morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-04-24
From: Davenport Gap Shelter

To: Max Patch
Miles today: 16.9

This morning I walked the mile down to Davenport Gap hoping to get a ride to Mountain Momma's for one of their famous burgers. What I saw was a road that was obviously at the state line- a dirt road on the NC side and a paved on on the TN side. The trail passed right along the border, seeing there was no traffic, and feeling too lazy to walk the mile and a half- I pushed on up the trail, through the wet forests laced with rhododendron and crossed several small creeks, then climbed down a gentle hill. I was beginning to hear heavy traffic and descended down to a bridge that crossed the Pigeon River, then as the noise of the trucks became awful, passed under the I-40 bridge and back into the woods. About a mile later, I saw a sign painted on a rock for Standing Bear farm and hostel and walked the 5 minutes up to the road. What I saw was very neat- bits and pieces of old barns, garages, mixed with cut lumber to produce a bunkhouse, showers, and privy. The yard was filled with tents and a teepee. I asked someone if there was breakfast, and the owner overheard me and introduced himself as Curtis. I introduced myself as John, which I hadn't done in weeks. He showed me around to the storage room with food tailored to hikers. Payment was on the honor system. I worked down 2 honey buns and a coke (this was the healthiest option in the place) for 2 bucks and a couple of other snacks from the hiker box. I set off to climb the mountains, thanked Curtis and admired the place on my way out. It was not an easy climb out of there, but not too bad either, a two hour ascent of Snowbird Mt. that climbed 2700 ft in 5 miles with lots of switchbacks. I climbed on a grassy bald and made way to Brown Gap where I heard there would be trail magic. What I saw there was unbelievable- a 30 ft tent with tables loaded with anything you could want, 2 grills going with burgers, hot dogs, coolers full of soda & beer and iced tea. I stayed the rest of the afternoon.Two hamburgers, four sodas, a ribeye steak, countless plates of other goodies, and seven hours later, I decided to eave the trap with a guy named Keytone (short for ketone acidosis- he's diabetic) and night hike to the top of Max Patch. An hour and a half later, I threw my rain fly down, my bag on top of it, and laid down on the top of the bald, watching the starts as I drifted off to dreamland.A huge thanks to the Brown Gap crew, Ox and Rat, among others for their rediculous 14th annual feast.
Date: 2004-04-25
From: Max Patch

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 19.8
Weather: overcast clouds

I woke to see the hint of daybreak forming out of one eye and was excited to see the sunrise from such a beautiful spot, but I only managed that. I fell back asleep for another hour, then rolled over, got breakfst in my sleeping bag, and then hiked through Max Patch. This place is enormous & beautiful. A big grassy field in the middle of the mountains. Keytone and I joked about attatching a golf club to one of his trekking poles and hitting balls up there. He was full of energy after getting sucked into Brown Gap for almost 36 hours, and set a pace that was too quick for me. I strolled along, amiring the environment I was in and enjoying the cool weather. I met him at the first shelter, an easy five miles, where a couple guys brought a cooler full of fruit and cookies, and I had a couople cookies and a fresh orange the size of a softball. Overloaded with trail magic, we made it to the shelter where I was planning to stay, a 17 mile day, by 4pm and decided to push into town. I tried to get a room at Elmers, which was booked, so I went to the restaurant across the street for dinner. I ordered a country fried steak dinner, and then Southernman came in, seeing he had seen party girl sitting out with other hikers down the street, I jogged down there to see how she was doing, she had hitched in from davenport gap the previous day, and had met pretty much everyone in town. she had both ankles wrapped and couldn't walk much at all. I asked if she needed a roommate, and she said yes and came to dinner. Later that night we went to the Paddlers Pub and I got a pint of Guinness and chatted with friends- Keytone, party girl, baltimore jack- who has hiked the entire trail 8 times and was in town- and A dog, a laid back californian who hikes in flip flops. Lucky for me there was no phone in the motel so party girl couldnt keep me up again.
Date: 2004-04-26
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

I tossed and turned all night because of many things- a car speeding by all night, light shining through the window, and birds chirping at 5am in the dark, and woke up feeling crappier than expected. I was starving, so a-dog, party girl and I walked up to the camp store in the rain for a greasy breakfast. We watched most of Crocodile Dundee at the motel (somehow that movie was so cool as a kid, but so cheesy as I'm older). She found a ride to Erwin, the next trail town north, and went there to hang for a few days. I went up to Elmer's where there was one room left, and I stayed in the very old house. A very interesting and beautful, unique place built in the 1800's, the Sunnybank Inn features a small library, sitting room, and music room full of instruments. There are two dining areas depending on the number of guests at each meal, where Elmer has been preparing gourmet breakfasts and dinners for guests for over 25 years. A not for profit retreat and hostel with very affordable rooms. Interestingly built, I have to walk through a bathroom to get to my room. I ate dinner, the best meal I've had on the trail, and then walked down with a group- poco, critter, poppins, and skippy to the hot springs to relax.
Date: 2004-04-27
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I was convinced at breakfast to stay another day. I had originally planned to take two zeros here in Hot Springs, but was feeling so good this morning I wanted to hit the trail, but decided to take the second day. Breakfast was wonderful, with fresh waffles, fruit, coffee and ginger mint tea. I'm going to do some little things around town, enjoy my day, eat dinner again at elmers, and then maybe read a book on the porch. I should leave here tomorrow morning and arrive in Erwin, TN next weekend.
Date: 2004-04-28
From: Hot Springs, NC

To: 2.0 mi north of Little Laurel Shelter
Miles today: 21.6
Weather: clear sky

Back on the trail, it feels great to hike again. I left Elmer's shortly before 8, walked 10 minutes or so to the camp store for a biscuit & coffee, then started a long climb alongside the French Broad River. The views of the climb were mostly blocked by trees, but at one point I could see and hear a train go through town about a mile away. After the climb I passed a small pond, then the trail followed a dirt road for a few minutes. After a few minutes of woods, I crossed a highway via a bridge, where I found a bag of bananas, grabbed one and hiked on. A couple hours later, rudgerunners shouted at me to come over, and gave me some chocolate chip cookies. I got to Little Laurel Shelter around 5:30 and met Gadget, who has a well earned name by having a cell phone, GPS navigation maps, and did have a computer that he sent home. Minus one also showed up. I left there before 8 and hiked a little further to camp. A nice spot with water flowing nearby.
Date: 2004-05-02
From: Miss Janet's House

To: Hogback Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 6.3
Weather: light rain

I got a ride back to a rainy trail this afternoon around 3 pm. Thanks to bookworm for the ride. Things went very slow today- it took 3.5 hours to hike 6 miles. The ankle is still wobbly. I'm staying in a shelter with 8 people tonight, they were nice enough to make room. I'm going to get off the trail tomorrow to really rest up for a week or so.
Date: 2004-05-03
From: Hogback Ridge Shelter

To: Sam's Gap
Miles today: 2.2

A cold night- probably the only time I was happy there were 8 of us in the 6 person shelter. The fog crept in and kept me in bed until 8, and it was in the low thirties as I got out of the sack. I hiked down to the gap and waited with Roo (from the shelter) for a hitch. As soon as we got there a truck circled around and the guy gave us popcicles. I asked for a ride instead, he said no so I took the popsicles to be greatful anyway- I dont know what he was thinking- it was about 40 degrees at this point. We waited for at least an hour on the side road trying to hitch and only about 3 cars passed in this time, while hearing the cars whizz by on the overpass above us. We finally got a ride and made the end of miss janet's breakfast, and cleaned up at her house. I knew I'd need another week off to rest- and decided to take a bus home from johnson city to dc. I took the all night bus and made it to town at 5:30 the next morning.
Date: 2004-05-10
From: Falls Church VA

To: Falls Church VA
Miles today: 0.0

Well I've spent a week off the trail, and I've been enjoying my time at home, I'm currently working out a ride back to the trail, and I'm looking forward to trail days this weekend. So far I've travelled to Philly to watch the Dad Vail Regatta, had dinner with Jon Barret on his birthday, went to a party, saw my family on Mother's Day- and spent a lot of time with the people I love.
Date: 2004-05-16
From: Sams Gap

To: Bald Mt. Shelter
Miles today: 8.0

Wow- first time hiking in what seems like forever. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Trail Days. I stayed from Thursday til today, Sunday. I caught up with many people I hadn't seen in a while. Seems like they all knew about my injury. Rumors spread like wildfire on the trail.Saw in town: Sundog, Eric, Hippie trails, Mr. T, Flint, Puck Fin, Traildawg, Cliff dancer, Poco, Critter, catipillar, A-dog, Keytone, Party Girl, Ninja, Bones, Deeds, Roonie tunes, Sleepy the Arab, 2 cents, Digit, Miss Janet, Baltimore Jack, Skippy, Poppins, Chasqui, April, Banana, Chef,Eats, Sherriff, Swiss Miss, Rob, Mommas Boy, Southern Boy, Sarge, Pheonix & Morning Star.I only slept 3-4 hours per night in the past 4 days. Must sleep.
Date: 2004-05-17
From: Bald Mt. Shelter

To: Curley Maple Gap Shelter
Miles today: 20.8
Weather: broken clouds

I hiked alone today in the fog that has continued from yesterday. I caught up with the Garland five, the family with children 9,11, and 13 that are thru-hiking. Incredible. I'm writing this at Uncle Johnny's hostel, and I'm going to push on a few more miles to the shelter. I got a shower today in the form of a thunderstorm, hey it works for me.   I'm happy to be hiking again, I'm maybe a little overeager, but that's me!
Date: 2004-05-18
From: Curley Maple Gap Shelter

To: Greasy Creek Hostel
Miles today: 19.0

I slept on a picnic table last night, the shelter was full and I was the last one to arrive. I had a poo-poo day, feeling tired and getting dehydrated- so I decided to go to the Greasy Creek hostel. It was run by very nice people, Pac Rat and Cee Cee. I stayed with Heinz, his daughter Nitro, and friend Wipeout. Goof was also there, a former AT and PCT thru hiker planning a trip for the CDT starting June 15th.Goof- "If the AT is your Bachelor's, the PCT is your masters, then the CDT is your Doctorate degree."
Date: 2004-05-19
From: Greasy Creek Hostel

To: Overmountain Shelter
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: light rain

I had a wonderful breakfast- "the works" at the hostel, and set out for another day of hiking. My mood changed overnight, my attitude was better from eating well and doing laundry, I'd been wearing the same shirt for 6 days. Feeling refreshed, I had a great hike. Roan MT. was a nice hike, a near two hour climb that topped out over 6000 feet, and the forests changed from green to evergreen. Coming down to the bottom of the mountain, I heard music playing, and turned to see Goof in the parking lot with burgers and hot dogs. We had some dinner, along with Nitro, Heinz, Wipeout, D-Bone, and Lil Munchkin who showed up later. We hiked out to the shelter, a huge old barn that had been transformed into a place for hikers. Goof brought a couple roman candles and shot them off as a group of 20 hikers chatted around the campfire.
Date: 2004-05-20
From: Overmountain Shelter

To: Campsite
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I hiked out of the shelter this morning looking for water and missed the blue blaze trail back to the AT. I wasted an hour before I finally got back on the trail. There were continued bald mountains that were beautiful, and the light broke through the clouds to torch the fog, which blew by and by. I sat alone at the top of one of the balds, watching hte late starters hike up towards me as the wind whipped across the bald. I ate a lunch of noodles and ramps at the next shelter and left shortly therafter. Not a minute later, I see Goof walking back up the trail toward me. I'm squinting my eyes, suprised to see him, and he offers me a ride to town for lunch. I've just finished eating 5 minutes ago, but I can't turn it down. Goof, myself, and a few others go to town, and while I'm waiting for the last group to I arrive, I walk over to this old supermarket. When I get there, there's nothing but old chairs, and a musty smell lingers,. To my right, a woman no younger than 70 is sitting at a snack shop watching TV. I dumbly ask "Is this the supermarket?" knowing the answer already. She smiles and explains the supermarket has shut down, and the space is now used for auctions. There is furniture all around me. She offered me a plate of spaghetti, and I said I was about to eat across the street, and bought a coke and left. Lunch was nice, and I got back to the trail to hike on in the late afternoon. I took the time to visit Jones Falls, a beautiful waterfall, and sat to watch the water fall. This relocation area added several miles to the trail because of problems with locals. A shelter was burned down in 1990, and people were doing things like hanging fish hooks from trees trying to catch someone in the eye or throat. Pretty nasty stuff. This goes back to when the government took land from farmers to create parkland years ago, and some of the bad feelings still linger.   A bunch of people I've been hiking with the past couple days showed up to camp tonight.
Date: 2004-05-22
From: Kincora Hiking Hostel

To: Watuga Lake Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: few clouds

I mailed clothes home this morning, long johns, gloves, an extra shirt, things that I don't anticipate needing with the warmer weather. I had breakfast with Bob Peoples, the owner of Kincora Hostel. He is a retired Air Force mechanic who is now a trail maintainer in Tennesee. He called the hostel a hobby, and lives off his pension with his wife. I asked him how he could run the hostel so cheaply (Bob charges $4 a night for bunk, shower, laundry, shuttle to town, kitchen use). He replied "I break even. How many hobbies do you know that you break even?" Point well taken.I didn't leave the hostel til 3 pm, and hiked 10 miles to Watuga Lake, where there was a beach filled with people and people swimming in the lake. I took a quick break, and followed the trail a half mile around to the back of the lake, where the rope swings were, and was suprised to see a large group of kids going off. Most of them were drinking, and I decided this was not a good place to hang out, so I hiked on, and Nitro called out my name, so I went over to say hi and jumped in for a refreshing swim. I met regular Brian there (not Flyin Brian) and hiked on to the shelter at dusk.Today I heard something prouncing in the bushes, so I approached extra quietly, then saw a deer feasting on some greens about 40 feet in front of me. We sat there checking each other out for a while and it didn't seem to mind me there. Every time I would move it would look up and go back to what it was doing. I stood there quietly for a while watching it, it was enjoyable to be so close to my natural surroundings.
Date: 2004-05-23
From: Watuga Lake Shelter

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 40.0
Weather: light rain

Damascus 40-mile challenge Completed.Today I hiked from 6:35 AM to 12:30 AM. I cruised all day, walking alone mostly, but doing the 40 mile challenge with Nitro, Wipeout, Traildawg, and Nathan. The four of them started before 4AM, and finished between 10:15 and 3 AM. A very long day. I did great until the 30 mile mark, where I cooked dinner, and it got dark. I had trouble seeing straight and would find myself faint during the last stretch. I took a picture at the VA state line (about 37 miles) and it looks crazy, my wide bug-eyes are takking over the picture. When I finally made it to town the streets were empty and I bought a Mountain Dew out of a vending machine and drank it as I walked to the place. I was wobbling all over the sidewalk and must've looked drunk. I finally made it in, and my feet looked like hell. I showered and went to bed.
Date: 2004-05-26
From: Damascus, VA

To: Lost Mt. Shelter
Miles today: 15.6

Today was an easy, flat 15 miler coming off a couple days in town. I pretty much laid low in Damascus, doing laundry, resting, reading, and eating.As I hiked into the shelter tonight, a storm was breaking and thunder rolling. A few raindrops started falling on me, then a bunch more, so i'd pick up speed and the rain would stop. I'd slow down again, get rained on, then haul it again. For about a mile or so, I was faster than lightning.The downpour broke within a moment of arrival and has been going steady for hours.
Date: 2004-05-27
From: Front Royal

To: Old Orchard Shelter
Miles today: 23.2
Weather: light rain

I left around 7:20 AM, after a very stormy night. The shelter was so crowded I slept sideways at the foot of the other hikers. About an hour into the morning, I came across an abandoned house, a van out front, and two very obnoxious dogs who barked and threatened, but I wasn't concerned and paid them no attention. A woman came out of the van, and called her dogs back. I took a break on a foggy climb, and Hippie Trails came chargning up the trail. He said he'd climbed close to the top last night, but had to come down because of the storm, and stayed in the old house. Someone had played a trumped late in the night. The climb in the cool fog continued for an hour, but the view from the top was well worth it, Hippie was waiting there for me- and he said it looked like Switzerland. And even though neither one of us had been there- I couldn't disagree. We sat and took pictures while having a snack, and his hiking buddies came along, Sundog, Deeds and Icebreak. We sat admiring the view with Jay and Tommy. I continued the climb and I took the half mile blue blaze trail to climb to the top of Mt. Rogers, the highest peak in VA. The summit was viewless, covered in pine, but I had to climb the highest point in my home state, right?I had an apple at a nearby shelter, and walked along with Hippie, Wayah bald and digger, and came upon some small wild ponies. A pair approached us, a white and a black one. I gave one my apple core, and pet it a bit. Hippie pet the black one some doritos and trail mix. When we were out of food they followed us looking for more. I reached to pet the black one and it tried to bite my arm. Digger noted how greedy they were. The hike continued into Grayson Highlands park, but not before a very windy walk on the rocky balds. I got blown around a couple times, and taking it slow on the rocks, everyone passed me. I arrived at the shelter late, around 8pm, and ate dinner with chuggs, and skywalker, some guys who were way too into monty python and the princess bride, saying "Inconcievable" until my ears bled.
Date: 2004-05-28
From: Old Orchard Shelter

To: Dickey Gap
Miles today: 10.2

A quick morning, I hiked with Hippie Trails, Tom and Jay to Troutdale by 11:30. Hippie and I came to a road crossing early in the morning, and saw horses tied up just off the trail. We walked down to look at them. There were people cooking breakfast that smelled so good, but they didn't offer and we didn't ask, so we walked back to the trail. Jess was coming to visit, and was going to meet me at 1 pm, but we got there early and hitched to Troutdale trading post, a restaurant and shop all in one. The 70 yr. old man we hitched with pulled up in an oldsmobile big enough for the four of us and all of our gear, and talked about how Bush sucked, fat watresses, and a million other things that had us laughing so hard. Jess arrived and was nice enough to drive my friends to the post office in Atkins before it closed for the holiday weekend, holding them up for 2-3 days. Jess and I dropped them off, and Jess and I went to Damascus for dinner, then camped outside of town.
Date: 2004-05-29
From: Damascus

To: Abingdon
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Jess and I woke and went to the all you can eat pancakes at Dairy King, but we wimped out. She had 3 and I had 5. Not exactly champs there. We rented bikes and rode the Virginia creeper trail, a 17 mile downhill back to Damascus. A very pretty ride. I felt very uneasy on a bike, as I have driving, I'm just not used to going that fast. We drove to nearby Abingdon, in time to see Troy (awesome!) and stayed the night at the Days Inn.
Date: 2004-05-30
From: Abingdon

To: Bristol, VA
Miles today: 0.0

Jess and I got distracted this morning by "The Beach" on TV and wishing we were there instead of the mountains. We went to Fishtails restaurant, where I got a ridiculously huge seafood plate, I laughed when I saw it, and ate about a quarter of it. It lasted for three meals. The waitress said she'd only seen one person eat it in 2 years. We went to a hotel and hung out for the afternoon, then went to see "The Day After Tomorrow" (not awesome!) and then chilled out the rest of the day.
Date: 2004-05-31
From: Dickey Gap

To: Partnership Shelter
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: light rain

Feeling energetic from town, I was dropped off at the road crossing, loaded up my pack with too much food, and made 14.5 miles from 2pm-7:20pm. The partnership shelter is right near a phone, near a ranger station, near a road, near a town called Marion, which has pizza. Piece that together.Everyone at the shelter ordered some, except me. I had so much in my pack I ate what I could just to lighten the load! I took a shower at the shelter- yes at the shelter! I ate an apple, and a slice of watermelon and pizza that people offered me, and slept in the loft of the shelter for about 10 hrs.
Date: 2004-06-01
From: Partnership Shelter

To: Crawfish Valley
Miles today: 17.7

I woke up at 8:15 and didn't hike til 9, and I was one of the first to leave. Today I came to a museum of early settlers in So. Va., right off the trail was a school from 1894. I went into the one room schoolhouse, and added my name via chalk to the list of thru hikers on the board in detention.. I came to cross I-81, where there was a Dairy Queen, and I hung out an hour, but didn't buy anything. I hiked down to a campsite with water, with plenty of time for dinner, and set up camp.