morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-03-24
From: Stealth Camp near Park Entrance

To: Motel in Waynesboro
Miles today: 11.3

Today we finished the park. We woke up cold and were happy to get walking to warm up. We slackpacked again today. It was bitter cold all day and we had ice in our water bottles. I had a lot of trouble with my tent last night and spent most of the night wrestling to stay on my air mattress and trying to get warm. We climbed a few more mountains today. We met a northbound thru hiker named Toejam. He was the only person we saw today. When we got back to Hogback Mountain Overview where we got off the trail for the snow, we met Foodwalker and drove to Waynesboro. We went to an all you can eat for dinner and ate a lot. Now it is time for bed. Thank you to everyone who is reading my journal or commenting. I have added many photos, so check them out. Tomorrow we start the Blue Ridge Parkway and the forecast is again for snow.
Date: 2014-03-25
From: Motel in Waynesboro

To: Top of Humpback Mountain
Miles today: 11.3

Everything about today was unexpected. We started out from Rockfish Gap going south in what we thought was a light snow. The weather forecast in the morning was for one to two inches of snow and cold weather. The Blue Ridge Parkway was closed so we took about three days worth of food and planned to meet up with Foodwalker when the Parkway opened again. The day started out quite nice. The walking wasn't hard and the snow made everything look very pretty. By lunchtime we were at the Paul C. Wolfe Shelter and stopped to have something to eat. It's a beautiful shelter with a big fireplace inside and Mill Creek rushing along below it. It was also very cold! We didn't stay for long. The snow was now over the tops of our boots as we headed down the hill toward the creek. The creek was running very full and we took some time to decide what route to take across. We both chose a different course and made it across without stepping into the water. Whew!! We did not want wet feet. We started up Humpback Mountain in ever deepening snow. It seemed to go up and up forever, switchback after switchback. We couldn't see what we were stepping on and were continuously slipping on the rocks under the snow. I got so tired and discouraged. Poor Tracy had to listen to endless complaining about the mountain that I insisted had no top. After many hours of trudging through snow that was now 9 or 10 inches deep we reached the top and decided to camp there. We were in a little grove of rhododendrons and rocks that blocked most of the wind. My hair was soaked and we were wet and cold. Tracy had icicles growing on her hat. We stomped down the snow and quickly pitched our tents and got in them. I was shivering violently by the time I got my wet clothing off and put on dry things. I inflated my mattress and got out my sleeping bag and quilt and got in them until I was warmer. Then I cooked a quick dinner in the vestibule of my tent, being careful not to burn it down. I went out once more to tighten up the tent and clear the snow away from the bottom so that I could get some ventilation. The tent still was coated with ice from my cooking and breathing and every move brought frost onto my down quilt. I was worried that it would get too wet to provide me with any warmth so I covered it with my pack cover, my frozen raincoat and the plastic bag I use to line my pack. We both managed to stay warm enough through the night and both of us even got some sleep. The wind howled over our heads, knocking snow off the trees, which sounded like someone pelting our tents with snowballs. The temperature dropped through the night to zero or below. I felt very lucky to have Tracy to urge me on when I felt too tired to move and to stress the urgency of getting tents up very fast before we became hypothermic.
Date: 2014-03-26
From: Top of Humpback Mountain

To: Rockfish Gap
Miles today: 0.0

It was so bitter cold when we got up this morning. We decided to wait to get out of bed until it was light, around 7. We ate a very cold breakfast and then started to pack. We both tried to pack inside the tents. My down quilt was fairly wet and I didn't want to put on my wet clothing from yesterday so I decided to walk in the ski pants that I had worn to bed instead. It was so hard to pack up the sleeping bags because it meant getting out of them but we knew we were in a very dangerous situation. We both know we needed to get off the trail today. To go on with so many wet things and a forecast of more bitter cold it would have been foolhardy to make any other decision. We pushed our feet into our completely frozen boots and got ready to go. Tracy texted Foodwalker to let him know that we would be returning to Rockfish Gap. The snow had continued to fall after we went to bed and now was very deep, at least a foot of it. It had drifted and was even deeper in places. Tracy wanted to go forward to a trail for a parking area but I was afraid of losing the trail so we decided to backtrack instead where we could see our tracks from yesterday. We walked (or rather slid) back to a blue blaze trail to the parking lot for the Humpback Parking Area. That trail was a steep, rocky trail. Eventually I got tired of slipping on every rock and just sat down and kind of sledded down the hill. The snow was deep enough to cushion every rock. We came to a place where the trail was more groomed but here the snow had really drifted and was knee deep and even thigh deep. It was kind of comical trying to wade along through that much snow. We finally made it to the Blue Ridge Parkway and we could just walk. The snow on the Parkway ranged from about three inches to bare, streaming roadbed. We walked six miles to Rockfish Gap and Foodwalker's smiling face. We decided to take a few days off and drove to our mother's house in Ohio. It was a happy reunion.
Date: 2014-03-30
From: Ohio

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

This will be our last day in Ohio. It's been great visiting with my family here. I don't see them often so this was a real treat. I had the opportunity to go to lunch with Mom's lunch group. They were a very friendly and interesting group of seniors. I told them all about our adventures on the trail and we took a group photo. I've had opportunities to see some of my nephews and their children and one of their wives. I saw the house my sister will be purchasing, and had a chance to go for a brisk walk with my youngest sister. Today the family is throwing me a pizza and cake birthday party. . Thank you to everyone who is following my journal. Myron, I think it is just great that you are getting into hiking. My backpacking trip through Shenandoah last spring was the springboard into this thru hike. You don't have to go for anything so big though unless you feel that pull. Every hike no matter how long, is an adventure. I loved every one of my day hikes. Just keep on getting out there. Tomorrow we head back to Virginia to pick up where we left off.
Date: 2014-03-31
From: Reeds Gap

To: Chimney Rock
Miles today: 5.9

We left Ohio early this morning and drove back to Rockfish Gap to restart the trail where we had left off for the snow. Unfortunately the Blue Ridge Parkway is still closed so we couldn't get back to the parking area we had walked from last week. Foodwalker drove us to Reeds Gap where we started the Three Ridges. It was harder than we expected and the days off the trail left us feeling tired today. We found we were struggling with both the ups and the downs. It was getting late when we found a suitable spot to put up tents on top of Chimney Rock. We had a beautiful sunset with views of the valley on both sides. It is a little windy up here. Hopefully it won't be too bad. We are ready for sleep.
Date: 2014-04-01
From: Chimney Rock

To: Stealth Camp after The Priest
Miles today: 10.9

We woke up this morning to a gorgeous sunrise. Packed up and and headed down the mountain. It was a very long and difficult descent. Towards the bottom we saw two dogs on the trail. They weren't with anyone and seemed uneasy but we just passed by them. A few minutes later they came bounding down the hill and one of them leaped into a fast moving river and swan right across. We walked across on the suspension bridge and the smaller dog followed us across. We saw some daffodils and little white flowers, a sure sign that winter cannot hold back spring. This afternoon we climbed a very high mountain. We climbed all afternoon. Finally we got to the top and the prize of seeing the rocks that look like a priest preaching to a congregation of rocks. We rested there a while and then I went down to the shelter to get some water. We continued down the Priest and a short time later set up a stealth camp near the trail. We are tired from the hard climb and are going to bed early. We met three thru hikers today. Sisu, who is doing a thru hike in sections but completing it in one year, Hudson who started in Jan and will be opening a hotel in CT, and Scotia who is currently hiking with Hudson.
Date: 2014-04-02
From: Stealth Camp after The Priest

To: Hog Camp Gap 
Miles today: 13.0

Today started as usual, eating breakfast and packing up in the dark. We set out a little before 7:00, just as it got light. It was a day of PUDS (pointless ups and downs) fairly easy walking on ridges and hillsides. Not much in the way of views today. Everything was still pretty brown. We stopped at a spring to filter water. Lunch was at another stream. It was so tranquil with the water coming down around the rocks.I sat on a moss covered rock to eat and took off my shoes and socks and put my feet in the water. It was so cold they went numb but it felt very good. We meet two young men on a backpacking trip this morning and two women who were day hiking this afternoon. Tonight we are camped at Hog Camp Gap. There is no one else here. Our campsite has a swing! What fun. Beautiful day and evening with temps in the 70's.
Date: 2014-04-03
From: Hog Camp Gap 

To: Stealth Camp on Rice Mountain
Miles today: 14.8

We started out today on Cold Mountain. It was cold so an appropriate place to be. We met Foodwalker at Route 60 to resupply. He gave us a treat of Dr. Pepper and cheese sticks. There were a lot of pretty white flowers on the trail. We set out along Brown Creek which is an historic section of the trail. There was a community of freed slaves who lived and farmed along the creek and there are remains of their community along the way. We met more northbound hikers today. They are all hiking together although they are spread out along the trail. They were Roadrunner, Crush, Pan, Sparks, Dakota Joe and Shaggy Mo. We stopped at a shelter for lunch. The path went along mountain ridges this afternoon. There was a beautiful large blue lake below us. At one end there is a dam. It is used as a reservoir. We started up Rice Mountain, a steep climb, late in the afternoon. It was so tiring. Tracy found a can of chunky beef soup along the way and carried it for dinner. We stopped at a spring to get water and then hiked a short distance to a ridge line where we are camped. There were many unbelievably pretty streams, rapids with waterfalls and pools today. We crossed two of them on bridges built just for hikers and one on a suspension bridge. Very nice trails out here.
Date: 2014-04-04
From: Stealth Camp on Rice Mountain

To: James River
Miles today: 13.3

Today was just a day of hiking. Up a couple of mountains and down again. We meet a nice couple who started their hike in Feb. We always look for signs of spring and they are starting to come out. On top of Bluff Mountain there is a memorial for Ottie Cline Powell. He was a five year old who left school in a Nov. blizzard and got lost. He climbed all the way to the top of this tall and rugged mountain and there he died. He was found in the spring by hunters. Such a tragic story. This afternoon we came down nearly four miles to the James River. Foodwalker met us and we got a room for the night in Buenna Vista. After showers and food we are ready for bed.
Date: 2014-04-05
From: James River

To: Stealth Camp near Thunder Hill Shelter
Miles today: 13.6

We left this morning after spending the night at the Budget Inn in Buena Vista. Terrible motel but we got showers and a good night's sleep. Foodwalker walked with us across the James River Bridge and then for about a mile. We were slack packing today so the walking was easy. Many good views of the James River and the valley. As we got higher, the views became more and more magnificent. Without leaves on the trees there is nothing to block the views. We did 10 miles quickly and met Foodwalker again at Petit Gap. He gave us back our packs and we continued on, much heavier now. We stopped at a great overlook near the Blue Ridge Parkway. The view just went on forever. We found a nice place to camp, but it is cold tonight. It is supposed to go below freezing again. Brrr. On the not so good side, I got a message from my daughter that my father-on-law is in the hospital. She says that he is doing better and should be fine.
Date: 2014-04-06
From: Stealth Camp near Thunder Hill Shelter

To: Stealth Camp above Jennings Creek
Miles today: 15.2

Started right up hill this morning. I have such trouble with the uphills, especially in the early morning and late afternoon. It was very cold, so at least the climb warned us up. We came quickly to Thunder Hill Shelter. We didn't realize we were so close to it. One highlight of the morning was the Guillotine, a rock trapped by two boulders and suspended in the air. Of course, the trail goes right under it. We then headed up Apple Orchard Mountain, our highest morning yet. Lots of rock climbing here. At the top is a large round FAA tower. There are very old apple trees all over the top. This time of year there are no apples or leaves. They will be beautiful when they bloom later in the spring. My knee started to hurt this morning and I wrapped it and took ibuprofen. It is still hurting but I seem to be able to walk. We stopped at Bryant Ridge Shelter for a break this afternoon. It is very nice, has decks and two sleeping levels. It can sleep 20 people inside. A beautiful creek runs right by it. A couple of section hikers had stopped there for a short day. We headed over Fork Mountain and then came to Jennings Creek. The creek had been stocked with trout and there were a lot of people fishing and camping. We stopped to get water and then headed up the trail again. We found a nice place to camp above the creek. My father-in-law is doing better and will probably be released from the hospital tomorrow. My daughters did a great job taking care of him as my husband was away this weekend too.
Date: 2014-04-07
From: Stealth Camp above Jennings Creek

To: Bearwallow Gap
Miles today: 6.4
Weather: moderate rain

We woke up to pouring rain this morning. It was hard to pack up in the rain but we got all of our things into our packs, put on our raincoats and started walking. We were to meet Foodwalker at Bearwallow Gap for a resupply. We instead thought we would slackpack the rest of the day. It was a miserable day and we got colder and colder as the morning went on. We walked fast today and covered the six miles to the parking lot quickly. Foodwalker wasn't there yet but we were so cold! Tracy quickly set up her tent and we both got inside and put on dry sweaters. We were actually steaming! Foodwalker arrived in about five minutes and we all got into the van. We decided to call it a day as the forecast was for heavy rain all day and it was so cold. We drove to Daleville and got a motel room. After spending the day drying out our things, we went to an all you can eat and ate well. Tomorrow we will start back on the trail.
Date: 2014-04-08
From: Bearwallow Gap

To: Stealth Camp on Fullhardt Knob
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: few clouds

Today was a beautiful, sunshiny day. There were still a lot of clouds which were all shades of blue and gray. We slackpacked for 7 miles this morning, then took our full packs back. We stopped at the Peaks of Otter to take a look. The hawks were circling in great numbers today. They float around at eye level when we are up on a ridge. We spotted some deer this morning, including a fawn. They were watching us but not running away. We stopped for lunch after Blackhorse Gap. We climbed a small, rocky hill just off the trail. On the top were some monuments. Perhaps ashes were buried or scattered there. Tracy and our sister Breezy stopped at the same place last year. As we were walking this afternoon my ankle turned and I did a slow fall on a kind of steep section of trail. I wound up laying on the trail facing downhill. I'm sure it was comical. I didn't hurt anything but it was hard to get my pack off so I could get up again. It makes me laugh just to think of how funny it must have looked. All the streams and creeks were running high today because of the rain yesterday. I almost fell again crossing one of them on the slippery rocks. I caught myself by stepping into the ankle deep water. One wet foot the rest of the day. Now we are camped on Fullhardt Knob. The lights off the town before us have come on. It is so pretty. All in all a very good day.
Date: 2014-04-09
From: Stealth Camp on Fullhardt Knob

To: Tinkers Cliffs
Miles today: 16.8
Weather: scattered clouds

This morning we walked back into Troutville. Foodwalker met us and took our packs. We walked the short distance into Daleville with no pack at all. On the way, we met a trail maintainer named Homer who was carrying a pail of dirt to fill a hole in the trail. From there we went to Waffle House with Foodwalker for brunch. We then put on our packs again and set off. After a long climb we reached a ridge where we walked most of the afternoon. There were a lot of rocky areas with many rock climbs. Some of the rock formations were just amazing. I walked in a lot of pain today from blisters on my heels. Eventually I had to take off my boots and walk in crocs. We met some Nobos again today. We came to Lamberts Meadow Campsite where we found Sockless and Blazer who we first met at the Calf Mountain Shelter in SNP in the snow. It was fun to talk to them again. We then hiked up Tinkers Cliffs and are camped nearby. We found our first real trail magic today, a cooler with lots of snacks and soda.
Date: 2014-04-10
From: Tinkers Cliffs

To: Catawba Creek
Miles today: 13.3

We hiked Tinkers Cliffs first thing this morning. It was slow going because it was so stunning. The huge rocks that make up the cliffs are stacked like giant blocks with huge gaps between them that go down many feet. The trail goes over the rocks right on the edge. Another trail skirts them so you can take that one if you are nervous. We went on the edge though. The views were huge. You could see for miles in every direction. After leaving the cliffs we hiked a ridgeline for several miles to McAfee's Knob. This is on another mountain and there are cliffs and great views there too. One point goes out on a little tip. If you are brave enough you can sit on the tip. I didn't do that but went close to the edge. Then another four mile hike down to the parking lot to meet Foodwalker. I did all of this in crocs because of blisters on my heels. At the van we resupplied for three days. I drained the blisters and switched my boots for shoes. I hope this will help my feet problems. Tonight we are camped at the bottom of a meadow and a little brook is gurgling right outside our tent doors.
Date: 2014-04-11
From: Catawba Creek

To: Stealth Camp on Brush Mountain
Miles today: 12.4

What a day! We left our camp this morning and walked through cow pastures. Every pasture had a stile to climb in and out of. That is like a small ladder with steps on each side to get over a fence. After a while we passed a pretty brook on a footbridge and started up Cove Mountain. It was very rocky and difficult walking. Eventually the rock scrambles got harder. Then we reached the trail to Dragon's Tooth. This required not only rock scrambles but climbing. We went up a tall wall of stone on little ridges. Then we climbed a couple more using iron handholds. It took a long time to reach the top. We took the side trail to the Dragon's Tooth, which is a huge monolith of stone. Then came another rocky, difficult descent. We filled up our water bottles at a creek at the bottom and then headed up Brush Mountain. We walked about 2 1/2 miles up and are camped at a little campsite we spotted. It is very windy here.
Date: 2014-04-12
From: Stealth Camp on Brush Mountain

To: Sinking Creek
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: clear sky

We started this morning by visiting the Audie Murphy Memorial. He was the most decorated American soldier of WWII. We also found four benches, and sat on all of them. We met many Nobos today. They were talking about trail magic near the road after descending Brush Mountain. When we got to the stream near the road, we found sodas floating in the water. We each helped ourselves to one. I had a Sprite, which was delicious. When we stopped for a break at the Niday Shelter, a young man from Binghamton offered to carry out our empty cans. We received more trail magic when we met Prom Queen's mother and her very friendly dog coming down the trail towards us. She pulled out a plate of freshly baked cookies. They were so delicious! The afternoon was spent climbing more rocks, this time a mile of slabs. We finished with a gentle ridge walk, then a steep descent. Finally we came to the Keffer Oak, a 300 year old tree. My feet hurt so bad by then that I changed into crocs again. We hiked over more balds and finally met Foodwalker. We asked to go to a motel. All of the rooms were reserved but just as we were ready to look further, someone walked in and asked to cancel their room, so we got a room after all. After eating a pizza we went to bed.
Date: 2014-04-13
From: Sinking Creek

To: War Branch Trail
Miles today: 10.2

We started out today from the motel. We were still tired and didn't get onto the trail until 10. We were right back into the pastures and stiles, but soon got into the woods again. It was so hot today! I am just terrible about heat, and going up the first climb really taxed me. Eventually we got to the top and stopped for lunch. After lunch we started down John's Creek Mountain and made better time. On the way down were beautiful streams and groves of rhododendrons, like small oases. We put our bandannas in the water and then put them on our heads to help cool us off. During the afternoon we crossed a stream on a bridge made of three logs. Tracy told me to just be confident and walk across, which I did. When I turned around, she was on the bridge and doing a slow fall. Luckily she didn't go in the drink or get hurt, but she was laughing because she got me across and then fell herself. Late in the afternoon we started up another long climb. About halfway up we stopped at a spring to filter water. Shortly after we found a place to camp at the junction of the AT and the War Branch Trail.
Date: 2014-04-14
From: War Branch Trail

To: Campsite after Dickenson Gap
Miles today: 16.3

Today I was so miserable! From the minute I woke up my feet were in pain. I have so many blisters, a bad toe, and rubbing on my ankle. Nothing seems to help. I had decided it was time to get off the trail for a while, or maybe forever. Now, after a day of walking on rocks and through blowdowns, Tracy and I are going to take a zero day and see if that helps. All I have to do is walk out of here tomorrow, another 13 or 14 miles in the rain.