morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-05-01
From: Chestnut Knob Shelter

To: Jenkins Shelter
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: broken clouds

Today's weather called for showers and thunderstorms, so I left Chestnut Knob with my raingear ready and my pack's rain cover on. Before I had walked far, it started raining. I stopped and put my rain jacket. Soon it stopped raining and I stopped to put the hot jacket back in my pack. All day I was stopping for one reason or another. Taping blisters, adjusting laces, resting and snacking. Finally I arrived at the shelter where GG was worried about me because I had fallen so far behind. Sweet lady.She took tumble on a large slanted rock that the trail crossed over. There were a lot of those rocks on the trail today. Exciting stuff for day hikers and of course the trail was created for them, not thru-hikers. Many times during the last three days I found my trek northeast interrupted to turn back and pick up some more PUDS.No unusual flowers or animals today and since Myasis Dragon, I see little more than the soil beneath my feet as I trudge along. There is a nice water source only a hundred feet from the shelter--a cold fast running creek. I soaked my feet and ankles till they felt frozen, and I got a birdbath as well.After a long hard, gray, moody day....I feel much better.
Date: 2004-05-02
From: Jenkins Shelter

To: Bland, VA
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: light rain

I had a note that this motel (the one and only motel) is a dump, but I was so wet I felt I needed to come here to dry out. It is a dump. But I am drying out and the warm shower was nice. The management seems disinterested in hikers' needs and they don't offer any assistance. The person that gave us a ride said the motel office had her number. She had gone, but I asked the clerk at the desk for the number so we could arrange a lift to the trail tomorrow. The manager denied knowing anything about it, but... the person said she actually works at the motel. Nice people huh. So to future hikers - be prepared to bypass Bland if you can. Today's hike was a lot easier and the PUDS were fewer. I saw two black snakes and my FIRST ever wild turkey. I flushed it when it was about 75 feet away and it made an awkward flight across the trail and into a thicket.It rained so hard today. I had my wallet in a sandwich bag in my hip pocket but the bills got soaked anyway. The grocery clerk didn't mind at all. When I took all my change to the counter of Dairy Queen to buy a banana split the clerk was anything but warm. *hehe* Too bad. But I was carrying way to many coins.
Date: 2004-05-03
From: Bland, VA

To: Jenny Knob Shelter
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: overcast clouds

The best part of today was the beautiful flowers on the trail. The two showiest flowers I have seen on the trail were adorning today's walk. The one flower is an azalia. It is pink or white with pink and it grows on tall bushes. Also I saw a lot of the elegant looking Dwarf Crested Iris today. It's very cold now. It will freeze tonight. I'm wet because I hiked all day in rain gear and my own perspiration soaked my shirt and jacket. My sleeping bag got wet yesterday and it still is wet, but I'm warming up. The forecast is for more miserable cold, wet weather. Hoping to get to Pearisburg on the 5th and get a warm room. I like warm.Everything is good; I'm in a good mood for once, in spite of the adversity. Later, I'm dry now, thanks to the sun peeking through the clouds for a while. The sun never felt better to me.   I heard a grouse doing his mating display dance thingy - the first one I've heard in weeks. I guess this guy didn't have enough fun last month. I sure enjoy the sound they make. Tonight the owls are noisy. There are several calling each other back and forth. I'm am cozy in my bag and ready to doze off. Nite! Nite!
Date: 2004-05-04
From: Jenny Knob Shelter

To: Wapiti Shelter
Miles today: 14.2
Weather: clear sky

It's a beautiful day. The promised rain has been postponed - until tomorrow. I hope to make it into Pearisburg tomorrow, which will mean leaving GG behind. GG plans to stop at Docs Knob Shelter. She is so strong and endures a great pain from shin splints. (We think its shin splints, but I hope she will visit a doctor if it doesn't improve soon.)We had a flatter trail today than ever before, I believe. It was nice, but I managed to crash and burn twice anyway. I'll spare you the details. Yes, it's classic ME, a model of agility and suave sophistication.I saw more pink azalias, Dwarf Iris, my first Lily of the Valley on the trail and my first ever May Apple Blossum, and so many others. I saw some flowering trees also, very fragrant, I thought they were Honeysuckle, but Sevy said they're not. I saw a turtle alongside the trail; it had yellowish markings on its brown shell. In the last few days the forest has transformed itself. Of course the altitude of the trail is much lower. Suddenly there are leaves. What were brown, barren surroundings are now green and appealing. And birds! For most of my hike the woods were almost silent, but suddenly the birds can be heard singing happily and at times very loudly.
Date: 2004-05-06
From: Wapiti Shelter

To: Campsite near Rice Field Shelter
Miles today: 4.5
Weather: scattered clouds

I enjoyed my brief stay in Pearisburg. I couldn't find propane though and I didn't get much sleep either. I received some tragic and upsetting news from home and the people in the room next to mine turned on something that made a LOT of noise (like a vibrating bed?), then they apparently left the room because at precisely 4:32 A.M. I heard them return and they turned off the device. I then slept until the people on the other side of me started banging around; I heard their phone ring at 5, their wake-up call. Such is life on the road, eh?Therefore. I had no energy as I hiked out of Pearisburg. I missed a turn and got on the wrong road even before I got to the trail, so I figure I hiked about two miles to get back to the trail. It was hot, but I didn't realize how drained I was until I was on the trail and climbing a hill. I stopped several times to eat, hoping I'd find something to give me energy. I saw this beautiful tent site and set up my tent and rested.Other hikers passed by and stopped to chat. Later two southbound section hikers named Scatman and Jaybird stopped and put up their tents and started a fire. I hope they had a good hike into Pearisburg, and if they find my journal... Hello!At sundown Harmony and Midas arrived and decided to stay. Then Numbas arrived. Later. The Wandering Nunn and Wounded Knee aka Knee hiked up in the dark, but continued on. Hello to Mike and Diana (Midas' parents) I'm glad you read my journal! And while I'm shouting out... Hoss says say "Hello" to Charlie. Hoss is night hiking also. So many people are reading my journal and it's a thrill to hear someone say they read it or that someone they know reads it. THANK YOU!   So...   it's late now, way past my bedtime. 9:25 PM. I think I'll sleep well tonight.
Date: 2004-05-07
From: Campsite near Rice Field Shelter

To: Pine Swamp Shelter 
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: scattered clouds

I slept well last night and I felt so much better when I woke. I hurried to get breakfast and get on the trail. Harmony hiked out first and I was a few minutes behind. After climbing about 300 feet in a quarter mile I was on top of the ridge that I stayed on most of the day. It was a beautiful trail. The trillium was incredible. Obviously a different species than the others I have seen. They were a lot larger, and the blooms face upward. Soon I arrived at Rice Field Shelter where Lars and Maizy, Long Shot, Harmony and Dragonfly were. There were lots of hikers camping on the ridge also. After signing the register I moved on. As I write now I am sitting on a gray log in a green forest atop a ridge. The trees are beginning to leaf and the wildflowers are plentiful. When the cool breeze picks up, white petals shower down on me. Sometimes the breeze carries a bit of fragrant perfume. It is peaceful. Butterflies visit the flowers near me and I watch them happily flitting about. There isn't a cloud in sight and the blue sky makes a perfect day. Its warm and I don't want to leave here. Miles mean nothing now. A shadow on the ground whizzes by me. I look up to see a huge crow with unmoving wings spread fully. He glides effortlessly to the side of the ridge in front of me and catches the updraft. In seconds he gains altitude and floats higher and higher until he appears small. Two other crows join in the mid morning play and I watch enviously. Now Dragonfly walks by. A younger hiker I've met a few times. He has a happy easy-going personality and is immediately likable. He said he is Dragonfly because he drags along in the mornings, but flies as the day progresses. After we chat and he moves on I think I should be hiking too. Before I left my ideal rest spot I re-taped my heel and changed footpads hoping my blisters will eventually give up. My feet were sore when I arrived at the shelter and I set up my tent nearby. There will be a lot of people here. I met an interesting hiker today. As we talked he asked where I was from and then if I was a Mormon. Then he introduced himself as Brother Newton a Mormon (baptized a year ago) from Wichita, Kansas. He is 78 years old. Apparently he gets lost a lot and has been rescued more than once.
Date: 2004-05-08
From: Pine Swamp Shelter 

To: War Spur Shelter 
Miles today: 12.8
Weather: overcast clouds

This has been a miserable day. I spent a lot of time today, as I hiked, thinking about this entry. Now the words I'd planned to write escape me.My blisters have returned and my feet are very sore. So I didn't spend much time observing the suroundings. OK. I dont want to start whining again...Other hikers also have pain and endure, I could endure if I felt some higher motivation... I just wanna have fun.
Date: 2004-05-09
From: War Spur Shelter 

To: Sarver Hollow Shelter 
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: clear sky

All the hikers at the War Spur Shelter slept late this morning. We didn't sleep well, so the late morning was nice. I started slow, being careful with my feet. I had plenty energy and it was needed because there were couple tough climbs. One climb was interrupted by trail magic. Super Dave from Blacksburg, Va., left brownies and sodas on the trail. What a great treat! Thank you Super Dave! I arrived at the Keffer oak and it was very big. There were two wild rabbits there. They were both fat, eating well in these green fields. The farms and ranches here are beautiful, huge green fields and rustic buildings.I saw two huge ramps and ate them on the spot. A lot of the trail in this section is covered with purple slate. It gets tamped down by hiking feet and reminds me of bathroom tile.There is a graduation party of sorts at the shelter, a group of rude college kids came in loudly and continue to party while the thru-hikers try to sleep. Hawkeye is the graduate. Another night of little sleep. nite nite.
Date: 2004-05-10
From: Sarver Hollow Shelter 

To: Pickle Branch Shelter
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Reptile Day.I saw three lizards and two snakes today. One fat lizard posed a few inches from my feet so I could take his photo. I wondered if he was hurt, so I touched him softly with my trekking pole. He quickly scurried a few feet further away. I then realized he was a bit stressed because he had just eaten something that made him so portly. I asked if he would like some pepto-bismol. He didn't reply, so I moved on, offended.I saw my first Mountain Laurel blossoms. I saw some other spectacular blooms that I hope to identify later. It was a long day. Lots of rocks, which tested my ankles. It was hot also, but I had plenty of energy and I had to concentrate to keep my pace slow so that I wouldn't aggravate the blisters. Even so, I stopped twice to re-tape when I felt the tape moving.I visited Audie Murphy Monument that was erected near the site he died in an airplane crash in 1971. It was a nice monument and a peaceful, quiet place.
Date: 2004-05-11
From: Pickle Branch Shelter

To: Roanoke airport
Miles today: 11.9

I slept under the stars last night and slept well indeed. Wild turkeys were contributing to the cacophony of other bird songs to provide wake-up music. I had a good day in spite of the sore feet. I walked slowly so I wouldn't make matters worse, as it seems the slow pace is better for my blisters.I hiked over Dragons Tooth and all it's lovely rocks. Oh the rocks! The trail meandered senselessly to include more and more rocks. My knees and ankles were screaming. I have been told most of the Virginia section is like this. The rocks of various sizes require removing the pack occasionally to clamber on hands and feet, and huge jarring steps down and energy sapping steps up. It would be a fun day hike with a daypack with a few snickers bars, apples and sodas, but for this thru-hiker it's not fun. I haven't been having fun lately. I mean the frustrations outweigh the benefits. Drudgery.The flowers were incredible though. My first Rhododendron blossoms, my first Ladies Slippers, and some more Mountain Laurel made the walk rewarding. Other flowers were plentiful too. I especially enjoyed passing by a small flowering Locust in full bloom. Its fragrance was strong for several yards.I decided to hike into Catawba, thinking I would quit the trail and try to get a ride to a town that had services I'd need to prepare for my return home.Joe Mitchell of Four Pines Hostel made everything possible and convenient. Great guy, and I appreciate his help. He even lent me a large suitcase to transport my pack home. After I had asked him about a shuttle out of Catawba, which he was willing to provide, he got a call from the same convenience store I had been at earlier with Knee, Nunn, Wolf Cookie and Dances, Toe, Baker, Honeypie, and Hoss. (Harmony and Numbas were already in the hostel before I arrived.) So when Joe's son brought my hiker friends to the hostel, Joe announced to everyone that I was quitting. He really put me on the spot so I couldn't quit as quietly as I'd hoped. Anyway, everyone seemed to understand and they were supportive. God Bless them. Some of my favorite hiking friends were surrounding me at this emotional point of time. I don't think I will seriously regret leaving the trail. I surely feel some disappointment, but I will have some great memories too.Thanks for being part of my hike and reading my journal.I input this last entry from home. Nice to be here.
Date: 2004-06-12
From: Home

To: Maine
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I quit the trail on May 11 thinking that it wouldn¢t matter. After all, I was never committed to the AT but only intent on having the greatest spring and summer of my life in the Appalachians. Well, I did have a great spring. I had great frustrations too. The frustrations became dominant and even though I still loved walking through the mountains and looking at each new flower and vista, the pains of hiking over rocks with blistered feet and in-capable joints won out. My thoughts as I hiked those last days were of home and comfort so I left the trail without regret. Umm, well, at least for a few weeks.I began to realize that I had dreamt of the trail every night since I left. Feelings of being a quitter began to emerge and grow stronger. The desire to accomplish my original goal of hiking from GA to ME has risen much stronger. My boy, Josh and I were planning a hiking and fishing trip here in Utah when I began to realize I regretted leaving the Appalachians, so I asked him if we could change our plans and hike a piece of the AT together instead. After his vacation runs out he could return to his job and I would continue my quest.My experience says that a slow mover like me would be lucky to get to Maine by winter. So, I have decided to start southbound at Abol Bridge and see how far I can go. I¢m not committed to finishing every inch of the trail and if trail conditions turn bad, or health conditions dictate, I¢ll quit again.Today I reassembled my pack¢¦ I STILL can¢t approach anything close to a 30 pound pack. I know a few things I could change to take off 10 pounds and bring my loaded pack to a decent 36 pounds sans water but, ¢I don¢t wanna leave that stuff home.¢ Besides, I was a Boy Scout! I¢ve carried a lot more. *grins*The plan is to fly out of SLC on the red eye to arrive in Bangor on Wednesday the 7th. We have arranged a ride to Abol bridge, where we will turn south (as a SOBO would naturally do) and head for the Hurd shelter for the first leg of my SOBO flip-flop hiking trip of a lifetime.If you read my journal before, welcome back. If you just happened by recently, I hope you¢ll enjoy reading about my walk. I¢ll whine some¢¦ but you¢ll know I¢m ¢telling it like it is.¢P.S. Our desktop computer got fried in a thunderstorm a few days ago. I¢m struggling now on an unfamiliar laptop using the netZero dial-up. Updates to this journal will be more difficult and may lag until we get the equipment repaired or replaced. I expect my next updates will be on the 18th from Monson.
Date: 2004-07-08
From: Maine

To: Monson
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: mist

Josh (my boy) and I flew to Maine yesterday. Josh's backpack was lost in transit by the airline baggage handlers. So instead of going to Abol Bridge, we went to Shaw's Lodging because we felt they could help us slack pack while we waited for the backpack to arrive.We slacked 15.1 miles from Long Pond Road to ME 15. It is beautiful here. The forecast called for scattered showers and we were rained on the entire 15.1 miles (sometimes heavily). Rocks and roots were plentiful and slippery. I fell twice on slippery rocks and once on a muddy slope. The only damage I encountered was to crush my vitamin I in my pocket. No small loss!! I had to lick my baggie to get my afternoon dose. It tastes weird.Josh and I were both impressed with the beauty of the trail. There was a lot of black shale contrasted with bright green moss. There were tons of ferns; several varieties were growing along the trail too. I like them, but to see them growing tall and thick was a new sight for this western desert boy.The most plentiful flowers were tall, white daisies. There was pink laurel and white yarrow, plus other flowers I had never seen. There were lots of ponds and streams. We had to ford a river. Another hiker that had just crossed was putting on his shoes on the opposite shore. He pointed at a place to cross and said it was only knee deep...hmm I stepped in and sank to my waist right off. Refreshingly cool!!! But I was already soaked anyway.While we were hiking Josh's backpack was delivered to Shaw's. We are starting from the same point we started today, but we will head north instead of south. We will continue on through the remainder of the hundred mile wilderness. We plan to stay overnight at Whitehouse Wilderness Landing one night, proving that it isn't really a hundred mile wilderness afterall. The Whitehouse has a one pound burger that is a hiker favorite and although it seems a bit over the top, I am planning to have one.An interesting note is that to get to the Whitehouse Landing, an AT hiker has to take a logging road .9 mile alongside Nahmakanta Lake. Then, there is a sign and a fog horn that you sund (a short blast) and the proprietor will come get you in his boat. Word is that you sometimes have to wait a long time and blowing the horn twice will get you chewed out...hmmm!! Sounds like good fun to me.
Date: 2004-07-09
From: Monson

To: Cloud Pond Lean-to
Miles today: 5.4
Weather: light rain

I ate a huge breakfast this morning. Keith Shaw pointed at me and asked how many. I said "Four." Four sausage, four strips of bacon, four eggs, four pancakes, and a huge stack of hash browns. Big mistake!! I was so sluggish hiking.Today it rained constantly-big drops and we were soaked. We managed to cross two rivers without getting wetter, but the trail was very tough and VERY MUDDY. Josh was waiting for me up the trail. He was very patient and understanding because I was not doing well. He leaps over logs and bounds up boulders with east and I creep along struggling over each obstacle. My knees and hips were particularly stiff and restricted because of the rain.Just as Josh disappeared around a bend in the trail, I caught my toe as I stepped over a log.   I couldn't catch myself. My hands were restricted because of the weight of my pack. I had time and the good sense to tilt my head down so that my forehead hit the ground instead of my face. It went into the mud DEEP and made a squish sound when I extracted it. I was sorry Josh missed it because it was so funny. On the other hand, I'm glad no one saw it...so why am I admitting it????   Did it make you grin??Foddy today. No views from the peaks we hiked, but the beauty of the woods is amazing when the wisps of fog float across the trail and the raindrops hang from the leaf tips, with the deep greens all around. There were a lot of a particular flower today. It has a thin stalk, sometimes six inches long-usually shorter, and six pretty leaves forming a sort of table where another half inch stalk holds a four-petaled flower with a green interior. In some places there were hundreds of them in a bed alongside the trail.We formed a plan before we left Monson. Josh has a plane ticket for the 18th from Bangor, so we MUST finish by the 17th so he can get a shuttle to Bangor. Because I couldn't go further--we are already behind schedule. I hope we can make up the time.
Date: 2004-07-10
From: Cloud Pond Lean-to

To: Chairback Gap Lean-to
Miles today: 6.9
Weather: light rain

I am not doing well here. The terrain is unbelievable rugged with mud, huge slippery boulders, roots, and steep sections that test my legs. I am moving very slowly and I am not able to keep to the schedule Josh and I set. Tomorrow will be tough.We saw an awesome flower today. I read about this flower in a trail book. It is called a pitcher plant and the leaves do look like thin pitchers. Inside the pitcher (or leaf) are hairs that point down; and deeper down ther are scales that have a sticky substance that prevent insects that were attracted by the nectar from escaping. The bloom looks like an orchid--ornate and complex. It is deep red, almost purple and sits on a long stalk.We arrived at this shelter and I talked Josh into staying here. Can't believe how sore my feet are, not to mention my knee. I wrapped it with an ace bandage which helped with the jarring that my knee was getting in this terrain.Everything is still wet because of the rain. We are still trying to dry stuff out, but it seem too humid to really dry our stuff. Putting on wet clothes is still a challenge, but it is amazing how quickly the wet clothes warm up when you are moving. I am still dragging along--slower than I hoped because of the mud and difficult rocks. We are still behind schedule by a full day. It is not looking good.