morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-06-14
From: Rice Field Shelter

To: Pine Creek Shelter
Miles today: 0.0

Bummed out. Lost my boot. Waiting at Pine Creek for someone to deliver. Wanted to hike 18 today. No way. The past two days have been really depressing. I expected to hike 15 mile days to Daleville. I don't have enough food. Damn it. Icebreak told me that I curse alot. Do I? So the last two days, while hiking, I've been thinking about how many miles I've gone, how many I have left. I hate that feeling. I wish I could just magically be up to speed. The nights are good- something to push for... But do I belong on the trail right now? I also would love to have someone to hike with to motivate and connect with. I'll find someone.
Date: 2004-06-17
From: Bailey's Gap

To: War Spur
Miles today: 8.8
Weather: few clouds

Nice swim, vicious bugs. Slithered in the stream with Shivers, like salamanders in the jungle; rhodedendron hanging in the sunshine. Smokestack came in. Met Dig Dug, Backdraft and Apostle. Felt great all day- so beautiful!
Date: 2004-06-18
From: War Spur

To: Sarver Creek
Miles today: 12.8

Glorious shelter. Tigger the cat, beautiful spring. Paparazzi, Underfoot, Smokestack and Shivers, Little Engine. Saw the Keffer Oak... 300 years old and gorgeous. Shivers and I decided there should be a shelter there... Really felt great today- trail magic helped! Soda tastes great on the trail. Enjoyed the rains today. Really booked for a while.. Fell in the pasture into a stinging nettle. Hope I can make it to Maine... ha ha. Really miss my family... Can't wait to get to Catawba and eat at Homestead. Gonna be killer tomorrow!
Date: 2004-06-20
From: Pickle Branch

To: Catawba
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: few clouds

Dragon's tooth today! Shivers kept my moral up, and my ankles hardly made it, but I pushed into Four Pines dreaming of mashed potatoes and lemonade. Went to the Homeplace after seeing Icebreak, Superstition, Tippy, Wad, Bearbait (the one and only!) and Cliffdancer. Made a huge fire, drank beer, slept next to the coals- woke up in the morning and it was still hot.
Date: 2004-06-23
From: Catawba

To: Damascus
Miles today: 168.0
Weather: light rain

Hiked to general store.. well, almost. Rolled my ankle, Underfoot hitched me a ride and came backing up on the shoulder with his head out the window, smiling. The driver gave me a ride to the on ramp and I hitched a ride with a girl named Rachal, who took me all the way to Marion. Jeff from Texas came back after thinking he wasn't going to Abingdon, and gave me a ride all the way to the Coastal. Got a ride to my old home with a local, only to find an angry Jon on the couch. Took a bath for hours, soaking my ankle. I hobbled around, packing as fast as I could, and laid my head in an uncomfortable bed, uncomfortable house, uncomfortable life. I miss the trail. I couldn't sleep a wink.
Date: 2004-06-24
From: Damascus

To: Daleville
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Headed out of home angry and forgot my stick. Wouldn't turn around to get it. Drove to Troutville, my package is MIA. Sitting at Red Roof, decided to ask the desk lady to look up names for me. She just called random rooms and asked "are you a hiker?" Quite amusing.... Anyway, Recon and Millipede were there, and I ended up staying the night with them. We're going down to the hot tub and soaking it up.
Date: 2004-06-24
From: Damascus

To: Troutville
Miles today: 0.0

Drove to Troutville. Post office tomorrow... Sitting at Red Roof, clerk called and asked a room, "Are you with the hikers?..." Quite amusing, what a heart, huh. Millipede and Recon are here, staying with them tonight, gonna dirty up the hot tub. Goooooood night.
Date: 2004-06-25
From: Troutville

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Drove hikers around, trail magic tonight (hot dogs, vodka, beer and chips). Mellow Mike and Superjew, Goofy, Recon, Millipede and I in Cove Mtn. Shelter. Whiskey tastes of plastic. Goofy got drunk and told me with a straight face: A summa gumma rumbida.   I have no idea what that means, but he sounded pretty serious. We sang Ants Marching, I ended up singing Beeswing to Recon's camera. A wonderful night, one of the best I've had in awhile.
Date: 2004-06-28
From: Troutville

To: View Entry
Miles today: 3.0

Drove Goofy back to the trailhead. Made phonecalls, got my mail drop. Went to parkway center and got hit on by a weird ranger. Drove to trailhead and hiked into Cornelius Creek to be joined by Ghost, Monk & Snatchie and Chafe. Happy to do magic again. Miss Midas. Wrote a poem in the register, after listening to hikers earlier in the day complaining about the hiking life. Swollen knees and swollen ankles Chillin villains, bodacious craves Moonlight beaming through the trees A vision brewing of the seas The good life of a thru hiker Fascination of the outsiders Hills rising to break your balls Boulders and thick mud to rake your falls Anticipation of Katahdin's BANG Four hours of continous pain What more could a hiker ask Rain, wet socks, a chafing rash Tuna and ramen day after day Voluntary boot camp, a job that doesn't pay Yet waking up is exciting Necessary calories by the thousands A shelter waiting every night Filled with smiling faces Seen via head light 360 degrees of beauty Switchbacks of glory Vast meadows and jagged peaks Crumbling boots A filter that leaks Think of what you're dreaming of Then look at the trail And hike on This is love Perserverence, in a daze This is your life FOLLOW THE WHITE BLAZE
Date: 2004-06-29
From: James River Footbridge

To: Brown Mt. 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Drove to footbridge, waiting to give away some magic. My ankle is still huge. Getting restless. It seems like such a waste to not hike. I feel terrible, yellow blazing all the time. Guess this isn't a thru hike, after all. I have my whole life. Mickey and Mallory came, sat with them for awhile, enjoyed their company. Drove to Buena Vista, bought Superstition a cheeseburger, ran into GAUL! I hadn't seen him since Damascus, thought I'd never see him again. Had lunch with him at The Italian Restaurant (no lie, that was its name), met his parents who had came to get his dog. Ran into Rawhide and Mutt, went to the public pool, drove to the trailhead and sat and drank Budweiser with Millipede and Sardine. Hiked the two miles into Brown Creek, met Rowboat and reunited with Hannah Run and Superstition. Gave him his 1/2 lb. of beef. Sleepy the Arab rolled in around 10:30. Had a great night. Saw two glowing eyes when I turned on my headlamp to go to the privy. Scared the hell out of me. It was just.... two deer. How I only saw two eyes is a mystery. Until next time...
Date: 2004-06-30
From: Brown Mt. 

To: Rusty's Hard Time Hollow
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Woke up and did chores, played in the creek with Gaul and Superstition, hiked out together. Super and I drove to Rusty's a la Blue Ridge Parkway, got there and hiked down the sign-riddled driveway to find Dig Dug, Backdraft BongRamen, and Stick amongst a sea of smashed soda cans on the drive. Rusty's is an unexplainable place. All I can say is that I didn't want to do anything, and I was perfectly content doing so. Hung out and waited for Rusty, drove to Waynesboro to get food, ran into Tippy and Wad & co., sat around until I realized we had to go back to Rusty's (how could I forget?!). Cooked burgers on the grill with veggies, fired up the hot tub and drank Natty while having a fantastic evening with the boys. Hit the hay around 4 a.m. Thank goodness for the Hollow.
Date: 2004-07-01
From: Rusty's Hard Time Hollow

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Woke up and hung out all day. Hit plums with a wiffle bat, JP and Knuckles showed up in the afternoon. Fired up the sweat lodge, Swedish and Odie rolled in, along with SlowTrain and Inchworm. Pirate and Rusty messed with SlowTrain all night to my amusement. It was raining, so as we drifted from the lodge to the cold water spring, it felt like winter. Went to sleep trembling...
Date: 2004-07-02
From: Rusty's

To: Waynesboro
Miles today: 6.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Woke up to pancakes and smiling faces. Rusty and I sat down and had a talk. Completely changed my perceptions. After playing Horse all day, finally got to town and tried to get a job at the outiftters. Went to the laundramat and found PAPARAZZI and Hawkfeather. Got a room at the Quality with Super and Stick, went to Pizza Hut after Hawk's story of the girl not coming into work. Got a job in a minute, Papa bought me chinese to celebrate. Went back to camp and found Tippy, Deeds, Wilson, Wad, Susan, The Dude, Swedish, Odie, BongRamen, DigDug... Is that all? I can't remember. Anyway, it was quite a party, all of us together in town. Writing this journal after flirting and cursing the night away, That's the way to live life. I'm loving everything I'm doing right now, completely in every moment, saturating myself with information and enlightenment. Hmmmm... I've found that I can't write anymore today. Too many thoughts coming in at once. Everything's jumbling up.
Date: 2004-07-03
From: Waynesboro

To: Pizza Hut
Miles today: 0.0

Went to Breakfast and sat with Papa, Stick and Super. Little Engine came in, told me about her hike since we've been seperated. She's flipping, so I won't see her for awhile. Took Super and Stick to trailhead, went back to camp and hung out with Dude. Went to work for the first day at 4:30. Long day, but easy. Made about $30. Met a delivery boy, Daniel, that reminds me of my favourite cousin... But other than him, I don't like anyone. Imagine that.
Date: 2004-07-07
From: W Boro

To: a random Skyline campground
Miles today: 2.0

Yea! Play day! Got up around 9, did chores, then up to Rockfish Gap with Dude. Ran into No Pain, Miss Maine, New Orleans Kid, Crank and Sarvis. Sat and drank a beer with them before they hiked out. Driving to the predestined shelter, we pass a crowd of people on the side of the road, without packs. After some confusion, we turn around, only to see Lamby jump out into the road and lay down. Goofy and co. at it again. Turns out they were slackpacking compliments of Shoe, and were staying at the nearby campground. So we drove up there, hiked around, saw a bear dart in front of me on the trail. So happy to see a white blaze, I sat on a rock covered in moss to contemplate the real world. How it's like being insane, following blazes on trees to get to Maine. How it's hard to stop, turn around and get off the trail because it's made to keep going. You're compelled to go all the way. You can't stop. Also, I pondered why moss is nature's carpet, and the many great uses of it. Met up with them at Shoe's site. We cooked hot dogs after preparing a windscreen for the gales of wind coming through our site. Played Mafia (I'll explain at a later date). I was mafia, first time I played, and I got killed the first round. I'll get you, Atlas! Fell asleep cowboy style on a picnic table, only to be awakened by deer eating leaves next to my head shortly after. All in all, it was a great night.
Date: 2004-07-08
From: campground?

To: Y of W Boro
Miles today: 2.0

Woke up around 8:30, stared at the ground for an hour until I was conscious, drove back to town with Kickstand and dropped him at the library. Pulling out of the parking lot, I start thinking about how sad it is to be in town, no hikers, just a job and a car. Suddenly, I see a beautiful head of hair and a sexy set of legs... He turns his head, smiles and walks toward the car. It's Deeds! Back from D.C., he was ready to get back on the trail, but after Tastee Freeze, Humpback Rock and a cozy hour in his tent, he decided to stay. He fixed my watch and won the bet. Went to work an hour late... Got back and drank a bit of tequila, crammed into his liner because I couldn't find my sleeping bag, had a great night's sleep.
Date: 2004-07-09
From: W Boro

To: W Boro
Miles today: 0.0

Woke up at nine, watched Deeds pack up, chores, trail head, work. Sadness overcomes. No one familiar will be coming in, I'll be behind for a month. Starting to dislike work because of the co workers. It will be over soon. Came back to camp, depressed. Someone's tent is next to mine, but I still haven't seen them. Fell asleep sad.
Date: 2004-07-10
From: W Boro

To: Rock Spring
Miles today: 3.0
Weather: broken clouds

Still no sign of my neighbor. Went and took a shower at the YMCA, washed my work clothes. Watched a spider's death on my fly, wriggling its legs, jerking its body. I looked away to readjust my thermarest, and when I looked back, the body hanged limp, its soul snatched away. I wanted to reach out and touch it, amazing how beautiful it was. Went to the library and found a book completely devoted to peoples' accounts of where they were when JFK was shot. A boy named Stephen gave me an independent newspaper, Harbinger. There is an article in it called Disaster, and it lends the thought that the real disaster isn't a disaster, the disaster is how we depend in disasters to give excitement in our lives. Media is the pusher of disaster, fascinating old and young; while the government is the protector from disaster, or rather of. Without our meaningless busywork by the billions and wasteful ways of living, it is possible that we would not have global warming or acid rain. And that is the real disaster. And the 'old' disasters, like shootings and bomb threats and AIDS; and the notion that the solution to our problems is to get back to the land... where have those ideas gone? Have they blown away with the winds, carried across the far seas to lands that have never seen guns, or schools, and have not heard the term AIDS (or 'the hiv', for all you Phillies out there), and have no idea that global warming exists?
Date: 2004-07-11
From: Rock Spring

To: Waynesboro
Miles today: 2.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Hiked into Rock Spring to find Dude and a bunch o kids with Mama Bear and Sam. Bummed out because I had carried in a chocolate cake, beer and popcorn, Coke and iced tea and Dude was the only thru hiker there. Ended up playing Mafia with the eight of them, and it was really fun. A lot of them were good at the game, and I had a lot of fun with my characters. For those of you who have never played Mafia, it is a great shelter game where you draw a card that has a title on it: townsperson, mafia, or detective. The object of the game is for the mafia to give signals to each other about who to kill while everyone else is in conversation. Then everyone puts their head down, and the first Mafia wakes up and tells the narrator who he wants to kill. Then they go to sleep and the second wakes up, and tells who they want to kill. Then the detective wakes up and they can ask if a person is the mafia and the narrator will tell them. The detective can use this to get a mafia person or to stay alive in the game. Then everyone wakes up, and if both mafia pick the same person, the person dies. Then townspeople get to accuse someone of being mafioso, and they go on trial, and everyone votes guilty or not guilty, and if you are guilty you're out of the game. No one knows who the mafioso are until the end of the game. The end of the game is when either all of the townspeople, or both mafia die. I always want the mafia to win.
Date: 2004-07-12
From: Waynesboro

To: Rock Spring
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Went to work today and wanted to quit after another waitress stole my customers' pizza! She had a party in the back of the town firemen, and took it while it was on the counter (in purgatory). The customer said he saw the whole thing. It was actually kind of funny, and I don't know if I would've gotten such a big tip. It's amazing how things can be turned around into something good when it was horrible a minute before. I got off at eight and hiked in with some pizza to RockSpring shelter. Deeds and Tippy gave me some peace of mind. It turned out to be a lovely night drinking Bud and Natty next to the Rock Spring, the sound of a cool night swimming.
Date: 2004-09-10
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I haven't written in so long, I decided I would to let everyone know I'm not off the trail, I'm alive and kicking as usual! I got out of Waynesboro, went to a Dead show in Phillie, dropped off my car with my father, Uncle Bob and my Pap Pap, and got back on the trail in Delaware Water Gap. I hiked out with a wonderful couple doing a big section, Worldbridger and Havin Fun. They got off the trail in NJ, and with sadness in my heart, I did NY in four days, CT in 2, and then slowed down in Mass. when I ran into the Caboose Crew, who I hadn't seen since Delaware Water Gap. Stayed in Dalton at Tom Levardi's, a wonderfully compassionate and giving man, waited for Deeds and gave up. At the top of Greylock I found him, and we hiked together to Manchester Center. I hurt my knee before we got there, so we did two neros, which I thoroughly enjoyed, but the entire time I was crying and wincing. But I pushed on into Man. Center on a blue blaze, throwing up because of a pain pill Deeds gave me. But I did laundry and got some Ben & Jerrys, went to the hotel and took a BATH! In the morning I found Deeds, we went to the bookstore- the best I've seen in awhile (I read children's books ALL DAY) (Deeds managed to find a bookstore that served beer!) and we stumbled out back into the world, bought some king cans and hiked out to the first shelter only to find some Harvard kids and a Long Trail hiker with the cutest little puppy! Great night. Next morning I realized I didn't pick up denatured alcohol, went back into town and my knee was killing me. I wanted to get a room but it's too expensive, so I ended up meeting Travis, a nice local who took me on a nice scenic drive to Rutland. I stayed with the Twelve Tribes community there for nearly a week, drinking fine teas and eating like a princess, staying with two sisters who were so sweet and wonderful, meeting all of these beautiful people... Decided to step it up because I haven't been happy hiking alone... Wherefore art thy Gordy?! until then, letting my mind and body wander, day by day....   BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR it's cold up here!
Date: 2004-09-30
From: Monson

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Made a bonfire and sat with everyone after arriving in town after a long day... Woke next to Dingle in his sleeping bag, my hair smelling of smoke, a burn on my hand and chin. Hmm. I was cold, he said I crawled in the middle of the night and basically stole his bag. I don't remember. Lazy day, went to PO and got my drop from Mama that was originally sent to Cheshire, MA! And my zero bag arrived, a gift from Dad. Nice- red & black- GO DAWGS! Got a Coke and chatted with the owner of the general store, then sat for lunch with Cherokee and the Blues Bros. Packed my pack, painted Lindy's house with Skibum, Rooster, A2, Gordy, Munchkin, Chef & dBone. Phone calls, and then we watched a movie in the general store- Extraordinary Gentlemen. Drew on the walls before bed, pondered Doc Gnarly's monster with everyone. Talked to Hookah, finally! Slept in my warm bag... like a child.
Date: 2004-10-01
From: MONSON

To: View Entry
Miles today: 10.4

Headed to the BBQ before heading out... MMMMMM! Felt like home, especially with the shelf of hot sauce! Drew on Gordy's slip, Trail Dawg appeared in the front yard. Hitched in a red pickup, hiked out around 1:30. Found a canoe at the first pond, anchored out for a little bit with Munchkin, D and Gordy. Hiked to Wilson Lean to, Rider was there with a fire blazing. Dingle wasn't far behind. Had a good night with Impulse in the mix as well. Listened to the radio, we were all amazed and transfixed- music in the wilderness. Never better.
Date: 2004-10-02
From: Wilson Lean to

To: Fourth Mountain
Miles today: 11.0

Hiked out late, as is customary with the Party Train. Stopped at Vaughn Stream after finding Munchkin, d, Dingle and Gordy snacking. Decided we would take a dip, climbed down to a pool at the foot of the falls and stripped down. Dingle and Dbone ran down and stole our clothes, cackling. We kept swimming. I got out and explored for a bit, and then laid down to have a smoke, bathing in the sun, sprawled on a rock, when Rider hikes up. I notice him after a minute, and look up. He just shook his head, and said 'Damn BAMMS', and hiked on up the trail. Then after we were done, we looked around, not really concerned as to our clothes whereabouts. Figured we'd find them in some trees or Bone would give them to us at the shelter for lunch. Got there, Rider and Dingle were lounging, said they didn't know where they were, DBone just kept on. We retreated back to the trail, a bit baffled, but kept trucking. Rider passed me after a while, remarking while passing, "Can you hike any faster without all that weight?" I thought it was a peculiar thing to say, but continued on. Got up to Barren Ledges, DBone informs me that our clothes were in my pack, the whole time... Go figure. Slept on Fourth Mt., cowboy style customary, and built a small fire, listened to the radio, and admired the sunset across the way. A day filled with magic and happiness, it was the start of our victory march.
Date: 2004-10-03
From: Fourth Mt.

To: Gulf Hagas
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: clear sky

Woke with dew all over our stuff, Screaming Stephen being true to his name at 6 a.m. "You're sleeping IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TRAIL?! In the MIDDLE of the TRAIL?!" I was too tired to listen to conversation, but something about mice and discomfort... Craziness. Woke and draped our stuff over the rock above and played cards until noon. Hiked up to a vista, sat to have a snack and wait for Coyote, Sunshine and Big Stick. Sho nuff, they came, we celebrated, hiked on to the shelter, cooked lunch and got a power boost. Hauled ass to the road and caught Dingle, slowed to hike with him to the Pleasant River, greeted by a bunch of people fording very slowly. Got across and was invited to a BBQ. After much thought and deliberation, I said yes. Sun & Stick hiked on, Coyote dingle and I forded again, after promising we would come back. I left my belongings behind a tree. The group was from Brewer High, in Maine, 120 teens and a bunch of chaperone parents and teachers and alums. We ate chicken, hot dogs, kielbasa, rolls and butter, soda smuggled to us by a parent, and piroulines. We were treated like royalty and ate like animals. Then Q & A for a while, we answered and told stories, learned about each other in the process, of course. Ate apple crisp and sat around the fire until midnight, talking about music and underage drinking. The leader's son, Ben, took me to get my pack, after it started raining and we decided we were staying. One flashlight, four people, we ended up locking arms and crossing the river to a wrong spot, bushwacking over a bit to where my pack was. I couldn't find my sticks in the dark, so I decided to get them in the morning, biting my lip. Slackpacked for the first time, because he carried my pack back to the truck! Almost a mile! Wow! Got back, privy run (big damn privy), they informed me I got to sleep in one of the bunks, and soonafter, I fell into a deep sleep.