morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-04-12
From: Whitetop Mountain, VA

To: Dave's Place Hostel, Damascus, VA
Miles today: 21.3
Weather: few clouds

This morning Lone Wolf, a local alumni hiker, drove a carload of us up to Whitetop Mountain,to hike back down into town. Butch,Twofer, and Backyard Boogie rode in the cab of his truck, while Pinky, Sundance, and I piled into the back. It was a long, bumpy, twisty ride, especially with the sausage biscuits we'd all eaten before leaving town. By the time we got there, we were all a bit queasy.About 8 miles down the trail, it crosses the Virginia Creeper Trail, an old railroad that's been converted to a bike path. When we got there, Lone Wolf was waiting with a cooler full of ice cold beer. I had a pair, then left to try to chase down Butch, who had about a five minute head start, but was running along the Creeper trail.The Creeper trail poses a great dilemma for hikers. From where we were, the AT follow it for 1/2 a mile, then turns back into the woods. The Creeper then runs along the river all the way back to Damascus, while the white blazes go up and over a mountian, then back down to the river, where they follow next to the Creeper for two miles, but do so while climbing up and down on the side of the hill, going over a rockslide for most of it. Then, the AT goes over yet another mountain before coming down to Damascus. It takes a great act of willpower to stay on the white blazes. Butch and I noticed that, although we'd run into a bunch of hikers going north, there were not a lot of footprints going over the mountains.When we got back to town, Butch, Backyard and I went to have cheesesburgers and milkshakes while we waited for Pinky and Sundance. ***I joined them for my second dinner, then headed over to the bar, where Lone Wolf had told us there would be Karaoke tonight. Unfortunately, it had been canceled, so we only hung out for a little while before coming back to the hostel to get my things in order for tomorrow.The BrainLost Mt Shelter - Click picture to see full sizeLone Wolf at Virginia Creeper Trail-1 - Click picture to see full sizeLone Wolf at Virginia Creeper Trail-2 - Click picture to see full sizeVirginia Creeper Trail-3s - Click picture to see full sizeMilkshakes at Dairy King, The Brain, Butch, Backyard Boogie, Twofer - Click picture to see full sizeLone Wolf at Dot's - Click picture to see full sizePlaying Quarters & Bloody Knuckles at Dot's-1 - Click picture to see full sizePlaying Quarters & Bloody Knuckles at Dot's-2 - Click picture to see full size
Date: 2007-04-13
From: Dave's Place Hostel, Damascus, VA

To: Old Orchard Shelter, VA
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: clear sky

We had to wait for the post office to open before we could leave this morning, and then it was an hour ride back up to where we'd come from yesterday, so we got a late start and weren't hiking until almost 10:30 am.   Twofer and his wife were going to spend the afternoon at Gray Highlands, so they offered to drive our backpacks around to there to meet us. The trail through the highlands was rough and rocky, and it was wonderful to not have to carry a pack over it.When we got to the parking lot, half a mile down a side trail, we had a surprise. Twofer's car wasn't there! We started formulating plans for if we never hooked up. Pinky went and asked a passing ranger if there was another parking lot. There was, and the ranger drove her down. While she was gone, who should come walking up but Twofer himself. They were parked down below, so he ran back down, and shortly came driving up. In the back of his car were apples, bananas, sodas and crackers! It was wonderful.Eventually, though, we had to shoulder our packs, say goodbye, and struggle back up to the trail to keep moving north. The trail wasn't bad, mostly working its way around the side of the mountains. The last two miles down to the shelter, though, were across rock fields and mud puddles. I was very glad to finally get here. A bunch of weekenders are here, and they have a wonderful fire going, but it's going to be crowded in the shelter tonight.I got to try out my new stove tonight (an MSR Pocket Rocket.) It workded just fine. Butch says that it's one of the most fuel efficient stoves as well. It's supposed to rain tonight, so I'm waiting for another night to try my new tent (MSR MicroZoid-barely big enough for one person). I don't want to have to pack it up in the rain if I can avoid it.The BrainGrayson's Highlands - Click picture to see full sizePinky & Sundance on Grayson's Highlands - Click picture to see full sizeHorses on Grayson's Highlands - Click picture to see full sizeKarl & horse on Grayson's Highlands - Click picture to see full size
Date: 2007-04-14
From: Old Orchard Shelter, VA

To: Trimpi Shelter, VA
Miles today: 14.1
Weather: scattered clouds

It's nice to be in camp early for once. The last time I was in this early was the slackpack at Kincora. Butch and I got up and left camp before Pinky and Sundance were even out of their tents. When I got to Dickey Gap, I took a short break to have a snack. While I was there, Butch came up and said he had an idea. "Let's try to hitch into town, have some lunch, and pick up some hot dogs and buns for dinner." The weekenders at the shelter last night were roasting hot dogs on the fire, and we'd been jealous. It was a great spot, with good visibility and a place to pull over, and we'd been hearing traffic. We stood there for about 45 minutes, but nobody pulled over for us. At that point, we were cold from the wind, so we gave up.Even with the long break, we made it to camp by 4:00. Pinky has the tea still, so I had a cup of hot water and read for a while. Limestone and 5-String came in a little later, having come from Wise Shelter last night. When they went by the shelter at 11:00 Pinky and Sundance were still in their tents, so we might not see them for a while yet. Unfortunately, I have to wait for Pinky to eat dinner, and I'm getting hungry. Everyone else eating dinner isn't helping. I'm going to take another nap to pass the time, maybe I'll write more later, maybe not.The BrainToesocks 1, Butch, & Toesocks 2 - Click picture to see full sizeThere's 2 deer in there somewhere - Click picture to see full size
Date: 2007-04-15
From: Trimpi Shelter, VA

To: Partnership Shelter, VA
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: light rain

Pizza is a glorious thing! It was even still hot when it got here, too. But more on that later. When I got up this morning it was still raining. It had rained heavily during the night, and the storm hadn't moved out yet. Again, Butch and I were the go-getters, but this time we were joined by Limestone, 5-String, and Road dog, a section hiker from Idaho, out for 3 weeks. I left first, in the rain, with the others within the hour behind me, but Pinky and Sundance stayed until 1:30 pm before setting out. The hiking was easy, and I got here by 12:30, just in time to catch Alleycat and Hawk on their way out. Alleycat asked me "Do you speak French?" I said yes, then thought for a second and asked, "Have you ever been to Nepal?" She had.Here's the story: when I checked my email in Damascus, I had a letter from my 6th grade French teacher, Mme. Kelley. While on an expedition in Nepal, she had met a girl who was planning on thru-hiking. As it turns out, that girl is Alleycat! It's a small world out there.The rain had stopped about an hour into the hike, but around 12:15 pm it started again, lightly. By mid-afternoon, it was raining heavily again, and then the temperature started dropping. By 4:00 it was turning to snow. We decided to order pizza before the roads got so bad they wouldn't deliver, so Limestone, good man that he is, trudged over to the phone.   Between the seven of us, plus three more section-hikers, who are just starting out, we racked up a $130 tab, not including the tip.Around 7:00, just as the pizza arrived, Pinky and Sundance showed up. We all enjoyed the meal, but one of the section-hikers was in trouble. He had on all cotton clothing, and was in danger of hypothermia. One of his friends called town, and got a couple of rangers to drive up to the shelter (it's right next to the Mt. Rogers Visitors' Center), and they took the three section-hikers, plus Butch and Sundance, who were cold and wet, and Butch would have been uncomfortable in his 35 degree bag. It's going to get cold tonight, but it's supposed to warm up tomorrow.After dinner, I called my parents (after spending a solid ten minutes trying to put more time on the phone card), and discussed where we're going to meet up tomorrow. If possible, we're going to leave our packs at the visitors' center and slackpack 21 miles before meeting up. If that doesn't work out, we'll probably just do 11 to Atkins. Either way, showers and a warm bed in Atkins tomorrow, and boy do I need them!The BrainRabbit near the trail-1 - Click picture to see full sizeHawk & Alleycat-2 - Click picture to see full sizeRoaddog at Partnership Shelter - Click picture to see full sizeRobin in the snow - Click picture to see full sizePinky's feet - Click picture to see full size
Date: 2007-04-16
From: Partnership Shelter, VA

To: Comfort Inn, Atkins, VA
Miles today: 23.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Oh, it is good to be clean! It was still cold and snowing this morning, but we got up and struggled out into the snow. I managed to convince the rangers at the visitors' center to let us leave our packs there, but when I went to use the phone, there was no dial tone. It had worked last night, but must have frozen. It took a great amount of looking pitiful to convince them to let me use their business phone to call my parents to let them know where the packs were.As the day went on it warmed up and the snow started to melt, but it stayed windy. The terrain was easy, and we cruised towards Atkins. On the last rise before town, who should we see but my parents and sister coming up the hill! It was great to finally see them after almost two months. They had our packs, then drove us into town to get our boxes from the post office.It was still early afternoon, so we decided to go another 12 miles to meet them. Anna came along with us, and we set off. Near the top of Walker Mountain, my parents met us coming the other way. They'd hiked in the 4 miles after driving around. It was almost 8 by the time we got to the car, and 9 by the time we'd gone over the mountain to Marion, so we swung by the laundromat, threw in our clothes, and went to get some fast food for dinner.After dinner, we went back to the laundromat and while waiting for our clothes to dry, Pinky, Anna and my mother amused themselves (and stayed warm) by climbing into the empty dryers. It was quite the sight, to see all of them cramming themselves into a row of dryers. I'm still amazed we didn't get kicked out.Back at the hotel, we took showers, wonderful hot showers, and then set to discussing the hike, and how future mail drops would work. It's more complicated than you might think to change from two hikers together to two hikers separately. I had a long talk with my mother, the maildrop queen, about what food to send, where to send it, and when to send it. I think we have everything figured out now, though. We'll find out over the next couple of weeks. For now, it's into a nice warm bed for me, the first time since Hot Springs.The BrainSchoolhouse near Atkins, VA - Click picture to see full sizeThe family on Big Walker Mt-4 - Click picture to see full sizeAnna, Rachel, Karl, & Betsy-Big Walker Mt - Click picture to see full sizeFarm in the Valley - Click picture to see full sizeDwarf larkspur-2 - Click picture to see full sizeMeadow near Ceres, VA-1 - Click picture to see full sizeMeadow near Ceres, VA-2 - Click picture to see full sizeLaundromat in Marion, VA-1 - Click picture to see full sizeLaundromat in Marion, VA-3 - Click picture to see full sizeLaundromat in Marion, VA-4 - Click picture to see full sizeLaundromat in Marion, VA-5 - Click picture to see full sizeLaundromat in Marion, VA-6 - Click picture to see full size
Date: 2007-04-17
From: Comfort Inn, Atkins, VA

To: Chestnut Knob Shelter, VA
Miles today: 11.1
Weather: clear sky

Oh, warm beds! What a glorious thing they are. After a wonderful (although short-we stayed up late discussing the logistics of splitting up last night) night's sleep, I fairly demolished the continental breakfast. We packed up and drove the winding road over the mountain we'd crossed yesterday. From the top, there was a wonderful view down into the valley, all green and alive.We didn't get started until almost 11:00, and we moved a little slowly because of my family, but it was wonderful to chat with them as we hiked. The trail up to the knob here was steep, but once we got onto the ridge, the views were beautiful. We could see several ridges in all directions, including back where we'd come from.The shelter up here is fully enclosed, which is a very good thing. The wind is whipping around, and it's an adventure just to go to the privy. The sunset was beautiful, and we took some good pictures. Later, Pinky and Anna (now dubbed "Little Ms") recited a poem they'd composed while hiking. It was entitled, "Ode to my Hiker Sexiness." Quite amusing.The BrainBill climbing Chestnut Ridge - Click picture to see full sizeKarl-Chestnut Ridge - Click picture to see full sizeBetsy-Chestnut Ridge - Click picture to see full sizeAnna-Chestnut Ridge - Click picture to see full sizeBetsy on Chestnut Ridge - Click picture to see full sizeKarl with old Oak tree on Chestnut Ridge - Click picture to see full sizePinky w pink comb at Chestnut Knob-1 - Click picture to see full sizePinky w pink comb at Chestnut Knob-2 - Click picture to see full sizePinky w pink comb at Chestnut Knob-3 - Click picture to see full sizeSunset on Chestnut Knob-1 - Click picture to see full sizeSunset on Chestnut Knob-2 - Click picture to see full sizeSunset on Chestnut Knob-3 - Click picture to see full sizeBill & Betsy, Sunset on Chestnut Knob-6 - Click picture to see full sizeBill & Betsy, Sunset on Chestnut Knob-7 - Click picture to see full sizeKarl, Sunset on Chestnut Knob-8 - Click picture to see full size
Date: 2007-04-18
From: Chestnut Knob Shelter, VA

To: Campsite near Laurel Creek, VA
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: clear sky

It's official. Pinky and I are no longer hiking together. She got up early and left before we did this morning, trying to go 23 miles with Butch and Sundance. I hiked with my parents again, who don't go as fast. Still, we covered a very good distance for their second day out, and I thoroughly enjoyed talking with them. Going up the hills, my dad is a little slower, so I'd hang back and talk with him. Then, going down, my mother goes slowly to protect her knees, so I'd talk with her. I'll be sad to see them go tomorrow.The trail this afternoon was supposed to go through a section where it crosses a stream twelve times in two miles, with no bridges or rocks to cross on. The book mentioned a high water route, but I was prepared to get wet. However, we never got to a trail junction. There was a sign that had a "High Water Route" and "A.T. North," but it had been changed so that both pointed in the same direction, and there were places where white blazes had been painted over the blue. I guess the main trail had been rerouted onto the high water route.At one point, on the side of the trail, was a Swallowtail butterfly that looked as though it had just emerged from its chrysalis. It was fluttering its wings, but not flying. I picked it up and it tried to fly away, but landed on my mother. It crawled around on her for a while, then I took it and it crawled on me.   It tickled quite a bit as it crawled up my neck and onto my head. It eventually came to a rest on my backpack, and stayed there for almost the rest of the day, flying off just as we reached the campsite.The site here is quite good, with plenty of flat areas to pitch a tent. I got mine out and set it up under a tree, then moved it a few feet to be on top of a mound of dirt, rather than below it. It's a nice tent, and went up really easily, even though it was my first time. There sure isn't a lot of space in here, though; there's just enough for me to cram in my sleeping pad and bag, with a little head room to write, but not much. It looks like it might rain tonight, but I hope I'll stay dry.The BrainChestnut Knob Shelter door - Click picture to see full sizeSwallowtail butterfly encounter-1 - Click picture to see full sizeSwallowtail butterfly encounter-2 - Click picture to see full sizeSwallowtail butterfly encounter-3 - Click picture to see full sizeSwallowtail butterfly encounter-4 - Click picture to see full sizeSwallowtail butterfly encounter-5 - Click picture to see full sizeSwallowtail butterfly encounter-7 - Click picture to see full sizeSwallowtail butterfly encounter-8 - Click picture to see full size
Date: 2007-04-19
From: Campsite near Laurel Creek, VA

To: Jenny Knob Shelter, VA
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: broken clouds

It was wonderful to spend a few days with my family, and I was sorry to see them go, but at the same time, it's time to start making bigger miles. Current goal is to be in Harper's Ferry by Trail Days, which should be doable. This morning's hiking was great; we got out of camp much more quickly than yesterday, and walked well. My mother commmented that they were getting their legs just as they were leaving.I left them at U.S. 52, near Bland, just as they got picked up. My mother managed to flag down a car in just a couple tries. It was a pickup, the first car with room for them. I hope that when they got back to the picnic area where we'd left the car, it was still there. [Ed.: It was.]After that, I turned on the speed, eager to hike at my pace again. It also helped that a storm was moving in. It was looking like it would clear off, but I kept hearing thunder off to the left. when it crashed and boomed right overhead, I pulled out my pack cover and got my raincoat handy. Within half an hour, it started raining. I didn't put on my rainpants, so I got kinda cold when the rain got heavy. I knew I was close to the shelter, so I just kept going.When I got here, I was expecting it to be fairly empty, and possibly I could have been the only one here, so you can imagine my surprise to see a full house. Iceman Dan, Retro, and Snakebite are all here after taking some time off in Bland. Most surprising, though is that Pinky, Butch and Sundance are here! After pushing yesterday, they took it easy today. They said that Thrills and Dogfather were here earlier today, and they got a chance to catch up a little. Hopefully, I'll catch up with them in a few days.After lying in my bag for a while, having changed into my warm, dry clothes, I've finally warmed up. A hot dinner helped too. The rain seems to have stopped, so I may venture out to get some water for tomorrow. I may even have a cup of tea tonight.The BrainBastion, VA - Click picture to see full size
Date: 2007-04-21
From: Holy Family Hostel, Pearisburg, VA

To: Pine Swamp Branch Shelter, VA
Miles today: 18.5
Weather: clear sky

When I woke up this morning, I regretted having done 30 yesterday. Every muscle below my waist was sore. At first, moving hurt, any moving at all. I'd gotten in too late to get my boxes from the caretaker, so I had to wait for him before I could do anything this morning. I'd found a back issue of AT Journals (the ATC's magazine), and went out on the deck to read it. It was a beautiful morning, warm and sunny, not a cloud in the sky, and the birds were singing.Eventually, the caretaker came by and got me my boxes, and I divvied up the food, leaving half for Pinky. I even found some extra Ziplocks to split some of the meals in half with. As I was walking down into town, the caretaker pulled over and told me that a woman had called looking for me. We drove back up the hill to the hostel, where he'd left the number, thinking I would be coming back, and then gave me a ride down to the Dairy Queen.The number was Terri's cellphone (Pinky's mother), and after a hot breakfast-sausage, egg, and cheese biscuit, with hashbrowns on the side-I walked down the hill to the motel, and gave her a call. She was looking to meet up with Pinky somewhere, having driven down to Virginia. I told her she should be in town by mid-afternoon.Butch Cassidy was at the motel as well, and I figured he'd gotten up early, but he said he came all the way in last night, arriving around 10:30. He did it just to see if he could. I'd wanted to meet Thrills and Dogfather as well, but the caretaker told me the restaurant had closed down. I checked in the breakfast restaurants, and at the motel, but there was no sign. They must have gone to one of the motels closer to town.I finally hit the trail around noon, only to discover that I was not going to be able to hike at my usual pace. The first hill, coming steeply out of town, up to the ridge, nearly killed me. I got to the first shelter a little before 3:00, and considered calling it a day, but my muscles were just starting to loosen up, so I pushed on. Towards the end of the day, I could feel that I had no zip left and was starting to drag. It was sheer force of will that got me up the last couple of hills, and only force of gravity that got me down to the shelter.The shelter here is a nice one, stove with a fireplace, but in one of the storms recently a tree had fallen on it. The roof is crushed, and a couple of the roofbeams are splintered, but it seems to be holding up alright. The top bunks on one side are unusable, but on the bottom on the other side, it's good as new. Tomorrow, I've promised myself, I'm only going to do 12 miles, then take the afternoon off.The BrainPine Swamp Branch shelter-1 - Click picture to see full sizePine Swamp Branch shelter-2 - Click picture to see full size
Date: 2007-04-22
From: Pine Swamp Branch Shelter, VA

To: War Spur Shelter, VA
Miles today: 12.7
Weather: clear sky

"And Sunday was the day of rest." After a bunch of long days, it felt good to take it easy today. I slept in until almost 7:30 (not easy when it gets light around 6:30), had a lighter breakfast, then set off at an easy pace. Just down the trail was a sign saying that the bridge ahead was out, and to take the road around. Blue Skies, who had stayed at the shelter last night, said someone told her the trail wasn't maintained (she's doing the Southern leg of a flip-flop), so I felt justified in following the road. A couple miles farther, my heel started to hurt. I put some duct tape on, but a little farther on, it started to hurt again, and worse. It was the same feeling I'd gotten when my heel was infected, which worries me a little. It hasn't hurt at all since getting back on the trail, until today. I bandaged it up with gauze and duct tape, and it seemed fine the rest of the day.I got into camp around 2:30, and decided to take the rest of the day off. It was a beautiful day, and I laid in the sun for a long time. After a while, I read for a bit, then wrote a letter to my grandfather. As I was finishing, Kaos showed up. He's doing the section from Waynesboro south to Pearisburg. Later, Snakebite showed up, having come from a campsite a little south of where I'd stayed. I was starting to think I'd gotten myself into a gap in the flow of hikers, but at least I'll have some company tonight, and probably tomorrow as well.The BrainSnakebite - Click picture to see full size