morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-05-09
From: Wise Shelter 4,460

To: Raccoon Branch Shelter 3,570
Miles today: 17.6

What a lightening show last night! I guess it started around 4:30 AM. I heard thunder and woke up and the skies were lit up with pink lightening. I tried to watch, but fell back asleep. I have not had any trouble sleeping lately. I don't know what time I actually crawled out of my bag, but Wizard said it was 61 degrees. I was fine with that. I started hiking around 8:15 and had a great hike today. I ran into Doc and Virginia Creeper again. I was glad because I wanted a picture of them. I hiked part of today with Oopala at the end. We were both tired because we had some trail magic at lunch. A guy named Apple Chillin left some beers in a spring. I had two and rested for a while, then took off up Iron Mountain, which was an easy climb. Oopala stayed a while and had quite a few. I know why he was tired! That was a nice break though and much needed. I am in the shelter with ReBob and Wizard. Cornbread (from Walasi-Yi Center), JRock, Oopala, and Dunkey are tenting. We met Dunkey when we found the beer. He had been there for two hours! Funny guy - shaved head almost, blond eyebrows and mustache, and a bushy red beard. This part is for two of my students - Tim and Ryan. I am camping with a man whose trailname is ReBob. You will be happy to know he is carrying Spam and has been for a long time. I told him about you and the Spam snow globe. He laughed.I am excited about tomorrow night. We are staying at Partnership shelter and there is a pay phone near there where we can order pizza and have it delivered! No profound thoughts today on humans or life in general. I thought about my shoes a lot and the fact that both big toes are numb all the time. I really hope that goes away when I finish.I'm tired and need to massage my feet. Tomorrow is a short day - only 13 miles. I'm excited.Goodnight Oscar."Tucson"
Date: 2003-05-10
From: Raccoon Branch Shelter 3,570

To: Partnership Shelter 3,220
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: broken clouds

I didn't get out of my bag this morning until 7:00. It was really warm, maybe 65 degrees, with clear skies. I knew today was a short day, but I didn't know how easy it would be. I stopped a couple of times to rest and get a snack, but I still got to the shelter around 1:30. I wanted to get there early.Partnership Shelter is .1 miles away from the Mt. Rogers National Recreation Area Visitor's Center. That means sodas, real bathrooms, and snacks are available before 5:00. Pizza is available anytime since there is a menu by the payphone! There is also a hot shower at the shelter and it works great! I borrowed some of Dr. Bonner's peppermint soap from Sassafrass and Cricket and washed my hair and took a shower. It was great to sleep in my tent and be clean at the same time. I didn't have any clean clothes though. The shelter is full tonight, as it is every night from what I hear. I am glad to be in my tent. There are at least 25 people here and I have never met most of them. I am with ReBob, Wizard, Dunkey, 50 and Do It from Quebec, Rubberband Man and Haiku, Oopala, Nightfever, Sourmash, FStop, E-Dogg, Vermont Pete, and a bunch more. I have more poison ivy on my legs. Wizard showed me today what it looks like and it was totally not what I thought to be poison ivy. It is everywhere on the trail and I touched more of it today. Fortunately, I haven't squatted on any! I also have some other kind of rash on my left leg that itches like crazy. I may have to deal with this for the entire trip. I'm glad I have Benadryl and lots of it. Tonight at the shelter we ordered pizza and I had three Mountain Dews. I may never go to sleep, even with two Benadryl. It was sooooo good! We had ham and pineapple pizza. I shared with Wizard. Wizard built a Pepsi can stove tonight and tried it out. These stoves burn alcohol. It exploded and the table was on fire. He thought maybe it was the Heet fuel he used, so he tried it again with his own alcohol and we all stood back. It exploded even worse and caught ReBob on fire! It melted his nylon pants, but he was okay. It burned the hair off Wizard's hand, too. The experiment ended right there. It was really great to meet all these new people today. I also wrote 8 postcards and called my grandma for Mother's Day tomorrow. I figured the phones would be really busy tomorrow. I will be in a hotel hopefully, if it isn't booked. If it is, I will get a shuttle to town, mail my drift box, get food and keep going. That would be a real downer though. Time to read until the Benadryl kicks in.Goodnight Oscar."Tucson"
Date: 2003-05-11
From: Partnership Shelter 3,220

To: Relax Inn, Atkins VA 2,420
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: heavy intensity rain

This morning felt like a race. I woke up at 6:30 and packed up, ate some pop tarts and was on the trail by 7:30. ReBob, Wizard and I were trying to get to the Relax Inn hoping it wasn't booked. I don't know why we thought it would be. Todays hike was uneventful and I was at the hotel with ReBob by 12:15. It was completely empty I think. There are a lot of hikers here tonight.My drift box and some food I bumped to myself didn't make it here. I am hoping they are at the Atkins post office. I'll get the food and send the bump box on to Pearisburg. ReBob, Wizard and I ate at The Barn for lunch. It was all you can eat or AYCE. ReBob ate 5 plates! I had a lot of salad, green beans, mashed potatoes, corn, and chocolate cake and blueberry cobbler. Then later we went to Dairy Queen and got a blizzard. ReBob and Wizard ate chili dogs, too, but I couldn't eat anymore. Mostly we relaxed today and sat outside. We got rained on while hiking, but the skies cleared and the day was beautiful. I am watching CMT right now and catching up on my journal, resting my feet. They are sore. I think I will take a zero day in Pearisburg. I have more poison ivy. I touched it yesterday on the trail. I think I have doctored it enough today that it will go away pretty quick. The itching is driving me crazy."Tucson"
Date: 2003-05-12
From: Relax Inn, Atkins VA 2,420

To: Camp site at Lick Creek 2,250
Miles today: 17.0

I hated to do it,but I woke up at 6:30. I slept really well in the hotel last night. The shuttle from the Atkins Diner picked us up around 7:30 and took 9 of us in a pickup truck to the diner for breakfast. I had biscuits and gravy and OJ and it was all good! Then they shuttled us to the post office and the grocery and after all that, I got on the trail at 10:20. I started walking with Black Sheep. She lives near Gallup, NM so we are practically neighbors. She's not sure why she is doing this. Her doctor did it so she thought she would try it. The hiking today was pretty easy, but there were some good climbs. Not many rocks, though. We must have climbed over about 8 stiles today. That's what is in the picture. They are a necessary evil on the trail. We walked over a lot of private land today and the stiles are a good way to get safely over fences. Tonight, I am camping near a creek with ReBob and Wizard. I am glad I didn't send my winter clothes home yet. The next three nights should be chilly. I will probably never send my long johns home.E-dogg is camping alone on the other side of the creek. I need to do that I think. Several people have asked me why I don't want to camp alone and I think I will answer them now. I have two reasons. One, I have never done it and I am a little unsure of myself and maybe even a little afraid. I don't really fear animals or people out here, but I guess I am afraid because it would be just me and what if something happened. Two, I hike alone all day almost every day. I have not found anyone who I match pace with. My hiking style is like no one else's I guess. At night I am ready to socialize, even if I'm not the one doing most of the talking. That socializing helps keep me sane.I forgot to put something in my entry for yesterday. We passed an old schoolhouse on the trail. It is part of the Settler's Museum. The McGaffy readers were on the desks, it had a wood stove, and there was writing on the board. ReBob waited there for me and took my picture wearing his reading glasses. It was pretty funny. He said I was the old school marm. Nice little museum right on the trail.Sunny today, very windy, and only about sixty degrees. Supposed to be that way for three days. I hope the forecast is right."Tucson"
Date: 2003-05-13
From: Camp site at Lick Creek 2,250

To: Campsite 2,460
Miles today: 20.7

Woke up at 6:40 today. I slept really well last night and did not want to wake up today. With ReBob and Wizard I have to be on top of my game though so I got up. I was on the trail by 7:50, 30 minutes behind my partners. Today was sunny, in the 50's, and WINDY, just like yesterday. I got blown off the trail a few times crossing Chestnut Knob, a big grassy hill. The view was amazing up there. At the top of Garden Mountain there was another view. I looked out over a cove surrounded on all sides by mountains. This farming community was nestled in a place called God's Thumbprint. It was beautiful and very appropriately named. Long hike today, but I did the last 5 miles with Wizard who likes to talk, so it went by quickly. He helped me across the creek crossings a few times too. We crossed the same creek 12 times in two miles. I was grateful for the help since I have fallen in twice in Arizona. I got two compliments today that made me feel really good. I met Triple 7 and So Far So Good on the trail. They started at the Maryland Border and are headed to Springer, then they will flip flop to do the rest. I told them my start date and Triple 7 said, "Oh, so you are running with the big dogs!" At camp tonight, ReBob said if I stick with him and Wizard they wil take me to the top with them. That made me feel good. I've grown pretty fond of both of them.I am tenting tonight with ReBob, Wizard, Sassafrass and her sister Cricket. We have a great spot near a stream with a picnic table and Sassafrass built a great fire. I didn't get to camp until after 7:00 and I am wiped out. I won't be reading Gulliver's Travels tonight. My allergies were really bad today. I am going to get some Claritin at Wal-Mart in Pearisburgh. I'll take a zero there. My feet really need it.Goodnight Oscar. I miss you little buddy."Tucson"
Date: 2003-05-14
From: Campsite 2,460

To: Brushy Mtn. Camp site 2,700
Miles today: 22.4

Today's hike was easy! Well, no hike is really easy afer about mile 15. But the terrain was mostly flat and there were very few rocks. This morning it was 47 degrees when I was eating breakfast at about 8:00. Only ReBob was happy about that. I started hiking around 8:30 after talking to the sisters a while. I had planned a 19 mile day to a shelter. ReBob went further so Wizard and I followed. I got to camp around 7:10 only to find a new friend.Shortly after I got to camp I saw a little beagle. She is pretty clean but no collar. She looks good, but needed water and may be hungry. I didn't get water because I thought ReBob went on to a creek. He didn't so I have no water. He gave her a little. She wandered off after a while, but came back and is right at home in my tent. She is so cute, but snores. I probably won't get much sleep but I can't turn her away. She probably belongs in the farming valley we are camping above.ReBob said tonight that he was one of the slowest hikers out here last time he attempted this. Now he is one of the fastest with his new knees. Today was one of his longest days ever.I realized today that sometimes I am very uncomfortable on the trail when I don't know what is coming up next. I thought when I came out here that I would be less of a planner but I'm not. I like to have a plan, even if I don't stick to it. I didn't know how far ReBob went when he left the last shelter. I was worried I wouldn't find them before dark and I hated that feeling of not knowing. Maybe I'll work on that or maybe I will always be this way. I don't think planning ahead out here is a bad thing, but some people scoff at it. I don't care. I'm always prepared and that makes me feel safe.My new friend is ready for lights out. I am very glad to have the company of a dog, even if it is for only one night. I hope she finds her way home tomorrow. I cannot help her out here. Oscar would like her. She is just his size.Goodnight Oscar."Tucson"
Date: 2003-05-16
From: Woodshole Hostel 3,382

To: Pearisburgh VA 1,620
Miles today: 10.0

Woke up today to the breakfast bell. I wasn't eating breakfast in the house, so I stayed in bed until almost everyone was out of the loft. We all gathered on the porch for a group picture for Mrs. Tillie. This morning was a bit chilly. I didn't start hiking until 8:45. Two miles later I ran into E-dogg and we hiked pretty slowly into Pearisburgh. Both of us had tired, hurting feet. I've never hiked so slowly downhill. When we finally got into town, we hitched a ride with a really nice woman from the Church of the Holy Family. They have a hiker hostel here in town. The hostel is nowhere near the post office, restaurants, or laundry. It is near Wal-Mart though. Wizard came to the hostel and asked if I wanted to share a room at hotel in town, so I said okay. I had no idea how far the hostel was from town, about two miles. The caretaker of the hostel came to check on things and drove us to the hotel.We did laundry, then went next door to eat. I had a big cheeseburger, fries, and a salad, then dessert was a Berryblossom tart. It was all good. This is a very friendly town and I am glad I decided to take a zero day here. Two different people today offered to take me places in town. I am looking forward to a much needed zero day tomorrow even though I have a lot to do.Goodnight Oscar"Tucson"
Date: 2003-05-17
From: Pearisburgh VA 1,620

To: Pearisburgh VA 1,620
Miles today: 0.0

Today was a much needed zero day. My feet feel a lot better and I got some insoles that I hope will cushion the bottom of feet behind my toes. I got up around 7:00 because I had to get my drift box ready for the post office. The post office closed at noon. I also wanted to go to the library to read trailjournals and send email and the library closed at 1:00. I got all of that accomplished and Wizard, ReBob and I had lunch at Pizza Hut. I had a salad and a meatlover's Pzone and a Mountain Dew. All that I read is true. I can eat whatever I want and not gain a pound! I think I have lost about 10 pounds.After lunch I was able to relax, do a few things in the hotel room, and then read some of Gulliver's Travels. I am still stuffed from lunch which was hours ago, so I may have the leftovers for dinner and a few cookies. Pearisburg has a wonderful hiker hostel run by the Holy Family Church. The only disadvantage to staying there is it is close to Wal-Mart but nothing else. I opted to stay at the Holiday Motor Lodge instead and it is really close to Food Lion, the post office, Rite Aid, and several restaurants, including a very good sports bar with great food. I was glad to be staying here for my zero day. Weather was rainy and in the 50's so I decided not to send my cold weather gear home. I bumped my jacket and gloves but kept everything else, including my sleeping bag. I'll send everything home from Troutville and go to the outfitter there for a new bag and some long pants to hike in because of poison ivy. I think it is gone now, but I'm sure I will get it again.I talked to my sister today and she said Oscar is fine. He follows her everywhere which does not surprise me. He goes in for surgery in two weeks or so, but should be fine. I think I will eat some leftovers, read some more and go to bed. Zero days are busy and I am still tired at the end of the day. I read some trailjournals today and I highly recommend you read Molasses' and Finch's journals too. I enjoyed them tremendously and wish I could read them more often.Goodnight Oscar."Tucson"
Date: 2003-05-18
From: Pearisburgh VA 1,620

To: Pine Swamp Branch Shelter 2,530
Miles today: 19.7
Weather: light rain

Today was hard. It rained almost all day. I started hiking at 8:00 and it started raining at 9:00 or so. It didn't stop until almost 6:00. Mostly it was light rain, but even when it stopped, the trees still rained on us. It was not above the mid 50's either. Days like this are hard for me. I did my miles, but did not enjoy today at all. I'm not going to write anymore about my hike today because it would be negative because that was my frame of mind while hiking today.Well, maybe one more thing. I crossed a stream right before I got to the shelter. It was very swollen from all the rain I had to ford it. Normally, you can walk across on rocks. It was halfway up to my knee when I crossed. I made it, Steve!I am at the shelter now with a whole new crew. ReBob went on. He has new teenage knees so he wants to show off, I guess. I don't blame him. I am sheltering with Do It and 50 from Quebec, Ultreya from Montreal, ShaunO and Stripe, and Amble. Wizard is not here yet and I don't think he will show. I am the youngest here by 10 years. Do It turned 43 two days ago and Wizard and I had dinner with them when they were celebrating. My feet felt better today, but not great. I am considering getting new shoes in Daleville, my next stop. Mine are getting slippery, too. Trail Days in Damascus was this weekend. Today was the last day. I didn't go, obviously. I could have ridden with The Geezers yesterday, but I decided I wasn't up for the crowd and the party and tenting in bad weather and waiting in line, even for a shower. I was so excited about Trail Days and so determined to go until about three weeks ago. I think part of me just wants to finish this hike. I am enjoying myself, even though it doesn't sound like it today. I'm going to bed. Might do a short day tomorrow if the weather is like today again.
Date: 2003-05-19
From: Pine Swamp Branch Shelter 2,530

To: Warspur Shelter 2,340
Miles today: 12.7

I did not want to hike today. I had no choice, but I did not want to do it. There was no rain today, it was cloudy and about 50 degrees and stayed that way all day. I didn't get on the trail until 9:00, which was really late for me. Normally, I have 2-3 miles behind me by that time. Today at noon, I had done only 4 miles and they were 4 difficult miles. It was uphill part of the way, but the rocks and water made it difficult. I had to ford another stream today. Has the Roanoke ATC never heard about bridges? Of all the swollen streams I had to cross today, only one had a bridge, and it had no handrails, it bounced up and down, and it was slippery! I went down on all fours and had to crawl across because I was too afraid to stand up again with no rails. Are you getting an amusing mental picture of this? We have some bad creek crossings tomorrow and I am dreading it.Terrain today was not easy, but there was no rain. There were a lot of rocks, which are just waiting to break someone's ankle. I have to go slow and did not make good time today. I got to the shelter around 4:00 and decided not to go on. I will do 18 tomorrow and am determined to get up and get going earlier.I am sheltering with Ultreya, Amble from Arlington, VA, ShaunO, and Tom in the Woods. He lives about 3 miles from Amble, but they have never met. Tom started yesterday to finish 700 miles he did not do on his thru hike last year. He snores badly and is next to me in the shelter. I'm going to use my earplugs for the first time tonight. Stripe is tenting. 50 and Do It went on to the next shelter which was my original plan.My spirits were better today, but not great. Hope it doesn't rain tonight so these creeks will go down. I really don't understand this no bridge thing. Today and yesterday made me doubt myself for some reason. My feet are hurting and I have been wet for two days. Camping with these guys is fun though and my camp clothes and sleeping bag are dry. I have discovered a hostel I can go to in two nights, so that cheered me up, too. It is getting a little chilly and three of my four shelter mates are in bed already. We still have almost two hours of daylight left. I can't sleep yet. Guess I'll read Gulliver's Travels.Speaking of earplugs, I called my sister who is keeping my dog when I was in Pearisburg. She said his snoring is so bad she got earplugs. I think that is hysterical! Guess I was used to his snoring. Goodnight Oscar
Date: 2003-05-20
From: Warspur Shelter 2,340

To: Niday Shelter 1,800
Miles today: 18.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Two trail angels today! At 9:30 this morning we had hiked about three miles, mostly uphill, and there was a cooler full of sodas, candy bars, and Little Debbies left for us by SuperDave! Awesome! I had a Pepsi and a Baby Ruth, and Ultreya took my picture. SuperDave wanted pictures of all who partook of the magic! Then we hiked across this field later in the day and, at a road crossing, Turtle's friend left bottled water, Hershey Kisses, and a garbage bag for us to empty our trash. The water was great. It didn't have any dirt in it! Trail magic abounded today and I was really glad.Today turned out to be sunny, dry, and 78 degrees. Bring it on, baby! I hiked almost all day with Wizard. He leaves me behind going up hill. I enjoyed hiking today with company. Makes time go by faster. We didn't make it to the shelter until 7:00 or so. The last 6 miles were difficult. No climbing, but lots of rocks. To Juli in Colorado, you were right. Central VA is not easy! Had a great view of a valley today and saw the Keffer Oak. It is one of two large white oaks on the AT. The other is in New York. It measured 19 feet 7 inches around. Wizard carries a tape measure because he likes to measure trees. Between the trail magic, warm weather, and that tree, I think this is one of my best days on the trail so far. My buddies from the shelter last night all stopped at the shelter before this one. Wizard and I continued on so we can do 16 miles to a hostel tomorrow. I am in the shelter with E-Dogg, 50 and Do It, and Wizard. It is after 9:00 and is still 65 degrees. I am a happy camper. At lunch today, I used the privy before SeanO. Now he calls me his seat warmer. Too funny. I hope they catch up to us because I enjoy their company a lot. My headlamp is attracting bugs and they are flying up my nose. I'm going to bed.Goodnight Oscar.