morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-05-12
From: No Business Knob

To: Erwin, Tennessee
Miles today: 6.3

Day 32 - Made it to Uncle Johnny's just before the rain by 10:00.Choice between Uncle Johnny's and Miss Janets.A hard choice.Later in the afternoon, a number of hikers who had passed us the previous day, showed up. They had just returned from a 20 mile slack pack north. We are taking a zero day tomorrow, Biking or inner tubing. Then considering a slack pack on Monday. We are just rewarding our selves. The goal is just to get to Elk Park by Thursday afternoon, when Jeff's daughter will be picking us up. And then on to Boone and Damascus and Trail Days!More to follow.Thanks for signing the guest book!
Date: 2007-05-13
From: Erwin, Tennessee

To: Erwin 2, Tennessee
Miles today: 0.0

Day 33 - Zero DayThis was a relaxing day. Started off with Jeff fixing the bikes at Uncle Johnny's. They were good bikes in their day - 25 years ago. John Shore has been promoting biking for AT hikers. Erwin residents have been dropping off old, obsolete and unused bikes at his hostel over the years, and he has built up a collection of relics.After managing 2 mph hiking over the last 33 days, it was a real delight to cycle 20 mph. The bike path in Erwin meanders through an industrial park and then through a green area bordering the Nolichucky River. Anglers were fishing for catfish along the way.About 3 miles from Uncle Johnny's is Miss Janet's. We dropped in to say hello and just because we were curious. Baltimore Jack had been there the previous night fixing up one of his famous seafood dinner smogasbords. (sp)Later in the afternoon, did a tubing trip down the Nolichucky River for about 5 miles over 3 hours. Way too long and after the first hour too cold. The take out location was the Cherokee Adventurer campground, that had a 4 star restaurant. There we were just in wet swim suits begging for a phone call for our return shuttle. I did not have a dime or a credit card to take advantage of such amazing restaurant.
Date: 2007-05-14
From: Erwin 2, Tennessee

To: Iron Mountain Gap
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 34 - "Imagine being who you really are""If Christ is one, and if He thus to be in us all, shall we not be exactly the same? It sounds like it, but it is in fact not so. Imagine people living in darkness. Now give them light. We now have the same people with experiencing a new world."Today, was our first slack pack. A new experience. Uncle Johnny would be shuttling us to the Iron Mountain Gap and we then would hike back to the hostel with just day packs, a distance of 20 miles. The hiking speed down hills and on level ground is about the same, but the uphill climbs are definitely easier and twice as fast. Nevertheless, the 20 miles still took 9 hours to cover. The benefit was that we returned to the hostel for showers, a real bed, and a good restaurant meal.Along the return hike, we encountered many hikers not slack packing. They had been given the option, turned it down, and were accepted their additional efforts with good humour.
Date: 2007-05-15
From: Iron Mountain Gap

To: Carver's Gap
Miles today: 14.0

Day 35 - "My Own Personality""The more we get what we now call 'ourselves' out of the way and let Him take us over, the more truly ourselves we become."This morning, Uncle Johnny shuttled us back to the Iron Mtn Gap. The first 4.3 miles to the Clyde Smith Shelter was easy. The next 3 miles with a climb of 1700 ft over Roan Mtn was the hardest, longest climb yet on the AT! Fortunately, the day was overcast, and therefore not hot. I just plodded along, taking frequent breaks and tried to keep my breathing rate somewhat normal. It works!At the top of Roan Mtn was the former Cloudland Hotel. Now it is a bald and a parking lot.Pushing on for another half mile, we reached the Roan High Knob Shelter. It is a closed in shed with no windows and a dirty wooden floor. To dreary to stay in! It was an easy decision to push on another 1.3 miles to the Carvers Gap parking lot where we decided to cook supper then pitch our tents out of sight of the parking area. The Carvers Gap parking lot is the trail head for day hikers climbing Round Bald and Jane Bald. Our 5th Trail Magic, pepsis and beer left over from day hikers returning from their hike.
Date: 2007-05-16
From: Carver's Gap

To: Elk Park
Miles today: 13.4

Day 36 - "All Good Masters are Servants""Nothing is a merely a by-product of anything else. All results are intended from the first."Leaving Carver's Gap, the views from Round Bald, then Jane Bald made up for the efforts of the day before. Stan Murray Shelter and then the Overmountain Shelter by 10:00. The Overmountain Shelter is a converted old barn with an fantastic view. No wonder, so many hikers make this their stopover.Too early to stop though, and we continued to the Little Hump then Hump Mtn. These are big balds. Possibly the biggest ones we had seen yet on the AT! It started to sprinkle just as I reached the top. 5587 ft and I didn't want to be caught in a thunderstorm on top of a bald! Pushing hard, was able to chase down Jeff, about a hour later. The down hill and the rocks slowed him down.Reaching the Apple House Shelter about 14:30, the 19E Hwy was just half a mile away. The Mountain Harbour hostel is then just another third of a mile north on 19E. Just the spot to be picked up by Jeff's daughter the next morning.After checking in to the hostel, we found Trail Magic left by Bunkers and her sister. 5 dozen Krispy Kremes left for the people in the hostel!The next 3 days will be zero days. On Friday, Jeff and I will be going up to Damascus for Trail Days. On Sunday, Jeff will be dropping me off at Elk Park. Jeff has completed his AT goal, I have another 607 miles to Harpers Ferry!
Date: 2007-05-17
From: Elk Park

To: Boone, North Carolina
Miles today: 0.0

Day 37- 39 Zero DaysDay 37 - The breakfast at the Mountain Harbour Hostel is scrumptous, really worth the value. Belgian waffles with the toppings, OJ, fruit, eggs, sausages, pastries, coffee and seconds! After breakfast, it was cleanup, pack and wait for Jeff's daughter to pick us up. Not a long wait. Trina arrived shortly after and it was less than a hour drive to Villas a suburb of Boone. Laundry, and grocery shopping and just relaxing the rest of the day.Day 38 - Trail Days @ DamascusJeff borrowed Trina's car and we drove to Trail Days. Entering Damascus, we spotted Gimpy - we saw him last in Erwin, 5 days ago. Gimpy had been doing 20 mile days and had arrived the previous night. He showed us around.Josh and Leigh from the Hiker Hostel were there. The professor from Alma U doing physical exams of thru-hikers was doing his followup exams as well. The morning was awfully chilly, so we went indoors to the school to takein a seminar. It was a 90 minute slide show of three hikes - Pacific Crest Trail in 1996, the AT in 2000, and the Continental Divide Trail in 2006. Leaving the school, I heard my trail name - Xenon. To my surprise, it was Old Drum - Dave Curtis from Missouri. Went to subway for lunch. I was still chilled. Dave had driven 2 days to get to Trail Days! He kept giving me advice on New Hampshire and Maine, although I was only interested in Virgina! New England is next year! Finally in the afternoon, it started to warm up. At Trail Days, there are a lot of backpacking vendors. There were 5 hammock suppliers. The Hennesy and Speer hammocks are the big ones. Jeff had made his hammock using the Speer design available off the internet. The advantage is that entry is from the top whereas the Hennesy requires entry through a slot in the bottom of the hammock. I had tried a Hennesy early in the trip, and had been concerned about being trapped in the hammock and having to deal with severe leg cramps. The other advantage, is that the Speer uses a 8 X 10 tarp as the rain cover, whereas the Hennesy uses a smaller tarp integral to the hammock. I was carrying a 5 X 8 tarp that is too small for any use other than covering equipment. I am switching from my 1 man tent to the Speer hammock!Day 39 - Hello to Jeff's Wife - SandyJeff's wife arrived from New York State. I couldn't leave until I had met Jeff's better half. Sandy and Nancy - my better half - talked on the phone. I have been informed there will be changes in my household when I return! After 3 zero days, it will be hard to get back on the trail!
Date: 2007-05-20
From: Boone, North Carolina

To: Moreland Gap Shelter
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: clear sky

Day 40 - "A Body - Muscular, Vital and Diverse""The sacrifice of selfish privacy which is daily demanded of us is daily repaid a hundredfold in the true growth of personality which the life of the Body encourages."After a good breakfast, Jeff and family drove me back to Elk Park - US19E to the trail head to start back on the AT. Tearfull goodbyes to a good hiking partner! It was my intention to just hike to the next shelter - the Mountaineers shelter only 8 miles away. Reaching it by 12:30, it was too early to stop! I ended up at the Moreland Gap shelter for a total of 16 miles for the day. Tyvek - the Viet Nam war vet - hiking southbound barefoot in protest of the American government treatment of post war stress of Viet Nam war vets was stretched out in the shelter. I had met Tyvek last year at the Goose Pond cabin in Massachuetts. Tyvek is continuing his protest.Jeff and his family had been deciding whether to have accompanied me as far as the Jones Falls - the highest falls on the AT or to revisit Round Bald and Jane Bald from Carvers Gap. The scenery at the Balds is much superior to one set of water falls!Today, I have passed the 400 mile mark from Springer Mountain!
Date: 2007-05-21
From: Moreland Gap Shelter

To: Dennis Cove
Miles today: 6.5

Day 41 - "Should the Church take the Lead"This passage is right silly. It says economists and politicans should take the Christian lead and leave the church to save souls. But if the country is corrupt, shouldn't the church take the lead? I don't have to agree with all of CS Lewis.This is to be an easy day for me. It is just 6.5 miles to Dennis Cove and a hostel. Relax and prepare then for a 3 day push to Damascus.Reached the highway at 10:30, then I saw the signs to Laurel Forks Lodge and Hostel. I thought I was headed to the Kincora Hostel. Oh well. The Kincora Hostel, I have been told had upwards of 40 hikers! The Laurel Forks Hostel is at the moment empty, except for me! I plan on reading and planning my remaining 600 miles!!Later on, Just Bill showed up at the Laurel Forks after being turned away at Kincora. Bill does his trail journals on www.billonthetrail.com . At Kincora, Baltimore Jack had been making meals for about 100 people doing trail maintenance.
Date: 2007-05-22
From: Dennis Cove

To: Vandenventer Shelter
Miles today: 17.3
Weather: few clouds

Day 42 - "A Christian Society""Anything that is really Christian: everyone is attracted by bits of it and wants to pick out those bits and leave the rest."Up early and on the trail by 07:00; wanted to get up and over Pond Mtn while it is still cool. The climb is 1700 ft over 3 miles, the same as Roan Mtn! Just over a mile from the trailhead is Laurel Falls and the AT goes through the Laurel Creek gorge. After a hour on the trail, I finished out the last of my pint of Ben & Jerry's ice cream! I found an untapped source of strength to climb Pond Mtn. I was up and over the mountain and descended to Watauga Lake in less than 4 hours--a distance of 9 miles. To be truthful, the climb was gradual with a lot of switchbacks. But still, it was a climb of 1700 ft!The AT continues on the other side of Watauga Lake. Bonnie and Clyde - thru-hiking couple - were sun bathing at Watauga Lake and slack packing back to the Kincora Hostel. I should have waved down a pontoon boat to hitch a ride, it would have saved 2 miles! Nevertheless, after another 2 hours of rather hot trekking, it was time to ascend the Iron Mountain ridge, 1500 ft over 4 miles. It was now the heat of the day, and water was now scarce. OPEX from southbounders told me that there was a spring about a mile south of the Vandenventer shelter, and that the water source at the shelter was another half mile west of the shelter, down the ridge! Arrived at the shelter about 16:30, and was the first there! After making supper, I set up my new hammock for the first time! You need to be really organized to use the hammock. My head lamp and MP3 player were attached to the ridge line. My fanny pack with water bottle was fastened to one end of the hammock. Nothing can be loose in the hammock! I was reasonably comfortable and pleased with my first use of the hammock. With threatening rain, I set up the tarp as well. Later on in the evening the shelter filled up. Another 6 tents besides those in the shelter, made the place rather busy.
Date: 2007-05-23
From: Vandenventer Shelter

To: Double Springs Shelter
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: light rain

Day 43 - "The Longest Way Round""The longest way round is the shortest way home."It is about 33 miles further to Damascus, what was the best way to split this distance over 2 days. After a late start - 07:20! - the AT follows a ridge with fairly easy terrain. Iron Mtn shelter 7 miles in 3 hours. Another 8 miles to the Double Springs Shelter. At the Low Gap crossing, encountered a local who gave us some beef jerky, cranberry crumpets and weather forecast. Isolated thunderstorms. Shortly after it started sprinkling and thundering. It was still another 3 miles to the Double Springs Shelter. Made it by 14:30. The terrain was still easy. The rain was not hard but I decided not to push my luck. I just rolled out my thermarest as I didn't want to push my luck with the hammock. This left 18.3 miles for tommorrow!What a surprise! Wolf Taffy - Brian from the Brian and Nate duo - showed up about 18:00. Then Martha Stuart showed up about 21:30 in the dark and made a 7th in a 6 man shelter. The rain had more or less let up by 19:00 and I wondered, if I should have done some of those 18.3 miles that day.
Date: 2007-05-24
From: Double Springs Shelter

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 44 - "For No Other Purpose""The State exists simply to promote and to protect the ordinary happiness of human beings in this life. A husband and wife chatting over a fire, a couple of friends having a few beers, a man reading a book, or a hiker hiking the AT. That is what the State is there for."Up really early, and on the trail by 06:20 without breakfast. Really want to get the majority of the 18.3 miles done before it gets too hot! Abingdon Gap Shelter 8.3 miles by 10:00. Fired up the Jetboil for some chicken broth and hot chocolate. The terrain looks easy and it is only another 10 miles to Damascus. Reached the Tennessee / Virgina border by 12:30 and Damascus by 14:00. Booked into the "Place" hostel. Have yet to decide whether to make tomorrow a zero day.
Date: 2007-05-25
From: Damascus, VA

To: Summit Gap
Miles today: 16.7

Day 45Up early for Bkft @ Cowboys, where I was invited for supper @ Larry's - "The Only Wanderer". I was informed the previous night of possible slack pack to the Iron Mtn Gap and return to Damascus. Consequently, I headed out on 58 W, the wrong way! After wasting a hour, and finally getting straightened out, I was on 58 E and rode in the back of a pickup to the Summit Gap. Had no idea where I was headed, and after a really twisty windy 12 mile ride, and the driver took me to the correct trail head. Southbound back to Damascus, I saw Maryland Edge, Greg, Wolf Taffy, Moose, Martha Stewart (Candybar), Gypsy Spirit and Speaks Little in that order on the way back to Damascus. Still took 7 hours to travel 16.7 m. Had trouble with my makeshift day pack of just a grocery bag. The water bottle and fruit just kept bouncing, throwing me off balance. Only after lunch and eating the weight, did I get a rythmn. Ate dinner at Larry's though I had no appetite. Larry had to do a shuttle to the Grayson Highlands, and I was able to tag along and get a preview of the next few days. I was pumped for the next day!
Date: 2007-05-26
From: Summit Gap

To: Thomas Knob Shelter
Miles today: 11.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 46After Bkft at Cowboys, and saying goodbye to Larry, walked to the 58E intersection to hitch. After about half hour, Mike Jackson - a programmer and wife picked me up. They are looking for a home in the area, wanting to get out of Washington. Reached the Summit Gap about the same time as yesterday - 09:00. Within 5 minutes, Martha Stuart (candybar) popped out of bush. The climb from Summit Gap to Buzzard Rock 2000' of 2.5 m was not too bad. Reached Thomas Knob shelter by 15:15. This is the edge of the Grayson Highlands, and a herd of feral ponies came within a 100 meters of the shelter.
Date: 2007-05-27
From: Thomas Knob Shelter

To: Hurricane Shelter
Miles today: 16.0

Day 47From the Thomas Knob Shelter you are in the Balds, Grayson Highlands and feral ponies! Saw about 3 herds. Lots of people were camped out in the alpine meadows, including a big troop of Scouts of America.At the Wise Shelter, I encountered pepper spray for the first time! Boy, it is the like a chemical burn! It required a lot of flushing to remove any residual, and still my eyes watered.By noon, reached Scales, which is a corral for rounding up cattle. Reached Hurricane Shelter by 16:30, right on schedule. Not a bad day, pepper withstanding!
Date: 2007-05-28
From: Hurricane Shelter

To: Partnership Shelter
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 48Up early for a big day!On the trail by 06:50 and made it to Partnership by 16:00, just before the rain!Trail Magic at the shelter. Ice cream, toppings of whipped cream, blueberries, syrups, nuts. What a reward for my longest day yet!The shelter has a built-in shower, although the propane hot water heater was not working. A cold shower, but it was worth it! Pizza was ordered for the night.
Date: 2007-05-29
From: Partnership Shelter

To: I-81 and Relax Inn
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: clear sky

Day 49On the trail by 07:30. Reached the Settler's Museum by noon, when it was getting unbearably hot. The interpreter at the museum offered me soda's and was very informative as to the purpose of the museum without being pushy. The museum is cosponsored by the AT with one of the objectives to advoid infringement unto the AT easement.Reached I-81 and the Relax-Inn by 14:00; where it was too hot to continue. Wasted $5 reserving a double room and then hoping for another hiker to want to share the air conditioning and showers! Moose and Greg were already there. Wooly came by about 17:30, but wanted to push on. Ate supper at the Barn Restaurant. Bunkers showed up. She had been in New York for her daughters dance recital, and was now returning to Mt Rogers to pick up the AT again! Also, met Peter Pan who sympathized with me wrt the objective of getting to Harpers Ferry. He advised to take each section separately, and make small targets rather than one major target. I am having doubts!
Date: 2007-05-30
From: I-81 and Relax Inn

To: Knot Maul Shelter
Miles today: 13.9
Weather: clear sky

Day 50 - "Work Offered to God""A mole must dig to the glory of God and a cock must crow."On the road by 07:40, and I reached the Davis Path Shelter 3 m by 09:00. The occupants of that shelter must have been partying all night, as they were just stirring! I tackled the day with a positive attitude. That helped! At the North Fork Holston River, many of the hikers had stopped to go wading as it was noon and getting hot. Reached the Knot Maul Shelter by 15:00. That was the objective for the day. Be positive!
Date: 2007-05-31
From: Knot Maul Shelter

To: Jenkins Shelter
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 51 - "Avoid Clarity"The CS Lewis readings are back to the Screwtape Letters. I need Wormwood for his impressions. "Keep everything hazy in his mind, and you will have all eternity to produce the peculiar kind of clarity which Hell affords."Gnats were a problem at the Knot Maul Shelter last night. I should have pushed a little further and hammocked. Up early and on the trail by 07:30. 10 miles to the Chestnut Knob Shelter and a climb of 2000' over 4 miles. Ran into Greg and Wooly along the way. This section was a big bald. 9 miles further to the Jenkins Shelter should be easy. Wrong! Got there by 18:30, very tired. This was my longest day yet. Put up the hammock as I didn't want to be bothered with gnats all night. During the night, deer came close to the shelter, pawing at the ground and looking for responses. There were about 3 of these creatures, answering each other. It was very noisy, and rather intimidating. I didn't know if bears ever made such a ruckus.
Date: 2007-06-01
From: Jenkins Shelter

To: US-52 and Bland
Miles today: 12.0

Day 52 - "Untold Millions""What happens to the untold millions that have yet to hear of Christ, we can only respond individually, and then each of us can make a difference."On the trail by 08:00. Gnats were still a problem. I must work harder at making the bug netting on the hammock tighter. You can fasten one side of the bug netting pretty tight but it is difficult sealing up the velcro from the inside for the second side.Trail Magic - gatorade and propel on Forest Rd VA 615. Nice! Reached US-52 by 13:00 and met Jack Wells - a SOBO section hiker. We were able to all hitch into Bland 2.5 m together in a pickup. Ended up sharing a room with Jack. He is a professor of Physics and Math at Thomas Moore in Kentucky. Jack also uses the Speer hammock. The night was spent watching Star Wars on TV.
Date: 2007-06-02
From: US-52 and Bland

To: VA 606 and Trent Store
Miles today: 18.6

Day 53 - "Apostolic Witness""In the earliest days of Christianity, the 'apostles' were the ones who claimed to be eyewitnesses of the Resurrection."Breakfast was put on by the Bland County Voluntary Rescue Squad. Afterwards, there was not a lot of traffic on US 52, Jack talked to a local resident and wrangled a ride back to the trailhead. After pictures, we parted company.Helvey Mills Shelter, only 2.3 m by 10:00; rather easy. Jenny's Knob Shelter another 9.8 m by 14:00. Decided to push on to VA-606 and the Trent Store another 6.5 miles by 18:00.The Trent Store has basic re-supply, basic meals and a rudimentary campground. No trees for hammocking. I set up my tarp on the ground and used my hammock basically as a bug jacket. I think my bug jacket works better! Dismal Falls is about 2 miles away, and many hikers were camping at the falls rather than the Trent Store facility. I just wanted to enjoy a supper and a breakfast that I did not have to make myself!
Date: 2007-06-03
From: VA 606 and Trent Store

To: Wapiti Shelter
Miles today: 7.1
Weather: moderate rain

Day 54The rain started at 04:00. This is the tropical storm "Barry" coming up the coast. Managing to keep the essentials dry, only the tarp was absolutely wet.After breakfast at Trents, it took some guess work to find the blue blaze at the Dismal Falls back to the AT. There were at least 10 hikers still in their tents or hammocks at the falls, just waiting out the rain. Got to the Wapiti Shelter in good time by 14:00. That was enough. Too wet. Too slippery. Ryan and his dog Rocky, Old Man, Joe Dirt, He-man & She-ra, Pacemaker & Buckaroo eventually all came into the shelter. Buckaroo is also a retired university professor, section hiking, almost completed. He gave us Virgina peanuts, gatorade powder and some dried fruit. The shelter had good conversation in spite of the rain.
Date: 2007-06-04
From: Wapiti Shelter

To: Pearisburg, Va
Miles today: 16.2
Weather: light rain

Day 55 - "The Beginning of the New Creation""A new chapter in cosmic history has opened."The rain has stopped! The climb up to the Sugar Run Mtn 1500' over 1.5 m was not too difficult. Feeling pretty good. Arrived at the Doc Knob's Shelter 8 m by 12:00. Laid out gear to dry out. There was wind but no direct sunlight. After a hour layover, pushed on to Pearisburg by 16:30. Then is was another 2.9 m walk to the Holy Family Catholic Hostel. A Walmart is only over the hill, I need a summer sleeping bag. Alas, there isn't one to be had in town! Urg!!!Tommorrow is a zero day. I will continue looking.