morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2011-05-12
From: Lynn Campsite

To: Off trail at mile 574
Miles today: 20.0

Got going at 10:00 today, about an hour after I¢d hoped. A few miles in, I met Jaybird, a recent retiree and the first person I¢ve met who started a full month after me. Going up the big hill of the day to Chestnut Knob, I got quite a surprise. It was really hot today and rocky right there. A rattlesnake went off right next to my left foot. I jumped back and yelled quite a bit. It really scared me because it went off when I was parallel with it, not when it was approaching like I¢d always imagined. Its tail was about a foot away from where I stepped and it was stretched away and back. I took some pictures, then moved him off trail with a stick that was about six feet long. I noted where his head and tail were. He was more than three shoe lengths, so about three-and-a-half feet long. He was really something. I¢ve been wanting to see one forever, but that was a little closer than I¢d hoped to get. I saw Lucky about 15 minutes later and showed her the pictures. I was still pretty keyed up, so I went up the hill to the shelter pretty fast. It¢s the shelter I met the religious group at in 2002. It¢s mostly like I remember, but the trail around it isn¢t at all. While I was eating, Jaybird and Lucky came up. I wound up taking a long lunch talking to them, but it was worth it. Jaybird left first, but I caught up at a really tiny stream where he was getting water. The water was very sparse all day. There was supposed to be more a-ways down, but I agreed we should take the sure thing. We hiked together out of there and saw Greenstone and then camped a bit later. Not only was there water, it was an actual well. Jaybird and I ended up hiking together for about ten miles, which was very nice. I haven¢t actually hiked with anyone in weeks. He¢d started earlier than me, so I jumped off at the shelter at 9:15. I had two more miles to make 20, so I pushed on another hour. My feet killed as soon as I said goodbye, but otherwise not too bad for a 20.
Date: 2011-05-13
From: Off trail at mile 574

To: Bland, VA
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: broken clouds

Bad day today, maybe my worst. I got no sleep. It was crazy humid and buggy, but I never pulled my netting up. I got on trail on time at 9:00 after eating a fruit pie for breakfast. I felt crappy right off the bat. [Ed. note: I'm sure it had nothing to do with a fruit pie for breakfast . . . .] The trail was very easy, but even the really gradual climbs were killing me. I was also really irritable. The bugs and spider webs were driving me insane. I stopped for a long break and some food, but I felt even worse after. I was kind of tunnel-visioned and dizzy. I managed to get to the road to Bland in decent time. I got a ride from the first car, two local ladies in a mini van. I had planned on doing that 10 [miles], resupplying, then getting back on trail for another 5. With the way I was feeling, I thought the smart move would be staying and resting though. Hopefully I¢ll feel better tomorrow after some food and some sleep, but I¢m not ruling out a zero. Even cutting today short makes it almost impossible to get where I wanted [to meet Erica at the end of the month], but I felt like I was going to collapse out there today.
Date: 2011-05-14
From: Bland, VA

To: Off trail at mile 593
Miles today: 9.0

I felt a lot better today. I ran into Greenstone, Thimblebury, Flame, and Skidmark in the Subway. Skidmark said he got really dehydrated the other day and it wrecked him. I know for sure I didn¢t drink enough on Thursday. It was really hot, but I got wrapped up in talking to Jaybird. I remember when we stopped for camp water at the end of the day. I was a little freaked out at how much I still had left. So, 20 miles in the heat with not enough water and a bad night¢s sleep is probably not a recipe for success the following day. I got a ride out with a really nice older guy. Three of us in the back of his pickup and a young couple up front. The two guys started off as thru-hikers, but decided to just go as far as Pearisburg. The couple were Kermit and Karo [Kavo?]. The trail today was super easy. We got going at about 3:15. I saw Greenstone and then camped and sat with them while I stretched. They¢re going to Trent's Grocery, which is kind of a hostel, tomorrow. I¢ll stop in for sure, but will probably go a little further. I camped at 7:30, which was a nice change. It started raining after I left those guys. Setting up in the rain is definitely easier when it¢s not dark. It¢s been raining ever since. The forecast for the next ten days is rain every day. It¢s been thunderstorms for days, but it hasn¢t been windy at all.
Date: 2011-05-15
From: Off trail at mile 593

To: Off trail at mile 609
Miles today: 16.0

Not much to report today. Got going at 11:00 just after rain stopped. It actually only rained a little today. Hit mile 600 somewhere before lunch. I hiked the half mile on the road to Trent¢s Grocery for lunch. Saw Greenstone and company there and ate with them. While we were eating, Sundance came in. He¢s been at Trail Days and shared some funny stories. I headed out at 5:00 and did about seven miles to here. I¢m shooting for Pearisburg tomorrow not crazy late, but we¢ll see what happens.
Date: 2011-05-16
From: Off trail at mile 609

To: Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Got up on time for once and got on trail right at 9:00. There¢s a big hill that I did at the end of my first ever 20-mile day back in 2002 that I was worried about, but it wasn¢t bad at all. After my first break, I saw like a dozen people all in one spot. Four of them were the group from Subway in Bland. They were much faster, but I saw them again at the road to the hostel taking a break. One of them was Buckeye, whose dad I met yesterday. I wound up at the shelter with them for lunch, which was a good time. As I was leaving there, Sundance and Peaches showed up. They caught me about an hour after, but I¢d see them a couple more times. They¢re much faster, though. They did 25 to my 17 yesterday in exactly the same time, which is hard for me to imagine. When I hiked in 2002, the big downhill into town killed me. That¢s always been my worst trail memory. I¢ve been worried about it this time. I¢m obviously in better hiking shape, but my knees are pretty beat and that¢s what it got last time. It turned out not bad at all, though. There was stuff in the Smokies that hurt me worse. When I got to town, all the motels were full. The lady at Holiday even called the neighboring town, but nothing. I was about to go back in the woods, but she called a hiker¢s room and he let me share. He¢s been laid up here a while with shin splints. I tried to do laundry tonight, but the place closed early. I¢ll try to get going early tomorrow. I¢d really like to do 16 miles out of town, but my odds aren¢t great.
Date: 2011-05-17
From: Pearisburg, VA

To: Off trail at 640
Miles today: 13.0

What a disaster. Did my laundry this morning. I saw Country Mouse and Double Check. I think they¢re all taking a zero. I went to the post office and sorted through my box then back to the grocery to fill some holes, then back to the post office to forward the extra. Sundance and Peaches were moving into my room on the way out. Sundance asked how far I thought I was going to get leaving at 2:00 in a storm. I considered taking a zero, but pushed on. The minute I left, the sky opened up. There was a lot of road walking on the way out. I stopped at the Rendezvous Motel at the edge of town. They¢re listed as having stove fuel, but they were out of course. All I have is my little daily bottle and a splash in my big bottle, so I¢m going to have to mooch. God knows I won¢t be able to have a fire any time soon [because of the rain].Made my first wrong turn about an hour in. I missed a very obvious turn off for the trail and went 15 minutes down an old fire road or something. Smart when you¢re trying to beat the dark. The rain let up some around 6:00, but a very heavy fog rolled in. I hit an obvious campsite and decided to go for the next one. It was at a gap after a decent climb, so I thought it would be obvious. It wasn¢t. I wound up going after dark much farther than I wanted. Seeing with the headlamp in this fog was next to impossible and everything around is all rocks.I finally managed to find a place, but it¢s pretty miserable. And I¢m worried that this fog is going to soak everything. I¢m glad I packed a cold dinner. I just ate as I set up. Which was in pouring rain, of course.
Date: 2011-05-18
From: Off trail at 640

To: Campsite at 660
Miles today: 20.0

Really, really bad morning today. That fog was just as thick as last night. I slept in a bit, but for once don¢t feel bad at all about it. I was in really bad spirits starting out, probably the worst of the trip. The fog cleared after a couple hours, but the sky was miserable all day. The book was also really wrong about some of the stuff in the middle. I thought it was maybe just me, but a German guy, Metric, said the same when I was at the break shelter. There was a hard climb to the lunch shelter, and I was beat and in bad spirits again. I like to have lunch more than halfway through my miles, so that the second half is easier. I need to think about that on these longer days, though. I really felt the lack of food. There was a girl, Socks, already there. We were talking about all the Germans out and she mentioned that Appalachian Trial documentary they just had over there. [Ed. note: Maybe this one? Or this one?] Right then Metric walked up. She asked how he decided to hike, and he said, ¢No I haven¢t seen the documentary.¢ Metric made his tarp and backpack, so we talked about DIY stuff for a bit. Another guy whose name I didn¢t get rolled in. He¢s from Chicago, so we talked about that. They all stayed, but I left at about 4:45 to what looked like rain any minute.It never did, though, and it actually warmed up as I got lower. I passed the next shelter in the dark. I probably startled some people because the trail went right in front of it. I got water and pressed on in search of my campsite.I was worried about it because there was a steep climb after, but it¢s a great site. Several fire rings and lots of open space. There are even stars out. So, very bad beginning to the day, but very nice finish. I feel good for doing 20, much better than I did on the last one.
Date: 2011-05-19
From: Campsite at 660

To: Off trail at 680
Miles today: 20.0

First ever back-to-back 20. I got trail magic, the first in awhile. About two-thirds up the first climb, orange soda and donuts. I had a soda with two section hikers, one of whom did a thru-hike in 2007. I saw them again at the first break shelter along with a young thru-hiker, Twoper. I got a little burned out before lunch again. It was windy and looked like rain, so I just had a cold lunch. There were six easy-looking miles to the next shelter, but they wound up a little rough. A lot of cliffs and rocks. I got to the shelter a little before 8:00 and there were a ton of people there and up. I sat at the table for about half an hour fighting the urge to stay. I finally got moving and was glad to find a good spot down the road.
Date: 2011-05-20
From: Off trail at 680

To: Off trail at 695
Miles today: 15.0

The big mileage plan bit the dust at lunch today. The morning was pretty good. I overlapped Glide and Kermit and Karo and saw the Audie Murphy monument. I planned on a late lunch at Dragon¢s Tooth and hooked up briefly with Little Knee right before. He¢s much too fast for me.While I was eating, two other guys asked if I was headed for the store a couple miles north. I said I hadn¢t heard of it and they said it was close and pretty big. I decided right then to ease up on the big stuff. I hiked the last few miles to the store road, then practically ran to the store. It¢s a nice gas station with pretty good groceries. I bought a ton of food to eat there and more to bring back. I got out just as it was getting dark and had junk food dinner on their lawn, then back here with more and some sodas I¢d stuck in their ice cooler.I¢m going to meet Erica at mile 799 instead of 833, and I¢m really glad. It¢s good I¢ve been able to do bigger miles, and I¢ll return to them, but it was too big of a jump, I think.
Date: 2011-05-21
From: Off trail at 695

To: Tinker Cliffs
Miles today: 15.0

I had a full resupply in Catawba today, so I hiked the five miles to the road in the morning. The post office was a mile down the road, and I got there a little before noon. Only to find out they were only open 8:30 to 10:30 on Saturdays. Which was in the book. On my big mileage plan, I¢d have been there early, but I forgot. I was figuring I could get gas station food to get to Daleville, then come back here with Erica to pick up the box, when the postmaster drove up. She opened up for me and I got my box. It was a miracle. I sat there for about two hours going through everything and eating, then got going. I tried to hitch back the mile to the trail because it was all uphill, but no dice. At the trail, the guy from Chicago was just going through, so we hiked together. His name is Wip. He¢s faster than me, so I had to say goodbye going up McAfee Knob. It was day-hiker city up there and all couples for some reason. On the way up to the top, I was thinking it¢s a bummer that I¢m kind of immune to overlooks now, but it turned out to be incredible. Easily the best of the trip. Three girls from VA Tech offered to take my picture and showed me a popular outcropping to sit on for it.I saw Wip again at the next shelter and he let me lead up the next bit. We climbed up to the Tinker Cliffs, which are also incredible. And you can see back to McAfee and it looks like we hiked 20 miles between them. We passed some girls making camp, and I was jealous. Ten minutes later, I was like, wait, we can stop here, too. I asked Wip what he thought. He said it looked good, but there wasn¢t water. He had some, but had flavored it all. I had about a liter and a half, so I gave him some to cook with. It¢s a beautiful spot. We¢re right near the cliffs and could see the sun going down over the valley, then the stars.A night like this is so much better than having to get to a specific point. Days like today are much more what I pictured this trip being like.
Date: 2011-05-22
From: Tinker Cliffs

To: Daleville, VA
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: light rain

Short miles, tough day. I didn¢t appreciate last night that I was behind on water before we even camped. I went to bed really thirsty and even dreamed of drinking all night. I got on trail quick and had breakfast at the first shelter. I met Jersey there, who was also headed here.The trail wasn¢t brutal, but it was exposed and very hot. And it hits Daleville right at a huge highway. I felt very shell shocked coming into town. I don¢t actually need anything, but I wanted to watch the Bulls game. It¢s good timing because it just started pouring.I hit the Kroger¢s for town food and it¢s incredible. Tofutti, Amy¢s, Soy Delicious, everything.
Date: 2011-05-23
From: Daleville, VA

To: Wilson Creek Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I planned on hitting the outfitter for some odds and ends then getting on trail at noon. I bumped into Ruffles in the lobby, which surprised me, and she said everyone was heading down there. Sure enough, there was a crowd on the sidewalk, so I wound up sitting there for quite a while. Ruffles and Lumiere had a feast and I finally got to meet Vegan. He was waiting for the mail and eating Soy Delicious, which is how I recognized him. Muffin Man is also back on, which was good to see. I wound up hiking out with Ruffles and Lumiere, which was fun. They¢re a lot faster than me. We stopped at the first shelter for a break. A girl named Maps was there for the night. Ruffles and Lumiere camped soon after, but I went to the next shelter. Much slower. I got here just before dark. There are a bunch of folks here, but they all went to bed before I was done eating. Today was a good time. I¢ve been pretty solitary for a long while, so hanging out with other hikers was good, getting the gossip and finding out where everyone is. Oh, Torch is behind me now. I¢m hoping to synch back up after Erica visits maybe.
Date: 2011-05-24
From: Wilson Creek Shelter

To: Off trail at 748
Miles today: 17.0

I got up at 8:00 and was the only one left at the shelter. I can¢t remember the last time I stayed near a shelter.Very easy trail today. I was ahead of schedule all day. It looked like rain at lunch and at the end of the day, but never did more than sprinkle. I was hoping it would rain tonight so maybe it won¢t tomorrow, but it doesn¢t look like it¢s going to. Not really much to report today. We¢re running alongside the Blue Ridge Parkway, and crossed it a few times. It looks like Skyline Drive. I made camp at about 7:00, which was nice. It felt like a regular day for once. Oh, yesterday was the one-third mark, for what that¢s worth.
Date: 2011-05-25
From: Off trail at 748

To: Campsite at 765
Miles today: 17.0

Beautiful morning today. I got on trail a bit late but made good time to the first shelter. Jersey, Little Knee, and Maps were all there. I hiked with Little Knee to the lunch shelter, which was good. He was faster than me, but I was able to keep up without killing myself, so made good time. Bodhi came up a bit after, not wearing any pants. He¢d swam earlier in just his underwear and was excited about hiking in them. I hiked with him briefly (haha), but he was too fast.Everyone from the day was at the shelter where I took my last break. Little Knee, Bodhi, and Low Key were all heading here so I walked the last 3 miles with Little Knee again. Here¢s the highlight of the day. I was the last one eating. Everyone was camped close and had gone to bed just before. It was full dark, so I had my headlamp on. I looked over at the fire ring, which was about three feet away, and there was a big rattler coming out of it. He¢d come from between the rocks on the side and was coiled to strike and looking at me. I yelled pretty good and slid back. Everyone came out to see and we watched him crawl the rest of the way out and then over the top of the fire ring. He never rattled and didn¢t seem to care about us. He was probably just over three feet long. He headed past my stuff and over toward Bohi¢s bivy, then around a tree. Bodhi moved his stuff and we didn¢t see the snake again.It was pretty crazy. And earlier, I¢d pulled a couple of rocks from the ring for stakes. It¢s one of those big rings that¢s as much pile as ring. It¢s good to know there¢s no place a giant poisonous snake can¢t just pop out of.
Date: 2011-05-30
From: Campsite at 765

To: Off trail at 804
Miles today: 5.0

Back on trail after the weekend with Erica. Which always feels strange. And I got new shoes, so I¢m watching them carefully. They¢re Salomons, which are all mesh but still have a stiff sole. So far, so good.We got a late start today, so I wasn¢t on trail until about 6:30. I just hiked up here to get within 50 or so miles of Waynesboro so I can make it there Thursday without killing myself. I found a spot just after some nice balds and had Pita Pit for dinner.
Date: 2011-05-31
From: Off trail at 804

To: Campsite at 824
Miles today: 20.0

I was going to do 17 miles a day to Waynesboro, but the profile today was pretty easy, so I thought I¢d knock out some more. Not much to report. It was really hot and the bugs have started getting bad.The shoes felt pretty good today. Some new pains, but nothing bad. I¢m still playing with the laces. The backs of my feet are in heaven after those ripped up Merrells.I camped near the Wye River bridge. Old Hickory was on one side asleep, but some weekend fishing guys were still up on the other. Dinner was swarming with bugs, and it¢s really hot. I¢m in the hammock with the underquilt pulled aside and just my silk sheet on, and it¢s still hot.
Date: 2011-06-01
From: Campsite at 824

To: Campsite at 840
Miles today: 16.0

Today was rough. That climb up to Three Ridges was brutal, covered in poison ivy, over a ton of rocks, and I did it at about the hottest part of the day. I was going to try to go longer, but it took so long that I stopped here.I had a nice late lunch at a shelter with a bunch of folks. There was a huge black rattlesnake just before that, just off trail. The rest of the day I felt pretty beat. I was aiming for a gap just past this, but there were nice campsites here, so I took the sure thing. Town tomorrow.
Date: 2011-06-02
From: Campsite at 840

To: Waynesboro, VA
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: clear sky

In town for basketball and to meet Tom, Atom, and Matt tomorrow. Today was pretty good. Very, very rocky to start, but fast after lunch. My feet were really hurting early. The jury¢s still out on these shoes.I met Regina the Ridgerunner, who was nice. When I finally got to the road crossing, there was an older guy sitting on the guardrail who offered me a ride as soon as I said hello. His name is Santa¢s Helper.In town, I saw Rusty Bumper, which was great. I also met Kebbon, and I think I diagnosed his plantar fasciitis. Tonight is laundry, food, and NBA Finals.
Date: 2011-06-03
From: Waynesboro, VA

To: Off trail at 859
Miles today: 3.0

Tom, Atom, and Matt got here today for a weekend of hiking. We got pizza for lunch and some subs to take for dinner, and Matt ran me to the outfitter for fuel and bug spray. By the time we dropped off the cars, it was pretty late, so we just grabbed the first spot we saw, right off the Wrong Way Trail. It¢s a nice flat, open area. We¢ll hike for real tomorrow, then short on Sunday to Matt¢s car. I left food there, so I¢ll resupply and do more miles after they head out.
Date: 2011-06-04
From: Off trail at 859

To: Off trail at 866
Miles today: 9.0

Had a fun day today. The book was wrong about the first two water sources, so we were pretty dry. Fortunately, there was water trail magic at the road. And we got to meet the provider, Bill Gallagher, who drove up right then. Santa¢s Helper pulled up right after with a cooler full of soda, so we really cleaned up. We wound up talking to Bill for awhile, and he¢s a great guy. His wife also maintains part of the Trail here.We had lunch at Calf Mountain Shelter then hiked to within just a couple miles of Matt¢s car. We¢re shooting to get there at noon tomorrow. I¢ll probably just hike until 7:00 rather than shoot for specific miles. I think I¢ll get to Elkton to resupply on Tuesday. If that works out, I¢ll probably stay to watch Game 4 [of the NBA Finals].
Date: 2011-06-05
From: Off trail at 866

To: Loft Mountain Campground
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: broken clouds

Said goodbye to Tom, Matt, and Atom today. We did a couple miles to the car and I ate while they packed up. Right after I got back on trail, I saw a sign for problem bears. It was facing south, so hopefully I¢m past that. Hoop came up from behind and we hiked together for awhile. I stopped for lunch at a shelter, then moved onto here. I didn¢t want to pay to camp, but the trail is crazy overgrown on all sides and it looked like a storm was coming. It¢s a nice place, though, and there¢s a bathroom and showers and stuff. Still, it hurts my thru-hiker cred.
Date: 2011-06-06
From: Loft Mountain Campground

To: Hightop Hut
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: clear sky

Not a huge day today, so I slept in a little. I had my own picnic table at the camp site so I had a long breakfast and talked to Erica. Less than an hour in, I hit the side trail to the camp store. I went up there for a soda and snacks. An hour after that, I hit the side trail for the wayside.I recognized it as the one we saw the bear cubs in the tree near. And got very excited halfway down when I remembered the wayside had veggie burgers. I ate one there and got one to go. Hoop was there and I met Frodo who knows a ton of people I also know. I saw them again at Pinefield Hut and then saw Frodo just before here. He¢s faster, so that got me here in good time.This is my first Shenandoah shelter of the trip. It brought a smile to my face to use the bear pole.