morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-04-25
From: Roan

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

Day 31      4/25/03Woke to the sound of "Dragon Fly's" (small gas stoves) this AM as Kodiak, Sassy, and Rock were getting an early start, they plan a 20 mile day. We don't know where we are going to end up. We climbed Mt. Commerer 1st thing and from then on it was down hill all day to Davenport Gap and the end of the Smokies. It was a clear day and a little warmer and we could see for miles to the North and south. "Bumpkin's" knee went out so everyone split up her pack and we walked out to "Mountain Mommas" cave, and country store where we ate huge cheese burgers and fries and coke and gatoraid. Good :) Pushin up Daises called the "Standing Bear Hostel" to get a shuttle to pick us up. What a great place. It's like going back in time to an old Smoky Mt. farm. We stayed in an old board and batten cabin which bridged a small stream. There is a bunkhouse an out door shower and laundry, very quaint. A couple of guys made a beer run into town and we had a good time. We are sharing our cabin with a couple we just met, Ken (Cornbread) and Jane (later to become trailboss) and Bumpkin. We had a nice camp fire and visited. Tomorrow we will try to get to Brown Gap where we have heard that a group called the Blue Blaze Hoboes are having a weekend bash with lots of free food and drinks for the thru hikers :) Trail Magic.
Date: 2003-04-26
From: Roan

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

Day 33 4/26/03      Mile 256It rained early in the AM so we hung out longer. The Hoboes had breakfast for us in the gap. It was great. We packed up just before the next shower, said our good-byes and started out for "Roaring Fork Shelter" at 10:30 AM. It was a steep climb out of the gap. It always is. You get to where you don't like gaps or knobs. We crossed Max Patch a land mark location I'd been looking forward to seeing at 1:00PM, and couldn't see anything through the rain and fog :( This would have been a beautiful hike on a clear day. We arrived at the shelter at 4:30 PM. We are still doing 40 min miles. By the time we cooked diner "Rumbler" came in and joined us for the nite. Lots of wild flowers in bloom today. Tomorrow we will do 15 miles to Hot springs, NC. I got a little we today again and am trying to dry out some clothes tonite. I'm thankful I have dry clothes to put on, as it is cold and damp.
Date: 2003-04-27
From: Roan

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

Day 34      4/27/03      Mile 270.9We got an early start at 8:05 AM. Skies are clear it's a wonderful day. We're doing 15 miles today to get to Hot Springs. I estimated that we would get in a 6:00PM. We actually got to the city limits at about 4:40 PM. An easy trail cut our time considerably to about 34 min miles. A beautiful trial today with lots of wildflowers. We checked into the Duckett House B & B a neat turn of the century house on about 5 acres with a stream. We have king size bed, nice showers and bath. A lot of hikers are here - Kodiak and Sassy, Monster and his brother Searcher, Radar who did a thru hike last year and our new friend Rumbler. Cornbread and Trailboss are a little way down the road at the Alpine Inn. We had dinner at the Smoky Mt. Diner and after we freshened up, walked 1/2 mile to the Paddlers Pub where we met up with the gang, drank beer and swapped lies.I have lost 20 labs at this point and it seems like we are eating something all the time.
Date: 2003-04-28
From: Roan

To: Damascus
Miles today: 120.0
Weather: clear sky

Day 35      4/28/03      "0" milesSlept great in the king size bed and went down for breakfast around 8:00 AM - great coffee. After breakfast we said good-bye to Kodiak and Sassy, Monster and Searcher. Then we went to the post office and picked up mail and food drops and bump box. We went across the street and did laundry. Spent the rest of the day drying the tent and water proofing boots and gaitors and repacking. We went back to the pub for lunch and stopped at the out fitters and bought a light weight polyester ball cap and some "Crookies" for my glasses. We wrote for a while and went back to the pub for a pizza and beer. Bugs are bad today, they seem to like sunny days.
Date: 2003-04-29
From: B&B

To: Spring Mt. Shelter
Miles today: 16.0

We got packed and had breakfast at the B & B, then started on the trail through town at 10:00 am. We stopped at the post office and mailed our bump box and film and journal pages to Susie. Picked up hot dog rolls for a party at the shelter tonite. A couple of other guys are bringing relish and the dogs. Then we stopped at the out fitters store to fill up our white gas canister. (9ox 77 cents, such a deal). We finally made it through town and started up into the mountains on the other side of the river. It was a killer of a climb to the shelter, 11 miles up. The weather was beautiful but a little warm and the bugs were thick (Thank God for Deet). We set up our tent above the shelter and fixed dinner. They guys with the hot dogs didn't make it until around 8:00 pm, so we decided to wait until tomorrow for our party. It was a nice clear nite and temps were mild. We heard owls off and on all nite. We were camped beside Rumbler, Jersey and Footsoger.
Date: 2003-04-30
From: B & B

To: Little Laurel Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

4/30/03 it was a beautiful night and we packed up with all gear dry for a change. We cooked our usual delicious breakfast - instant oatmeal and coffee in a tea bag. :( We started out for Little Laurel Shelter, 8.5 miles away. We had a nice morning, as the weather was nice. We ran into a bunch of slack packers from Hot Springs going in the opposite direction. Bumpkin and Pushing up Daisies were among them along with Baltimore Jack. Glad to see Bumpkin back on the trail. :) We had our hotdog roast at Allen Gap with Rumbler, Jersey and Footsloger. Just as we finished we heard a loud clap of thunder and the afternoon went down hill after that. We had thunder, lighting and rain until we got to the shelter around 4:00 pm and made ourselves at home
Date: 2003-05-01
From: Spring Mt. Shelter

To: Jerry's Cabin 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Early breakfast, skies are blue. We hiked to Jerry's Cabin and had lunch at 1:20 pm. We topped a beautiful grassy ridge just as a thunderstorm threatened so we rushed across the ridge to get to a more sheltered area. The showers missed us until just before the next shelter at Flint Mt. We got room in the shelter with Brother Ron, Groovy, Jersey, Rumbler, Footsloger, Sketch and Dirt Nap.
Date: 2003-05-02
From: Jerry's Cabin

To: Hogback Ridge shelter
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: broken clouds

Last one's out again. We started about 8:35 am. The first couple of miles were easy and then we had to climb for about 5 miles and stopped at Hogback Ridge shelter. We were going to get water and rest for a while and then move on for a while but a bad storm moved in and we decided to stay put. We soon joined by several others Groovy, Homer, Strawbaile, Little Hobo, CB and Tinker bell. The storm blew through quickly. It was a long 3/10 of a mile to the spring but the view from the privy was awesome.
Date: 2003-05-03
From: Jerry's Cabin 

To: Nolichucky Hostel
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: light rain

We left the campsite at 8:30 am. Skies were gloomy but after a while the sun broke thru and we had another beautiful day. This is probably the nicest hike so far. We passed over a small bald early in the AM and right after a short lunch break we hiked up Bag Bald and Big Stamp. The views were awesome - 360 degrees. We could see Mt. Mitchell a long ways off. Wild flowers and flowering trees are everywhere. We stopped for water a Bald Mt. Shelter. The trail went around and through an area with some of the knarliest, grotesque looking of old trees I've seen (Blair Witch). We stopped at 6:00 pm at a dry campsite near Whistling Gap (13 miles in 9.5 hours) a little slow but we took a long break on Big Bald. We are camping alone tonite and we have a nice fire. Next time I'll bring some marshmallow. Tomorrow we've got to hike about 14.5 miles to "Uncle Johnny's" Nolichucky Hostel and may hitch a ride to Erwin, TN. about 4 miles.
Date: 2003-05-05
From: Nolichucky Hostel

To: Pizza Hut 
Miles today: 0.0

It's raining as we get up this morning. After we got our dirty laundry together we were able to bum a ride to the laundromat from the motel manager. The people we've met are so helpful and generous. After laundry we got breakfast and headed for the post office and the library. We were able to get on line at the library and got to see our web page that my brother Paul (Fourplay) is doing for us - it's great, what a nice job. We also got to read the guestbook and to answer some of the letters it's great to hear from so many friends - Thanks. Tonite we walked about 1.5 miles to the Pizza Hut and had the buffet. We are ready to go in the AM.Hope the rain stops.
Date: 2003-05-06
From: Rest

To: Rest
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 43 5/6/03 0 milesIt is raining and the forecast is calling for continued bad weather. We decided to hang out for another day. We got a ride from C.P. and mailed out our bump box and sent film and journal pages home. We spent the rest of the day at the library and eating late in the afternoon the sun came out. It looks good for the morning. We ordered in spaghetti and had dinner in the lobby at the "Super 8". The manager's wife made a pot of coffee. We were joined by 3 section hikers and Ken and Jane
Date: 2003-05-07
From: Rest

To: Deep Gap
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 44 5/7/03 Mile 350.8Got a quick breakfast at Mc. D's. We called Cindy to sing happy birthday to our grand-daughter Chloe (2 years old today). C.P. drove us to the trailhead along with Ken and Jane and we were back on the trail at 8:50 am. It was raining lightly but the sun did come out for a while around 1:00pm. We stopped for a break and water at Curley Maple Shelter where we caught up with Ken and Jane again. We passed a lot of southbound slack packers on the trail. Among them were Baltimore Jack, Blaze, Twigs and Nuts, Tinkerbelle, Rumbler, 2 dog nite and a few others. The high lite of the day was when we crossed the Beauty Spot with 360 degree views, unfortunately there were lots of clouds. We set up the tent in Deep Gap where there is a good spring.
Date: 2003-05-10
From: Elk Park

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Day 47 5/10/03 Mile 385Another beautiful day. We started out hiking up Grassy Ridge and stopped to see Over mountain Shelter - a converted barn at the base of Little Hump and Hump Mts., a really beautiful location. I saw a gold finch at the shelter. The views from the 2 balds are the best so far on the trail, it is spectacular. On the way down the trail goes back to into the woods and I saw 3 turkeys before Apple House Shelter. Seneca's feet are bad but she keeps on going. We got off the trail at about 4:00pm and hitched a ride to Elk Park where we called the Shady Lawn Motel and got a shuttle to Newland NC. It was a 50's vintage motel that needs lots of help and it didn't have a lawn. We ate hogs at Mc. D's and went to a grocery to get food for 3 days.
Date: 2003-05-11
To: Moreland Gap Shelter
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: moderate rain

Day 48 5/11/03 17.3 milesCalled mom and wished her happy mother's day and went down to the Shady lawn Diner (they don't have a lawn either) for breakfast. The next stop was to wake up the motel manager to get a shuttle back to the trail. She got ready fast and dropped us at the trailhead a 8:30 am. Our plan is to hike 13.8 miles to Moreland Gap Shelter. We hiked about ? hour before it started to rain but after about 2 hours it cleared and was a beautiful day. Early in the day we passed thru some meadow which we like and the afternoon was mostly in the woods and rhododendron thickets. We should have been at the shelter by 6:30 pm at the latest but every time we would get over a knoll expecting to see it, we were disappointed. We were about to set up the tent thinking that we had somehow missed it when we went down one last hill and ran into it. The sun was already set. We set up the tent and ate a cold supper. The moon and stars were out and there was strong breeze so we didn't use the rain fly on the tent. Late in the nite there were strong gust of wind. About 4:00am an owl landed in a tree right over our tent and started hooting. We found out in the am that the trail had been relocated and that we had hiked about 17.3 mile, our longest day so far.
Date: 2003-05-13
From: Moreland Gap Shelter

To: Iron Mt. Shelter 
Miles today: 16.0

Day 50 5/13/03 Mile 417.5We ate breakfast at the hostel and then 12 of us who planed to slack or leave from a different trailhead all loaded into the van along with all our gear and 3 dogs. It was not a comfortable situation since there were no seats and the read was very curvy. We were dropped off at the north end of Watauga Dam. While hiking, we passed more north bound hikers than we had ever seen in one day. Probably 40 or so. Pond Flats was a good climb but it was extremely steep coming down the south end. We were glad to be going south. The manager of the hostel was looking for a hiker and didn't return until 9:30pm. So he didn't open the clef but we were able to buy a can of Spam and some ice cream and stuffed ourselves and went to bed around 10:00pm.
Date: 2003-05-14
From: Iron Mt. Shelter 

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Day 51 5/14/03 Mile 4319:30am we are dropped at the trailhead at the Watauga Dam Road, only this time we are heading north again with all of our gear. The trail was steep, they always are going out of gaps. About an hour later we were on top of Iron Mt. and spent the whole day walking across it. There were great views of Watauga Lake and Doe valley on the right. We passed up Iron Mt. Shelter and hiked another 2 miles and set up a stealth camp in the woods. We fixed spaghetti for supper. The bugs nearly drove us crazy as we ate. We did 13 miles today and are about 35 miles from Damascus
Date: 2003-05-15
To: The Basement
Miles today: 0.0

Day 52 5/15/03 440.3 milesThere was a lite rain about 4:30 am. We packed out early and ate a cold breakfast on the trail. The sun never came out and the fog was thick. We were making pretty good time at about 1.5 mph when the sky opened up and dumped on us. We hiked for about 1.5 hours in heavy rain and despite wearing gators both of our boots got filled with water. The trail was a stream of water. We were very uncomfortable when we reached Rt. 421 at Low Gap, TN We knew the shelter at Abington Gap was full and we would have to set up our wet tent. A sign said that there was a restaurant in Shady Valley about 2 miles east. We considered hitching to the restaurant and trying to find a place to sleep. No one was stopping and we decided to take our chances on the trail. Just as we were about to step into the woods a car pulled in and the driver asked us if we needed a ride. We explained our situation and he said to get in and he would take us to his house 7 miles away. Prayers were answered with a Trail Angel. We stayed in his converted basement apartment and dried out. He and his wife fed us wonderful fresh Salmon from Alaska.
Date: 2003-05-15
From: The Basement

To: Trail Days
Miles today: 0.0

Day 52 5/15/03 continuedIt turned out that his name was Powell Foster who was on his way home from Charlotte NC air port where he had just flown into from LA California. We surprised his wife Sharon when we came home with him. They gave us their basement to use which had a bathroom, laundry, TV and foldout. We were able to shower and dry out everything and then we were invited upstairs to visit and drink wine and have fresh salmon for dinner. After dinner we drove to Bristol TN where we went to a coffee house and attended a story telling session. Not an everyday experience. This is what is called trail magic, the trail as really as much about people as it is hiking. Thanks Fosters. We did manage to hike 9 miles today and will have to do 14.5 miles tomorrow to make it to Damascus and Trail Days. Another full day in paradise.
Date: 2003-05-16
From: Sidetrack Caf

To: Saunders Shelter 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Day 56 5/16/03 Mile 464.5 - 9.4 milesGot up early and packed. We went downstairs for breakfast around 8:00 am. Miss Ginny and her son David were in the kitchen. We drank coffee and had a nice conversation. The breakfast was incredible - so much good food. We had such a good time talking with Ginny and Dave and the other guest that we didn't get our errands done until noon. We went to the post office, the outfitters store and the grocery and said goodbye at 12:00 pm. We hiked thru town and into the woods. We stopped for lunch at US 58 and Rumbler came up on us. He went on to the shelter for a hot dog roast. A few minutes later I heard Seneca yell from behind she had done what is called a "face Plant' and had done a nose dive into the trail and couldn't get up with the pack on her back. She had a scrape on her forehead and her knee. It doesn't look too serious. We continued on to Saunders Shelter where a large group of hikers had stopped. We had a pleasant visit and sat around a camp fire before bed.
Date: 2003-05-17
From: Trail Days

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Day 54 5/17/03 0 milesWe hung out with Kodiak, Sassy and Vagabond this AM and went to the "Barn" for breakfast. Eventually we go to the grounds where vendors and outfitters were set up. I found the Kat dyne rep and complained about my Pur Hiker filter and he gave me a new one. We signed Seneca up for a boot fitting in the am. Hopefully they can help her feet. We listened to music and sat around with a large group off hikers. At 2:00 pm we took part in the hiker's parade. There were over 1000 hikers some dressed in strange costumes. The Tradition is that the town's people and the hikers throw water balloons at each other. We got pretty wet. Later we ended up at the "Mill" a baron the river where we drank, partied and ate. At 7:30 pm we went to the firehouse and watched a video production that a 2001 thru-hiker had put together. We got back to the tent and crawled in to get out of the rain.
Date: 2003-05-18
To: Sidetrack Caf
Miles today: 0.0

Day 55 5/18/03 0 MILESWent to breakfast at the "Sidetrack Caf?" and had to hurry to make Seneca's appointment with the boot fitter. (Phil Oren, world famous fitter). It took close to 2 hours and they made and orthodox for her. A really through job. We decided to get a room in the Lazy Fox B&B for tonight and plan to hike out in the am. We are at the laundry now trying to get the stink out of our clothes.
Date: 2003-05-20
From: Sidetrack Caf

To: Pearisburg
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 57 57/20/03 Mile 470.9 6.4 milesSeneca has a nice black eye and is telling everyone that I pushed her down. We ate an instant breakfast and hit the trail. The sun was bright and it was a nice morning. We came to where the Creeper trail joins the AT. This is a beautiful spot. We want to come back here and bike on the Creeper. Shortly we came to the Lost Mt. Shelter. The forecast is for lots of rain so we decided to set up camp. Rumbler, Jersey, Skidmarks, and Gretel all moved on. We camped near Kip, a college professor and his students who were earning 3 credits by backpacking for a couple of weeks. Cool! It is almost 6:00pm and still no rain, but this is good. We have to try to make 14.5 miles a day for the next 10 days to meet mom and dad at Pearisburg on the 30th. We only did 65.4 today.
Date: 2003-05-21
From: Pearisburg

To: Deep Gap 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Day 58 5/21/03 MM480.7 9.8 milesGetting a late start today again. It rained most of the nite, and is still coming down. We were real careful to keep everything dry in plastic bags. The tarp and tent are soaked. It rained non-stop all day and the trail is muddy and slippery. I tell fell on my left knee once. We climbed White top Mt. 5100 ft. The views were great despite the rain. We stopped at Elk Garden and cooked dinner under the cover of the forest service sign at the road pull out on VA 600. After we ate we hiked a couple more miles to Deep Gap and set up our tent. Moose Munch is near by. The rain finally stopped about 8:00 pm. Hoping for a sunny day tomorrow
Date: 2003-05-22
From: Deep Gap 

To: Troutdale
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Day 59 5/22/03 13.4 milesWoke up to more rain but it was light. I saw two deer about 75 yards into the woods - the 1st on the trail. Right after we left Thomas Knob Shelter where we took a break we saw about 8 ponies on the trail and petted them. A few yards further we saw a large doe. A hiker named Raven said he saw an albino deer in the same area. Mt. Rodgers and Grayson Highlands were a disappointment because of the fog. We'll have to come back here. We stopped at Wise Shelter and said hi to Gretel and then left with Jersey for Old Orchard Shelter. We arrived around 7:55 pm. We hiked 10 hours and 16 min. today. Low on food and will get off a Troutdale tomorrow.
Date: 2003-05-23
From: Troutdale

To: Fox Hill B&B
Miles today: 0.0

Day 60 5/23/03 10/2 milesGot up to heavy fog, rain fly and tarp are wet. We packed and moved out as we don't have any breakfast left. The fog lifted and the sun was in and out all day. We ate a couple of snickers bars and some cheese and pepperoni and broken crackers. That was the end of the food. At some point in the am we passed the 500 mile mark which we thought was an accomplishment. We got to Rt. VA 16 at 2:00pm and hitched a ride to Troutdale with a guy named Irish. He dropped us at the post office where we had a food drop, mail and our bump box. We sent the bump box ahead to Pearisburg. We loaded all the food in our packs and walked .5 miles to the Troutdale Trading Post to eat wait for Mark and Janet from the "Fox Hill B&B" to pick us up. This place is in a beautiful setting. Mark and Janet, the innkeepers, attempted a thru-hike in 1995 but Mark broke his ankle in New Hampshire and they were force off the trail. They were very friendly and nice to talk to. Sparrow was the only other guest at the Inn and we made a couple of pots of coffee and hung out until close to 11:00pm. Then we went up to the room to repack. We finally got to bed around 12:30am and couldn't sleep. We were both still awake at 4:30am. It rained hard during the nite. According to the scale here have lost 28 lbs.
Date: 2003-05-24
From: Fox Hill B&B

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Day 61 5/24/03 14.5 milesJanet cooked bacon and French toast for breakfast, it was good. Then she drove us back to the trailhead a Dickey's Gap. It's nice to be clean and dry again. The sun broke through and it turned out to be another beautiful day. We hiked for a while with Jersey and Pockets who had stayed at the Hostel in Troutdale. I estimated that we are about ? of the distance to Katahdin and that we will have to start hiking at least 15 mile a day to make it by Oct. 1st. That will mean 10 hour days at our speed. We arrived at Partnership Shelter a 6:00pm to find the whole gang enjoying some trail magic. Two local guys were cooking hot dogs for everyone. The beer ran out just as we arrived. It was a pleasant surprise. There are many hikers here that we have been with for awhile, Footslogger, and his wife Bad Ass Turtle, Gretel, Jersey, Pockets, Strider, Sparrow, Dirtnap, Skidmarks, Raven and Rumbler. Lots of others here tonite. We are in our tent again this shelter has a loft and an adjacent shower. I have heard that the trail angels are going to cook pancakes in the am.