morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-05-05
From: Davis Path Shelter

To: Knot Maul Branch Shelter
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: light rain

I don¢t seem to have come very far today. The hike went through open pastures, copses with every variety of wild flowers beginning to bloom, old orchards, and RAIN. Still, I hiked all day. So what took me so long? The trail in this area is a narrow scenic easement through private property. There were 10 stiles (at least). Now, that might not sound problematic, but picture this. The stiles are designed like 2 ladders leaning against each other. You climb up one and down the other.There are several complications to this. First of all, you¢re doing this with a PACK. A slight balance shift and you will fall off at least one of the ladders. Second, these are in fields with prodigious amounts of cow poop, so there is much all over the rungs (as luck would have it, for once I have substantial quantity of Purell in my pack). Third, once you climb to the top of the stile, you have to turn around so you can go down in a backwards position. This is made even trickier by the presence of barbed wire along the top of all the stiles. It¢s not quite clear what purpose this serves except to heighten a poor hiker¢s blood pressure. Fourth, not only are you doing this with a pack which is bending you like a Gumby from one alarming direction to another, but your hands are holding tightly to trekking poles, which prevent you from holding quite tightly enough to the stile itself. And finally ¢ though this is where trekking poles can come in handy ¢ the bottom rung of all these stiles is generally too high up for someone with short legs to step onto. Which means, every stile had to have a strategy, a plan of attack, for yours truly even to begin the task of getting over it. The solution in most places was to plant both trekking poles and vault onto the lowest rung. My vaulting skills improved dramatically as the day went on, I am glad to say!After all that, I got to the shelter, ate dinner and was beginning to think about bed, when along came a hiker who is barefoot and outfitted entirely in Tyvek. He has Tyvek bags, a Tyvek bedroll, Tyvek rain gear. He has been hiking from Maine since last May. And the strangest thing is, he¢s not crazy! His name? You guessed it ¢ TYVEK !!!
Date: 2007-05-06
From: Knot Maul Branch Shelter

To: Jenkins Shelter
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: clear sky

My day was filled with a host of indignities. It all started with a mad, banana peel, slip on a very muddy piece of trail. I slithered along on my back ¢ my pack actually, waving arms and legs about like an upside down turtle.Just 5 minutes after I had righted myself, I fell into a stream, of which there are many right now, owing to some rainy weather. This meant I had wet socks and boots to deal with as well as a bad mood.Then it was on to hill-climbing for half a day, followed by a half day of hideous trail around the ruin of Burke¢s Garden. By hideous, I mean the kind of trail that makes you trip with every step. Views were limited, and the woods were sterile (no undergrowth, no animals). I was having to deal with MILES of this hideous trail, when in a final stroke of humiliation, a fly flew into my mouth. It also refused to settle down and be swallowed, and there was no water for the next few miles so I could drown it into submission.I barely made it here by dark, but I have ¢ unusually for me- set up my tarp, so I can have some space to myself away from the shelter. It is a clear night.Bridge near Jenkins Shelter
Date: 2007-05-07
From: Jenkins Shelter

To: Helveys Mill Shelter
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: few clouds

YIPPEE! It¢s Monday! It¢s Monday, and I was at the right time and place, that being somewhere with a free breakfast! I had seen a sign that hikers could get all they could eat from 9:30 to 11:30 at a certain church. The reality was more special than I could ever have imagined.I hurried to get ready this morning and headed out at 8:00. I had 5 miles to hike to get to the road to the church. I have never hiked so fast! I emerged from the woods after mile 5, onto a dirt road and there was a red car, driven by a Dutchman, dog and all. He was part of the church group and his job was to drive hikers to breakfast. He drove through a pretty little valley to a pretty little church.This church had no running water, no bathrooms, just good will and some excellent cooks. They put piles of food in front of me: scrambled eggs with ramps, biscuits with homemade pear butter and peach jam, pancakes, macaroni and cheese, two different potato casseroles, juice and coffee. They sent me out the door with broccoli quiche, homemade cookies, a banana, a muffin, and Gatorade. They had cards for us to mail to our loved ones and they provided the stamps too!The room where we ate was small and cramped. I looked around and noticed there were bins stacked high with fabric scraps, wool, and thread. As I found out, when they are not feeding voracious hikers, this group makes blankets, baby items and useful things for nursing home patients.Readers, I am sure if you could spare a donation, these kind and hard-working people would put it to good use. There address is: ATOM (Appalachian Trail Outreach Ministry)Round Mountain United Methodist ChurchP O Box 203Bastian, VA 24314THANK YOU!
Date: 2007-05-08
From: Helveys Mill Shelter

To: Jenny Knob Shelter
Miles today: 9.8
Weather: clear sky

Today was a boring hiking day, so I might as well add to yesterday¢s happenings.One of the more interesting events was crossing an Interstate, I-77, to be precise. It took me about 45 minutes altogether, by the time I got through the various ramp areas.One question you might have is, ¢All those hikers look like marching ants, all headed in the same direction with a purpose. How do they know where to go?¢ Well, there are actually blazes all along the on-ramps, off-ramps, and bridges that are easy to miss unless you are actually looking for them. They are often in some very creative spots!
Date: 2007-05-09
From: Jenny Knob Shelter

To: Wapiti Shelter
Miles today: 14.2
Weather: overcast clouds

I seem to be the only one at the shelter tonight, and this happens to be one of the more infamous shelters on the trail. Two people were murdered at Wapiti in 1981, so the Forest Service had to destroy the original shelter. (You can read about it in the book Murder on the Appalachian Trail) This is its replacement. It¢s in an over-trampled, heavily impacted stand of trees, with the ground all picked over by people looking for firewood.I wish they¢d ban the burning of open camp fires here as they do out West, since it is destructive and unnecessary: it¢s too hot to have a fire, but many people still do. Yes, it¢s hot! I even had to sleep without a sleeping bag last night. I¢ll certainly be glad to get into Pearisburg tomorrow to lighten up my gear. However, it¢s going to be hard to substitute clothing without adding weight. That¢s because my ENTIRE clothes bag since Springer has contained:emergency/sleepwear (lightweight long underwear bottoms)tops,light balaclava,one spare pair of socksinsulated Golite jacket (Feb-Mar)insulated Patagonia jacket (if it¢s not on)That¢s IT.Balaclava
Date: 2007-05-10
From: Wapiti Shelter

To: Pearisburg - Catholic Church Hostel
Miles today: 16.6

Today, my goal was simply to hike, hike, hike, and get myself to Pearisburg. The woods are getting much greener now, and the days are spent at lower elevations.Coming down the last steep into Pearisburg, the forest was so lush it might have been rainforest. Greenery sprouted from everywhere, as if overnight.I was just making the last few switchbacks, when I heard a voice calling my name. It turns out, it was Frito, hell bent on catching me up. I was glad to see him, plus it solved a pending problem, namely how to get to the hostel in the dark, alone. We got a ride. The hostel is miles away form anywhere, tucked away in a residential neighborhood behind a church. It is a barn and smells like hay. A shortcut through a meadow takes you, yes to Wal-Mart.I was soon happily provisioned with salad, bananas, orange juice, and frozen pizza.
Date: 2007-05-12
From: ZERO day in Pearisburg

To: Lovely meadows under old oak tree
Miles today: 11.9

Frito and I left the hostel early this morning, but it took a while before we actually got out of town. First, I had to go to the post office to mail out my winter sleeping bag and mattress. Then I decided it might be a good idea if I had some coffee and breakfast before I got on the trail.We found a nice little caf©, and I was soon fixed up with a bagel sandwich and an excellent coffee.So, I got out of town later than I planned, but hiked further than I planned.This was the first time on the trail that I had to improvise dinner ¢ my mail drops have been wonderful, but for some unknown reason, my food box didn¢t make it to Pearisburg. It wasn¢t nearly as good as my usual dinners, but I think I¢ll live! I have now just watched the sun set from my bed under my tarp (I have used a GoLite Lair since Springer and love it).
Date: 2007-05-13
From: Lovely meadows under old oak tree

To: Campsite
Miles today: 16.1
Weather: clear sky

Today was my least favorite kind of hiking ¢ mile after mile of tedious rocky trail, poorly maintained, through sterile forest.The highlight of my day was lunch at Pine Swamp Shelter, which recently had a colossal tree fall through the roof. There doesn¢t seem to have been anyone sleeping there at the time. There were also 3 weekend hikers at the shelter, who had just finished their ¢weekend¢ and were happy to load us up with all their extra food. Thank you! Thank you!I forgot to mention that I saw a bobcat last night. Actually, I almost tripped over it in the dark!Pine Swamp Shelterphoto of a Bobcat from the internet
Date: 2007-05-14
From: Campsite

To: Sarver Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: clear sky

Thru hikers call this shelter the 666 Shelter, presumably because it comes after some hellish hiking and then a scramble down a canyon. It is the site of an old homestead, I believe. {Transcriber note: notice the "trip" miles listed above }This shelter is beautifully and thoughtfully made, with the eating area entirely covered and floored. The mouse hangers look like chandeliers. They are so wonderful, a bird has nested in one of them. The day was a little more eventful than anticipated. In the early afternoon, Frito and I came across 2 young thru hikers (Justin and Sarah) who needed our help, since one of them had become very sick. We were miles from any logical place to get medical attention. Wile I helped them formulate a strategy, Frito began carrying the ill hiker¢s pack. He got a little way up the trail, when we (myself and the two young hikers) heard loud voices. Frito had found perhaps the only other people on the whole mountain, in a car, and they were willing to take Sarah and Justin to the hospital in Blacksburg. I hope to see them on the trail again soon.
Date: 2007-05-15
From: Sarver Hollow Shelter

To: Pickle Branch Shelter
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: clear sky

The hike today couldn¢t have been more dull and hot: agonizingly up, up, up. Perhaps the most significant landmark was a memorial to Audie Murphy, whom I had never heard of before. I¢m always learning new things. He apparently piloted his plane into the mountain.Evening is at one of the worst shelter so far on the trail. It is buggy, the water is far down hill, there are a lot of blow downs to scramble over, and the shelter itself is sited in a murky hollow.Researched info on Audie Murphy ~ He was the most decorated soldier during WWII. He started by trying the Marines and Navy who both refused him and said he was too small. The Army took him and he begged to make infantry. As a private, he quickly became a model soldier and was promoted quickly. He became the most decorated soldier and even earned the Medal of Honor. He single-handedly captured a group of German soldiers once. He went on, after the war, to star in western and war movies. In 1971 he died in a plane crash near this site and this monument was erected in his honor.
Date: 2007-05-16
From: Pickle Branch Shelter, VA

To: Catawba Mtn. Shelter, VA
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: scattered clouds

This morning I hiked down a perverse rocky section known as Dragon¢s Tooth. It was one of those rocky places where you have to go sideways, backwards, and sideways again, being careful not to fall off the cliff. You are lucky to have footholds and toeholds. It took all morning. It would have been a lot more fun as a day hike instead of weighed down with a backpack.Dragons ToothNot much further, I came to a road with a gas station, and, yes, hamburgers. Several hikers had already ordered. Mine kept me fueled all day.Back to the trail, a large group of girls were camped under a big tree. They were chanting their very own AT hiking song, with gusto. I could hear them all through the meadows that followed, for the next half hour or so.Then I was up into a beautifully wooded area that surrounds McAfee Knob. These are the prettiest woods I¢ve seen since the trail began: a large variety of leafy trees, rhododendrons, brightly colored birds.
Date: 2007-05-17
From: Catawba Mtn. Shelter, VA

To: Lamberts Meadow Shelter, VA
Miles today: 8.4
Weather: few clouds

View from McAfee Knob (357 Magnum photo, permission granted!)Today was a day to dawdle. I was the last to leave the shelter, after two cups of coffee in bed. Then it was up to McAfee Knob along top-notch trail. The knob protrudes over valleys and has views all around. Three other hikers ¢ Evil Eye, J.J. and TOM B, also on trailjournals.com (whose name is an acronym for ¢too many birthdays¢) ¢ and I spent at least an hour up there. I even managed to finish my novel. The day is clear after pouring yesterday, so I sat and enjoyed the sunshine.Then it was on to Tinker Cliffs ¢ also a pretty hike and beautiful views ¢ and a celebration of Mile 700!Thunderstorm as I write!Tinker Cliffs (357 Magnum photo)
Date: 2007-05-18
From: Lamberts Meadow Shelter

To: Econolodge, Daleville
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: light rain

Last night I sheltered with three section hikers, all of whom discussed their observations about thru-hikers. It was a very enlightening discussion, provoked, in part, because that day they had met three thru-hikers who didn¢t fit the mold.They observed that thru-hikers are generally grumpy and do not seem to be enjoying themselves. They appear burnt-out and don¢t really want to be in the woods. In fact, most thru-hikers are in ¢survival¢ mode, not wilderness survival, but simply surviving until they get to the next town.The section hikers attributed these tendencies to obsessive goal-orientation (i.e. ¢doing miles¢), poor nutrition, and lack of simple outdoor skills. These thru-hikers have not adapted at all to the AT journey. They are, through and through, town people. They need real beds, pizza, bars, and rushing around in order to be comfortable.I felt these observations were right on and complement some of the things I have been saying all along. There are a few of us out here who do things quite differently. Let¢s hope that increases our odds of hiking all the way to Katahdin.View of Daleville from Tinker Cliffs
Date: 2007-05-19
From: Econolodge, Daleville

To: Fullhardt Knob Shelter 
Miles today: 4.5
Weather: clear sky

Most thru-hikers are at Trail Days in Damascus this weekend, so you might not anticipate much going on at the shelter. This one is busy! There are several thru-hikers camped out, a shelter full of young 22 year old men (looking the worse for wear) and a cluster of weekenders with a dog. And, there¢s NO water.I spent my day scampering around Daleville. I seem to have endless chores: the post office, outfitters, grocery story.It amazes me that at a big interstate intersection, a cluster of bushes can contain something as significant as a major trail. Hikers simply emerge from one cluster of trees by the road, cross, then disappear into trees on the other side, all amidst on ramps and off ramps, truck traffic, motels, mall and restaurants.Leaving Daleville
Date: 2007-05-20
From: Fullhardt Knob Shelter 

To: Bobblets Gap Shelter
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: clear sky

Today was a somewhat lazy day, if only because the terrain was so easy. I seem to have done more talking than walking: my pack is way too heavy for me right now ¢ as are most hikers¢ ¢ so going easy on the miles means more time to eat and thereby reduce the weight.Plus, the rhododendrons are blooming and the mountain laurel, so there are splashes of pink everywhere. And, I¢m here with a very pleasant group of hikers, Rhodo, GG, Owl, EZ Duzit, Wolf, and ¢Lil Red. What could be better?Mountain Laurel ~Rhododendron ~
Date: 2007-05-21
From: Bobblets Gap Shelter

To: Bryant Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: clear sky

Today should have been a breeze, but it wasn¢t: my legs are sore and my back aches, for no good reason. Except, perhaps, that it is hot, and I am totally unprepared for heat. I¢m still wearing my winter clothes and getting summer ones has proved more difficult than I could imagine, especially since I don¢t want to add weight to my pack.There are, yes, 22 people in this shelter, 14 of them camp counselors from Camp Bethel, which is near the Blue Ridge Parkway. They are very respectful and trying hard to do the right thing. Good job, Camp Bethel.Apparently, I must have looked quite bedraggled when I hauled myself in here this evening, because a section hiker with her dad insisted that I eat all their dinner leftovers. Woohoo! That was a great change of pace: their spaghetti sauce even had freshly chopped onion in it. Thank you, Laurie and Dad!Blue Ridge Parkway WallSlinky Dog (Becky & Joe)Umbrella Lady & Habitual Hiker (Beach Bum photo)
Date: 2007-05-22
From: Bryant Ridge Shelter

To: Thunder Hill Shelter
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Did I mention that I¢ve been seeing a lot of snakes lately? Big black ones, about 3 feet long. But nothing could have prepared me for what I saw today. Actually, it was a good thing I saw it when I did. I was just about to step on it. It was a rattlesnake, diamonds down its back, diamond shaped head, lying lengthwise in the middle of the trail, looking right at me.
Date: 2007-05-23
From: Thunder Hill Shelter

To: Johns Hollow Shelter 
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: broken clouds

I am pretty tired and cranky today. The whole Blue Ridge Parkway trail has been very disheartening. It should be a national gem, but it has truly been a mess. Views are limited by dense smog, which is thicker than what you can see in Los Angeles. The trail itself is overgrown and poorly marked. One hiker was evidently so aggravated that he put up some paper blazes with duct tape, so other hikers wouldn¢t be lost. There was so much overgrowth in places you couldn¢t even see the trail. Elsewhere, a trail maintenance crew had gone through and clipped branches but left all the clippings in the middle of the trail. Trying to navigate over these without tripping was very difficult indeed. I had already had a bad fall on another section of the trail where loose rock hadn¢t been removed (as you can generally expect from a heavily-visited, high-caliber trail), so I was not humored to be stepping over branches left by a trail crew.The shelters in this area, too, suffer form lack of attention. Garbage was piled into bags hanging from a clothesline at one (Cornelius Creek); at another (Matt¢s Creek), an archaic set of instructions encouraged campers to bury their garbage in the ¢garbage pit¢. There is old graffiti (from 1980¢s) all over the shelters, apparently never cleaned up; there are broken picnic tables, old lumber just lying about, vegetation stripped in a wide area around every shelter, and toxic latrines. Time for the ATL to step in?Thunder Hill Shelter
Date: 2007-05-24
From: Johns Hollow Shelter 

To: Campsite at Lynchburg Reservoir
Miles today: 16.1

Today had the makings of a disaster. My water filter has gone on the fritz as have my knees, the result, in both cases, I am sure, of overuse. Mechanical attention doesn¢t seem to help. I was feeling inordinately sorry for myself ¢ and completely exasperated with the blaze painter who for many miles now has been slapping white paint willy nilly along the trail, including on an historic tree ¢ when I came across a pair of young thru-hikers (Singe and Old Yeller) who were lovely enough to let me camp with them in a beautiful spot. The moon is shining, the bullfrogs are singing fortissimo, and a brook is babbling nearby. Bridge before Lynchburg Reservoir
Date: 2007-05-25
From: Campsite at Lynchburg Reservoir

To: Buena Vista
Miles today: 4.0

I was slow and limp this morning and anxious to get into Buena Vista to pick up a replacement for my pack, shipped from REI. Ironically, I wished I had more time in these miles, because they had once been settled by freed slaves, and I would have liked to look around.The people of Buena Vista have been more than gracious about giving me rides. I managed to get myself to the post office, the Laundromat, the grocery store and Hardee¢s. When I got to Hardee¢s, the young woman who took my order mentioned that the burger I ordered (half a pound of meat) was very big, clearly expecting me to retract the order. I said, ¢Great!¢ She was a little taken aback. I finished it up in about 3 minutes and then was disappointed to learn that it only had 1080 calories. I¢d need to eat six of them just to feed one day¢s hiking!I wanted to stay in town to let my knee heal, but the local motel wanted $70 or so for a room. I was just about to start trying to get a ride back to the trail, when I heard someone call my name. I looked over and four men were beckoning. I didn¢t know who they were. It turns out, I had met them briefly on the trail, and they were now all showered up with clean clothes, which explains why I couldn¢t recognize them. They offered to let me sleep on their floor. Soon, though, one of them pressed a key into my hand: he had paid my hotel bill and I would have my own room. Thank you, Norm and friends.Morning fog over Buena Vista
Date: 2007-05-26
From: Buena Vista

To: Hog Camp Gap 
Miles today: 6.3
Weather: broken clouds

I deliberately hiked a short day today, to give my bum knee some extra time off. The trail went up the entire hike, a lot easier on aging knees than going down. I have also been mindful of a comment by Ray Jardine (author of Beyond Backpacking), that knees, foot, and hip problems are almost always caused by footwear that needs replacing. He might just be right in my case!I¢m camped out in a meadow with other thru hikers and two sets of people set up to feed thru-hikers as they come through. There¢s lots of food and drink! Dorothy & Toto photo of 2005 trail magic at Hog Camp GapView from 800 mile mark
Date: 2007-05-27
From: Hog Camp Gap 

To: The Priest Shelter
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: broken clouds

This morning began with a full breakfast of eggs, bacon and muffins and juice and coffee, all prepared on the trail for thru-hikers. Thanks to Mountain Dew and Rainbow Bright, especially (2006 photo below). Breakfast kept me going all day!On the subject of keeping thru-hikers happy . . . Two trail maintainers were out grooming the trail around Spy Rock. Their piece of trail was exemplary. It is hard to imagine, unless you have actually done trail maintenance, how much work is required. These two had trimmed back spring growth along several miles of trail. Blow-down had been cleared. Loose rocks had been removed to minimize accidents. And the trail was level left to right, so you didn¢t have to put more weight on one leg than the other. Thank you, thank you!I arrived in good shape at Priest Shelter.Thru-hikers Mountain Dew & Rainbow Brite (Swiss- The Chocolate Bandito 2006 photo while they were in the Whites)Maintop MT has a huge open rock ledge where you can see for miles around. It is called Spy Rocks. During the Civil War, soldiers of the Confederacy used Spy Rock to observe movements of the Union army.