morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-03-26
From: Gatlinburg, TN

To: Youngstown, OH
Miles today: 0.0

Have decided to get off the trail for a little while, let some of the snow melt. Heading to Youngstown, OH to be with family over Easter. Looking forward to getting back on the trail after conditions improve a bit. Foodwalker is planning to stay in the East and provide trail support for Tracy McG as she continues northbound. Good luck to all those still on the trail!
Date: 2013-03-27
From: Clingmans Dome, NC

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Hi--Foodwalker back again. Tracy has resumed the trail again, but I have not. My right knee is pretty stiff and tight, so I am providing trail support for Tracy as she goes. She started out in the midst of fog; we were in the midst of the clouds and could see little wisps of clouds as we went up the trail. Weather was pretty chilly up there as well . Picked up some chicken and potato wedges for Tracy when she gets off the trail. Will see how this trail support goes.More later.   Foodwalker
Date: 2013-03-27
From: Clingmans Dome, NC

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Hi--Foodwalker back again. Tracy has resumed the trail again, but I have not. My right knee is pretty stiff and tight, so I am providing trail support for Tracy as she goes. She started out in the midst of fog; we were in the midst of the clouds and could see little wisps of clouds as we went up the trail. Weather was pretty chilly up there as well . Picked up some chicken and potato wedges for Tracy when she gets off the trail. Will see how this trail support goes.More later.   Foodwalker
Date: 2013-04-14
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Left Hot Springs on Sunday morning; Tracy was slack packing around 6 miles to Tanyard Gap, and then would pick up her full pack. I then went to locate where Devil's fork gap was; the plan was to meet there Tuesday morning. Located it and went looking for a place to camp, but not find any place. I stopped in at the Sweetwater Church of God during their evening service, and a couple offered me a place to stay as long as I needed (John and Barb Giep). They refused any recompense, and I really appreciated it.
Date: 2013-04-15
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Will be spending another night at the Giep's. found out that he had worked at Cape Canaveral from the early 1950's on and had developed a lot of the instrumentation which are on present day spacecraft. It was all learn as you go; he also mentioned that he was on speaking terms with Werner Von Braun. Went and located both Sam's Gap and Erwin, and then went back to the Giep's place for the night.
Date: 2013-04-16
From: Bald Ridge, NC

To: Beyond Sam's Gap, NC
Miles today: 0.0

Just to keep everyone updated, we are still on the AT. Foodwalker is providing trail support for Tracy McG as she hikes. Today was a long day. Tracy hiked 7.5 miles in the morning to reach Devil Fork Gap, north of Hot Springs, NC, by 10:30 to meet Foodwalker. After that she slack packed the 8.5 miles to Sam's Gap, on the Tennessee border. It was a long day, and her legs hurt, but the trail was good and the weather was beautiful. Another mile up the trail to the first campsite and the tent was up and she was done for the day.
Date: 2013-04-17
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Woke up at the Bird cage around 4 am when I heard a tremendous crash of thunder, and the rain came pouring down. As the rain proceeded for the day, don't know how far Tracy was able to travel for the day. Went into Erwin and went shopping for resupply; met Backtrack who needed a ride to Uncle Johnny's, so I gave him a ride there. He gave me a bottle of Gatorade. Went back to spend another night at the Birdcage. On this morning Chuck and Kate had a new grandson named Oliver Charles.
Date: 2013-04-18
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Got to the place to meet Tracy a bit early, right by uncle Johnny's campsite hostel. Before I met her, was able to give Hobo, Trouble, and Melki a ride to the McDonald's for some food. I was able to fit them in 2 trips. Went up to pick up the motel key, and got a message from Tracy that she would be down in about 30 minutes. Waited for a little bit, and sure enough, there she came. Spent therest of the night in the motel. I did laundry, and found Hobo's stash. He came by and got it about 5 minutes later.
Date: 2013-04-19
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Friday morning saw Hobo and Trouble at the same motel that Tracy and I had been staying. The weather was warm and very cloudy, Tracy still wanted to go on the trail. I was to meet her for lunch about noonish. A bit after she started out on the trail, it started raining, alternating between drizzle and downpour. There were not a lot of people on the trail .Dianne did stop and she had lunch and a chance to stay dry for a bit. She started out again and after she left, it got rainier and started cooling off. I then had to find a place of my own to spend the night. It was definitely a chilly night, the rain died down around 7 pm.More laterFoodwalker
Date: 2013-04-20
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Very cold day--went to Iron Mountain Gap to wait for Tracy. During the wait, met Don's Brother and Molar Man. Rob Bird stopped and dropped off three slack packers heading back to Erwin (City Slicker, Dan, and Scarecrow); Miss Janet came later and dropped off 9 hikers. Tracy came by a bit after noon. Extremely chilled, warmed up and had a chicken salad pita sandwich. After Tracy got back on the trail, located the next two meeting places. While at the Hampton stop, met some people doing trail magic. While I was there, ran into Shutterbug, who had to leave the trail for a bit because of tendonitis. After that, located my camping spot.That's it for nowFoodwalker
Date: 2013-04-21
From: Beyond Sam's Gap, NC

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

This is Foodwalker; as many of you know, I am no longer hiking the trail. I am trail support for Tracy, and am finding this to be a challenge in its own way. Will be meeting up with Tracy tomorrow evening at the highway 19 crossing, and meet again on Thursday near Hampton. Will probably have a day off to rest and recuperate. Am presently camped by a river; very quiet and peaceful. Tracy may add more to this when she has a chance.Signing off for nowFoodwalker
Date: 2013-04-22
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Met Tracy on the highway 19 parking area around 2 pm. I had gotten dinner from Bob' Dairyland-- pulled pork sandwich, French fries, pinto beans and a medium soft drink.   Before she came, saw Thunderfoot and Oatmeal as they had started out back on the trail; also met staff as he took a lunch break there. Tracy was pretty tired as she came off the trail. I couldn't find any areas to stealth camp, so I set up camp in a national forest park. With the senior pass discount, I paid $6.00 for the spot.
Date: 2013-04-26
From: US 321, outside Hampton, TN

To: Mile 438.6, TN
Miles today: 13.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Tracy McG: Good hiking day today. Beautiful weather. Spent a Nero yesterday at a motel in Elizabethton, TN, after hiking only 5 miles. Felt a little guilty being off the trail, but the knees really appreciated the rest. Foodwalker dropped me off this morning to slack pack 4 miles, which went pretty fast. A lot of hikers camped along the Wautaga Lake area, which is beautiful. After that, it was just uphill and downhill all day on the ridge above the lake. Found a peaceful, grassy tent site about 4 and stopped for the night.
Date: 2013-04-27
From: Mile 438.6, TN

To: McQueens Knob, TN, mile 455.2
Miles today: 16.7

Tracy McG: Woke up about 5:30 this morning, had breakfast, etc., and was just about to pack up the tent when soft pitter-patter of rain began. Oh well, there went my hopes of packing up a dry tent. It was a good day of hiking, with only light sprinkles through the day until late afternoon. Mostly hiking along the ridgeline today. Missed the trail magic at TN 91, the containers were all empty, but got great trail magic at Low Gap, US 421. The Vance Bible Church of Bristol fed us well with hot dogs, sodas, cookies, chips, and fruit, plus a nice warm fire to sit by. Very much appreciated! Met quite a few people today, including Nightrider, Wookie, ET, Raisin Bran Kid, Spanky, and The Don, who knew Foodwalker from Rob Bird's place in Erwin, TN. Stopped for the night at the McQueens Knob Shelter, which is a tiny little log shelter.
Date: 2013-04-28
From: McQueens Knob, TN, mile 455.2

To: Damascus, VA, mile 467.1
Miles today: 11.9

Tracy McG: What a night! The wind howled all night and the rain poured. One guy hiked in at 11 pm, grateful to find the shelter. He said it was so foggy he could hardly see two feet in front of himself. The shelter is on a ridge and when I was up during the night I could see city lights on both sides of the ridge. Kind of pretty. The wind and rain didn't let up during the day, either, until about 11, when the wind at least died down. Everyone on the trail was pretty cheerful, though, in spite of everything. I wasn't sure if Foodwalker had gotten my texts yesterday and today letting him know I was getting into Damascus today instead of tomorrow as originally planned, but we eventually hooked up and all was well. We decided to go to a motel in Abingdon, VA as I was very cold and wet. Back on the trail tomorrow'
Date: 2013-04-29
From: Damascus, VA, mile 467.1

To: Mile 481.5, VA
Miles today: 14.4

Tracy McG:Slack packed the first 5 1/2 miles today, which was really nice and went fast. Foodwalker met me with a roast beef sandwich and an orange to enjoy farther down the trail, which I certainly did! It was a good hike, a lot of uphill. My boots were still wet from the rain the previous day, and I developed sores on several of my toes towards the end of the day after my socks got wet (and, man, do those socks smell!!!). I found a great little tent spot about 5, and stopped for the day. Beautiful weather today.
Date: 2013-04-30
From: Mile 481.5, VA

To: Mile 495.2 Campsite
Miles today: 13.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Tracy McG: This turned out to be a difficult and yet interesting day. Very rocky. Climbed to the tops of both Whitetop Mountain and Mt. Rogers, the highest peak in Virginia. Both are quite tiring climbs. Met Foodwalker in between the two mountains at Elk Garden, where he's been camping. Ran into some of the famous Virginia Highlands wild ponies, who were friendly. After making it to the top of Mt. Rogers, went a ways past the very nice Thomas Knob Shelter and camped for the night on the bald. Woke up once to find it foggy out and yet could see the moon clearly. Kind of strange.
Date: 2013-05-01
From: Mile 495.2 Campsite

To: Mile 509.5, VA
Miles today: 14.3

Getting down off Mt. Rogers was just as hard as getting up it. Very foggy morning. Very rocky trail. Kind of surreal, almost. Went through the Fatman Squeeze. Trail was easier once I reached the Grayson Highlands State Park. Ran into more of the wild ponies, also quite friendly. Met Foodwalker at the park and did 9 miles of slack packing, which was nice. At lunch at the Wise Shelter, which was right on the 500 mile mark! Had some trail magic hot dogs, chips, and soda at the Scales corral, which was much appreciated. Hiked from there to Fox Creek with a lady named Steps, who was hiking her last day of the trail before starting a new job on Monday. Camped at Chestnut Flats.
Date: 2013-05-02
From: Mile 509.5, VA

To: Mile 526.6, VA
Miles today: 16.7

Tracy McG: Long day of hiking, otherwise not bad. Didn't see many people on the trail today. Drizzly and foggy a good part of the day. Surprised to find Foodwalker waiting for me at Dickey Gap. Very nice to get out of the rain for a bit. Nicer weather later in the afternoon. Walked down a hillside covered with honeysuckle bushes and the delicate smell was beautiful! Lots of flowers in the mountains now. Camped about 4 miles from the Mt. Rogers Visitor Center, where I am supposed to meet Foodwalker tomorrow.
Date: 2013-05-03
From: Mile 526.6, VA

To: Settlers Museum, VA, Mile 539.5
Miles today: 13.3

Tracy McG: After another rocky trail in the morning, things got better after the Chatfield Shelter, and it was a pleasant walk to the Settlers Museum, where Foodwalker was walking up the trail to meet me. Went to Marion to a motel for the night, which was nice.
Date: 2013-05-04
From: Settlers Museum, VA, Mile 539.5

To: O'Lystery Pavilion, Mile 553.9, VA
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: light rain

Tracy McG: Slackpacked the whole way today. A little chilly in the morning, but a very nice hike. Quite a few people on the trail today, since it was Saturday. Met Foodwalker about 3:30, when I was supposed to take my pack and go a few more miles to a campsite. However, I found that my body was aching all over and just refusing to put the pack on and walk any further. Foodwalker was very kind and understanding, and took me back to the motel in Marion to rest, despite it messing up the previously made plans. We are now just past one-quarter done of the Appalachian Trail.
Date: 2013-05-19
From: Lewis Mountain Campground, Shenandoah Natl Park

To: Hazeltop Mountain, Shenandoah National Park
Miles today: 4.0
Weather: overcast clouds

My sisters Breezy (Kate) and Blondie (Peggy) arrived from Ohio about 1:30. After much talking, hugging, and rearranging of equipment, we set out on the AT, leaving Foodwalker behind. He will be catching up with us at various points to resupply us. Pretty dense fog, which made for interesting hiking. Found a flat area most of the way up Hazeltop Mountain and decided to stop for the night. Interesting for them and Cassidy (Lois) setting up their tents and actually cooking on their alcohol stoves. We had lots of laughs, not to mention trying to get the food hung up in bearbags in the trees, but eventually everything was accomplished and we settled in for the wet, foggy night.
Date: 2013-05-20
From: Hazeltop Mountain, Shenandoah National Park

To: Rock Spring Hut, Shenandoah National Park
Miles today: 8.3

Very pleasant day of hiking with my sisters. Breezy cooked scrambled eggs for everyone for breakfast, along with bagels and cream cheese! Woke up to more fog, but that soon disappeared and it is beautiful. Heard some thunder this afternoon, but nothing came of it. I slept good, but Cassidy complained of a sore back from laying on a rock all night. Blondie and Breezy said their tent was on a slight slope and they kept sliding downhill all night, as well as into each other and getting twisted up in their sleeping bags. Stopped for a leisurely lunch at Big Meadows Campground, and dried out our tents in the sun. Having a great time!
Date: 2013-05-21
From: Rock Spring Hut, Shenandoah National Park

To: Pinnacles Picnic Area, Shenandoah Natl Park
Miles today: 8.7
Weather: clear sky

Everyone slept better last night, despite sloping tent sites up above the shelter. Blondie and Cassidy enjoyed socializing with other hikers around the campfire last night. Almost everyone was out of the shelter before we finished breakfast. Oh well. We had a good hike to the Crescent Rock Overlook where Foodwalker met us, gave us cookies and bars (from Mom and Sheryl), took our heavy packs, gave us our day packs, and eventually succeeded in sending us on our way. We hiked a couple more miles to the Skyland Resort, where we lounged around the fireplace on the sofas, checked out the gift shop and bathrooms, and decided the menu was too expensive considering we had our lunches in our packs. We did buy some fruit and had a leisurely lunch out on the terrace overlooking the valley. Finally decided we'd better get a move on, considering Foodwalker was planning on meeting us up the trail. A beautiful hike, a lot of it along a cliff edge overlooking the Shenandoah Valley. Hot afternoon. Breezy did take one tumble, fortunately just after we got off the cliff, no injuries. Finally made it to the Pinnacles Picnic Area, where Foodwalker was patiently waiting. We decided to go back to Foodwalker's campsite for the night and slackpack again tomorrow.
Date: 2013-05-22
From: Pinnacles Picnic Area, Shenandoah Natl Park

To: Below Beahms Gap Overlook, Shenandoah Natl Park
Miles today: 8.9

We all tried to pack up quietly as we got up very early this morning, definitely surprising Foodwalker. However, he graciously got up too, and drove us the long way to the Pinnacles Picnic Area. There we ate breakfast and headed out with our day packs. Beautiful skies all day, got pretty hot in the afternoon. We made it to the Birds Nest Shelter #3 at morning and spent a little while looking through the register. Attractive stone shelter. Looked like Roofwalker spent the night there alone, which is unusual. Got to the Panorama Rest Area, near the tunnel on the Skyline Drive at lunchtime. As we headed down the stone stairs to the shady picnic area, Blondie got distracted, caught her heel on the top stair and fell down the entire flight of stairs. We were all very frightened, but other than a small bruise to her chin she says she's ok. Thank goodness. Had a pleasant lunch and headed out again. Met Foodwalker about 3, retrieved our backpacks, and said goodby, probably for a few more days. At one point a deer almost ran right into Cassidy in its hurry to get across the trail, and then it just stopped and watched us. Walked only a little way further until we found a likely tent site. I walked down a little further to the spring and got a supply of water for us. Set up the tents, cooked supper, and went through the usual antics getting all the food bags successfully hung up in the trees. All three of my sisters have a blister on a big toe, which seems a bit strange. None of them are serious. As soon as we got settled in our tents, loud thunder began, and now it is pouring buckets. Hopefully it won't last long! Another really fun day on the Appalachian Trail, for the Sisterhood of Payne, which is what we have decided to call ourselves, Payne being our maiden name.
Date: 2013-05-30
From: US 60, VA

To: Bluff Mountain, VA
Miles today: 14.1

Camped at the city of Glasgow, VA Hiker Shelter last night. Up early this morning, tried to be very quiet as there were quite a few people sleeping off last night's beer. Foodwalker took us to Buena Vista for breakfast, and then dropped us at the Hwy 60 trailhead. Went over 3 mountains today, Rice, Punchbowl, and Bluff. Some steep ascents, but nothing too bad. Most of the time there was a constant noise high up in the trees, the sound of the jaws of the 17-year cicadas as they were busily eating. Saw a few bodies on the trail, but expect that to increase dramatically as they go through their lifecycle. Pretty tired by 5, so found a place to set up the tents and called it a day. Have to be kind of conservative with our water, as some areas are pretty dry, but we fill up and drink a lot whenever we do come to a spring. Pretty hot day, soaking our heads with water really helped.
Date: 2013-06-04
From: Bryant Ridge Shelter, VA

To: Bearwallow Gap, VA
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: broken clouds

Only 3 of us at the shelter last night, the place seemed very empty with room for 20. Steep climb in the morning, getting up Fork Mountain. Glad to have that over with right away in the morning! Rest of the day went pretty good. Passed a nice looking swimming hole on Jennings Creek. Met up with Foodwalker at Bearwallow Gap, where he greated us with hot dogs topped with slaw, chocolate milk, and peaches! Great lunch! Then we drove to Troutville, where we set up our tents for the night in the city park. Hikers can tent there for free. Across the street is the fire station, where hikers can shower and do laundry, also for free. Very generous of the town. Found out they are having a Trail Days celebration this weekend, which we plan to be back for, while Foodwalker will continue to hang out in the town. Went to the nearby town of Daleville for supper at the 3 Little Pigs Barbecue, which was really good.
Date: 2013-06-05
From: Bearwallow Gap, VA

To: Curry Creek, VA
Miles today: 13.0

Got an early start from Troutville, where neither one of us slept that great, what with trains roaring past, a commercial air conditioning unit in a nearby building turning on and off all night, and a truck coming to the park very early in the morning to empty the dumpster. Oh well, that's the way it goes. Most of the morning the trail paralleled the Blue Ridge Parkway. We were dismayed to come to two trash cans in a row at overlooks, and we had no trash to put in them. Then we ran into two volunteers doing trails maintenance and they gave us bananas. We saved them until we came to the next overlook, where we sat on the curb and ate them, and finally had something to throw in the garbage. As we headed out of the parking area, we were astounded to see a picnic table right in the middle of the trail. And we sat on the curb! By 4 pm, we had found a good tent site on the Curry Creek and set up our camp. Got a few sprinkles, afraid we might get some rain.
Date: 2013-06-06
From: Curry Creek, VA

To: Troutville, VA
Miles today: 7.1

Poured rain all night, learned later it was part of Tropical Storm Andrea. Got the food bags down about 6 am, we decided to wait it out for a while and see if the rain let up a little, but it wasn't happening. By 8 we were packed up and heading up the mountain. A steep climb to begin with, but after we hit the ridgeline it wasn't too bad, kind of slippery in spots. Towards the end I fell in the mud, landing on my right side. Didn't hurt much at the time, my right shoulder was a little stiff and sore later, though. A few minutes later I fell again, crossing a little stream that was running across the trail (big parts of the trail were now temporary streams). Breezy looked back in amazement, saying "What are you doing?" Like I was sitting down, taking a break in the middle of a stream in the pouring rain!! We had to cautiously cross two stiles over barbed wire fences, slog up a very steep bald, avoiding huge cow pies all over the place, and finally arrived at Hwy 11 in Troutville, where Foodwalker was waiting for us. He had reserved a room at the Travelodge in Daleville, where we could dry out. Had a great late lunch at the Country Cookin' buffet, where we stuffed ourselves.
Date: 2013-06-07
From: Troutville, VA

To: Troutville, VA
Miles today: 0.0

After a nice breakfast at the Travelodge we loaded the backpacks in Foodwalker's car, did a little shopping, and headed back to Troutville. Registered for Trail Days, had our pictures taken for their album, and lounged around the pavilion with increasing numbers of hikers. Got my pack pretty well packed for when we head out on the trail again on Sunday. About 6, we headed over to the Church of the Brethren, where they and the Baptist church had joined together to provide us with a terrific dinner. Afterward they showed a baseball movie called The Dream. The three of us were the only ones who stayed to watch it, so I'm guessing that idea will be scrapped next year. It's only the second year Troutville has had a Trail Days, so they're still working on it. Doing a pretty good job of it, too!