morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-05-03
From: Flint Mountain Shelter

To: Bald Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: moderate rain

It was probably one of the hardest days yet (if not physically, then for sure mentally). It basically rained all day! And I mean all day. Then we decided to hitch-hike into town to get some good food, but nobody would pick us up, so we just walked the three miles in. Blue Sky and I ended up getting picked up about one mile out, so we only had to walk the two miles. We ended up eating some fried chicken, collards, mash potatoes with gravy, a biscuit and corn bread with three cups of coffee and a bunch of sweet tea. Oh and a strawberry short cake for dessert! We were able to hitch a ride back to the trail with our waitress¢s husband. The rest of the day was really hard. When my sugar rush ran low, I crashed. But I couldn¢t crash because I had to fly and pass the five people that I knew were ahead of me that I was sure passed us during our lunch break. I had to pass them because I had a crazy feeling that the shelter would be full due to all the rain, and I was right. I ended up grabbing the last spot in the shelter which I shared with Blue Sky. I ended up letting Smile Train use my tent (and constantly felt sorry for him all night as it poured). Buckeye slept under the picnic table. And the other three guys we passed kept on hiking. And man did it rain!"A good heart, a heart like the earth, which drinks up the rain that falls on it and yields a rich harvest." -Gregory of Nyssa
Date: 2009-05-04
From: Bald Mountain Shelter

To: Erwin
Miles today: 16.9
Weather: overcast clouds

I flew to Erwin and made it by 1 o¢clock. I ran just to get out of the rain. Rain adds a new dynamic to the trail. I personally love it, but most others do not. I have seen more people drop off in the last three days, than I have the entire trip. It¢s a shame too, but oh well only 500 of us will make it to MAINE! My philosophy is no Rain, no Pain, no Maine"In the spiritual field where she sowed, the weather was always right." - Hymn to Saint Brigid
Date: 2009-05-12
From: Erwin

To: Damascus, Virginia
Miles today: 120.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Sorry I haven¢t given an update in 120 miles. It just so happens that it has rained on us these last 120 miles, and I have not had access to a computer. These 120 miles have definitely been the mentally toughest part of the trail yet! So it is probably best that I have not had too much access to the outside world because I just might have called my sister in Greenville and told her to come and get me! Oh, a couple of days ago, I got really sick, but I was stubborn and tried to hike anyway. I ended up only doing 6 miles in about 10 hours before I finally made it to a shelter by myself. As I was falling asleep (around 6 in the evening), everybody else started to arrive and talk about the beautiful waterfall they saw just off the trail. They also talked about the trail magic (where people bring you food) back at the road and how easy the terrain was today. I got up from the corner of the shelter and packed up all of my stuff to hike another .8 miles to camp by myself next to a little creek because I just couldn¢t handle it! I must have been a sight because I did not say a word. I also hadn¢t eaten anything all day except for two saltine crackers and two snickers bars (all of which didn¢t last more than 10 seconds in my mouth!). Overnight, I lost about 5 pounds (and half a roll of toilet paper). I hope that wasn¢t too much information, but it¢s the truth of the trail. The next day, I some how felt better and hiked 25 miles to catch up to all of my hiking buddies. I found them huddled up next to their own little stream. It turns out that at least 20 of us all got the same 24-hour bug. Yours truly holds the record for making it the furthest (6 miles) while sick. It¢s not something to be truly proud of, but I'm still smiling. I love this stuff! The worst day out here still beats the best day sitting behind a desk (except at PwC of course, only the best company in the world). I still have a smile on my face and I woke up and the sun was shinning!Thank you everyone for all your prayers. I am definitely feeling them out here during the good times and the bad. I have made it a fourth of the way, and I am not even close to giving up yet!"The hardest and the most significant work is going to be the work each one of us does on ourselves." - Elizabeth Lesser
Date: 2009-05-18
From: Damascus, Virginia

To: Damascus, Virgina
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

I finally took it easy (well at least relatively easy)! I just spent three zero days in Damascus and two days of Hard Core ¢ an initiative that gives back to the Appalachian Trail by doing trail work with Bob Peoples. So I spent a total of 5 full days off the trail. Trail Days was amazing. We have been talking about Damascus for the last hundred miles or so, and the best quote was: "picture a town made for you (a hiker), and that town that you picture will be Damascus".Damascus is a town of 500 people, which swells to 15,000 people for one weekend out of the year. All of the people that I have met and hiked with for the last month showed up. All the past thru-hikers dating all the way back to Gene Espy in 1951 were also there as well as all of the outdoor venders and friends of the trail. Trail Days had a bunch of free food, free gear, and just attention. After two days of doing nothing but taking it all in, Blue Sky, Smile Train, Buckeye, Basher and 120 others decided that we would sign up for Hard Core. We woke up early Sunday morning, grabbed our pick axes, rock hammers, rock bars, shovels, (basically every piece of heavy equipment that you could imagine), and hit the trail. We ended up rerouting a 50-year-old section of the trail and making a switch back out of a section that was straight up the ridge of a mountain that had some serious erosion problems. I actually remembered this section of the trail from a week prior. If only I had waited a year to hike the trail, I could have avoided that whole pain in the butt section of the trail. Well, we fixed it and it looks beautiful! I was able to do one of the coolest and by far one of the most rewarding and special things that I have done on the trail yet. I received the honor, which was not given to all of us, to paint an original blaze on the tree. The blazes get repainted on the trail every now and then but very rarely get painted on a tree for the first time. The whole trail has about 40,000 blazes, most of which are original, and very rarely do they change the trail, so new blazes are really rare. It was a big moment for me, I think I might have even shed a tear. It was an honor, and I will always remember where my blaze is on the trail!"The really important thing is not to live, but to lice well." -Socrates
Date: 2009-05-19
From: Damascus, Virginia

To: Wilson Creek
Miles today: 24.0
Weather: clear sky

It was a good nice long day; one of the prettiest days, no the prettiest day on the trail so far. We hiked through Grayson Highlands and saw wild ponies and sweeping meadows. A lot of thru hikers say this section is their favorite and now I can see why. It was great to get back on the trail today, but the five days off and moving rocks all day for two days has taken its toll. "And they shall go into the wilderness to prepare the way." -Qumran Community Rule, Dead Sea Scrolls.
Date: 2009-05-20
From: Wilson Creek

To: Partnership Shelter
Miles today: 30.3
Weather: clear sky

So we got this crazy idea to push ourselves to make it to the Partnership shelter, one of the few, and first one that we have come to so far where you can sit in the shelter and order food and they will deliver to the shelter!Absolutely amazing! I ate a large pizza and 10 buffalo wings that was followed up by cheese cake for dessert. I am in some serious pain, but it was totally worth it! We are still with Buckeye, and Smile Train and have added Wimbledon, Flex, and Basher. I found out to at lunch that we have been named the Dream Team because of our ability to do back to back to back 20 mile days. It¢s fitting name I guess but I always have the quote in the back of my head: "The first one to Maine, is the first one home." Not that being home is a bad thing, but it just means that I will be done with the amazing adventure. No more rain now ¢ it is just hot! Now I¢m kind of wishing it would rain (funny how it always works that way). Mindfulness is a kind of light that shines upon all your thoughts." - Thich Nhat Hanh, Going Home
Date: 2009-05-21
From: Partnership Shelter

To: Little Brushy Mountain
Miles today: 16.8

We decided to take it really easy after the 30 miler yesterday. We were feeling alright, but we passed right through Atkin, VA, and had to stop at the Barn Resturant. It was a hot hot day, and we ended up spending at least two hours eating, followed by another hour or two sitting on there front porch rocking in there rocking chairs watching the cars drive by debating and trying to figure out who was going to be the first person to make a motion to get up and leave. We finally left around five oclock, and only hiked another 3 miles, 16.8 isnt a bad day, I dont know why I feel like I have to explain or justify why I did not hike further today. "The path of the righteous is like righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day." - Proverbs 4:18
Date: 2009-05-22
From: Little Brushy Mountain

To: Davis Farm Campsite
Miles today: 24.8
Weather: broken clouds

Just when we think we are out of bear country, stop talking about bears and start become more relaxed about hanging our bear bags and taking the proper precautions, we see a bear! And not just any bear, it was the cutest little bear cub that you have ever seen. It couldn¢t have been over a month or two old. It was literally the size of a real life teddy bear. I would have loved to have picked it up and put it in my bag to take to Maine with me. It would have given homegirl, the little Methodist bear that the kids from the Children¢s Home gave me, somebody to hang out with. At first we heard a noise, it sounded like a deer bouncing through the woods (just a little less graceful), and so we didn¢t pay much attention to it. Then I looked over and saw this little bear struggling to climb a tree. We watched it for a second and then immediately looked at each other and both said at the same time that we need to get out of here quick (with a few extra words added in there). We didn¢t leave out of fear of this harmless creature, but out of fear of his 500-pound mom that had to be just right over the ridge wondering back to feed her little cub. Needless to say, we are going to hang our bear bag tonight!
Date: 2009-05-24
From: Bland

To: Dismall Creek Falls
Miles today: 20.5

Today was such a hot day, and I was excited all day about getting to the waterfalls because I kept hearing about this swimming hole just below the waterfalls. As soon as we made it, it turned cold, and I just wasn¢t in the mood to swim anymore. It was a gorgeous waterfall and a great swimming hole. If I have learned one thing on the trail, if you are thinking about something for over 6 hours a day while hiking there is absolutely no way it can even come close to living up to your expectations. Another thing on the trail is that if something is bothering you, you need to talk to somebody about it. You can easily work yourself into a big fuss by just festering about it over and over and over again. One word said the wrong way can turn into the world is ending if you are in one of those types of moods and you think about it for four hours straight over twelve miles. It is amazing how close you can become to the people that you are hiking with even if you only see them for such a short period of time during the day. On the other hand, it¢s crazy how much somebody can annoy you by doing just the littlest things. It is the little things out here on the trail that get you and drive you crazy! Today was just one of those days I guess."In the wing of a fly, an ocean of wonder; in the pupil of the eye, an endless heaven." - Mahmud Shabistari
Date: 2009-05-26
From: Pearisburg, VA

To: Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

It is pouring down rain, and I am sitting here in the local library. I am going to try to sit down and answer some of the following questions that I have been asked to respond to. To start out, my gear:I am very very light weight. In back-packing terminology, I am ultra light (meaning sub 20 pounds). I am able to do this by being very simple; I do not have anything that I do not need. I carry three waterproof stuff sacks. The first one is for my sleeping bag and my down jacket. I always pack it in the bottom of my pack. Second is my clothing bag which consists of 1 pair of shorts, 3 pair of socks, a stocking cap, a short sleeve shirt, a long sleeve shirt, and a rain jacket. If I am not currently wearing it, it is located in this bag. My third waterproof bag contains my food (which never has more than a 3-day supply). Then I pack my stove and cooking set. Then I pack my camp shoes (Crocks) followed by a large Ziploc bag that contains my essentials, such as my map, toiletries and such. My bag has an outer mess compartment that I store my tent and ground tarp. It is a simple set up and I have found that it works very well. The second way that I am able to keep down the weight is by making sure that each item that I just mentioned is the lightest weight for that item currently available. This involves a little research.Some of the companies that I have bought my gear from and highly recommend are first and for most, Gossamer Gear followed by Antigravity gear and backpackinglight.com. I hope this helps. If I can help anybody figure out a good set up for a trip, please don¢t hesitate to ask!
Date: 2009-05-26
From: Pearisburg, VA

To: Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

In response to what I have been eating:Pretty much anything and everything I can get my hands on and don¢t mind carrying. I will try to explain what has been reoccurring. For breakfast, I usually start off by boiling water. While the water is boiling, I will eat a pop tart and a Snickers bar. Once the water is done boiling, I usually make oatmeal and a little bit of coffee. If I don't end up heating up water, I usually end up just eating some cereal usually made with just water. As far as lunch goes, it is usually just some variation of peanut butter and bread. The bread is usually a bagel, but it can range from pita bread to soft tacos. I sometimes mix it up a little bit and put cheese on it or even some honey if I have any. Lunch is usually not all that important because I have two pouches on the side of my pack that I load up with water and snacks. I am constantly munching on these snacks all day. That way I do not have to stop to eat or drink. This is how I am able to hike longer distances in a shorter amount of time. These are snacks my mom has been making for me and shipping them to previously arranged mail drops which usually consists of some form of dehydrated fruits or trail mix. I will occasionally throw in a Snickers or candy bar as well. As far as dinner goes, this is usually the meal that you can experiment with. My typical dinner consists of corn pasta (which I am a firm believer in). I picked this idea up from Ray Jardin, one of the leaders in today¢s world of light weight hiking. He swears by corn pasta and now that I have been eating it 5 out of 7 nights a week I do as well. I can really tell (now this could just be physiological) the next day the difference in energy levels after eating corn pasta verses another staple on the trail such as Norsides or Ramen Noodles. To mix up the corn pasta I will either throw on tomato paste, a white sauce base, some tuna, some chicken, or definitely cheese if I have it and a variety of spices if I am carrying them. As far as when I get to town¢this when I really pack on the pounds. I am a big fan of the all you can eat buffets! Pizza Hut and Dairy Queen are also up on the list!"Through the empty branches the sky remains. It is what you have. Be earth now, and evensong. Be the ground lying under that sky." - Rainer Maria Rilke
Date: 2009-05-27
From: Pearisburg, VA

To: Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Some people that I have met out here:I have meet a bunch of free-birds, hatchets, a few dream-catchers, and one-steps.Some of my favorites: (taken from Blue Sky's blog, feeling a little lazy, in the quotes)"Thunderpants and SIS: Young married couple. He has rampant gas and she "Suffers In Silence".Wimbledon: Hikes with sweat/headband and strongly resembles Richie Tenenbaum.Smiletrain: Some people would describe him as "negative" - he generally reminds me of a crotchety old man. He found a bracelet on top of Clingman's Dome and put it on saying he was going to take it to Maine for kicks. Three days later he realized it says Smiletrain on it. Appropriate.Moontower: Looks just like Slater from Dazed and Confused."Some of my friend's blogs, that if you enjoy mine you might like theirs. These are guys that I have been hiking with for the last month and are going about the same pace. Maybe some of the stories will correlate. Maybe I am mentioned in some of them. I don¢t know, I haven¢t had the time to even look at them myself, but if you are bored and want to follow along, here they are:Matt From DC: www.hikingmatt.comBlue Sky: pickedupahammer.blogspot.comBuckeye: http://www.trailjournals.com/ATbuckeye/Flex: http://www.trailjournals.com/dennisquinn/"The Master allows things to come and go. The sage's heart is open as the sky." - Lao Tzu, The Tao
Date: 2009-05-28
From: Pearisburg, VA

To: The Captain's Place
Miles today: 20.0

When we finally left Pearisburg, we stayed the next night at the infamous Captain's house. We had to cross the creek to his house on a zip line. It was fun to do with a full pack. Thanks, Cap."When I am invaded by Immanence, most often in the presence of beauty or love or relief, my response is to open myself to its blessing." -Ursula Goodenough
Date: 2009-05-29
From: The Captain's Place

To: Niday Shelter
Miles today: 30.1
Weather: few clouds

It was a nice long day and good to get some miles back on well rested legs; however we did leave Smile Train, Buckeye, and Wimbledon. Hopefully they will catch up, but if not, it has been fun hiking with those guys for the last couple of weeks! While we were hiking ahead on the trail we met Jr., and good guy from Tennessee. "God created nights, seasons, lunar days, and week days, wind, water, fire, and the nether regions. In the midst of these God established the earth as a temple." - The Japji, Sikh scripture
Date: 2009-05-30
From: Niday Shelter

To: Catawba Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 24.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Today we stopped in Catawba, a great little trail town down in the Valley, and ate at the best restaurant that we have come across on the trail! I really wish that I could figure out how to post pictures because only the picture can do it justice. As soon as we walked in, all of the people that we have been hiking with that we left when we did the 30 miler yesterday were there¢the whole crew! Evidently, Nanny Goat's husband, Stooge, had picked everybody up about 10 miles back on the trail and drove them to the Home Place Restaurant. It was great because we were able to say goodbye to everybody and take a group picture with all of us together outside of the restaurant. Again, when I can figure this camera thing out, I will post some pictures."In silent wonder the wise see the Creator as the life flaming in all creation." - Mundaka Upanishad, The Upanishads
Date: 2009-05-31
From: Catawba Mountain Shelter

To: Fulhardt Knob Shelter
Miles today: 22.8
Weather: broken clouds

People are dropping like flies! It is sad because we have made it so far. It is just a shame to have to quit now. During the first 500 miles, the excuse was that it just wasn¢t what he/she thought it would be. Now, it¢s that he/she ran out of money which I could see because so many people are just starting to hang out in the towns day after day. A lot of the guys that are getting off the trail have just decided to hike the sections of trail that they want to and hitch-hike the rest. We have been able to keep up with a few of these guys¢it is always funny to run into them. They are always amazed that we have been able to hike the same distances as they have been able to hitch-hike. I could see this (just hitching around) as being a lot of fun to hike what you want to hike, but then again it takes away from the whole experience. One of my really good friends got off the trail to go home for a week with the full intentions of getting back on, but a week has gone by and as far as I know he has not gotten back on the trail. Now this was a really strong hiker and somebody that I would have put on the top of my list to surely make it. And some of the people that I would have put on the bottom are still out here (which is great!). There is really no way to look at somebody out here and tell who is going to make it and who is not. We stood up at Springer all 2,000 of us and only around 500 are going to make it to Maine. I would say we are definitely down to below 800 now. Last night when we came up to a shelter, we ended up being the only ones there. We had the whole shelter to ourselves¢that is a first!"It is always worth while to sit or kneel at the feet of grandeur." -John Burroughs
Date: 2009-06-01
From: Fulhardt Knob Shelter

To: Cornelius Creek Shelter
Miles today: 21.7
Weather: clear sky

Amazing Trail Magic! Thanks everybody! They really pulled out all the stops this time with Dutch Oven's, quesadillas, berry cobbler with ice cream, and beer! I like there style. We heard about these guys about 100 miles back and have been pushing it just for this night. When 4 o¢clock rolled around, we realized that we were not going to be able to make the last 20 miles before they stopped cooking so we just hopped up on the Blue Ridge Parkway which we have been following for the last day or so and hitched a ride just for dinner! Then afterwards we were able to get a ride back with one of the trail angles. Thanks again guys!"O happy living things! no tongue Their beauty might declare: A spring of love gushed from my heart, And I blessed them unaware." - Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Date: 2009-06-02
From: Cornelius Creek Shelter

To: Matts Creek Shelter
Miles today: 27.8
Weather: clear sky

After we ate a great meal, we felt that we should burn off some of those calories and churned out a near 30 mile day up and over some of the biggest mountains that we have seen yet like the Peak's of Otter, which doesn¢t make any since to me (since when has an Otter lived up in the tops of the mountains?). Other random things that I think about on the trail: Where are all the baby squirrels? There are plenty of adults, but you never see the babies. Do the ornate, intricate caterpillars turn into the really pretty butterflies? And the ugly, dull ones turn into the not so pretty butterflies, or is it the ugly duckling phenomenon? Can you tell which caterpillar is going to turn into a moth or a butterfly? It¢s the little stuff like these simple questions that keep me occupied for hours out here. "If a person does not see, hear, or smell civilization, he or she is in wilderness." - Roderick Frazier Nash
Date: 2009-06-03
From: Matts Creek Shelter

To: Pedlar Lake Rd
Miles today: 20.2

Stopped into Glasgow to use the internet and resupply. Bad idea, it turned out to be our hottest day yet, and we had a huge climb still ahead of us. The reason it was a bad idea, was due to the fact that I could not resist the fried chicken and potato wedges that were drenched in grease from a local gas station deli. It made it really hard climbing up the 3,000 foot mountain at 1 oclock in the heat of our our hottest day. Oh, and I also ran out of water for a good 9 mile section on top of the mountain ridge exposed to the intense heat rays, only ridge hiking allows. "A man may be a poor, inferior creature, yet when he speaks there is in those words all the wisdom in the world." - Homer, The Odyssey