morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-05-26
From: Campsite mile 634.2

To: War Spur shelter
Miles today: 19.8
Weather: clear sky

It's very foggy and chilly this morning but soon the sun pokes through and it starts to heat up. It's a nice green ridge trail, very humid. It looks like a rainforest with the rays of sun coming through.The first seven miles to the shelter are nicely graded and then it's only 3.9 to the next one. Ideal for lunch.The trail goes along Dismal Creek. There is a warning sign about a bridge being out and you can either ford or road walk. Finally a real ford! It's pretty swift at places but nothing dangerous. My feet like the refreshing water. I chat with some hikers taking a break on the other side and we wonder what happened to the hikers that passed me earlier. I joke that they are probably abducted by aliens.After the crossing there is a sustained climb up to the shelter. The sign that said 1 mile was so off! Everybody showed up frustrated but relieved to be finally done with it.The lost hikers had taken a wrong turn and actually forded the creek three times!After a nice lunch break I hike on when most of the climbing is done it starts to get real rocky. That's just great! It's all worth it though because the view from Windy rock is superb. It looks like a big green carpet of trees. The weather and rocks are so nice that I lazy around quite awhile accompanied by three more hikers.Then it's only five more miles to he next shelter. I briefly entertain the thought of going on a little further but when I find out that it goes up again the choice to stay is soon made.It's busy here now. The shelter is full and there are about ten people camping.
Date: 2005-05-27
From: War Spur shelter

To: Niday shelter
Miles today: 18.2
Weather: overcast clouds

The best way to start the day is with a big climb, yeah right! Well, it doesn't go uphill right away but soon enough it does. I end up on a beautiful green ridge though and eventually descend to the road. There are lots of stiles to be climbed because I'm in cow country now. Green grassy fields with lots of bugs.The bugs are nice because I decide to have lunch in the green grassy field. Nice means not actually nice but more annoying!!! Oh well, the view is good and my food is good so I'm still a happy camper.Just as I'm moving on I hear my name. It's Mellow! He finally caught up to me. Turns out he took a wrong turn at the road near Bland and walked two miles extra. That sucks! Happily reunited we walk together for a bit until it goes uphill (yeah, yeah, same old, same old).This is a tough climb especially since it has gotten much warmer. Ugh!When I'm almost at the top I meet some guys out on their first backpacking trip. They're headed back down because they realized they were carrying too much stuff and it was too hard for them. We chat for a while and I then I continue on. I'm thankful that it levels out but tired enough to want a break. I'm not going to chase Mellow, I need a break now.When I meet Mellow again he's just done with his break and wonders what took me so long.We leapfrog the rest of the way. I take another break at a great view but pass him again during the long rocky stretch. We are all (including Swifty who passed us) out of water and extremely happy when we find a spring. Jay! we're safed!When we finally get to the shelter I'm pretty tired. The climbs and the rocks have taken a lot out of me. I'm staying! Lots of people here. I chat with T.D.S. about starting early and still being on. He started in the end of February and also took some time off. The shelter is pretty much full so I'm tenting tonight. Hopefully it won't rain.
Date: 2005-05-28
From: Niday shelter

To: VA 624
Miles today: 16.6

VA 624, 16.6 milesAnother climb this morning, all the way to the Audie Murphy monument. This one is fairly gradual though and it's not hot yet.I was hoping for some trailmagic at the bench but I guess I'll have to wait till tonight. I meet up with Mellow and the Mad Chapper here but we don't really hang out because it starts raining.With the pack covers on we continue. Mellow and I pay our respects to Audie Murphy and then walk the nice abandoned forest road. It goes smoothly downhill until it crosses VA 620 where the trail goes up again.Frustration hits me. Up, down, up, blah! So I climb up to the shelter. Would love to have lunch with some other hikers. Mellow is behind though and the others way ahead. The shelter is too far of the trail anyways. I sit down on the side of the trail and have lunch by myself. It sucks! My mood definitely deteriorates from there. Blame it on PMS or lack of sleep... Have been staying up too late to do journaling and listen to other hikers' chatter. I know I don't deal well with lack of sleep. This knowledge doesn't help me much now though. I feel lonely again.Gotta hike though. Meet a group of day hikers. One of them asks me if I'm the pink lady from Georgia. Because I'm wearing a pink bandanna. Nope, that's not me. Another asks if I've hiked with Stumpknocker. Nope, not me. Talking to these people lifts my spirit. I really do like people.The bugs and spider webs (or whatever those annoying threads are that hit me in the face, arms and legs) start to really get to me so I'm extremely happy when I finally get to Dragons Tooth. There are different trails in this area and it takes me a while to figure out which actually leads to the tooth. I find it though. It's cool! I rock scramble almost to the top of it. Fun! Great views too.Eventually I start the downhill. I was hoping for something smooth and easy but it's still rocks everywhere. Oh well...Down at VA 624 I walk to the store and call Briarpatch. I get no answer and after an hour of waiting and trying more calls I hop in the car with other hikers. They have family in the neighborhood and borrowed the car. They drop me at the Homeplace where I have a excellent dinner with section hikers Gail and Vicky. They offer to take me to Briarpatch's house. I called again and they aren't home but there are other hikers. I'm so lucky to have met Gail and Vicky!!! Great trailangels. They drive me all the way to the house and now I'm comfortably on a matress in a house. Makes typing so much more relaxed ; )There are about 7 more hikers here. Busy! Maybe I'll hike tomorrow, maybe not. I have to catch up on some sleep and cut down on the frustration.
Date: 2005-05-29
From: VA 624

To: VA 311
Miles today: 5.9

After a lazy morning hanging out with Fireball, Spruce, MissMileage, Piker and Moose (Sunshine and Squid Jerky left earlier) Mandy drops me off at the gas station. She'll pick me up around 5pm at VA 311. A nice short day with a light pack. One day of food or five days of food... it makes a big difference. I soon meet up with Fig and Just Visiting. Fig asks me if I lost a roll of film. I was thinking I did but wasn't sure. He found one at a campsite near a shelter I had camped at. I guess I did lose it. Thank you Fig for picking it up!!! He actually passed it on to a faster hiker but it should be waiting for me at one of the next shelters, awesome!The three of us chat all the way up to 311. The hiking is nice along a stream. Neither of us like the stiles very much but we're doing okay with them. I still throw my poles over before I climb. Good thing Mellow isn't here to tell me that I'm abusing my poor poles ; )Right before we hit 311 there is a nice view. In the parking lot I meet up with Loose Goose again. He's here waiting for his wife. When she finally shows up he's so happy he's almost in tears. So heart warming to see that. I love it!Mandy is already waiting for me. She had dropped Fireball off in Daleville and was early coming back. I ask her if we can go to a Walmart to by me a new pair of shorts. She's fine with it. She's been so helpful to me! We also stop at a Goodwill to look for a towndress for when I'm doing laundry. I find one with cute little flowers. It's too big but after putting it in the dryer it is just right. I'll be sooo stylish in town now ; )After a nice dinner at Applebee's we go back to the house and I watch Garden state. A wonderful movie. Getting ready to do some serious hiking tomorrow...
Date: 2005-05-30
From: VA 311

To: campsite on ridge
Miles today: 18.3

It's after 11am when Mandy drops me off at VA 311. I'm planning to do about 20 miles to get at the edge of Daleville but with this late start I'm not sure I'll make it. There are a lot of day hikers going up to McAfee knob. They're going at a leasurely pace and I pass them a couple of times because I make a stop at the first shelter and later chat with a ridge runner.At the shelter I meet Snowyman and I find my roll of film. Snowyman hikes with two girls. He's one lucky dude ; )McAfee knob has great views again. But it's full of day and thru hikers. I'm glad I got to take good pictures when I was there with my mom a couple weeks ago. I hang out a bit and then push on to Tinker Cliffs. The trail goes along a nice rocky stretch where I take a nap before taking another break at the cliffs. Here I meet Thumper, O'Connor and the group of thru hikers that I've been leapfrogging with the last few days. Thumper and O'Connor are the two girls Snowy man is hiking with. They're fun and energetic. We hang out a bit and I hike with them to the next shelter. They are pushing to town however and I'm not so when it goes uphill I say goodbye. I decide to camp on the ridge about 2 miles before town. I have a great view over a river down below and when I'm in my tent and poke my head out I can even enjoy fireworks! Cool!
Date: 2005-05-31
From: campsite on ridge

To: Wilson Creek shelter
Miles today: 12.7
Weather: overcast clouds

The 2 miles to Daleville go by fast. I want to get in and out of town in a couple of hours so I immediately head for the grocery store. I meet up with Miss Mileage, Piker, Thumper, Snowy Man, O'Connor and the group I've been leapfrogging with the last couple of days. The grocery store is great! I love the croissants I got. Yum!I get some water treatment at the outfitter (I should really start using that again) and then go on a search for new earphones. I have to cross a busy highway for this which is really sketchy but I do finally find a pair. Yippee! After a chat with a section hiker at the pizza hut (where I get a free soda, so nice) I head back up the trail. At Fullhardt Knob shelter (great name... he he) I meet a whole new group of hikers. It's interesting how not taking a zero changes the social scene. A bunch of them are slackpacking so I won't see them in the shelter tonight. I hope to see them again thouh. I've finally caught up to Gypsie Lulu who's been leaving very cool drawings in the registers. She's one cool chick ; ) I also meet her sister Gypsie Touk and there is Stilts, Bassline, Scholar, Sunshine,Troll, Oblivious & Anchor (the last three are a couple with their ten yr old son). I like this group.The hiking isn't hard and I toy with the idea of night hiking but I don't want to end up camping alone and there is another fun group at Wilson Creek shelter. Hiking to the next shelter would mean walking in the dark for about an hour or so and who knows who will be there... So it's another short day for me but that's fine. When Thumper, O'Connor and Snowy man show up and are planning to night hike I'm tempted to go with them but I've got everything spread out already and they are probably too fast for me anyways. Most of the group that was at Miss Mandy's is here now with the addition of Indy who also skipped town and Clearwater who I'm happy to see again. Swifty and Hammer are here too. It's a big group! There is a nice campfire going and Swifty and Hammer are heating up hot dogs. Miss Mileage and Piker have brought sausages and marsh mallows. These people are very smart. My food tonight isn't bad either though. I carried out salad and mayonnaise and added that to my tuna and bread. Not bad at all.
Date: 2005-06-02
From: Bryant Ridge shelter

To: Thuner Hill Shelter
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: moderate rain

Well today was like totally awesome dude! I mean like there was this big mountain to climb and it was raining and everything got all muddy. Life just doesn't get any better than that ; ) I enjoyed every moment of it. At first it was still warm but soon it got all windy and chilly and I had to put more clothes on. Don't the weather gods have a calendar? I mean, it's June! I had planned to do 22 miles to Matt's Creek shelter but when I got to the first shelter at about 5 miles it sounded very appealing to do just 5 more and call it a day. At some point I was okay with the wet and the rain but then I got chilled and didn't want to go any further. Yesterday I had this big plan about skipping Glasgow altogether now we're talking about getting a room tomorrow. I sure hope the weather clears. It's chilly even in my sleeping bag.I guess we could have gotten some views from Apple Orchard mountain but it was all fog. The guillotine (a big rock stuck between two big boulders) was still cool though.All the slack packers were still southbounding today. They're so smart!Anyway, it's wet and cold and I need to go to the privy. Have mercy on me ; )Register entry for the day:" I was seriously thinking about doing 22 miles today when I discovered that Free Radical with the intriguing name and Clearwater with the intriguing boobies... err... beard were here I just had to stay. Okay! Okay! The rain and the uphill sucked!!! WANTED: sherpa for Apple Pie."
Date: 2005-06-03
From: Thuner Hill Shelter

To: Glasgow
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: overcast clouds

The weather today still looks pretty lousy and Clearwater, Free Radical and I are thinking about sharing a room in Glasgow tonight. It would be so nice to dry out all my stuff.Today is mostly downhill and quite some level stretches too. It's still really foggy which is too bad because a lot of the level stretches are along open hillside and would have offered great views. Eventually the fog lifts and I can see the big river down below. Pretty cool!The down hill hiking with wet shoes and socks messes up my feet a bit. I'm feeling a blister on my left heel and a very sensitive spot on my right heel. Not good! When I get to the next shelter I see Free Radical putting his feet in the cool water. That looks really appealing. The weather has improved a lot and it would feel so good to cool off my feet. So I stick them in the stream too.Troll catches up to us and we all chat for a while. Then it's only two more miles to town. Eventhough both Clearwater and Free Radical are probably not going to stay in town I have set my mind on getting a motel room. Especially since my feet are hurting now.When I get to the road I have an instant hitch. A car pulls over for Troll and I can join his ride. Awesome!!!Town is not much and the room is small (it's a good thing I'm not sharing there wouldn't have been enough space fot two) but I enjoy it. Laundry, food, shower and even some Dr. Phil. What more could I want?
Date: 2005-06-04
From: Glasgow

To: Punchbowl shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Sleeping in was nice again this morning. I'm turning into a lazy hiker...At breakfast I run in to the Gypsies and Squid Jerky. A construction worker offers us a ride if we leave before noon. That sounds good so the girls and I agree to leave together. Stilts comes into town and we decide to wait for him. Then Freedom and Serenity show up. This dude better have a big car!We walk over to the construction site but can't find the guy. Now it's six of us trying to get a ride! We get one though. When the guy asks us where we're all from and I say Holland he replies 'Oh, that's okay'. I reply that he should have said 'Welcome to our country'. We have a good laugh about it. All of us cram in the back of the car. I don't think a single one of us is comfortable (except Stilts who is in front) but we're all happy to be on our way to the trail.We have a big climb ahead of us and it's very hot so most of us decide to take a break at the creek. Water... so good!!! The climb is pretty long and it's really warm so I'm glad to catch up with the others and take a break at a viewpoint. There is a nice breeze and actually a pretty good view. Too bad there is a factory blowing smoke in the distance. We can see part of the trail that we've hiked the day before and the long foot bridge we crossed.Luckily there is a more or less level stretch now and I get some speed going. I abruptly stop though when I see a rattle snake on the trail. He doesn't seem to mind my presence until I throw some sticks at him. He finally moves off the trail a bit but is still too close for comfort. He's all coiled up and violently shaking his tail. I don't think he'll move much further so I go up the other side of the trail a bit and walk around it. Pfew! Safe!There is some more easy walking until the final hill of the day. This one tires me out pretty badly. I kind of skipped lunch and I can definitely feel the consequences of that now. As soon as I get to the top I take of my pack and lay down. Aahhh! Rest!Stilts is here too. We chat for a bit but then he moves on since he has already been here for half an hour. I lazy a bit longer but then head on too. Only 1.5 miles to go the shelter and I'm done for the day. I've decided to hang out with this group for a while they're fun!The register at Punchbowl is full of ghost stories. Creepy! Only Bassline (who we picked up at the first shelter) is staying in the shelter. Everyone else is camping. I was going to stay in the shelter too but got weirded out by the stories (call me a wuss if you want to) and am camping now.This place is very noisy. There is a pond full of Bullfrogs and there are lots of other animals making weird noises.
Date: 2005-06-05
From: Punchbowl shelter

To: Buena Vista
Miles today: 10.9

Today is a going to be a hot one again. I leave after Freedom but most of the others are still packing up or still in their tents (Stilts). They catch up to me soon enough though because I'm not having a great time by myself and the noisy frogs kept me up most of the night. Slow going is the result.The Gypsies catch up first and they give the moral support I need. You gotta love the Gypsies! They are talking about going into Buena Vista though. I don't think I really want to do that. After all there are some miles to be hiked and I was just in town yesterday.We meet Freedom again at a great 'shower' on the trail. A small waterfall is just enough to stick your head while not getting soaked all the way. Very refreshing!The thought of ice cream has somehow entered my mind... What if I hitch in with the Gypsies (and Bassline) get some ice cream and hitch back ot with them? Sounds good doesn't it? When we get to the next road we are pleasantly surprised by trailmagic. Flash and Hotflash who have hiked in 87 spoil us with food and drinks. Yippee! There is now talk about a pool in Buena Vista...We get to US 60, it's really hot and there has been lots of talk about ice cream and swimming... I'm going to Buena Vista. It's the Gypsies, Bassline, Stilts (who wasn't planning on town either) and me. I'm joking that the Gypsies are corrupting me... like they really had to twist my arm ; )The pool turns out to be at a campground. Oh no!!! We're not going to stay in town are we? Umm, yes we are. Will I finally start having fun on this hike?
Date: 2005-06-07
From: Campsite at North Fork of Piney River

To: The Priest shelter
Miles today: 8.8
Weather: overcast clouds

We only have four miles to go to get to the Dutch Haus for lunch so we sleep in. We're camped close to the trail so we see some early hikers come by. It's fun to chat with them as they pass.The walk down to the Dutch Haus is quit steep so we stash our packs in the woods and take only the essentials. The Dutch Haus is actually a mix of Dutch, German, Danish, etc. Americans love to mix it up ; )   We have our free lunch, meet a lot of hiker buddies and get a ride back to the trail. Unfortunately we still have to climb back up the last mile. We do have the pleasure of meeting Gypsie Lulu who indeed had stayed at the first shelter.Back at the trail we retrieve our packs and continue up to Spy Rock. I scramble up it and Stilts and I enjoy the awesome views. We stay up there for a while but then push on to the Priest shelter. The last climb is very annoying and steep. I'm not at all pleased with it. Finally I make it there though only to see Loose Goose leave again. We keep missing passing each other going in and out. Stilts is still there though and we decide to wait for the Gypsies and Bassline. I had been thinking I could go on to the next shelter since we only did 8.8 miles today but they did 7 more so they probably won't go on. Oh well, another short day...A campfire is built to keep the bugs away and back rubs are given and received by all. This is a good group of people.
Date: 2005-06-08
From: The Priest shelter

To: Rusty's
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: few clouds

To keep with the new tradition of short days and enjoying the AT another 10 miler is planned to get to Rusty's. Rusty's is the oldest hostel on the trail and rumors of it closing down abound. Therefore it shouldn't be missed. The gypsies, Bassline and I walk together for a while and chat and sing (In the jungle, the lion jungle...). At the road Hopper and Spike have left sodas. Sweet! While we take a break to drink them Papa Razzi and Gozar catch up. Papa Razzi tells us there is a nice spot for lunch at the river so we move over there, stick our feet in the water and enjoy. Life is good.After lunch we have to endure an unexpected climb but after that we all blue blaze to some waterfalls and have a great time. The blue blaze is actually the old AT. It's shorter, easier and more scenic so it just makes sense. Plus my new buddies are doing it and since my new trailname is 'the lemming' I'm going too. I mean waterfalls on a hot day who can resist?We scramble down to the bottom of the falls and have a great swim. There is a nice chute with a small rockledge right under it. We invent the Mau Har 8 second challenge. Every one has to sit under the chilly falls for at last 8 seconds. I can proudly say that I pass with flying colors.
Date: 2005-06-09
From: Rusty's

To: Paul C. Wolfe shelter
Miles today: 16.1
Weather: light rain

The stay at Rusty's was great but we have to move on. We have a late start but I'm sure I'll be able to make the 16 to the next shelter. Stilts is probably going to push for town, and the Gypsies (who are walking the road) are too. I'll meet up with them tomorrow. I have no desire to push that far today and it will save me money staying in the shelter tonight.The hiking is quite enjoyable eventhough it starts raining. It's so warm that the rain is actually a welcome refresher. I get totally soaked but I'm loving it!I hike with Baudacious for a while. He's hiked before and now does a section. We find out we have a friend in common. Small world.In the afternoon I see lots of salamander like creatures. Bright orange with red spots on them. Very cool looking and hard to resist taking pictures of. I also take pictures of foggy views and rocks and puddles. So much fun!At the shelter I meet up with Clearwater, Loose Goose and Papa Razzi. Not long after I come in it starts pouring again. I'm glad I'm not walking anymore. It's starting to get a bit too chilly to be wet. This is a nice shelter with some windows on the side. This turns out to be quite handy because when a bear is spotted I can see it pass by trough on of them. I'm seeing a lot of bears this year!