. We found a SOG hatchet on the trail. Big Cypress decided it was worth carrying to send home at some point. The Grayson Highlands State Park was a rocky morning hike, then finally...ponies!!! And grass areas to hike on, pleasant for feet!! The ponies were aloof....doing what they do everyday....eat grass.   Last night on the other hand, we had storms roll in. The ponies that greeted us before the shelter yesterday, wanted to join us IN the shelter!! Yep, they were walking around the entrance (we had the tarp pulled and covering the opening) they pushed on it and moved on to munching on a log laying nearby once they realized we weren't sharing the shelter!! We got trail magic, Corn Bread, from sisters from NH. So nice!! Hit 3 mph at one point, because the winds were whipping and we were not dressed for it, so moving fast was to stay warm and get to the not windy area!! We saw a bunch of Syrup Tapping trees, near The Scales, livestock corral. They had them all blocked off with tape and a Tour sign posted. Critters: Red color squirrel, chipmunk and grouse.Met Wonka - thru hiker from Arlington VA at Hurricane Shelter tonight.
Date: 2016-04-03
From: Hurricane Mountain Shelter

To: Partnership Shelter
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: few clouds

Hurricane Mtn Shelter to Partnership Shelter 19 milesBitterly cold and gusty winds this morning. Partly frozen water bottles this morning. Hard to get out of sleeping bags in those conditions! We usually have to peel layers off at some point, shortly after hiking, but not this morning...We only took of one layer, but kept on wind breakers for while longer!! Comers waterfall this morning, very pretty!! Pretty Forsythia flowers at lunch next to Trimpi Shelter. That was a fancy shelter bunks on each side and fire place in center. Rocks and sore feets again, from trail today. Smooth sailing last couple miles into Partnership. Arrived and greeted with camp fire and the Near Miss gang!!! They were as surprised to see us as we were them. (Rooster, Rabbit, 4k, Crash and Leopard). Rooster said they just got back from Jim & Carrie Sparks (trail angels in Marion VA) they asked about us and wanted to meet us! We called them, they came to pick us up to take us to where ever we needed to go. Only thought ....Chinese Buffet!! We can't thank them enough!! So super nice and amazing couple!! Their son, Spark, thru hiked in 2014 and they started being angels last year!! They picked us up after gorging ourselves and back to the shelter at about 8-830, and giving us fruit as snacks!! Hugs and many many thanks for such a blessing!!We did a lot of shelter sleeping this week. This shelter you can order pizza delivery, no renting within quarter mile from shelter. Super nice shelter and even a fancy privy.
Date: 2016-04-04
From: Partnership Shelter

To: Relax Inn - Atkins VA
Miles today: 11.6

Partnership Shelter to Atkins VA @ Relax Inn for 11.6 milesWoke at light. Not too chilly last night or this morning. Near Miss gang slept in the attic portion of shelter. Then Wonka, Scrappy, his 2 hiker friends and Fiber and Big C and I slept on lower level. Full house!!Breakfast...and off by 7:45 am. Fiber, Big Cypress and I met the Near Miss at Chatfield Shelter for lunch. Then we all moved on to the Lindamood School. Old school house from late 1800's. Plus, trail magic treats and needs inside!! Amazing!! We also met Greyhound and her folks and aunt and uncle, section hikers, at the school. Arrived the motel about 3 and then Old Hickory pulled up and said he was sent by Steady & Teach to pick us up and bring us up to the Barn Restaurant. So.....So.....great!! Steady & Teach made friends with him and the three of them saw us from the window hiking in to the motel!! Old Hickory is section hiking and Steady & Teach are helping him with logistics and in turn we have wheels for Dollar General run!! Trail Angel and fellow hikers!! Thanks Old Hickory!!Near Miss gang stayed at the motel also and we all hung out last night till about 8:30-9 pm, visiting!! Look who shows up....The Hiking Viking!! Started in Maine, dead of winter!! We all got pictures with him!! Trail celebrity!!
Date: 2016-04-05
From: Relax Inn - Atkins VA

To: Relax Inn - Atkins VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Zero Day Atkins VAVery friendly owner/operaters of the Relax Inn. Comfortable room, comfy bed!! Better than a noisy hostel. Laundry done, breakfast at The Barn Restaurant in hungry hikers tummies. We had the breakfast called 2x4....mmm good. Eggs, 2 Bacon, 2 sausage, toast, potatoes and 2 pancakes.Now just going through our resupply boxes and staying horizontal, resting our weary bodies.
Date: 2016-04-06
From: Relax Inn - Atkins VA

To: Knot Maul Branch Shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: clear sky

NOTE Picture to Come, Can't load yetWE MADE IT 1/4 OF THE WAY TO MAINEWe woke at 6 am. Breakfast at the Barn Restaurant at 7:30 with Fiber and Steady. Teach is feeling sick so she stayed in the room at the Relax Inn. They aren't sure if they are gonna get on the trail today or not. Later we found out they are stayin' another night.We hit the trail at 8:55 am. after visiting with a local man that drove past us and turned around to talk with us about the trail. He had questions and likes to talk with hikers, as he'd like to thru hike some day.It was a very rough day for some reason. Not really sure why. We didn't eat poorly and we slept decent, so that wasn't the problem as it was in the past. There were a lot of up hills and this morning they were really steep. We usually say, "they want us up this hill/mountain fast." We stopped for lunch snack and break at about noon. This is our usual plan for each day, hike half our miles for the day by 11:30 to Noon, then continue on, to reach camp/shelter anywhere from 4 to 6-6:30.   We planned on hiking to the first shelter to sleep tonight, so lunch was a flat camping spot at a stream, which would be our half way miles of hiking today. SUNSHINE and TEARS!!! I struggled with the steep climbs this morning and they got to me. When we arrived at lunch I broke. I just started crying....I got a big hug from Big Cypress and cried even more. I felt like..."I just don't want to walk or hike today!!" After resting at lunch, I felt better.We arrived at shelter at about 5 pm. It was a beautiful sunny day all day. Some clouds showed up at about 3. We hiked in very green farm fields today and I also realized I don't like the fence stiles. These are A frame "ladder" type thing to get over barbed wire fences. They are not the easiest thing to get up and over. Awkward and sometimes steep. Didn't see any other hikers today, until the shelter, we got a fire going and Mustard Seed showed up. We first met Mustard Seed in Hot Springs. We slept in the shelter tonight, cuz bad weather was forcast. Dinner was Tamale Rice that we made at home and was D e l i c i o u s!!Critters: 4 foot long Black Racer snake, sunning on the trail, we all saw it, as we waited for it to move along. Great Blue Heron, along with various song birds. Vultures flying above.
Date: 2016-04-07
From: Knot Maul Branch Shelter

To: Jenkins Shelter
Miles today: 20.1
Weather: overcast clouds

We got an early start this morning, Mustard Seed slept through our departure prep. He woke as we were leaving. His plan is to hike as far as his body will take him. We ran into Old Hickory after about 15 minutes from our shelter departure. He is doing well, doing section hike south bound and we were happy to see him. We chatted for a few minutes, but since it was a long miles day (20.1) we pressed on. He told us that Steady and Teach were with Spirit of 76 at Relax Inn and not sure if they moved on to hike or still in Atkins.Ok, so...yesterday was a rough day, but today was hard hard hard. We had rain, then sleet, then rain, then sleet. Super windy, at Chestnut Knob Shelter, where we stopped for lunch. It's a concrete shelter with a door up on a open hill. The temp inside was reading 40.We ran the ridge line most of the day, which means....no water source. We knew there was one after the Chestnut Shelter, but we Never saw it!! That meant about 7 miles, of no water to refill...only going with what we have left. We made it to about 3 miles away....When we got to the water source, a stream, we filled all our containers. I was SOOO thirsty, that I couldn't wait the 30 minutes to drink the treated water and just drank some.... we've heard of others not treating and just drinking from the source...so - I did. Big Cypress warned me not to do it, to wait...but I was sooo thirsty. I started feeling woozie and sure enough, didn't feel well enough to eat all my dinner. Fiber helped me with that, as usual. He's always hungry and helps me eat my meals, if I can't. We arrived at Jenkins Shelter at 6:15 pm, happy to arrive!! All safe and sound. Critters: lots of Blue Jays and Fiber saw 2 Doe
Date: 2016-04-08
From: Jenkins Shelter

To: Helveys Mill Shelter
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: light rain

Don't drink the water without treating it!! So, as I mentioned yesterday, I was feeling sick or woozie last night. Well.....I planned ahead, just in case, pulled out a gallon zip lock bag before going to sleep, in case I got sick and couldn't make it out of our sleeping bag and out of the shelter quick enough, if ya know what I mean!?! Good call...I got sick a couple times. Woke this morning and didn't want to hike, but felt ok enough to do so. I skipped breakfast, only had hot cocoa instead. Still feeling woozie-ish. We, thank God, didn't have a long hike day planned, only 13.8 miles. I sipped water, at peanut M & M's sparingly, and it all stayed down. My main goal all day was for all of us to arrive safe and just go to sleep and wake as none of this ever happen. We arrived at Helveys Mill Shelter at 4 pm. Lucky Duck passed us just after we crossed over I-77 using VA 612. He had claimed his spot at shelter and Fiber, Big C and I slept in the shelter too. Bad weather, cold and snow are expected. Fiber started a fire and he and Big C made sure it burned all night. That is something that helps me daily, makes me feel better mentally and the warmth helps too!! I ate some oatmeal, for dinner, but only a few bites. I even felt yucky just smelling Fiber's and Big Cypress's dinners. Fiber again came to my rescue, finished my oats. We, the three of us, came to the conclusion that I don't have Noro....since Big and I have shared drink bottles and Fiber, pretty much eats my portion of meals that I can't and they are feeling fine!! Praying that this is the case.Water source at Helveys is far away almost half mile, down a steep switch back. Sometimes the water at shelters is a real challenge and sometimes, it's better to get water at a source BEFORE the shelter, even if it means carrying it a couple miles.Critters: I sadly don't recall, since we are writing this on the 10th and since I was sick....that day was a blur I'd like to forget.
Date: 2016-04-09
From: Helveys Mill Shelter

To: Trent Grocery
Miles today: 16.5
Weather: few clouds

Praise the Lord for Woods Hole Hostel and Neville and Michael!!Ok, I woke up and yes....Praise Jesus, I feel better. "Like it never even happen" I ate all my oatmeal and we got ready to go pretty quick, since it was about 24 degrees this morning. Snowed all night!! Lucky Duck has hardly any clothes and none being for winter conditions. He stayed at the shelter, we don't know his plans.We had some pretty "easy" trail today and thank God for that as we had extremely windy - 40 mph gusts and a wall of snow, at one point ominously barreling in from our 9 o'clock.....we all had our rain gear on were still pretty cold. Our shoes were wet, as most of the trail was an inch deep of snow, but a lot of trail was 6 inches deep and several spots a foot drifts. When we stopped for lunch at Jenny Knob Shelter, we didn't stay long, cuz toes were cold. Moving keeps ya warm and mostly sweaty. We could have taken off our rain gear, but as usual, one side of the trail is cold and blustery and once side is warm and calm. We arrived at Trent's Grocery at about 3:30-4 pm, at some subs and called Michael and Neville from Woods Hole Hostel to pick us up - after we checked the weather. It is supposed to be teens-low 20's and more snow. Wet shoes....We were planning on tenting at Trent's and changed our plans. Praise the Lord!!   Michael picked us up and when we arrived at the Hostel, Rabbit and Leopard were there. Rooster is sick and in town, 4K is getting his camera worked on and Crash went to the store for resupply. They are all supposed to meet up in Pearisburg.Michael and Neville usually do a communal dinner, but tonight, since Neville is already in town, they were going out to dinner. So...Big Cypress and I stayed at the Hostel to rest and allow room in the vehicle for others to go eat. We just asked Rabbit to call us from the restaurant so we could order a couple pizza's. They didn't get home or back to the hostel until 10 pm. We were rested, showered, laundry done and relaxed and very very happy we didn't go to the restaurant. WOODS HOLE HOSTEL IS THE BEST - NICEST - AMAZING - RELAXING HHostel We've EXPERIENCED!! County Living Magazine should do a piece on them, if they haven't already!! Neville's grandparents bought the log cabin and had the hostel in the 80's and OMG Michael and Neville have worked to make this home for hikers the best .....Critters: lots of wild turkey, three butterflies alive but unable to fly cuz of the cold, laying on the trail. One small purple butterfly and two doe.
Date: 2016-04-10
From: Woods Hole Hostel

To: Woods Hole Hostel
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: fog

Woke at sunrise, just one of those things that happens now.Mountain Man was in the common area, which is our sleeping area, while we are here. We are sleeping in the loft area of the log cabin. Fiber is sleeping in the bunk room. John and Fisherman joined us all at breakfast. Rabbit and Leopard moved on to Pearisburg this morning.Neville and Michael made, farm fresh eggs, organic sweet potato hash browns, farm fresh sausage, orange slices, fried maple syrup banana's and apple juice.Fiber and Big Cypress and I have been dreaming of massages....well....Neville and Michael are licensed massage therapists. So, as of this posting 12:36 pm on Sunday the 10th we are in line for massages, while eating our organic farm fresh Woods Hole home made ice cream!!!!   Gonna be hard to leave....I will update more today ....hopefully in little while. Our Massages were amazing and we had a great communal dinner and relaxing day and night!!
Date: 2016-04-11
From: Woods Hole Hostel

To: Docs Knob Shelter
Miles today: 17.6
Weather: light rain

Neville dropped us off at the road crossing for the trail near the Trent's Grocery, where we got off the trail Saturday @ 9:30 am.Pretty nice trail this morning. Then rocks and pyramids of doom(pointed small rocks). We had sprinkles this morning, but then sunny all day. This morning was my worst emotional day yet. I think it was the family like dinners & breakfasts at the hostel, the dogs and cats, every just being together.....I woke this morning missing everyone!! Family and friends at home.....Oliver our dog....the stuff we are missing out on. Like our soon to be little girl addition to my side of the family. Jonathan and Mariah are breaking the grandsons and Greatgrandson line....finally a granddaughter/great granddaughter. So.....I'm feeling the emotional flows!! My original post was only going to be Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Since that is pretty much all I could repeat this morning, yes, while again....crying!! Big Cypress and Fiber are very understanding. We talked while hiking and that helped. Along with the sun coming out!! We saw SOBO hiker Mountain Man. He was at the Woods Hole Hostel with us, we also saw NOBO Babbit, And a turkey hunter first thing this morning on the trail....but we didn't tell him we had already saw a few turkey. Critters: Turkey, Doe and lots and lots of butterflies!!
Date: 2016-04-12
From: Docs Knob Shelter

To: Rice Field Shelter
Miles today: 15.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Happy Birthday Brudda BDocs Knob to Rice Field Shelter for 15.7 milesWe got started at 8:20 am. Heading for Pearisburg VA for resupply boxes. Rain & Wind - poncho kinda morning. Arrived town and Miss Sherri was leaving a business as we were walking by, I flagged her and asked for ride to post office. She said sure!! Thank you for our Angel miss Sherri. It was farther than it looked on the map. Got our boxes and sent one home. Met up with Steady & Teach at the Plaza Motel. Filled our bellies at Dairy Queen.....mmmm....Blizzards!!!Critters: Snail, Doe, caterpillar, Nuthatch bird, blue jays.
Date: 2016-04-13
From: Rice Field Shelter

To: Bailey Gap Shelter
Miles today: 16.5
Weather: broken clouds

Rice Field to Bailey Gap for 16.5Yesterday's additional thanks to trail angel....Steve. He was coming out of the gas station in his classic pickup truck and I asked him if he would drop us off at the trail head. He said sure, and we got in the back, which was sparkling clean. By 4:06 pm we were hiking to Rice Field. Amazing!!! And so thankful!! We also met SOBO hiker, Trouble. Saw Flowering Dogwood and Red Buds. Lots and lots of wild flowers. Like Wild ColumbineMet at the Rice Field shelter, Who Dat, Dirt Face, Double Dip. They tented on the hill in front of shelter.Woke up and greeted by Dr Trail, asking "who wants bagels". We saw Rabbit, Leopard and Crash at a campsite up the trail and had a snack with them in the trail later. We had a hot lunch at Pine Swamp Shelter. Dirt Face & Double Dip were just leaving, along with Who Dat and Dr Trail. Later on we stopped at The Captain's place. A hiker friendly family that has a zip line over the creek to camp in the yard and soda's to help yourself!! Fiber and Big Cypress went, I didn't....I stayed with our packs and stretched. Water is sparse on the ridges and in general in Virginia. It makes it very tough!! Especially since weather is warming. Critters: Deer, Chipmunk, blue jays, Grouse drumming, Bear Scat.
Date: 2016-04-14
From: Bailey Gap Shelter

To: Laurel Creek Shelter
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: clear sky

Bailey Gap Shelter to Laurel Creek for 14.6As we mentioned water is sparse lately...our first stop was a spring a mile away from the shelter. It was more of a puddle. So....We fixed it enough to get water, then Fiber decided to stay behind and work an engineering project!! Boy oh boy did he do a great job!! Took pictures even. (I will post it once he sends it to me so check back!!) He spent about a hour to hour and half. He finally caught up to us at War Spur shelter, our lunch spot.We saw Mustard Seed and met Timeout NOBO. Big Cypress took pics at Wind Rock. Also met SOBO Homebound.Critters: heard an owl, lots of robins, saw deer prints.Sheltered with Wet Beard, Frost, Rainman, OBtrailKenOB, Polar Bear and then Mustard Seed showed up and Crash, Rabbit and Leopard.
Date: 2016-04-15
From: Laurel Creek Shelter

To: Audey Murphy Monument
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: clear sky

Laurel Creek to Audie Murphy Monument for 17.5 milesWe had a rough and rocky day. Walking on slabs of rock on 30 degree angle. Rocks slow the pace to a crawl most of the time. Not just boulders but loose rocks, that are a bear to walk on. We originally were gonna 12.4 miles and stay at Niday Shelter, but it was so early, 3:30 we decided to go on. Found a nice campsite at the base of the Audey Murphy Monument. Fiber had a fluffy leafy spot near us and we had a campfire too. All the usual suspects I mentioned yesterday pressed on to other spots up the trail. At dark we saw Dr Trail, he had been sick at The Captain's and was playing catch up. When he got to us he had done 34 miles and was continuing on. We loaded up our waters at Niday Shelter, as water was zip for several miles, including at our camp spot.Critters: 2 lizards, a doe, Chipmunk, Ladybug, 4 am Grouse drumming at the shelter and even felt it in the wood beams. Black flies are becoming a pest!