morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-05-18
From: VA 634 Pearisburg

To: Campsite past Rice Field
Miles today: 8.9

Luckily Aspen and Toothpick let me stay in their room in Pearisburg because there was not a single one to be found by the time I arrived, dripping wet, covered in mud, looking and feeling like a bedraggled dog. Did all the usual chores such as laundry, shopping, internet, and Aspen and I had Chinese food for supper. A nice diversion. Also we had breakfast at Hardee's (one of my faves!) and stopped at the DQ where I had a Midnight Truffle Blizzard (a new favorite!). We didn't get out of town till almost 3:00! Due to the late start we did not make our goal of Symms Meadow, but we did OK. We'll have to hike strong the next few days to stay on schedule. Aspects of this hiking thing are an awful lot like a job, LOL! For once my pack was decent leaving town, not too awful heavy, not overloaded with food. That was great for climbing the mountain out of town. Ha! There's ALWAYS a mountain to climb when leaving town! When we got to Rice Field it was fully in fog, so no views. As the day ended we saw a few small blue patches in the sky, so we're hopeful we'll have views at Symms Meadow tomorrow. Thanks to all the rain the springs are running really nicely!
Date: 2010-05-19
From: Campsite past Rice Field

To: Bailey Gap Shelter
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: light rain

Well, the best of intentions fell by the wayside today. The plan was wake early, hike strong, make up yesterday's lost miles, but instead we all overslept, so no chance of making up miles. Saw a lot of familiar faces on the trail and at shelters now that Trail Days has ended. Lots of folks back on the trail. Hiked to Symms Gap Meadow for 1st break, views were OK, but quite overcast and misty in the distance. Ate snacks with Aspen, Toothpick, and Snook.   A good climb up Peters Mountain reminded me of the last time I was here and we stopped for lunch at the junction with the Allegheny Trail that goes 300 some miles off into West VA. Maybe someday! Up & down, stopped for snacks at a very crowded Pine Branch Swamp Shelter, then on up to Bailey's Gap where we caught up with Mountain Man. Also there, Nesta, who I hiked with and around on my first day on the trail. Kind of fun to run into him! Many others too, we and others tented because there are so many people around the shelters. Rained a bit today, but a good day overall.
Date: 2010-05-20
From: Bailey Gap Shelter

To: Keffer Oak Campsite
Miles today: 18.3

What a great day! The sun shone - ALL DAY! - for the first time in a week. Got a decent start around 8:00 and headed out with Aspen & Toothpick. There were several other friendly faces along the way today also. After a couple of hours 1st break was at Wind Rock. Excellent beautiful views! There with us were Snook and two U of Fla grads out section hiking, one a very experienced backpacker and the other a rookie. Hope experienced guy doesn't burn out the newbie, he wanted to hike with us! He really should look into thru hiking. I felt sorry for newbie guy. Anyway, this stretch gave me a chance to relive last summer's trial run. Lotta fun!   After Wind Rock it was on to War Spur Shelter for lunch. There we found Snook, Gearbomb, Swift. Had a nice conversation. After that, a monster climb that I had completely forgotten about! Well, I remember now! It was a tough one, steep with lots of rocks. Near VA 601, TRAIL MAGIC!!!!! Thanks SuperDave, my new hero!!!!! I needed that Dew to get me on up the last 500 feet. Whew!!! Met Aspen and TP at Laurel Creek Shelter where we decided to make a run for the Keffer Oak. So glad I did, so glad to camp here, with Mountain Man, Snook, Mike, Wrangler, and Pax the dog. By the way, I've been meaning to mention a niceness that was done for me. Peacetree (Aspen's stepdad guy) dehydrated some hotdogs and sent them to me!!! I mixed them in with my red beans and rice one night. Deelishisness!!!! Yummy! Thanks Peacetree, looking forward to seeing you again in the northland!
Date: 2010-05-21
From: Keffer Oak Campsite

To: Pickle Branch Shelter
Miles today: 18.8
Weather: overcast clouds

A long day!!! Last night we got in so late we didn't even check out the big old oak, so that was first up this morning. What an amazing old tree. Could have had at least 6 of us circle the thing. Magnificent. After that a rigorous climb up Sinking Mountain, which is not by the way, that really took a lot out of me. Lots of rock climbing on top with beautiful views, then a BIG BIG snake the size of a man's wrist. Scary! We think it was a copperhead. Later I also startled a red tailed hawk which was a beautiful sight as he lifted up to the sky, tail feathers fully extended. Made a big ruckus as he lifted, startled me good too, LOL! Later as I climbed the mountain a small bird was laying on it's side in the trail. One of its legs seemed bent the wrong way, poor thing, it looked broken to me. I nudged it gently with my trek pole and he got upright but just sat there. What to do, what to do? Well, I fantasized for a bit about taking him with me and feeding him sunflower seeds until that wonderful day when he would be healed and fly away healthy. Then I got real and decided the best I could do would be to nudge him off the trail where he could die in peace and not be accidentally stepped on. I was so gentle with him, but he resisted. Finally I left him and hiked on. He was beautiful, a creamy chocolatey brown all smooth and sleek, with yellow tipping at the end of his tail feathers and a little black bandito mask around his eyes. I met some sectioners going southbound and warned them not to step on him, then hoped for the best. In camp that night Aspen and Toothpick said they had also seen him and TP identified him as a Cedar Waxwing. Later Snook showed up and told an amazing story. Like me, like Aspen & TP, he just sat there in the trail, seemingly barely breathing, but while Snook was looking at him he flew up to a low branch, then really flew on up high into a tree. So all's well that ends well. Glad we all had the sense not to touch him and let him be. What a nice happy ending. I also saw an emerald green foot long snake in the trail. I startled him, he startled me. He froze, I froze. I hiked on, he made for the brush on the side of the trail. Yep, all's well that ends well. Another great day on the trail.
Date: 2010-05-22
From: Pickle Branch Shelter

To: Catawba Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: moderate rain

I said to Aspen (and she said I must put this in my journal), so let me say, today was 14.6 Hard Ass miles! We worked for it today for sure! Pickle Branch Shelter was a lovely place but FAR off the trail and the water source was a lovely water source, but even FARTHER behind the shelter. Got going and planned 1st break for Dragons Tooth. The going was tough, lots of rocks, hard on the feet, quads and butt. Lots of rock climbing. Seeing the Dragons Tooth was amazing, but I did not climb on it. Aspen went half way and Toothpick all the way to the top, but I was content to stand around gaping - one of my best things! From there we descended, very slowly, down the rock face. It was scary from a heights perspective and challenging from a climbing perspective. Let's just say it was hard going. The rain opened up and poured down on us, so it was a slick muddy climb down the mountain. Crossed a few meadows in the rain. Aspen was not feeling well at all which worried me considerably, I felt so helpless to not be able to do anything for her. I'm the mom you know, it's my job to make people feel better! I forget all the time that I'm not the mom out on the trail. Anyway, there was nothing much we could do but she slowed the pace considerably. All right with me. It was pouring too. There were some cattle in one of the meadows and TP was pretty funny mooing back at them. I thought my fiesta red jacket was gonna get me charged, but they ignored me. Good thing. Have I mentioned I cannot run in a backpack? I can barely run at all, LOL! Time passed and Aspen got to feeling some better, luckily, since we had made our way to Catawba. I managed to beg a ride to The Homeplace Restaurant from some guys in the trailhead parking lot and off we went to heaven. Fried chicken, roast beef, country ham, biscuits, lemonade, all the veggies you could hope for, peach cobbler with ice cream, coffee. Oh My God. Deelish.   I ate till I nearly exploded! Also, managed to beg a few biscuits and ham for breakfast tomorrow too! And, Aspen laid it away too. For a girl to have been so ill just a few short hours before it was an astounding performance! Bravo chickie, bravo!!! We hitchhiked back to the trail, got a ride in just moments, then hiked in 2 miles or so to Catawba Mtn Shelter where we are the only ones here! A shelter with all the space we could hope for! It was a big day, hiking thru massive fear off Dragons Tooth, Aspen's illness, quads so sore I can barely move, food as only in dreams, I saw a tortoise on the trail which was way cool. A very good day of 14.6 HARD ASS miles. And, we just crossed over 700 miles. Yay for us!
Date: 2010-05-23
From: Catawba Mountain Shelter

To: Daleville
Miles today: 17.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Country ham and biscuits for breakfast! YES! I could not wait to get up! And we were headed for town! And the weather was quite promising! So after that wonderful breakfast, first up, McAfee Knob. What a gorgeous spot, what a beautiful view! We goofed off taking pictures and being silly, then set off for Campbell Shelter and morning snack. Next, Tinker Cliffs. This is a half-mile cliff walk according to the handbook and I spent a good deal of the morning worrying about what do they mean, cliff walk? Turns out it's a walk along the top of the cliffs. Last fall at the Grand Canyon I was unable to cliff walk because of my fear of heights, but today I overcame that and walked on Tinker Cliffs. I did not skip or dance, for a bit I was quite timid, but I did it. And, it was spectacular. Fantastic views of the Virginia farm country in the valley below. It was postcard gorgeous. Had lunch part way down that mountain, then the charge for Daleville, still 10 miles away, was on. We went hard at it but I came limping in to town at the end of the day. Feet are very very sore tonight, but that did not stop me from wiping out the Mexican combo plate of (forgive me if I get this wrong) chili Colorado and chili Verde. Thoughts of New Mexico. Yummy. And Margaritas too boot. My life is very very good. Sleep now.
Date: 2010-05-24
From: Daleville

To: Daleville
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Spent a zero day in Daleville, but ran my tail off. I destroyed my Droid in a thunderstorm before Pearisburg, so in addition to the usual resupply, gear, planning stuff, I also had to get a shuttle to nearby Roanoke and deal with Verizon. They cut me no slack. You could call it ZERO. Oh well, such is life. Destroyed my camera as well, will try and deal with that in the next town stop. Seriously, no rest on this zero day.
Date: 2010-05-25
From: Daleville

To: Wilson Creek Shelter
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: light rain

Funny how after a zero the legs, lungs and heart just seem a little tired! I never seem to get any rest. Wish I could figure that one out. We had pretty kind trail out of Daleville but it took my body FOREVER to get in the game. Lotta huffin & puffin! Lotta 30 second time outs. Oh well, that is my hike. Hiking with Aspen and Toothpick, we've decided to hike the next leg together. Nice trail with switchbacks (we like 'em) took us up to Fullhardt Knob Shelter for snacks. They've got a rainwater collection cistern there that was kind of interesting to see, but we didn't need water so didn't take any.   Rain threatened, so I put on my gear. That way I can best walk along thinking about rain while sweating profusely! It never did actually rain. When my gore-tex boots fill up with water, which they eventually do in a big rain, it's like walking with your feet in a bucket of water, so this has been a hot topic in my brain lately. Hiked on to Salt Pond Road and took a few minutes to celebrate the 1/3 to Katahdin moment. Yep, we are 1/3 of the way there. From there we hiked to Wilson Creek Shelter. Packed in water since the source is a good bit away and we were late. Saw a beautiful pre-sunset sky over the mountains. Nice! We began the day at the Cracker Barrel since Aspen & Toothpick had never been there. You know what that means! Ham biscuits in my food bag!!! Can't wait for breakfast, LOL!
Date: 2010-05-26
From: Wilson Creek Shelter

To: VA 43, Buchanon
Miles today: 10.5

Started the day with a ham biscuit from Cracker Barrel!!! Yay!! We slept late this day which was bad, considering we had an 18 mile day planned. Got a VERY slow start. Headed out and about half a mile in had to get water. Everyday planning when and where to get water is a big deal, many of the ridgetops are dry but a liter of water weighs 2 pounds, so it's a balance game. Takes planning. As the morning wore on we got into Blue Ridge Parkway country. Crossed over the parkway several times at view spots. Kind of funny hiking parallel to the parkway, yet still in the woods, so we had the ups and downs of the mountains that the cars don't experience. Not bad though, nice hiking. As I approached Harveys Knob Overlook a gentleman approached me on the trail. He wanted to be sure I had seen the note advising of upcoming TRAIL MAGIC! What a nice man, dressed all dapper and making his way down a steep trail! I thought to myself, Mr, you're gonna have to go back up that hill. He was game! The trail magic was put on by an '09 hiker named Shameless who I liked immediately! (Dapper man was his Dad, Shameless Too) He brought PBR's! And Subway sandwiches, and donuts, and strawberries! As we sat talking I asked him if he ever had any times on his thru that he thought of quitting and he told me a story of a miserable day and night near Long Trail Inn, when fellow hikers Denali and Gorgonzola (who I met back in Carolina!) helped him get his head straight. It was good for me to hear. I was really struggling this morning. I was tired, my feet hurt, my back hurt, blah blah, blah blah, blah blah. My head was getting the best of me for sure. Also, as I approached the trail magic, there sat a good friend from the Roanoke area who had been out hiking on the AT, hoping to run into me. And so he did. We had some things to talk about, so we agreed to spend some time on that. Hiked out to VA 43 at Buchanon where I said so long to Aspen and Toothpick. Will be MIA for a few. I am concerned about the negativity in my head. When I return to the trail I will have to work hard on that.
Date: 2010-05-30
From: Roanoke, VA

To: Bryant Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: scattered clouds

Back on the trail again! Had a nice time bathing daily and eating a lot, but it's time to get back to it!First there apparently was a massive hiker feed a few shelters north so there's all kinds of shuttles and slackpacks going on. Few on the trail around me today.Set off up and over Cove Mtn, met some local loop backpackers and day hikers. Made my way thru an area burned in the not too distant past, that always provides perspective on how the growing things just fill in all the spaces. Stopped for water at Jennings Crk where some local kids were swimming. Looked like fun to me, but no time. As usual I was racing sundown to get to the shelter. From the creek I went over Fork Mtn, saw a nice campsite up there, but no water. Finally got in to Bryant Ridge Shelter. I set up my tent because it was plenty buggy. The shelter is really nice, sleeps 20 but only 2 others there tonight.
Date: 2010-05-31
From: Bryant Ridge Shelter

To: Maple Spring campsite
Miles today: 17.2

A big day of climbing today, went up and over Floyd Mtn, Apple Orchard Mtn, and High Cock Knob. About 3800 feet in all. Saw a toad, deer, lizards. Amazing variety of bird song, some squeak, some squack, some trill, some are flute-like. So many. Saw what seems to be the end of the mountain laurel, the blossoms strewn about like forgotten confetti. Summer is coming on. A lot of the walk the last few days has paralleled the Blue Ridge Parkway so there has been a constant rumble from the motorcycles. Had storm clouds blow through while on Apple Orchard Mtn; did not rain but I sure enjoyed the cool wind on my sweaty skin.I miss my friends but I think right now it's just as well I hike alone.
Date: 2010-06-01
From: Maple Spring campsite

To: Punchbowl Shelter
Miles today: 18.2
Weather: light rain

Another fine day on the AT! Began with misty light at the campsite which by the time I left was loaded up with sunbeams. I could almost hear the angels singing! It was gorgeous.Hiked down down down to Matts Crk Shelter for first break with Grapevine who had been in camp with me and Nails, a section hiker, who I met there. While we had snacks along comes a hiker named Galilee Man. He is attempting to do the full AT with no external support in 64 days. Wow! He was also a very friendly person. Moved on from the shelter and walked along the James River for a bit, then walked across on this wonderful bridge that former thru hikers made happen. Quite nice. Met a bunch of kids from some kind of Outward Bound program and had fun talking with them about thru hiking. From the river it was on to Johns Hollow shelter for lunch, then a BIG climb up Bluff Mtn. The climb was like 1900 feet, but the trail levelled off afterwards. Got in to Punchbowl and met 4 more section hikers here. I seem to be between thru hiker groups. That's ok, it was a fine day of hiking. Saw lots of columbine and a few remaining mtn laurel. Had brief rain that cooled everything down lovely. The view from the top was fantastic. A good good day.
Date: 2010-06-02
From: Punchbowl Shelter

To: Hog Camp Gap Campsite
Miles today: 17.6
Weather: few clouds

What an utterly marvelous day! Day began at Punchbowl Shelter with the continuation of the bullfrog serenade which was splendid. Headed out and crossed the Blue Ridge Parkway where I found a garbage can, so I unloaded to save some weight. From there it was up and over Rice Mountain - met some southbound section hikers huffin and puffin up the hill. Southbound is soooo much harder, LOL! I don't know why, but the words, 'it's a long way to the top if you wanna rock n roll' popped into my head. I am such a goofball, but it was just that kind of day. And those words are true, LOL! Stopped for first break at the Pedlar River Bridge where I ate all my gummi bears for the day (because I have no self discipline) and did minor surgery on my toenail. All's well. Hiked around Pedlar Lake which was very pretty, then TRAIL MAGIC! Flash and Hot Flash, 1987 thru hikers, fed me a wonderful lunch and shared tales of their hike. They even met Earl Schaffer. Hot Flash was very postive and supportive which just made me feel good. Patch was there too, so it was a nice time. Headed for Brown Mountain Creek where I got to bathe!!!!!!!! After that there was no escaping it, time for the big climb. Not too bad at first, passed Brown Mtn Crk Shelter where a guy was playing guitar. Quite nice. Then at the US 60 road crossing a German family was talking with hikers about the trail which was kind of fun. And, there was Patch again! Finally, there I was, huffin & puffin. It is indeed a long way to the top if ya wanna rock n roll.   And it was! It was a hard climb! I considered bailing at Cow Camp Gap Shelter, it was already 6:30, but I decided to go 2.5 more miles instead.   Boy am I glad I did! Made my way to the top of Cold Mountain and what did I find? A bald! And it was nearing sunset! What a delight! It was absolutely exquisite, the way the knee high grass bowed in the wind and the silver and burgundy overtones shimmered in the twilight. What a sight to see! I then hurried on to Hog Camp Gap Campsite where I found Web Walker, Just Blue Skies and (who else?) Patch, all camping there. And there was a swing hanging from a tree. What a wonderful day!
Date: 2010-06-03
From: Hog Camp Gap Campsite

To: Spy Rock Road
Miles today: 10.0

Woke this morning and took a bit of time to play on the swing at Hog Camp Gap. I felt so relaxed, knowing I "only" had 10 miles to do. As I walked today it occurred to me that I am always pushing myself to do more, do better, be faster, etc. I think I make it more stressful and less enjoyable for myself. I really feel the pressure when I know I have a big hiking day planned. On the other hand, I know that I need to keep moving forward and improving to achieve the big goal at the end of the hike and that this is the place to do it. Virginia, I mean. In camp this morning I figured that I would get to the trailhead around 2:00 at my blazing hike speed, including time for lunch! So, a mere two miles from the trail head I stopped and took a long lunch and ate everything I had, LOL! Talk about your dallying. I am hyper good at it when I set my mind to it! Anyway, it was nice today to relax and mosey my way along the trail. Terrain was kind as well. Dutch Haus is a nice place with nice people, if a bit of a trip off the trail. We had 5 kinds of home made pizza tonight and I hear breakfast is pretty darn good too. There's around 8 of us hikers here, enough for decent conversation but not a huge crowd. OK, bedtime. Zzzzzz.
Date: 2010-06-04
From: Spy Rock Road

To: Maupin Field Shelter
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Had a fine breakfast at Dutch Haus, then off to the drop off point, a little over a mile from the trailhead! Straight up! Lucky, a group from Natural Bridge ATC was doing trail work and drove our packs up to the trailhead, so at least that little more than one mile was without a pack. MAGIC! Thanks guys! I knew it was going to be a long hard day so I hiked the first (and gentlest) miles as fast as I could. Passed on Spy Rock, darn it. Too bad, but I had to go! Took 1st break at The Priest Shelter, then the long, long, long downhill began. Really! 4 miles! Was just long, not too many rock scrambles, so I cruised right along. Had the IPOD blasting and was singing along to some raunchy rocknroll song when I burst out of the trees and interrupted a couple sharing a romantic lunch at a view spot. I need to work on my trail manners. They were gracious, I was embarrassed. At the bottom of The Priest is Tye River where I took a long break and soaked my feet in the river. Ate a melted Snickers bar, licking the wrapper clean. I am such a kid out here! Saw a lot of different fish, snails, and a small pool full of tadpoles. Cool. Tadpoles (or pollywogs) do not know what they are doing! LOL! Saw an ant fall in and swim for it's life and make it to a rock and safety. From the river I made my way on to Harpers Creek Shelter where I loaded up on lunch and water, then headed up Three Ridges Mountain. Whew, what a climb! I loved it, it was a beauty, a great climb with great views.   The storm clouds rolled in to cool me down but did not rain. I am a lucky girl! I had a blinding light moment on top of the mountain and just stood there sobbing. I cannot believe I've hiked all this way over all these mountains. I'm not even half way yet and I am awestruck at this trail and this journey. The emotion really overwhelmed me. I am completely knocked out! To think I was struggling so hard, just a few short days ago. Wow. So, I pulled myself back together and headed down off the mountain, bound for Maupin Field Shelter. Got the tent setup, dinner of spaghetti, carrot salad and chocolate pudding with a cup of mint tea, teeth brushed and in my tent before good dark. A spectacular day. It was.