morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-03-30
From: Damascus, VA (Woodchuck Hostel)

To: Lost Mountain Shelter (484.9)
Miles today: 16.1
Weather: light rain

Day 44 - Monday, March 30, 2015This time the mistake wasn't my fault but I've paid for it even so ¢ a four and a half mile detour around a bridge that washed out several years ago and has not been repaired or replaced. I'm not going into who shot John, the nitty-gritty, but this was a trail marking problem. And it turned a relatively easy 16.1 mile day into zot.I left the Woodchuck Hostel in Damascus at 7:15 AM with Wallace, a NoBo I met at the hostel. J, my hiking partner for the past week, had decided to stay in Damascus, take a Zero, and rest up.It rained on us early, but the sky soon cleared, the sun came out, and it turned into a beautiful day. I hiked alone all day. The extra 4 1/2 miles I walked separated Wallace and me, and since he planned to hike further to make up for a Zero he had taken the day before, he wasn't at Lost Mountain Shelter (484.9) when I arrived.But I did met a section hiker (Springer to Harper's ferry, 1023 miles) named California at the shelter.(Why California? Where do you suppose he's from?)We talked a while ¢ he's an emergency medical technician, 26, on his way to a new job in Massachusetts.We decided to hike out together tomorrow.BTW, to the hikers, Damascus is a lot more than just another trail town. It may be THE trail town, the best of them all. But it's more than that too ¢ by the time we get here we are supposed to have our "trail legs" and be able to hike big Miles, we are supposed to have recovered from our early bumps and bruises.We are supposed to belong.
Date: 2015-03-31
From: Lost Mountain Shelter (484.9)

To: Wise Shelter (502.5)
Miles today: 17.6
Weather: clear sky

Day 45 - Tuesday, March 31, 2015Beautiful day to go hiking, top to bottom. It was a little windy on and around Mount Rogers, the highest mountain in Virginia (5729 ft via a .5 mile side trail) ¢ but that's just the way I like it.But it was a tough day.California and I hiked 17.6 miles to Wise Shelter (502.5) and it felt like it was uphill all the way.We walked up on a deer getting a drink from a creek, but I'm seeing very few animals. A few dear, a few squirrels ¢ I hear a lot of woodpeckers - but that's it.Oh yes, we saw several "wild ponies" when we hiked through Grayson Highlands State Park (mile 500-502). Not a pretty sight. We've petted them them and fed them and made beggars of them.I am usually in bed by 7:30 PM.I get up between 5:30 and 6:30 AM, depending on who I'm hiking with and how far we plan to hike.Two things you need: as much food as you can get and as much rest as you can get.BTW, I have now hiked 502.5 miles - I know that's not even one fourth of the way, but it's not nothing. (SKYCOM note: AWOL's AT Guide says Lucky has 1686.7 miles to go, so Wise Shelter makes 23% of the AT from Springer to Katahdin.)FAQs:Q. How many steps do you take a day?A. What a good question! More than 50,000 on some days, according to my iPhone, which keeps up with such things.Q. What do you have for breakfast?A. Two pop tarts, a Carnation instant breakfast, and a cup of hot chocolate. (However, I would like to have sausage, eggs, hash browns, toast, jelly, orange juice, and hot chocolate.)Q. Are you having fun?A. Define fun.Hiking up and down hills, on extremely uneven terrain, going as fast as I can, is not fun. But, at the end of the day, it is satisfying. Deeply satisfying.Q. Why are you doing it ¢ why are you hiking to Maine?A. Let me get back to you on that. My determination to complete this hike is stronger than ever, but my reasons for doing it are evolving.
Date: 2015-04-01
From: Wise Shelter (502.5)

To: Troutdale, VA Church Hostel - Dickey Gap (517.8)
Miles today: 15.3

Day 46 - Wednesday, April 1, 2015Our Trail Angels name is Low Gear. California and I went almost to Dickey Gap, 2.7 highway miles from a Church hostel in Troutdale where we planned to spend the night.Low Gear was out for a day hike, just trying to stay in shape. He was headed south. We, of course, were headed north.We talked a few minutes and he abruptly announced that he would cancel the rest of his hike, accompany us to Dickey Gap, then drive us to the hostel in Troutdale. Once we got settled, he drove us to a restaurant another 4 or 5 miles down the highway, sat with us while we ate supper, and then took us back to the hostel.What an angel!What a great ending to a great day of hiking. Relatively easy terrain ¢ everything is relative isn't it? - and beautiful, sunny weather.Ah, but the weatherman says it is going to rain on Friday.Bring it on.
Date: 2015-04-02
From: Troutdale, VA Church Hostel - Dickey Gap (517.8)

To: Partnership Shelter (531.5)
Miles today: 13.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 47 - Thursday, April 2, 2015The Troutdale Church Hostel had a shower but the shower had no water, not even cold water. The church won't turn on the water until there is no more chance that freezing temperature will burst the pipes. Bad news for me and everyone near me ¢ I haven't bathed since Sunday.Another Trail Angel, Son Driven, came to my rescue this morning. He took me to the post office to pick up a supply box ¢ food, goodies ¢ mailed to me by my wife. It was a good thing too. I was almost out of food and there are no stores in Troutdale. The bad news: my pack is at least 10 or 12 pounds heavier.Son Driven then took California and me back to the trailhead at Dickey Gap.It was another beautiful day, and easy too. It was 13.7 miles to Overmountain Shelter (Partnership Shelter - 531.5), and I can do that kind of distance standing on my head.Overmountain may be the best shelter on the entire trail. It's a beautiful two-story shelter with a shower. Alas, there was no water. And you know why, don't you? It's not spring yet in the mountains. You can also order a pizza delivered to within a block or so from the shelter, and California and I did ¢ 24 slices. And no, we didn't eat at all, but we sure tried.Medicine Man passed us on the trail today, but we caught up with him at the shelter. He is an EMT like California, and a nurse. He is going to start Med school in August.Another Thru-hiker named Jingles was also there. He's the oldest Thru-hiker I've met ¢ 64, but he doesn't look it.There are several 50+ guys hiking to Maine, that I've met:Jingles - 64Slowman - 62J - 58Felix - 52 I've met three other guys over 50 ¢ no women yet ¢ but I don't know exactly how old they are.We are going to leave early tomorrow because the forecast is calling for rain¢ And lightning.But you know the rule, or should: No pain, No rain, No Maine.
Date: 2015-04-03
To: SKYCOM
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Dad's getting very little cell coverage on the AT in southern Virginia. Here's what I know this week, as he and California have been making their way north from Damascus.Day 44 (Monday - 3/30/15) Hiked 16.1 to lost Mountain Shelter (484.9)Day 45 (Tuesday - 3/31/15) Hiked 17.6 to Wise Shelter (502.5) - this confirmed by a voice mail in which the only words I could make out were "we're... Wise Shelter..."Day 46 (Wednesday - 4/1/15) Hiked 15.3 to Dickey Gap/VA 650 (517.8) and got a 2.6 mile ride to Troutdale, VA and the Church Hostel. Dad called 4/2/15 and told me that they had cut off their water because of freezing temps, so they could not get a shower.Day 47 (Thursday - 4/2/15)Hiked 13.7 to Partnership Shelter (531.5) and the first shower since Sunday!Not much in the way of trail towns - but they can call for pizza from the Mt. Rogers Visitor's Center, a tenth of a mile north of the shelter, according to AWOL's Guide. Today (Good Friday, April 3, 2015), they are 11 miles south of Atkins, VA, and 25.6 miles south of Knot Maul Branch Shelter (557.1).If there are thunderstorms today, as the weather-guessers are predicting, Dad won't hike. He doesn't mind the rain but draws the line at being a moving lightning rod.I'm betting they'll need to stop in Atkins for more food, one way or another.
Date: 2015-04-03
From: Partnership Shelter (531.5)

To: Crawfish Trail campsite (549.2)
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 48 - Friday, April 3, 2015No lightning today, thank goodness, but lots of rain, off and on, all day. Rain is beating on my tent now, as I write this.Just before I reached the spot where California, Medicine Man, and I had agreed to meet, and camp, the rain stopped.We set up our tents, cooked suppers, and got into our sleeping bags. And then it began to rain again, hard.There's only one explanation for this good fortune, of course ¢ clean living.Couple of things:Shoes - I'm wearing Solomons and I like them. They don't blister. They protect my ankles; they're comfortable. The bad news? They're coming apart on top after less than 600 miles.Health - I'm fine. No aches, no pains, no blisters. The big toe that looked like a radish is well. My hernia isn't bothering me. I'm getting the feeling back in the tips of my fingers, but not my toes.Weight - I'm about 178, down about 24 pounds, but I think I've stopped losing. For a while there it looked like my pack would weigh more than I did by the time I got to Maine.Food - Had a great supper tonight ¢ I boiled some dehydrated corn, and put slices of summer sausage in it. Then I fixed a piece of spam and made a sandwich with a bagel. Yum!
Date: 2015-04-04
From: Crawfish Trail campsite (549.2)

To: Chestnut Knob Shelter (566.5)
Miles today: 17.3
Weather: few clouds

Day 49 - Saturday, April 4, 2015I woke up several times during the night and it was always raining. And then, just before 5 a.m., get up time, it stopped.I packed up and ate in the dark, as quickly as I could. It usually takes an hour and 15 minutes to an hour and a half.At 6:35 a.m., using our headlamps to see the trail, California and I began the day's hike. Medicine Man was still in his bag, but he would catch us - he is, by far, the superior hiker.It turned out to be a beautiful day, with lots' of sun, clear blue skies, and, for the most part, not too much wind.Still, it was a difficult hike for me, at least - more than 17 miles and a uge amount of uphill.The three of us are together again in the evening in a snug, fully-enclosed shelter with a door (only the second one I've seen like that).Medicine Man will be leaving us tomorrow. He's going to try to string together some 20-mile plus days.California and I plan to hike together for several more days, until he takes a Zero to visit family. I'm going to keep going to work every day, getting 15 miles or more for as long as I can.By the way, the trial journal in the shelter (Chestnut Knob) shows that the Hiking Vikings were here on April 2 - I'm only two days behind!
Date: 2015-04-05
From: Chestnut Knob Shelter (566.5)

To: Trail Boss Trail campsite (584.8)
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 50 - Easter Sunday, April 5, 2015 California and I were on the trail by 6:30 AM this Easter Sunday. A few minutes later, as the sun rose over the mountains and began lighting up the forest, it was as if we were walking through a cathedral.Medicine Man left after we did but caught up for a few hours, and went on his way. He is a strong hiker capable of posting 20-plus-mile days one after another. We may not see him again. he hiked to Laurel Creek, planning to spend the night at a hostel called Fort Bastion. It was supposed to have been"a little way"and "not far" from the trail, but I think it's more than a mile. We finally gave up after a couple of miles, and camped in the woods.Late in the afternoon and we joined by Sycamore, I NoBo I met briefly on the trail last Sunday, when J and I were almost to Damascus. P.S. I haven't had a shower in a week.FAQsQ. I see you use trekking poles. Do most Thru-hikers use them?A. Yes. Without poles, I fall a dozen times today. They also help you climb, and descend, taking pressure off your knees.Q. How do you stay clean on the trail?A. We don't. I've seen a lot of people brushing their teeth, but that's about it. So far, I haven't seen anyone wash their hands.
Date: 2015-04-06
From: Trail Boss Trail campsite (584.8)

To: Trent's Grocery (608.6)
Miles today: 23.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 51 - Monday, April 6, 2015"We hope to find trail magic one day when we do the trail," the note said. It was signed, "Mary's Girl" and "Sealife."And in the plastic bag hanging from a post was a Coke and a Krispy Kreme box with two donuts ¢ one for California and one for me.It was our second encounter with the trail magic that morning. Earlier, someone left water, soft drinks ¢ and the weather report for the day, sitting beside the trail.We we're on the trail by 6:35 AM and reached the shelter we were driving for ¢ Jenny Knob ¢ by 3 PM - mile 602.1! It was a 17.2 mile day, not bad. But by the time I got water and returned to the shelter, California wanted more ¢ he wanted to walk another 6.5 miles to Trent's Grocery, where we could get something to eat and a shower.I was all in, and that's what we did.On the way, California told me, "I guess you know you you're an AT hiker when you're willing to walk six and a half miles for a hamburger."(I had two hamburgers, two orders of fries, two cokes, and four candy bars. And when I crawled into my tent, I was still hungry.)
Date: 2015-04-07
From: Trent's Grocery (608.6)

To: Woods Hole Hostel (623.8)
Miles today: 15.2

Day 52 - Tuesday, April 7, 2015 I was walking fast ¢ the trail was smooth and almost level. When the thing I had feared happened. I turned slightly and pain shot through my right knee like a hot wire.My immediate thoughts?Oh, no!I slowed down but I didn't stop. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to walk if I stopped. And California and I were in the middle of nowhere, about 7 miles from Woods Hole Hostel, our destination.(How many Zeros would this cost me? And how could I have hurt myself here, of all places?)I told California to go on ¢ I'll get there when I get there.I slowed my pace to 2 MPH and tried unsuccessfully to figure out what was causing the pain in my knee.But throughout the afternoon, my knee reminded me every few minutes that something bad was wrong inside.After I showered ¢ my first in nine days! ¢ and ate supper, I took two ibuprofen pills (Vitamin I, on the AT), applied an ice pack, and went to bed.BTW, Woods Hole is a terrific hostel. I give it five stars.
Date: 2015-04-08
From: Woods Hole Hostel (623.8)

To: Pearisburg, VA (634.9)
Miles today: 11.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 53 - Wednesday, April 8, 2015When I got out of bed this morning and put my right leg on the floor, I feared the worst.But nothing happened. There was no pain. I climbed down the ladder to the ground floor. No pain. I went to breakfast, said my goodbyes, and began walking the half mile back to the AT. No pain.It was 11 miles to Pearisburg Virginia, my destination. No pain.I can't explain this, not now anyway. on the way to Pearisburg, I met up with an old friend and former colleague, Andy Curless. Earlier this week he had offered to meet me on the trail into Pearisburg and take me to his mom and step-dad's house (Debbie and Mike McNeer), where I could shower, get my clothes washed, eat ¢ and resupply.I jumped all over that.So that's what happened. Andy and I got some lunch, went shopping for supplies I needed, and then went to his moms house.Debbie and Mike treated me like royalty. What a lovely visit.Andy bought a resupply box from my wife and will take home the last of my winter gear ¢ my cold weather sleeping bag and extra clothes.Too soon? Maybe, but I have to get lighter ¢ and make room in my pack for more food.California and I caught up with Medicine Man at Woods Hole and both of them are staying at a motel in town tonight.Andy will pick them up in the morning at seven and take all three of us back to the trail.The forecast tomorrow: rain and lightning, which is what is happening outside my bedroom window right now.
Date: 2015-04-09
From: Pearisburg, VA (634.9)

To: Pine Swamp Branch Shelter (654.4)
Miles today: 19.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 54 - Thursday, April 9, 2015Debbie McNeer, Andy's Mom, was up cooking breakfast at 5 AM (Bless her!). By seven, Andy had driven me back to Pearisburg where he picked up California, Medicine Man, and Sycamore. And by 7:10 we were back on the A.T.Sycamore and Medicine Man are extremely strong hikers and quickly pulled away. California and I are not fast but we stay at it, and made 19.5 miles to Pine Swamp Branch Shelter.It rained off and on all day but, thankfully, there was no lightning.It was an uneventful day for the most part, just another day at the office.
Date: 2015-04-10
From: Pine Swamp Branch Shelter (654.4)

To: Laurel Creek Shelter (672.9)
Miles today: 18.5
Weather: moderate rain

Day 55 - Friday, April 10, 2015I am hiking alone again, at least for the time being.California does not like to get up early, before six, and get started before seven, which I need to do to get in a big day.You don't have to hike fast to get 17, 18, 19 miles in. You have to hike long and minimize the number and length of your stops.Brother Dave gave me that advice, about stopping to adjust your pack, to get a snack, a drink of water, to rest, to pee.After Dave sold his business and retired, he came out of retirement and begin driving a truck across the countryAnd how did he get to California quickly?He told me he kept the doors shut. He kept moving. Good advice for the trail.Anyway, California slept in this morning, saying he would meet me tonight at Laurel Creek Shelter, 18.5 miles down the A.T. highway. But he didn't show up. I figured he must have stopped off at an earlier shelter to dodge a heavy afternoon rain storm.There was no one at Laurel Creek when I got there and no late arrivals. So, for the first time since day two, I think, I sleep alone.
Date: 2015-04-11
From: Laurel Creek Shelter (672.9)

To: Campsite north of Audie Murphy Monument (690.4)
Miles today: 17.5

Day 56 - Saturday, April 11, 2015You will not believe what happened to me today!But first, a word about Audie Murphy. For some of you, no doubt, his name will not ring a bell. But it should. He earned 24 decorations, including the Congressional Medal of Honor and the Purple Heart.There is a monument honoring him just off the Appalachian Trail, near the spot where he was killed in a plane crash on May 28, 1971.I hope there is a monument honoring him somewhere else, perhaps in Kingston, Texas, where he was born.Why?Because this monument is miles from the nearest road, in either direction. This must be the least visited monument to an American war hero in the entire nation.And what happened to me? (First, let me say that it could have happened to anyone.)I was walking through a pasture looking for white blaze on a post, a rock, a distant tree ¢ anything¢ to show me the Appalachian Trail. Cows had obliterated the trail made by hikers.Anyway, the point is, I wasn't looking down. I stepped in the middle of enormous, wet - slick, too - cow paddy and fell on my bottom.And I know you want to know if I fell in the cow poop. Not exactly. Not directly. But I didn't miss it entirely, either. I camped tonight on top of Brushy Mountain, just north of the lonely Audie Murphy monument. Beautiful spot. Only one problem. I'm almost out of water.
Date: 2015-04-12
From: Campsite north of Audie Murphy Monument (690.4)

To: Four Pines Hostel (702.1)
Miles today: 11.7

Day 57 - Sunday, April 12, 2015Today is my wife's birthday ¢ she's a young 73! I wish I could have been home today.Got a little bit of a late start today, about 6:45, 6:50. Doesn't really matter though, because I'm only going to hike 11 or 12 miles, to Four Pines Hostel. I need a shower and I need to wash my clothes, especially my pants.I was completely out of water, so I skipped breakfast, planning to eat when I found a spring or a creek that looked okay. I filter most of the water I drink with a mini Sawyer.I had watered up at mile 687, the last stream I came to before climbing Brushy Mountain. I camped at mile 691 or thereabouts.At mile 694 I came across a cooler filled with soft drinks, left by a trail angel, and, turns out, that angel saved my neck. I down to soft drinks, The last fluid I would get until mile 702. That, friends, is a distance of 15 miles without water.No water?Well, not exactly. I did cross one creek, but the water looked dirty to me. I passed.And I had one other opportunity, but I would have had to walk a total of 1.2 miles off Trail to get it, which I wasn't willing to do. I kept thinking there would be a creek, or a spring, just ahead. I was wrong.Good news!Sharon, of the Hiking Vikings, message to me asking me to stop at a shelter and look for a ring they had left there, hanging on a nail. I did. And I found it. Now if I could just catch up to them ¢ I think they are 2 1/2 days ahead of me. I am hoping to overtake them somewhere in the Shenandoah National Park. If my body holds together, I plan to start rolling over the next 10 days.P.S. This hostel (Four Pines) is terrific, an easy five star. I like everything about it, including the shuttle to the Homeplace, an eat all you can place where I made a pig out of myself at supper.
Date: 2015-04-13
From: Four Pines Hostel (702.1)

To: Lamberts Meadow Shelter (718.4)
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: light rain

Day 58 - Monday, April 13, 2015I'd like to change my rating of the Four Pines hostel from five stars to 4.9.Why?Roosters, that's why. This hostel has them, and do you know when they begin crowing?At dawn?Oh, no. That's when they quit. They started at 4:30 AM.Hiked to McAfee Knob (711.7) this morning, probably the most photographed spot on the trail. This is where the Hiking Vikings got engaged (see video).It was an absolutely perfect day for a hike. Maybe, just maybe, the winter weather is gone for good. It was a perfect day to go for a hike, but not a perfect hiking day. I got lost again, and hiked more than halfway around the Tinker Cliffs (717.5) even though there were no white blazes on the trail I followed. Hard headedness is not always a good trait.Spent the night at Lamberts Meadow Shelter with four section hikers. I enjoyed their company but I would also like to have seen and talked with other NoBos ¢ and that's not happening. I'm not a strong enough hiker to catch NoBos ahead of me and no one has caught up with me since Sycamore tracked down Jay and me two weeks ago, on day 44.
Date: 2015-04-14
From: Lamberts Meadow Shelter (718.4)

To: Fullhardt Knob Shelter (732.8)
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: light rain

Day 59 - Tuesday, April 14, 2015It rained all day today but once you're wet all over that's not really a problem. There's no such thing as wetter than wet all over.Day by day I'm getting a little stronger at this hiking business. Hiked 9.4 miles in four hours even this morning to Daleville, where I stopped at a all you can eat pizza place where I ate all I could. And then I resupplied at Kroger's and went back out into the rain.This was the first time I've resupplied myself, planning all meals and then buying the food I think I'm going to need. I went heavy on candy.