morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-06-07
From: Overmountain Shelter

To: Woods Road, cemetery adjacent
Miles today: 11.4

 Today was resupply day, so the hiking wasn't too far. The morning hike was 8.6 miles for me, Shar had an additional 2.5 or so as she never made it into camp last night. The trail was crowded with hikers, I think I passed 15 or more. The views from Hump Mtn were great, but the flies really sucked, making much of a break impossible.I got to the Apple House Shelter about 12:15 and decided to break for lunch. Shar showed up about 12:45 and grabbed a quick bite before we headed on to the road. From the shelter to the road was 0.6 miles, then it was 0.3 down the road to the Mountain Harbour hostel. The hostel part was in the attic of the barn. It was pretty nice, smelled a bit like barnyard. We showered, I had a chance to call Amber. The lady (Mary) did our laundry for us! She also shuttled us to town for grocery shopping, which was tricky with the limited supply at the store. The good part was I only spent $37.We repacked our bags, paid Mary and headed back out. The hostel was crowded - Gummy Bear and crew were there, along with Bear and probably 8 others. The trail after 19E was mostly uphill, but not too bad. After an hour a thunderstorm was threatening, so we quickly scrambled to find a spot to camp and set up the tents. It was a mad scramble to beat the storm...which we did, easily it turned out, as the storm passed us by.
Date: 2008-06-08
From: Woods Road, cemetery adjacent

To: White Rocks Mtn.
Miles today: 16.9

   The hiking today was supposed to be easy, but for some reason never felt that way. It may have been the heat - in town it hit 95, but my thermometer never showed more than 85. The trail stayed in the lower elevations, winding through creeks beds and river valleys most of the day.   Early in the day we had a near disaster. We took the side trail to Jones Falls. To get to the waterfall, you had to rock scramble up to a big ledge. It wasn't too bad, but Shar almost didn't do it. Then to get under the waterfall itself, you had to climb up this steep-angle rock that was covered in moss. I gook off my shirt and boots and headed up. It was cold, but felt great. I convinced Shar to come up, she protested, but I eventually convinced her. She came up and was enjoying it, then started to go back down. Her feet slipped out from under her and in a flash she was sliding down. It was maybe 10 feet, but she hit really hard at the bottom. Luckily nothing was broken, although she was quite shaken. We gathered out stuff, put our boots back on, and headed down, lucky to have made it out in one piece.   I made it into Moreland Gap shelter about 5:30 and refilled water. I took a break for a minute and chatted with the 3 section hikers before continuing on. My plan was to stay at the campsite on White Rocks Mtn that was listed in the guidebook (it even said it had water). I got up there and there was no campsite, so just before the trail dropped off the mountain I made a camp. It was the most bug-filled site so far, they were terrible. The gnats were aggressive and bit har. I went into full-protection mode - long pants, tucked into my socks, long-sleeved shirt and my head net on. They still were miserable, especially the ones that found a way into the headnet. I cooked, then ate walking back and forth on the trail to keep them away. I went for a walk after dinner and had phone service, so I talked to Amber for a bit. It was after dark by the time I finished, and I had forgotten to bring my headlamp. So, I had to walk the 15 minutes or so back to camp in the dark. It was a bit challenging to say the least.
Date: 2008-06-09
From: White Rocks Mtn.

To: Watauga Lake Shelter
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: few clouds

   I woke up early, packed up as quickly as I could, and we headed out, without having eaten breakfast. We got about 10 minutes down the trail and stopped for breakfast, hoping that the bugs would be better. I noticed that my cup wasn't in its usual place (on the carabiner on my backpack), and assumed I had left in in the camp, so I headed back up to get it. I got all the way there, and it was no where to be found. So I trudged back down the trail and made breakfast. I put the hot chocolate into the oatmeal, as I didn't have a cup and I hate the plain oatmeal anyway. It was as I was fishing for my bandanna that I found my cup, in the top pocket of my backpack. I think Shar put it there, she denies it and says I did, but was in a "bug-altered" state of mind and don't remember.   I was feeling like crap on the morning hike. Then we got to the road crossing at Dennis Cove. Shar wanted to go to the camp store to get some granola bars, but it was 1/2 mile hike out of the way. I suggested we go to Hampton, 1 mile out of the way, further down the trail. As we were debating a truck came by, which Shar stuck her thumb out to, and they stopped! The camp store it was!   The store wasn't much, but we were able to get granola bars and some tuna packets. We also bought a frozen pizza. As it was cooking we showered and charged cell phones. The pizza was soooo good! I wish we had gotten 2. We refilled water (I took 5 quarts as I'm running low on Iodine). It made my pack really heavy, probably the heaviest its been yet. The guy from the camp gave us a ride back to the trailhead, another bonus! All of that only took 1 hour.   The trail dropped into the gorge and visited Laurel Falls - very nice! We swam a bit further downstream from the falls, it was really cold water, but it felt great. The hike out of the gorge sucked - 1800 feet up, only to come right back down to Watauga lake. We are staying at the Watauga lake shelter, as thunderstormsrolled in and cut off any further progress for the day.   My bladder leaked all over my fleece. Looks like it's got a hole in it. That really sucks.
Date: 2008-06-10
From: Watauga Lake Shelter

To: Double Springs Shelter
Miles today: 21.2
Weather: scattered clouds

   I did 21.2 miles today, from Watauga Lake Shelter to Double Springs Shelter. My feet hurt. The miles went quickly, I finished up at 6:20 PM. Shar hasn't shown up yet (It's 8:30), I doubt she will. I'm gonna sleep good tonight.   Thunderstorms rolled in at 7:30 or so. I set my tent up before it started raining. Woulda slept in the shelter if I'da known it was going to rain.   3 section hikers staying at the shelter, have a guitar and bongo are playing some great music. I love it!
Date: 2008-06-11
From: Double Springs Shelter

To: Damascus
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: broken clouds

   Today was a disaster. I got some kind of bug in my eye at 9:00 AM. It didn't go away. By noon, it got much worse. My eye welled up, is constantly tearing, is red and hurts like hell. I just about ran the last 10 miles from where we had lunch to town - I did it in 3 hours 15 minutes, normally that distance takes me 5 hours. I was running the last 3.8 miles, at least some of it. I think I covered those miles in about 45 minutes. The hike was miserable, I could hardly see where I was going with so many tears clouding my vision. I could have passed a bear standing next to the trail and not known it.   I got to town about 4:45, and had no idea where to go. I wanted to get to a doctor's office. By the time I found the one in town, it was closed for the night. My cell phone doesn't work in town, which makes coordinating with Shar a bit of a pain, as I left her back on the trail. I eventually walked back down towards the trailhead and found her.    We stayed at the Hiker's Hostel. The owner, Suzanne, is great. Other than that, today sucked.
Date: 2008-06-12
From: Damascus

To: Feathercamp Ridge
Miles today: 2.4

I hardly slept at all last night, even though the bed was super comfortable and big - my eye hurt too much to allow me to sleep. I got up at 7:20 or so, all I wanted was to see the doctor. At one point in the night I woke up and couldn't open my right eye, the eyelids were stuck together! I showered and sat on the bed, just waiting for the minutes to pass. I talked to Shar, she wanted to get breakfast - I told her to just go by herself, I was slightly nauseous (sp?) anyway. At about 8:15 I walked up to the Doctor's office, just to double-check when they opened, 9:00 was right, so I went back to the hostel and just waited. Finally at 8:40 I walked back up there and got in. After filling out the paperwork and waiting about an hour, they took me back. I weighed 186 on the good scale they had. The doctor came and checked out my eye, she looked at it under a blacklight and with a magnifying glass. She said there wasn't anything still in it and that I had had an abrasion on the cornea, that must've been big because it still hadn't healed after almost 24 hours - said they usually heal in a couple of hours. She put numbing drops in as well, which made it feel a whole lot better. She wrote me a prescription for some antibiotic eye oinment, I have to put it in 3 times a day for 3 days.I went to the pharmacy to fill the prescription, then to get breakfast. I ended up eating Subway and calling it lunch. I met up with Shar at the library and used the computer for a couple of hours. When I sat down at the computer, turned out Mighty Mouse was on the one next to me. She's thinking of getting back on the trail in a week or so, she had/has a stress fracture of her foot.Finally my eye just about stopped watering and felt better, so we did our shopping. We must've been to the Outfitters, hostel and Dollar General like 6 times each, I'm not kidding. We had no plan, no list and kept forgetting stuff. I blame my eye problems for the absent-mindedness.We finally finished shopping and decided to head back out on the trail. I weighed my pack, it was 46 pounds! All the extra food added because I forgot about the box Amber sent me before I did my resupply shopping was the culprit, although we also have 6 days of food, our most yet. We stopped at Dot's for dinner on the way out of town, then hiked about 3 miles to the campsite.
Date: 2008-06-13
From: Feathercamp Ridge

To: Spring on A.T., piped, past Buzzard Rock
Miles today: 18.7

 I slept good, my eye is hardly bothering me at all. The hiking went by easily today, even with my extra heavy pack. I covered 18.7 miles to a campsite next to a spring at mile 482.2. It's a great campsite - amazing view, good water, nice breeze, no bugs, comfortable seat. I finished hiking at 5:18, pretty early for so many miles. I feel great too.I hiked in a torrential downpour for about 30 minutes or so, right after lunch. I went shirtless and used the umbrella. Good test to see if sending the rainpants home was a good idea. I was fine and wouldn't have used them if I had them anyway - it was great fun!Didn't see any other northbound thru-hikers all day, including Shar. Hope she makes it in to this great campsite.
Date: 2008-06-14
From: Spring past Buzzard Rock?

To: Old Orchard Shelter
Miles today: 17.9
Weather: broken clouds

It was a fairly miserable day, it rained all afternoon and into the evening. I had to set up my tent in the rain, the shelter was full. I felt like I was coming down with the flu - I was all achy and sore. I went to bed without cooking dinner, ate some combos instead. We did see the wild ponies today, it was pretty cool. And the early part of the hike was fine. We covered 17.9 miles, ended at the Old Orchard Shelter.
Date: 2008-06-15
From: Old Orchard Shelter

To: VA670, South Fork of Holston River Bridge 
Miles today: 16.9

Woke up and the rain had departed! Packed up my wet tent, had a big breakfast to make up for missing dinner last night. We hiked 16.9 miles today, it was really slow going, probably aftereffects of yesterday. Saw a big rattlesnake in the trail. He wouldn't move! We had to bushwack around him. We have a nice campsite next to a river. Ate a good dinner, soaked my feet in the river and washed out my socks.
Date: 2008-06-16
From: VA670, South Fork of Holston River Bridge 

To: Railroad tracks, near Atkins, VA
Miles today: 18.6
Weather: clear sky

We hiked 18.6 miles today. Camp is in a field of wheat on a hill above the interstate. Not the best site but better than continuing on or paying for a hotel. The hiking, elevation-wise, was pretty easy. Some rocky spots that were tough on the feet. My hip belt on my pack barely fits anymore. Hope I haven't lost too much weight.My bladder leaked all over my fleece again. Time to get rid of it I guess.We were all excited about having pizza for lunch, apparently there's a restaurant that delivers to the visitors center. We called and they wouldn't pick up the phone. Eventually we gave up. It was tough settling for a bagel after having hopes of fresh pizza. A little trail magic happened at the vistors center: I put in $2 for a $1.25 Dr Pepper. It dropped out a Dr. Pepper, a Diet Pepsi, and $1 change. How's that math work?!
Date: 2008-06-17
From: VA670, South Fork of Holston River Bridge 

To: Knot Maul Branch Shelter
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: clear sky

Today was a short hiking day, only 12.6 miles. We hiked to the VA42 road crossing and got picked up by Frank. The plan was for the pickup at 3:30, we got there at 2:50, then waited till almost 6:00 for Frank to get there. We drove to Marion, got a hotel, went to dinner (at Tuscan Grill, where we almost ordered pizza from the other day for lunch), did our laundry and grocery shopping, and called it a day.
Date: 2008-06-18
From: Knot Maul Branch Shelter

To: Davis Farm Campsite
Miles today: 18.2
Weather: clear sky

Had another good breakfast on the way to the trailhead. We started our slackpacking day at just after 9:00 AM. It felt great to be hiking pack free. We met up with Frank after 6 miles for lunch, he brought out some sandwiches, chips and Dr. Peppers. I can't believe how much easier the hiking is without the pack. After 17 miles, where Frank was picking us up, I felt like I hadn't done anything. I grabbed my pack and headed back out to camp for the night and save on the hotel, dinner and breakfast costs. I made a good campsite near the Davis Farm Campsite trail intersection.Before heading out I jettisoned my extra undies, 2nd pair of sock liners, long sleeve shirt and bladder. I added a pair of sunglasses to protect my eyes from bugs and spiderwebs.
Date: 2008-06-19
From: Davis Farm Campsite

To: Spring past Helveys Mill Shelter
Miles today: 18.6
Weather: scattered clouds

I overslept quite a bit today, mostly because I forgot to put the alarm on my watch back to 6:30. I was cooking breakfast (plain oatmeal - blah!) and looked at my watch and it said 7:52. I couldn't figure out how it had gotten so late till I noticed the alarm set time. I hurriedly packed up camp and set off down the trail at 8:22. I had 8 miles to cover before lunch, Frank was meeting us with lunch at VA615. I was expecting to get there in 4 hours. The trail was great, either downhill or level, there was only 1 minor uphill all morning. At one point it went about 2 miles almost perfectly level, it was great! I couldn't believe it when I saw the road below shortly after 11. I was at Frank's truck at 11:18. I think the guidebook distance is off.Lunch was great, a footlong Italian with chips, 2 Dr. Peppers, and two cookies. I hung around till Shar arrived, then set off. The afternoon hike also wasn't bad, although there was more uphill than the morning's hike. The trail crossed over I77 on an overpass, a couple of motorists honked and waved as they passed by underneath. I met "Solo" at Kimberling creek, but decided I had enough water and so didn't refill. I got up the ridge and called Amber and talked to her for a bit. She's up at the lakehouse till Sunday, I wish I was there, that sounds so much more fun. I decided on a camp at 5:48 PM, 1.6 miles past the Helvey's Mill shelter. I made a nice kitchen, enjoyed a lasagna meal and cookies, and hung the bearbag - just about right over the trail. There's water for the next 8 miles or so, so I skimped on drinking much wiht dinner. I have 1 quart left though, which should be barely enough. My total miles for the day were 18.6. I would have gone further but my feet hurt and I'm not sure Shar will make it here, let alone any further.The weather was perfect today, high of about 70, with a nice breeze, and hardly any clouds. Passed to depots of trail magic. The first was a cooler of ice cold drinks. I didn't have any because it was just past lunch and I was stuffed. The 2nd was 2 jugs of water, which I did use. What a day!Kitchen Sink and Whistler passed by after I had camp set up. Whistler said something about reading my journal entries for the last 2 weeks or so.
Date: 2008-06-20
From: Spring past Helveys Mill Shelter

To: Wapiti Shelter
Miles today: 22.4
Weather: clear sky

I woke up with my alarm, had pop tarts for breakfast. It was nice not having to cook, but they didn't tide me over very well - I was hungry in less than an hour! I was ready to go by 7:10 AM, but decided to wait for Shar, who never showed up last night. She finally came over the hill at 7:48. When I asked her where she'd camped and why she hadn't caught up, she gave me some smart-ass answer basically saying she sees no advantage of camping with me. Kinda pissed me off, I try really hard to find a nice 2 tent site, and she could care less about camping with me. So when she stopped for a break 10 minutes after catching me, I took off and didn't see her again all day.I covered the 8.2 miles to the Jenny Knob shelter really quickly - I was there by 11:00 AM. I stopped in looking for water but didn't find any - the spring was dry. I finally found water in a small puddle a mile or so down the trail, good thing as I was starting to get dehydrated. I waited the 1/2 hour for the iodine to do its thing, then took lunch up on Brushy Mountain. The afternoon hike was okay, I was starting to get really tired and wanting to get to the shelter. I think the guidebook was off on the distances, but I eventually got there at 6:30 PM, having covered the 22.4 miles - my longest day so far. Met another hiker, Thumper, at the shelter. He was the only one else there, and the only other northbound hiker I saw all day.In the shelter journal was a note from one of the two guys that had gotten shot earlier this year. He was basically saying that he's back out, getting shot isn't going to keep him from hiking, and screw-you to the shooter (who died in jail). Kinda uplifting, but also kinda sad. Thumper said that the shooter was the same guy who killed 2 hikers in the 80's. He got out of jail, got a gun, and came back out to do it again. Luckily this time he didn't succeed in killing anyone, and instead is the one that ended up dead. There was also a note in the journal from a Washington Post reporter who's doing a story on the shootings. I'll have to look that up when I get a chance. And if anyone has seen it, please email me a link (or add it to my guestbook), I'd be interested in reading it.
Date: 2008-06-21
From: Wapiti Shelter

To: Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 16.6
Weather: scattered clouds

I got up, had breakfast (oatmeal, cocoa and pop tarts), packed up camp and headed out. I decided not to wait for Shar because I figured she was pretty far back, and could find me easily enough in Pearisburg, either today or tomorrow. I headed out about 10 minutes behind Thumper. The trail went up to a ridge within the first couple of miles. I had phone service so stopped for 20 minutes or so to call Amber. I had a voicemail, which I assumed was from Shar, but because my phone was connected to a Cingular tower, I couldn't call out to check it. Damn Cingular, everytime my phone connects to their tower I can only receive calls.I had lunch at Doc's knob shelter - I ate 2 tuna subs...yummy and filling. It's nice to be on your last day as you can (and should!) pig out more to get rid of any food left. Thumber had been there, but had just left when I got there - his trash fire was still smoldering.The overlooks above town were neat. From Angel's rest you could see the Food Lion - I even guessed (correctly it turned out) that that's what it was. Thumber was there also enjoying the views. The hike down to town from Angel's rest was tough on my feet, it dropped 2000 ft in 2.4 miles.I stopped by the Rendezvous Motel, they were full! They did have my two packages though. I hiked up the long hill to the main part of town. The first hotel was also full, I started to worry all of them would be full, but luckily the Holiday Motor Lodge had a room, $39. I had dinner at the Lucky Star AYCE (all you can eat) Chinese buffet, then went back and watched TV. I left Shar a couple of messages but never heard back from her. Wonder where she is, if she's going to get in tonight, and if she'll find me if she does. I left enough details in the message she should be able to.
Date: 2008-06-22
From: Pearisburg, VA

To: Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

   Took a zero day today. Did laundry, grocery shopping, ate lunch at the Pizza hut buffet. Shar was pissed at me for leaving her behind and expecting that she'd catch up, but eventually we reconciled. We ate dinner at Shama restaurant. Back on the trail together tomorrow! The new "rule" is that I need to set a cutoff of 6:00 PM for my hike to give her enough time to catch up before dark. I used to go till 6:30 or so. We'll see if it helps any.
Date: 2008-06-23
From: Pearisburg, VA

To: Dickinson Gap
Miles today: 15.0

   Got up, showered (woo-hoo!), went to breakfast at Marsha's. Dropped off our bounce bag at the post office. Checked at Radio Shack for a new battery for my phone, no luck. Also went to Magic Mart looking for stove fuel, also no luck. We finally got headed towards the trail about 9:20. It took 20 minutes or so to get back to the trailhead. It was a ridiculous trail, overgrown, poison ivy covered, and it kept popping back out on the same road like 100 yards further, after a lot more trail than that. Finally after like 1.5 hours we left the roads/town behind and headed up the ridge.   We had lunch next to a neat hole in the ground spring. I took off before Shar was done eating. The hiking was mostly along the ridge, some rocky spots but not too bad. I saw a doe and fawn, a fawn I almost stepped on before it took off, and a mother grouse and 3 chicks. The mother did her whole act injured to lead me away from the babies routine.   I set up camp at 6 about 0.6 miles past Dickinson Gap. Made a nice campsite, and built a fire ring to get a fire going. Shar showed up about 7:45, was glad to be done hiking for the day. We only did 15 today, will have to make up the miles tomorrow or the next day.   Saw 2 fighter jets go by, perfect timing as I was in a meadow as the shot overhead!
Date: 2008-06-24
From: Dickinson Gap

To: Stream crossing at mile 657.8
Miles today: 18.8

   Did 18.8 today, am really tired out and my feet hurt pretty bad. The campsite really sucks, it couldn't be rockier and its not very level. I only stopped here because I want Shar to catch me, and I was tired.   The gypsy moth caterpillars can really do some damage, there were times today when barely a tree in sight had any leaves left. Not to mention the poop dropping like rain all day long.    Saw a turkey, he was flying away from me as fast as he could. Also saw a doe and fawn charging away - Mama in one direction and baby in another.
Date: 2008-06-25
From: Stream crossing at mile 657.8

To: Niday Shelter
Miles today: 16.4
Weather: scattered clouds

   The hiking was slow today, we only made it to the Niday shelter, 16.4 miles from the start. First I stopped to talk to Amber, which took over an hour. I hauled-ass to try and catch Shar and caught up to her after about an hour of hiking or so. We had lunch together, then hiked together to just past the Keffer Oak - which was amazing, BTW. The trail was also pretty rocky, especially along the ridge in the afternoon.    Met Jeff from Michigan at the shelter, nice guy, he gave us some of his blueberry cheesecake dessert!    Saw 2 Mama grouse and babies. The first took off with no thought of protecting her young, the first I've seen do that.   Quote of the day: "What the heck are you doing over there?!". Shar, surprised yet again by the trail's pointless meanderings.