morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-05-29
From: Abbingdon Gap Shelter

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 10.4

Up and out on the trail by 8:38. today is a short day on the trail to Damascus, a well known hiker which recently hosted Trail Days a gathering of past and present hikers in the thousands. I pretty much tested my speed down the mountain to Damascus as much of the trail was down hill. We crossed the border at last to Virginia!!!!   I took a picture of spider and me. I was in Damascus before I knew it by 1:30 pm. I found the Dancing Bear B&Band got a room. Very nice and clean. I washed up, did my shopping at the General Dollar, ate at the Blue Blaze Cafe, then did my laundry. I had dinner with J-Rock and Titus at the Old Mill Innn. We had steak ofcourse All and all a good day. Bring on the rest of VA. Four states down 10 to go. I look to up my miles in VA.Met wonderboy, skywalker, thumpa, rain boy, baby gee, castle, half life and stops a lot in town and many more. Stops A lot told me he is going off the trail and won't be going on. His wife is coming for him tomorrow. I will miss him.Still smilin' and goin strong.
Date: 2013-05-30
From: Damascus, VA

To: Lost Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: broken clouds

I had a great breakfast at Dancing Bear, quiche, coffee, fruit, OJ and toast. I headed out of town around 9: 15 and met Stops a lot and his wife Scribbles as they headed out. I was at the other end of town starting the trail on the VA Creeper trail. It's basically a 39 mile bicycle path that was a railroad at one time. Looks like lots of fun to ride, there are several shuttle services in Damascus that will drive you up north and you can ride back down hill. Unfortunately the AT does not go on the Creeper for long it runs parallel to it for a bit and then goes on it a couple more times for a re-route and a river crossing on a refurbished old trestle bridge. As usual I am slow out of towns and loaded with food for the road to Atkins where I hoped to reconnect with a hiking buddy- Shady who lives in Atkins. I had called him and he is willing to pick me up and host me in his home. I was planning on making Atkins by Sunday.Along the Creeper trail I met Mad Dog, Wonderboy, Half Life and Rail Splitter. I arrived at Lost Mountain Shelter around 6 PM and met Counselor and Mammoth, Half Life was there as well.Counselor is an attorney that left a job sold his house and hit the trail. He was living in Cincinnati and his fianc© said if he was gonna hike he better do it before they get married. Mammoth is from Islip, Long Island NY. He is truly a mammoth of a man with a mountain man beard that makes him look like a wooly mammoth. He has a Lighthearts design duo tent which is huge but not much more weight then my solong tent. You just need lots of space to put it up.I had a favorite meal of bacon and mash potatoes. Some one almost always exclaims is that real bacon your putting in there? Yup its a shelf bacon already cooked.I slept good through the night.
Date: 2013-05-31
From: Lost Mountain Shelter

To: Old Orchard Shelter
Miles today: 23.2
Weather: scattered clouds

I got up and on the trail by 7 am. The day featured many different changes of terrain. The first 6-7 miles were a climb up to Whitetop Mountain. There was pasture land, Deciduous Forest, old Pine Forests, rock climbs, bald climbs, rock hops, caves, road walks, horse trails. I saw cattle and the wild ponies of the Grayson Highlands.I skirted Mount Rogers the highest mountain in VA, thankfully I didn't have to summit it. I met Mary Poppins along the way who has a trail journal on Trailjournals.com as well. She started the AT on April 17th, give her a read. Yes she is still carrying her umbrella in her pack. I walked a mile or two with her to Thomas Knob Shelter where I stopped for lunch. I had peanut butter for lunch.The balds or highlands have lots of open spaces that thru hikers aren't used to as we usually hike in green tunnels of forests and can't see much in the way of views. I got a little too much sun today as it was hot and no much shade in sight. Many families are out hiking for the weekend and enjoying the State park. The rocks are volcanic rocks and have been shaped by glaciers. They are hard on the feet as well. I got to Wise Shelter and had a early dinner thinking to go on to the next shelter. I met a fellow named Grandpa who said he hike the trail 12 years ago all the way to the Maine - New Hampshire border when the 911 event occurred so he never finished. He rented a car and drove home to North Carolina to be with family. I remember doing the opposite, the weekend following 911 I made a trip to New Hampshire to get away from the tragedy and reflect in surroundings away from NY which I had to pass by following that disaster.Rail Splitter was here and had also decided to push on to Old Orchard Shelter. We didn't hike together but ended up getting to the shelter at the same time as the sun went down. In camp were, Harry, Gumby and Cricket, Jason and his girl friend, and Mary Poppins.Harry is an 87 year old German from Munich but was originally from Dresden. His English is not so good and we try to communicate as best we can. Gumby and Cricket are from Kennebunkport, Maine and have met Sit-a-bit who did the trail last year and has a great trail journal as well. Sit a bit met them and gave them advice for hiking the trail.I pitched a tent in the twilight and chose a sloping sight which didn't help me sleep.Still smiling Ma
Date: 2013-06-01
From: Old Orchard Shelter

To: Parternship Shelter
Miles today: 24.7

I got a late start at 8 am as I enjoyed chatting with Cricket and Gumby and Harry. I took a picture with Harry who said he wondered where the pretty girls were as he liked having his picture taken with them. He has the same electric blue gaiters as I do, maybe they help us go faster.The terrain today was rocky but a faster track than most days with many ups and downs but mostly downs. Along the way about 5 miles into my day I ran into a fellow who I had seen in Damascus who asked me how I got here so fast. He was coming out of Hurricane shelter. I informed him I walked over 52 miles of the AT to get here and a better question was how did he get here so fast. He explained he hiked the Creeper trail, Iron Mountain Trail and a horse trail maybe 20 miles. He said but I'm only a section hiker out for the week. There are plenty of people who aqua blaze, yellow blaze, blue blaze, but that's not a thru hike. You can google the terms above.Any way I pushed on to the Partnership Shelter fueled by the promise of pizza and a shower. Partnership has a shower only a few shelters do. The Mount Rogers visitor center has a phone you can call Pizza Hut for a pizza delivery to the shelter. I arrived around 6:30 after my biggest day yet. We ordered pizza and I called Shady who said he could pick me up tonight and slack pack us tomorrow. Rail Splitter was walking poorly as he had shin splints and was talking about getting of the trail to resupply and mail home some winter weight as he would rest his legs. I offered rail splitter and Mary Poppins to join me at Shady's home or the Hostel that his church runs. There was a rather loud drunk cursing and just plain annoying and I was glad to be going. Little Bird reports he snored loudly in her ear all night. Randy "Shady" picked us up and wisked us away after we ate a pizza each to his house. Randy offered Mary Poppins and Rail Spliter the option of staying at his house or the Hostel. We provisioned at Walmart and were settled in by Midnight after doing a load of wash. We decided to slack pack from Partnership Shelter to Atkins with Shady's support.A long day by wowsers the miles went by so fast. Still smilin'
Date: 2013-06-02
From: Parternship Shelter

To: Atkins, VA
Miles today: 11.6

We had a great breakfast with Shady and he had has on the trail by 8:30 am at Partnership Shelter. The day promised some rain which came around 11 am and rained until we got soaked. We made good time with not much pack weight. Some initial climbs and the last bit down hill into Atkins to the Red Barn Restaurant which is right on the trail. 12:40 Shady met us for lunch a buffet with chicken and fried chicken steak and peach cobbler. No momma the peach cobbler wasn't as good as yours.I relaxed the rest of the day doing my updates and takin and old man nap. I worked hard the last few days. Tomorrow back on the trail towards Pearisburg VA.Yes Ma it's still fun...
Date: 2013-06-03
From: Atkins, VA

To: campsite north of Knot Maul Branch Shelter
Miles today: 14.5

Last night we took "Shady", Randy to Ruby Tuesday's for a dinner. I can only say Randy is the genuine article. He made his home our home. In the morning we went to the Post Office where Rail Splitter sent home winter weight of about 9 pounds. I sent a bounce box of food and things I don't need to Pearisburg.   We went to the local grocery store said our good byes to Randy. We were on the trail by 10:30 am. It's always hard to walk out of a town flush with town food and your pack loaded with 4-5 days of food. As always its always up out of town. Virginia isn't EASY however it is easier. There are gentler ups and downs but still lots of them. Sometimes the trail reminds me of Rocksylvania which is what thru hikers lovingly call the Pennsylvania AT. In Virginia though there are stretches of root and rock free trail. Today I met Soul Flute a fella camped on farm land. He said he wasn't feeling well and was hiking from Damascus to Maine as he had attended Trail Days. I got him to play his flute for me. He played a tune that filled the valley as I walked up the highland pasture. I do believe the cows joined in the chorus too as the flute echoed thru the valley lifting me higher and higher. I caught up to Rail Splitter and Little Bird at Knot Maul Shelter and we decided to camp down below at a stream. We set up camp, threw up a Bear Bag line hung the food and pretty much went to sleep. First night back in the woods seems hard to fall asleep.
Date: 2013-06-04
From: campsite north of Knot Maul Branch Shelter

To: Laurel Creek VA
Miles today: 23.3

The day started out damp and clammy. I was going back into the woods to do none of your business when I hopped over a log my left foot slipped and banged a the log hard. I saw stars for a moment, muttered some profane thing and went on about my business. There were some climbs today but manageable. The nicest surprise was a walk on a grassy pasture road that climbed up to Chestnut Knob Shelter. I nice looking shelter which is fully enclosed, but no water near by as its on top of the mountain. I had lunch there saw Rail splitter who moved on. I met Some Peach here who I believe I had seen before. Rail Splitter and I had agreed to go to Jenkins Shelter for the night.I met a volunteer trail maintainer named Levi whose good works I had seen for several miles.   I cleared water bars, built up some stone steps, and cleared brush from the trail sides. I thanked him for making my journey easier. I was grateful to receive a compliment as this morning when he got out of his car he was greeted by a pile of garbage left by hikers. He said he wondered then why he keeps doing this work. He thanked me for thanking him and said that makes it all worth while.As I was going down the mountain near Jenkins Shelter my shin started to tighten up, this is when I remembered the sharp blow I had gotten this morning. I slowed down as the Jenkins Shelter wasnt far. I got to Jenkins around 5 PM and saw Jason and his girlfriend ( i keep forgetting to ask her name, shes from Philadelphia) and Southbounder ( his name not his direction). I had dinner and saw a note from Rail splitter that he'd gone on another 6 miles.I ate and continued on to Laurel Creek VA a campsite near the Boss Trail. I arrived about 7:45 a little bit hobbled. I keep hearing coach yell, "Walk it off!" I soaked my shin in the cold creek. I ate dinner with Easy Rider and Rail Splitter. I ran out of fuel and Rail Splitter shared his cannister with me. Jason and his girlfriend showed up as well. A colder night but I still slept well.
Date: 2013-06-05
From: Laurel Creek VA

To: Bland VA
Miles today: 7.1

Day began early and we were on the trail by 7:30 am. The first few miles were ok but around 5 miles my shin began tightening up and I had to make a decision to get off the trail to rest the bone bruise. I gingerly walked the last 2 miles to US 52 in Bland. As I pondered which way was East, usually to the right as you head North, a pickup truck pulled over.   James Dalton a local asked me if I needed a ride. I didn't hesitate throwing my pack in the back and jumping in. James told me how he'd worked a pig farm and in the cotton mills in South Carolina. He appearred to be in his late 70's and had a unlit cheroot hangin from his mouth. The big news in Bland ( a one horse town) is they are hooking every body up to a municipal sewer and you have to pay (to do your business)   whether you get hooked up or not. There is only one motel in all of Bland County, Big Walkers and James drove me right to it. I thanked him for his kindness.I am in Big Walker icing my shin. Nearby is a DQ, Subway and Dollar General.
Date: 2013-06-06
From: Bland VA

To:  Bland VA
Miles today: 0.0

Zero Day at Big Walker Motel in Bland Virginia. I iced the shin 4 times today. I walked to the Dollar General, had lunch at DQ and Dinner at the Subway. The Shin is very much tightened up. Walking without the weight of the pack seems okay however still painful.I met Jolly Green Giant ( there's more than one) and Ramp. Chopper is here slack packing, I may do that as well. Data is leaving the trail to celebrate his 30th Wedding Anniversary. Walker Motel does a lot of hiker business.
Date: 2013-06-07
From:  Bland VA

To: Bland VA
Miles today: 0.0

Somewhat frustrating day as the shin has not improved to where I feel comfortable walking long distances on it. I got a ace bandage to wrap it which seemed to cause more swelling in the ankle. So I wrapped the ankle and shin. Ice 4-5 times today. I got stir crazy and headed into the downtown area of Bland, and got a ride from Jack King the State Farm Agent in town. I ate at the Citgo Station which has a grill, I have tired of DQ and Subway. I walked around town, a one horse town but it is the county seat, actually it is the county. Hard times have hit Bland, the IGA is closed down. Most people go to Whytheville (pronounced Wiffle) for anything they need.The walk back to Walker's was about a mile and seemed okay on the shin. It did tighten up a little but not too painful. I resolved to "slack pack" tomorrow. I saw Bubba, the shuttle driver and made a date for 6 am. More television tonight and Subway for dinner while icing the shin. Game of Thrones really? What's going on with that HBO show? I didn't understand the plot when I left in April and now is anyone left alive? Maybe the illegitimate son will marry the Blonde Kahlesi and there will be peace but not before Jaq kills someone. Life is simpler on the trail.Harry Zost the 87 year old German thru hiker has caught up and is staying at the Motel tonight.Grittin my teeth and smiling
Date: 2013-06-08
From: Trent's Grocery

To: Bland VA
Miles today: 18.4

So at a little after 6 am Bubba came and took me to Trent's Grocery so I could slack pack back to Big Walker Motel.   Bubba's Wife she has a name but nobody calls her Angie. Angie asked me to shamelessly plug the Big Walker Motel to all you hikers and wannabees. Angie is a housekeeper here. I will say they cater to hikers and give them a reduced rate. The rooms are clean. I got dropped off on the trail near Trent's Grocery and started Southbound at 6:39 am. After about 6-7 miles the shin started to tighten up. I stopped frequently to stretch and rest the shin. The day began with rain and a walk through tall grass that had me soaked from the waist down. I stopped at Jenny Knob shelter to have a snack and rest about 9:15 am. The trail wasn't overly difficult and I made my way without too much hobbling. As I walked south I met my NOBO fellow hikers. Half Life, Soul Flute, Allison ( Allie's Son) and Harry. The sun came out about 12 cleared the mist away. The last few miles were a serious series of downs that tested the shin and had me planting my hiking poles together to assist my left shin and take weight off of it. A road walk to Bland and I was done hiking at 3:30 PM. I hitched a ride to the Walker Motel ( 3 plus miles) from a fella who worked at the Volvo truck plant. He tries to help out hikers whenever he sees them. I am grateful for the assistance I get on my hike.So more ice on the shin and a hot contrast in the shower with a hand held shower massager. The shin did not swell at all and seemed to absorb the miles today better than I had hoped. Most likely I will take another zero day tomorrow and then go North on Monday morning.
Date: 2013-06-09
From: Bland VA

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Another day in Bland, oh I do need to go from here soon. I am restless and want to walk but my shin tells me otherwise. I did some walking early to the DQ and it was sore. In the afternoon I walked to the Dollar General and it was somewhat better . Late afternoon it started to pour rain. I hear its gonna rain tomorrow too. I may walk in the rain and try to get to Wood'shole Hostel. A 15 mile walk. Pizza Plus Pepperoni pizza tonight delivered as I am not walking in the rain tonight.
Date: 2013-06-10
From: Bland VA

To: Bland
Miles today: 0.0

Rain is in the forecast with heavy thunder showers and several inches of rain. I will stay one last day in Bland recupperating my shin. I have experienced the "Virginia Blues" early on as I want the blues to come and go. The Virginia Blues are so named as Virginia is the longest state on the trail over 500 miles almost a quater of the trail. By the end of Virginia another 25 % of my fellow hikers will leave the trail for family issues, jobs, injuries, homesickness, and plain boredom. The trail can be long and weary. By Harpers Ferry about 50% are still on the trail.I saw The Wiz today he had gone to the local clinic to assess his knee pain. They gave him a shot and wrapped it up and told him to rest. I don't know if The Wiz will continue his hike.I am anxious to get back on the trail. I told Bubba that I would go to Trent's Grocery at 7 am.
Date: 2013-06-11
From: Trents Grocery Store

To: Woods Hole Hostel
Miles today: 14.9

Bubba had me at Trent's Grocery Store by 7:40 after we dropped off "The Voice" a hiker from Germany. I got me some Honey Buns and coffee, yess they have 300 to 400 calories which I burn off in less than 45 minutes. I walked in some rain and the feet got soaked immediately when I waded through tall grass. Today was like Kevin Costner"s movie Water World. A four hour movie with lotsa water. I walked in water for 4 hours. The trail was a running creek at times which you couldn't avoid you just slog through it. There were multiple creek or crick crossings all morning.The shin is holding up although its very tight. There weren't any phenomenal views and I didn't see many hikers all day. I limped the last half mile down hill to an Oasis in the woods called Woods Hole Hostel. It's a rustic farm run by Neville and Michael who have a semi subsistence farm with organic vegetables, goats, chickens, cows, pigs and guinea hens. This place is a must stop. I must say the place is extremely therapeutic, both Michael and Neville are certified massage therapists. They specialize in the "healing arts"   In hind sight I should have been re-habbing here. Regardless the atmosphere did wonders for my spirit. There were at least 15 thru hikers here and the communal gathering was food for my soul. We ate family style and shared fresh baked bread, lasagne, salad with ice cream for dessert.I learned the Waffles had died in Pearisburg last thursday of a drug overdose. I will not state rumors or here say. I had met Waffles several times and he had good in him, yes he liked to party but he also hike strong and was always polite to me. This is the third death on the Appalachian trail this year.I was feeling good being surrounded by so many hikers who all had very positive stories to tell. Neville begins each meal by having all hold hands and round robin we tell each other what we are thankful for. I was thankful for the many people I have met along the way who have been willing to help out a complete stranger and take and interest in what we do.Tomorrow on to Pearisburg.Definitely smiling again
Date: 2013-06-12
From: Woods Hole Hostel

To: Pearisburg VA Lane St.
Miles today: 10.4

After a good nights sleep at Woods Hole I waited out an early morning rain and started off on a short hike to Pearisburg where I had a "bounce" package, essentially a box I had mailed to my self with food and things I didn't need right away like a camera battery charger. The shin was feeling better on the downs and I made good time into Pearisburg. On the way I met "The Dude" who told me he had roomed next door to Waffles and he felt something wasn't quite right about the way Waffles died. Again I will not provide here say from a third party. The Dude told me he had been "busted"in Pearisburg for possesion of pot and he was headed south and home. He gave me a United States flag to carry to Maine as he wanted to honor Waffles in some manner. I won't go into my thinking at the time however, a flag is a symbol and I didn't feel I could refuse to carry it.Anyway I arrived in Pearisburg in the early afternoon went to the Post Office and retrieved my package. I called Alan at the Mac Arthur Hotel and asked for a pick up. He came quickly and drove me to Narrows, VA where he has a hotel he is restoring. In Narrows a hiker has all the resupply items necessary.   There is a Laundromat, grocery store, General Dollar, and AYCE ( all you can eat) Restaurant called Anna's. Alan is a very congenial host and very willing to please. The Hotel has a breakfast- Nagels Breakfast Club, which is excellent food. They do dinners on the weekends and sometimes impromptu dinners.The Holiday Motor Lodge is not a place most hikers should go to stay in Pearisburg, there are some rather suspect characters that live there. A hiker told me he would not recommend any unescourted women hikers stay there. Someone also said that it should be removed from the AWOL guidebook. Anyway I was happy to be in Narrows though its not near the trail. The MacArthur Inn was named after General MacArthur in 1939. I do recommend it as a place to stay. Pet friendly too!   I arranged a 20 mile "slack pack" with shuttle driver Don Raines a very conscientious fella who is very knowledgeable, prompt and he cares that a hiker has a successful hike. I need to keep as much weight off my shin as possible to continue my recovery . I ice it frequently and do recommended stretches and massages. Each day there is some improvement.So after doing my laundry, icing my shin, and eating at Anna's it was off to bed. I am exhausted every day but happily.