morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-05-12
From: Trail Days

To: Trail Days!!!!!
Miles today: 22.0
Weather: scattered clouds

5/12 - Day Thirty EightSometimes trips go as planned and other times they go slightly askew. Don't freak, I am fine. It's just we lost a lot of time when out "march to Damascus" plan went wrong. Yesterday we ended up killing a day at Kincora Hostel in Hampton, TN. I did not plan it, it just happened. Kincora is a well known hostel ran by a well known AT community leader, Bob Peoples. It was an experience bring there, but I wanted to makes miles.Luckily there was a gentlemen named The Old Ridge Runnner there. In fact there were many people there due to Trail Days. Honey (who runs an AT hostel in Maine with her husband Bear) was there and cooked s big pot of spaghetti and meat sauce.The Old Ridge Runner was leaving for Damascus in the morning and he agreed to squeeze me into his Kia and drop me off at a gap outside Damascus so I could get some miles and hike into Trail Days.Mayfly has decided to take a car from the hostel later, but at last minute he decided to squeeze in into the Kia.We stopped for breakfast and we were soon at the heady at the gap.... About 20 miles from Damascus.The Old Ridge Runner offered to take our packs into Damascus so we could slack pack in, but we were not having any of that! We did lighten our packs by letting him carry in our food bags and a few other things.The hike to Damascus was good. The bonus was I ran into several familiar faces near the TN/VA border. Had we not decided to hike today I would have not seen these hikers which included Sundog (a super fast hiker that I last saw in Fontana). We all took pictures of each other at the border sign.I dropped into Damsscus and immediately starred seeing familiar faces... Some hikers who are ahead of me and some who are way behind. The hiker fest starts Friday, but the Baptist Church held a free feed at the DVFD station tonight!I am confident Trail Days will be a very good experience. It's like a music festival except no major bands and everyone knows each other.Sunday I will leave and go back to Erwin to finish the 90 or so miles I had to skip to get here. That won't be fun, but several hikers here are doing the exact same thing.
Date: 2016-05-15
From: Damascus

To: Trail Days
Miles today: 0.0

Went to the Hiker Yearbook giveaway and first annual Odie's"state of the trail" address today.. I did not win anything but I enjoyed whst Odie had to say about protecting the AT. There was a cast of characters here. I turned around and there was Morgan, the dude who runs Standing Bear Hostel. This guy defies gravity!!!
Date: 2016-05-16
From: Beauty Spot (12 miles from Erwin, TN)

To: Clyde Smith Shelter
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: clear sky

5/16 - Day Forty TwoLast night was COLD! I slept good, but I was chilly during parts of the night. We stayed up late listening to stories and AT "inside scoop" from Jester. Jester is a Triple Crown hiker (which means he has hiked the AT, Continental Divide Trail CDT and PCT). His experience and delivery of stories made it worth staying by the fire an extra hour.So with the cold and the late night we got up at about 8:30 or so. It was still cold, but it was evident that today would be a great day for hiking. Mayfly got the fire going and soon Jester, Cyndi Lauper and everyone else were drinking coffee and telling stories. It was comfortable... Too comfty and we would not get mobilized until 11am.Before we could get hiking we were surprised to see Special K's mom drive up the gravel road and drop off Special K. I thought she was ahead of us, but as it turns out she was right where we were and just getting back on trail after Trail Days.So we finally said our goodbyes to Jester, Cyndi Lauper and Silvester and hit the trail. The hike was not horrible, but there were many ups and downs. In some parts the trail was level. In the afternoon we all started spreading out. At some point I stopped and decided to listen to some music. For whatever reason Styx Grand Illusion popped into my head. Now I have enjoyed that album for a long, long time, but for whatever reason I currently do not "reach" for it often. But man, did it work today! Ironically enough I hit shuffle and the first song that played was "Man in the Wilderness". I cranked out some very pleasant miles listening to the album.We stopped at the Clyde Smith Shelter at mile marker 368. Special K rolled in and so did Pinky and The Brain (a hiker couple I met at Trail Days). There are a few other folks in tents, Justin, Mayfly, Special K and I grabbed the shelter as rain is forecasted and it was empty. Mayfly and I snagged these unique little individual lofts and I am anticipating a good night of sleep up here.
Date: 2016-05-17
From: Clyde Smith Shelter

To: Overmountain Shelter
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: overcast clouds

5/17 - Day Forty ThreeThe day started with rain hitting the roof of the Clyde Smith Shelter. The tenters were slow getting started and we were very happy we chose the shelter. Although we knew it would be a wet day, it's nice to square your things away in a dry shelter before shoving off.I was good with the rain. I was going to put in a big day regardless and I was excited about trying out the rain kilt. Mayfly left the shelter first then Special K and I followed by Justin.It was raining lightly when we left and as typical, I was soon hot. On days like today it is difficult to monitor temperatures. I get sweaty hiking and cold when I stop. The good news was most of the water falling was from the trees... The rain was slacking, but the day would remain misty, all day!Today's hike took us up Roan Mountain. It was a long climb (spread over 5 miles). The change in elevation from Clyde Smith to the Roan Mountain Shelter was over 1,700. The Roan High Knob Shelter sirs at 6,193 feet and is the highest shelter on the entire AT.The climb up was actually fun once I figured out what I needed to wear. On days like today, you just get wet. The rain skirt was nice and I left it on all day. My Marmot rain jacket cones on and off to regulate temps. The climb itself was gradual and I found myself stopping very infrequently. I think I finally have my trai legs.We stopped at Roan High Knob shelter for lunch. I cooked a quick hot Ramen and we admired the shelter (two stories and built like a cabin). The shelter sits in a Hemlock grove that you would never guess is in TN!After lunch the hike took us down along an old road that formally lead people to the Cloud Land motel (The south's version of the Shining hotel). It's long gone but the AT passes an old chimney from either the hotel or a cabin.The trail lead us down and across a paved road and up Jane Bald. Definately a cool spot on the AT. As I left the road I walked with a nice couple out on a day hike (crummy day for it, but...). They asked me a lot of question which I liked answering. Soon Special K caught up to me and we proceeded on up. The views were not perfect, but I was grateful to be out in such beautiful mountains nonetheless. On a side note, right before the road before Jane Bald there were several small box traps on the ground and in trees baited with grain. I wish I knew what they were for. I am assuming some kind of chipmunk research?The second part of the day was great. The hike was interesting and the sun poked out shortly. I quickly latched all my wet close to the outside of my pack to start drying. Dry clothes us a never ending battle.I made it to Overmountain Shelter. This was advertised as a must stay and I agree! It's an old tobacco barn now an AT shelter. Since it will be misty all night, about 12 of us are piled into the cockloft where tobacco was once hung.I hiked about 16 miles today. Overmountain shelter is at mile 384. Tag the 20 mile hike I did into Damascus onto that and I am now over 400 miles on this journey!!! Hell yes!
Date: 2016-05-22
From: Lake Watauga

To: Woodchuck Hostel
Miles today: 2.8

5/23Update... We hiked to the gap at Highway 91 on Saturday night. It absolutely poured on us and the trail literally turned into a river. We banged out 15 miles on Saturday, the last 4 were closer to swimming. My Vasque boots finally gave up and my feet were soaked, but as wet as it was, that should be expected.Mayfly and I caught a shuttle into Damascus and checked into the Woodchuck Hostel. Since it was 8 at night we changed out of our wet clothes and went right to the Mill for dinner. Much to out surprise we saw Rock and Alastair. It seems as if a major bubble was zeroing in Damascus. We ate and enjoyed multiple beers and marveled at how wet it was in the trail.Sunday we zeroed. After hiking all last week my body needed a break. We went back to the Mill for dinner Sunday night and it was much quieter, however, one surprise was Mozy who just kinda mozied in.I also went to Mt. Rogers Outfitters and bought boot gaiters, I am tired of getting small rocks and dirt in my boots.We are mobilizing today. We plan to walk up the Virginia Creeper Trail and test the trout waters this afternoon after taking care of additional "in town" business including sending a box of loot home and researching lighter weight backpacks.
Date: 2016-05-23
From: Woodchuck Hostel

To: Creeper Trail
Miles today: 1.0
Weather: clear sky

5/23Extracting ourselves out of the grasp of Damascus post Trail Days was an all out effort. It wasn't that we screwed off, it just we had some things to do (resupply, send things home from post office, answer emails and texts and buy our VA fishing licenses online).The plan was to hike out the Virginia Creeper Trail. The Creeper Trail is an old narrow gauge railroad bed that is used for hiking and biking. Part of it IS the AT and some of it is not. The important point is that it runs along a trout stream. Midday we found ourselves taking hostel bikes and riding first to Food Giant (or whatever it was called) and then into town and to Mt. Rodgers Outfitters. There I bought a pair of Superfeet as my inserts were looking bad for my boots. There we saw that The Apple Dumpling Gang finally rolled into town along with Gaio. I like Gaio. She collects trash on the AT as she hikes as part of an organized group. The joke is she has now picked up TWO of my bandannas that I dropped on the trail. After Mt. Rodgers we decided to peddle on over to have a final Damascus toast at the bar. There we were joined by The Apple Dumpling Gang, Gaio, Bear Bait, Free Fall and at some point Ompi joined us.Finally Mayfly and I broke the through the magnetic force and headed down the Creeper. The plan was to camp a short distance out of town, fly fish and start a real hiking day in the morning. We set up out tents in a designated camp on the Creeper. Justin was there with a few campers that seemed to be fairly well dug in. One was introduced as Beast and claims to be hiker #4 registered this year (Jan 10th). He said he plans to take all 9 months. He also says that hiker #1 finished TODAY. I do not have reception to check now, but i think that would be Slipknot who started Jan 1st and blogs on here. Once we set to tents we went about trying to catch dinner. The water in the rivers is real high and without waders accessing certain pools was impossible (it's too chilly to wet wade at the moment). Mayfly hit first with a trout off of a stonefly. Not to be out done I walked down the Creeper and found a decent pool and landed a trout on a olive wooly booger. I have brought a lot of fish and game into camps, but bringing that one Rainbow Trout back into our camp tonight was pure primal cool. Everyone cheered and the cheering section included the Apple Dumpling Gang who slipped in as we were fishing.I am excited to do some miles tommorow as well as maybe fish.I enjoyed post Trail Days Damascus. Cruising around on shitty hostel bikes was a blast and staying at Woodchuck Hostel was pleasant. Woodchuck is a good guy and he runs a good clean hostel.On a side not a good dude named Mowgli (who was nursing staff infection on his foot) left the trail today. He had an opportunity to do a project in China for a short period. He plans to come back and I look forward to it as he is a good dude.I am now a few miles into VA... Bring on the VA Blues and everything else this huge state has to offer!!
Date: 2016-05-30
From: Chestnut Knob Shelter

To: Helvey Mill Shelter
Miles today: 24.0
Weather: overcast clouds

7/30I fell behind in my blog... It has been crazy. I walked from 8:15 am to 9:30 pm on the 30th and ended covering a total of 24 miles. Along the way I bumped into my old friend Mozy and we finished the last 2 miles in the dark. When we arrived at Helvey Mill Shelter I laid my pack down and fell asleep using it as a pillow. I would have never made the 24 miles if it wasn't for Randy of the Bland County National Wild Turkey Federation offering to slack pack me for 7 miles. In this case I carried my pack, I just unloaded most of the contents in his truck. The light weight pack made it possible to make the big miles. I walked with Mozy (for the record he stayed "pure" and packed all of his weight).The reason for the big miles was to get to Trent's grocery. Trent's grocery is located on the Appalachian Trail in his owned and operated by Jimmy Miller a member of the national wild Turkey Federation. Jimmy was kind enough to throw a party for me and 50 of my hiker friends. The celebration was for my fundraiser for the Turkey Federation. It may have been about the turkeys but all the hikers dubbed it "The Dudefest". I will cover off on the The Dudefest" later tonight.
Date: 2016-06-10
From: Daleville

To: Jennings Creek
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: broken clouds

6/12Here is a quick update to get me caught up as of NOW. I am sitting at Jennings Creek by the swimming hole. It's still early Sunday. I did 3 miles or so down to here. The climb out of here appears to be a bitch and it's hot!Jim Crumley dropped me off at the outfitters in Daleville after showing me his Sawtooth Oaks and whipping up a quick breakfast. The stay with Jim and Sherry was refreshing, thank you Jim and Sherry.My plan was to resupply and jet out of there ASAP, but that never works. Alastair was in the outfitters agonizing over a summer sleep system and I started yucking with John who worked there about area live music. My next stop was Kroger than back to Three Lil Pigs for lunch and a beer. A group bought us a trail magic round, so I had two beers. I fought the vortex and was on the trail at 5 pm. The Flying Mouse Brewery called, but I fought the urge and ended up at Fullhardt Knob Shelter where there seemed to be more bears than campers. I woke up early the next day and was hiking before 8 am. It's getting hot! I hiked all day and saw very few NOBO hikers. There were section hikers and people hanging out at overlooks on the Blue Ridge Parkway (AT crosses the BRP in several places). Several people offered me water.... Thank you!I hiked all day. It was hot, but the terrain was forgiving. One trail angel warned me that there was NO water at Cove Mountain Shelter (very rare) and warned me to carry my water from a stream 3.4 miles Before the shelter. At the stream I loaded up my Palatapus water bottles and climbed out with 3 liters plus. My pack was heavy and the trail was up! The 3.4 miles went quick, but the haul took it out of me. When I arrived at the shelter I sat at picnic bench and fell asleep. Because the swimming hole that I sit at and type this was only 3 miles from the shelter, most hikers went on to the swimming hole. That being the case there were only two other hikers at the waterless shelter... One in a hammock and one in a tent. I crawled into the empty shelter and pass out. I wish I could say I slept good, but bugs and mosquitos kept biting me. It appears tents with bug nets are the way to go for rest of summer... No more shelters. I am now going to swim and get ready for the climb out of here. Yesterday was a 20 mile day...Probabally won't happen today. The shelter I was targeting to end the day at us closed due to bear activity. I think I will sit here and pontificate my options now that a trail angel just dropped off bananas and apples! Oh dam...so girls are giving out PBRs to hikers just across the creek.....
Date: 2016-06-14
From: Jennings Creek

To: camp by river
Miles today: 18.0

6/14Okay, back to our regularly scheduled blogs. I have been missing update largely due to big days, hot weather, spaced out water sources and bugs. Yes, it seems despite big miles this week my ass is being kicked. In fact, I am tenting at mile marker 799!!! So in the morning I cross over to 800!We are camped along a road... The sketchiest camping spot I slept in so far. We have Red and Crash (Red looks like Trey Anastasio of Phish), Alastair and Jethro. Jethro is the the latest new hiker...he started May 8th!!! He the latest "never see him again" ... Except we always see them again!!!we all enjoyed getting "the report from the rear" and Jethro did meet several hikers that we know and are now behind us.Today we crossed the James River on a long footbridge. That part of the day was pleasant. Then the AT took an evil turn uphill. I promised myself I would not bitch about the trail design and where it ran, but I caved in today. The climb out of the James River Basin seemed pointless to me. Toss in a pretty hot day and limited water and, well, I was bitching.In the afternoon we broke at a shelter with water. We played this one safe and rested an hour and let the heat of the day break. After the break we had only 4 miles to what was referred to in the AWOL guide as a camp by the river. Alastair and I made the March and we arrived we found Red and Crash scratching their heads. No camp. And the river looked nasty.Light was fading so the four of us set up tents in a spot right by the road. Jethro came in later. After we had our tents set up a guy came down the gravel road and said there was a better can up the way. We thanked them, but stayed put.Jethro bailed me out. I pulled a rookie blunder this week and left my stove attached to the gas canister and I believe there was a tiny leak. I am totally out of gas and he boiled my water for me.I am also low on food. Tommirow I will go into Beuna Vista and resupply. Because I am low I had to use the bottom of my food bag... A pasta side with a half a bag of mushroom rice, package of tuna and some garlic cloves. It was GOOD!!! I am ready to get to town in the morning. It's about 6 miles to to gap and then a 5 mile hitch. By then I will be at mile 806!
Date: 2016-06-15
From: camp by river

To: Beuna Vista, VA
Miles today: 75.0
Weather: broken clouds

6/15Just a quick update before I head out this morning and fight some brutal VA uphills. I am coming to you live from the Budget Motel (think crack and shady characters) in Beuna Vista, VA. Yesterday morning I crossed the 800 mile mark and at the 806 marker made it to the road that lead to where I am now. The 9 mile gap between the AT and the town was bridged by a friendly logger. He was dropping Cake, Foxy and one other hiker back off at the trail heady so Alastair and I hitched a ride with him back into town staffing hydraulic buckets and chainsaws in the back of the pickup. My original plan was to resupply and get back out. However, the last day and a half I have felt totally wiped out of energy. I desperately needed to do laundry and shower as well. With that being the case I elected to settle with 8 miles yesterday and recharge ALL batteries.It was a good move. We are at Subway and I went back to my room and crashed. After an hours nap I woke and started laundry.Laundry out here is a challenge because it creates the dilemma of what to wear while you wash the United clothes that one carries. I wore my rain kilt and nothing else and was glad the coin operated machines were tucked away in the motel.And when we say laundry it's not like an all day affair... We are talking 2 shirts,, 2 shirts, 1 town shirt, 2 sox, 2 liner sox and some bandanas. I am carrying close to the bare minimum (pun intended).We are dinner (Alastair and I)!at the El Tequila Mexican restaurant. I am of the opinion every small town now has a Mexican restaurant and they usually are good. This one did not disappoint. After dinner I resupplied. I tried to pull the resupply off at the Dolllar General. The selection was only okay and I am contemplating venturing to the Food Lion to see if I can round out my food bag. Additionally I have no gas for my stove and there does not appear to be anyone in town that sells it... Despite the town being 9 miles from the AT.The highlight yesterday was a visit to the shaved ice stand. Alastair being from the UK had no idea of what this American delight was when I suggested we stop by. To our surprise the kid working at the stand gave us our ice FREE! Hiker appreciation day at the shaved ice stand!!!!House keeping note... The mile calculation on here is cumulative. I hiked 8 miles yesterday. To get the cumulative miles correct I am showing I hiked significantly more to bring it up to 806.
Date: 2016-06-16
From: Beuna Vista, VA

To: Seeley-Woodworth Shelter
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: scattered clouds

6/16Here is something to know....a hiker can not buy a canister of gas in Buena Vista! I know, I looked in 5 places this morning. In addition I ate breakfast at Hardee's... Hardee's is the red headed step child of fast food joints. I am not sure, but that may have been my first venture into one.Alastair and I caught a hitch out of town with a hiker named Irie and his dad. Irie was returning from a trip home and they were glad to give us a lift.We stopped at the gap where we were picked up yesterday and began out day (which was a big climb). The climb on paper looked worse or it may have been my fresh legs. Nevertheless the first part of the day went quick.At lunch Alastair and I noshed on foot long subway's that we bought after we ate breakfast at Hardee's. Lugging the sandwhiches up 6 miles of trail was worth it. The bonus was we were in a cool Meadow with cold water nearby.The second part of the day was very uneventful but at the same time without great stress (except in the heat of the day). By 6 it seemed to start to cool down and by 7 it was showing that the forecasted rain was coming.As luck would have it the shelter appeared as skies darkened. The plan was to go one mile more and grab a little campsite, but with rain approaching we decided to call 14 miles good for the day.Alastair set up his tent outside. Irie already had his place in the shelter and was set up with a bug net system. Seeing that I decided to try my hand at setting up my tent inside the shelter. My method worked great and I was all prepared for a bug free night inside my tent inside the shelter. Right about then the skies opened up.When the skies open up it usually means hikers pour into shelters and in the case they did....several hikers I had not yet yet (Time Warp, C Sharp) and hikers I knew Mayfly and Feather. Time Warp is a younger kid who was formerly loosely associated with the Cannabis Kids, but felt the tug of Maine and moved on. Many hikers who were part of groups seem to be gaining their independence as paces increase.With the new arrivals to the shelter I had to take down my tent (it took up too much space) and make room for the rain refugees. We all cooked our dinner as the rain pounded the shelter. After dinner we all settled in and went to bed.
Date: 2016-06-27
From: Maine?

To: Harpers Ferry
Miles today: 138.0
Weather: broken clouds

Just a quick update! I am alive and well and churning between 15 to 18 miles s day. The Shenadoahs were tough in that we had a lot of rain and pour reception.Be in the lookout for a summary and additional posts!All is good here and I will cross mile 1,000 tomorrow .... It's just some days I do not have the energy to write.