morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-05-19
From: Damascus, Va.

To: Lost Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: clear sky

Left Damascus at 8 AM and hiked 15.8 miles to Lost Mountain shelter. The temperature was reported as 43 degrees, but people in town were scraping frost off their car windshields. As I started up the mountain, there was trail magic of 3 Budweisers next to the trail. I didn't want a beer that early and I didn't want to carry it, so I left it for someone else. Thanks anyway to whoever left it.I felt good today and hiked strong. The trail was great and very scenic. The trail today was what I imagined hiking the AT would be like. The day was sunny and about 60 degrees by mid afternoon.There are probably about 40 hikers at this shelter tonight. There is a college class here with their professor, who does a class each night at the shelter on spirituality on the AT. Those who heard it last night say it's very interesting. Another group here are home schoolers from two families, with their mothers. There are 7 children, 6 of them girls. Both groups are very well behaved and it's nice to have them tenting nearby.I met another thru hiker about my age and told him he looked familiar, but I couldn't place him. He told me his trail name was Jim Dandy which didn't ring a bell. Later he asked me where he was I was from and when I said KC he said he was from KC as well. I asked what part of town and he said Turner. I asked if he knew John Alford and he said yes. I told him John was my brother-in-law. His name is Jim Jarsulic. I told him a woman had emailed me, when I was home sick, asking if I would like to meet her husband who was Hiking the AT when he came home. I asked Jim Dandy what his wife's name was and he said Lana. I laughed and said that was the woman who emailed me. We both laughed then.What a coincidence! (Lana, I'll put his picture on my journal as soon as I get to a computer.)The professor has started his class so I'm going to listen in.PSThe class was interesting and afterwords one of the female students asked to interview me, so I agreed and tried to tell her why I was hiking and what I was getting out of the trip. She then interviewed Hotfeet, a female hiker who also answered the same questions as me. Our interviewer also took our pictures. This was all for a project in her communications class.
Date: 2009-05-20
From: Lost Mountain Shelter

To: Thomas Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: clear sky

Hiked 12.2 miles to Thomas Knob shelter. The trail had many beautiful views today, as well as some hard climbs. On the shoulder of Whitetop mountain we could see 4 states, NC,TN,WV and VA. When we got to Thomas Knob shelter, there were several ponies there scouting for food. I didn't think I would see the ponies until tomorrow, when I hike through Grayson Highlands state park.We're supposed to have a cold night, since we're at 5400 feet, but the shelter seems snug upstairs where I'm bunking.
Date: 2009-05-21
From: Thomas Knob Shelter

To: Hurricane Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Hiked 16 miles to Hurricane Mountain shelter. I'm tenting next to a creek just down from the shelter, with a hiker named Solar. We've got a campfire burning and are relaxing before going into our tents for the night. It's only 5.2 miles into Troutdale, VA tomorrow, where I'll resupply and spend the night.I hiked through Grayson Highlands State Park, where Chris and I saw the wild ponies a few weeks ago. I was glad to finally be north of the places I'd visited, when I was sick in Damascus. It did seem odd to be there without Chris. The day started out cool at 49 degrees with fog and mist, but cleared up by about 9:30 AM.I got a cell signal near the shelter about 6 o'clock and decided to call Chris in Italy, where it was just after midnight. I hoped she might still be up, but she wasn't. It was good to hear her voice and I hope she isn't too mad at me for waking her up.
Date: 2009-05-22
From: Hurricane Mountain Shelter

To: Partnership Shelter
Miles today: 19.7
Weather: clear sky

Hiked 19.7 miles to Partnership shelter from the Hurricane Mountain shelter. I originally planned on only hiking 5.2 miles to the church hostel at Troutdale, VA. I got there about 9:30 and by 12:30 I'd showered, ate at the restaurant and washed out a few clothing items, which dried quickly in the sun and breeze. I just couldn't accept giving up such a great hiking day to sit on the porch, so I packed up and hiked the 14.5 miles to Partnership shelter. This shelter is very nice since it's next to the forest ranger HQ. It has two levels with a shower, sink and fully enclosed toilet.This was my highest mileage day so far and I felt good all day although, my feet and legs are a bit more tired than usual. I forgot to mention in my last message, that I passed an important milestone on my hike, by going over the 500 mile mark hiked yesterday.I have reservations at a motel in Atkins, VA tomorrow, which is 11.6 miles from Partnership shelter. I'm looking forward to the short hike, after the big day today.
Date: 2009-05-23
From: Partnership Shelter

To: Atkins, Va
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: broken clouds

Hiked 11.6 miles from Partnership shelter to the Relax Inn Motel, next to the trail in Atkins, VA. My feet are sore and my legs are tired, so I'm taking a day off at the motel tomorrow. It's supposed to rain so it's a good day to zero. I'll head out Monday even if it rains. There's reported to be a chance of scattered thunderstorms each day next week through Friday.Met Mosey and Dulcimer Dave at the motel. They are a married couple about my age and walk very slow, but know some of the same hikers as me. They told me about a number of problems they've had with other hikers at the shelters and hostels. I guess I've been lucky, as I've had no problems to speak of.I hiked strong all week and enjoyed being back on the trail. The weather was great. I'm getting used to my new tent as I've used it three times now.
Date: 2009-05-25
From: Atkins, Va

To: Chestnut Knob Shelter
Miles today: 23.0
Weather: light rain

Hiked 23 miles to Chestnut Knob shelter. There was a tough mountain to climb the last 3 to 4 miles, so this wasn't the best terrain to hike for my first 20 plus mile day. My feet are sore and I'm very tired, but it was a good day.It rained lightly most of the afternoon, but the trees kept me mostly dry from the rain. On the other hand, I was completely soaked from sweat due to the high humidity. I'm glad the temperature was only in the low 70s and not in the 80s or above. The humidity was brutal.There was trail magic about 12 miles into the day. A group from Arkansas were at a picnic pavilion cooking hamburgers and hotdogs, while supplying ice water, Gatorade and cupcakes. There were about 8 other hikers there when I was there. I'd just eaten less than an hour before and wasn't hungry so I just had ice water and Gatorade. The other hikers all ate several hamburgers and hotdogs. I don't seem to have the same large hiker appetite as most of the other hikers.
Date: 2009-05-26
From: Chestnut Knob Shelter

To: Bland, Va
Miles today: 21.7
Weather: light rain

Hiked 21.7 miles to Bland, VA. I'm staying at the BigWalker motel. which is full of hikers. After hiking almost 45 miles in two days, with rain and high humidity I felt I needed a bath and clean clothes. There are no laundry facilities here, so I washed everything in the bath tub. The water turned brown but at least they're a little cleaner than they were. My clothes are drying on a line I rigged up in front of the air conditioner.The first ten miles today were a killer. They consisted of short very steep hills followed by several hundred yards of rocks, that were slippery, wet and very difficult to walk on or around. At first it wasn't so bad, but after a few hours my feet, legs and temper were trashed. This was some of the worst trail I've hiked and if it had been properly laid out on the terrain, it could have been a nice trail. After 10 miles I reached the Jenkins shelter but didn't want to stay since it was only 1 o'clock. It was 5 more miles to a campground, next to Laurel creek and 14 miles to the next shelter. I decided if the trail ahead was as bad as in the morning, I'd stop at Laurel creek. It turned out the trail after Jenkins shelter was great. I couldn't believe the trail could be so well laid out with switchbacks and properly graded slopes, when the previous 10 miles was just the opposite. I really appreciated the trail in the afternoon, even though my feet really hurt from the morning's rocks.This morning I saw a black snake that was about 5 feet long and refused to get off the trail. The snake was aggressive about standing his ground, so I climbed down the hill and went around him. It rained on and off all day, but I was already wet from sweat so I didn't really notice. The Helveys Mill shelter has a water source .3 mile down a steep hill and I didn't feel like walking over a half mile round trip in steep terrain to get water after hiking 24 miles, so I cut the hike short at 21.7 to get to town and clean up.
Date: 2009-05-27
From: Bland, Va

To: VA highway 601,Trent's Grocery
Miles today: 18.6

Hiked 18.6 miles to Trent's Grocery on VA Highway 606. They have a tenting area, bathhouse and laundry for hikers for only $6. I'm camped near the bathhouse with a married couple from TN. We're the only ones here tonight. They're very nice to have nearby since they're so friendly.It was a good hike today. I finally saw an orange newt along the trail. I've heard other hikers talk about them but had never seen one before. I also saw a garter snake about 14 inches long not long after I saw the newt.I'm doing my laundry tonight as everthing smells bad from being soaked in sweat from the high humidity. I hope it doesn't rain tomorrow like it has all week. The woods are soggy and so am I.Two new milestones this week: I went over 600 miles hiked and I've now completed over 1/4 of the total trail mileage. Also, I spent the morning in Bland,VA resupplying and resting at the motel. I expect to be in Pearisburg,VA on Friday.I forgot to mention in yesterday's entry, that I fell once on the rain slick rocks. I caught myself with my trekking poles and managed to turn the fall into a quick sit down on a 3 foot by 4 foot flat rock. My poles prevented two other falls as well. The last incident occurred, when I stepped too close to the trail edge on a steep bit of trail, that was also steep off to the side. I stepped on the edge of the trail that appeared solid, but was really a wet clump of leaves. The trail edge gave way and I would have fallen off the trail sideways but a quick pole plant prevented that. Unfortunately, my momentum still had a forward component, that, the pole planted at my side couldn't stop. I was falling forward and slightly to my right and took a quick step forward with my right foot to stay on my feet. This step was off the trail on a steep slope and I would certainly have rolled down the slope for 30 to 40 yards at least, if there hadn't been a small tree about 5 inches in diameter just to the right of the trail and about 3 feet in front of me. I pushed my self toward it and crashed into it with my right shoulder bringing me to a stop. I was fortunate, because this was the only tree near the trail for about twenty yards in either direction. Usually there are many trees lining the trail or just downhill from it.
Date: 2009-05-28
From: Trent's grocery

To: Woods Hole Hostel
Miles today: 13.9
Weather: mist

Hiked 13.9 miles from Trent's grocery to Woods Hole Hostel. I have a private room in the main cabin, where the owners live. They are a very nice young couple and have made me feel very welcome. This log cabin was built in the 1880s by the owner's grandfather and I'm in the loft above the main room. There is also a hiker's bunkhouse out front that used to be the grandfather's workshop. It's well setup for the hikers. I would recommend any hikers stay here, it's a great place. I signed up for a hot dinner and for breakfast. I can smell the spaghetti cooking and it smells great.It rained on and off all day and I got soaked three different times, in between was sunshine. I call today's hike the Appalachian Trail Mudhole and Creek Hike. The trail followed a creek for nine miles or so. The creek was full bank to bank from all the rain. The trail was one large mudhole after another, when it wasn't a creek itself running with 1 to 4 inches of water. I crossed many side creeks running across the trail. One was over my boot tops with no stepping stones. They say: "No rain, No Maine."I now have two small blisters on my right foot, because I loosened my boot laces to ease the pressure on top of my arch. The arch is better, but now the toes move around and get blisters. If it's not one thing it's another! Bring on the moleskin!
Date: 2009-05-29
From: Wood Hole Hostel

To: Pearisburg
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: scattered clouds

I hiked 10.4 miles to Pearisburg. I'm at a small motel and will take a zero day tomorrow. I made it to the road about a mile from Pearisburg without getting rained on, but then, it rained on me all the way into town. It's supposed to be sunny and dry the next three days, so I'm looking forward to that.I really enjoyed my stay at the Woods Hole Hostel. It's one of the best places I've visited along the trail. Dinner was great and afterwards, we sat on the front porch and listened, as a hiker named Strings and our hostess, Neville, played the guitar and sang.Breakfast at Woods Hole was scrambled eggs, sausage, grits and biscuits with gravy. It was very good, but I'm still not a fan of grits. It rained hard overnight and the sound of the rain on the metal roof above the loft, was nice to fall asleep to, especially since I was warm and dry. It was tempting to take my zero day at Woods Hole. Mike and Neville have many plans to improve the family hostel, which they've only recently taken over and they're off to a great start. Yesterday, I said the cabin was built by Neville's grandfather, but it turns out he is the one who bought it 80 years ago and started the improvements to the original 1880 cabin.
Date: 2009-05-31
From: Pearisburg

To: Pine Swamp Branch shelter
Miles today: 19.3
Weather: light rain

Hiked 19.3 miles to Pine Swamp Branch shelter. There was a steep climb out of Pearisburg and another at about mile 16 that was unexpected and unwanted at the end of a 19.3 mile day. I was lucky at the start of the day as I left the motel and a guy in a pickup truck stopped and offered me a ride to the trail which I accepted.I was feeling very blah this morning and didn't feel like hiking or staying at the motel. I hiked and when I got to the first shelter the sun was out and there was a large grassy area out front overlooking a pretty valley below. I had lunch in the sunshine and felt better. My feet are very sore and I'm going to look for some new insoles at the outfitter in Daleville, VA when I get there this weekend. I may need to get a size larger boot too since it's normal for the feet to swell up to one size larger from hiking these trails. The toes on my right foot jam into the front of my boot causing a lot of pain on the downhills.
Date: 2009-06-01
From: Pine Swamp Branch shelter

To: War Spur shelter
Miles today: 12.7
Weather: clear sky

Hiked 12.7 miles to War Spur shelter.The trail was very rocky over several miles and my feet didn't appreciate it. My right foot is still very sore. I stopped evry 20 minutes or so to retie my boot as this made the pain stop for awhile. I'm not sure what the problem is. I thought I might need at least a half size larger boot but now I'm not sure. I may just have a bruise on my second toe on the right foot. New insoles may be the answer. I'll check at the outfitter in Daleville, VA this weekend and see if I can solve the problem. The blisters I got last week are healing and are only painful once in awhile if I have to move more forcefully than normal such as on very steep terrain or if I stumble.The War Spur shelter is in a nice location with a nice combination of sun and shade. The water source is excellent as it is nearby and since it is a large creek the water is plentiful. This is not always the case.I have my tent set up not far from the shelter in a grassy area. I took a picture but just as with all the other pictures I've taken since Damascus I can't post them until I get to a place where I can access a computer. I tried to go to an internet cafe and the library in Pearisburg but the cafe doesn't seem to be there anymore and there was over an hour wait to access a computer at the library.
Date: 2009-06-02
From: War Spur shelter

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

Hiked 12.2 miles to Sarver Hollow shelter. The shelter is .3 mile down a steep hill. I normally wouldn't have gone so far down to spend the night but the next closest area with water was 5 miles away and I wanted to give my feet a break. It is a very nice shelter and relatively new. The water source is .1 mile down a steep hill but it was good water once I got down there. A hiker named Legs is the only other hiker here tonight so far. He is a retired army sergeant major (Sergeant Major Larry Lane). He was in public affairs and was in Germany, Italy and Afghanistan when my son James was so we had a lot to talk about besides the trail. He said the name Pozin sounded familiar from his time in SETAF.I passed the Keffer oak tree today. It's the oldest oak on the trail in the South. It's more than 18 feet around the base and estimated to be over 300 years old. Each of its branches looked as big as most oak trees you'll see.A few miles before the Keffer oak the trail left the woods and broke out into rolling green pastureland. It was very pretty to walk through the green pastures with blue sky and white clouds overhead.My right foot did much better today but it still gave me a few painful twinges at times. I'm hoping it's just a bruise that is healing. Tomorrow should give me a better idea as I have 16 miles planned.
Date: 2009-06-03
From: Sarver Hollow shelter

To: Pickle Branch shelter
Miles today: 16.1
Weather: few clouds

Hiked 16.1 miles to Pickle Branch shelter. It started raining about 6:30 PM. Here tonight are Denali, Gorgonzola, Legs and me. We all got in before the rain started. (Captain D and Macaroni came in later)My feet are very sore today with my left foot causing most of the problem. I'm starting to think it's just that my feet have swollen with the heat and pounding from the trail and I need to buy a bigger set of boots.I passed the Audie Murphy memorial along the trail today. For those who don't know Audie Murphy was the most decorated US soldier in WWII as well as a movie star after the war. He died in an airplane crash near the location of the trail memorial in 1971.
Date: 2009-06-04
From: Pickle Branch shelter

To: Daleville, VA
Miles today: 7.6
Weather: light rain

Hiked about 7 miles to a gas station/grocery store near Catawba, VA. The hike this morning was a long way up and included long sections of stumbling up, down and over rocks along the ridge top. It was exhausting. The Dragon's Tooth is a major viewpoint on this ridge and is a stone monolith overlooking the valley below. I wasn't going to hike the side trail to see it because I was tired from the hike up the mountain. Gorgonzola, another hiker, talked me in to going down the trail to see it and the view. It was pretty neat and had great views but it wasn't worth climbing a steep trail for two hours with a 35# pack. I stopped having fun last week and between my sore feet, tired legs and the steep trails with rainy weather (it's raining right now) I'm burnt out. I'm off the trail for good. I hiked about 700 miles total and that's going to be it. I caught a ride from Catawba, VA to Daleville, VA from a nice guy who when offered $100 to drive me there would only accept $40. I met a lot of great, friendly people along the trail both hikers and locals. This hike was definitely worth it but 700 miles is enough. Unlike the last time I got off the trail I'm glad to be going home to Chris and Magic, our dog. Good luck to all my fellow hikers, I hope you all make it to Katahdin.
Date: 2009-08-25
From: Catawba, VA

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

My thru hike has become a section hike. I think I'm going to like it better this way. When I get to VT.,NH., etc. I don't want to be saying "I just wish it was over"! I want to be fresh enough to really enjoy each section of the trail. I'm going back out next week and will be meeeting up with Weatherguy. Weatherguy and I both started from Amicalola Lodge on March 10 this year. We met on the trail and were together on and off throughout the Spring hiking season. We hope to finish up Virginia in September and maybe get through some or all of Pennsylvania before we quit for the year. No firm plans for next year yet but I'm thinking maybe 500 miles in the Spring and 500 miles to finish in the Fall. PN
Date: 2009-08-30
From: VA 624

To: Catawba Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 8.1
Weather: clear sky

Hiked 8.1 miles from VA 624 to Catawba Mountain Shelter. My first day hiking went well. Weatherguy and I drove up from Johnson City, TN. and stopped at Cracker Brarrel for breakfast. I was stuffed and didn't bother having lunch. I drank a bottle of water just before starting the trail. The temperature was 70 degrees and it was sunny all day. My new boots worked out well and the trail was good all day. I met a bunch of day hikers coming down from McAfee's Knob and there are two other section hikers, John & Paul, here tonight. They started today also. They are out for 10 days NOBO so I may see more of them before I meet Weatherguy in Buena Vista. I read the shelter log and saw that Weatherguy was here on 6/2 and Gezza & Topshelf were here on 5/31. I would have been here on 6/4, the day I quit my thru hike. I had no idea I was only 2 days behind Weatherguy and 5 days behind Gezza.
Date: 2009-08-31
From: Catawba Mountain Shelter

To: Lamberts Meadow Campsite
Miles today: 8.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Hiked 8.7 miles to Lamberts Meadow Campsite. Spent 1.5 hours at McAfee Knob which was a great place to stop. Section hikers John & Paul joined me for the last half hour I was there. Had lunch at Campbell shelter and was joined by John & Paul before I finished. John & Paul are heavy haulers having 70 & 60 pound packs respectively. My pack weighs 34 pounds. When I reached Lamberts Meadow shelter there were 15-20 college kids who had just arrived to spend the night. With the shelter full I moved on to the tentsite .3 miles further. I think the tentsite was actually nicer than the shelter. John & Paul joined me in about an hour and a half and we spent another pleasant evening. Four deer visited us during dinner.Just before lunch I met my first SOBO thru hiker. We chatted a bit and he mentioned he'd scared a bear out of the Lamberts Meadow shelter that morning. I still haven't seen a bear on the trail. Tinker cliffs was a great viewpoint and I spent 30 minutes resting on the cliff and enjoying the view.
Date: 2009-09-01
From: Lamberts Meadow Campsite

To: Daleville, VA
Miles today: 9.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Hiked 9.1 miles to Daleville, VA where I'm staying at the Super 8 motel. The trail was good today with 3-4 short very steep sections but with long easy hiking sections in between. There were many nice views today from the ridgetops. Temperature was from 65-75 degrees with cloudy skies that cleared as the day progressed. Night time temperatures are in the upper 50's making for nice sleeping.I've got a short day planned tomorrow of 5 miles to the first shelter. I'll leave town after lunch and be at the shelter for dinner. My new boots, Merrell Moab mids, are very comfortable and are holding up well so far. I hope it lasts since I don't want a repeat of the foot problems I had in June.