morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-05-26
From: Flint Mtn. Shelter

To: Hogback Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 8.9
Weather: overcast clouds

5/26 8.9 miles, 7 hoursI didn't sleep much last night. First, someone with a headlamp kept coming in and waking me up. I thought it was one of the sectioners (Righty & TopoHill); I was about to give him a few choice words. I sat up and took out one of my earplugs to yell at him. Then I noticed another mat on the floor next to me. Someone had rolled in late. I supposed I could give him 20 minutes or so. Then, since I had finally put some peanut butter on the mousetrap (and risked decreasing its effectiveness, according to the directions) my corner of the shelter was hopping. I thought I heard it snap shut twice through my Precious (earplugs), then something tried to drag it across the floor. Then one of the little carnivorous bastards ran across my arm. I think I finally fell asleep around 2am. I was the first one up at 7am and noticed there was a little white tail sticking out of the mousetrap. Thae late hiker's head was right next to my stuff, so I gathered everything up onto my bag and dumped it on the picnic table to rattle and shuffle. After I left around 8am, I realized I had forgotten to sign the register and collect my mousetrap. I hope whoever finds it isn't squeamish.The hike today was pretty rough - for awhile it was like Georgia again. Up - down - up - down. Even though it was hard, it was a good day. We had some nice views to the east. While I was taking pictures, LateHiker passed me, looking at his feet. I don't think he even realized there was a gorgeous view to his left.Thankful for: good days.
Date: 2007-05-27
From: Hogback Ridge Shelter

To: Bald Mtn. Shelter
Miles today: 10.0

5/26 10 miles, 7.5 hoursLast night I dreamed my sister and her husband died. I though the neighbors had poisoned them, but the medical report came back as a caffiene overdose. It will bother me more than usual because 15 years ago, camping in the Smokys, I woke up one morning and said to my then-husband "Oh, I dreamed Taffy died." Taffy, my crazy dog, had died back at home.Righty & TopoHill were fascinated by the mice and kept sitting up (once getting up to chat about them) and shining their F'in flashlights around. I'm hammocking tonight.My legs are covered in ugly red fly bites (or something). Every morning I sit on the privy and scratch myself silly, then wipe away the blood with a baby wipe.The day was a long and hot one. It looked overcast in the afternoon and it was very humid and still, but no rain. Big Bald was a real treat - 360 degrees of gorgeous. I wondered how to get all that into one picture. I also found a large Geocache there. I had nothing to leave but a signature wooden nickel, so I took someone else's signature pin. It was nice to have a change of scenery other than trees and rocks. I pushed back thoughts of my sister all day, but by afternoon some were sneaking through. They would make me tear up, stumble, and have to stop to blow my nose. I did come up with a good idea for a funeral, though - a Goodbye Book. Instead of having guests sign a register, they could write their goodbyes in a little book to be placed in the hand of the deceased just before the casket is closed. A. would have a little purple ribbon to hold it in place.Thankful for: awesome views.
Date: 2007-05-28
From: Bald Mtn. Shelter

To: No Biz Knob Shelter
Miles today: 10.3

5/28 10.3 miles, 7.5 hoursI hammocked behind the shelter last night and only woke up twice - once at 1:30am and once at 5am to pee. I left off the rainfly so I could see the leaves swaying and the full moon. I felt so blessed. I found out this evening that a pair of latecomers had arrived around 9:30 and one of them was a sonic-boom snorer. TopoHill got up and set up his tent; Righty soon followed. I was oblivious to anything (I still used my earplugs). I guess they learned their lesson, because everybody is tenting tonight except me. As of 6:30pm it is just me and the mice in the shelter.I slept till 8am this morning but couldn¢t getmyass up till 8:30. I left at 9:30. I was sweating profusely; at one point I thought it was early menopause. I think it was just very humid. I was draggin¢ this morning. I felt weak and tired till after a big lunch break around 1:30. These ten-mile days are just too much for me. In the future I will just hammock at around eight or so. It would mean I would have to shitinthewoods, but that beats dealing with exhaustion.There wasn¢t much exciting along the trail today - just a couple little waterfalls here & there.Thankful for: town days.
Date: 2007-05-29
From: No Biz Knob Shelter

To: Uncle Johnny's, Erwin, TN
Miles today: 6.3
Weather: clear sky

5/29 6.3 miles, 3.5 hours, $59.94I had the shelter to myself and a few mice since everyone else tented. I actually watched the little mice zip around as dusk turned to dark. I slept very well, woke up to pee and looked at my watch - 6am. I thought it was kinda dark for 6am, but it had been rainy lately. I packed up with my headlamp and looked at my watch again - 5:45am! Dammit, I had read my watch wrong at 5am. Oh well, there was no privy anyhow, so on to Erwin. I left a note for BluePrince in his boot with my address, in case I didn't see him in town.I was down the hill in no time. I took a couple pictures of the most awesome view - it made me gasp out loud. Clouds had settled into the valleys beyond and were rolling down the mountainside like a waterfall. Off the trail and into the hostel a few yards away I went. I don't know how hikers can pass right by here. It is the nicest and the cleanest hostel I have been to yet. It doesn't have the rustic country charm of Standing Bear Farm, the 2nd best hostel, but it is very inviting, open, and well maintained. Just on thing to complain about: There was an open attic access in my bunk room which was pouring out heat like a furnace (it's in the mid-80's here today). I took two mattresses off upper bunks and stuffed them in the heater/bookshelf corner as best I could. I put the empty bottom bunk mattress on top of mine. Just me in the back room, and Indy500 in the front.Johnny drove us to a pizza and salad buffet for lunch next to a Dollar General store. I didn't have my shopping list with me and hadn't picked up my drop box or bounce box yet to know what I needed. They didn't have MoonPies, either, but I did see BluePrince there! We have been taking pictures of the same flowers all along the trail. If we would talk about a certain kind, it would be sprawled across the trail the next day. We should've talked about $100 bills!Johnny drove us to Azteca mexican restaurant for dinner. He said Erwin Burrito is better, but it would've taken us two hours to get served there, with eleven in our group.After eating, we had a few minutes for Dollar General, where I got batteries (my lithium camera batteries finally dies), MoonPies, and a pair of town shorts; Rite Aid for Q-Tips, mini pens (regular sized pens poke holes in my ziplocs), and deodorant.Thankful for: running water.
Date: 2007-05-30
From: Uncle Johnny's, Erwin, TN

To: Miss Janet's House
Miles today: 0.0

5/30, 0 miles, $61.56I slept well until someone came into the hostel at 2am. No, I didn¢t look at my watch wrong - 2am. He sat down on the mattressless bunk, stumbled around and layed down in the front room. I lay awake scratching myself for an hour or so. I never heard Indy500 leave (I love my Precious). I was up at 7:30 and caught the 8:30 shuttle to Huddle House with my pack. I¢m not a big breakfast eater, but I had been hungry for eggs lately, so I ate with Oats and a nice guy from St. Pete. They called for a ride back; I found my way the few blocks to Ms. Janet¢s. Noone was up except a guy I¢ve been bumping into all along the trail, Kevlar. He let me in and showed me around. He¢s purposely slow to avoid people, only he¢s not a slow hiker - he takes bunches of zero days. The cordless phone was apparently upstairs, so I decided to call home in the evening. As I was on the computer, BluePrince made an appearance to drop off some things into the hiker box. He called me ¢Love¢ which I thought was sweet! I played with the dogs and watched ¢Holes¢ with the live-in slave. The movies were playing ALL day. I went to the post office (twice), Walgreen¢s, and spent over $10 and two hours at McDonald¢s. I had a big Caesar chicken salad, a nugget kid¢s meal, and a Quarter-Pounder. Then I sat there and ate some chocolate macadamia nuts from Walgreen¢s. The people in this town are very efficient and SUPER helpful and friendly! Another town to consider moving to, only unlike Hot Springs, this one has fast-food places!This hostel is very homey and has REAL mattresses! I¢ve had everything I¢ve needed: shower, laundry, phone*, internet, and full kitchen. It is also just a few blocks from the post office, food stores and restaurants. I just wish the others would¢ve watched some news or weather instead of videos all day.There is a bleached blond teenage Tyrant living in the house. She would put the air conditioning on 80; Ms. Janet would put it on 70. The Tyrant blamed it on the hikers attached to the TV set and yelled at them. ¢There¢s no reason ta have this set ta 70. Y¢all fixin¢ ta piss me off.¢ I made the mistake of asking for the phone; this set off a minor screaming match between Ms. Janet and The Tyrant. I felt like an intruder, but I got to talk to my family this week! I had the bunkroom to myself except when The Tyrant came in around 11pm, left the door hanging open, and was in the bathroom for half an hour on the phone where her mother couldn¢t hear her. She did have the courtesy (!) to shut the bunkroom door when she left. Someone told me Ms. Janet is shutting down the hostel; that would explain the sad mood she seemed to be in.Thankful for: home away from home.
Date: 2007-05-31
From: Miss Janet's House

To: Curley Maple Gap Shelter
Miles today: 4.2
Weather: overcast clouds

5/31 4.2 miles, $31.96I was awake at 5am but didn¢t know if anyone else was in the bunkroom with me, so I used my headlamp to get up to pee. Finally around 6am I got up the courage to shine my light on each bunk to see if any were occupied. One top bunk had a bunch of blankets and stuff and I had to actually tug on them to make sure there was no body up there. It would¢ve been mighty embarrassing if there was!I got up and got on the computer to look up (gasp!) Greyhound stops near trail towns in TN, NC, and VA. Don¢t worry, I¢m not having a crisis of any sort. I plan to hike the entire month of June, Lord Willing, but I¢m too lazy to see where I¢ll be at the end of the month to catch a ride home. It would no doubt get changed anyways.I had a Sonic chili-cheese footlong with onions for breakfast. I got a ride to the trail around noon. Ms. Janet stopped at a gas station so I got two 32oz. Gatorades. I had drank them both within 1 1/2 hours and nearly pissedmypants a couple miles out.Oh, big news! I passed somebody today! Granted, he had a broken foot in a cast, but still, I passed him! He was just walking along one day and all of a sudden, owww. He got a stress fracture. It reminded me to take my Tums (for the calcium). I stopped to find a Geocache and he got to the shelter before me anyways. There were no good hammock trees around the shelter, so I am flopping sans mousetrap with a smoker - Kevlar, who talks to himself quietly. The guy with the broken foot and his wife are tenting and there is a young southern guy here, Jaycee, who said he averages 7-8 miles per day. He also showed me how to stretch to avoid hurting my right knee again. Turns out it is the big tendon going from hip to knee that acts up when you walk on uneven surfaces.There was a very long and very involved political discussion tonight, but I was able to sit through it fine.The hike out of Erwin wasn¢t too bad, although we gained about 1200'. I wasn¢t even looking for the shelter yet when it popped up. Up until now, I had felt a little anxious when leaving town and security. It used to register physically as a queasy stomach. For the first time today, I looked at the trees on the mountains and felt good going in there.Thankful for: the comfort of the trees.
Date: 2007-06-01
From: Curley Maple Gap Shelter

To: Cherry Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: few clouds

6/1 12.2 miles, 9 3/4 hoursLast night it POURED. Kevlar chose the wrong side of the shelter and had to move out from under a leak. I slept pretty well and was awake at 6am. I left at 7am before the ex-cop who loves politics started that discussion again. I wasted a lot of time looking for two Geocaches which I never found. I shouldn¢t do that on big mile days. I did find a good place to poop, though. The TN hiking club doesn¢t believe in privies, and I can¢t relax enough to go within the perimeters of a crowded shelter area. I saw a little neon orange salamander; he let me take his picture. I also saw a small brown-checked bird who acted like she had a broken wing to draw my attention away from her little ugly chickie, who was squawking frantically. It was so sweet! Somehow the momma bird reminded me of Dolly. I¢ve always thought Dolly would be a very good mommy. I took a water/rest break after eight miles - I don¢t usually need to refill while hiking (I start with 2 liters in the morning). I saw that there was one mile up, and three down, so I thought I could manage finishing the 12 miles to the shelter. It was pretty bad. It was sunny during my break, but somebody flipped a switch and suddenly thunder was rolling, and getting closer. It sprinkled off & on till I hobbled into the shelter. I was hurting in new places everywhere from the waist down. Up until now, I was sure the new SuperFeet had cured my complaints of sore feet. The old ones were very marshmallowy compared to the new ones. Tonight is an ibuprofen night. I was thinking, while going uphill in the rain, I would take a zero day at the shelter tomorrow to recover from today¢s hike. Also, since I¢m not going to Khatadyn, it doesn¢t really matter where I get off this year. I¢m almost to Damascus, the Virginia Creeper trail, and lots of other semi-famous points of interest. Even the shelter names make me think I¢m in the big-league now. Maybe I¢ll get off in Pearisburg. I miss Dolly.Jaycee stepped over what he thought was a log across the trail today, and discovered it was a fawn! He turned around to take a picture; as he did, the fawn slipped into some bushes. When Jaycee brushed the leaves aside, he discovered two fawns!Thankful for: dry shelter.
Date: 2007-06-02
From: Cherry Gap Shelter

To: Clyde Smith Shelter
Miles today: 8.9
Weather: overcast clouds

6/2 8.9 miles, 6 hoursThe boys were up late last night smoking weed. There were five in the shelter including me plus several tenters. I slept okay with my Precious. I was all excited about a short day today, then discovered it is 8.8. Tomorrow it is 6.4, however the day will end with a climb up Roan Mtn., over 2000' gain in 2.6 miles. Most of the Mainers are doing that today, at the end of a 15 mile day. Whew!Today¢s hike was looong. I was up at 6:30 but avoided getting ready by sitting around scratching myself and drinking a whole liter of apple kool-aid (it is sooo good!). I would pay for that later in the morning. The TN hiking club has done a lot of work on the trail, and plan to do more by the looks of the orange flags. I think they are doing away with a lot of the PUDs. I gave up looking at my guide; I didn¢t know wherethehell I was most of the day. Nothing is marked with names on the trail - after passing 3-4 gaps within a couple hours I don¢t know which one is Cow Gap, or Hog Gap, or Toothless Gap. I was pretty surprised to suddenly see the sign to the shelter. I was pretty tired and sore, with that ¢limping hunchback¢ posture.I pooped just before I left at 8:30; about an hour later I let what may have been a juicy fart. I wasn¢t sure, so I was just going to wait and see if myass was on fire in awhile. Then I realized I shouldn¢t have drank all that kool-aid. I found a nice log to hide behind. Its amazing how fast the flies can find a turd in the woods. I had to bag my underwear and was too lazy to dig out a clean pair, so myass burned most of the day. It sure felt nice to put on clean ones at the shelter. Now if I shitmypants again before Kincora Hostel, I¢m out of luck.I saw four of the orange salamanders today.There were two napping people in the shelter when I arrived - a father and son sectioner team from Valdosta. The first thing the father said to me was ¢Are you alone?¢ Then he asked me if I had seen the size of the thighs on the older woman who was there before me. He got a few clicks on my weirdness scale right away. Later he pulled out a bong and smoked some weed with another hiker. I realized I wasn¢t reading much because I don¢t like my book anymore. It was an exciting travelog but turned into an erratic history lesson. I left it at the shelter with a note to move it south to Elmer¢s. Tonight I will start ¢The Age of Reason¢ by Thomas Paine. Yay!Thankful for: clean undies.
Date: 2007-06-03
From: Clyde Smith Shelter

To: Roan High Knob Shelter
Miles today: 6.6
Weather: moderate rain

6/3 6.6 miles, 5.5 hoursI slept till 8am today. WeirdGuy said I¢ve got a little snore on me. The other pothead hiker told him he had snored, too. It was raining when I woke up - well, it sounded a lot worse than it was due to the tin roof. I hiked a few hours with just my hat; once I sat down on a cold rock for a break and got cold so I had to use the raincoat the rest of the day. I saw a gaggle of orange salamanders this morning; I stopped counting them around 15. Although the big climb up Roan Mtn. took forever, I kept plodding along, only swearing a few times. Good thing there was no escape route handy, like a busy road or something. I might¢ve gotten a ride up to Kincora hostel and skipped several miles of the trail. Jaycee and Kevlar must¢ve stopped at the Greasy Creek hostel yesterday - they never passed me yesterday or today. There are five other hikers with me tonight; two are in the attic. This shelter is the highest on the A.T. at 6285'. It is nice - completely closed in, with two windows and a DOOR, if you can believe it! It was disappointing to discover the spring had gone dry. I had already layed out and hung up all my stuff and only had 1/2 liter. I will just eat snacks tonight, although I have had a raging appetite the past couple days. My hiker hunger has kicked in, and mostly what I think about all day is food. Somehow my sleeping bag ALWAYS gets wet when it rains. I¢m going to need a garbage bag to wrap it in. Luckily it dries very quickly with my body heat. Well, my fingers are cold, and I¢m too cozy to get up for my gloves, so I¢ll close now.Thankful for: being indoors.
Date: 2007-06-04
From: Roan High Knob Shelter

To: Overmountain Shelter
Miles today: 6.9
Weather: scattered clouds

6/4 6.9 miles, 5 hours.This morning I was gone first due to the severe lip-flapping of two other hikers. When I left at 9am one of the lip-flappers still had crap spread out all over, in her long johns. She spoke of the notorious E.It was a very nice road-grade hike down through a fir forest, for a while. I saw zero salamanders and another (#4?) brown checked snake. I stopped at Carver¢s Gap for water and a trash dump, then headed up to see the oldest rocks on earth. Thank God it didn¢t rain today - that would¢ve sucked. I took bunches of pictures on the balds. I was snapping away when I suddenly said out loud ¢Why is my right asscheek wet?¢ I found out why my sleeping bag was so wet yesterday. My nalgene leaks around the top when I squish it into a side pocket on my pack. I stopped at the Stan Murray shelter for a break and was tempted to stay. The picnic table and flower petal-littered ground was very inviting. But it would¢ve meant a 10+ mile day tomorrow. I¢m so glad I continued on. The Overmountain shelter is along a Revolutionary War historic route of the ¢Overmountain Men¢ and the view down the valley from my sleeping pad is awesome. Better than the Fontana ¢Hilton¢ million-dollar views. That reminds me - while walking down through the firs today, I was thinking about building a log cabin in TN, then about buying some land in TN with my sister for us to retire to, assuming she could still stand me by then. I¢m very proud of her - you gotta be brave to go to police academy when you¢re a teenage girl. She has done very well for herself.Anyways, other than the hunger and missing my little Dolly, it was a very nice, short day with excellent views. I got to the shelter and said ¢I think I¢ll just live here¢. It¢s THAT pretty. Yea, I definitely want to move to the mountains and start listening to good ole country music again. This shelter also has a roofless privy. It is nice sitting instead of squatting. It is rough out here, roughing it. Even on great days like today, I wonder whatthehell I¢m doing here. I think that demonstrates how easily we take things for granted in the other world. Out here, you appreciate being able to sit on a crapper or eat at a table. When I got here I ate and ate and ate. I¢m cooking up some tortilla soup and a can of chicken later, which were hanging in a bag from a rafter and didn¢t look too beat-up. Tomorrow, Lord Willing, I will go 8.2 to a shelter, or 9.0 to a hostel. I was planning just to resupply at Hwy. 19, but I think I need a steak! My shirt smells like pit stink and my shorts smell like something is fermenting in them since I went a day without underwear. So I would like to do laundry before 6/8, also.Thankful for: perfect days.
Date: 2007-06-06
From: Mountain Harbour B&B

To: Mountaineer Falls Shelter
Miles today: 8.4
Weather: scattered clouds

6/6 8.4 miles, 5.5 hoursI woke up at 8am to coffee clanking noises after lying awake from approx. 12am-3am. I hit my elbow on the attic wall/ceiling several times while tossing and turning; I hit my head once. It must¢ve rained fiercely because the trail was pretty wet this morning. It went through grassy fields, old roadbeds, and along the Elk River for awhile. I saw a tiny ¢trailsnake¢ today. It was very reasonable terrain - I got to the new shelter earlier than I expected. It has a ¢washpit¢ where you are supposed to rinse your dishes, clothes, butt, etc. to keep from contaminating the water source. It is just a metal grate over a small pit in the ground. Still no privy, though. Too much maintenance.Thankful for: the opportunity (and guts) to do this.
Date: 2007-06-07
From: Mountaineer Falls Shelter

To: Moreland Gap Shelter
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: broken clouds

6/7 9 miles, 6 hoursI slept very well last night. There was a lawyer, two brothers, and one or two other hikers in the shelter. I was up at 7am and outta there by 8am. The terrain was very doable again; I didn¢t slow down until after about mile #7. I kept leap-frogging two sectioners from Indiana. Early in the morning I couldn¢t wait for the two brothers to pass me - I had to stop for a hygiene issue. They came up behind me about a minute and a half after I got re-started (that was close!). The snake du Jour was a small charcoal colored ring-neck. I also scared a deer away from the far-and-away water source at this shelter. Kincora Hostel is about six miles away, but I couldn¢t convince my feet to keep going this afternoon. I would get there after 5:30pm, which is when the free shuttle to town leaves. So I might¢ve ended up eating noodles anyways, while rubbing my poor feet. I¢ll take my time getting there tomorrow - there are possibly a couple Geocaches on the way so I can poke around and enjoy myself. Right now, I¢m eating up all the fruit snacks out of my foodbag.Thankful for: hiking my own hike.