morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-06-02
From: Crawfish Valley

To: Chestnut Knob Shelter
Miles today: 16.8
Weather: clear sky

A pretty hike through some fields this morning, I got some sunshine on my face for once. I picked a few strawberried in the field- they were sweet but small. I hiked a little with Victory Light, he rode a bicycle last summer from St. Petersburg, FLA up north, across the midwest, and down the Pacific Coast, a 7000 mile journey. We had lunch together at a pavillion at a road crossing. The trail was full of puddles, my shoes got stuck in the muc, and covered in it! After lunch, I crossed a bridge to a stream, and went to wash my shoes and saw Strider swimming in the creek. I washed my shoes, and walked barefoot to get something from my pack, and slipped in the mud, getting my pants covered in it. "Now I have to go in" I laughed, and hopped in the cold stream.. It took a little while, but then I got my head under- then ran back out. I saw a couple small crawfish by my feet but didn't catch them.I hiked to the shelter, awestruck by the views of the valley below, and was forced to push on because of threatening clouds. I made it 20 min before the storm hit. Hippie trails and Sundog walked in 15 min after me, Deeds a half hour later, soaked. As he walked up, the storm lifted and a rainbow stretched across the sky. A sea of colors streamed across- the colours as bright as if it had been painted on. A ghost rainbow was underneath forming a double rainbow. This was unusual because I could see both ends of the rainbow perfectly. As soon as perfection was created, another storm to watch the canvas clean.9:40 pmThe wind is whipping across the top of the shelter, weather is unpredictable tonight. I'm happy to be indoors, in this 4 walled shelter- an old fire warden's cabin.
Date: 2004-06-03
From: Chestnut Knob Shelter

To: Campsite 0.5 mi from Bland
Miles today: 20.5

I left the shelter about 8 in the morning and hiked on downhill for most of the morning. I arrived at the first shelter tired, cooked some noodles and laid down for a bit. I went to the privy, it was painted and had pictures of flowers and a leprachaun on hte inside. On the back end the words "FEED ME" were over the pot. This section of trail is maintained by the VA tech outdoor club, and the students must've had some fun with this one. I hiked through a muddy five miles with at least a dozen stream crossings and saw some crawfish in the water. I put my pack down and tried to grab one. I reached into the water and felt a sharp spiny shell in my hand and let it go. I was so shocked that I caught it that I freaked when I caught it and let go. I tried later with a sock over my hand with no luck. It reminded me of a time when I was twelve and went to an outdoor lab camp where I used a net to catch a crawfish and cooked and ate it. Maybe I can rig a small net to attatch to one of my poles so I can add some local flavor to my dinner. I hiked on a few more minutes, crossed a wooden footbridge, then set my stuff down again to jump in the creek for a bath. This was the second time in two days I was able to do this, and cold as it was, it was refreshing. I packed up, and hiked on, and saw a giant cooler with the words "Welcome Hikers" written on it. I opened it, and it was full of juices. I downed and orange juice and grabbed another for the hike. This was about 5:30. I was at a nice campsite with picnic tables, but I figured I'd hike on another hour or so and camp and cook. There was no level ground for over six miles, and I came to a dirt road crossing, and hiked down an old forest road, found a grassy patch, then cooked on the side of the dirt road just before dark.
Date: 2004-06-04
From: Campsite 0.5 mi from Bland

To: VA 608
Miles today: 19.5

As soon as I got out of camp, a drizzle had formed, fog had dropped and it was hard to see. I came to the road crossing for Bland, thought about going in, decided not to and pushed on. As soon as I did the rain picked up. The trail was hard to follow down the roads, but I found it and made it to the next shelter 3 miles away. It was empty, and I sat there for about 2 hours waiting out the rain by reading the register, where people had drawn interesting cartoons. I saw that the rain wasn't letting up and moved out of there. I hgiked for ten miles without stopping, not even for water, to the next shelter, where I saw two heads sticking our of sleeping bags. I cooked noodles and ate, and dried out in my bag for a couple hours. Finally a guy got out of his bag about 4 o clock, and said he hadn't moved all day (he and his friend were hiking south). I got out of there hiked 7 more miles that were very poorly maintained by the Roanoke ATC (thanks for the huge sign though) and made it to VA 608. I hiked down to Trent's Grocery for dinner. I got a burger and a coke and some junk food to last for the next few days- it was all they had. As I finished eating, a guy comes up to me and starts telling me he sometime takes hikers to a property he has and lets them stay for free. I was like yeah whatever and I didn't get the hint until he said "so whenever you're ready I'll take you there." I was shaking and dripping wet, so I was thrilled to get somewhere dry. He drove, talking away the miles up to a trailer, took me inside, showed me where things were, and had a 12 pack of beer in the fridge, and left... to come back at 8 am to take me back the next day.Thanks Jack!
Date: 2004-06-05
From: VA 608

To: Wood's Hole hostel
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: light rain

Jack came early to pick me up, and my stuff was all over the place drying out, I took some of it down as I went to open the door. He took me back to the store for breakfast, and gave me a huge apple for lunch, and gave me his number in case I wanted to come back to visit. I said thanks and hiked back to the trail. I came to a blue blaze for Dismal Falls after 2 miles, and after hearing them for the past mile, decided to check it out. The sound swelled as I approached, and the falls were not at all dismal. It was very loud from the flooding rains from the past two weeks. I sat there for a while enjoying the sound and the solitude, then hiked on. I saw a deer that ran off as I passed, and also something small and brown that disappeared ahead of me, I though it might be a fox or a dog. I saw it again a few minutes later. About five minutes from that, something jumped out to my left just a couple feet from me. It was a baby deer, not even knee high. With white spots on its back it looked up at me with soft black eyes. We sat there looking at each other, neither of us moving for a full minute. After losing interest, it jumped back into the bushes from here it had come. I hiked on to the Wapiti shelter to eat that apple while a couple grown deer crept around the shelter. I took out my camera and caught them on video. They are very pretty animals to look at, long and lean, and very quick as well. I hiked from there to the Wood's hole hostel, a half mile from the trail, which is an 1880's log farmhouse with a bunkhouse for hikers. It is run by Tillie Wood, and older woman who lets hikers stay a night for free, and offers a $3.50 breakfast for eight the next morning. Mr. T and Flint were there, who I had met in Franklin in April. We played cards through the night, and watched Tillie's granddaughter Neville play guitar and sing. It was a relaxing evening but very cold, it was great that there were blankets for us to use, even in June!
Date: 2004-06-06
From: Wood's hole

To: Pearisburg
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Tillie rang the seond bell at 7:30, which meant it was time for breakfast, and brought out plates of eggs, sausage, grits, and homemade biscuits. Flint and I ate A LOT of biscuits. I left there shortly after breakfast and hiked back up the trail, and met a maintainer from Roanoke ATC (finally) who was still not trimming high enough and I still hit my head on lots of branches. A while after a deer came on to the trail about 10 feet ahead after I waved it over, and then ran off again. I saw lots of eagles and hawks on the way into Pearisburg. Nice views as well.I hiked into the hostel, 3 miles from the AT, did some shopping and made it an easy night. I read and caught up on Hollywood gossip courtesy of an old people magazine, reading until I fell asleep. After getting to town I shopped at Walmart, where they had adds playing on TV as you shop. It was seriously consumer overload and I was HAPPY when I got out of there.
Date: 2004-06-07
From: Pearisburg

To: Pine Swamp Branch Shelter
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: broken clouds

I didn't get out of town til 1pm because of doing chores and eating a bit. I had a long sweaty uphill to Rice Field shelter, a pretty place, but wanted to push on. I made decent time, getting in a half hour past dark. Getting water in the dark was weird, the water looks black. I didn't feel like cooking, so I munched down some cookies and grabbed the last spot in the shelter for sleep.
Date: 2004-06-08
From: Pine Swamp Branch Shelter

To: Laurel Creek Shelter
Miles today: 18.5
Weather: light rain

The first four miles of today's hike just about killed me. I wasn't the only one. A bunch of guys- Dave, Ultralite, Sardine, Kickstand, were all tired and thirsty after reaching the first shelter. I felt better after taking a break and pushed on- still it was a long day. I found a camera and a sleeping bag and returned both to the rightful owners. Someone called me Saint Tarzan. Thanks Super Dave for the sodas!
Date: 2004-06-09
From: Laurel Creek Shelter

To: Campsite
Miles today: 17.9
Weather: clear sky

A nicer day today than yesterday, I hiked all day looking for a creek to jump in, and finally found one around 6 pm. 2 coolers full of sodas today, one in the morning, one in the evening helped in the heat. Camped with ultralite, steven, and sardine.
Date: 2004-06-10
From: Campsite

To: 4 pines hostel
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: scattered clouds

I decided to take a half day today to rest up- I've walked at least 15 miles a day for the past 10 days. Nah, actually it was the because of the Homeplace restaurant I had been told to eat at by numerous southbounders- including Karma at Laurel Creek Shelter. The climb earlier in the day over dragon's tooth was a good one- and the rock's name was a good desciption of it's features. It towered a good 50 feet over my head, and sand was at the bottom, the soft, fine, grey sand you would find in a child's playbox. The climb down was very tough and the heat slowed me down as well. I ran low on water and was happy to get to the hoster. I took a much needed shower, without soap (there was none). That kind of helped. The owner, Joe, gave us a lift to the restaurant. A group of five of us went, one guy even zeroed a day to eat there, and Rainy Jay made it at the last minute after a 21 mile day! Food was excellent. Best meal on the trail so far. Home cooked southern food served family style. Rainy Jay said it was the best restaraunt he'd ever eaten at. He's from Conneticut, and doesnt eat much of that southern food. Great fried chicken, beans, green beans, awesome biscuits and more, the whole works, and blueberry cobbler for desert.Later that night, I challenged Hiking Bear to a game of darts. He is hard of hearing so I had to explain the rules to cricket to him several times. About halfway through he tells me he's legally blind with very limited vision. Fun. I gave him a lot more room after that.
Date: 2004-06-11
From: 4 pines hostel

To: Lambert's Meadow Shelter
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: scattered clouds

By far the most beautiful day on the trail so far. McAfee Knob lived up to its hype as the best view in Virginia. I laid out in the mid afternoon sun for at least an hour watching the birds fly overhead, and for the first time in a while totally relaxed. It didn't matter that I was dirty, covered in insect bites, nothing mattered at that moment. I felt detatched. relaxed. free.I pushed on to the big suprise of the day, Tinker Cliffs. A half mile cliff walk where I found wild blueberries- the first of the season. They were awesome, ripe and sweet. Strong winds were blowing and a storm threatening, so I pushed on to the shelter, missing a downpour by just a minute. Rainy Jay was there along with some overnighters, and I called it a day and went to sleep.
Date: 2004-06-12
From: Lambert's Meadow Shelter

To: VA 220 (troutville)
Miles today: 9.4

I didn't sleep well at all last night. The man next to me snored so loud it sent vibrations through the floor. Then birds started chirping before sunrise. Don't they know that hikers are trying to sleep?I was up before 6 and out hiking with Jay at 6:30 AM. We talked the whole way to wown about travel, hiking, and other things, arriving right at 10 as planned. I called Jess to come pick me up and she joined us for coffee at the local coffeehouse. She drove me to her father's house in Troutville, and we stayed the night. We had planned to go out at night but were so tired we went to bed by 10.
Date: 2004-06-13
From: VA 220 (troutville)

To: VA 220 (troutville)
Miles today: 0.0

Took the day off with Jess. A pretty lazy day- we didn't even leave the house til 4 pm. We went to a chinese restaurant in Roanoke called Double Dragon. Remember the video game?We fell asleep on the floor after watching a movie.
Date: 2004-06-14
From: Troutville

To: Wilson Creek Shelter
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Left town around 7 pm after a nice with morning with Jess, who made a great breakfast this morning. I did some grocery shopping and mailed some ahead to Montebello. We also went to Pizza Hut because the trail goes close by. Saying goodbye to your girlfriend over and over on this trail has been one of the hardest things. I seem to keep myself together well, she does great until the final goodbye, then the waterworks come. I try to cheer her up and she's always smiling as she leaves, but it is so hard to make someone cry so many times.I got dumped on the last 5 miles as a storm broke. I thought about hiking on further, but decided to just stay dry here instead. Ultralite, Steven and Sardinge just arrived, who took the weekend off as Well. Yogi Monkey- who I saw at Pizza Hut- came in after dark.
Date: 2004-06-15
From: Wilson Creek Shelter

To: Bryant Ridge Shelter 
Miles today: 20.6
Weather: light rain

The morning was foggy, and early on the trail made 3 or 4 passes across the blue ridge parkway. It crossed several viewpoints, but they were covered in fog. I made good time to the first shelter, getting 7.5 miles in under 3 hours because of the easy terrain. I took and hour break and chatted with Yertle, who had gotten ahead of his friends and was taking a slow day. I hiked on to the next shelter and took a long break there, almost 2 hours. I had some chafing between the legs and sore feet. I hiked on to a swimming hole and Yogi Monster showed up- she's from MD and started May 5. She's clearly in good shape and driven. We went for a dip and she bounced on up the hill, I trudged along after, and we got drenched on the way to the shelter. Here I am now after dinner, trying to dry out. Again.
Date: 2004-06-17
From: Marble Springs

To: Glasgow, VA
Miles today: 8.1
Weather: few clouds

I got up early and hit the trail by 7:10 this morning. Had a short break and talked with Chef Ra, who is hiking south to Catawba, and then going home to Colorado. He said there are some critters around town I should notice.I got into Glasgow around 10:30, and got cleaned up and a good meal. The hike was nice this morning, I picked fresh blueberries on the ridge overlooking the foggy valley. It's really neat being above the clouds and seeing them below you, you are the only one with that point of view for as far as you can see. I got a ride from a father and daugher from Washington State looking for the Devil's Marble Yard, which I passed a trail leading to this morning, but didn't go see.This wasn't a planned stop, but after the past few days I needed a change. Today is hot, sunny and very pretty.Oh and this town has been taken over by dinosaurs, they are all over the place. No joke.Chef Ra said it is from an old April Fools day joke- someone left these giant dinosaur models- some taller than the buildings around town- and the people of town left them there.Let me see what the librarian says. She confirms- last year a guy from natural bridge dropped them off around town. Its the town that time forgot. She just showed me a brochure. The town has been doing more business since. Feeling better now that I've cleaned up. I'll be feeling much better when I meet the Icehouse in my room.I'm at around 770 miles right now. I'm hoping to be in Waynesboro early next week, then in the Shenendoah National ParkI'm also thinking of coming home for a few days after that or in July. Anyone who wants to come see me- either for a visit, or to hike for a day, a week, whatever can contact me through here and we can get together.My journal got wet in the rain a few weeks ago- I gave it to Jess last weekend, hopefully she can read what has not been destroyed and update it when she gets a chance. Thats it for now.
Date: 2004-06-18
From: Glasgow, VA

To: Brown Mtn. Shelter
Miles today: 19.2

I was planning to leave early this morning but got distracted. I ate a leftover sub sandwich for breakfast, watched a little tv and then went to check out. As I did the woman asked if I'd like breakfast. At first I said no, but then suddenly I was hungry. I ate a big breakfast there and left very satisfied. I didnt get back to the trail until 12 and pushed on the whole day without eating until arriving at camp at 8 pm.
Date: 2004-06-19
From: Brown Mtn. Shelter

To: Fish Hatchery Rd. (Dutch Haus)
Miles today: 17.1

I ate breakfast in the sleeping bag and got out around 8. I had lunch on top of Bald Knob, watching a group of four eagles ride the drafts coming up the mountain. I was making good time to the B&B and about a mile before the road, I saw a deer run through the woods off the trail. Just a second later, I saw a tiny fawn lying right in the middle of the trail. I was astonished to see it there not moving, not running away. That's when I saw its left front leg was sticking out differently than the others. I went up to check it out, and it didn't move. Its mother jumped in and out of view, never coming closer than 100 yards to me. I went and petted the baby a little and picked it up to take a look. It was so weak and skinny it had a hard time standing. It jumped up and ran off into the woods about 15 feet away. I went over and picked up the little guy--half expecting it to pee all over me. It was about the size of a cat. I tried to give it some granola and water; its nostrils flared in front of it but it didn't take a bite. It finally ran on skinny legs to a concerned mother over the hill. Feeling like that was all I could do I walked on to the Fish Hatchery Rd., a one lane dirt road, and walked 2 miles into Montebello, a small town of 300. I passed a trout pond surrounded by eager anglers of all ages. I went to the country store for an iced tea and met Dreamer there, an older man who is going home with persistent knee pain. He and I started walking to the Dutch Haus; and Lois, the owner, picked us up in the back of her pickup, filled with bean bag chairs to sit in. The house is awesome, I felt like I was right at home. Other hikers had been there for days slacking; I could understand why they didnt want to leave. Lois fixed a wonderful dinner, and I went to sleep in a very comfy bed.
Date: 2004-06-20
From: Fish Hatchery Rd. (Dutch Haus)

To: Reeds Gap
Miles today: 20.0

Lois made a breakfast from heaven this morning- french toast stuffed with cream cheese and fresh berries, eggs with cheese, and fresh fruit. I had a bowl of cereal as well. Lois gave me a ride up the rocky dirt road close to the trail around nine and I was off again. Only a half mile uphill I see a sign for Spy Rock, which I went to check out and was lucky to find the best view of the day, with 360 degree views. Katie was up there as well, and we sat and watched the shadows of the clouds move over the miles of mountains. Pushing on from there, I came to the priest mountain, probably the highest thing around at 4000 ft. This area of VA is much lower in elevation than much of the early going. A good climb to the top, and good views to the farms and valleys below, but not as great as I was hoping for. I met a couple day hikers from Charlottesville, sporting UVA shorts and caps, and talked to them on the way down to the river below. Just across the footbridge to the Tye River (more like a creek where I was) the guys showed me a little calm spot with about 250 tadpoles. The more developed ones were at the in-between stage, with legs and a tail, and were thinking about climbing out but then retreated. It looked like the rest of the pack was encouraging them to move on to a drier climate. I got distracted from this break for the one thing every hiker loves: free food. For the simple fact you dont have to carry it- it tastes twice as good. Someone left a container full of cake, cookies, and a few bananas. I ate a banana in between helpings of 2 or 3 cookies and a few pieces of cake. I paid the price for it on the long climb by having to hike at a snails pace, but it was worth the fill. I got to a shelter 2 miles from the river and saw a bunch of girls there, like 15 or them in the shelter. I talked to one to find out they were from a wilderness school for troubled teens. I stopped just to get water and then hiked on. I had heard the next mountain range was called "Three Ridges" and was expecting "Three spectacular views." Instead I got "Bushwack Mountain." Maintenance was horrible with a rocky trail combined with the chin level plants for miles. There weren't many views, but the two that I got were worthy of a good break. From there I made it to the next shelter, and cooked in all of my clothes because of the overwhelming bugs trying to bite every part of me. It was 8pm when I finished, and the bugs so bad I pushed on another hour, to camp in a field next to the road. I slept after the cars on the Blue Ridge Parkway died down, and the headlights stopped shining through my tent.
Date: 2004-06-21
From: Reeds Gap

To: Calf Mtn. Shelter
Miles today: 26.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Today is the longest day of the year, the summer solstice. This day has been referred to as "Hike Naked Day." Rather than do that, I decided to try and hike from sunrise to sunset. Here's how it went:I woke up late and started hiking about 7:30. Rocky wet terrain. I'm having GI problems, continuing from the previous day, and need lots of bathroom breaks (like you really wanted to know). I hike 14 miles to the first shelter to stop for lunch with a couple short breaks for snacks. I took an hour off to eat, cooking tortellini with olive oil and parmesan. I hiked on to Rockfish Gap to make a call, and then entered Shenendoah National Park. FINALLY- I enter the park and fighting darkness push in to Calf Mtn. Shelter in the dark around 9:30. Luckily people are up so I cooked dinner and got the last spot in the shelter around 11.