morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-04-07
From: Bald Mt. Shelter

To: Erwin, TN
Miles today: 16.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Only a few hours of sleep last night before Leki-less and I woke up to night hike under a nearly full moon down the trail to Erwin, hoping to beat the rush of thru-hikers who'd be looking for a spot at the much acclaimed Miss Janet's Hostel.   Getting into town here, legs feel good, feet not so much--not surprising since I've now clocked just under 60 miles in the last 48 hours. Hard to keep my eyes open around 7:30 this morning, but it feels good to be here and seeing some trail friends like Nunn, Wounded Knee, Bramble, Moonshine, Hoss, and Honeypie. Great times on Miss Janet's porch today just drinking some local brews, laughing the hours away, trading stories, and listening to Takoma Ted pick some nice guitar.   Only 6pm, but it feels like it's a lot past bedtime for me--that's what I get for my early start and miles under the moon and stars.
Date: 2004-04-08
From: Erwin, TN

To: Erwin, TN
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Thought I'd move on today, but after doing so many miles and getting so little sleep in the last 2 days, I'm here to stay and relax a bit before hitting the trail tomorrow. Slept on the couch at Miss Janet's Hostel last night, but not before being sucked into watching movies til 2am.   Beautiful day to hang out and catch up with new and old thru-hiker friends--Nunn, Wounded Knee, Hoss, Honeypie, GG, Mickey-One-Sock, Woody, Paddler, Takoma, K-Less, Ashtray, and Burn.
Date: 2004-04-09
From: Erwin, TN

To: Erwin, TN
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Well, so much for that plan. Loaded my pack in Miss Janet's shuttle to head back to the trail this morning, but the shuttle left without me. So, I'm stuck here for another day off in sunshine while pack rides around in the "Banana Boat" van for the day. Disappointed about missing the shuttle but it was very serendipitous in the end. Got to see my old friends Semicolon and Slick and have dinner with them, as well as catch up with Footloose, and Gaia & Sasquatch.   Had a blast tonight in Johnson City with Nunn, Wounded Knee, Hoss and Honeypie--not sure if I've ever laughed that much in my life. I'll miss these guys when I head out tomorrow and I hope I catch them somewhere up the trail soon for some more good times.
Date: 2004-04-10
From: Erwin, TN

To: Cherry Gap Shelter
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Late start today, but was not going to miss the shuttle back to the trail 2 days in a row. Easy walking today, but it's the first time I've felt kinda down after leaving a town stop. I miss the friends I've made, and I hope they catch up after slackpacking from Miss Janet's today and spending Easter there tomorrow. Nice to see them all though when we crossed paths on the trail today--brought a smile to my face again.Beautiful views from the grassy Beauty Spot, and great to be in familiar company tonight at the shelter with Ichabod, Rex, Rumbler, Wolfcookie, Dances with Wolfcookie, and Footloose. Forecast is for days of rain, but still didn't get any today--the amazing luck continues.Celebrated my 1-month trail anniversary today, and chatting with some real cute girls out day hiking on the trail was my present!
Date: 2004-04-11
From: Cherry Gap Shelter

To: Overmountain Shelter
Miles today: 21.7
Weather: moderate rain

Not much excitement today other than a big climb up and over Roand High Knob, the last big mountain between Erwin, TN and Damascus, VA. Feels good to have it out of the way, especially since it was the toughest climb I've seen on the trail so far, and it's the last time I'll be above 6000' all the way until New Hampshire on Mt. Washington.   Finally got rained on for a few hours between Carver's Gap and the shelter on this long day. But, I'm warm and dry in my sleeping bag now at this really neat barn shelter with an incredible view emerging from the clouds.   Really strange to be out here on Easter Sunday since it's the first time I've ever not been with my family on a major holiday. I really miss them all today more than usual.   Had a mini-version egg hunt this morning when I gave chocolates to Footloose, Rumbler, and Rex, and Footloose asked me to hide his so that he could hunt for it.   Well, since it's a holiday and it's been just over a month since I left Amicalola on the Approach Trail, here's a quick highlight reel of the trail so far:Highest point: Clingman's Dome (6643')Coolest shelters: Fontana Hilton, Icewater SpringsHighest shelter: Roan High Knob Shelter (6285') (stopped in to check it out   today)Miles: 376.9Amount of time hiking in the rain: 5 hoursAmount of time hiking in snowstorm: 2 daysBest moments: Sunrise on Clingman's with Professor T, and hanging w/Wounded Knee, Hoss, Honeypie, and Nunn at Miss Janet's# of cute single female hikers: Not nearly enough
Date: 2004-04-12
From: Overmountain Shelter

To: Roan Mountain, TN
Miles today: 8.7
Weather: moderate rain

Good. Scottish. Weather. Should be self-explanatory, but I woke up in the middle of the night to see that a cloud had been blowing into the wrong-facing shelter all night, scattering my clothes from the clothes lines and soaking my down sleeping bag in the process (not a good thing). Left this morning and climbed onto the grassy ridge for some rise-and-shine miles through driving rain and 40-50 mph wind. After a couple hours of that, 'battered' is the only word that could possible describe how I felt. 9 miles to the road felt worse than any 25-mile day I've ever done. Still, I planned to hitch into Roan Mt. to dry my clothes and sleeping bag at the laundromat and pick up some food before moving up the trail a few more miles for the night. However, after awhile in the laundromat, Georgia, Castro, Rumbler, and Footloose started to appear from their own respective adventures in the mountain hurricane. They had all decided to get rooms at a B&B around the corner, and before long, I was swayed to do the same. After a day like that, and having missed Easter with the family yesterday, I just wanted to get a shower, a warm bed, and some time to put the past couple of days behind me. Tomorrow is another day!
Date: 2004-04-13
From: Roan Mountain, TN

To: Dennis Cove Road
Miles today: 23.6

This day began about as well as the last one did, as Rumble, Footloose, and I set off from the road in a driving rainstorm towards the nearest shelter almost 18 miles north. The stretch of trail was easy, and mostly rolling, with the exception of the spectacular Jones Falls which had an abnormally high volume of water due to the recent rains. I can't remember the last time I've seen a waterfall that powerful out in the mountains.   Hiked most of the day with Scuba through the morning rain and the afternoon parting of the clouds, deciding to push past the shelter to Kincora Hostel about 6 miles farther. Felt good to reach the hostel where familiar faces were waiting, and to do long miles on easy terrain.   In the end, Kincora was already full, so Lead Dog and I got a ride a few miles down into Hampton, TN to Braemar Castle Hostel. Made this long day complete when I walked in to see GG, Woody, and Mickey-One-Sock already staying there. A really nice reunion with them and the ever-present Seiko, the very first thru-hiker I met on the AT--kind of like seeing family again. A great ending to the day was only made better by great late night (late night on thru-hiker time that is) conversation with Mickey-One-Sock, a wonderful southerner who certainly shares my convictions.
Date: 2004-04-14
From: Dennis Cove Road

To: Iron Mt. Shelter
Miles today: 24.3

My first thought was: snowday. I think Mickey-One-Sock said it best when he walked out the door this morning before quickly returning to proclaim: "Did you look outside yet?" Sure enough, our second week of April snowstorm was here with snow already on the ground, and Lead Dog and I were lacing up to hit the snowy slopes for a 10-mile day that simply continued to morph by the hour.   At 1pm, 9 miles down, we hitched into town to dry out and have a hot lunch. By 6pm, we were at our "destination," only to move on away from the full shelter. By 9:30, we were at the next shelter north, and you guessed it, full again--in the shelter, on the ground underneath it, and tents all around. "On to the next?," you might ask. Why, sure. Midnight brought us into the next shelter, any why not, full to the brim again. The only redemption was that the snow had stopped since lunchtime, the sunset was beautiful, and I had an awesome time hiking through the night with my partner Lead Dog on snowy trail, with town lights glowing to the left and right of the ridge.   Pitched tents in the snow in front of the shelter after another long day on snowy trail, and finally was off to dreamland by 1am.
Date: 2004-04-15
From: Iron Mt. Shelter

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 26.3
Weather: clear sky

A night of shivering in the cold, added to 26+ miles today....no need to be a rocket scientist to guess that I'm sleepy and that my dogs hurt reeaaalll bad. All is redeemed though by Lead Dog's kindness in having me stay at his nearby house only 30 minutes away in Bristol, TN. It's amazing how a beer and a good long soak in the hot tub can erase the effects of three 25-mile days.   Another state is here! Great to be here in Trail Town, USA under beautiful skies and warm weather after a few great days of hiking with my buddy Lead Dog. I hope our paths cross again up the trail soon.
Date: 2004-04-16
From: Damascus, VA

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Aaaahhh. My feet are loving this, and after the recent beating they took, they deserve it. Hanging around the town today and killing time at Dave's Hostel with Mo, Camel, Nails, Dances with Scarf, and Condor. The sky is clear, and the sun is shining--we're back to shorts and t-shirt weather. "The friendliest town on the AT" is a great place to spend a zero with friends. I hope to be back here in another month for the legendary Trail Days Festival!
Date: 2004-04-17
From: Damascus, VA

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Beautiful day for town R&R with the other thru-hikers, eating my face off, and catching up in my journal. Spent most of the day running errands around town and going back and forth to the outfitter across the street from Dave's Place Hostel where I'm staying. Switched out my cookware for a smaller, lighter titanium pot and also bought a new tent to replace my single-wall tent that was having condensation problems. Practiced setting up the new one in the yard of the hostel, and cut my existing tarp to fit the new tent shape. Thanks to my friend Kara and my Aunt Carol for the care packages! Great fun chowing down with all the gang at the Side Track Cafe.
Date: 2004-04-18
From: Damascus, VA

To: Lost Mt. Shelter
Miles today: 15.8

Too hot for this Vermonter. Sunny today, and should be all week, but the temp was in the 80s with very little wind and no clouds. I've decided that heat is simply Kryptonite to this Mountain Man. Lucky for me, this pasty-white Superhero (Hi Sarah!) at least packed his sunscreen. Nioce walk today, and spent some time just soaking my feet in a small cool stream that the trail crossed over. Got to start getting in the habit of sucking down more water to battle this heat though. Hard to imagine it was snowing 4 days ago! Great to be back on the trail, having survived the vortex that is Damascus.
Date: 2004-04-19
From: Lost Mt. Shelter

To: Wise Shelter
Miles today: 17.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Stunning scenery today. Long easy climb up to the bald area on Whitetop Mt. where Camel and I teamed up for most of the day. Incredible landscape that looked more like open highlands in Wyoming or Colorado--great expansive grassy areas today strewn with rocks. Perfect breeze also to cut the heat and sun a little bit. Highlights of the day were seeing wild ponies just feet away throughout Grayson Highlands, trail magic left by Ashley at the shelter, and petting another wild pony who came to visit us at the shelter--much neater than the 2 snakes I've seen so far! In tonight with Camel, Nails, and Dances with Scarf for the second night in a row. 4 people in a shelter makes for an awfully comfortable evening in great company.
Date: 2004-04-20
From: Wise Shelter

To: Trimpi Shelter
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: broken clouds

Now here's a state that has got it down. Virginia gets an A+ (as my sister Gretchie would say) for beautiful trail, easy terrain, nice shelters, and privies at every last one of them. Very comfortable day for walking through the last bit of the highlands and on through rolling hills all the way to the shelter. Didn't see but a few people all day long, but saw 3 deer on my walk as well as my first sighting of a yellow and brown wildflower called trout lily. I felt particularly excited about being on the trail today, and being part of its community. Milestone of the day: passing the trail's 500-mile mark!
Date: 2004-04-21
From: Trimpi Shelter

To: Partnership Shelter
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: clear sky

Among all the days on the trail so far, this one was pretty unique. No great views or scenery, just a nice short walk surrounded by more and more signs of spring's awakening.   Sunny and hot all through this day's nature walk--felt like I was on a guided wildflower tour all day..except I was the guide. It's really been great to photograph these beautiful flowers and try to become somewhat of an amateur botanist. Here are some of my flora highlights of the day: blue violets (high in Vitamin C), downy yellow violets, birdsfoot violets, spring beauty, Carolina spring beauty, trout lily, false Solomon's seal, wood anemone, star chickweed; also fiddlehead ferns (which I learned are edible when closed, but poisonous when opened), eating wild chives (yummy!), and pulling up a bloodroot to see it's bright red-orange natural dye (used for war paint, dying fabrics, and as an insect repellant by Native Americans). It was truly a day to enjoy nature and the coming of spring. Of course, all that is matched by reaching this equally beautiful and unique shelter--complete with a shower and a nearby phone to call in for pizza delivery! Gotta take advantage of that since full-service shelters like this definitely do not come along every day out here on the trail. Great to enjoy such a day with friends like Camel, Nails and Scarf.
Date: 2004-04-23
From: US 11

To: Knot Maul Branch Shelter
Miles today: 13.9
Weather: light rain

Some more pastoral fields today--so green in the low-lying valleys that at times, I stopped to imagine that this might be what Ireland looks like. Walked through the rain for the afternoon and decided to stop here for a not short but not long day to relax, do some reading, and give my rain gear a chance to dry out a bit. Nice to be here enjoying a sunny evening now.
Date: 2004-04-24
From: Knot Maul Branch Shelter

To: Jenkins Shelter
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: few clouds

Beautiful ridge and grassy top on Chestnut Knob, but it was a long climb to get there. Neat shelter on the summit with steel cables to hold the roof on in severe wind--makes you wonder what the wind is like up here sometimes. I guess it's a good thing this shelter is fully enclosed! Anyway, from there on it was a very hot rollercoaster ridgeline of PUDs (pointless ups and downs) under bright sun with no water for 7+ miles. Tough going for me since I need to guzzle so much water to stay hydrated and have the barest shred of comfort. Yes, that's right folks, you heard the secret. Heat is Mountain Man's kryptonite.   Nice gang packed in at the shelter tonight with Gear Guy, Gumby, Burning Boots and J-Bird. Even had 2 deer come up right near the shelter!
Date: 2004-04-25
From: Jenkins Shelter

To: Jenny Knob Shelter
Miles today: 23.6
Weather: light rain

Not much to report today. Just a long and rather boring 20-miler along waterless ridgeline--oh yes, again in hot, humid weather. Enjoyed rock-hopping a bit this morning as the trail crossed a creek about 15 times in a couple of miles. Luckily, I didn't fall in at any point.   Nice trail, though I again rain out of water 3 miles from the shelter on a 10-mile stretch of trail that hadn't a single drop of water along it. Oh well, nice to get in as the thunderstorms arrived this afternoon--we're packed in like sardines tonight!
Date: 2004-04-26
From: Jenkins Shelter

To: VA 606
Miles today: 6.5

You'd think that sometimes you have to lose your head before you start to see things in focus. Well, for me, that day was yesterday. In hot sunshine, with a body that just doesn't seem to work right in the heat, I couldn't seem to muster the mental strength to overcome the day--something I'm rarely if ever able to forgive myself for. But today, it pours, and I'm back in focus. Some people might see that as being quite backwards, thinking that sunny days are good, rainy days bad. Not to say a windy, rainy day hasn't played a part in bringing me down at times, but I've always been one to see the good in rainy days. And it's now I realize that making a good day out of a rainy one isn't as grand or dramatic as overcoming your environment, but simply recognizing weather as another element of my day--no greater or lesser than any other, and never inexplicably controlling the emotion of the day. And so it went today. It rained. I walked.   Spent a great night in the countryside with the Pokey Puppies, Skyline and Sundance, and Burning Boots and J-Bird at a trailer home offered up by a very generous local named Jack. Hard to beat a drying machine and heat amongst such great company on a wet day like today.
Date: 2004-04-27
From: VA 606

To: Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 23.9
Weather: scattered clouds

With cooler weather in the 50s and cloudy skies, the temperature had definitely turned my direction and miles were ripe for the picking. So, today was a perfect day to bang out some miles and get into my next town stop.   Easy trail all day today, with perfect hiking conditions until it started snowing for a little stretch in the last few miles--about the same time I developed an awesome shin splint on my left leg--they're the greatest. Made it here around 4:30pm for some R+R and ice at the Rendezvous Motel. In typical trail fashion, I had a nice dinner with a perfect stranger who happened to be in town from his home in Essex, VT.
Date: 2004-04-28
From: Pearisburg, VA

To: Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Decided to take a full zero today to rest and ice my shin splint rather than run my town errands and get back on the trail. Seems to be a bit better today.   Most exciting is getting a free replacement pair of shoes in the mail from Tecnica since my original pair had a blowout. Also expecting a replacement sleeping bag from Mountainsmith, but it apparently isn't here yet.   By far the best part of the day was when a woman I met in the post office asked if I'd like to join her and her husband for a home-cooked meak at their house tonight! Yet another stranger opening their home to a hiker. Experiences like these have really restored a great deal of my faith in people. Wonderful to have a feast of pork tenderloin, yams, biscuits, wine and key lime pie (can you tell I dream of food about as much as the average 23-year-old thinks about sex??) with such nice people. Thanks so much to Robert and Jane Dalier!   Really great to chat with my buddies Sarah and Ian from back home tonight. I miss them both, and it was a great end to my day.
Date: 2004-04-29
From: Pearisburg, VA

To: Campsite
Miles today: 8.7
Weather: clear sky

Slept in and got a late start from the motel at around noon today after packing up my ever-growing food bag. Just cruised along taking my time since I decided to watch my shin splint and not go very far. So far, it hasn't acted up since the day coming into Pearisburg.   Beautiful breezy day for hikin under the sun, and found a nice site with a nearby spring to throw the tent down alongside Burning Boots and J-Bird. In to camp early, which means lots of time to relax, eat, and do some reading. Having leisure time out here is one of my favorite things.
Date: 2004-04-30
From: Campsite

To: War Spur Shelter
Miles today: 23.6
Weather: overcast clouds

More of the same today, doing what I've begun calling "The Virginia Thing," which is basically trail that climbs up 1,000-2,000 feet and then rides a flat ridgetop before making a steep descent of 1,000-2,000 feet. Repeat a few hundred times and that's my impression of a good deal of the trail in Virginia.   Very comfortable day to hike, though I hear the rains are coming in the next few days. On the bright side, spring is really beginning to take hold in the valleys, slowly creeping its way up the hillsides to the mountaintops. You can even smell it in the breeze sometimes. Great to be out here on days like this.
Date: 2004-05-01
From: War Spur Shelter

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

The first day of May shall henceforth be known as "Mystery Day" since today was full of them. For starters, the ridgelines were all clouded in so that the vistas of the Virginia countryside below were a mystery. Second, I saw a beautiful red wildflower whose identity still remains a mystery. And last but not least, the third great mystery: Last night, after sheltermates thought they heard a mouse in my pack, I pulled everything out to find out that everything was in tact. However, upon reaching the shelter this afternoon and reaching in the top pocket of my pack, I find several large chunks of chocolate fudge/brownie. There are 2 problems with this:   1. I never leave food in my top pack pocket   2. I'm not carrying any browniesAny ideas? My guess is that a little Mr. Mouse, upon finding a veritable feast of chocolate, decided that the top pocket of my pack would provide justr the right dining ambiance. Perhaps there was even a Mrs. Mouse involved. We'll never know.   Ah well, good to be here in a quiet shelter with Tortoise in what appears to be a thru-hiker void.P.S. Keffer Oak was amazing today--a 300+ year old tree that is over 18 feet around! Hard to imagine that in the not-so-distant past, our forests were thick with trees this size.
Date: 2004-05-02
From: Niday Shelter

To: VA 624
Miles today: 15.9

Lots of PUDs today, but several cool things to see including my first sighting of a Pink Lady's Slipper flower, the Audie Murphy Memorial site (USA's most decorated WWII veteran), and the dramatic Dragon's Tooth rock ridge. But all those took second place to catching a ride into the Homeplace AYCE (All You Can Eat--music to my ears), widely thought og as having the best food on the entire AT. After having stuffed my face with as much food as I can remember, I can't disagree. What more can you ask for after a long day of hiking; endless friend chicken, ham, and roast beef, and let's not forget the cute Southern Belle waitresses...I know they say milk does a body good, but damn, how much are they drinking down here?   Good to finally catch up with Skyline and Sundance again after finding the camera they left a few days back alongside the trail. Also nice to meet Fitz and Slips, all in for the night at the Four Pines Hostel.
Date: 2004-05-03
From: VA 624

To: Lambert's Meadow Shelter
Miles today: 16.1
Weather: overcast clouds

After a night of great company, it was time to see perhaps Virginia's most well-known section of trail. Beautiful cool weather as I teamed up with Skyline and Sundance, Fitz, and Slips for an afternoon journey over the famous jutting stone ledge of McAfee Knob and along Tinker Cliffs--both with tremendous views of the green valley countryside below. Wonderful to share these sights with trail friends and finish it out before a nice campfire.