morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-04-15
From: Chestnut Shelter (sheltering)

To: Docs Knob Shelter
Miles today: 17.1
Weather: light snow

Day 48, April 18, 2014Today was our final day without the pack... and not even the whole day. We had planned to at least walk 15 to Woods Hole where our packs were. After yesterday we took it pretty easy all day. Everyone's legs were a little tired. Today we continued to have that good Virginia terrain on our side and only had one substantial climb. We got to Woods Hole and decided to walk a couple more miles. We need to get to Pearlsburg tomorrow to send our cold weather gear North.The Post Office closes at two. If we miss this timeline we will have to zero Sunday and we would rather not do that. The last couple days have been full of fun, food, camp fires and walking. Thanks Raman Shaman for setting it up and Grandpa Kibble for the assist and babysitting. Today we also went past the infamous Wapitu Shelter. This shelter was the site of a grisly double murder in the early 1980s. As I understand it the murderer only served about 15 years and was released. Then about ten years later he was back at the same site and attempted to kill two hunters. They escaped with their lives!! Then as the killer was fleeing from the cops he got in a car wreck and was killed. Now I don't know if I have all the facts straight and currently no Google. But the AT is very safe and there have been very few incidents of violence considering the millions of people who walk the trail every year. If only Chicago could say the same. We also heard that AWOLs mileage in the AT is off and that the trail is actually .5 miles longer then what his Guide says. I hope thats not the deal breaker!!! Ok I am off to bed to rest my weary knees. Virginia is for hikers!Signed, Cowgirl, Radioman, and The Little ManHiked today: 17.1Completed: 623.1Remaining: 1562.2Start Point: VA 607End Point: Docs Knob Shelter (tenting)
Date: 2014-04-16
From: Chestnut Shelter

To: VA
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: clear sky

Virginia is for hikers!Day 46, April 16, 2016So the morning started out so very cold but it made for a pretty clear, crisp view. It was full of TURDs. TURDSVILLE in fact. The truth is, as I have stated, the AT and especially VA, is a TURD haven. So we embrace it. Radioman had a few issues today. First his sister sent a package to Atkins. We overshot it. Most places take care of that issues by bouncing it forward. Well, not the money grubbing place we sent it too. Then he asked for a shuttle to get said package. Oh yes we can do it for 50 bucks!! Laughable. I am not sure what he will do. So today Raman Shaman hooked us up with a slack pack. We walked 6 miles and dropped packs and then slacked 10 more. Then we tented at a place I will call X owned by a man called Y. Do you remember how I told you I liked Squirrel and Tree Frog immediately. Well, I disliked Y and his bravado immediately. Why? Well here are 2 of 11 reasons:Radioman told him about an important errand and Y blew him off again. Y bragged about giving up millionaire statues within five minutes of meeting him (wait at least a day). The trail was great once again. In fact the last part before the down was so smooth and flat we all thought something was wrong and we were on the wrong trail. No joke.(Radioman - If you are hiking in VA and see signs illegally posted on the trail telling you to call for a ride because you will not have cell service off of the ridge...call your mom. Call your best friend from 3rd grade. Call information and ask them random questions about the meaning of life. But just keep walking. Unless you are impressed by a jumble of blue tarps tossed over a pole or two with a fire in the middle. If you are easily swayed by endless stories & songs of self adulation and bravado, if you want to wait 5 hours to get to an ATM so can pay the "donation fee" that will be demanded if not paid ASAP, to wait hours so you can order a pizza, if you are not first in line for breakfast so you can get something to eat, if you want a cup of coffee with sugar-or an extra cup, if you want to leave the next day at a reasonable time, if you want to buy into a business model where the primary goal seems to be to take 4-5 years to stack a handful of logs on the ground without a foundation with a previous record of giving away any profits, and a prot©g© who had a business model to run a non-profit company where major companies give him products as their tax write off so he can sell them to hikers. When you sell things, doesn't that defeat the "non-profit" status?) Virginia is for hikers!Signed, Cowgirl, Radioman, and The Little ManHiked today: 14.8Completed: 580.5Remaining: 1604.8Start Point: Chestnut ShelterEnd Point: VA 615 (tenting)
Date: 2014-04-17
From: VA

To: Trent's Grocery, VA
Miles today: 25.5

Day 47, April 17, 2014600 MILES!!! Raman Shaman organized another slack pack day. It did involve us having to walk 26 miles. Even without a pack 26 miles was substantial. We got a bit of a late start. Mr Y was carrying on all night and morning that if anyone missed the 0900 shuttle they would have to ZERO!! Then he had the audacity to be one hour late in starting. I felt like we were in the Hotel California and were never so happy to be back on the trail and free!! The trail flowed a ridge line for most of the day. There was one confusion section involving roads and crossing I 71. Quailman, Icicle and Cheese it actually lost the trail for over 40 minutes!! Then we all had the same issue with water. There was a dry run for about 13 miles. I actually got off of the AT for water at a spring and the darn thing was dry! But everyone arrived safe and sound to camp, if not a little thirsty. Grampa Kibble, Mason, was waiting at VA 608 with treats and drinks for all of today's hikers-and he babysat Cooper. We are tenting at a place called Trents Grocery. We have a Camp fire going and everyone is telling Mr. Y stories. I have a ton and can't wait to share them with friends and family in real life. The highlight of our evening was that we got an Easter box from Paul's sister Michelle. Paul was able to make everyone a cracker with salmon pate and garlic cheese. Virginia is for hikers!Signed, Cowgirl, Radioman, and The Little ManHiked today: 25.5Completed: 606.0Remaining: 1579.3Start Point: VA 615End Point: VA 606 (tenting)
Date: 2014-04-21
From:  Unnamed camp site on a ridge 

To: Near Woods Road (tenting)
Miles today: 14.2

Day 51, April 21, 2014Today we worked for every mile! Besides the normal ups the trail was riddled with downfall and rocks. It was arguably one of the worst cared for sections thus far. Only two pictures today. Probably because I was so worried about falling down!!!During one section I accidentally pulled Cooper over into the creek. The poor little guy fell upside down and looked like a turtle in distress. I quickly scooped him up and I admit I did laugh at him. About ten steps later I came upon two downed trees. I had to crawl under the first one. I decided to do a barrel roll on the next. It was a great idea until my foot hit the ground, my body stopped and my backpack kept going. Then I ended up on my back like a turtle in distress!! I did the only thing I could, I scooped myself up and laughed!! We camped at little site with Pooh Bear and Deep Blue. CCoop and I tried the summer bag. It's a little smaller and he's a bed hog! Virginia is for hikers!Signed, Cowgirl, Radioman, and The Little ManHiked today: 14.2Completed: 659.2Remaining: 1526.1Start Point: Unnamed camp site on a ridge End Point: Near Woods Road (tenting)
Date: 2014-04-22
From: Near Woods Road (tenting)

To:  Near Keffer Oak (tenting) 
Miles today: 13.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 52, April 22, 2014Today was much nicer today. I am not sure why we didn't go a little further. I guess mostly because we didn't want to stay at the next shelter and didn't want to be caught on the ridge. I guess the pictures today will talk for themselves. Today I thought I might take a second and share what a typical day on the trail is like for me, Radioman and the Little Man. Radioman gets before me and eats a breakfast usually consisting breakfast cereal and a powdered milk. We pack up our gear, do personal hygiene and then start hiking. We usually hike for 4 or 5 hours. I walk about 2 mph. We then eat lunch which is usually meats and cheese on a tortilla. We also take off our boots. Then we hike usually for another 4 hours...right after we put our boots back on.When we get intp camp we immediately set up our tents. Then Radioman goes for water and I cook dinner. Dinners are mostly a pasta or rice dish with a meat for protein. Now that it is warmer we stay up a little later listening to Radiomans radio and chatting. We do our personal hygiene and hit the hay. When it was cold we were often in bed by 630 or 7!!!! Now on the trail with more daylight we stay up until 8. I used to do these updates in the tent but when it's like today I sit out in the sun. We are camped with Pooh Bear and Tip Toes near the Keffer oak. The second largest oak tree on the AT. Virginia is for hikers!Signed, Cowgirl, Radioman, and The Little ManHiked today: 13.6Completed: 672.8Remaining: 1512.5Start Point: Near Woods RoadEnd Point: Near Keffer Oak (tenting)
Date: 2014-04-23
From:  Near Keffer Oak (tenting) 

To: Trout Creek
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: few clouds

Day 53, April 23, 2014As we were packing up this morning we had a pleasant surprise when Coconut and Spice came hiking by. They stopped by to say hi and told us that they had spent some time with Spice's family. Her Mom and Dad are big fans of our blog on Trail Journals and that they were disappointed that they didn't get to meet us. When I say us I mean The Little Man Cooper! So Pam and Bob if you are reading this... I have attached a picture of Spice, Coconut and TLM...all sending their love via the internet! During the early part of the hike it was rocky. We were walking over big slabs on the ridge line and came upon this weird section with huge piles of rocks. We discussed why they were there... from fortification to someone picking them up to get them off the trail. I agree with the later. We ate lunch at Niday shelter. Coconut ask Radioman to take a quick look at his toenail. While he was looking at that I noticed Tuesday had duct tape on her heel. I immediately told on her, this is a big Radioman no no. (Editors not-Duct tape actually creates more problems than it helps but you do what you have to do with what you have on hand.)I left a few minutes earlier then everyone as I needed to get water. As I was sitting by the stream Tuesday went by. I yelled an apology at her for telling. She replied back with the best and slightly unexpected retort "No worries my Mom would have liked that!"Next we went up Bushy Mountain. It was a great section of trail. Making it to the top of hills/peaks never gets old for some reason.Just like finding golfballs and catching redfish. At the top of the mountain was a memorial for Audie Murphy. We hiked backdown the hill and chose to stay near the stream rather then go one to the next shelter. It was .3 miles off the trail. Today I made some remark that if Freud analyzed Radioman (and maybe all men) he would be stuck in the anal stage since he farts a lot and talks about poo. Coconut said Spice talks about poo a lot too. Well, this lead to us getting poo classes tonight:Radioman taught us how to poo with only one square of toilet paper. Spice gave us a whole class on Pooping in the Woods 101. Both had demonstrations and involved the class. (No actual pooping was involved) We are tenting with Pooh Bear, Coconut, Spice, and Priest. Virginia is for hikers!Signed, Cowgirl, Radioman, and The Little ManHiked today: 17.5Completed: 690.3Remaining: 1495.0Start Point: Near Keffer OakEnd Point: Trout Creek (tenting)
Date: 2014-04-24
From: Trout Creek

To: Four Pines Hostel
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: clear sky

Day 54, April 24, 2014Today we started with a five mile hike up to Dragon's Tooth. We went by two more huge piles of rocks. I still find them so weird and random. Dragon's Tooth was awesome and worth the hike. The hike down was one of the more difficult with lots of rock scrambles. I thought it was fun. Radioman thought it was unique. After the climb we came to the road and we took a jaunt (.3 miles) over to the Catawba Grocery. We got a burger and were relaxing when suddenly I got really really tired. Long story short I got sick! I spent the next 15 hours expelling the burger, shaking from cold, stuck in my sleeping bag. Thankfully we were close to the Four Pines Hostel. Radioman was kind and brought me little boxes of apple juice to sip on and he and Deep Blue both showed thier love by bringing me some food even though I couldn't eat it. There were two other hikers ill at the hostel when we arrived and Pooh Bear also felt it. We know to take this serious as another hiker told us about a sick hiker who passed away. The cause is not know but we understand he had been sick for a couple of days. http://m.timesdispatch.com/news/state-regional/hiker-from-washington-state-died-on-appalachian-trail/article_a89f39e6-c9cf-11e3-8488-001a4bcf6878.html?mode=jqmI wish I had felt better as everyone was playing corn hole and I love that game. Oh and the hostel was in a garage and I love garages too!!!(Radioman- Cowgirl is on her deathbed! She can not muster the strength to drink Bud Light, eat fried chicken, play cornhole, or cards. If they have karaoke, I will send for a Priest to issue her last rights. She is tough and should pull through. I would hate to have to put her down.)Virginia is for hikers!Signed, Cowgirl, Radioman, and The Little ManHiked today: 8.0Completed: 698.3Remaining: 1487.0Start Point: Trout CreekEnd Point: Four Pines Hostel
Date: 2014-04-26
From: Four Pines Hostel

To: Daleville 
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 56, April 26, 2014Really glad we sheltered last night for two reasons. First, the wind was blowing so bad last night it actually downed a tree a 100 yards from us. Second, the shelter was facing east so we got to lay in our bags and watch the sun rise. The highlight of the day was a half mile walk along Tinker Cliffs. Radioman really liked them. After that we had great trail ending with another ridge walk into Daleville. We got some packages. Thanks Diane and Dwayne for you goodies and research. You sent enough to feed us for a week. The one thing that didn't come in was the one thing I need - new Ariat boots!!!!! Coconut, Spice, Deep Blue and Noodle are all here. Noodle was sick last night so it looks like there is some virus of sorts on the trail just like last year. Virginia is for hikers!Signed, Cowgirl, Radioman, and The Little ManHiked today: 15.4Completed: 724.0Remaining: 1461.3Start Point: Campbell ShelterEnd Point: Daleville (motel)
Date: 2014-04-27
From: Daleville 

To: Wilson Creek Shelter 
Miles today: 11.2

Day 57, April 27, 2014Got a late start thanks to me lollygagging.(Radioman - Lollygagging = Drinking Budlight with Deep Blue until 3am. I want to be in bed by 10pm, this is when Cowgirl is just getting warmed up! I wake up at 5 am, Cowgirl is just getting into a good REM sleep! LMAO! How can two people who are such opposites hike for 5 months together? We both care about people and respect each other.) We did go to Waffle House and it was just as yummy as I remember. As I packed up Radioman did a little computering. Then we went down to the coffee house. I had an ice mocha, my fav!!! We finally started walking at about 1. We are going to have to do a little more than our 15 miles because we are meeting the Coach and Bev Thursday afternoon. They are coming to fetch us and we are going to zero Friday with them. The trail today was great. Probably the gentlest climb to date. We are here with Coconut and Spice and 2 new hikers One Day and Fun Size. Just before bed Bangerang showed up. It was great to see him again. One thing AT hikers like to do is keep track of the states they have completed. The AT goes thru 14 states compared to the PCT which goes through just three. States Completed: 3 GA (76.4), NC (95.5), TN (287.9)States Remaining: 11 VA (550.3), WV (4), MD (40.9), PA (229.6), NJ (72.2), NY (88.4), CT (51.6), MA (90.2), VT (149.9), NH (160.9), ME (281.4)Virginia is for hikers!Signed, Cowgirl, Radioman, and The Little ManHiked today: 11.2Completed: 735.2Remaining: 1450.1Start Point: DalevilleEnd Point: Wilson Creek Shelter (tenting)
Date: 2014-04-28
From: Wilson Creek Shelter 

To: Bryant Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 20.8
Weather: broken clouds

Day 58, April 28, 2014Today we got on the trail pretty early. Coconut and Spice Kit left before us to meet a friend on the trail. Coconut came running back for an item he left. As we were heading down the trail we came upon them. Spices friends had brought them little sausage biscuits and they graciously shared them. Off we went. About 5 miles in Radioman stopped to dump some trash and I moved on. I stopped an hour later to wait on him. I turned on my phone and got a message from him. He too had left an item at the last shelter, a knife in this case, and was going back to get it. I continued on. Just after noon it started to rain. It rained off and on all day. I guess its supposed to rain off and on for the next couple days. I miss the sun already but the rain does make everything glisten and the forest colors stand out. I haved on and off all day with Coconut and Spice. We rolled into the shelter and were surprised to see Priest. It is a very cool shelter with two levels and a porch with a covered picnic table. Fun Size and One Day are also staying here with us. While we were waiting for Radioman we did have a discussion on what you would have to leave at a shelter that would compel one to walk an extra 10 miles. A Klondike Bar was up there. Its still raining. Coconut and Spice are reading the Hobbit to us. He's even singing the goblin song. It is a fun group here and they all make me laugh. Tomorrow we start the day with a big climb. I sure hope the weather skirts us.(Radioman- Everyday is what you make it. Today was actually a good day in spite of the rain, forgetting my knife and going 10 miles to recover it. I had just bought an ESEE Izula knife to replace my Kabar TDI. I will have Cowgirl take a picture so you can see what a 10 mile knife looks like. I rather enjoyed the challenge and being pissed at myself for forgetting my knife was great motivation. I agree with Cowgirl, these people at the shelter were some of the best folks to shelter with for the night. Coconut reading the Hobbit was the highlight. Great folks with great sense of humor. I was a bit tired getting to the shelter and happy to see friends. Fun Size greeted me and said she saved me a back corner. so nice to not have to hunt for a spot or ask people to make room. Cowgirl had dinner ready for me and that made me very happy as well.) Virginia is for hikers!Signed, Cowgirl, Radioman, and The Little ManHiked today: 20.8Completed: 756.0Remaining: 1429.3Start Point: Wilson Creek ShelterEnd Point: Bryant Ridge Shelter (Shelter)States Completed: 3 GA (76.4), NC (95.5), TN (287.9)States Remaining: 11 VA (550.3), WV (4), MD (40.9), PA (229.6), NJ (72.2), NY (88.4), CT (51.6), MA (90.2), VT (149.9), NH (160.9), ME (281.4)
Date: 2014-04-29
From: Bryant Ridge Shelter

To: Apple Orchard (Davis, WV with Bev and John Lawrenc
Miles today: 7.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 60!!, April 30, 2014So Coach Lawrence drove 200 miles to come get me and Radioman from the trail. We stopped for dinner and he also insisted that he pay. WELL YOU ARE DAMNED RIGHT I WOULD EXPECT NOTHING LESS!! Drive 200 miles, take us off a rainy, cold trail and your butt better be buying us a fancy dancy Thai dinner. WTF? Why am I so lucky to have so many wonderful people in my life.   (Editor's note...you get what you give. ;-) ).Ok let start from the beginning. We woke up this morning to rain, thunder and lightning. The thunder actually shook the ground. Everyone stayed in their bags a little longer than usual. Finally, we got moving. Our plan was to move 10 miles to the next shelter and see what tomorrow brought us. But a Doc Bob came into camp and told us that tomorrow's weather might be really bad. So I told Paul let's get some reception and call Coach for a weather report and possibly move up our zero by two days. Our hike started with a 4 mile, 2000 foot climb. The rain at times was heavy. The winds were hard and the air was chilly. Mount Floyd had many false summits (wouldn't you know). But it was still better than being stuck in a cubicle doing a PPT. Heading down I finally got in contact with Coach. He them told me that 18 people had lost their lives in Arkansas and that there was lots of damage. Of course I know and care for many people in that area so my heart aches for them and I hope all is well. I then told Coach Plan C to come off the trail early (today) and zero Tomorrow instead of Friday. He was game. Then we lost reception. I continued on to the the next shelter. Coconut and Spice Kit were staying along with a section hiker Doc Bob. I went up the hill and contacted Coach and Bev. We worked out a rendezvous point. We didn't know it then but Coach had a 4 hour drive!!! He made it to our location with out too much of a problem.He brought 2 refreshing Dr. Peppers. As I stated earlier, we stopped for dinner at A Taste of Thai. It was so yummy!!!!! We didn't get to his place until about 1230 am. Radioman showered and went to bed. I stayed up to visit for a bit, shower, start laundry and update this journal. Not many pics today. The rain stopped a lot of them. I meant to get pics at the restaurant but was so excited about the food I forgot. Then I meant to get one with Bev and Coach. But again I was so excited I forgot. Oh, I tried to call Mom and Papa to say we were safe and warm but could not get reception at a reasonable hour. Don't know what the weather will really bring tomorrow but I do know we are zeroing and that I have a geocache WV souvenir in my future. Virginia is for hikers!Signed, Cowgirl, Radioman, and The Little ManHiked today: 7.5Completed: 763.5Remaining: 1420.8Start Point: Bryant Ridge ShelterEnd Point: Apple Orchard (Davis, WV with Bev and John Lawrence - house)States Completed: 3 GA (76.4), NC (95.5), TN (287.9)States Remaining: 11 VA (550.3), WV (4), MD (40.9), PA (229.6), NJ (72.2), NY (88.4), CT (51.6), MA (90.2), VT (149.9), NH (160.9), ME (281.4)
Date: 2014-04-30
From: Apple Orchard (Davis, WV with Bev and John Lawrenc

To: rest
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Day 60, April 30, 2014Zero. I didn't get moving until 9 am. I could have stayed in bed and soaked up the luxury of the comfy bed but felt guilty so I waddled downstairs. Coach made us some fancy pressed coffee and then Bev spoiled us with a HUGE breakfast of fresh fruit, eggs, toast, hashbrowns, bacon AND sausage. And I had a glass of milk. Can you say satiated? Then we went to the Post Office where we mailed some stuff back home and I got my new boots. I am going with the Ariat boots again. They have served me well thus far. They smelled and looked so pretty. Hope they feel and are as good as the last ones. We tried to get an ice mocha but for some reason everything I Davis is closed on Wednesday. Then we were off sightseeing and geocaching. We went to the headwaters of the Potomac at Fairfax Stone (it is an astonishing small dribble of water), then to the Coke ovens (I had never heard of them until today) and finished up at Blackwater Falls. I got my first WV geochaching souvenir. I found Coach's first geocache hide and I also got to climb a huge fire tower to find a cache. Then Bev spoiled us again with a spaghetti dinner complete with salad and garlic bread. Followed by brownies and ice cream. Zero days can't possibly get any better than this, can they?Virginia is for hikers!Signed, Cowgirl, Radioman, and The Little ManHiked today: 0.0Completed: 763.5Remaining: 1429.3Start Point: (Davis, WV with Bev and John Lawrence - house)End Point: Apple Orchard (Davis, WV with Bev and John Lawrence - house)States Completed: 3 GA (76.4), NC (95.5), TN (287.9)States Remaining: 11 VA (550.3), WV (4), MD (40.9), PA (229.6), NJ (72.2), NY (88.4), CT (51.6), MA (90.2), VT (149.9), NH (160.9), ME (281.4)