morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-05-15
From: Partnership Shelter

To: I-81
Miles today: 11.6

No one seemed in a hurry this morning. Amazingly everyone was sleeping in, but me.  Mr. Whip-poor-will was like an alarm clock. Put my ear plugs in and rolled over for a few more zzz's. Hit the trail by 9:00. Wondered how a week off would impact my hiking.  The first couple of hills seemed hard, but eased up afterwards. Mainly, there seems to be a difference in the trail. The hills are not as steep and often use switch backs to get to the top... a civilized way to climb mountains. Today's hiking was different from the normal trek through the woods. It did start out through trees, but some of the time I was hiking across farm fields. Found out the pineapple-like plants that push up right along the trail are really parasites that grow on oak tree roots. They cannot produce their own chlorophyl. Sometimes the trail went through more burnt out areas. So far, I've been lucky not to be hiking in an area they are burning as the USFS can close the trail during these burns. Stopped at Louise Chatfield Shelter for lunch.  This is a small older shelter by a beautiful stream.  On a hot day this would have been a great place to be. I had only hiked seven miles so wanted to get in a few more. At this point, it began to rain, forcing me to move on. Three miles later I came upon a 1890 Settler¢s Museum. It is a part of a preserved historical farm right next to the trail. I wondered around taking photos of the two story farmhouse and all the out buildings....grainary, root cellar, wood house, meat house, wash house, corn crib, tool shop, chicken coop and barn.  It looked as if no one was there, but when I hiked further, the museum was in another building and open. Irene and Dalton were very informative telling me about the people who lived there. Scots-Irish and Germans were the main settlers. It was too cold to raise cotton. Flax was their main crop used to make material for clothes. They cleared the land of this farm... over 200 acres. Mainly crops of barley, wheat, corn and buckwheat. In addition they had lots of different fruit trees and a large garden.  Another cash crop was cabbage. They could raise chickens but not sheep. The area still had a lot of predators. I was very fascinated in how they produced flax...a very involved process. It feels and looks a lot like linen.  I can't imagine how much work was involved in maintaining such a spread. I could have spent more time, but the weather was threatening again. As I left this peaceful place, the trail went right under a high voltage power line. I' d been hearing this noise like a generator for at least 1/2 mile. . Come to find out, it was the power lines. Wow! I was very glad not to be hearing thunder. This part of the trail should be rerouted. Since the next closest shelter was torn down, so most of us opted for a room at the Relax Inn next to I-81.  The motel was your very basic, but it did have a hot shower, a good hard bed and a dry roof. Several of us went to the Red Barn, a truck stop type of restaurant for dinner.  They open at 6:00 a.m. I'll get some protein southern style before getting back on the trail. Fly right,Ravon
Date: 2008-05-16
From: I-81

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

The day started off foggy and cloudy. Thought it would be a soggy hike, but really it was just windy. Started the day with a good pancake, sausage, egg breakfast. The trail went under I-81 and then followed through meadows and along farm lands. The day was memorable for all the wooden stiles we had to climb. For you non-farming types, this is a wooden ladder built over barbed wire. With a pack and hiking sticks, it is a bit challenging, but fun. I¢d guess we went over at least twenty. The AT along here is a narrow corridor between private farms. At one point, we were hiking on an overgrown grass path no wider than fifteen feet between two barbed wire fences. Made you feel wanted.  There were signs posted warning not to wander from the path. You were supposed to hike right down the center of what in many places was a mud path.  On top of this, cows with very loose stools, and I mean loose, were using the same path! Hiker Dave told a funny story. When he came through the meadow, a whole line of cows was following him. They were so close.  He thought that they were either going to take a bite out of his backside or his pack. I only saw one cow when I came through and she just gave me a slow looking over. Found out if I'd stayed on the trail, I would have gone 1/4 the way today. As it is, I will have to walk another 66 miles in the fall. Most of the other hikers missed the sign too.  It was painted on a rock, but we thought it was the mileage to another road.  Packs-a-lot and Buckeye amazed us all at the shelter that evening by baking a real chocolate cake with chocolate chip frosting! We were so blown away, it was gone before anyone got a photo. Another cozy shelter we have squeezed in seven where it says six can sleep. When it is raining, you make room. Met four new hikers. Fly right,Ravon
Date: 2008-05-17
From: Knot Maul Shelter

To: Jenkins Shelter
Miles today: 19.1
Weather: broken clouds

My first nineteen mile day with a full pack.  Packs-a-lot and Buckeye were headed here as they have a shuttle meeting them the next day.  I thought it was a good way to get a ride into Bland. I am hoping to get fuel in town.  When you fly, you can't bring any kind of fuel. We all are faced with refueling problems. Luckily for me, two people were leaving the trail and gave me what they had left. This was a little, but not enough. Everyone has been generous to help by heating water for me. Today was an early start at 7:00 a.m. It was a fairly easy downhill start to Lynn's Creek. Then began a serious climb of 2000 feet and five miles up to Chestnut Ridge. It is like a bald kept open with burns. It is an important habitat for migratory birds. This morning it was so foggy. I could barely see where the white blazes were. I felt like I was on a sea with waving grass and an occasional tree appearing like a ship in the fog.  It was a very disorienting feeling.  At the crest was the Chestnut Knob Shelter, formerly a fire warden's cabin. It is fully enclosed and beautifully constructed of field stone. They have added plexiglass to add more light. Even the picnic table was inside. I imagine the wind blows almost constantly, but inside it was very pleasant. They did brick off the fireplace. I could see this being a necessity at times.  I had lunch and just as I was headed out the sun came out making for a great afternoon of hiking. The birds were singing and I was able to use my binoculars to observe some nesting pairs. I spent the afternoon rock-hopping... very tiring on the feet. The last three miles were downhill to the Jenkins Shelter.  There are only four of us here tonight....Packs a Lot, Buckeye, (he went to Ohio State), Just Fred (I added the ¢Just¢) and me.  Did have the thrill of seeing a nest under the eves of the shelter with baby birds. I wish I could carry an identification bird book. I will try to look up a few at the library in Pearisburg.   Tomorrow is an early start. Lights out. It is approaching the full moon so the forest is more visible at night. Fly right,Ravon
Date: 2008-05-18
From: Jenkins Shelter

To: US 52/612 Bland
Miles today: 11.7

Yesterday I meant to write about Burke¢s Garden. Most of the time the trail passed behind a rock ridge. At one point, there is a view sign on an old piece of barnwood. On a short sidetrail you are on top of a rock outcropping. From here you can see into a valley five-by-ten miles surrounded on all sides by mountains. It's been called God's Thumbprint. There is evidence that Indians lived here as long as 7000 years ago. A man named James Burke came here in 1748. He didn't stay long, but while here,threw out some potato scraps. When he returned to the valley, there was a potato patch. Thus the name Burke¢s Garden. Eventually German settlers drove out the Indians and now there are lush farms throughout the valley. Packs a Lot, Buckeye and I were on the trail by 6:30. We saw the sun come up, but it quickly went behind a bank of clouds. Not long afterwards we were hiking in rain. At first, I thought it would just be a drizzle and didn't bother to put on rain pants...Big mistake. I knew I was getting a motel room and thought I'd be doing laundry. What made it bad was we did the 11.7 miles in good time. As a result, we ended up standing in the rain for almost two hours. Even though I put on my down jacket, I was still wet and soon cold. Learned my lesson. When I did get to the Big Walker, the first thing was a very hot bath. The only nearby food place was Dairy Queen. The kids (other hikers) raved about the Dairy Queen. So thought, why not, it¢s my only choice, I'll give it a try. Got a to-go DQ supreme (Cheese burger with lettuce and tomato, french fries and a coke.) It was the meal de jour. At least, it was hot food and not a bad place to be on a very rainy afternoon. You can see my standards are declining. Fly right,Ravon
Date: 2008-05-19
From: US 52/612 Bland

To: Jenny Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Finally I have fuel. Laurie, her mother worked at the Big Walker Motel,  and her little girl took me to the Dollar General (no denatured alcohol), I sure was glad I didn't walk all the way to the store yesterday in the rain. The hardware does carry it by the quart. I only needed enough to fill a plastic coke bottle (no fancy fuel bottles for thru hikers), but when you need fuel you aren't that choosey. Laurie then gave me a ride to the intersection where I stood in the rain yesterday. The sun was shinning with a very lively wind blowing, but at least it was dry.  It took a while to figure out the trail. You had to hike down a road and then cross a bridge that was an overpass over I-77 with lots of traffic. Turned right down another road until I found two blazes directing you back into the forest. It is so much more peaceful in the woods. Once I climbed upon the ridge, the trail stayed on top with only some minor ups and downs. I must be between groups. I never saw another hiker all day. Passed up stopping at the Helvey's Mill Shelter as it was a quarter of a mile off the trail. Had a nice lunch under a nice big oak tree. The birds were singing and I was able to use my binoculars to observe territorial squabbles. When I arrived at 3:30 at the Jenny Knob Shelter, Maverick was here. I hadn't met him yet. He went to some of Trail Days in Damascus, but was glad to be back on the trail. Depending on who you are either you love Trail Days or are not so wild about the great throngs on people. We talked of a trip he is planning down the Escalante Canyon in Utah. I was able to give him some ideas of places to see...Capitol Reef National Monument and Torey, Utah. SoJo came in later. So there are just three of us. I'm in the shelter because we are supposed to get rain tonight. No one likes to pack a wet tent. This is the second shelter in a row that I've discovered a bird nest right under the eves. There are babies and the parents are on a constant feeding frenzy. I can hear each time they flutter their wings delivering insects to hungry mouths. This is another bird I've heard calling a lot. Can't wait to get to a bird book so I can give them names. I have the callsthat Sandy loaded onto my Blackberry, but no photos to identify each species. Cheep, Cheep, Cheep. Fly right,Ravon
Date: 2008-05-20
From: Jenny Knob Shelter

To: Wapiti Shelter
Miles today: 14.2
Weather: light rain

Hard for me to believe, but its exactly two months that I've been hiking on the Appalachian Trail. Today is another milestone. I have officially hiked a quarter of the trail. This was at the Wapiti Shelter... 607.7 total miles. No cake to celebrate the event, but a cup of hot chocolate was pretty good. Yesterday, I ended by saying there were only three of us at the Jenny Knob Shelter... at 7:30 twelve more hikers arrived. One of the groups that made it to Trail Days in Damascus caught up with us. They had taken a shuttle to Bland. I'm sure we will see many more who are hiking from there. The word is that there are fewer thru-hikers than in past years. A higher percentage are finishing the trail. It was maybe 10% in earlier years, but now it is better than 20 to 25%. I¢m still planning to be in that percentage. Today was a gentle trail out to Falls on Dismal Creek. I think it is humorous about the name dismal which refers to the quality of soil. The underlying black soil is shale. "When we see the name poor valley or dismal creek, we can assume that the underlying rock is black shale...in contrast land overlying limestone might be called a garden." This according to the Appalachian Trail Guide. I now know why it is hard for me to grow plants around my house which sits on 8000 feet of shale. The falls were six tenths of a mile out of the way, but definitely worth it. Several hikers were also enjoying the falls. I had a nice lunch over looking the top of the wide falls. There were two fishermen casting into the falls, but with little luck. It is supposed to be a good trout stream. Brother Joe, you will be interested to know that I ran into Equinox. We gave her a ride at Winding Stairs Gap, into Franklin. She was solo hiking and says hi. I'm going to try to do some more side trails especially if they have such special features. In the afternoon, I was hiking mainly along or crossing over Dismal Creek. It was through a more open maple forest. I saw several deer with very long white tails. They were pretty tame.  There are only three of us at this shelter...Maverick, Hiker Dave and me. It is a lot more mellow when there are less people. I am glad I didn't read about this shelter before staying here. It was build in 1981. The original Wapiti shelter was located next to a road farther down Dismal Creek. This is where two hikers were killed in May of that year. The attacker was caught, convicted, and imprisioned for fifteen years. That same man, after being paroled from prison in 1996, shot two fisherman near here just last month. This time he died in the hospital after crashing his victim¢s truck. The remodeled Wapiti Shelter was moved to the present site. I am glad I decided to tent this day.  Fly right,Ravon
Date: 2008-05-21
From: Wapiti Shelter

To: Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 16.6
Weather: few clouds

Woke up expecting my tent to be all wet. I could have sworn it was raining last night. I saw the full moon come up about 11:30 as a big red ball. It seemed to be foggy. I was pleasantly surprised to wake up to a dry tent. This makes for a much easier departure by 6:45. This was a get away day for me. I needed to hike 16.6 miles to reach Pearisburg. Hiker Dave and I attacked the big climb of the day...1500 feet in one and half miles. Once on top, it was pretty much a ridge walk. The trail would go through the long green tunnel of rhododendron patches. They still are not blooming, but lots of buds. It was really cool in the 60s and the wind blowing probably made it feel colder. I have no complaints as I know it will get hot soon enough.  What was memorable this day? In a way, it was the ease of the hike. I love it when the trail goes through more open forest. When the trail is covered with pine needles, it is so much easier on the feet. The hardest type of trail cover are rocks set at odd angles. It wears on your feet and the chances of turning an ankle is greater. The top afforded a view of the valleys below. There seems to be major rivers converging. It looks down on New River, argued to be the second oldest river on the continent. Maybe 320 million to four hundred million years old. The Grand Canyon¢s age, by comparison, is five to ten millon years old based on the type of rocks and level of erosion of the canyon. You could hear a train blowing its whistle evoking memories of days gone by. At Angel¢s Rest, you break out of the forest and are greeted with views of the town and valleys below. Interesting this was a center of an earthquake on May 31, 1897. It knocked down chimneys in this county and was felt from Cleveland to Atlanta. I'll be glad to be past this spot by the 31st. Important Note: You know you are in a good town when on the radio they are playing "Boil Them Cabbage Down." Well, maybe not. Now I'm at a restaurant that could be transplanted from Aspen...music light mellow jazz, the old Ray Mercer tune that Sandy teaches, "I Remember You," and old piano favorites. After you¢ve spent a week on the trail, eating dehydrated meals, cheese, crackers and oatmeal, a good meal is a real treat. My dinner: A Grey Goose martini (yes this is not a dry county), seared Ahi tuna Salad, pork tenderloin with garlic mashed potatoes and sauteed fresh zucchini, apples in a balsamic sauce reduction. To top it off I had a warm chocolate pudding cake with fresh mint ice cream. On the wall is a heavy acrylic painting of pony club kids being led on a training wheel. Tasha and Billy, you would have really enjoyed this restaurant. To find such delightful meal in a small, rural town is more than appreciated, it is applauded. Thank you The Bank Restaurant.  Fly right,Ravon
Date: 2008-05-22
From: Pearisburg, VA

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

It was a typical zero day. This means no walking on the AT, but plenty of walking around town taking care of chores. Linda at the Plaza Motel will do any hikers laundry for free.  She offered to do mine...what a sweetheart. I think she may be the owner as well. She and Sandy, the other worker, were just the nicest people. They always had a smile for us. Sent graduation cards to my grandchildren. This week was the last week of the school year. I'm so proud of Sophia, Uri, Tommy and Alex. Hope they have a great summer and think of the Ravon.   Found a great cafe, The Courthouse Cafe here in Parisburg. Pat, the owner, would chat for hours. He made the best cappucino... in a huge cup! I was able to catch up on all my journal entries on his computer. You really got a feel for what a rural Virginia town was like just listening to him and his helpers.  Finally found the easiest way to download my camera. Unfortunately, you would need a Rite-Aid or Walgren¢s in all the towns near the trail. I was able in 5 minutes to transfer my photos to a CD.  They even printed out an index card. I still have to get them tied to the journals, but at least I know I have them copied. For some of you this is old news, but for a thru-hiker it is the best. Back to the trail tomorrow. Fly right, Ravon
Date: 2008-05-23
From: Pearisburg, VA

To: Pine Swamp Branch Shelter
Miles today: 19.3
Weather: light rain

The word for today was, "How dry I am." This is a notoriously bad section for its lack of water. As I was leaving Pearisburg, the AT goes right past an industrial plant that could use some serious noise abatement. It is a Celco (Celanese Acetate) Plant.  They are working with the AT to try and relocate the trail. It will be a much welcomed change. I was able to hear their air release valves almost an hour and a half up the trail. It was a major climb up to Peter's Ridge to begin the day.  Rice Field Shelter was a newer shelter, but much too early to stop. The water source was over a 1/2 mile away. Most of the day I spent walking along the top of Peters Mountain. This part of the trail walks the boundary between Virginia and West Virginia.  When I came to Symm's Meadow, it looked like an old fruit orchard. I think they may have been apple and cherry trees. I found a beautiful camp site, but no water. The time was such that if I delayed much longer, I would not make the next shelter. Decided to push on. Pine Swamp Branch Shelter was an interestingly constructed stone shelter complete with an inside fireplace. The shelter was missing only one essential element...a roof. In 2007, a tree fell on it. Can you imagine what the hikers staying there at that time must have thought?  I put up my tent inside on one side. Buckeye was able to sleep under a plastic sheet on the other side   Bob, a sectional hiker, set up his tent outside.  He was a nice guy hiking south and said he worked for the defense/war industry.It did rain most of the night. I ended up with a small puddle in one corner of my tent. I was using my poles rather than stakes to make it into a standing tent. I was not able to pull it out the way it should be. I'll have to do a better job next time.  Part of my bag and pad got wet. I'll need to dry them.  I'm hoping they fix this shelter as it is a nice one. Fly right,Ravon
Date: 2008-05-24
From: Pine Swamp Branch Shelter

To: War Spur Shelter
Miles today: 12.7
Weather: few clouds

Found out from Bob, a SOBO hiker, that the bridge over Stony Creek was out. It had been destroyed by hurricane Jeanne in 2007. You could either wade the stream or walk down the road a mile and a half. It looked to me that there was a good volume of water. I opted for the road. Later found out that Buckeye waded and rock hopped the stream. I probably should have done the same, but there was no photographer to catch the moment if I were to fall. We had another major climb up to Rocky Gap.  This one was pretty much straight up with lots more rocks. Found a rock that looked like a buffalo and someone had written in pink chalk, "Ride Me." I got buckeye to be a rodeo rider and got his picture. Once we left Bailey's Gap Shelter, it turned into a much harder trail because of all the rocks over the next four miles. It would be so easy to turn an ankle.  Many hikers are wearing light weight low cut shoes. I'd be afraid you'd feel the rocks right through the sole.  Once through the rocks, it was easier until you reached a sharp downhill. Over the next mile and a half I descended 1500 feet. Tonight I stayed at War Spur Shelter. It also had a bird¢s nest, but this guy built it right in front of the shelter at almost eye level. I felt sorry for those hungry baby birds. To make matters worse, a boy scout troop was staying here.  They were practicing camping techniques for a scout rally in Fillmore, New Mexico. It was entertaining to watch all the interaction. They were good kids, but too many people in a small space Fly right,Ravon