morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-03-22
From: Bald Mountain Shelter

To: Spivey Gap
Miles today: 5.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Thursday March 22, 2007 Start Bald Mountain Shelter - 7:30AM. Finished Spivey Gap 11:50AM. Slack pack day. Beautiful weather, sky clear and sunny, temps in the 70's. Backyard Boogie decided to hike with me to Spivey Gap and ride in to town with Miss Janet and me. When Miss. Janet arrived she had Hawk, Osprey, and Alley Cat slack packing North to the river.
Date: 2007-03-24
From: Spivey Gap

To: Nolichucky River (Erwin, TN.)
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: broken clouds

Saturday March 24, 2007 Slack pack day. Start - Spivey Gap 10:30AM/ Finished - Nolichucky River 5:10PM. Perfect day for hiking. Light cool breeze, Temps in the high 70's to low 80's, sunny all day. Very smooth trail, only one steep up hill climb. Backyard Boogie and Dude and I hiked together. Miss Janet had to pick up her daughter and daughter's boyfriend from the races in Bristol TN., so she drove some hikers to the outfitter in Johnson, City. I went along for the ride and picked up a can of fuel. She dropped the other hikers off at the movie before going to Bristol. I did not want to go to the movies so I rode to Bristol with her and Tim.
Date: 2007-03-25
From: Miss Janet's House

To: Miss Janet's House
Miles today: 0.0

Sunday March 25, 2007 This morning I learned that a very good Christian friend of mine Rodney Tate passed away on Wednesday. I pray the Lord will give him peace and help his family with there loss. Zero day in Erwin, TN, Went the Erwin Presbyterian Church in the morning. A section hiker, Hanna, off for spring break and I went roller skating in Johnson City. The gang went to the China Kitchen for dinner. Two new hikers today, Toe Soxes 1 & 2, A couple thru hiking together.
Date: 2007-03-26
From: Nolichucky River (Erwin, TN.)

To: Indian Grave Gap
Miles today: 8.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Monday March 26, 2007 Slack pack day. Started - Nolichucky River 10:00AM. Finished Indian Grave Gap 3:30PM. I believe spring has sprung. Another perfect day for hiking. Snake Bite and I started hiking from the river. I caught up with him at Curley Maple shelter where he was just finishing lunch. I started eating lunch and in came Backyard Boogie, Dude and Otto hiking South bound from Indian Grave Gap to the River. We had lunch together and then set off on our separate ways, them continuing South bound and me going North bound. Two new hikers came in to Miss Janet's today from California, Natural High and Lady Bug, boy and girl friend thru hiking together. Baltimore Jack cooked a fabulous meal for dinner.
Date: 2007-03-27
From: Indian Grave Gap

To: Iron Mountain Gap
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: light rain

Tuesday March 27,2007 Slack pack day, Start - Indian Grave Gap 10:40AM. Finished Iron Mountain Gap 6:45PM. Another perfect hiking day, Man I hope this keeps up. Really tough hike today. Mostly up all day. Scoops passed me going North. Found two jackets on the side of the trail. Called out and someone answered and said the jackets belong to them, so I left them. Later on I found a pair of sunglasses and no one was around so I took them back to Miss Janet's. Baltimore Jack out did himself with another great dinner.
Date: 2007-03-29
From: Miss Janet's House

To: Miss Janet's House
Miles today: 0.0

Thursday March 29, 2007 Zero day. Daughter and son-in-law arrived about 12:30PM. They got a room at the Holiday Inn. Then we went for lunch at the Erwin Burrito. Drove out ot the River and showed them where the A.T. was. Went to Wal Mart and purchase some items I needed to continue my hike. Ordered some pizza and fish from Long John Silver's. Settled down in there motel room to watch there wedding video and a Star Trak movie.
Date: 2007-03-30
From: Miss Janet's House

To: Miss Janet's House
Miles today: 0.0

Friday March 30, 2007 Zero day. Daughter and son-in-law came to breakfast at Miss Janet's. I was going to continue my hike from Iron mountain to Kincora hostel today until I heard Sgt. Rock was coming for dinner tonight. I have been reading about Sgt. Rock for years on the internet and now I will get to meet him in person.
Date: 2007-04-01
From: Hughes Gap

To: OverMountain Shelter
Miles today: 9.8
Weather: light rain

Sunday April 1, 2007 Start - Hughes Gap 7:35AM. Finished - OverMountain Shelter 5:30PM. Met Thrills, DogFather, and his Nikita dog named Sabastian. The OverMountain shelter is an old red barn refurbished for a shelter. Nice hiking weather all day. Rained at night but was clear the next morning.
Date: 2007-04-02
From: OverMountain Shelter

To: US 19E
Miles today: 8.7

Monday April 2, 2007 Started - OverMountain Shelter (Red Barn) 7:30AM. Finished - US 19E 2:12PM. Day started rainy and foggy but cleared up around noon. A friend from my church (Winchester Cumberland Presbyterian) father lives in Blountville and helps with trail maintenance on Tuesday's. When I arrived at Doll Flats I called Bob Peoples from the Kincora Hostel to pick me up at US 19E so I could join them for trail maintenance the next day. Bob picked me up at 2:40PM and drove me to the hostel. Another good day for hiking.
Date: 2007-04-03
From: Kincora Hostel

To: Kincora Hostel
Miles today: 0.0

Tuesday April 3, 2007 Zero day for trail maintenance. The Eastman TN. hiking club members and four hikers (Otto, Lady Bug, Natural High and my self assisted in replacing the floor in the Abingdon Shelter and putting in a new pipe at the water source (a spring down the hill in back of the shelter). Al materials were hand carried approximately 1 mile from a forest service road to the shelter. Job was completed that day and was a first rate job.
Date: 2007-04-04
From: US 19E

To: Mountaineer Shelter
Miles today: 8.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Wednesday April 4, 2007 Start US 19E 9:05AM. Finsihed Mountaineer shelter 4:30PM. Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid, Marti and Rossi, Grey Wolf and others ion for the night. This shelter was built last year after trail days in Damascus Va. by hard core in one day except for the roof. The roof could not be added until the next week because of a safety issue with people working below. The shelter has three sleeping levels. Someone named the top level as the honeymoon suite. Excellent water source and is on a slight uphill for a change.
Date: 2007-04-05
From: Mountaineer Shelter

To: Dennis Cove Rd. (Kincora Hostel)
Miles today: 15.6

Thursday April 5, 2007 Started - Mountaineer shelter 7:15AM. Finsihed - Dennis Cove Rd. (Kincora Hostel) 5:45PM. Very cold wind all day. Lost steam the last 3 miles and was praying for help. The Lord sent a trail runner who is from Johnson City named Adam to assist me. I asked him how far Dennis Cove road was and he said about 3 miles and pointed in the other direction. I was getting very cold so he offered to carry my pack for me. When we got to the Coon Den falls sign I realized that when I had stopped to read the sign the first time through somehow in my confusion I turned around and was heading South. Adam got me to Knicora hostel OK. Thank you very much Adam wherever you are. This was my longest mileage yet. This was because the trail was fairly smooth, no steep ups.
Date: 2007-04-07
From: Kincora Hostel

To: Blountville
Miles today: 0.0

Saturday April 7, 2007 Zero day. Went to Ken's house in Blountville. Went out for lunch with Ken and his wife at a restaurant called Partners. Tried to go to Ridgewood but they were packed. Later that afternoon Ken's family members came over and dyed eggs for Easter.
Date: 2007-04-08
From: Blountville

To: Kincora Hostel
Miles today: 0.0

Easter Sunday April8, 2007 Went to church in Kingsport with Ken and his wife. We then went to church in Blountville where one of their daughter's goes to church. Went back to Kincora and had a big Easter dinner. Approximately 20 hikers were there for Easter dinner. Everyone had a good time.
Date: 2007-04-10
From: Dennis Cove Rd. (Kincora Hostel)

To: Watauga Lake Shelter
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: clear sky

Tuesday April 10, 2007 Start - Kincora Hostel 7:15AM. Finished Watauga Lake Shelter 5:07PM. Cold start but warmed up during the day. Evening at the shelter got a little cold.
Date: 2007-04-11
From: Watauga Lake Shelter

To: Iorn Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 13.6
Weather: broken clouds

Wednesday April 11, 2007 Start - Watauga Lake Shelter 7:10AM. Finished Iron Mountain Shelter 5:07PM. Very cloudy all day with a cold wind. After arriving at Iron Mountain Shelter and getting water it started raining really hard until late that night. Four other hikers came in about dark.
Date: 2007-04-13
From: Abingdon Shelter

To: Damacus Virgina
Miles today: 10.0

Friday April 13, 2007 Start - Abingdon Shelter 8:15AM. Finished - Damacus Virginia 1:25PM. Stepped across the TN./VA. state line at 11:40AM Eastern Time. Had lunch at the Italian restaurant. Went to the outfitters to check on places to stay. Decided on the Hikers Inn a private home that has a bunkhouse in back and private rooms in the house, I took one of the private rooms in the house to avoid the snoring.
Date: 2007-04-14
From: Hikers Inn (Damascus VA.)

To: Hikers Inn (Damascus VA.)
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Saturday April 14, 2007 Zero day. Looks like I will be here for a few days as the weather picture is looking bleak again. Forecast rain tomorrow and snow Sunday in the mountains. Went to the library when they opened at 9:00AM and started updating my journal. Realized that it was 10:30AM and that I needed to go to the post office before it closed at 11:00. Had lunch at the Italian restaurant again. Walked around town and looked at the outfitters. Had my jet Boil stove igniter repaired at the Mount Rogers outfitter. Rained in the afternoon.
Date: 2007-04-15
From: Hikers Inn (Damascus VA.)

To: Hikers Inn (Damascus VA.)
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Sunday April 15, 2007 Zero Day. had breakfast at the Dairy King and went to church at the Baptist church. Finishing journal entries at the Sundog Outfitter. Rainy all day today. As I finished this last entry for today I looked out and it is snowing big time and it is 3:40PM here.
Date: 2007-04-18
From: Hikers Inn (Damascus VA.)

To: Hikers Inn (Damascus VA.)
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Wednesday April 18, 2007 Zero day. Weatherman got it wrong today. Slight chill but sunny. Still a chance of rain tomorrow, so I am still looking at Friday. Sorted my gear and resupplied my food bag for 6 days.
Date: 2007-04-19
From: Hikers Inn (Damascus VA.)

To: Hikers Inn (Damascus VA.)
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Thursday April 19, 2007 Zero day. Weatherman got it wrong again. Beautiful sunny day. Mailed bounce box to Pearisburg, Va. Getting ready to leave early in the morning. Probably will not have a chance to update again until I get to Pearisburg, Va. in about 2 weeks.
Date: 2007-04-20
From: Hikers Inn (Damascus VA.)

To: Lost Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: broken clouds

Friday April 20, 2007 Start - Hiker Inn Damascus, Va. 7:10AM. Finished - Lost Mountain Shelter 6:15PM. Stopped for breakfast at In The Country restaurant on the North end of Damascus. Left at 7:50AM. The A.T. goes thru Damascus and continues down the hwy before entering the woods and going up the mountain. Morning was cloudy and foggy but cleared up at mid day. Met 357 Magnum and Fidel at Lost Mountain Shelter.
Date: 2007-04-23
From: Old Orchard Shelter

To: Dickey Gap (Troutdale/Va 650)
Miles today: 10.2

Monday April 23,2007 Start - Old Orchard Shelter 7:00AM. Finished - Dickey Gap 2:00PM. Hitched into Troutdale and had lunch at Jerry's. Checked into the Baptist hostel.. Went back to Jerry's around 6:00PM and had supper. Jerry was there and said he would take me back to the trail in the morning. Weather was great for hiking today. Took some beautiful pictures of a waterfall.
Date: 2007-04-24
From: Dickey Gap (Troutdale VA. Hwy 650)

To: Partnership shelter
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: light rain

Tuesday April 24, 2007 Start - Dickey Gap 7:00AM. Finished Partnership shelter 4:15PM. Another beautiful day for hiking. Some said it was too hot but I like it hot. Everyone ordered pizza for dinner. There is a phone at the ranger station a tenth of a mile from the shelter and one of the local pizza places delivers.
Date: 2007-04-25
From: Partnership shelter

To: Grosclose, Va.
Miles today: 11.6

Wednesday April 25, 2007 Start - Partnership Shelter 6:15AM. Finished Grosclose 2:10PM. Hitched to the Comfort Inn in Atkins, Va. UPS package had not arrived. The night desk clerk got in touch with a local named Josh. Josh had a friend with a laptop. I used the laptop to track the UPS package and found out somehow they lost the street address. Called UPS and gave them the corret info. Shadow, Numtoe, and Elsa the yoga came in. Josh let us use his van to go to Marion. Thank you very much Josh and friend for all the great help. We went to Walmart and the grocery store for resupply. Then we went to dinner.
Date: 2007-04-27
From: Atkins, Va

To: Knot Mall Branch Shelter
Miles today: 13.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Friday April 27, 2007 Start - Grosclose 7:25AM. Finished - Knot Mall Branch Shelter 7:25PM. Very nice day for hiking. Came up to a stile near Va. 42. What's this trail magic? Someone left a basket of water bottles. Man that hit the spot.
Date: 2007-04-28
From: Knot Mall Branch Shelter

To: Va. 623
Miles today: 15.0

Saturday April 28, 2007 Start - Knot Mall Branch Shelter 6:15AM. Finished - Va 623 7:25PM. Had lunch from 2:00PM to 3:00PM at Chestnut knob Shelter. Beautiful view of God's Thumb Print but to foggy to take a picture. Very cold wind blowing all day. Shelter is one of the better ones. Concrete block construction. Four walls with a door instead of the usual three. Also fixed windows to let in some light. Since it was early and the wind was blowing quite hard I decided to go on and get to a lower elevation. Arrived at Va. 623 and found the Kentucky section hikers parked there with their camper having supper. Talked with them for a while and decided to tent camp next to them instead of going another mile to a campsite.
Date: 2007-04-29
From: Va. 623

To: Va. 615
Miles today: 8.6

Sunday April 29, 2007 Start - Va. 623 7:48AM. Finished - 2:10PM. Weather was nice today. Stopped at Jenkins Shelter for lunch from 1:00PM to 2:00PM. More trail magic. Found a note from a Methodist church for breakfast on Monday's. Decided to hike to the road and call it a short day to wait for breakfast in the morning. Arrived at Va. 615 and set up camp. Several other hikers came in later with the same idea. Had a great time around the campfire that evening.
Date: 2007-04-30
From: Va. 615

To: US 52 (Bland Va.)
Miles today: 6.9

Monday April 30, 2007 Start - Va.615 11:15AM. Finished - US 523:10PM. Breakfast at the Methodist church was great. Lots of food for everyone. About 13 hikers had breakfast. They even had goody bags for us to take with us, Homemade cookies. Toe on my left foot is starting to hurt as well as my left knee. Hiked to US 52 hwy and walked/hitched into Bland, Va.
Date: 2007-05-02
From: US 52 (Bland Va.)

To: Jenny Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Wednesday May 2, 2007 Start - US52 hwy 8:25AM. Finished Jenny Knob Shelter 4:30PM. Had breakfast at Bland restaurant. Hitched back to the trail at US 52 hwy. About 4:00PM it started to rain/hail.. Made it to the shelter. Shelter was almost full but they made room. Several other hikers came in later. Some hikers left and that made room for some more. Others pitched tents.
Date: 2007-05-03
From: Jenny Knob Shelter

To: Va 606 (Trent's Grocery)
Miles today: 6.5

Thirsday May 3, 2007 Start Jenny Knob Shelter 10:00AM. Finished Va. 606 1:30PM. Got a late start because of a cold rain. You have not lived until you put on cold wet cloths and start walking in a cold foggy rain. Arrive at Va. 606 hwy and went to Trent's Grocery, about 1/2 mile west of the trail. Had lunch at there deli. By the time I finished lunch my hands where numb and I was shaking. Went to the laundry room in there camp ground. Stripped down put everything in the dryer and turned on the dryer. Then I dug out my fleece jacket and pants and put them on. Finally got everything warm and dry. Another hiker came in and dried his cloths. We moved some stuff around and made some room so we could sleep in the laundry room as it was too wet outside to pitch a tent. I heard later that there was 3 inches of rain that day and it was cold.
Date: 2007-05-04
From: VA. 606 (Tremt's Grocery)

To: Doc's Knob Shelter
Miles today: 16.1
Weather: light rain

Friday May 4, 2007 Start - VA. 606 7:10AM. Finished Doc's Knob Sheter 7:45PM. Cold rain and foggy all day. Arrived at Doc's Knob Shelter cold and wet. One other hiker was there. Took off all my wet cloths except my long johns and got into my sleeping bag right away. After warming up I cooked supper and went to sleep. Very rocky trail again today (ankle busters).
Date: 2007-05-05
From: Doc's Knob Shelter

To: US 460 hwy (Pearisburg, Va.)
Miles today: 8.2
Weather: light rain

Saturday May 5, 2007 Start Doc's Knob Shelter 8:10AM. Finished US 460 hwy 3:00PM. While walking down the mountain into Pearisburg, Va. I met up with Sardine, Noodles & Gunner going Southbound back to Damascus, Va. for Trail Days. Walked into Pearisburg Va. Called the hostel to get directions. While walking to the hostel the hostel manager Bill drove up and gave me a ride. Hostel had no laundry facilities and I was cold and wet as well as my pack. Called some motels in town and decided to go back to the plaza motel because they had internet and laundry facilities. Got dried out and warm again and went to dinner.
Date: 2007-05-07
From: Pearisburg, Va..

To: Pearisburg, Va.
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Monday May 7, 2007 Zero day. Decided to try to find a ride back to Damascus, Va. and wait for trail days. Maybe resting and enjoying trail days wiil give me renewed energy to continue. Very tired right now. Have been sleeping most of the day and night. Shadow and Numtoe left for the trail today going North
Date: 2007-05-08
From: Pearisburg, Va.

To: Pearisburg, Va.
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Tuesday May 8, 2007 Zero day in Pearisburg, Va. Met a study group from Alma University in Michigan at Pizza Hut during Lunch. They are doing physiological studies on thru hikers. They are throwing a BBQ tomorrow night at the Holy Family Hostel. Several hikers came in today Driftwood, M&M, Easy Going, Ziola, and Diesel to name a few.
Date: 2007-05-10
From: Pearisburg, Va.

To: Pearisburg, Va.
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Thursday May 10, 2007 Zero day in Pearisburg, Va. Decided to go to my eye doctor before trail days instead of after. Searched all day for a way to get to Nashville. Finally found someone to shuttle me to the bus station in Bluefield WV. tomorrow morning. Made appointments with my two eye doctors (Glaucoma specialist & Cornea specialist) to see them both on Monday May 14, 2007. Made arrangements to stay in Manchester, TN. with my daughter and son-in-law for the weekend.
Date: 2007-05-11
From: Pearisburg, Va.

To: Manchester, TN.
Miles today: 0.0

Friday MAy 11, 2007 Brenda from the Rendezvous Motel picked me up at 8:00AM Eastern time and drove me to the bus station in Bluefield WV. We arrived at 8:45AM Eastern time. Purchased a ticket to Nashville, TN. Bus was supposed to leave at 10:00AM Eastern time but did not get there until 10:30AM Eastern time. Arrived in Nashville at 10:00PM Central time. My daughter and son-in-law were there to meet me and take me to there home in Manchester, TN. We had dinner at Steak & Shake in Murfreesboro before going to Manchester.
Date: 2007-05-12
From: Manchester, TN.

To: Manchester, TN.
Miles today: 0.0

Saturday May 12, 2007 Went to Wal Mart. Purchased another 2GB memory stick for my camera and transferred the pictures from my camera to CD's. CD's are back up for the memory stick because I am not erasing the memory sticks. Also found and purchased a quick drying long sleeve shirt, white of course, for summer hiking. Daughter and son-in-law had a get together with a few of there friends and grilled pork chops and chicken. Great meal and great friends.
Date: 2007-05-14
From: Manchester, TN.

To: Nashville, TN.
Miles today: 0.0

MOnday May 14, 2007 Son-in-law and daughter drove me to Nashville for the eye doctor. 8:15AM saw Cornea specialist and got prescription for glasses. Went to Wal Mart by bus and ordered glasses to be delivered to Roanoke, Va. 2:15PM saw Glaucoma doctor. Doctor said everything is OK. Walked to bus station and purchased a ticket to Bristol, TN. Walked to Demos and had supper. Walked back to bus station and waited for bus to arrive at 12:45AM.
Date: 2007-05-15
From: Nashville, TN.

To: Damascus, Va.
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Tuesday May 15, 2007 Got on the bus around 12:20AM. Around 5:00AM I told the bus driver I wished they had not closed the Abingdon bus station because I ws trying to get to Damascus. He said he would be glad to drop me off at the Damascus exit to I81. Arrived at I81 exit 29 around 10:30AM. Had lunch at the truck stop restaurant. Walked out to the hwy and hitch into Damascus. Got a bunk at the Hiker Inn.
Date: 2007-05-17
From: Damascus, Va.

To: Damascus, Va
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Thursday May 17, 2007 Trail Days - Moved from the Hike Inn to tent city. Found a place in the woods with a cool breeze out of the sun. Met Hiker Nutt and her husband again. Met another very fine lady hiker called half pint. She got some bad news today. Her husband lost his job. I am praying things work out for both of them. Thru hiking the A.T. is her life long dream.
Date: 2007-05-23
From: Pearisburg, Va.

To: Pearisburg, Va.
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Wednesday May 23, 2007 - Went to podiatrist. She diagnosed corns on my left foot. She cut them off and gave me some foam tubes to put over the toes. Foot feels fine now. Went to stores to resupply for continued journey.
Date: 2007-05-24
From: Pearisburg, Va.

To: .3 miles South of Pine Swamp Branch Shelter
Miles today: 18.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Thursday May 24, 2007 - Start Pearisburg 5:30AM. Stop .3 mile south of Pine Swamp Branch Shelter 9:45PM, Got dark around 9:00PM. Continued hiking with aid of headlamp until I started stumbling down some very tricky rock formations along the creek. Decided to call it a night. Better to stay put until daylight instead of getting my neck broke. Laid out my tyvek ground sheet and went to sleep.
Date: 2007-05-25
From: Pine Swamp Branch Shelter

To: War Spur Shelter
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: broken clouds

Friday May 25, 2007 - Start .3 mile South of Pine Swamp Branch Shelter7:30AM. Stop War Spur Shelter 7:05PM. Stopped at Pine Swamp Branch Shelter. Probably a good thing I did not get here last night the roof is caved in from a fallen tree. Went on and had lunch at Bailey Gap Shelter. Lots of hikers here today. Extremely rocky trail all day. Reach War Spur Shelter for the night. It rained most of the night.
Date: 2007-05-28
From: Niday Shelter

To: 1 mile South of Dragons Tooth
Miles today: 12.0

Monday May 28, 2007 Niday Shelter to Stealth camp 1 mile South of Dragon's Tooth. Clear day, great for hiking. Trail is really narrow along the ridge top. Lots of bushes growing over the trail. Around 7:00PM it looked like rain so I found a spot along side the trail and put up my tent for the night.