morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-03-22
From: Spring Mountain Shelter

To: Jerry Cabin Shelter
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: overcast clouds

3/22, jerry cabin shelter, 15.4, 300.8 totalI arrived here at Jerry Cabin Shelter at 4pm, the next shelter is 9 miles, uphill. I decided to stay as did Newfound, then Maverick and California hiked in. We have all sheltered together at different times so dinner was family style around the picnic table. Our hike was nice with several views from high atop a couple mountains. The real challenge was about a mile of ridge line as it was all rock. I stopped several times to check for white blazes to be sure I was still on the trail. I had hoped to get to the next shelter at 20 miles out, but the climbs and rocks took their toll. It is cooling off rapidly and I understand tomorrow is supposed to be rainy. My plan is to get another 15 done, leaving me another 15 and then a short day into Erwin, Tennessee. I have been battling a pinched nerve in my right shoulder and am considering a zero day to rest. I have not taken a zero yet, and could camp in my tent at Erwin for $10 a night. Time will tell and cold fingers are keeping his entry short.Silverback
Date: 2015-03-24
From: Hogback Ridge Shelter

To: No Business Knob
Miles today: 20.7

20.7, No Business Knob Shelter, 3/24Pa Burt, Newfound, myself, Spooner and California gathered around the picnic table tonight after a long hike. Maverick, who was planning to be here, twisted his ankle a second time in three days, and accepted a ride to Erwin from some day hikers to have it checked. I left the shelter this morning at 7:30 and on top of the first rise Spooner was standing next to a pile of 10 oz soda cans. Trail Magic! It was only ten minutes from the shelter but I had a breakfast Mountain Dew to start the day. Our hike today was predominantly downhill overall, but included several difficult climbs to elevation. By noon thirty I was on top of "Big Bald", at near 5000 ft. The view from there was 360 degrees and very clear. I stopped there to sit and have lunch. Trail mix and protein bars are starting to get old for lunch so some changes are being considered. I am thinking small tortillas wrapped with hard salami and swiss inside sound good. Given my weight loss (30 lbs) I need to increase the amount of fat and overall calories in my diet.After Big Bald the trail looked relatively benign as far as climbs go on the map...I should have known better. It ended up being a good day of hiking, but 20 miles is just at the outside of my comfortable range just yet. I joked that when I stopped to rest at the road at the 15 mile point, my legs figured they were done. Then when I started I think they rebelled just a bit before marching on. I saw in my guide hat the water at the shelter tonight was unreliable, so I stopped and filtered all my water for tonight and tomorrow at a stream 1.2 miles before the shelter. Ultimately I am glad I did, but that meant I carried and additional eight pounds of water tat last mile, uphill, to the shelter. I finally arrived at 6:15, making my overall pace today with breaks, 1.8 miles per hour. I usually average 2, but took a couple longer breaks today because of the distance. I haven't decided what tomorrow will be yet. We are 5 miles from Erwin, where there is a nice hostel and all the stores one could need. I may hike in, grab a couple things including a big breakfast, and hike back out to a shelter. If I can stick to that, I can save some money and easily make the next two days 15 each, and come off Roan High Knob Saturday morning to spend the day with Kathy. The only wild card in that plan is the weather. Tomorrow looks good, but Thursday is 60% chance rain, and Friday it gets colder with overnight lows back into the 20's at elevation. It will be fun to see what tomorrow brings.Silverback
Date: 2015-03-27
From: Greasy Creek Gap

To: Erwin, TN
Miles today: 0.0

3/27, 0, ErwinSometimes it just doesn't work out like I planned. After scanning weather forecasts last evening a significant challenge to plans arose. I planned to hike today to Roan High Knob shelter, the highest shelter on the AT and hike out a few miles to the access road crossing to be picked up and spend Saturday with some family. Then I was going to hike out Sunday and be back on trail. Unfortunately the weather forecast for Roan Mountain was low temperatures in the teens and 1 to 3 inches of snow by Saturday morning. That presented the likely scenario that my ride would not be able to pick me up Saturday due to road closure. It was time for an alternate plan. I decided to have Connie from Greasy Creek Friendly hostel shuttle me to Erwin where I had plans to meet family Saturday. The only downside is this means I will not only take my first zero, but I will take two, Friday and Saturday. Nevertheless, that is what I did.No hiking today. My shuttle dropped me at the McDonalds in Erwin and I called Uncle Johnny's hostel to have them pick me up on their next town run. I used my time on Mickey D's wifi to update my journal and catch up on some news, but not too much news. My ride came at 2:00 and I was settled into my cabin by 3:00. I uploaded blog photos, and settled in to wait.I did do some planning for the next couple weeks. I should be in Damascus by next Saturday, and into Virginia from there. Other than that the day is all waiting and doing little. I guess thats why we call it a zero.Silverback
Date: 2015-03-28
From: Erwin, TN

To: Erwin, TN
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

3/28, Erwin, 0Kathy arrived this morning around 8:30 after driving all night. We checked her in and she took a quick nap before we started our day. Temps this morning were in the 30's, and the shower building here does not have heat. I was able to shower but Kathy decided to wait because my brother who is joining us this evening has a full cabin for his family tonight, and they will have a warm bathroom. That made sense to me. She brought several things for me to resupply and recondition food and clothing so I repacked seven days of food while she napped, six of which will get me to Damascus. Later we grabbed my clothes and headed for the laundry. My rain gear needed washed and Kathy had brought me some tech wash for it. We started two laundry loads and I headed over to the Food Lion for a couple small items. After the laundry was finished we headed back to the hostel and I set about spraying some items with a new coat of waterproofing. My fresh washed rain jacket and pants and my pack cover all needed it badly. I finished preparing my food bags with the items we got in town, and enjoyed the rest of the afternoon together. I was in the hostel store later today when Mrs Dash walked through the door. I hiked my first day from Springer with him and figured he was days ahead of me but he had taken some days off due to injury, and even now is waiting for Monday am to check out a possible stress fracture in his foot. The trail can be hard on the body. I invited him to join is for dinner so we could catch up.My brother and part of his family arrived on their way to vacation on the coast, around 4:30. He brought with him food to cook me a birthday dinner, and Kathy brought a cake. We shared dinner, and lots of it, and a nice evening watching the Wisconsin basketball team beat Arizona, again to make the final four. We ended the evening with a short walk on the AT across the Nolichucky river here by the hostel.I think in retrospect the two zeros will be very good for my body. I have had no major issues, but several minor aches and strains were getting more annoying. Two days rest has left me feeling very strong, healthy, and certainly well fed. Tomorrow I will enjoy breakfast, courtesy of my brother again, and Kathy will drop me back at the trail by noon. If plans work out I will be checking in with morning worship at Crossroads via Skype as well. I am looking forward to that.Silverback
Date: 2015-04-01
From: USFS 50 Dennis Cove

To: Vandeventer Shelter
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: clear sky

4/1, Vandeventer Shelter, 17.7Kincora is definitely a hiker hostel, set up, furnished and arranged for hikers...and its no B & B. My bunk was next to the door the cats use to go in and out at night. No complaint here though because there is nothing like a herd of stray cats to keep the mice out of your stuff. Definitely no mice worries at Kincora. I woke with Pa Burt at 6:30, and he was out the door at 7. He is a bit of a legend at 69 years old on this trail and today he was going to attempt his personal record 30 miles. I look forward to catching up with him in Damascus. As for me, I planned to hike 18 miles today. That leaves me a long and a short day to Damascus so I can plan the short one for Friday and check in a hostel early.Hiking today was perfect. Temps started on the upper 40's but quickly warmed and by 2 pm my thermometer said 72 degrees and the sky was as clear as possible. Our hike started with a walk past a nice waterfall, then through the woods and up the hill. At one point I scared up a Ruffed Grouse off the side of the trail and watched him flutter away ahead of me. The wildflowers are also starting to bloom and everything on the ground is greening with warmer temps and sunshine. I reached the Wautauga lake area by 12:30 and settled onto a picnic table by the beach to eat my lunch. Several other hikers trickled in to the picnic area and some of them could not resist the sunny day to take a dip. As much as I like the cold, I will wait for that one.After lunch the hike was uphill to the shelter 9 miles. My legs seemed a little tired from the long hike yesterday, and short rest. I hiked into the shelter around 5:30 and settled in. A couple groups of younger thru hikers have joined the bunch and are sitting behind the shelter visiting. I ate my dinner, hung my food and settled into my sleeping bag. I hope to sleep sound tonight so I awake rested for the long hike tomorrow. If the weather holds, and it is iffy, I plan to hike 22 miles to a shelter. It seems it may be time to send home some clothes. I have extra shirts and thermal pants, ice spikes, etc that I can do without now that severe cold s unlikely. I will hang onto my warm sleeping bag until after Mt. Rogers but I am definitely looking forward to a summer weight pack. Now I just need to decide if I will mail it, or carry it another week until my friend Dave comes to hike, and then send it home with him. Decisions, decisions...I am right where I want to be.Silverback
Date: 2015-04-03
From: Abingdon Gap Shelter

To: Damascus, VA - Crazy Larry's Hostel
Miles today: 10.2
Weather: overcast clouds

4/3, 10.2, Damascus, VAI slept well last night listening to heavy rain in my tent, set up in the shelter. Spooner hiked by around 10 pm on his way to Damascus. He hiked through the night under headlamp and made town around 1 pm. Another group of hikers sailed by around 2 am. They were with us night before last and were planning to night hike for the experience. I wonder if their desired experience included heavy rain because that is what they got. I got up around 5:30 wanting to get to Damascus as early as possible myself. It is a popular zero town and getting a bed in a hostel can be dicey, even with many choices. I started out just before 7 in overcast skies which soon began to lightly rain. I stopped a moment to put on rain gear, and ten minutes later it quit. Wearing rain gear is kind of a trade off. If it is below 40 it can be ok because I don't sweat much. Above 50, and I get wet inside from sweat. Once temps get above 60 if its not windy it is just as easy to hike and get wet, because body heat dries things out afterwards. Fortunately the rain actually quit, and I was able to hike the rest of the way without gear sweat. I arrived in Damascus around 11:30 and was greeted by a local with "welcome home". We see ourselves on the trail as sort of a homeless for six months kind of existence so it was a nice greeting. I ended up walking all the way across town to Crazy Larry's hostel. Not the least expensive bit a nice balance of cleanliness and reasonable price. There is a line that some hostels cross but Larry keeps his numbers to a good level and controls behavior well. I roomed here with Brother Louie and Bald Eagle is in the next room. Brother Louie is hiking out tomorrow, and Maverick is going to come over here. Maverick and I are going to zero tomorrow and rent bikes to ride the Virginia Creeper bike path. The second economy here after hiking is a big biking shuttle service. The package includes bike rental, a shuttle to the top of the trail and a shuttle back from the end some 38 miles away. Te path is an old rail bed that is a downhill grade out of the mountains. It crosses many old trestles and looks like fun. Since I could not find a steak for my birthday dinner, I am opting for a day of biking. It will also be a good way to rest my feet.After a shower and calculating gear I will get a couple small resupply items and be ready for the next four days. i plan to hike out Sunday AM, and will meet my friend at the Mt Rogers visitor center on Wednesday. The weather looks good through Tuesday, but rain is moving in for layer in the week. Thank you everyone for the Facebook and guestbook birthday wishes. I am sure I will remember this one for a long time.Silverback
Date: 2015-04-04
From: Damascus, VA - Crazy Larry's Hostel

To: Virginia Creeper Bike Trail / Crazy Larry's
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

4/4, zero, DamascusBreakfast was served here at Crazy Larry's at 7am. Eggs, hash browns, juice, toast sausage and coffee hit the spot very well. Brother Louie packed up and was on his way by 8 am. Hikers are beginning to come and go in towns in a steady flow and we said see you up the trail to many more at the coffee shop this morning. Larry had arranged a discount for us at one of the bicycle shuttle services so Maverick and I decided to ride the Virginia Creeper trail today. The shuttle brought us and our rental bikes to the mountain top of the old rail grade where we had a 17 mile ride, all downhill, back to Damascus through the woods. Then, the service shuttled us to the other end of the rail trail in Abingdon, 17 miles South. We started cur ride at the north end at 12:15 and finished back in Damascus from the south at 6:00. It was a great way to spend a cool sunny day and Maverick and I enjoyed ourselves, except for the saddle butt. Good thing I don't need that anatomical section to hike. It was also good to keep our legs moving today, and ready for tomorrow. After our ride we made a quick stop at the grocery for some minor needs, and then back to the hostel for a shower. We decided we had not eaten any Mexican food yet so we went to the local place and had dinner. I had a fish taco and a greek salad. I didn't know greek salad was Mexican...oh well, this is the melting pot America.We have been back at the hostel now repacking and preparing for tomorrow. We will hike out at 8am after another Crazy Larry breakfast. Then my plan, and I believe Maverick's, is to hike some 15 to 18 mile days and make it to the Mt Rogers visitor center by Wednesday afternoon. Maverick has some new rain pants being sent there, and I am meeting Dave to prepare him to hike along for several days.I am right on the edge of sending hime winter gear, but all advice says wait until Pearisburg, VA, some 170 miles away. I will be sending a couple things back with Dave, but keep my winter sleeping bag and clothes. I think it is time to switch out of my heavy boots and into trail shoes. We will see how this weeks weather goes. In closing, getting to Damascus, and into Virginia places me very close to one fourth of the trail complete. Emotionally hikers here have been talking about how getting to Virginia made this all seem real, and success strongly probable. I am feeling that way so excitement to get back on the trail is palpable. Tomorrow's weather is supposed to be great, and then some rain chances the rest of the week but as we say out here, no rain, no Maine!I closed out the evening speaking with each of my kids and Kathy as they had gathered at home for an Easter dinner of sorts. I will worship on the mountain tomorrow since there were no services here in town before 11.Silverback
Date: 2015-04-07
From: Undisclosed

To: Trimpi Shelter
Miles today: 16.2
Weather: overcast clouds

4/7, Trimpi Shelter, 16.2 No rain, no Maine. We hear that on the AT and I have read it many times. Today it was a reality. Maverick and I woke at 6:45 after listening to hard rain most of the night. The rain was forecast to continue all day today, and it made our sleep somewhat troubled.Our trail magic from yesterday continued this morning with pancake breakfast and coffee. Our hosts were vey friendly and we had a nice talk, all the while avoiding the reality of the heavy rain outside. Around 8 am Maverick and I looked at each other and said well, we need to get going. So we utilized the privy a couple times, packed our packs and with much hesitation, walked onto the trail in a downpour. The trail was nice today, but with rain it became very slippery. In addition some of the small runoff streams were considerably swollen. We had to hesitate at one of them to pick which stones we could step on to cross. While walking on a slanted trail along the side of a steep hill I slipped on the wet leaves and fell gently to my side. No harm to anything but my ego but it served to make me more cautious. Around 11 we neared a road crossing and parking area and found we had wondered into the tasty lair of one of the AT's most famous trail magic providers, Fresh Ground. Fresh Ground sets up a dining area and cooks breakfast lunch or dinner for whoever comes along. Our lunch today included hot dogs, coffee, french fries, green beans and potatoes, peaches, fruit and Kool-aid. We ate too much, but it sure was good. Our goal today was 16 miles so we could afford to slow a little. It was also nice to have a seat out of the rain for a time. Eventually we had to say thank you to Fresh Grounds and step back out into the deluge. After lunch we continued along, slowly, letting our meal settle but eventually got up to speed. We only had 10 miles left for our day but with all the rain, we were looking forward to dry clothes in the shelter. About 3 pm we got a nice surprise when the rain let up, and the sun poked through. We enjoyed a couple hours of sunlit hiking, before it clouded over again. The forecast is for diminishing rain chances through the rest of the week. We finished hiking at Trimpi Shelter, our destination, at 5:30. The clouds were building again so we settled in quickly with water. I did take a spill on the way to the water and left myself with a sizable lump on my right forearm. As Tommy Boy said, that will leave a mark.Tomorrow we look forward to hiking ten miles to the Mount Rogers Visitor Center where we will probably catch a ride into town. Dave is on track to meet me there but I am getting there a few hours before our meeting time so I can probably call, and meet him in town. For tonight we have been joined by Crane and the stinky boys from two nights ago. Fortunately the shelter is airy so we will survive. It hasn't started to rain yet but the overcast remains, and it is time to settle in. I have struggled to come up with a regular sign off and have decided to use one of my favorites, so..."Good night and have a pleasant tomorrow"Silverback
Date: 2015-04-08
From: Trimpi Shelter

To: Mt Rogers National Recreation Area Headquarters
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: overcast clouds

4/6, Mt Rogers NRA Headquarters, 9.9We woke this morning to scattered clouds and high 50's with high humidity, and no breeze, after yesterdays rain. We packed and hit the trail quickly knowing we would be in Marion early afternoon. Hiking was humid, but pleasant and once again we hiked a trail losing altitude, while going uphill. The AT seems to be able to do that like no other trail. Streams were swollen from rain, but passable and the trail itself was serving as runoff for some areas. We arrived at the headquarters at 12:30. I called Dave and he was in town, so we had him pick us up. He had driven in from Ohio this morning and we had planned to prepare for him to join me hiking. The usual town chores came first, shower, lunch, laundry. While waiting on laundry Dave and I made our hiking plan and contacted a shuttle service to deal with Dave's car. We will leave it secured and the shuttle service will transport us to trail and back. Our plan is to hike five days, then reevaluate the next five. I think Dave will hike all ten days as planned but we will see. Dave was then extremely accommodating as Maverick and I needed to make several different stops for resupply. We finally finished tasks, and pulled into the Mexican resturant for dinner. Afterwards, back at our rooms, Dave and I packed food and clothes and did a final check to be sure he had all he needed. It took me a couple moments to convince him to shed a couple articles of clothing from his pack, but he kept his extra socks. Oh well, i'm not carrying them.Tomorrow we plan to hike 6.6 miles to the first shelter to break Dave in to his pack, gear and hiking. The next day we will do around 8 with an interesting lunch stop. Then we will reevaluate how Dave is doing, and add miles as he feels he can. We only plan to move about 41 miles over the next five days, so we are taking it slow. Then we can do a couple longer days if Dave is up to it. Maverick will hike away tomorrow so I hope to see him again on up the trail. He has been fun to hike, and bike, with. I do look forward to Ironman Bill and Just Pete catching me in the next couple days as well. That will be a nice reunion.It looks like they are rolling up the carpets here in town so I think it is time to turn in. Good night, and have a pleasant tomorrow.Silverback