morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-04-28
To: View Entry
Miles today: 14.0

On 4/28, it was cold and wet. Again. A cold, light rain fell allday, making the hiking not so much fun. The terrain wasn't bad,so I made alright time, but it was frustrating when I had toclose my ziplock map bag by smahing it together with my palms,since my fingers weren't strong enough. Frost told me how hisfingers were having an exceedingly hard time undoing his pants zipper when he needed to pee. I passed by The Captain's, whichwas a former hiker's house who let people camp in his yard,since I didn't want to tent in the rain. Apparently I missed out,as the place had a sauna and free soda. I made 2 more miles toa shelter and got in my sleeping bag immediately and stayed in for the rest of the night except to pee. The only other thru hikerthere was Frost, who had neroed in from staying at the captain's the night before.
Date: 2013-04-29
To: View Entry
Miles today: 22.5

On 4/29, the weather stayed foggy in the morning, but cleared upas the day went on. I'd only done a few miles, and stopped at theturn off for the first shelter out. Grafitti on the shelter signwarned it was a long way down a steep hill, so I decided not tocheck the register there. Instead, I took a break at the intersection, when, to my great surprise, Tarzan showed up withanother hiker named Zack. He had apparently taken a day or so offwith some friends, as he was tired of moving at his injured sister'sslow pace, and he was now catching up to her. I had planned on camping a few miles before the shelter they were headed for, butthe prospect of spending some time with someone I knew was tooenticing, so I pushed my first 20+ day since just after Erwin.The weather cleared up late morning, just in time for me to take in some spectacular veiws along a rocky ridgeline hike.At the shelter, I met Baker, and saw Frost and Grrr, who were also staying there. I was running out of food again, so fordinner that night I had a pack of tuna and the last of my ranchdressing, saving a pack of instant mashed potatos for the nextnight.
Date: 2013-04-30
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

On 4/30, I moved slowly, cautious of the 23 I'd pulled the daybefore. I got to the Dragon's tooth and found a scramble up to the top of it, to take in a wonderful veiw, and get the feelingof being high up on something. Coming down from the Dragon's tooth was actually sketchier than scrambling on top of it, as the trail descended steep rock faces along steep hillsides.I was running out of juice as I hit the road just before McAfeeKnob, since I was down to not a whole lot of food. Lucky for me,for the first time, I caught some of Nomad's trail magic. Bakerand I sat down in the beach chairs, and had a few sandwiches andsalad, with doritos as crutons. I don't know whether the foodslowed me down or sped me up on the ascent to McAfee, but it suremade my stomach feel better. Baker and I made it to McAfee just in time to catch the spectacular veiws and sunset. We found Frost there with his camera making a time lapse video, and Idangled my legs over the edge while the camera snapped pictureslike a slow metronome.As it got darker, I decided to get to the shelter before I neededto use my headlamp. The day brought even more good news, as theshelter was housin many old friends I'd not seen in weeks. Ispent the night with Tarzan, Coffee Pot, Frost,Pack Rat (Nate),and Nickelodeon, as well as Baker, Zack, and Camero, who I hadonly ever seen in passing sometime before the Smokeys.
Date: 2013-05-01
From: Church of the Mountain Hostel

To: Howard Johnson Motel
Miles today: 16.0

On 5/1, I came into Daleville. It was not too far into town, butI was dissapointed, as a foggy drizzle blocked out the undoubtedlywonderful veiw from tinker cliffs. I made it to Daleville around3, and ran into more friends as I was resupplying at the Kroger-Fly, Lep, Woodrow, and Tin Man had gotten a room at the Howard Johnson, and were willing to let me floor crash. After doing a few chores, I met up with everyone I'd stayed with the night before,and we all hit the BBQ place in town. We then went back to thehotel and watched movies on tv until about midnight, when everyonepassed out.
Date: 2013-05-02
From: Howard Johnson Motel

To: View Entry
Miles today: 17.0

On 5/2, I wanted to get out early so I would have a good amountof time get 3 shelters out of town with plenty of breaks, butpacking took forever, and I was catching up on my trail journal,and then Tin Man extended our checkout until 12, so I ended up leaving at 11:45 or so. As I headed out of town, I met an oldman on a day hike going south, who wished me luck, saying he had thru hiked twice in the 90s. At the top of the climb comingout of Troutville, I met Camero taking a break. We hiked togetherfor several miles before we caught Rash as well, and the threeof us hiked together for the rest of the day. One particularincident of note involved me nearly stepping on a black snake laid out on the trail, and jumping/ falling over backwards to avoid (a) stepping on the snake, and (b) getting bitten by a snake.The three of us made it to the Shelter before dark, where we metStreach and Barking Spider, and where we were joined by Tin Man,Wild Rain, Tarzan, Nickelodeon, and Pack Rat.
Date: 2013-05-03
To: View Entry
Miles today: 15.0

On 5/3, I was shooting for 19 miles. However, Camero, Rash,Nickelodeon, Pack Rat, and I decided to hitch into Buchanon for the hell of it. At the only store there, a combinationgas station and burger king, I spied a tub of ice cream, anddecided to get it because ice cream is tasty. I ate it without too much of a problem, except that it made me quite cold, and weall managed to hitch back in a truck bed. I made pretty good timeback on the trail, until the sugar crash from eating a quart anda half of ice cream hit me. I decided to stop one shelter shortwith Rash and Camero and do a 15 mile day instead.Later in the day, Lep, Woodrow, and Fly showed up. I didn't knowat the time, but this was the last time I would see Lep, as he would get off just a few days later due to plain old trail fatigue. Showing up later was Raider, a retired marine sniperinstructor who was doning constant 30 mile days.Oh, also the shelter was very large and arcitecturally pleasing.
Date: 2013-05-04
To: Icewater Spring Campsite
Miles today: 17.0

On 5/4, I woke up early, legitimately, for the first time in along time. I made it out of camp at first light, and made it upthe 4 mile long hill I'd forgone the day before without much problem. The terrain wasn't bad, but that first hill sort of tookit out of me, so I was moving sort of slow. I did catch Shipwright on the trail though. He was finishing his section hikethat day, and was trading favors with a friend, getting picked upat a gravel parking lot on the trail, then shuttling the carso his friend could do a day hike. He offered me and Camero a rideinto town in the car he was now responsible for, and we botheagerly accepted. As we rode in to Glasgow, we saw Nickelodeonon the road and offered him a ride in, and he accepted as well.We went to Scotto's italian, apparently the only restaurant intown, and all got calzones. Camero did a resupply which consistedof a snickers bar and a pack of crackers, and we dropped Nickelodeonback off at the trail crossing. We then proceeded to get lost anddrive a prius down several miles of rough gravel road before we got back to the parking lot.It was late in the day, so I settled for a 17 mile day and stayed at a campsite with Camero, Woodrow, and Papya, who was another guy pulling consistant 30s. Lep and Fly were conspicuouslyabsent from Woodrow's entourage, and he said he didn't know whathappened to them, since he had left the shelter before they did.
Date: 2013-05-05
From: Icewater Spring Campsite

To: View Entry
Miles today: 27.7

On 5/5, it was a cold morning, so I got out of camp later thanI would have liked. I planned on doing 2 18s, which would putme at Fresh Ground's new camp in 2 days. I said goodbye to Cameroat the road to Glasgow, as she was taking some time off since herknee, which she had injured before, was acting up again. I pushedon. It was supposed to start raining that afternoon, so I wantedto make the miles to punchbowl shelter before it hit. However,the longer I hiked, the more I felt like pushing one shelter farther, since I didn't want to do 18 in the rain the next dayeither. I ended up getting to Punchbowl early enough, so I madethe decision and pushed 10 more miles. I stumbled into camp attwilight, completely drained of energy. Woodrow and Papya werealready there. I cooked dinner and passed out.
Date: 2013-05-06
To: Blue Dog Cafe Hostel
Miles today: 8.0

On 5/6, I got up sort of early. It was chilly, and a bit misty,but not bad. I packed up and headed out, eager to get to Fresh Ground. The shelter I'd stayed at was in the valley, though.On top of the ridge, the weather was much worse. Cold, rainey, and high winds were not the ideal conditions to be doing thebalds on the trail in. I was soaked by the time I got to Hog Camp Gap, Fresh Ground's last stop. He'd left the cooking tothe hikers this time, and was running shuttles into town all day, getting people out of the weather. He came back from one shuttle,and promised Woodrow and I a seat in the next one to resupply.We sat under the tarp with some others for hours cooking hotdogs and drinking hot gatorade. When he came back, he said he had reserved for us the last 2 spots in the Blue Dog Cafe hostel,if we wanted them. Having done 28 the day before, and having satin the blowing rain for hours, we both accepted. Down in BuenaVista, the rain was hardly dripping, and the teperature was almostbalmy. In the Hostel, we met up with Cricket, Yeblaze, Nickelodeon,Shepherd, Rocky, Hiccup, Forge, and Easy. A few of us went to thewine shop up the street, and got a few bottles. We also managedto find someone willing to give us a ride back up the mountainthe next morning through the proprietor. Back in the hostel, thehosts had given us a basket full of candy and snacks from the amish market in town. Hiccup, Forge, and Shepard went to the movies and came back with popcorn. So I had a dinner of candy,popcorn, and wine.As for the hostel itself, it was lacking a bit in amenities-the kitchen had nothing to cook in, and there was only 1 bed and a few air mattresses scattered about. I heard they were a new hostel, though, just getting started up. Also, free breakfast.
Date: 2013-05-07
From: Blue Dog Cafe Hostel

To: View Entry
Miles today: 23.0

On 5/7, I ate my free breakfast and got a ride back up the thetrail with Nickelodeon, Yeblaze, and Easy. The wind wasn't as badnow, but it was still cold and rainy. I'd planned to do 2 moreeasy days to recover, but I did like the sound of Nickelodeon'splan to do 2 20+s, then an 8 into Waynesboro. The day cleared upnicely for a few hours around noon, asnd I felt great. I was flying,doing maybe, 3.5 mph. I made it to The Preist shelter, leaping injust as the rain which had been holding loose opened up. Nickelodeongot in maybe 30 minutes later, having climbed the mountain in thepouring rain and hail. We stayed in the shelter for a while asrain raged and the thunder and lightning started up. About anhour and a half later, though, the storm had died down and Idecided to push on. My hike started out pretty well, and I wasmoving decently. But then, maybe a half mile down the 5 miledecent of the Preist, my knee started hurting just like it hadbeen in Georgia. I streached it out and kept hiking, though at a slower pace. Then, my knee started hurting in ways it hadn't before,in a way that was quite concerning. I slowed down more, and tried walking backwards, but it still hurt. The only thing thathelped was being very delicate as I walked. I hit the gap at the bottom of the mountain and went over one more ridge for a mileand a half. I knew I was approaching the shelter as twilight was fading. I came upon a creek, which was more of a raging torrent due to the days of rain we were experiancing, I looked for a way to cross for a few minutes, until I gave up, took off my shoes, and waded across. Just across the stream was a sign pointingto a side trail for the shelter. I was extremely happy about this,until the shelter trail led back across the same creek I'd justcrossed, once again with no bridge. After I finished cursing, Iwaded across again and joined Tin Man, Wild Rain, and Yeblaze in the shelter. Nickelodeon showed up about 30 minutes later.
Date: 2013-05-08
To: View Entry
Miles today: 23.0

On 5/8, it continued to rain, and I continued to hike. I decidedto keep with Nickelodeon's plan despite my hurting knee. Theterrain was alright, the only bad part was the constant rain.My knee was feeling alright for most of the day hiking through the rocks and rain, and it cleared up nicely around noon. Unfortuantely for Nickelodeon, within sight of the shelter, he slipped on a rock and busted his knee. At least it wasn't a far hobble to the shelter, and he could soak it in the stream later. Theday finished off with another wade through a creek just beforethe shelter.
Date: 2013-05-09
To: Quality Inn
Miles today: 8.0

On 5/9, I hiked into Waynesboro alone. Yeblaze had decided towait at the shelter for her sister, who had stayed in BuenaVista to recieve a package. Nickelodeon left at the same time Idid, but assured me that he would be moving slowly, since his knee still hurt from his fall the day before. As I got to the roadleading into Waynesboro, I saw, very helpfully posted on the road'sgaurdrail, a list of trail angels' phone numbers to call for rides.As I debated between calling one of them or just trying to hitch,who would drive by but Nomad! He was off delivering some hikersup the trail: Ground Pounder, who had only been a name the registers to me until now; and Rash, who was jumping ahead tocatch up with some friends. I took a ride up and then back downskyline drive, when we conveniently arrived back at the trailheadjust in time to grab Nickelodeon.I would have preferred to be in and out of town, and have made7 miles into the Shenandoahs before days end. Several things keptme in town, though:1) My cousin lived in town, and occasionally spending time withfamily is a good thing.2) A good number of people I knew were staying in town as well,and spending time with friends is also a good thing.3) I'd developed a concerning swelling on my face where I'd had astaph infection several years ago, and I didn't want a septicface on the trail.Nickelodeon and I got dropped off at the Quality Inn, where everyone was staying, and I spent the afternoon relaxing in thewarm, sunny parking lot with Tarzan, Coffee Pot, Camero, Nickelodeon,Shepherd, and eventually, Cricket and Yeblaze. Pack Rat was stayingthere as well, but he had caught something, and was quarentininghimself to his hotel room. Mostly, the bathroom. I had dinner withmy cousin, then made it back to the hotel, where I floor crashedwith Shepherd in Nickelodeon, Cricket, and Yeblaze's room.
Date: 2013-05-10
From: Quality Inn

To: Quality Inn
Miles today: 0.0

On 5/10, I made the most of my 0 by taking care of some town chores. First on the list: my concerning facial infection. Apparently, Waynesboro, VA is not the metropolis one would expect, and the only doctor I could find was located in thewalmart. So I went to the walmart doctor and got a prescriptionfor some antibotics.I finished up the rest of my chores and realized I was hungery.I wanted pizza, and cheap, so I went to the Little Ceasar's andgot 2. I made it back to the hotel, not quite beating out therain, and feasted on pizza and half a 12 pack of Sam Adams Nickelodeon and I were splitting.That night, I woke up unusually warm. This was followed by two vomiting sessions, and a not-so-restful sleep.
Date: 2013-05-11
From: Quality Inn

To: Quality Inn
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

On 5/11 I said goodbye to Cricket, Yeblaze and Nickelodeon asthey departed and left the hotel room. I still felt like shit, so I laid down on the hallway balcony until I could check into my own room. I slept most of the day, and then night.
Date: 2013-05-12
From: Quality Inn

To: View Entry
Miles today: 7.0

On 5/12, I felt much better by checkout time, so I packed up, and caught a ride back to the trail with a trail angel. On thetrail, felt not as better. The 7 miles to the shelter exhausted me. At the shelter, I found Woodrow and a sobo wrap-arounder.Yonder was apparently also there, but was sequestered in his tent,having caught the same bug Pack Rat and I had gotten. For dinnerthat night, I had a bowl of Ramen broth and 2 snickers bars andfelt so full I thought I might vomit again.
Date: 2013-05-13
To: View Entry
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: overcast clouds

On 5/13, I shelter hopped. I was still recovering from illness,so I staggered on in half delerium. On the plus side, I felt abit better for a few hours during the afternoon. On the minus,my knees started hurting a bit again, in the same concerning waythey had coming down from the Priest. I got to the shelter andpassed out again.
Date: 2013-05-14
To: View Entry
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: overcast clouds

On 5/14, I got out of the shelter sort of late and shelter hoppedagain. I was still feeling a bit tired, but at least I could eatsome real food again. I think the antibiotics for my face probablyslowed down the recovery of the good bacteria in my stomach, butthings were at least partially back up and running now. I alsothink that hiking while still recovering might have been a bad idea, since my lack of energy, shortness of breath, and rapidtemperature changes indicated I was low on blood, which alsomeant my body could not heal itself as effectively as it normallywould; ie, my knees were hurting.At the shelter, I met Mr Frodo, Patch, Waffles, and 180, on whatwas apparently the last day of their group's staying together,as both Mr Frodo and Patch were leaving the trail soon to take some time off.
Date: 2013-05-15
To: View Entry
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: light rain

On 5/15, I kept small miles. My knees had been hurting consistantlyin the concerning way, so I decided to keep my miles low untilthey felt better. This meant that my fairly early start translated into getting to the shelter I was staying at before noon. It was just Mr Frodo and I all day in the shelter. Mr Frodowas getting picked up the next day 4 miles on, so he was theretonight.
Date: 2013-05-16
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

On 5/16, I shelter hopped again. I met Forge and Hiccup at LewisMt. Campground. I resupplied at the campground store, which wasnot the best resupply, but was doable. The best was the can of peaches and pint of milk I bought, since all I'd been cravingwhen sick was fruit, and all I'd had to eat was snickers bars andramen.
Date: 2013-05-18
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

On 5/18, the morning was mostly foggy. I got to Skyland Resortjust short of the time frame to get the breakfast buffet. I triedjust buying it and getting in for the last few minutes, butapparently bending the rules is not allowed at skyland. Splinterand Crush showed up after me and were similarly dissapointed.I didn'thave too many more miles to do that day, so I stayed for lunch instead. I got a burger, which was tasty, but also took forever to digest, since it was the first real food I'd hadsince I got sick.I got to the shelter, where I met Condor, and where a boy scouttroop was doing a Philmont prep hike.
Date: 2013-05-19
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

On 5/19, the weather was foggy and drizzly, and a bit cool formy taste. My knees were still hurting, and I was feeling superdown: low mileage, shit weather, and no constant friends willdo that to you. I took a break in the drizzle by laying my rainjacket over me while I laid on my pad and elevated my feet and knees. My legs still got wet, and it wasn't cold enough to hikewith the jacket on, but at least when it covered me, I didn't have water dripping on my face. I usually don't like spending all that much money, but by the time I got to Elkwallow Wayside,I did't care. I dropped about $20 on food at the concession, andthen a good deal more on tasty junk food, in addition to my resupply. At the wayside, I met Buffalo and Postman. Buffalohad previously tried to thru hike, but had failed after 1200 miles because he kept re-injuring himself. I suppose there isa lesson for me in there. I made a few more miles to the shelterwhere I gorged myself on instant mashed potatos, cookies, and apple turnovers.
Date: 2013-05-20
To: Sweet Tea's yard
Miles today: 14.0

On 5/20, the fog started to break up. I was leaving the parkthat day, and I finally got a few decent veiws as I left. Asa final farewell to Skyline Drive, which I'd been following since it was the BRP all the way back since Daleville, by peeingon it. In the register in the shelter just outside the park,the register said there was camping in a yard just south of the road leading to Front Royal. This sounded excellent, since I'dplanned on stealthing around there anyway. When I got there I found a boxer just inside the fence. As I walked through thehole in the fence clearly for hiker use, I introduced myself,and he nipped the back of my hand, and seemed none too friendly.I was unsure of what to do, since I did want to camp there, but I also didn't want to be attacked by a dog. As I stood there,on the other side of what was apparently an invisible fence, another, much more friendly big black dog approached. In additionto having great interest in my crotch, he also moved betweenme and the boxer, and basically guided me to a large green lawn where I set up my tent. I left to resupply in town, and hitched in without much trouble. Resupply took a while, and I was dissapointed that all the chinese AYCEs listed in AWOL wereclosed. I hitched out with some chinese takeout anyway, andate it back at my tent. No other hikers showed up to camp thatnight.
Date: 2013-05-21
From: Sweet Tea's yard

To: Dick's Dome Shelter
Miles today: 15.0

On 5/21, I started taking some miles out of the last chunk ofVirginia. 5 miles in, I met Bison and Splinter at a shelter.They were pushing farther than I was that day, but I had a nicechat as they packed up from staying the night.At a road crossing, I saw that Car Jacker had left sometrail magic for his fellow hikers, in the form of a large jar ofapplesauce. The jar was mostly empty, but I managed to get a few swigs and still leave some for those who would follow. It was only at the next shelter where I read the register that I realized that Car Jacker must have left that applesauce thereover a week ago, while it baked in 90 degree heat. Still tasty,though. I made it to Dick's Dome Shelter that night. The shelterdesign was interesting, being a geodesic dome, but not very practicle, because (a) it only held 4 people (according to the book), and (b) there were a lot of good nesting spots for micebuilt into it. Seeing the excess mouse evidence, I decided totent outside the shelter, along with Forge, Hiccup, and Condor.