morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-05-16
From: Symms Meadow Campsite

To: War Spur Shelter
Miles today: 19.8
Weather: overcast clouds

"No Title"Luckily we didn't have any bear encounters overnight and our food was safe. I could see the stars very clearly last night and could even see the milky way. I watched the sunrise from in my sleeping bag and got up at 7. I was walking by 7:45, the earliest start so far.The weather was perfect for hiking in the morning. Cool and a little overcast. There were no views today, just the green of the forest. We passed 640 miles today which means one thing. HALF WAY TO JERSEY!! Quake and I stopped for lunch at some trail magic. The Captain, whose house is on the trail, left sodas in his stream and twinkies in a cooler. I ate an avacado on a bagel and had twinkies for desert. We continued on and the rain started. By the time we got back up to elevation the mountain was fogged in, the wind was blowing, and the rain was falling. I just battened down the hatches and pushed the rest of the way to War Spur Shelter.We go there and met Sarpa and his hiking buddy (whose name I forget) as the rain let up. I hung my tarp and hammock, changed into dry clothes, and hung my wet clothes in a feeble attempt to dry them out. I know full well I'll be putting on wet clothes tomorrow morning...yay.So tommorrow Quake and I will start our hitching odessey to try and get back down to Damascus for Trail Days. I think it is like 150 road miles away, but this hiker festival is worth it. We are hoping a magical van will be waiting for us tomorrow at the VA42 road crossing. I posted on whiteblaze.net when we will be there and my cell number. I don't get reception tonight so I don't know if anyone responded. Eh well, we'll figure it out.Today's StatsStarting Point:Symms Gap CampsiteEnding Point:War Spur ShelterMileage:19.8!Elevation Gain:3400ftElevation Loss:4500ftHiking Time:9:43Weather:Cool and overcast then cold and rainingPain Factor:4 Blister and big mile exhaustion
Date: 2007-05-17
From: War Spur Shelter

To: Trail Days Damascus
Miles today: 8.2
Weather: clear sky

Driving, Whats That?I put on my wet clothes and started my way to VA42. Quake and I hiked non stop until we got to Kelly Knob. This was an expansive rock outcropping with distant views. I turned on my cell phone and had no messages about a ride so I called Eddie who mapquested Newport to Damascus for me incase we had to hitch to trail days. We got down to 42 and had no cell reception and there was no magic rides waitingthere. We decided to hitch to the interstate where we could surely get a ride to trail days.A cool guy picked us up and drove us past Virginia Tech into Christiansburg, where 81 intersected rt 460. We made a sign on cardboard that said "Hikers to Damascus, VA Trail Days" and sat on a corner before the onramp to 81 south. Thirty min went by with no luck so we made the lettering bolder. Thirty more min went by so we wrote "have gas money" on the sign. Still no luck for another hour so we wrote "81S" on it so we could maybe just make it farther south. Well no hikers got off the interstate for gas and no one was stopping. We were there for 3 hours and felt super shady so Quake went and inquired about a Greyhound. There was none near, but there was a rental car place. Hmm, that sounded interesting. We walked 10 min to a car dealership place and got a Toyota Corolla S for $35 a day. Score, we were Damascus bound and I was driving for the first time in 2 months on rt 81! Since we had room in the back we drove to Pearisburg to see if any hikers needed a ride. Turned out the PA guys (J-Beard, Dash, and Mangrove) were at the hostel with no ride. It took all of 5 seconds to convince them and now we were a party of five crusin down 81.We got to Damascus and parked the car in tent city in the rain. We had stopped at Sprawl Mart on the way and got coolers full of beer so we were all set. We walked around for a while and ran into TDS so we set up camp in Billville (the name of one of the camping areas within tent city) near him. The night was spent drinking and running into all kinds of people we had hiked with.Today's StatsStarting Point:War Spur Shelter Ending Point:Trail Days DamascusMileage:8.2Elevation Gain:2210ftElevation Loss:2430ftHiking Time:4:12Weather:Warm SunnyPain Factor:3
Date: 2007-05-18
From: Trail Days Damascus

To: Trail Days Damascus
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Trail DaysI was up at 9 and had some of Mala's legendary cowboy coffee to get me going. I dropped my hiking poles off at the Leki booth to get serviced and walked into town to check out the scene. I ran into so many people! It felt like I got to see almost everyone I have met on this hike who are now ahead or behind me. I hung out in the vendor area and browsed all the new and exciting gear. I joined ALDHA and talked with the jacks r better guys (makers of my hammock underquilt) for a while. I got a pair of Montrail Shoes for half price and new socks for free. Then I made it to the post office and mailed t-shirts and old shoes home and a few things to Daleville to be put in my bounce box. When I was done with the town scene I went back to tent city and started the night with a few beers, a few shots of the shine, and a few laughs. Life was good! Around 9 I went back into town and went to the Old Mill to catch a pretty decent jam band called Marsupial. I was dancing all night and hanging out with Birdlegs and LaLa. LaLa and I went back to tent city after the show and continued the party into the wee hours of the morning. Today's StatsStarting Point:Trail Days Damascus Ending Point:Trail Days DamascusMileage:0.0Elevation Gain:0ftElevation Loss:0ftHiking Time:0:00Weather:Cool OvercastPain Factor:1
Date: 2007-05-19
From: Trail Days Damascus

To: Trail Days Damascus
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Hiker ParadeI managed to drag myself out of bed at 10 and walked, er, stumbled into town to get to the post office before they closed at 11. There was a line out the door, but I was expecting a package, so I waited patiently. My package wasn't there, but no worries, I filled out a forwarding form and went back to the tent area to get ready for the parade.At 1, all past and current hikers gathered at the end of town to start the parade. We were all armed with water balloons and squirt guns and nalgene bottles full of water as backup ammo. The parade started and the waterbaloons went flying. All the towns people and non hikers lined the streets wielding big artillery like hoses and buckets of water. The hikers kinda got the short end of the deal and were trapped in the street trying to make it through the water gauntlet. We all got soaked, but so did the townspeople! I bet the water fight started since we all smell so bad. Imagine a couple thousand hikers parading down your main street. You would want to throw water at them too, maybe some soapy water. It was so much fun to be in a parade.After the parade was the hiker talent show. Lots of musicians played, a few of them I knew, and other people told stories and jokes. One kid did some sick breakdancing! After that I hung out in town a while longer just talking with all kinds of different people then went back to tent city. Billville held their annual useless gear competition. Some of the entries were too funny. AT Troll debued the load lightener. He came out of the tent with about 15 helium ballons tied to his pack. One guy entered a new headlight/bug reppelant. He duct tapped a citronella candel to a hard hat. It was too funny. I partied the rest of the night away in the various camps in tent city. There was a huge bonfire complete with a drum circle and people dancing around the fire. It was a very primal experience. I spent most of the night in Billville hanging with TDS, Quake, and a lot of 05 hikers. I behaved myself a little more than the previous night.Today's StatsStarting Point:Trail Days Damascus Ending Point:Trail Days DamascusMileage:0.0Elevation Gain:0ftElevation Loss:0ftHiking Time:0:00Weather:Sunny Warm Cold nightPain Factor:-1 Beer = Painkiller
Date: 2007-05-20
From: Trail Days Damascus

To: Christiansburg, Va
Miles today: 0.0

Back from VacationI woke up and started saying godbye to people that were going home or geting back on the trail. I wanted to browse the vendor area one more time before leaving so I headed back into town. I couldn't think of any gear issues that needed to be resolved so I just did a lap around town and headed back to tent city so we could get ready to leave.Quake and I were pretty worn down from the weekend and didn't think it would be possible to hike. We decided to get a motel room in Christiansburg and get back to the trail Monday morning. TDS and White Crow were at the same spot on the trail as us so the 4 of us decided to split the room. The PA guys, Quake and I loaded into our trusty Toyota and grabbed some BBQ on the way out of town. We dropped the PA guys back in Pearisburg. As a parting gift, they felt I needed a pack mascot and gave me a brown stuffed pig. I named him choco pig and he now rides strapped to the side of my pack. Me and choco pig are going al the way to Katahdin together. Quake and I continued on to Christiansburg where we met TDS and white crow at the motel. We showered and had to put our gross clothes on again since there was no laundromat nearby. Quake and I drove to a food lion (which I kept caling the lion king) and got a quality resupply. Next stop was an AYCE Chinese restaurant. This one put Pearisburg to shame and had a huge selection. I ate 3 plates worth of food!Back at the motel I just vegged out, ate some B&J Ice cream, and got the rest I needed. Tomorrow we figure out how to get back to the trail.Today's StatsStarting Point:Trail Days Damascus Ending Point:Christiansburg, VA MotelMileage:0.0Elevation Gain:0ftElevation Loss:0ftHiking Time:0:00Weather:Warm SunnyPain Factor:1
Date: 2007-05-21
From: Christiansburg, Va

To: Niday Shelter
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: clear sky

A Taste of The PastThe four of us got the all star breakfast at the waffle house then went and packed up our gear. We decided the quickest most efficient way to get back to the trail was a taxi. I called a local service and had them pick us up at noon.$76 and 45 min later, we were back on the trail. As the taxi dropped us off we met Sixty who was crossing the field leading to the road. Those first few steps up the trail were awkward, kind of like snowboarding for the first time of the season. Three days off the trail felt like an eternity. We soon got our gears working and were back to normal in no time. We passed the Keefer oak today, an oak tree estimated to be over 300 years old. Earthquake climbed the tree about 20ft up. I could only imagine what a forest filled with those huge oaks looked like before we cut them all down. If I'm around another 200 years maybe I will get a taste of it.Quake and I only made it 10 miles today. TDS and White Crow didn't even make it that far. The bugs are pretty persistant at the shelter tonight. They were biting the whole time I was cooking dinner and a bunch seem to be in my hammok through the bug netting somehow. This could be an interesting night.Today's StatsStarting Point:Christiansburg, VAEnding Point:Niday ShelterMileage:10.0Elevation Gain:2100ftElevation Loss:2220ftHiking Time:6:24Weather:Warm SunnyPain Factor:1
Date: 2007-05-22
From: Niday Shelter

To: Dragon's Tooth Campsite
Miles today: 14.1

Dragon's ToothWell last night I didn't get much sleep. Those little no-see-um bugs kept biting my arms and head all night. I couldn't do much about it, I think they possibly were getting into my hammock through the couple of holes between the bug netting and the nylon of my hammock. I have to get in touch with Clark to see if I can get a replacement hammock. I left the shelter and was treated to a ridge full of blooming mountain laurel. At least 80% of them are in full bloom. The trail went down into the valley then back up another ridge that it followed for a few miles. We didn't have many view ponts throughout the day. Quake and I got water from trout creek. This water tasted horrible compared to spring water! We had to camel up since we were walking another 5 miles to camp with no water along the way. We climbed cove mountain which led to the dragon's tooth. TDS, White Crow, Quake and I met a sectione hiker named Scarecrow and we all stayed at the tooth. The rock formations at this campsite reminded me of a stegosaurus's back with the huge armor plates sticking straight up out of the mointaintop. We climbed the Dragon's Tooth all the way to the top where the rock was 2ft wide and 75+ft droppoffs on either side. The risks of climbing up there were worth it for the 360 degree view complete with a purple and red sunset. Quake even brought his jetboil and cooked and ate up there. Hopefully we will have an equally awesome sunrise.Today's StatsStarting Point:Niday ShelterEnding Point:Dragon's Tooth CampsiteMileage:14.1Elevation Gain:4320ftElevation Loss:3170ftHiking Time:9:43Weather:Hot and hazyPain Factor:1
Date: 2007-05-23
From: Dragon's Tooth Campsite

To: Tinker Cliffs Campsite
Miles today: 17.2

McAfee and TinkerThe sunrise at the Dragon's Tooth didn't happen since the thick haze and distant clouds blocked the sun. The view in the morning was still just as awesome as last night though and I could trace where the trail went for the rest of the day. I was walking by 9 and started the climb down. There were actually steel ladders drilled into the rocks this climb was so steep. Those bug bites that I had gotten two nights ago were in full itchyness effect. The ones on my feet and ankles BURNED for about an hour as I started walking. The ones on my arms and legs itched all day. I kinda learned to tune it out, just like I do with blisters.I ran into sixty who had accidentily missed the turn for the dragon's tooth. She had found the bread that I dropped last night and carried it with her. After talking with her for a couple of min I pushed on. The trail was smooth for most of the day and followed a nice ridge toward McAfee Knob. We got to the road to Catawba and met Soulive who hooked quake and I up with some sodas. He runs a cool service for AT hikers where he will mail you food drops. Check out his website at www.hikingresupply.com. We hauled the next 4 miles to McAfee Knob, the most photographed spot on the trail. There is a rock ledge that sticks out into the valley with a view of tinker cliffs behind. The photos that I had seen of this spot do its beauty no justice. The view was grand and I felt like I was on top of the world! After hanging out there for a bit we pushed another 5 miles to Tinker cliffs. This climb at the end of a 17 mile day with 4 liters of water damn near killed me, but when I got up there I realized it was totally worth it! Tinker cliffs extended for half a mile along the ridgeline with a view of McAfee and the Dragons Tooth in the distance. I set up my hammock only 10 ft from the cliff and TDS and White Crow cowboy camped about 2ft from it. This was definetly the best campsite I have ever stayed at on the AT. Rio and Hemlock were there as well after a few days off the trail so the 6 of us cooked and enjoyed an amazing sunset together. Today goes down as top 5 hiking days on the trail so far. Life is GREAT!Today's StatsStarting Point:Dragon's Tooth Campsite Ending Point:Tinker Cliffs CampsiteMileage:17.2Elevation Gain:4770ftElevation Loss:4790ftHiking Time:10:58Weather:Hot and hazyPain Factor:3 Itchy Bug Bites
Date: 2007-05-24
From: Tinker Cliffs Campsite

To: Daleville, VA Hojo
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: few clouds

DalevilleWoke up as the sun was rising behind tinker cliffs. You could see the shadow that the cliffs cast over the valley below get smaller as the sun went higher. I packed up my stuff and spent some more time admiring the view before I started down the mountain. I had the same burning sensation on my feet from the bug bites, but it went away within an hour. I walked 6 miles without stopping because I had town and pizza hut on the mind. I did stop at hay rock overlook to eat my last avacado where TDS caught up. We walked the last 4 miles into town and saw a 2ft rat snake along the way.We got to the road and could see pizza hut 100 yds to the right so we made a bee line there. Unfortunatly they didn't have a buffet with those awesome breadsticks, but we still left there with bulging bellies. Soulive from yesterday was at the road crossing so he drove us to the post office and the outfitters. I got a package from my friend rachel with some delicious cookies and popcorn. Thanks Rachel, you rock! I got a room at the Howard Johnson and did laundry for the first time in a week and a half and showered. I was clean and chore free by 3pm with nothing left to do but relax. There is not a computer to be found in this town so I couldn't check email or upload pics. Quake and White Crow came down from the mountains and we bought some beer and hung out in the motel for a while. Around dinner time we went to the mexican restaurant and I had fajitas and margaritas then spent the rest of the night chilling.If anyone wants to send a mail drop the next place is Waynesboro, VA. I will be there around 6/2 so if you send the package priority mail by 5/30 it will get to me in time. I love baked goods... I don't love hiker food that I eat every day like granola and trail mix. The address is:Karl WeissC/O General DeliveryWaynesboro, VA 22980Hold For AT Hiker 6/1Today's StatsStarting Point:Tinker Cliffs Campsite Ending Point:Daleville, VA HoJoMileage:11.0Elevation Gain:1810ftElevation Loss:3480ftHiking Time:5:03Weather:Warm sunnyPain Factor:3 Chaffing
Date: 2007-05-25
From: Daleville, VA Hojo

To: Wilson Creek Shelter
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Familiar TeritoryI was up and 9 and took my bounce box out to the road and hitched 1m to the post office. I mailed my BB to Waynesboro and walked back towards the motel. Along the way I stopped at Bojangles for breakfast then went to the outfitters to use their internet. I didn't have much time on their computer since it is also their cash register so I just checked finances and got the phone number for the maker of my hammock.Next I resupplied for 5 days at Krogers. I got some excellent food and actually made an attempt to be healthy. Here's what I came out with. Organic pop tarts, Krispy Kreme dougnuts, 2 avacados, a foil packed salmon filet, tuna, and chicken, 5 liptons for dinners, organic fruit and nut bars, hummus, jarlsburg cheese, 2 3ft long french baguettes, odwalla bars, cliff bars, yogurt flipz, half a liter of shiraz in a carton, and I split a bottle of Knob Creek with Couch. Notice no candy bars!I went back, packed up, and vacated the room. I called Clark to have him send me a new hammock. He is going to charge my card for a new one, but I will send him back my old one in Waynesboro. If he deems it was worn out prematurley he will give me a credit back. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Quake and I walked out of town at 1:30.We crossed under I81 for the last time and will now parallel it into WV. The AT crosses the Blue Ridge Parkway many, many times for the next 100+ miles. Also, the next 90 miles north I hiked southbound in Nov 05 with Tribes and Heald. It was interesting seeing some familiar sights.After Fullhardt Knob I found a cluster of 6 pink lady slippers together. It was like someone had planted them there in a circle with the ones in back a little higher up. I even laid on the ground and had Quake take my pic with them...I'm such a nerd! We made it to the Wilson Creek shelter and met up with Crutch, Rudabega, and Thunder. We all ate dinner and drank some wine as the sun set behind the shelter. The bugs started biting not long after that so I climbed into my hammock around 8:30. Hopefully the bugs don't find the holes in my bug netting tonight! Whipoorwills are calling all around the shelter and a Barred Owl is calling in the valley below. Today's StatsStarting Point:Dalevile, VAEnding Point:Wilson Creek ShelterMileage:11.2Elevation Gain:2990ftElevation Loss:2360ftHiking Time:4:53Weather:Hot Humid SunnyPain Factor:1
Date: 2007-05-26
From: Wilson Creek Shelter

To: Fork Mountain Campsite
Miles today: 18.5

Yogi ChallengeWoke up this morning and ate Krispy Kreme dougnuts as I drank some cold brewed mate. I packed up and loaded down with water since there was none for about 7 miles. Quake and I left the shelter together around 9:30. We crossed the Blue Ridge Parkway today 6 times. Each trail crossing was at an overlook, the only views we got all day. It was kind of a bummer to walk paralleling the highway since you could hear every car and motorcycle passing by. I also felt like a tourist attraction today. Quake and I took a break at one of the overlooks and got grilled as to what the trail was all about. We even got the standard "have you seen any bears" question. I am going to keep track of how often I get asked that. Quake and I came up with a new game called the Yogi Challenge. Yogiing is when you get kicked down food and drinks from tourists. Different than trail magic since these people don't really know about the trail. We award points as follows and the points are credited to the person who initiated the food giving. water - 2, Soda - 3, Beer - 5, Hot dogs or burgers - 4, High quality food (chicken, ribs, etc) - 6, Candy - 2. I am up to 4 points already since I was able to yogi water twice. Can you tell we have too much time on our hands?After Bearwallow gap we left the BRP until tomorrow afternoon and climbed up and over Cove mountain. We got to Jennings Creek and were overwhellemed by cars and weekend campers. We had planned to stay there, but there was not much room. We grabbed water for the night and climbed fork mountain to camp. We set up camp and started cooking when a band started playing in the valley below. They sounded so close, we could clearly hear what songs they played. Quake and I contemplated trying to find the source, but were just too tired. We got to hear a rocky top and a ride salley. It's like were at a memorial day party, but still in the woods. Tomorrow we climb Apple Orchard Mountain.Today's StatsStarting Point:Wilson Creek ShelterEnding Point:Fork Mountain CampsiteMileage:18.5Elevation Gain:3950ftElevation Loss:3990ftHiking Time:9:41Weather:Md 80's Humid Sunny SweatyPain Factor:3 Chaffing