morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-05-24
From: Chestnut Knob Shelter

To: Laurel Creek Campsite
Miles today: 16.6
Weather: broken clouds

Well my night alone on the mountain top shelter wasgrand. I did step out to check out the stars about10:0pm and it was as wonderful as I expected. Not sineI was 17 yrs old on my fiist backpacking trip toColorado have I seen so many stars. And at one cornerof the field I could see the green eyes of about 3deer grazing. They could not figure out what I was.They just stared. The only negative part of the eveningwas in the morning I saw that a mouse had chewed onthe bite valve of my water reservior. I eventually gotover it.The trip for the day was hard for a while over theridge top, then easy down to the creek. I camped witha couple of nice guys Fred and Rich. I have travelledwith them before. I enjoyed camping with them. Aminister from a local church stopped by (our camp wasnext to a road) and left orange and apple juice for usand other hikers that pass by. This is typical trailmagic. It was wonderful to have a cold apple juicedrinks (actually 3 or 4) with dinner. Fred and Rich are really great guys. Both are in their60's and both would agree they are each of the heavysize. but they don't let that slow them down. they dothe same miles I do and with a smile every day. Theyreally are an insperation.Clay
Date: 2006-05-25
From: Laurel Creek Campsite

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

I woke up early in my tent with the plan to get intothe small town of Bland for a small resupply andlunch. I hit the trail at 7:00 AM and travelled quickly. By9:30 I was at the road crossing. I needed to go to theright and get a ride about 2.5 miles to town. I simplyfailed to stop hiking the trail and continuedfollowing the white blazes. I went about half a miledownhill before I realized I missed the road. Itrudged back up the hill and luckily got a ride from anice elderly lady. She said she doesn't ususally giverides, but I looked like a nice enough hiker. I thankedher and apologized for smelling bad. She took me toDairy Queen. I ate a quick lunch, went on to DollarGeneral and bought a few items for resupply and beganmy walk back to the trail. There was little trafficand I walked about 80% of the 2.5 miles back before Iwas picked up by a county transit bus for the elderly.I gladly hoped on and found Fred and Rich already onboard aad headed back to he trail. I got back onthetrail by 1:30 and had a long 11 mile hike to mydestination for the night. It was a hot day and watersources were few. I conserved my water and made it tothe shelter by 6:30. Tired and dirty I quickly ate mymacoroni and cheeze and went to bed.Clay
Date: 2006-05-26
From: Jenkins Shelter

To: Woodshole Hostel
Miles today: 20.4
Weather: mist

Wow what a long day. During the night I was treated toa vivid lightning show from the safety of my shelter.I brought my food bag down from the bear line beforeit rained. I didn't want all my food wet. I hung it inthe shelter and luckily no mice bothered it.In the morning the rain was gone. I got wet anyway becausethe trail this morning was grown up with grass andweeds in many places which still were wet. I startedat the ususal 7:00 am and walked until 2:00 pm. I stopped forlunch and took an hour break. I rested my feet. I hadplans for a 22+ mile today so I still 10 miles left.As I got back to the trail the clouds began to buildand sure enough I got rained on just as a reached thetop of a ridgeline I was to walk for most of theafternoon. I kept walking tired and wet I came upon apaper sign posted on a tree around mile 19 of my longday. It said there was a hostel 1.6 miles away. Itsaid there was a solar shower and snacks and cokes. Ipressed on with renewed energy. I wanted off the trailand into dry clothes. By 6:00 I arrived at WoodsholeHostel. The farmhoose was built in 1880 and thebunkhouse somtime after that. It was a wonderfulplace. The storm receded by the time I arrived. Therewere other hikers there. Of course the shower wascold, but worth it to get clean. The bunkhouse wasfull so I slept on the porch. More rain and wind camein the night, but I stayed dry. Clay
Date: 2006-05-27
From: Woodshole Hostel

To: Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: broken clouds

MISS TILLY THE HOSTEL OWNER AND HER GRANDAUGHTERSERVED ALL THE HIKERS A BREAKFAST IN THE FARMHOUSE. ITWAS GREAT. BISCUITS, SAUSAGE AND GRAVY, JUICE ANDCOFFEE. I HAD 10 MILES TO GET TO TOWN TODAY. I ARRIVEDIN PEARISBURG AROUND 2:00 PM LOOKING FORWARD TO A DAYAND A HALF OF REST. IT HAD BEEN A LONG 8 DAYS AND OVER100 MILES. I GOT MY MOTEL ROOM, GOT A hot SHOWER ANDSHAVE, THEN WASHED MY STINKY, STINKY CLOTHES.cLAY
Date: 2006-05-28
From: Pearisburg, VA

To: Pearisburg, VA II
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

A plain old lazy day. I went through my pack. The downjacket and down winter sleeping bag are going home. Iwill use my summer bag now. Should reduce my packweight a little bit. The rest of the day was spentwatching the Indy 500 race. My feet enjoyed the rest.I ate with fellow hiker friends and planned for thenext week.Clay
Date: 2006-05-29
From: Pearisburg, VA II

To: Pearisburg, VA III
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I HAD FULL INTENTIONS TO HIKE OUT THIS MORNING, BUTAFTER PACKING LAST NIGHT I REALIZED I HAD TWO PACKAGESI WOULD NEED TO MAIL OUT. ONE AS MY BOUNCE BOX TOTROUTVILLE, AND ONE WITH MY WINTER GEAR BACK HOME TOMY BROTHER TO STORE. I COULD ASK VETO TO TAKE THEMTO THE POST OFFICE FOR ME, BUT HE WAS ALREADY HANDLINGPACKAGES FOR OTHER PEOPLE PLUS HIS OWN. SO WITH THATIN MIND AND THE POSSIBILITY THAT I COULD GET ONLINEMADE ME DECIDE TO STAY IN OWN ONE MORE DAY. I AGAIN MADE AN EFFORT TO REST MY FEET AGAIN TODAY. IVETO AND MIKE FROM PA DID GO TO WALMART. OTHER THANTHAT IT WAS A QUIET RESTFUL DAY. Clay
Date: 2006-05-30
From: Pearisburg, VA III

To: Campsite at mile 630.2
Miles today: 8.1

Today was to be moving day. I learned yesterday thatthe library didn't open until noon so that was anotherdelay. I got my packages mailed. I ate breakfast thenwaited till near noon. Strapped on my pack and walkedthe 1 mile to the library only to be told theircomputers were down! The librarian sent me to thecounty extension office to use thier computer. I gotthere and they said "sure, go ahead, we go to lunch in15 minutes and we have to lock up. You can come backlater if you want to. Well GRRRRR......I quickly checked my emails, but had no time to reply.I did not get to upload my journal entries. I gave upand headed for the trail. It was 1:00 pmIt was hot and muggy. Two days off adds to lethargiclegs. I trudged along until about 7:30PM. I picked upMike from PA along te way and we picked a campsite onthe side of the trail. Along with the heat the bugswere out in force. We hit he tents and zipped up forthe night.Clay
Date: 2006-05-31
From: Campsite at mile 630.2

To: Bailey Gap Shelter
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Started at 7:00 a.m. The elevation was mostly flat, but itwas another hot buggy day. Mike and I made it to PineSwamp Branch Shelter at 11:30 and took a 2 hour break.The nap was nice. We got back on the trail at 1:40 andarrived at he shelter by 3:30. A short day, but goodenough for this new heat way we are experiencing. Hopeto start early tomorrow.Clay
Date: 2006-06-01
From: Bailey Gap Shelter

To: Laurel Creek Shelter
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: scattered clouds

It rained in the night, but no rain all day untilabout 2:00. Even then it was more thunder than rain.The trail was tough today. Two tough descents and onesteep climb. It will be like this for a while. Thetrail is going west to east across the Apalachianmountains. So it is up one side, then across the top,then down the other side, across a valley, then back upanother mountain. With the recent heat spell it hasbeen hard work. The downhills do me in. Climbing istough but I seem to deal with them better. Mike fromPA and I had intended to go another 6 miles to thenext shelter, but as we were taking a break here, atleast two other hikers along with 4 others we alreadyknew about were also heading to the same shelter. Sorather than squeeze into a crowded shelter we electedto stop here for the day and do a big mile daytomorrow. It is 6:35pm. I have eaten and completed mychores. I think now I will put on my headphones andlisten to my radio for a while. Good night.Clay
Date: 2006-06-02
From: Laurel Creek Shelter

To: Pickle Branch Shelter
Miles today: 22.3
Weather: broken clouds

Man what a day. A record mileage day for me, and Ibelieve it was over the hardest terrain to boot. Mikeand I started at the usual 7:00 am. It was another hotmuggy day. We knew it was to be a long day as we haddecided to say at Laurel Creek Shelter instead ofpressing on to the next one. We knew it would be full.Right away we ha d a hard climb up Sinking CreekMountain. It went from 2200 to 3500 elevation in justunder 2 miles. Then we had ridge walking for 4 mileswhich is walking on the rocky edge of the mountain.Sharp pointy rocks, or fla steeply side sloped ledges.Both stress the feet and ankles. Then a 4 mile decenton slippery loose rock into the valley. Then we repeatit all over again. Along mid afternoon it begins tothunder and sprinkle on us. I think this is worse thanrain. It never starts to fully rain, and thetemperature never falls, but the air is thick withmoisture. The humidity makes me sweat, and my clothesare completely drenched. One interesting point today was when we came upon themonument for Audie Murphy monument. It is placed inthe area where his plane crashed in 1971. For thosethat don't know, Audie Murphy was the most highlydecorated war hero of World War II. He then went on tobe a movie star in Hollywood even starring as himselfin the movie "To Hell and Back" That is the history lesson of the day.With the third and final climb of the day we arrivedat the shelter. I have determined the only way to beable to sleep after a long hot day is a quick bath inthe creek. Well not really a bath, but a very coldsplash and rinse. Now that will certainly get yourblood circulating!Clay
Date: 2006-06-03
From: Pickle Branch Shelter

To: Campbell Shelter
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Today we have a treat. After 6.7 miles tthis morningwe got to go to a local general store for lunch andresupply.It was great to get a hamburger aad a couple of sodapops. We were back on the trail by 1:00. The otherexcitement happened earlier this morning and I didn'teven get to see it. I was walking up the trail andMike was just a few yards behind me. I had just roundeda swithcback and was looking at a view to my left.Mike arrives at th switchback just 10 yards behind meand says "bear". He says it calmly and I replied "what?"He then says "there was a bear not 10 yards away fromus sitting on a rock looking at you, when I said bear,he turned and ran!" Well great! my first real chanceto see a bear aad I missed it! It apparently had seenme, but since I was moving away and not looking at himhe decided to say put.The rest of the day was much quieter. I did climbMcafee Knob. Probably the best view so far on thewhole trip, the weather cooperted, as it wasclear,cool and windy today. Tomorrow is head for town day. 15 miles, then CrackerBarrel Restaurant here I come.Clay
Date: 2006-06-04
From: Campbell Shelter

To: Daleville, VA
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: broken clouds

Well 5 hard days and 92 miles later I am taking a bedbreak. It was a hot, sweaty and buggy week. I thinkthat overall this has been the toughest 5 days oftrail so far. The numerous climbs and descents reallywore me out. Coming back into town is a shock. Carsseem to move faster. Noises are louder. Smells areeven stronger. Tonight I will plan my next few days,then tomorrow I will resupply with grocercies and whatother supplies I will need. Thanks to everyone for thepatience in waiting for my journal entries. My methodof using this portable word processor works wellexcept when I cannot get access to a computer while intown. Next town stop tentativley looks to be 5 to 7days from now.Clay
Date: 2006-06-05
From: Daleville, VA

To: Daleville, VA II
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Took a zero day today to complete town chores and morerest. I visited the outfitter and bought new shorts,socks and various other items. I went to Kroger andbought 5 days worth of food. It was good to rest. Iate at Pizza Hut, Cracker Barrel, and nice Mexicanrestaurant. I can just about eat anything I want. Iweigh 168 pounds. Down 15 pounds so I get to have allthe desserts I want. I recommend the Apalachian Trailweight loss diet.Mike and I will head out tomorrow.
Date: 2006-06-06
From: Daleville, VA II

To: Wilson Creek Shelter
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: few clouds

Mike and I made one last visit to the outfitter, thenate lunch and got on the trail. The weather was prettynice. Cooler than last week and a decent breeze. My newconcern is water. I can tell the area is in a droughtbecause the grass in the median in town was all dry.Today the first shelter we came to had no watersource. Word is that this is a common problemNorthward. So I was conncervative with my suppply ofwater and made it to Wilson Creek Shelter. I decidedto tent. I got o bed about 10:00 after visiting withfellow campers by the fire. At midnight some hikershowed up to camp for the night. Makes no sense to mewhy someone wants to impose on others like that.At around 3:25 I got up to go to the bathroom. Just asa got settled back in my sleeping bag I heard rustlingin the leaves. Heavy rustling. I knew a deer would notmake that kind of noise and it moved to quickly andsteadily to be an armadillo, ( I don't even know ifhey have them around here. It wasn't a racoon, opossumor squirrel either. So by that left only one logicalanswer, a bear. I listened for a while trying todetermine its exact location and direction. When Ithought it was close enough / too close, I quietlyunzipped my tent, eased out with my headlamp andturned it on in the direction of my target.Unfortunelty I could not see anything. The height ofthe grass and the curve of the hill prevented me fromseeing anything. Whatever it was ran away back intothe woods so I zipped up and tried to go back tosleep. But the fun wasn't over. 5 minutes later it wasback. I went through the same procedure again. Lyingthere listening, then unzipping and flashing into thewoods. Still the same result. In fact it sounded nowlike there were two visitors. I think they retreatedfor good around 5:00 am. I asked the other campers andthey all heard the noises, but only saw shadows.Excting fun!Clay
Date: 2006-06-07
From: Wilson Creek Shelter

To: Bailey Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 20.6

Another nice hiking day overall. Sometimes it was hot,but most of the time it was comfortable. The water problem continued. One shelter had no water,a 2nd had a poor water source. I think today was the5th day in a row I have had multiple deer sighting.This morning in addition to the bear excitiment Iheard coyotes howling and turkeys gobbling. I had tobuy a new camera while in Daleville. My original onejust started to act up and I started to worry that Iwould lose pictures. So I am looking forward to moreopportunites to take pictures.Tomorrow will be a big climb so I am going to hit thesleeping bag. Good night.Clay
Date: 2006-06-08
From: Bailey Ridge Shelter

To: Marble Spring Campsite
Miles today: 17.2

We startd the day a little later, at 7:30. I guess inanticipation of the climb for the morning. In realityit wasn't anything out of the ordinary. We just trudgeup, keeping a steady pace and eventually we peak out.The day was uneventful. Clouds were always overheadand thunder was heard occasionally. During the dayMike and I, as well as most other hikers spread out onthe trail. We all have different paces. Some arestronger at hills and ome are stronger on downhills.And of course sometimes you feel like a fast pace andsometimes you feel like strolling. That is whathappenned today. Mike and Chuck Buster got ahead ofme, and I simply didn't feel the need or desire tokeep up. The plan was to meet at a designated spot forthe night, but when the afternoon storm blew up Ifound myself right in it. Heavy downpour, lightningand thunder. Mike and Chuck were out of sight. I cameupon a camping area about 5:00. There were tents there.People were in them riding out the storm. I made thedecision that this was where I would stay for thenight. I saw no benefit of continuing in the rain,sooooo I stood in the rain. I found some cover underthe thickest branches I could and waited until therain let up. When it did I scrambled to set up mytent. I then stripped off all my clothes, hung them ona line. I sat on the ground in front of my tent,tossed in my dry clothes bag, and sleeping bag anddried myself off with my little bandana before I gotinto my tent. I am proud to say I successfully gotinto my tent, into dry clothes and a dry sleeping bagby 6:00 for a nap. At 6:00 Mike and Chuck were stillout somewhere walking wet in the rain. I got up about7:00 pm, made dinner, wrung out clothes and then wentto bed for the night. I would catch up tomorrow.Clay
Date: 2006-06-09
From: Marble Spring Campsite

To: Stealth Site
Miles today: 22.7

I got up early and made good time to meet up with Mikeand Chuck Buster at the shelter they stayed at lastnight. They had slept in and were still drying thingswhen I arrived. It was about 5 miles farther down thetrail from here I had stayed. We got on the trail anddid our thing. We crosssed the James River on a 635foot pedestrian bridge. Made a long climb up brushymountain. Around mid-afternoon Chuck decided he wantedto hhead for a farther shelter than Mike and I wanted.Mike's shin was bothering him, and I was already 5miles extra on my miles for the day since I got upearly to catch up with them. So Chuck went on and Mikeand I headed for a campsite lited in one of the trailbooks we had. turns out to really be a non existantcampsite. Both sides of the trail were marked asposted. Well it was too late to keep going so we madethe decision to stealth camp, which means to hide andcamp, hopefully undetected. We found an old loggingtrail near a stream, set up our tents, cooked ourdinners and watched the deer cross the stream, wesettlled in for the night.Clay
Date: 2006-06-10
From: Stealth Site

To: Buena Vista, VA
Miles today: 6.8

The night was quiet at our stealth site. Mike and Istarted the day's hike at the usual 7:00 am. We cameacross Chuck Buster at his chosen campsite about 8:00,then we all 3 hiked the 6.8 total miles to the roadcrossing where we planned to call for a ride into thetown of Buena Vista. When we arrived at the road crossing we were happy tosee a couple of trail angels Scuba Dad, and Scuba Momcooking up eggs and bacon. We gladly accepted food anddrink then our ride arrived to take us to town. Our first stop was another place to eat. Kenny'sRestaurant. A basic Mom & Pop hamburger and breakfastrestaurant. The driver recommeded it to us. We put ourpacks down at a booth then I walked up to the counter.I studied the menu on the wall above the counter. Icuriously did not see "hamburger" as a listed choice.I saw fish sandwich, chicken sandwich, various otherchoices, and I saw "cheezeburger" as a choice. That iswhat I wanted so I stepped up to the young cashier andsaid, "Good morning I would like a cheezeburger witheverything, hold the ketchup and onion."Her reply to me was, "our cheezeburger comes with bun,meat, cheeze and sauce. That is all.""You mean I can't gget a cheezeburger wwith lettuceand tomato?""Nope, it comes with bun, Meat, cheeze and sauce."Well in my starved condition I guess I couldn't reallyunderstand why. I thought well maybe this is a novegtable restaurant, or maybe this is some reallyspecial great sauce, but I stupidly accepted heranswer and said, "Ahh, well ok..... give me acheezeburger, fries and a vanilla shake.I paid, took my change, stepped back still sort ofdumbfounded at the fact I was not allowed to havelettuce and tomato on my cheezeburger. Mike from PAsteps up to make his order."What is that "Big K" listed at the top of the board?"The young cashier replies,"That is a hamburger. Itcomes with lettuce, tomato, mayo, onion and pickle.""Oh, can I get cheeze on that?""Sure."Well now I am really stunned! Mike, just laughs andgrins as he walks back to the booth to sit and wait forour orders. I am muttering to myself about what in theworld just happened, and why can't I get acheezeburger with everything and he can.We sit a few minutes and I continue to fume. My ordercomes and I unwrap my cheezeburger with sauce to findjust that. Actually it was a sauce burger with cheezeand meat. There was some redish looking sauce all overthe cheeze, the meat and the bun. So much thatcouldn't even begin to eat it by hand. I immediatelywrap it back up and carry it directly to the trash canand with great vigor and force deliver it to the backof the trash can. I go back to the counter and say, "Iwould like a Big K with everything, add cheeze, holdthe ketchup and onion. Where I come from they callthat a cheezeburger." I don't think the little cashierhad any idea or cared what I ordered. Lesson learned. I will stick to the chain fast foodrestaurants where I can order from a picture on thewall.The rest of the day was the usual town stuff. Washclothes, resupply, and eat. Clay
Date: 2006-06-11
From: Buena Vista, VA

To: Seeley Woodworth Shelter
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Chuck Buster and I got out of town about 11:00 AM. Mikewas going to stay in town to rest his shin a day ortwo. The day went fine. It was cool and threatenedrain all day, but never did. The trail was reallygood. Very few rocks. Chuck Buster continued on when Istopped for a lunch break about 2:00. I arrived at mychosen shelter at 5:30. Chuck Buster had gone on to afarther one. It turned out that I would have theshelter all to myself tonight. Only the 2nd time sinceI started. I enjoyed the quiet. I sat at the picnictable wrote in the shetler register, and watched thedeer stroll by in front of me. I heard a noise behindme and turned to look. I will honestly say I did not see what it was, but it wasn't a deer. I saw and heard the brushmove when what had to be a bear take off. It was nomore than 10 yards away when it took off. It was neardark by now. I could shine my headlamp out into thedarkness and see two white eyes staring back at me.Deer eyes are when spotlighted, and these eyes were toofar apart and too close to the ground to be a deer. Iwatched for a while and the eyes eventually disappeared. I did all I could do. I BUILT UP THECAMPFIRE BIGGER< GOT IN MY SLEEPING BAG> Oh and I keptmy hiking poles next too me. No other visitors in the night. Clay
Date: 2006-06-12
From: Seeley Woodworth Shelter

To: Maupin Field Shelter
Miles today: 20.5
Weather: overcast clouds

In the night it rained hard. I had brought my clothesin off the line before I went to bed. But I had leftmy food bag strung up in the tree so it was all wet.Just the bag. Everything else was in ziplock bags sono food was lost. I started at 8:10. Late because of the rain. I walkedall alone again all day. I try to go about 2 hours,take a 10 or 15 minute break. Then at about 5 hours alunch break with at least an hour rest with boots off.Then another short break in the afternoon. The trailwas certainly not friendly today. Lots of rocks, andsteps. The day ended about 7:30 after a long hardclimb. I arrived at the shelter to find about 10people already there. The problem is the shelter fits6 comfortably. Luckily 3 people were tenting andeveryone scooted over to allow space for me. Nicehikers.It was a hard day. I ate my couscous, and tuna thengot in my bag by 9:00. Going to town tomorrow.Clay