morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-04-28
From: Little Laurel Shelter

To: Hogsback Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 21.5
Weather: clear sky

Brrr. What a cold night it was, so glad I didn¢t mail home the winter jacket. Had the mummy closed to the nose.With stunning weather, and being ahead of ¢The bubble¢ who are nicknamed ¢The Village¢ by others, when a rocky outcrop with 360 degree views presented itself, I dropped pack for a hour-plus lounge in the warm sunshine. The rocks were so perfectly arranged that lingering seemed ideal. And besides, I really see no reason to repeat my ¢04 thru-hike, which involved making miles, big miles daily. So why I laid there soaking up the suns rays, I decided that my hike needed a zag. I needed to find some sort of different pattern, which led to numerous stops at ideal, natural places. But once again, the miles clicked by.At the last road before the last big climb of the day, I got halfway across when a big burley country dog decided that I was in his domain. He came running at me with anger in his heart. I double-timed it across the road and onto and over the log bridge that crosses the small creek. This demon dog that I¢ve named Cujo, was a mix of St. Bernard and Rotweiller. Since my philosophy is to use more honey than vinegar on strangers, I addressed Cujo with my sweetest voice. He growled and hunched lower, snarling his disapproval of me. Cujo then moved closer to the bridge about to take the war to the enemy, me. At which point I abandoned the honey approach and went for maximum strength vinegar by banging my hiking poles and let him know I would not surrender easily. It worked, Cujo stayed on his side and I on mine. A few more bangs, plus vinegar and Cujo moved back to the road.I was lucky it had already eaten. The lower leg it was dragging around in its mouth still had a hiker shoe on it. What wonderful trail magic it was for another hiker to give themselves so selflessly that I may pass.Cujo trotted up the road to his favorite shade tree to continue enjoying his earlier conquest. That shoe, it looked quite similar to the ones Mystic wore.   Hmmm, I haven¢t seen him now for days.   I wonder???
Date: 2006-04-29
From: Hogback Ridge Shelter

To: Erwin, TN
Miles today: 26.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Apparently all who slept in the shelter last night were early risers. When my wrist alarm went off at 6:20 a.m. I was the last one up. The last one up¢¦ me?? My how things change.The sky was awash of pink as the first rays of sun struck the morning clouds. By the time everything was stuffed in the pack, breakfast milkshake swallowed and straps tightened, my foot touched the AT at 7: a.m. moving north. The day¢s journey would crest the enormous Big Bald Mountain. It offered a 360-degree vista of mountains that disappear into a haze of perspective, receding from blue to the lightest gray. The cool front that brought the nicer days made it hard to linger in such grandeur. Wind-chill always gets you quick when all you wear is drenched in perspiration.On the lower shoulder of this brut, I found a quiet piece of lawn shielded from the wind to eat lunch and enjoy the sun. ¢LB¢ caught up with me there for our trail picnic. That¢s when she asked, ¢How many miles to Erwin?¢ ¢What, 20.6 miles isn¢t far enough for you today?¢ I replied. And so¢¦ it was game on.The terrain was in our favor, most smooth, flat trail moving in and out of the mountains foot. At 6:15 p.m., LB and I exited the woods to the small hamlet of Erwin, Tennessee. Somewhere back in the woods was the passage of another state-line. Welcome everyone to the third of fourteen Appalachian Trail States. Officially the largest distance day of the thru-hike thus far, I really don¢t know where all this stamina is coming from, it sure adds up the miles. The last three days has gotten me here a full day early, so I think I¢ll take a break tomorrow, which is excellent timing ¢ the forecast is rain for the mountains.Doing laundry removed all the salt lines on all my clothes; my shirt was almost able to stand-up on its own, so stiff from the dried salt (and that¢s just from 3 days). With some continued good mileage, Damascus will be six to seven days away or about one month of trail life. Quite fast for an old fart like me.I caught a great documentary on HBO on Global Warming called Too Hot Not To Handle. It did an excellent job of explanation, documentation and steps we all can take. Somehow thru-hiking wasn¢t mentioned. Anyway it made me want to get a Hybrid auto someday in my future all the more.
Date: 2006-05-01
From: Erwin, TN

To: Cherry Gap Shelter
Miles today: 16.4
Weather: broken clouds

Hikers are drifting in here at Cherry Gap Shelter, I have a nice fire going and back behind me, about a 100 yards out is a Barred Owl hooting at the lowering sun¢¦ It¢s rays now more amber with every minute. All the trees are turning gold, their blush of new growth unfolding on this, the first day of May.Up from Erwin also is Master Plan, who zeroed at Uncle Johnny¢s, where I was over at the Holiday Inn Express. From where the trail enters the woods at the Nolichucky River, it climbs literally all day long. Finally at a summit appropriately named Beauty Spot, you throw off your pack and nap on the sun drenched grass. (One hour of lollygaggin in honor of the first of May). That and I was pooped!Surprising amount of firewood is around the area; normally shelter areas have slim pickin¢s. We all are enjoying meeting the new faces, good fireside chat. Out here a fire is called Thru-hiker TV. We¢ve all been laughing at the long stick I¢ve been using to stoke the logs; we¢re calling it ¢The Remote¢ for the TV since I don¢t have to get up.--- Three Hours Later ---I awoke to the biggest ruckus. That Barred Owl seems to have been successful luring in another, most likely a female. The hooting and callings, this outdoors Owl orgy is quite the courtship. A whole other world comes to life just as we hikers call it a day and crawl into our cozy sarcophagus¢ filled with goose feathers. One needs only to hike at night by headlamp to encounter all sorts of reflecting eyes. Big ones, small ones, high-off-the-ground ones, low slithering ones, flying ones, bobbing ones and scurrying ones. And some that look right through your soul. The woods are alive beyond anything we can imagine ¢ well, actually, that usually is the core of the problem. We imagine all sorts of wild scenarios with the wild don¢t we? Boo! Those Barred Owls are still going at it. What a wonderful racket.
Date: 2006-05-02
From: Cherry Gap Shelter

To: Over Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 21.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Would you look at that view!. The valley is waking up ¢ some of the trees are sprouting orange and some yellow-green. It fools one into thinking its fall rather than spring. But since each night is at a different elevation, the foliage always varies in spring stages. Last night the trees were farther along (elevation 4000), here they¢re lagging (elevation 5000).Here at the Over mountain Shelter, which is a large, old barn with sleeping platforms open to the valley, it does have the reputation for being rather chilly. The winds seem to crest the peak behind us and then whip around the backside where we are.But that aside, the overlook is breathtaking. Other good news for the day is that the AT¢s third highest mountain is now to my south ¢ Roan Mountain reaches 6147 feet. We naturally walk up and over and down. Joining it were about sixty roller coaster like up and downs, quite annoying. They¢re what we call PUD¢S (pointless ups and downs).But, how about that view!!
Date: 2006-05-03
From: Over Mountain Shelter

To: Campsite - Mileage 395.0
Miles today: 18.2

Over Mountain Shelters reputation was earned honestly. It is a breezy stopover, which turns a cool destination into a cold affair.Master Plan, myself and a new member of the tribe, Zoomer, were all the first to wake and head out. Litterally everyone else was sleeping. In front of us was two of the most beautiful balds on the journey ¢ Little Hump Mountain and Hump Mountain. That is if you catch them on a sunny, quiet day. This was not anything close to a sunny, quiet day.First off, both were shrowded in dense fog (Pea Soup with extra cream). Then there was the matter of the winds ¢ a constant 40 to 50 mph. My hiking sticks were no longer used to help propel me along so much as they were side braces to keep me from being tossed sideways like a tumbleweed.It was knarly, to use a surfer word. Harrowing while exhilarating.Once we dropped over the summit the wind all but vanished. At the next shelter we all dried out for 30 minutes, the fog, the climb, it loaded us with wetness.When we reached 19E hwy, I opened the Hiker To Town bandana and quickly got a mile-and-a-half ride up the hill to Country House Restaurant (open 7 days) for second breakfast. Amazingly the waitress didn¢t even blink when I ordered four orders of bacon, four eggs, I heard their biscuits were the size of saucers (so, one of those,) two OJ and coffee with a bottomless cup. Oh, I whispered to her I¢d take a double-cheesburger (one pound of meat) to go. She said ¢Sure honey, no problem¢.Plump and happy, we made our way back to the trailhead and started making miles. It was a beautiful, warm day ¢ a far cry from our morning.This area over the years has been the target of vandalism and intentional acts to hurt hikers. It seems about 18 years ago the ATC used Emininant Domain to rangle land away from some of the towns folk. They retaliated, but in recent years things have improved. We¢re camping tonight since the shelter that had once been in the area was burned years ago I the feud.While enroute to this cozy sot, with its firepit and running brook, I caught up to Model T and the three others he¢s hiking north with.Tonight promises to be much warmer down here in this hollow, it¢s lower 3000 foot elevation will most certainly help too. Tomorrow I walk over the 400 mile mark and it¢s into Kinkora Hiker hostel for my maildrop and resupply.
Date: 2006-05-04
From: Campsite - Mileage 395.0

To: Kinkora Hiker Hostel
Miles today: 14.3

Since I tend to use shelter locations as a distance strategy, my tent doesn¢t get much usage. But since you never know what can happen out here, its wise to carry some form of shelter. I¢m carrying the new Henry Shires Tarp tent Rainbow, it¢s a one + person tent, so plenty of room for your gear. It¢s downright spacious. I slept great. I finally broke the ice today, at around the 400-mile mark, my right foot caught an invisible root-stump, which caused me to lunge forward with a quick step to regain my balance and stride. My quick step then caught a trailside log, which did me in. Down on the knees to the elbows, the left hand prevented the embarrassment of a face-plant. The hat was still on, but the AT had scored. Knock down #1. Not too bad for 400 miles. I shook off the dirt, checked the knees, all was good, so on I went.
Date: 2006-05-05
From: Kinkora Hiker Hostel

To: Iron Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 24.3
Weather: light rain

Like D©j vu of two years ago, rain came in last night at Kinkora, only this time I wasn¢t sleeping on the porch. That pleasure was for others this time. The place was full up in terms of their bunk space, so two or three slept on the floor and sofa of the living room and three others slept under the picnic table on the hiker porch. My little bunk actually had a window which remained open all night ¢ gotta have fresh air!The hike today would be a demanding one ¢ twenty-four plus of continuous ups and one tough monster named Pond Mountain right out of the shoot. It was on the foot of this long climb that a small black bear went running up the trail away from scary old me. As he disappeared around a bend, I didn¢t know if it went up or down (either wouldn¢t be easy) so I yelled out ¢Hey Bear¢ and kept hitting my hiking sticks together. The climb quickly made me forget the bear with it¢s demanding grade.Pond Mountain was covered in clouds¢¦ the dew point was so high that big globs of humidity would unite and fall from their weight. It wasn¢t rain so much as big drips here and there.On the backside heading down, the rain began and would battle with the sun in an all day tug-o-war.By three we had only another six miles to reach Master Plan and mines meeting place. A dark gathering mess of rain was quickly overtaking me. I battened down the hatches with all the foul weather gear and pushed my tired legs for all they were worth. They had little left despite the near six liters of water and Gatorade I¢d been consuming all day. I reached the shelter totally spent -- The legs went into a series of cramps so painful, that they quickly nauseated me.The 100% humidity and 24.3 miles apparently sucked out all my fluid, the legs were not happy. They started to improve thirty minutes later, but ¢once bitten, twice shy¢ as the saying goes, I¢m afraid to sit cross legged for fear they¢ll knot-up again.The long day did have a purpose. We currently sit about 26 miles from Damascus, Virginia (about 23 miles from crossing another state-line and leaving North Carolina and Tennessee for good!) And wonderfully, the terrain is much milder all the way to town. Hallelujah! Damascus is an enormous milestone; tomorrow I¢ll walk into what many call ¢The friendliest town on the AT.¢The picture I¢m sharing today is Laurel Fork Falls, the largest waterfall on the AT. The rain last night gave it a little extra vitality, beautiful, huh?!
Date: 2006-05-06
From: Iron Mountain Shelter

To: Damascus, Virginia
Miles today: 25.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Hello from Virginia and Welcome to Damascus!! (No, not that one. This one is a Mecca of sorts for hikers.) Nearly 50% of those who attempt a thru-hike don¢t make it here, it is after all 459.5 miles of mountains, rocks, logs, rain, fog, gale-force winds and fortunately this year, lots of sunshine. All of which is done by walking while carrying your home on your back.To get into town at a respectable hour, Master Plan suggested an earlier start. At 5:30 a.m. my wrist alarm went off in a dark, cold, full shelter, it was still raining. Twenty minutes later I was ready to go, but Master Plan was still doing his best impersonation of Master Sleeper. So off I went out into the dark, the sun wouldn¢t be up for 40 minutes.The rain wasn¢t actually rain at all, just the heavy falling dew from dense dense fog. The optimistic meter was way up and so when the sun made its rise, blue sky was visible. At about 12 miles the trail crosses a mountain road, that¢s where the ladies from a local Baptist Church had their table of trail goodies set up to help us on our journey.It is there I met Bright Eyes. She was taking a break and resting her hurt thigh, seems to be the exact injury I was feeling thanks to that horrible cramp spasm that knotted-up last night. Bright eyes was definitely hurting and wincing in pain as we headed out bidding farewell to the kind trail magic ladies. She needed my extra-strength Excedrin more than I did, which knocked the pain in half. We walked the next five miles together, chatting, making another new trail friend. At the last shelter before town, just six miles ahead of me was the Virginia Stateline and the nirvana of pizza joints, steak restaurants and bacon ¢ so I sucked up the pain and hiked. At 3:40 p.m. I was strolling up Main Street (with a slight limp). My leg needs rest, well, my left thigh muscle needs rest too, and who am I to argue? It was over to the sweetest, most charming porch of Damascus, The Apple Tree B & B to see if Bob and Judy had a nice bed for an old customer. They¢re so nice and their B & B is located in the A+A+A+ spot in town. (And the porch rockers get especially awesome with a glass of red wine to watch life in town). With their usual kindness I was invited to join them for Dinner and in nothing flat my clothes had been laundered. I love this little corner of the world, particularly from this rocker by the blooming rhododendrons and white columns. I know gas prices are soaring, and President Bush is dealing with a nuclear Iran, but right now, right here, all is right with the world because I¢m taking a double zero!
Date: 2006-05-09
From: Damascus, Virginia

To: Lost Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: overcast clouds

After another night on a soft bed, another nice breakfast with Bob & Judy of The Apple Tree B & B, it was time to see if the legs still knew how to go go. They apparently were suffering from short-term memory loss and could only go slow slow. With the pack up in weight from resupply, I¢m glad I planned the shortish day.At a mid-trail sign-in kiosk, Master Plan, L.B. and Tipper had all gone through earlier. It¢s not normal of me to head out of town so late as 9:30 a.m., but I didn¢t want to miss breakfast. No bother. The day was stunning. Sunshine, bright blue up above and white puffy clouds drifting lazily from west to east.Rain is forecast for tonight, all day tomorrow and even into Thursday, but right now it is stunning!   So at noonish, I dropped the pack on top of Straight Mountain, laid the Tyvek down and snacked and sunned for a good long 40-minute break. That¢s when Tipper came around the corner from behind me. ¢Hey, how¢d I get in front of you?!¢ I asked. ¢Been at the shelter with Master Plan and L.B. just taking it slow too¢ he relied.Tipper is maybe the best-dressed male hiker out here; he sports a big full salt & pepper beard, red shirt and a coordinating red and black authentic Scottish Kilt. The Tartan is his family plaid of the Stewart Clan. He¢s stylin¢ big time.I packed up to get a go go on when Master Plan and L.B. emerged from behind me, ¢Hey, how¢d you get in front of us?¢ they asked. ¢A trail mystery¢ I replied. The rest of the afternoon we all four hung and walked together, soaking up and cherishing so beautiful a day.The AT joins The Virginia Creeper Trail on a flat, old railroad bed (its always nice to hike without the typical ups and downs). The railroad bed led us to the old tressel bridge, which we walk across. That¢s where I snapped this photo of L.B. and Tipper.It¢s now hours later, here at the shelter, not a whisper of wind has been present, that now is changing as the front that was forecast is creeping its way in. Could be a very cold wet day tomorrow since Mt. Rogers Mountain is up at 5700 feet making the temps considerably colder. And that doesn¢t count the rain, wind-chill and likely miserable conditions. Oh well, No rain, no pain, no gain, no Maine.
Date: 2006-05-11
From: Old Orchard Shelter

To: Partnership Shelter
Miles today: 24.7
Weather: light rain

The rain did finally arrive late yesterday, but even it didn¢t stay long. At a 2: a.m. visit to the trees, the moon was shining bright and stars were visible. This morning, the clouds were low and although it wasn¢t raining, the humidity was 100% making me sweat buckets.The morning glow is getting earlier; by six it¢s no longer dark. So I now tend to start waking then and by 6:30, everything is loaded and I¢m heading north.The woods here in Southern Virginia are quite green, all the trees and ground cover are leafed out, and ¢The long green tunnel¢ is starting to emerge, which is the moniker for hiking in VA.The trail ascents are beautifully graded with long, gentle climbs and descents ¢ helps you to keep your speed up.By 10: a.m. ten miles were done, but the brief sun got covered over with cold wind and cold hard rain. The last 15 miles was spent shivering¢¦ boy was it cold!   Burrrr.The hide and seek between the wind and pewter skies and the sun made what would normally be a mild day, one of challenge. But finally, out of the pines, the roofline of Partnership Shelter started to appear. Home for the night. Master Plan had already ordered the pizzas; a local joint delivers here which leads to an enlarging community of thru-hikers. (Say about 24) But Partnership is large and can handle the bodies.The rain has stopped and the suns light added drama to the forest. All the hikers are visiting, laughing and keeping the pizza delivery person running back and forth. Some are standing in a circle exchanging quips, while others are hanging by the fire and a few others and me are enjoying the warmth of our mummies and trail talk.It took sometime, but the AT is turning into the cold, wet, challenging trek it was two years ago. Thankfully, (knock on wood) it¢s just a front and will warm up soon.
Date: 2006-05-12
From: Partnership Shelter

To: US 11 / Atkins, VA
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Late nites of partying, results in very quiet shelter mornings. Frankly, not even a roaming black bear could wake up some of last night¢s participants.What ever brought the cold rain and wind in yesterday had the temp¢s nearly twenty degrees colder this morning. And despite it not raining, the humidity was once again 100%... loading up everything we carry with weight. Damp, clammy weight. But only 11.8 miles north was a welcome break, The Relax Inn and Barn Restaurant.Sometimes having dry clothes is better than a double cheeseburger, not often, but sometimes. I cranked up the heater in the room and enjoyed the drying. The heater was electric which reminded me of a very scary moment in the short hike.Since The Appalachian Trail wiggles its way through the most populated regions of the United States, eventually we have to hike under some very un-natural objects in the woods. At first, because of the dark clouds and being under the tree canopy, I heard the patter of raindrops on the leaves. No drops were hitting me, but the patter sound was growing as I continued my stride. The rain would be moments away, needing only to work its way through the foliage. But it didn¢t. The patter sound now became more of a splatter and crackle. I looked here and there; nothing seemed to be getting hit with water. That¢s when I saw its legs through the trees. There in a long clearing was a huge high-power tension tower with what sounded like a million volts of electricity surging, wising down the wires with snap, crackle and pops. How my hair didn¢t stand on end is anyone¢s guess, but I definitely double-timed my steps under the behemoth. The tower and its lines were alive; the dancing volts sizzled over my head only to disappear over the horizon on countless clones of it. Creepy, and not exactly a wilderness event, but its part of walking 2,174.6 miles. And of course, the electric heater removed the chill from this cold hiker.
Date: 2006-05-13
From: US 11 / Atkins, VA / Relax Inn

To: Chestnut Knob Shelter
Miles today: 22.9
Weather: clear sky

In any thru-hike you¢re bound to have good days, bad days, days that are tough with ups and days that are so beautiful with sun and sky that everything else is irrelevant. Today was such a day. The clouds were ever-changing, dissolving then emerging, morphing in thickness shape and size, but forever drifting lazily eastward in a sea of robins egg blue. Today wasn¢t about terrain or woods, it was about Cirrus and Cumulus and Stratus. It was about horizons of pale azure to heavens of deep, pure peacock. I know our atmosphere is filling with pollutants, but today, here in this corner of the world, the air was pristine. Untainted from CO2, no soot or fossil fuel hydrocarbons to mute the saturation of color. The word glorious comes to mind. Breathtaking too.Out of Atkins/US 11, the trail enters a series of open, rolling hayfields. Bordered by trees, it allows us to move into grand open sky rather than weave endlessly through our labyrinth of trees. I like crossing these fields; I like the feeling of bigness they give me. And then, ever so often, another feeling will come over me to turn around, to look and catch a glimpse of my past. What met my eyes was one of the prettiest landscapes of the journey. Virginia is a wonderful land; so glad I get to see it on foot.