morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-05-03
From: Cherry Gap Shelter

To: Roan High Knob Shelter
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: broken clouds

I'm officially pooped. This was only marginally more mileage than yesterday, but it was much much harder. We went from elevation 4012 to 6194 , but I am willing to bet we climbed at least 500 ft more, just going up and down for fun.Last night was the end of my five week streak of not having to get out of the tent and pee in the middle of the night. I tried to avoid it, checking the time to see if I might last the night but it wasn't even midnight yet! Ah well, it was nice while it lasted.Getting up is getting easier, as it is light earlier and warmer in the morning. So, we were ready to leave at seven, not too shabby.I was recognized on the trail again today! This time it was two section hikers who had been following a few trail journals to see what the conditions on their hike would be like. So I chatted with them some, which was fun. It was nice to meet you, RnR! I tried to hold out for lunch at the shelter at 9 miles in, but as fast as the miles went yesterday, that's how slow they went today. So we gave up and had lunch trackside on a log. But we did come up with a potential alternative to our plan: instead of going 5 miles uphill at the end, we'd only go 3 and camp. That would mean that we didn't get to stay at the highest shelter on the trail though. But it would still be in agreement with our (my) new rule of not hiking less than 15 miles on any given day. (Days we get to town are exempt!).When I got to the start of the climb, it was only 1:20 and the first, 3 mile part of the climb was just as well graded as Unaka yesterday and really not that bad. It did seem to go on forever though, with roughly 64 false summits before the real one. Then it was a short downhill to the camp site but it was just too early to set up camp. New rule: cannot set up camp before 4 pm. Subject to change without notice! The last 2.whatever miles were very draggy though. I knew it wasn't that far and I just couldn't move any faster. We are now staying at that highest shelter of the entire AT and I hope it's not going to be freezing-ass cold tonight. When we checked the weather for this shelter in Erwin, it said it would only be in the forties, which I can totally deal with.My knee isn't getting any worse, so I'll consider that good. My feet are still very sore at the end of the day, but it's more of a regular 'hello, you just made us walk 17 miles ' soreness rather than a 'oh my god, my heels are going to fall off of my feet', so we'll call that progress too. Still, I am really looking forward to new shoes!Open map in new windowWant to add a map to your journal?
Date: 2015-05-04
From: Roan High Knob Shelter

To: Dolls Flat Campsite
Miles today: 13.3
Weather: clear sky

As it turned out, it wasn't that cold up at Roan High Knob last night. Even so, we had a somewhat late start and were on the trail by 7:45. The first section down Roan was rocky but otherwise nice but the real surprise was when we got to Carvers Gap. The weather at this point was just perfect and we were about to cross over no fewer than three balds! I don't know why, but this area wasn't even really on my radar at all. But the Roan Highlands area is spectacular and Stanley Murray should be congratulated on making it part of the AT in the sixties or seventies (there was a plaque somewhere, that's how I know this).The balds were Round, Jane and Little Hump, followed by the impossibly imposing (and elegantly named) Hump mountain. I think this area maintained by a different club than the last few days, as there was a notable absence of switchbacks. So Hump Mountain was straight up for however long it took to cover 800 ft of elevation change.By this time, the sky was significantly overcast, but that made the views just more dramatic.Then there was a long downhill that turned out to be a real challenge. Lots of rocks and roots and my poles got stuck in nooks and crevices more times today than in the rest of the trail combined. I even lost one of the point protectors in one of them but fortunately noticed it right away and found it.So when we got to our original destination, before my new rule of at least 15 miles per day was thought up, I decided to call it a day. Stealthbomber and Cyborg, a couple in their mid-twenties that we have camped with for a few days now, are here as well. We have nice fire going and everyone is winding down. It rained briefly shortly after we reached camp, but the forecast says it will be clear tonight. Fingers crossed!One last note re mail drops. I can't plan my next section because the next section of my guide will be in Damascus. But I will be in Damascus by Saturday so I should have more info after that.Open map in new windowWant to add a map to your journal?
Date: 2015-05-06
From: Stealth Camp North of USFS 293

To: Pond Flats Campsite
Miles today: 15.9

Weatherwise, today was a carbon copy of yesterday. So we got started early, both trying to beat the heat and eager to get to Black Bear Resort to resupply. It was 11 miles (including the 0.4 mile non trail miles on the road to the resort) but the terrain was pretty benign so we planned to have lunch there as well. Again the first few miles went very fast and I was at the shelter, 4.2 miles in, before 9 am. I signed the register, which I usually forget, and saw that Fiddler is now most likely a full day ahead of us.I got to resort right at lunchtime. Yoda had just walked in and Cherokee got there shortly after. It was a rustic but very nice place and they had lovely soap at the bathroom sinks! I had some chips and a coke while I figured out what to get for resupply. Then I got lunch while figuring out what to get to resupply. Finally I resupplied (there were candy bars involved. But also tuna and an apple!) . I also chatted with the owner, Stephanie, who as it turned out, went to college in Utrecht and still spoke Dutch. And she didn't peg my accent as Dutch either (just as accent), so I liked her. Eventually we did move on, even though it was tempting to stay. The plan was to hike 5 more miles to a camp site at the top of a hill/mountain. The next section, starting in another 3 or 4 miles, has no camping or picnicking or 'lingering' due to bear activity so this was our last opportunity before the closed section.First we passed Laurel Falls (pretty impressive) in the rain but then we had to climb the hill (mountain!) to the camp site. It took about an hour and a half but it is a nice site. Fairly crowded though. Tomorrow we hike through the bear section and beyond (well, hopefully beyond...) Open map in new windowWant to add a map to your journal?
Date: 2015-05-07
From: Pond Flats Campsite

To: Iron Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 19.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Today I saw a bear, at last. But that was not till the end of the hike.Warm night again so I left camp at a record early time (for me) of 6:45. We had about three miles to go to where the bear issue has the area closed to all activities but hiking. And those three miles just flew by! The lake looked beautiful in the morning light and it's a real bummer the area is closed. I passed through without incident, even though I had to eat while hiking.Most of the day was actually taken up by walking around Lake Watauga. The trail crossed the dam and then started climbing. I was about 9+ miles in now and I was really ready for lunch but I needed the spring for water. And of course it took forever to get there, and then it was one of the worst flows we have encountered. Oh well, I had lunch and filled up my water and all was well again with the world. This morning before we started we had identified two possible destinations, one at 15+ and one at 19+ miles. The latter would help make for a shorter hike into Damascus on Saturday, which would give us more time to eat burgers, drink lattes and visit the outfitter before driving to Chez Cherokee. By lunch time, we were only 8.5 miles from the further option and it didn't make sense to do anything else. But those 8.5 sure made my feet hurt! On the bright side, the relatively easy terrain today kept the cranky knee pretty quiet.I saw the bear about 1.5 miles from the shelter so we will definitely hang the food tonight. And, it was just how I like seeing bears when hiking: about 50 ft away and hauling ass away from me. I got a good look but there was definitely not enough time for a photo.Camp is fairly crowded again but it is a lot quieter than yesterday. If the guy who likes to burst out singing (falsetto no less) can keep his urges under control, we should be in good shape.We have our Camp Snugly II going again here, with Yoda making up the third person. She is in her mid thirties, out hikes me most of the time (my poor ego!) and has a multi-year plan to hike the Triple Crown. She is not on Trailjournals but blogs at 5 million steps with Katie. Shout out to her parents and to Walking Rhyme, who was following us both before we ever met! It's a weird little world sometimes.Open map in new windowWant to add a map to your journal?
Date: 2015-05-10
From: Damascus, VA

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 0.0

Today was a lazy day and yet I am tired. I couldn't sleep yesterday (which makes no sense. What, the bed was too comfy?) and had to resort to doing the 'countries of the world' quiz in my head. The fun thing about doing it in your head is that you always get all the countries! (Www.jetpunk.com if you too want to be obsessed with being able to list all 196 countries of the world. And of course there is discussion about that number too. But now I *really* digress).Anyway, the morning was spent planning the next section of trail, through the rest of this month. I am very happy with the plan, now we just have to carry it out. Piece of cake, as Cherokee would say. Because I have mapped out a rough schedule, I was finally able to put up a few mail drop locations. See the mail drop tab for more info.Cherokee is actually coming hiking with Yoda and me for a couple more days, through Grayson Highlands. He has a ridiculously light food bag just for those two days and we are very jealous.After a delicious breakfast of egg casserole, I sorted through my goodie boxes some more and came up with a grocery list. I didn't need much, primarily dinners. I prefer the freeze dried ones, because they are so simple. You just add boiling water to a pouch, let it sit for 10 minutes or so and voil . And no pot to clean, which is a major benefit. They are pricey, but do actually taste pretty good. I haven't had that many, but there hasn't been a 'eeewwww, this is gross' one in the bunch yet. High praise indeed!Cherokee took Yoda and me for a spin around the neighborhood in the golf cart (it's a golf community) and we all soaked our feet in Epsom baths. I'm not sure what that does if you don't have skin issues like blisters, but it was nice and relaxing all the same.We made the mistake of doing grocery shopping before going to dinner, which meant we were hungry, which meant we all got too much food. Oh well. The revised plan is to eat like pigs to lighten the load and then crank out the miles. Hey, we can dream!After delicious burgers, I now feel completely Oompa Loompa and ready to go to sleep. Tomorrow we drive back to Damascus, do a few more chores, and start hiking again. Here's to carrying out that 'eat like pigs and crank out the miles 'portion of the plan!Open map in new windowWant to add a map to your journal?
Date: 2015-05-13
From: Wise Shelter

To: Trimpi Shelter
Miles today: 19.2
Weather: clear sky

It was Cherokee's last day today. He was going to hike back to a gap we passed yesterday where his friend was going to pick him up, and Yoda and I were hiking on (northbound, thank you very much). But, we'll meet again on Friday, when he will pick us up for one last time in the lap of luxury that is chez Cherokee.One thing that happened overnight was a significant temperature drop. I started out wearing 2 shirts, a hat, buff and mittens! Usually people send their cold weather gear home in Damascus but I had read it was smarter to do so in Pearisburg. But, when we left Damascus in 80+ degree weather I figured I wasn't going to need it and regretted not mailing it. Now I was really, really happy I still had all that stuff!The first stretch of today's hike was a continuation of yesterday: rocky, grassy and with sweeping views. It was beautiful but I had to keep moving to stay warm so only took a few pictures. I reached our first lunch option too early and Yoda was right behind me (she had found a spot with signal and updated her blog. I was jealous) so we went to the next shelter. When we got there, it was off the trail and there was a stream right there so we had lunch at the stream.A few miles later, we were discussing our favorite drinks and the merits (or lack thereof) of coke, diet coke and coke zero (deep discussions we have on the trail!) when we got to the road. And right there was a former thru-hiker, Storyteller, handing out cold cokes (regular only of course, no self respecting hiker would drink diet anything!) and Oreos! The timing of it was uncanny. We chatted with Storyteller, who hiked in 2009 and is currently a ridge runner, and then left for the last 4 miles to the shelter.We had only gone a short way and were yakking away when all of a sudden I heard a weird noise and saw Yoda, ahead of me, jump. Rattle snake, about 5 ft long! And he was not happy with us, rattling away. I was behind the snake on the trail, so I made a detour into the brush on the other side and bypassed the rattler altogether. He then slithered down the trail, in the direction we had come from. We asked the people behind us when we got to camp and they never saw it, which I suppose is a good thing.For the next hour or so, every root looked like a snake! It is our first Cherokee-less evening in a long time (I have had a couple of them over the past six weeks), but we had no reception to send him a text. But, I did introduce Yoda to crackers and sardines for hors d'oeuvres and she liked it! And, tomorrow we'll be at Partnership Shelter, famous because you can get pizza delivery!Open map in new windowWant to add a map to your journal?
Date: 2015-05-14
From: Trimpi Shelter

To: Stealth Camp Site North of Chatfield
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: broken clouds

Our first morning without Cherokee! Which means I had to collect the food bags myself (though I got the good end of the deal there: so far Yoda is the one who hangs them!) and that Yoda had to make her own coffee. But we managed to break camp and start the short but steep blue trail from the shelter back to the AT. We had paid extra attention when we arrived so as to not have any confusion about which direction to go...The first part of the morning and late afternoon hours have become my favorite time to hike. The light is nice in both cases and the morning has the added advantage of fresh legs and not-yet-sore feet.I hiked through some fields and crossed a stream where a bunch of phlox was blooming. I wish I had more of a photographer's eye, it all looked ready for post cards!Shortly thereafter I encountered some trail magic. It was from another church and similar to the one where I ate a Little Debbie apple pie. I didn't need or want any food, but it was nice to leave my trash. Especially since it had tuna pouches and a sardines can... I hope they collect it often! There were no views and just a couple of short climbs and then, for once unexpectedly quickly, there was Partnership shelter. And just beyond it, the Mount Rogers Recreation Area Visitor Center, where you can get pizza delivery! By now, it was a beautiful sunny day, so we sat in front of the visitor center while we ordered, waited for, ate and digested our pizzas (small veggie, I couldn't even finish. Poor excuse for a thru-hiker I am). After a couple of hours, we decided to move on, 6 miles or so to the next shelter and then possibly to a stealth camp site a little ways beyond. You'd think that hiking in the midday sun with a belly full of pizza makes you feel terrible but I had a great hike this afternoon. There were a few steep climbs but I was feeling very zen about it all and nothing bothered me. A fair change from the morning I went the wrong way and I made several top tens in my head titled 'why today sucked'! The shelter was the worst we have seen so far in terms of tenting options, so the decision to move on was made quickly. It also means a shorter hike tomorrow to the meet-up point with Cherokee.So here we are, me a bit slopey again and listening to a bunch of barking dogs far off in the distance. If we had a babbling brook, it would be even better but just a quiet camp is a pretty good end of the day.There is a chance of thunderstorms tomorrow afternoon, so we are going to try to beat those by leaving early. We shall see.Open map in new windowWant to add a map to your journal?
Date: 2015-05-15
From: Stealth Camp Site North of Chatfield

To: VA 42 at 554.9
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: light rain

Today had two exciting highlights. One probably sounds more appealing than the other.One of the advantages of stealth camping is that there's usually nobody else around, so you don't have to be quiet in the morning. And it is much easier to find a spot to pee. It was a warm night and I knew we were going to be at a convenience store later so I didn't even make tea. It wasn't a record but my departure of 6:47 was pretty close.The hiking was easy, through meadows and past the Lindamood schoolhouse. Normally I would be annoyed by this, but today I liked hearing the road noise from I-81 in the not so far distance. That meant that that oasis of civilization, the gas station convenience store, was within reach! There is a restaurant at the intersection of AT and I-81, and we decided to have breakfast there. It had all the ambiance of a 1930s office cafeteria, but it served its purpose. A couple of hours later though, my breakfast was not sitting so well and the hiking slowed considerably. We knew there was a significant climb still coming and we were to meet Cherokee at 3pm. At two miles per hour, it was pretty close. But the climb we had been dreading was very well graded, which makes a huge difference in the amount of effort you have to expend to get up. And, even better, there was an official '2015 1/4 of the way done' sign just past the top! After the long way down we passed a ridiculously picturesque stream with wildflowers on its banks and an old barn in the distance. Phlox, iris and buttercup. Earlier in the morning we had already passed masses of blooming rhododendrons and a couple of wild azaleas, so all in all it was a good day for flowers. We also climbed a whole bunch of stiles today, more I think than we have so far. They are ladder-like devices that give hikers access to fields that also have livestock. And they can be a little unwieldy to negotiate with a pack and poles. At the last of the stiles, there was trail magic in the form of generic Mountain Dew and Yoda and I both enjoyed one. Thank you to the former thru hikers who provided this and whose names I don't remember (sorry!). Fueled by sugary soda, we got to the road right on time, where Cherokee was doing exactly what we had predicted he'd be doing: talking to hikers and figuring out how he could help shuttle them to where they wanted to go. After drive through nasty rain (I was so happy not to be hiking just then!) and a stop at Dairy Queen for milkshakes, we got back to Fancy Gap. Mrs Cherokee cooked burgers with all the accoutrements, and Yoda and I showered, did laundry and had another foot bath in an attempt to appease the feet. Judging by sausage toes and general foot puffiness, I think they're still mad...Tomorrow we'll have a relaxing morning and hike a short day. Going by the profile and hiker Intel, it will not be an easy hike though, so wish us luck!Open map in new windowWant to add a map to your journal?
Date: 2015-05-17
From: Chestnut Knob Shelter

To: Stealth Camp at Trail Boss Trail
Miles today: 18.4
Weather: overcast clouds

It was going to happen sooner or later: today was kind of boring. There, I said it.It stopped raining some time last evening but the wind blew pretty hard all night. I was glad I had set up camp in a grove of trees rather than in the open field with a view of the valley below. When I went to get the food bags this morning though, the view was really cool, with low clouds below me and the sun trying to peek through.I left camp around 7 and the guide showed a mostly benign ridge walk. And it was, to a large extent, it was just not as level-ish as the profile would make you wishfully think. It probably seemed like there were more ups and downs than there really were, because I had zero oomph this morning. I felt fine, just could not work up any kind of pace. Last night, I ate a single serving freeze dried meal, and I guess I have just gotten to the point where those aren't enough. Not entirely sure I that was the reason, as I had also had some cheese thing (it defies description, but it was part of one of my care packages) and sardines with crackers as appetizers. Who knows, but I did make sure to eat a double serving this evening.We were going to meet at the first shelter for lunch but it was 11 miles in and since I was draggy, I didn't get there till some time close to 12:30. 2 miles per hour is my standard pace, what I use to plan, but the terrain for most of the 11 miles was so easy it shouldn't have taken this long.I ate a big lunch and did much better this afternoon. We had another climb and ridge walk, but this one felt super easy. Again though, no views and not much else to report on.When we got to the stream and road, I heard my name being called. It was Cambo, who was just getting dropped back off after trail days. Moosehead was there also, as well as another hiker who I had not met before, named Hobble(s?). I hadn't seen Cambo and Moosehead since probably early in week two and I can't believe I caught up to them. Well, I didn't really, they went on a few more miles and I probably won't see them again. Young whippersnappers...Yoda and I loaded up on water at the stream because we planned to stealth camp a couple of miles further and no water was listed in between. We found a nice spot right at the intersection with another trail and managed to get set up, eat dinner and even wash some things before it started raining. And, there is actually good cell phone service here, so I exchanged texts with Gary.We are a little bit behind schedule, due to our short day yesterday and some erroneous planning on my part. This probably means that I won't meet Gary at the brewery near mile 840.5 until June 5 or 6. Tomorrow we cross 600 miles! Which is a long way from 840.5.Open map in new windowWant to add a map to your journal?