morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-05-06
From: Laurel Fork camping

To: Dennis Cove / Braemar Castle
Miles today: 11.8

5/6 Dennis Cove / Braemar Castle. 11.8 miles. We had a really nice night under the stars by the river last night. Got out by 8:15 and enjoyed a nice flat section today. We worked along to the Moreland Gap Shelter and had lunch with Red Stick, Chicken Feathers and Kip and enjoyed a quick nap before moving on. We went over the nondescript White Rocks Mountain and pudded along to Dennis Cove and the Kincora Hostel where we checked out the accomodations and decided to call Braemar for a short shuttle and a private room for two. This is a great surprise of a hostel and thankfully close to Hillbilly Bobs BBQ and Catfish shack where we had dinner and called it a night. Other than a few barking dogs, we managed to get a comfortable night sleep. Thanks for the ride Reverend!CB & DT
Date: 2010-05-07
From: Dennis Cove / Braemar Castle

To: Zero day just because we can!
Miles today: 0.0

5/7 zero day just because we can... That and Ham's right calf is giving her some trouble and CB couldn't stand his beard or long hair any longer. We hit the diner for breakfast with Chicken Feathers and then caught a ride from our waitress of last night back to the barbers shop. A quick phone call to Bud's cell phone and he was down at the shop cutting my hair and shaving my beard ten minutes later. DT decided to renew her Martha Porter tribute hair cut and, for twenty dollars, we were both looking pretty spiffy. Back at the Hostel, AT Troll and Bismark rolled in and we are all catching up on the trail news and thinking about dinner over at Hillbilly Bobs. We have a shuttle set to return us to the trailhead in the AM and we will head to Damascus. CB & DT
Date: 2010-05-08
From: Zero day just because we can!

To: US 321
Miles today: 9.7

5/8 US 321 Watauga Lake. 9.7 milesWe decided that we are having a lot of fun here at Braemar so we booked a slack for the miles over to the lake. It was really nice to hike without the packs and the two of us along with Chicken Feathers had an easy time walking along Laurel Falls and over Pond Flats Mtn. We passed the fraternity camping down near Dennis Cove Road and they caught up to us near the top of the mountain. We learned that River has gone off trail because of a turned ankle but don't know her status. We also heard that City Slicker hitched to Damascus to meet up with her brother. Hopefully we will see them both next week at trail days. The gang here is planning a frozen pizza party tonight and then an early day on the trail tomorrow. Hiker bliss is settling in tonight...The purple flowered tree is the empress which is not indigenous to this area.  the azaleas are just about to bloom.  The rhodys are cracking color finally.  Just discovered that the sassafrass tree has 3 shapes of leaves.CB & DT
Date: 2010-05-09
From: US 321

To: Stealth camping mile 433.9
Miles today: 12.4

5/9 mile 433.9 camping. 12.4 miles. We started out at Watauga lake and churned out the miles to Vandeventer shelter and took a break to chat with a few hikers setting up there. We decide to move on because it was do exposed to the winds and ended up here tonight. We ended up with a great group of thru hikers in camp tonight. Even had one from GA cutting the Pidgeon Wing while I played the banjo in front of the fire. A pair of hikers stopped in for dinner and water on thier way to Damascus tonight. They had already walked 25 miles today and planned to finish the remaining 29 before the night is through. Nuts! Off to bed and try again tomorrow  CB & DT
Date: 2010-05-10
From: Wise Shelter - by Bob Tina

To: Low gap tenting
Miles today: 14.0

5/10 low gap US 421 camping. 14.0 miles. An early start and warmer day than yesterday combined with nice level trail got us to our campsite comfortably today. We played tag with the same group of hikers from last nights camp until a few miles from our site tonight. It is now 14 miles or so to Damascus and trail days and if the weather holds off enough, we may be there tomorrow... Otherwise a pretty good day and we are ready for bed at 8:30 :-)CB & DT
Date: 2010-05-11
From: Low gap tenting

To: Damascus
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: light rain

5/11 Damascus. 14.0 yellow blaze miles. We were up early to a few raindrops and windy conditions and had our tent down and everything packed up by 7:45. As we got to the road, a pickup truck stopped and offered us a ride to the restaurant in Shady Valley, TN so we hopped in and went for breakfast! Full bellies and bad weather turned us soft as we accepted a ride up to Damascus along rte 91. This is a very beautiful farming community with rolling fields and pretty houses. They even have a cranberry festival in the fall! I guess we are not too serious about doing every mile of the trail. DT and I want to experience more of the things near the trail as well so we may not make up today's lost 14 miles. That and since we are moving at a slower pace than those around us, we are starting to think that we won't ever make Maine. Hiking our own hike is the way we are seeing things these days. No hurry and no fretting over every mile but enjoying everyone and everthing around us is more our way of life. Trail Days officially starts Thursday but that doesn't stop the townsfolk from getting an early jump on things. The Babtist church was in the park with home baked goodies and there was an open invitation barbeque on the main street in someone's back yard. A very nice lady who owns a B & B in town is letting us camp in her back yard for the remainder of the week! Good times!CB & DT
Date: 2010-05-11
From: Waynesboro, VA

To: notes from DT's journal
Miles today: 0.0

May 11th Tues.Tues. Steve Jaeger showed up looking a bit thinner and tired. He has beeen diagnosed with colitis and spent sometime in the hospital a couple of weeks ago. Hope we get the chance to see him before he leaves to go back north.We are at the Lazy Fox B&B _ in Damascus< VA. Also picked up the Victorian Inn B&B brochure ( next year only serving continental breakfast in bed ¢ so the owner tells me). Tonight we are inside but wed. and thurs. ours we are outside then moving on to Super 8 on Friday in Abingdon, VA. (offering shuttle service to Damascus) A lot going on for 4 days. We will be leaving Abingdon Sat. afternoon and back to hiking. We changed our plans and stayed!!!!.
Date: 2010-05-12
From: Damascus

To: Zero day
Miles today: 0.0

5/12 Damascus. Zero day. We decided to stay indoors last night and sleep in a real bed and take showers so we talked to Ginni at the Lazy Fox B & B and managed a room for the night. This AM we set up our tent down by the creek and will stay there for a few days and then hit a motel Friday night to get some sleep and hopefully hit the trail Saturday afternoon. We will let things roll and see how we do. Steve met up with us yesterday and we exchanged a bunch of gear with him and I have decided to send the banjo back home. We need to lighten our loads because the distance between stops is getting longer and the food bags heavier. We are happy we got to town early because so many free meals etc are already going on already and few people are here to take advantage of them. Lots of familiar faces walking on every hour too! The Babtist church put on a nice BBQ for us tonight (after having our fill a few hours ago down the street) and have promissed a repeat tomorrow! 9 pm and we are hitting the tents got the night. CB & DT
Date: 2010-05-12
From: Waynesboro, VA

To: notes from DT's journal
Miles today: 0.0

May 12thWe are in ¢Miss Ginnies¢ backyard camping until Sunday. A bit cloudy but who cares when one is sitting along a fast moving stream. A couple of hikers got lost now found ¢ in Cherokee National Park. (They stayed put and built a campfire). Many activities planned for hikers this weekend. Much food. The 1st Baptist Church starts the weekend off with a ¢grillin¢ in their backyard on Wednesday. Then at 7pm a service under the tents. Thurs. starts shuttle services to trail and motels etc. outside of town. FREE!! Eating contest ¢ C.B. will be entering, not towin, but to get more to eat!! I am sure this is the philosophy of most hikers entering the contest. Church is having home cooked meal for hikers at 6pm @ church. Friday we can take showers in a huge portable truck - sound like the Breast cancer 3 Day set up. I can hardly wait!!!- of course Ruth and Elaine would be up extra early so they could get first dibs on the hot water!! Ha ha¢¦ First aid screening happens also!! An internet caf© is to be set up also. Coffee house with bands at night.Sat.(5/15) Showers again!!! 2 days in a row. We will be getting one.Set up for trail days is happening as I write this. They have moved the hikers ¢tent¢ city a quarter of a mile farther out of town! I wonder why?!! Bad scene. We were coming off the mtn. the other day and I remarked to C.B. that I thought Sharon Iram had her hand in putting/marking the trail mileage. Gees ¢ I howled, thinking of the B.C. training walks from Amesbury to Plum Island. ***Just a side note-I have no idea why this is occurring but my short Martha Porter haircut is attracting attention. Most people comment on the color- but then it gives me a chance to talk about the Pink Angels. Time to get off the grass by this terrific stream and mosey a few blocks to meet more townspeople and hikers. My next installment will tell you of an in town adventure that might land me in jail overnight. How can I behave when I am so far away from home??(taking a note from Josie¢s S.F. walk!)This is it! Pink Trail markers. I bought pink carefree mini pads and duct taped them on street poles, windows of stores, telephone poles, speeding signs, etc. I kept the pink plastic facing out as they represented a pink Blaze. Pink blazing is someone hiking the trail looking ¢usually¢ for the opposite sex to hookup with ¢ sexual liaison. It gets pretty raunchy and does change the ¢flavor¢ of the trails original intent. We try and stay away from the ¢pink blazers¢.
Date: 2010-05-13
From: Zero day

To: Trail Days
Miles today: 0.0

5/13 Trail Days. The free food continues! They had an eating contest today at the, you guessed it, Baptist Church which translated into a free lunch to Cabana Boy! I entered the cake eating contest and was beat out by a bunch of girls! But, I did get my free food...... Free chicken dinner tonight if you stood in line this morning to get a ticket, which we did at 8 AM, and so more eating tonight. Many more hikers showing up by the hour and a huge crowd expected by tomorrow. Nice to catch up with those that passed us early on and have hitched back for Trail Days. Naps in the forecast this afternoon and then out for the evening events.
Date: 2010-05-14
From: Trail Days

To: Trail Days
Miles today: 0.0

5/14 Trail Days. We have officially been adopted by the First Baptist Church here. They are so amazing with all of thier events, clinics, dinners, breakfasts, showers, snacks, music and support at Trail Days. We have never really heard much mention of just how much they do for thru hikers. Every day we are drawn towards thier tents because they are so hospitable and gracious with thier time and energy. Down at the library, I finished reading The Road and picked up How to Raise Chickens for Dummies. I got halfway through that one and am getting a feel for the subject so we can jump in to it this fall. Tonight we sat under the big tents eating desserts, nachos with chili dip, fruit, coffee, tea and water, cookies and numerous other treats and listened to the live band they had. We sat and talked about life with "King Tutt", the minister from a Church in GA, for an hour or two and fell into bed aroung 11 pm. Way past our usual hiker midnight.
Date: 2010-05-15
From: Trail Days

To: Trail Days
Miles today: 0.0

5/15 Damascus. Last day of Trail Days for us. We need to hit the trail again before we turn into slugs. I think we have gained a few pounds from all of the town food we have been eating and it's time to move on. We hit the Food City market and stocked up on lunch/trail food and organized our packs and the tent for an early departure tomorrow. The hiker parade was today and is basically a free for all water fight between the spectators and the hikers in the parade. It was a hoot. Afterwards, there was an auction to benefit The Place and the talent show started at 3:30. Loads of fun for us all. Now it's nine o'clock and we are hitting the sleeping bags for the night. CB & DT
Date: 2010-05-16
From: Trail Days

To: Virginia Creeper Trail
Miles today: 14.0

5/16 Virginia Creeper Trail and Whitetop Laurel Creek. 14.0 miles. It's good to be on the trail again and so many left town with us. We lucked out because there are lots of stealth camp sites along the Creeper Trail so we are set up right by the creek. Thunderstorms hit us for a few hours this afternoon and followed us into camp so we are hiding out in the tent listening to the rain come down. I just hope the creek doesnt rise too much overnight.... We lucked out and made it a little farther than expected so tomorrow should be a little easier though it is predicted to shower all day. Yuck! The fact is that most breathing raingear is not waterproof so we are going to be wet for sure. We did use the rain skirts today and love them because they don't hold in the heat. I think the packa pack cover/poncho is next on the list. Don't know why I didn't pick one up at Trail Days yesterday. Stupid. That's all to report today. CB & DT
Date: 2010-05-17
From: Virginia Creeper Trail

To: Whitetop Mtn Road
Miles today: 7.3

5/17 Whitetop Mtn Road. 7.3 miles. It's was a wet and rainy night by the creek and I kept one eye on the rising water as we slept. A rainy day start kept us in bed until 7 and we were slow to start out. The packs are heavy with rain and 6 more days of food and the uphill climb today has us tuckered out. We stopped at Lost Mountain Shelter to sign the register and check on friends whereabouts and headed on up Buzzard Mountain. The clouds danced around us for a few minutes and everyone was trying thier cell phones for signals. It was open fields from there to Whitetop Mountain Road and our campsite for the night. We both were beat from the rain and long miles yesterday so a short day today was the perfect thing. Lots of hikers ended up camping with us. We saw glimpses of the sun and tried to dry our gear but ultimately the clouds closed around us and it was foggy all night. CB had a severe alergy attack and had to overdose on allergy meds. It was a long night and in the morning we had to call home for stronger medicine to be sent ahead to help fight off these allergies. I never thought it could be this bad so fast. Thanks for shipping my meds Dad! To date, Mad Mike, Fable and Sparky have had to leave the trail. Sorry you guys aren't out hear any longer and we miss you already. Please try to keep in touch and do your best to get back on trail!CB & DT
Date: 2010-05-18
From: Whitetop Mtn Road

To: Wise Shelter Stealth Site
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: light rain

5/18 Wise Shelter camping. 11.8 milesAfter my bad night in camp, we hit the trail around 8:45 and were in the drizzle and light rain off and on today. We worked our way around Mt Rogers and came across the open balds around lunch time. It was windy and damp as we got to Thomas Knob Shelter and we joined a large crowd for lunch. Eventually we could see a heard of ponies back in the distance and Stucco offered to call them over. She winnied at the topped of her lungs and we all had a fantastic laugh at her efforts but no ponies came to visit. After lunch we managed to go a quarter mile and there in front of us were four ponies and two tiny foals! So cute! We then went through Rhododendron Gap and lots of wet trail and pudded along the highlands for a few rocky miles. Eventually we came to the Highlands State Park entrance and saw a few more ponies off in the distance. We made wise shelter around 7 pm exausted and damp. A long day in the wet weather. Off to bed and hopefully better weather tomorrow. DT & CB
Date: 2010-05-18
From: Waynesboro, VA

To: notes from DT's journal
Miles today: 0.0

May 18thLeft White Top in fog. Weather cleared somewhat, but rain finally appeared!! Approaching Mt. Rogers and Grayson Highlands today. Went through quite a few stiles, over many streams rocky and tree rooted trails. Had a chance to see about 30 ponies, but couldn¢t pet any. Mt. Rogers (5729 ft.) was fogged in so we didn¢t go to the top just around it. Some rumbling of thunder and so this was a good choice for us ¢ safety first. Rhododendrons have started to bloom!! Seeing a few flaming orange azaleas just beginning to bloom. Stopped I at Thomas Knob Shelter for a snack and signed register. Tonight we a stealth camping just short of the Wise Shelter as there is no camping at the shelter. Camping is half mile beyond shelter going north. Hopefully ponies will be seen tomorrow. C.B.¢s allergies are driving him crazy. His Dad is sending his Nasacort.Night all. D.T.
Date: 2010-05-19
From: Wise Shelter Stealth Site

To: Hurricane Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 10.9
Weather: light rain

5/19 Hurricane Mtn Shelter 10.9 miles. After a showery night at our stealth site, we dragged ourselves out of bed around 7 AM and were on trail around 9. We had a great walk up to Stone Mtn in the Highlands but found the trails to be more like mountain streams! We worked our way down to the horse corral and "the Scales" and overheard a rainy forcast at the ranger station. We climbed over Pine Mtn and headed to old Orchard Shelter  where B & J were leaving trail magic! Fresh apples, carrots, canned fruit, chips, tuna and more were quickly devoured by the motly crew of thrus there. Then on we went to Hurricane Mtn and our destination for tonight. It was a drizzly day off and on but not to bad today! We are stealth camped with half a dozen other tents interspursed by the creek and only one hiker is up at the shelter tonight! Nine o'clock and my bed is calling. We are both beat but happy to be in camp. DT & CB
Date: 2010-05-19
From: Waynesboro, VA

To: notes from DT's journal
Miles today: 0.0

May 19thWe left the stealth campsite before Old Orchard Shelter at 9 a.m. with clearing skies. A lot of streams due to night rain. Rocky wet trails today. Tough on ankles! We are stealth camping agin away from Hurricane Mtn. Shelter, which by the way is quite nice (no water though). Raining again tonight. Night all D.T. & C.B.
Date: 2010-05-20
From: Hurricane Mtn Shelter

To: Trimpi Shelter
Miles today: 9.1
Weather: clear sky

5/20 Trimpi Shelter. 9.1 milesHad a nice rainy night in the tent and slept well by the creek and woke to a sunny Day today! Nice to have a break in the weather. Got off early to try and make the day easier on us and made our way to Dickey Gap by 11 am. Ham made friends with Dave McClure who gave us a ride to Troutdale and Jerry's Country Kitchen for lunch. Boy can we eat town food! The best part was the wifi service that let us email and update our journal a little. After lunch we hit the PO and some of you may get a card this week! Then two hitches later(one from DT throwing herself in front of a truck in a guys driveway), we were back on the trail and on our way to the Shelter. The nicest stone shelter to date with a great fireplace to sit by and chat. We stayed up an hour past midnight (that's 10:00 to the uninitiated) and hit the sack.Another great day on the trail!CB & DT
Date: 2010-05-21
From: Trimpi Shelter

To: VA 16, Marion, VA
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: light rain

5/21 VA 16, Marion, VA 10.7 milesWe slept great in our tent at Trimpi Shelter last night and had another early start knowing we were headed for Partnership Shelter and pizza delivery. We moved along the rolling countryside quickly and soon came to a field of grazing cows who let us walk up to them and gave us a big wet lick on the hand. What we hadn't expected was the big yellow bus we had seen in the AT movie Trek! A great treat that DT rushed over to check out. As she was ready to step up into the bus, she learched backward and screamed Snake and swore she saw a copperhead in the ceiling of the bus. CB stepped up and sure enough, there was a snake belly visible in the ceiling but it was either a rat snake or a black racer. Either way, noone was taking the bus today! We pudded along the infamous green tunnel and came across a couple of beautiful grazing horses and took a few ceremonious photos to share with Ruth and Elaine back home. Sorry girls, it will likely be months before you see them... Then on through the countryside until we hit Partnership around 3:00. The folks at the shelter caught wind of a 50 cent shuttle to town and a AYCE Chinese buffet and 10 of us decided it was the right thing to do. Dutch Tape even paid for everyones ride! So here we are, in town with our bellies full again and sleeping in a real bed. CB is starting to gain weight! Back to trail in the AM.
Date: 2010-05-21
From: Waynesboro, VA

To: notes from DT's journal
Miles today: 0.0

May 21stNot sure of dates out here and don¢t much care. No need to. We hiked from Trimpi Shelter to Partnership Shelter today with threat of rain all day, but it never happened. Cool day ¢ at 50-55 with coming week about the same. When we arrived at P.S. we found about 8 guys heading to town (Marion) to an all you can eat (a.y.c.e.) Chinese restaurant. We joined them at 50cents pre/person on the bus. What prices down here! We ate well and I am sure profits at the a.y.c.e. were down today. A few of us stayed in town and have overtaken a motel. Place doesn¢t have bed bugs sop we stayed. I couldn¢t leave the hot shower until Bri said I was hogging the H2O. OMG I love hot H2O. Don¢t smell so bad now. We left out the deodorant as its too heavy to carry. Leaving the Trimpi Shelter we climbed over stiles and enjoyed walking through a herd of cows. Love being licked by cows. To our surprise the yellow bus of TREK fame was in the field. I decided to check it out and as I was about to step on the bottom step I looked up and on the ceiling there was a SNAKE. I backed out of the bus and hightailed it quickly over pasture paddies. Not sure of the snakes intentions, but mine was to give myself space from the bus. Oh well that picture of me at the wheel will never happen now. Cabana Boy and the cows were very curious about my actions. Pretty funny now that I look back on it. ( That we my 3rd snake encounter). After the A.Y.C.E. we headed for the motel and did some laundry! We love clean underwear.To all reading this I apologize for the ramblings as they are written usually at hiker midnight. Many a night we are in our sleeping bags @ 8:00 pm.I am sleeping better, thank heavens< as I am a light sleeper. Cabana Boy sleeps any where and falls asleep easily. As I was walking today I thought about how wonderful my 3 daughters are. I have a big old house, a nice life, but the best of all are my kids and Cabana Boy. Count your blessings everyone.Night all.D.T.