morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-05-07
From: Erwin, TN

To: Low Gap campsite
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: broken clouds

Today was an interesting day that ended with a ballsy first on my part. It was hard to leave town, as usual, but I set out around 11 am. Sideways said we would get his things together and set out behind me and we agreed to meet at a campsite after Beauty Spot. It was extremely hot which wasn't great for motivation but I hiked anyway because that's what we do. My ankle started to get sore after a few miles so when I met up with Ripple before the climb to Beauty Spot, I got behind her so I would slow down and take it easy, which I too often forget to do. Beauty Spot was not that great and it was so hot and buggy that we moved on without stopping. We got to the campsite where I'd planned on meeting Sideways at Deep Gap and I sat for a while and made dinner. I asked several people behind me if they'd seen Sideways and everyone consistently said he hadn't left the hostel when they'd left so I got impatient and tired of waiting on him and decided to set out by myself. I packed up and moved on a little after 8 pm. I climbed Unaka Mountain while there was still a little daylight but by the time I got to the top it was dark. So I put on my headphones, strapped on my headlamp and pushed forward. I lost the trail a couple of times in a dense forest area but I found my way back to the trail. I came down the mountain and saw a fire at a campsite in low gap. I was praying it was Peach, Bam Bam and Low Rider as they were planning to stop there and it was! I was so happy to see them. I set up my tent and hung out with them for a while. I can't say that I'd like to night hike alone again, but today it was a success and I have no regrets. Tomorrow my family is going to get to come meet me and the group, which I'm super excited about.
Date: 2010-05-08
From: Low Gap campsite

To: campsite before Clyde Smith shelter
Miles today: 9.1
Weather: scattered clouds

Today was a shorter day because my mom, dad and sister came to give out trail magic! I flew through the morning to get to Greasy Creek gap where I was meeting them. We met at a hostel off of the trail- Greasy Creek Friendly. The owner, Connie, was extremely nice and let us all hang out in the yard and cook burgers and hot dogs. It was so great to see my family and it meant a lot to me for my family to get to meet the people I've been hiking with. Crazy Train and Restless didn't make it- they're a little behind because Crazy Train hurt his foot and they've had to slow down a little, but the rest of the Goonies were there, including Sideways who caught up. After my family left we all just hiked a mile to a campsite and we're all jammed in tenting. We had a great fire; all around an amazing day.
Date: 2010-05-09
From: campsite before Clyde Smith shelter

To: Overmountain shelter
Miles today: 14.1
Weather: few clouds

Sideways got off of the trail today until Damascus. It was sad to say goodbye to him, but he's doing the right thing. He's been hurt since the first week and he needs and deserves some time to heal so he can come back and hike without pain. He's going to hang out at a hostel for a few days, meet us in Damascus and finish the portion he missed on his way back after summiting.Today was a big day. We climbed Roan Mountain, which was a beast- 2000 ft in 3 miles. It wasn't a terrible climb but it was long and quite cold. We made it to the top and took a nice long lunch break in the grass. My ankle isn't 100% but I'm able to deal with the pain by limping a little. The trail after Carver's Gap was beautiful, and though initially my heart sank a little when I saw we were going to have to climb again after tackling Roan, the climbs up Jane and Grassy Ridge Balds were beautiful and I made the climbs easily. We are all staying in Overmountain shelter tonight, which is an old barn. It's a really cool shelter- certainly the most unique thus far. The Goonies took a platform on the bottom and the plan is to get up to watch the sun rise as the barn faces this amazing valley. Puma is trying to talk me into hiking 27 miles tomorrow so we can get to Kincora hostel on Tuesday in time to resupply and hang out for the day. We'll see about that...
Date: 2010-05-10
From: Overmountain shelter

To: campsite before Moreland Gap shelter
Miles today: 25.7
Weather: clear sky

That's right- there isn't a glitch- I hiked almost 26 miles yesterday. I actually hiked almost 27 because I missed the turn back to the trail after the shelter this morning and hiked an extra mile...of all the days to do that... After the morning hikes up Little Hump and Hump Mountains, the terrain was a breeze, which is how we were able to pull off such big mileage. The Hump Mountain hikes were gorgeous- it was a beautiful stretch. We made it to Apple House shelter by lunch, took a break and kept moving. Puma instilled the motivation in me to push and I felt pretty good most of the day so I went for it. We never saw Peach and Bam Bam after leaving the barn this morning but the rest of the group made it 18 miles to Mountaineer shelter. Puma, Windego and I ate some dinner and decided to try to make it as close to Moreland shelter as possible to be able to get to Kincora hostel early the next day. We night hiked over 7 miles, leaving only 8 for today. I felt good for awhile but the last few miles were so hard. My body was so mad at me and it was getting painful to walk. But we made it to the campsite before the last shelter and passed out promptly. I can't believe we hiked so many miles. I'm proud of myself but my feet are torn up. I have a bad heel blister and cuts under my toes on my left foot that are really painful, but my ankle is feeling alright and otherwise my body feels pretty good, albeit tired. It's amazing what your body is capable of if pushed.
Date: 2010-05-11
From: campsite before Moreland Gap shelter

To: Dennis Cove
Miles today: 7.9

I woke up to rain this morning. Puma was cowboy camping so I woke up to him cussing and packing to get out of camp before all of his stuff got wet. I slept a little longer after he left then packed up. My feet hurt a lot but once I started moving I felt better. I hiked the 8ish miles pretty easily, though my body felt like it was just on auto pilot after such a huge day yesterday. I made it to Kincora hostel around noon and I've been relaxing, showering and soon i'll resupply. There was a surprise waiting when I got here though-Sideways is here! It was good to see him and I'll be happy when he's able to get back on the trail. It's weird without him. I'm so happy to be here and not hiking right now. But Trail Days is in a few days so tomorrow it all begins again. And so it goes.
Date: 2010-05-12
From: Kincora

To: Watauga Lake
Miles today: 9.7
Weather: clear sky

Plans have changed. After the 26 mile hike the other day my feet have been in bad shape, and I've grown weary of the pressure of getting to Damascus for Trail Days. So when Ripple proposed that I hang out at the lake with her and get a ride to trail days tomorrow, I gave in. It was a difficult decision to make- I felt a little like a sell out but I'm feeling good about the decision now. Once I decided on my plan, I also took the opportunity to slack pack (hiking without a pack) the 9ish miles from Kincora to the lake offered by Mountain Camel. He took Sideways, who still isn't hiking, to the lake to watch our bags and we headed out from Kincora. We had to climb Pond Flats, which was a pretty steep climb, so it was great to hike it without a pack. I flew up the mountain and then Low Rider and I walked down the mountain together. I've been really enjoying spending time with him. He has some extremely thought provoking ideas and I always have great conversations with him. Once we got to the lake he and Puma hiked on to get to Damascus and Sideways, Windego, Ripple, Country Gold, and I walked to a campsite on the lake. It's very peaceful here and I'm enjoying the lack of pressure to push to Trail Days.
Date: 2010-05-13
From: Watauga Lake

To: Damascus
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

We spent a lovely day on the lake today. It was hot and I got burned per usual, but it was relaxing and I was happy to give my feet and body a break. We sat at the beach and waded a bit in the water, read and waited for Ripple's friend Laura to pick us up. Laura, Ripple's sister and her husband came in around 3 with food and cold drinks, which was nice, though I swear I only get trail magic when I least deserve it. We hopped in the back of Laura's truck and she drove us to Damascus. Once we got there we met up with Peach, Bam Bam, Crazy Train, and Restless and set up shop in the Goonies camp. It's pretty nuts here already. People are everywhere and "tent city" is a mad house. I have no idea what's in store for us this weekend, but I have a feeling it will involve a fair amount of debauchery.
Date: 2010-05-14
From: Damascus

To: Damascus
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Trail Days is kind of bumming me out already. We went into town last night for a few things and when we got back, we found out Crazy Train had been arrested for public intoxication and Slingshot was arrested for underage drinking, which set the tone for the rest of the night. Sideways went to bed fairly early and I was thinking of doing the same but instead I went on a walk around "tent city" with Peach which ended somewhat disasterously. We went to a drum circle and there were so many wasted people falling all over the place, it started bumming me out and I decided to head back to camp. Peach wasn't ready to leave yet and because I didn't pay enough attention when we were walking over, I ended up lost in the woods by myself for awhile. After walking a drunk man to his site because he didn't have a light and avoiding a creep that wanted to walk me back, a nice guy named Bourbon helped get me most of the way back. I went to bed in a bad mood and woke up ready to get out of tent city. Sideways, Mountain Camel and I got out of there and walked into town for coffee and breakfast and I started feeling a little bit better. We then spent some time at the church where we got our feet washed, took showers and Sideways got to see a nurse about his ankle. The news was good- it's likely just a strain caused by the pressure he ended up putting on other parts of his leg when his knee was hurt. He just has to rest, ice it and they wrapped it for him. After going back to tent city for awhile, a group of us walked back to town- including Indiana, who showed up, for dinner. It was great to catch up with him. I also got to meet Gangsta, who ended up camping right across from us, which was awesome! We've been in touch since she thru hiked last year and it was so great to finally actually meet her. After dinner we walked back to tent city and after getting wigged out by dancing hippies and more debauchery, I went to bed early. I talked to Sideways before I got in my tent and we both agreed that we are ready to get out of here as soon as possible, so it looks like the plan is to ditch trail days tomorrow. I guess my expectations were just incorrect, but I just didn't imagine Trail Days would be this wild. After being in the woods for so long, crowds and people are difficult to be around. I miss the peace and tranquility of the woods.
Date: 2010-05-15
From: Damascus

To: Abingdon
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Trail Days is officially ditched. This morning I talked to Ripple and her friend agreed to come pick us up and bring us to the hotel they've been staying in for the weekend in Abington. Low Rider, Indiana and Sandman were also over it and came with us. The motel is so quiet and peaceful- I am so psyched to be here. We spent the day hanging out outside talking and drinking a couple gin and tonics. This is the vacation I was looking for. I think we're going to stay tomorrow as well and head back to the trail on Monday.
Date: 2010-05-16
From: Abingdon

To: Abingdon
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

We decided to stay one more day to relax before getting back on the trail. Everyone but me, Sideways and Low Rider left today to go back where they left off, so it was just the three of us. Low Rider has to get off of the trail for a couple of weeks for a conference and Sideways and I will try to get back to Watauga Lake tomorrow morning. We spent the day just hanging out at the hotel save for a trip to Cracker Barrel. We started to walk to a laundramat but it ended up being too far away so that mission was aborted. Low Rider is really into meditation so Sideways and I took turns trying it out on his ipod. It was extremely relaxing- exactly what we needed to recover from the madness of trail days. Tomorrow we hike- I promise.
Date: 2010-05-17
From: Abingdon

To: Watauga Lake shelter
Miles today: 1.0
Weather: moderate rain

That's right- we hiked one whole mile today. In our defense, we had every intention of hiking a full day, but we had significant difficulty getting back to the lake where we left off. Low Rider found a ride to a nearby city where he could grab a bus and Sideways and I sat in Damascus with a homemade sign I made asking for a ride to Watauga for some time with no luck. We finally got a tip that a well known hostel owner and general trail angel, Miss Janet, was taking a car load to the lake so I spoke to her and secured a ride. Bless her, she saved us, but it took us forever to actually get back to the lake. By the time we got there it was evening and pouring so we only had time and energy to hike to the first shelter, which was just a mile down the trail. Sideways does need to take it easy on his leg but hiking one mile was a bit ridiculous. There is an infamous snorer in the shelter tonight so we took advantage of the break in the rain and we're tenting as far away from the shelter as possible. It feels a little strange that the group has somewhat disbanded but it will be nice not to have a schedule any longer and I feel confidant we will catch back up with everyone up the trail soon.
Date: 2010-05-18
From: Watauga Lake shelter

To: Iron Mountain shelter
Miles today: 13.6
Weather: light rain

Big miles today. Not really, but considering we took four days off then hiked only a mile yesterday, our mileage today was at least a step in the right direction. The weather was fairly crappy today and we experienced a nice downpour before lunch that completely soaked me, but it stopped for the aternoon luckily. I decided not to wear raingear because it was warm enough that I would be wet from sweat with it or rain without it so I experimented and didn't put any on. It went pretty well until I had to put the cold, wet clothes back on after changing into dry warm ones after lunch. That was quite unpleasant, but once I started walking again I warmed up. It was a little hard to hike today after being off for so long and I was tired at the end of the day but it feels good to be back out here. The terrain has been easy but no climbs mean no views so the hiking can be a bit monotonous and boring. Then hiking becomes a mental game, which in my opinion is more difficult than the physical challenge. The sheter has great tenting pads and the rain has held off for the night, so we're both tenting. Crazy Train and Restless caught up to us tonight so some of the group is back together. Tomorrow, more hiking.
Date: 2010-05-19
From: Iron Mountain shelter

To: Abington Gap shelter
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: light rain

Today had some ups and downs. I felt good in the morning and the terrain was so easy that I flew through the morning and made it to double springs shelter in good time. We had lunch with some guys from North Carolina and they provided some fun conversation. At our first break before lunch we found a box in the woods provided by a church with cokes and oatmeal cream pies in it, which was a nice surprise. After lunch the terrain stayed easy and we cruised down to Low Gap where we got surprised with our second bout of trail magic for the day. Another thru hiker we met yesterday, Freeman, made it to Damascus today to meet his girlfriend and they brought food and drinks to the gap right when we were there taking a break. I still don't know that I earned two trail magic encounters today but at least I hiked a full day, which is unusual given my trail magic track record. it was really hard to hike the last 5 miles after that, however, and the boring terrain and scenery put me in a foul mood. But I pushed through after an impromptu solo break about two miles from the shelter and I perked up once I got settled at the shelter. We're tenting tonight at the shelter with Indiana who caught up with us tonight, which was a great surprise. Tomorrow we get to Damascus the legitimate way. No zeroes though...seriously.
Date: 2010-05-20
From: Abington Gap shelter

To: Damascus
Miles today: 10.2
Weather: broken clouds

I woke up not feeling well and dreading the hike back to the town we just tried to hard to leave, but once I started hiking, I felt better and I flew down the mountain. I finished the 10 miles in 3 1/2 hours and sat on a bench making phone calls until Indiana and Sideways made it down. We checked into the Hiker Inn, which has ended up being the most fantastic place we've stayed on the trail to date. The owner, Suzanne, is amazing and the inn, which is in her home, is the cleanest, best smelling, most comfortable place ever. I highly recommend staying there. She's trying to sell the house so go before it's too late. She washed all of our disgusting clothes twice and line dried them so they smell absolutely amazing- the best they've smelled probably ever. She also made us strawberry shortcake from scratch tonight. While she was doing our laundry she gave us scrubs to wear, which was a hilarious sight, especially when Sideways, Indiana and I went to the grocery store in them. We looked nuts but I think they helped us get a hitch back to the inn. Crazy Train and Restless are also staying here and are also wearing scrubs so we look like a strange medical hiker gang. We were talking tonight and agreed that we would take back all of the zero days we've taken for a few days here. Alas, we have to get out of here or we'll never make it to Maine. I am glad we came back to Damascus when Trail Days is not happening because it is actually a very cool, quaint town. It left a bad taste in my mouth before because of Trail Days but as it turns out, it may be one of my favorite southern trail towns. Or maybe I just love the Hiker Inn.
Date: 2010-05-21
From: Damascus

To: Virginia Creeper Trail
Miles today: 6.0

We actually made it out of town today without getting sucked in and taking a zero day, which is a significant feat for us, really- especially given how amazing the Hiker Inn is. On top of our desire to spend a day on the porch, it of course started raining as soon as we were packed up to leave, which only beckoned us to stay longer. After a trip to the post office to send some clothes home and breakfast, however, we managed to leave the inn. Crazy Train is going home to work for a couple of weeks so we'll meet back up with him when we get to Pearisburg. The rest of us; Restless, Sideways, Indiana and I decided to take the Virginia Creeper trail, which was the old AT out of Damascus, as we heard it was more beautiful than the AT for the small stretch before it meets back up with the AT. And we avoided the climb out of Damascus, which didn't look fun. The trail follows the river on what used to be a train route. The trail is in fact beautiful and I enjoyed the walk to the campsite we chose. We walked through pastures and a small community of old houses, the entire time following the river. We found a great site to camp by the water and I'm looking forward to sleeping with the sound of the moving water. I may not sleep as well as I did last night at the inn, which was by far the best nights sleep I've had the entire time I've been out here, but it will be nice nonetheless. It looks like Sideways may break off from the group for an undetermined period of time. He wants to spend some time on his own while he's out here, which I respect. This is, in the end, a very personal journey for everyone and everyone has to take advantage of this opportunity to think, grow and experience this journey and get as much out of it as possible. I will miss hiking with him and I hope he meets back up with us, but above all else, I hope he finds what he's looking for. I hope we all do.
Date: 2010-05-22
From: Virginia Creeper Trail

To: Whitetop Mountain campsite
Miles today: 15.0

Today was strange. First thing in the morning, Sideways left the group. I tried to talk to him before he left but he was being standoffish, so I just let him walk away. He's a hard person to know sometimes. I set off on my own on the creeper and the sun teased us for awhile so I changed out of my rain gear, only to have it start pouring soon thereafter. Indiana and I were sitting on a bench on a break when it started, so we just stood there in the rain for a few minutes then set back out on the trail. We walked together until we reached the Green Cove community, which is an old railroad station. Restless met up with us and we had lunch under the covered porch. The plan was to hike the few more miles on the creeper until it met up with the AT and jump back on the AT, but before we left we looked at the map again and talked to a local and discovered that we'd gone miles past where the trails converged because the map we had was wrong- thank you yet again map makers. Luckily it'd stopped raining so we stood at the nearby road for forever trying to hitch back to the AT so we didn't have to double back. The townspeople were not accomodating at all and would not pick us up, but finally Restless talked a man into taking us back. So we jumped in the back of his truck and he took us down the road where the trails converge. I was so happy to be back on the trail and past Damascus- the white blazes were a sight for sore eyes. We walked to Lost Mountain shelter, took a look at the guide book and decided to hike over Whitetop Mountain to get the climb over with while the weather wasn't terrible and camp at the top. The climb was long but gradual and I really enjoyed the scenery. The top of the mountain was gorgeous; the prettiest view we've had in awhile. The three of us then found a nice campsite in the woods past the top and set up. It's supposed to rain for the next few days off and on, which I dread, but that's life out here.