morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-09-26
From: Thunder Hill Shelter

To: Bobblets Gap Shelter
Miles today: 23.6
Weather: light rain

From Mary: Slept in today. After last night's wet foray we were dragging a bit. Not much true rain today just misting and water dripping from the trees when the wind blew. Lunch at the Bryant Ridge Shelter, probably the most impressive shelter we've seen thus far. (Of course we never stay at the really nice ones.) We passed a couple of other shelters today and as I was reading the registers I was enjoying the tales of the "lost hunting dogs." We saw a couple of hunting dogs in past few days and could hear them howling up a storm from the valleys below as we hiked. I had asked Lois at the Dutch Haus about the dogs and here is the scoop. In preparation for bear hunting season, hunters starve these dogs, affix them with radio collars, and send them out to tree some bears. Since hunting season has not yet begun, it is simply a training exercise. If the dogs tree a bear they get a treat and are sent out again. So now I am educated as to the purpose of these pitiful dogs, but many hikers leaving notes may not be. Their stories go something like this..."was followed by a hunting dog today, you could see its ribs. We fed it a cliff bar and befriended it. Later called the number on the collar and the owner met us at a road crossing to pick it up." There were numerous accounts of hiker-hunting dog interactions. I think the dogs have figured it out, thru-hiker = food, who cares about bears anyway? Very entertaining. We have the shelter at Boblets Gap to ourselves. I think I am beginning to see a trend. Now time to get these wet shoes off, some rubs are developing. Only have to go 17 miles tomorrow- yippee!
Date: 2008-09-27
From: Bobblets Gap Shelter

To: Daleville, VA
Miles today: 18.5
Weather: mist

From Jay: We cruised out of the shelter early today, walking with headlamps to guide the way down the pre-dawn trail. We wanted to make the most of our upcoming town stop, so quick was the word of the day. Terrain and trail were fairly easy, so we made it to Daleville by 1:00 in the p.m. We're staying at a comfy Howard Johnson with a Pizza Hut next door that we already have sampled. It was a joy to shed our wet and muddy clothes and watch football in the splendor of central heating. Unfortunately, our Boilermakers played like they had just walked 70 miles in the rain, and let a pathetic Notre Dame team push them around. Oh well, at least we're taking a zero tomorrow. Pizza Hut appetizer: Breadsticks and Cinnamon sticks
Date: 2008-09-28
From: Daleville, VA

To: Daleville, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

From Mary: Zero, wonderful zero. We spent another night at the Howard Johnson. This town seemed too convenient to pass up the opportunity. Laundry, internet, and breakfast at the hotel, grocery just down the street. Our feet needed a bit of a break after all the wet weather we've been hiking in. We said farewell to E.T. today, it is unlikey we will meet up again on this trail as his schedule is a bit more aggressive than ours. WE did catch up with another SOBO, German Tourist, today. We may see more of her on down the trail.Quote of the day: "Thank the lord, it all comes from him." Lady who picked us up on our way back from the grocery store.
Date: 2008-09-29
From: Daleville, VA

To: Catawba Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: few clouds

From Jay: Well, we managed to leave our happy little hotel room and venture once more into the semi-wilds of central Virginia. The sun is back out, at least for now, and while a bit warm, I'll take the clear skies in a heartbeat. We had some of the best views in quite awhile from Tinker Cliffs and the oft-photographed McAfee Knob. Quite a few section and day hikers out on the trail as well, who always make the trail smell so good. I had fun today with a cereal box toy. We had picked up some Apple Jacks for breakfast yesterday in our resupply, and the kids' toy inside was a .....wait for it... pedometer. Just what I need. So today I undertook a little experiment. I strapped the pedometer with Snap, Crackle and Pop on as we started off the Trail this morning. At the end of the day it read, "43,133." Some quick calculations gave me an estimated 4,937,000 steps for the entire AT. Not bad. Tonight we are alone in a shelter again, and are headed into the little burg of Catawba in the morning to pick up a mail drop before plugging along.
Date: 2008-09-30
From: Catawba Mountain Shelter

To: Niday Shelter
Miles today: 24.5
Weather: light rain

From Jay: WE got rolling early this morning for our side trip into Catawba to pick up our mail drop and get some more snacks for our haul to Pearisburg. On a side note, this was a very strange stop for me. I stopped in the same tiny general store three years ago while attempting to bicycle cross-country. Definitely not a place I thought I would see again. Anyway...We caught a lift back to the trail from a retired Navy Master Chief and were back on our way. Lots of ridgeline walking and climbing, except for a big field full of cows, including one who was very reluctant to move off the trail. There were two notable landmarks during the day. The first was the "Dragon's Tooth," a high, rocky outcropping that required a bit of Maine-style rock scrambling. The second was a monument located where Audie Murphy died in a plane crash. If you don't know who Audie was, take a minute to look him up on Wikipedia or Google. Tonight we have the shelter to ourselves once again. The shelter registry says there were nine people here last night. Sounds like we have a herd just in front of us. # of hikers seen on the trail today: 0
Date: 2008-10-01
From: Niday Shelter

To: War Spur Shelter
Miles today: 18.2
Weather: broken clouds

From Mary: The first day of October felt...well like October. More ridge walking today, but mostly an uneventful day. After yesterday's longish miles, today was nice. We had a late lunch so we only had 5-6 miles after lunch. Oh, and Laurel Creek had about the largest Rhododendron thicket I have ever seen. Again today we hadn't seen another sould on the trail until the end of the day. We ran into a bunch of NOBO section hikers, most notable was a lady by the name of Medicare Pastor who is attempting to section hike the whole AT and PCT before her 70th birthday. That gives her three more years and a little less than half of both trails left. I guess our other notable encounter was the shelter cat at the War Spur Shelter. This stray was in pretty bad shape, half blind and practically starving. WE shared some snacks with it and hopefully kept the shelter warmer with our body heat. Jay even tried to make a fire to help warm the shivering cat. The fire was successful, but the cat didn't really seem to care. My goal is to call animal control when we get to town to see if they can do anything. With the temperature dropping and thru-hikers becoming few and far between, the handouts are going to get thin. Poor thing. Happiness is sour gummi watermelons and a Flat Stanley from your parents. Quote of the day: "i know I should be exhausted these days, but I'm drinking from the cup of life until it spills down my cheeks. Wouldn't want it any other way..." (Thanks Lynn)
Date: 2008-10-02
From: War Spur Shelter

To: Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 31.7
Weather: broken clouds

From Jay: Our biggest day yet, although it wasn't originally planned that way. We got going pretty early and were making good time towards our goal of a shelter in 25 miles. However, we started on the subject of Dairy Queen burgers and blizzards, and the next thing ya know we decided to go full-bore to Pearisburg. One thing, and I know we've mentioned this, but it's been straight chilly the past few days. We've even been wearing hats and gloves while hiking along, which is a huge change from 99% of our hike thus far. It's nice to be nice and cool while we hike, but we do spend a lot of time shedding and putting on layers as the trail does its up's and down's. We got into Pearisburg just before dark and were still moving well. Dairy Queen absorbed the full fury of two might hungry hikers. We earned ourselves another full zero day tomorrow, and Jay loves him some ZERO days.Blizzard flavor of the day: Mint Oreo.
Date: 2008-10-03
From: Pearisburg, VA

To: Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

From Mary: We are celebrating our thirty on Thursday (not to be confused with our "thirsty" on Thursday) by taking the day off. WE did breakfast at Martha's a good southern style breakfast joint with the CB radio crackling in the background. Now we are doing laundry, running errands, and catching up with folks on the phone. We met up with some other SOBO's who we have been following. Looks like we'll be seeing them again soon on the trail. Till then...we are enjoying our day off. I had a wonderful lunch with the Lucas family today. Robert Lucas is a Physician Assistant for the BMT service back in Utah. I had the pleasure of working with him, and when he heard about our plans to hike the AT he insisted we visit his family when were in Pearisburg. Since we were in town we were happy to give them a call. I went out to their farm where they prepared a delicious lunch including apple crisp from fresh apples off the tree. Thanks again Jean and Anne Marie! Annoyance of the day: No restroom at the laundromat and peeing out back is frowned upon in town.
Date: 2008-10-05
From: Pearisburg, VA

To: VA 606
Miles today: 24.3

From Jay: Well, after yesterday's unexpected delay, we were back on the trail and knocking out some miles. The toughest part of the day was the solid climb out of Pearisburg which afforded us some great views of the nearby valleys shrouded under morning clouds. After climbing up, we had a long section of ridge walking followed by another long stretch down a rhododendron- filled river valley. Our tentsite is in a trailer park behind a local grocery in a town too small for a post office. But, it has a bath house and the grocery/deli made us up some mean burgers and philly cheese steaks. Maybe not the Mt. Washington Hotel, but it'll do Donkey, it'll do. Honeybun bread of the day - Krispie Kream
Date: 2008-10-06
From: VA 606

To: Bland, BA
Miles today: 18.6
Weather: broken clouds

From Mary: WE had breakfast in the warmth of Trent's grocery before hitting the trail. It wasn't supposed to be an especially cold night last night, but the 5th wheelers surrounding our campsite weren't exactly trapping heat. Jay's watch read 48 degrees in the tent, so I'm guessing 40's outside. It is only going to get chillier at night, so we better get prepared. The daytime temperature has been pleasantly warm lately reaching up into the 70's. So all in all it's been beautiful hiking. We are mostly continuing our ridge walk and enjoying the easy terrain. The plan was to continue a couple miles down the trail after our grocery stop in Bland. That was until we sat down for a pizza at Bland Square gas stations, and Jay mentioned the Saints were playing tonight. And no it wasn't that he said his bet on the over could pay for the hotel. We figured since it was within our budget, and it is our vacation after all, we might as well take every opportunity to enjoy ourselves. Go Saints!! Miles of spider webs on trail: 13 P.S. I finished the book Killer Angels (great read) and bought "Twilight" on Saturday I'm already over halfway through.
Date: 2008-10-07
From: Bland, BA

To: Chestnut Knob Shelter
Miles today: 21.5
Weather: scattered clouds

From Jay: Getting back out to the trail was quite a bit tougher than getting into Bland this morning, with us not getting a hitch and having to walk the 3.5 miles back out. Once we got to the Trail though, things moved right along for the rest of the day. We saw 3 bear in the pan of 10 minutes, our first since the Shenandoah's. One was a cub who had to be at least 70' up a tree. Water has continued to be scarce, and we had to haul water up to this evening's shelter. Speaking of, this shelter is probably the most interesting we've stayed in. We're at the top of Chestnut Knob at around 4400', in a stone building with fours walls and an honest to goodnes door. We have it all to ourselves and had a beautiful sunset over a big mountain meadown. It is also a good thing we're inside too, as the wind is whipping and the temps are dropping quickly. Much warmer in here!
Date: 2008-10-08
From: Chestnut Knob Shelter

To: Atkins, VA
Miles today: 22.9
Weather: light rain

From Mary: Breakfast in comfort this monring, in the fully enclosed shelter, even though at 4,400' it is the highest we've slept at since New Hampshire. We postponed our departure just a bit to let a cloud we were momentarily in blow by. One thin nice about spending the night on the summit is you get to start the day with a downhill. We enjoyed the open fields as we headed down. I swear at one point the tall browning grass was gold with the rid of the early morning sun. A Sting song was going through my head as I tried to capture it in a picture. The rest of the day was kind of a blur of ups and downs. It started raining before eleven and continued the rest of the day. We found a great lunch spot in the shelter of a picnic pavilion right off the trail. As we passed the last shelter (Davis Path Shelter) before town we received some bad news. One, the shelter is gone, just a tent platform now, but we wern't planning on staying anyway, so that's just a heads up to others. The second piece of bad news was a sign saying the hostel in Atkins only has room for 8 hikers and to reserve your spot ahead. Some news that would have been helpful awhile back. When we called the hostel from I-81 interchange we didn't get an answer. We resupplied, ate at the Barn, and still no answer. We spotted a motel down the road and due to the rain decided to tuck in for the night. The Relax Inn was clean, had coin laundry, and was literally directly across the street from the trail. All in all a decent place to lay down our heads.
Date: 2008-10-09
From: Atkins, VA

To: Troutdale
Miles today: 26.1
Weather: overcast clouds

From Jay: We made it to Troutdale today after not being sure we would when we left this morning from Atkins. The Trail was in great shape the entire way though, with Mary and I agreeing that it was an "easy" 26 miles. Troutdale is a tiny town with basically a general store/diner, post office, and the church which hosts a hostel (which we are in). We hit the road to town around 5:30 p.m. but hadn't been lucky enough to get a hitch until the pastor's wife, Mary, came driving by and gave us a lift to the hostel. We went and dined at the local eatery where we met back up with Skeeter and Spoonful. They've been hiking with other SOBO's, Sweet Tea and Clemson, and have been having some "adventures" along the way. The best was getting lost and being taken by some locals back to their place, with 50 cats, no electricity, a wood fired stove with a room full of leaf piles.Tomorrow we're headed up to Grayson Highlands, where we've actually hiked before a few years ago. Really cool place and I'm looking forward to seeing it again.
Date: 2008-10-10
From: Troutdale

To: Thomas Knob Shelter
Miles today: 21.2
Weather: light rain

From Jay-After a huge breakfast at Jerry's Diner in Trouville and retreiving a dropbox from the post office, we were back on the Trail. Unfortunately, the weather soon became cold and damp as we climbed into the Grayson Highlands. The visibility was reduced to less than 100' in the blowing clouds. This was a real bummer as the Highlands are considered by many the most scenic section of Trail in Virginia. We did see many of the famed wil Shetland ponies that roam the Highlands. They are nearly oblivious to humans, letting us come almost enough to touch them. We actually had to shoo some off the Trail to pass. Tonight we're staying at our highest shelter thus far on the Tail, at about 5400'. It's definitely going to be a chilly one as the clouds are literally blowing into the shelter. Hope I don't freeze! # of shelters remaining on the Trail: 65
Date: 2008-10-11
From: Thomas Knob Shelter

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 28.0
Weather: clear sky

From Mary-We decided to do a big day into Damascus today so we could take Sunday off entirely. The clouds from last night vanished as we slept and we were treated to clear skies this morning. Oh, a note about last night. At 5400' it was the coldest night yet. I was chilled on and off in my 32 degree bag, I can't imagine how I would have made it in Jay's 45-degree bag. Due to our lofty goal of reaching town we started off with headlamps again. We were treated to some beautiful vistas before and at Buzzard Rock. The fall colors are beginning to show themselves. I am frequently reminded why this is my favorite time of year. The colors of the fallen leaves that cover the Trail are often mesmorizing. Every once in awhile I look up and watch leaves drifting down from above. I love the way they float down and fill the air with color. Just before our lunch break today the AT joined up with the Virginia Creeper Trail. The Creeper is a 35-mile "Rails-to-Trails" gravel trail, and being a beautiful Staurday it was a zoo. We decided to rub elbows with humanity a little and had lunch at a trail pull-off. The temptation to "borrow" some bikes and zip into Damascus was real, but we managed to get hiking again before it really took hold. 300 yards of trail with bicycles flying past us was enough for oue liking. We made realtively good time into town and with the realization the it was a holiday weekend, we got a room at the Mt. Rogers Outfitter's hostel. It was an okay place for the night but we will be longing for an upgrade for tomorrow. We are off to check our Dot's Inn, apparently the only bar in town, for some grub and maybe a football game. Ice Cream of the Day: Sundaes at Dairy King (that's not a misprint)
Date: 2008-10-12
From: Damascus, VA

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

From Mary: Zero day highlights:(1) Pancake breakfast at In The Country (2) Chai from Mojoes(3) Jay buying a new sleeping bag after freezing his but off the night before. He got a great deal on a Mont-Bell 25 degree bag at Sun Dog Outfitters(4) Super-cycle wash at the laundry-mat(5) A room at the Victorian Inn B+B opened up, we had to splurge but it was worth it. (6) Resupply at Dollar General(7) Calzones at Sicily's, oh and internet at the restaurant(8) Naps, football, and kicking back at the B+B (oh, and another shower)(9) Jenny Campbell making the drive to Damascus to take us out to dinner. (Jenny is a friend of mine from Pharmacy school at Purdue) Jenny you rock!(10)Outback Steakhous, enough said. Appetizer of the day: Bloomin' Onion (of course)
Date: 2008-10-13
From: Damascus, VA

To: Stealth site near TN 91
Miles today: 21.3

From Jay: Great breakfast this morning at the B&B. It took us awhile to get out of Damascus, but fortunatly the trail was easy-going once we were on our way. A few miles out of town we crossed the state line into Tennessee, ending our 550-mile love/hate relationship with Virginia. It was ridgeline walking today with beautiful trail conditions. It has really warmed up now that I bought a much warmer sleeping bag yesterday. The colors of the leaves were awesome today as the miles seemed to fly by. We're stealth camping not far off the trail after having ourselves a nice fire and dinner, Tomorrow we're going to swing into Hampton for another hostel stay. Today's hike was brought to you by Blue Bird Honeybuns, which are now Bromate-Free!
Date: 2008-10-14
From: Stealth site near TN 91

To: US 321/Hampton, TN
Miles today: 20.0

From Mary: The weather is unseasonably warm. We enjoyed views of Watauga lake, begining at lunch today. In the afternoon we crossed Watauga Dam... it was stranely desolate, but beautiful. We caught a hitch into town and resupplied (at quite a cost/for little selection) at Brown's grocery. At the grocery we met the owner of the Braemar Castle Hostel. It turned out to be a great place, and we had it all to ourselves. Half of a mansion home turned hostel, equiped with a kitchen, living room, private bedroom and bath for a killer $20/per person. We had some great BBQ at Quaterbacks down the street, well worth the walk. All in all a good night. Thing I am most thankful for today: Hot shower (after sweating all day, in the warm weather)
Date: 2008-10-15
From: US 321/Hampton, TN

To: Mountaineer Shelter
Miles today: 24.5
Weather: clear sky

From Mary: Long miles again today, made even longer by the 2 mile hike out of Hampton this morning. Once we were back on the trail we were treated to a picturesque section. Mountain laurel, rivers, waterfalls, and unusual terrain met our every turn for the first half of the day. This is a section I could see myself coming back and repeating sometime, especially if the rhododendrons are in bloom. We saw many day/section hikers today, realizing quite quickly we wouldn't make our miles if we stopped to chat with everyone. This afternoon we waded through a plethora of dry leaves. (Yes Jay, I did just use that word) We reached the Over Mountain shelter at sundown and are staying with a group of 4 girls doing a section of the trail. What a beautiful shelter, built by volunteers and hikers... Thank you!
Date: 2008-10-16
From: Mountaineer Shelter

To: Overmountain Shelter
Miles today: 16.9
Weather: scattered clouds

From Mary: How does this guy keep showing up? Lost the trail for a bit this morning and when we found it again after a major road crossing we ran into a fellow hiker, Hungarian...again. It seems a friend of his lives in the area and dropped him off at the road. Hike your own hike is all I can say. Anyway, after lunch just beyond the road crossing we started our climb of Humpback just as the clouds began to roll in. Yet another supposedly beautiful view shrouded in clouds. We are staying the night a barn converted into a shelter. It sleeps 20+ and it's a good thing. Students from Appalachian State were on fall break and decided to say there too. The roaring bonfire, booze, and leftovers they offered were just too good to pass up. We set up our tent in the loft for the night, it is sure getting chilly. Everything would have been perfect except for the hour of filtering puddle water through a coffee filter that I can't get back. After falling in the mud and struggling to fill our bottles 150 yards down a dried up spring, I came to find out there was a piped spring down the trail a little further.College group of the day: Entomology class
Date: 2008-10-17
From: Overmountain Shleter

To: Iron Mountain Gap/Erwin, TN
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: light rain

From Mary: Rain. Cold rain. Another spectacular, or so we've heard, section of the trail including oft mentioned Roan Mountain, spoiled by the weather. We were to meet up with Lynn tonight and camp out. But after all the wet weather couldn't bear setting up a tent on the side of the road to wait for her. We caught a crazy hitch down the mountain in a pick up truck. Cold. Best part was the driver happened to know someone hiking the trail. Turns out it was someone we knew too... Skeeter. Strange, but Skeeter is one of the few people on the trail of whom we knew his real name to make the connection. We are resting well in a Super 8 tonight in Erwin, TN. Our bellies are full of Sonic, Panara, and Fat Tire! Yey for Lynn and being in Tennessee (which happens to be the location of the latest addition to the New Belgium Brewery).
Date: 2008-10-18
From: Iron Mountain Gap/Erwin, TN

To: Nolichucky River
Miles today: 19.1

From Mary: Sorry Lynnie for no true camping on this section of the trail. The hike today was again foiled by clouds, but the rain held off. Beauty spot was hardly beautiful aside from Lynn and I We are staying the night in a small cabin at Uncle Johnny's on the Nolichucky River. The three of us were turned down for crashing a wedding taking place a little further down the river and ended up here. We had pizza delivered, warm showers, roasted marshmallows, and had hot chocolate before we all fell asleep to the VHS Bull Durham which was greatly in need of some tracking. Pop tart of the day: Minnesota... no I mean Washington (Thanks Takala's for the college pop-tarts!)