morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-04-16
From: Damascus

To: Damascus
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

The day started with a delicious breakfast at the Victorian Inn: bananas foster crepes that were to die for. Then, after repacking my pack with Mom's additions (warm weather t-shirts, titanium mug, bug spray/sunblock, and food), we went off to do laundry and buy shoes. Then a pack of us made "I Miss Bear" shirts and pigged out on Cinnabons.Dinner was Italian, then we met Sas and Crumbs for drinks at Baja Caf©, where I met Grey Fox, Cr14sh, and Baloo, who where in the middle of an elaborate multi-day slackpack. It was amazing how the bar was pretty full, but all of hikers.
Date: 2006-04-17
From: Damascus

To: Damascus
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: light rain

Lowkey had the idea of slackpacking 12 miles and having her dad pick us up at Highway 58, so Bear and I hurried to the post office before packing. It was a very easy slack, with mild ups and decent terrain, but as usual with slacks, I spent most of the day in the rain. Sas, Crumbs, 4-Today, Bear, and I donned war paint to ambush the shelter where Bandit and Lowkey were waiting for us, but I don't think we scared them.We were drenched when we got to the road, where we waited over an hour before trying to hitch. Turns out that Lowkey's dad was waiting a few hundred yards down the road, but as usual there was no cellphone service to coordinateWe got back to the Place, where Lowkey's family made hot dogs and had soda, deviled eggs, and chips. 4-Today and Crumbs taught us how to play Don't Eat Pete with Smarties. I won!Lowkey's stepmom said the woman at the Victorian Inn called me "a little slip of a thing" but that she could tell I was a thru-hiker because of my appetite (and how thoroughly I blackened her white towels with my hiker filth).
Date: 2006-04-18
From: Damascus

To: Beech Mountain Road
Miles today: 6.1

After getting a ride from Bob Peoples of Kincora, I hiked a not-so-respectable 6.1 miles to a beautiful campsite next to Va. 601. Bear, Bushwhacker, and I played Blisters with a great father-son section hiking team (I won in a final round roll-off, earning 300+ points in a single roll!) and built a nice fire.I must have left my spoon in Damascus, but Bear lent me his, then whittled me a new one and finally Sleeper showed up and gave me his because his wife is picking him up at the road tomorrow.Love this Virginia hiking!
Date: 2006-04-19
From: Beech Mountain Road

To: Thomas Knob Shelter
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: moderate rain

Woke up to rain. Went back to sleep and woke up to more rain. Apparently we were under a severe thunderstorm watch until 11am. So Bear, Bushwhacker, and I walked across the road to an abandoned house and made breakfast out of the rain. NSOM showed up and we played some Blisters with Humpty and Salt. I dried out my tent a little and the guys made a fire in the fireplace. Uber-Dude's family passed us and Uber-Dude stopped in to survey the house.The rain finally cleared, but we had lunch before leaving--at 12:50pm. Chances of making it 15 miles were slim. But we climbed the two highest mountains in Virginia, the easiest climbs yet, and made it to Thomas Knob Shelter by 7. Then C-Ram and Shanae showed up and we decided to camp with them a couple hundred feet from the shelter (and nearer yet to the solar-powered composting privy). Bushwhacker joined us.A fire was made with Shanae's firestarter log; I ate a delicious Mountain House dinner with my whittled wooden spoon; then Humpty, Salt, and their dog came over. It's really sweet how much that kid likes us--I think he'll surely want to become a thru-hiker someday.The Lisa stupid award of the day goes to later, when I put my Senate water bottle in the fire to warm up the water (I've been really cold now that I've sent my fleece layers home) and it melted a hole in the side. Bear then tried to repair it with a Ziploc bag. Cold but amused, I went to sleep.
Date: 2006-04-20
From: Thomas Knob Shelter

To: Hurricane Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I'm trying to cope with underperforming, but I don't know if it's that I didn't plan well or if Bear's trying to make a point. I think I just didn't take into account that you can't hike 20 miles and feed wild ponies, plus it was nice to spend a last night with Shanae.I felt good and we hiked through some beautiful terrain--the Grayson Highlands, Fat Man's Squeeze. Bear claims I sang a lot, and I laughed the most he's seen on the trail. It is fun to hike slow.
Date: 2006-04-21
From: Hurricane Mountain Shelter

To: Partnership Shelter
Miles today: 19.7
Weather: light rain

I busted out a 19.7-mile day for pizza. At one point I did 6.6 miles at a 3-mph pace. We also timed it so we were in the first shelter for the worst of the rain. My feet and legs feel fine, so 20-mile days might be in my future.I got garlic cheese bread, chicken parmesan sub, tiramisu, and split a large veggie pizza with C-Ram. So much food! The tiramisu was maybe the best of my life, and I know that's just because everything tastes better out here. That's one of the great things about hiking the AT--you start appreciating things you used to take for granted.
Date: 2006-04-22
From: Partnership Shelter

To: Atkins, VA
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: moderate rain

Again with the rain! I've really lucked out, though; it tends to stoop early enough for me to dry out before reaching my destination. I slept really well last night after the pizza plus, and didn't even need to get up to pee. Yes, that was my big concern.Today I cranked out 11.6, but took a nasty spill in the mud on a mad dash to a Dairy Queen. C-Ram saw me fly through the air and land on my side/pack. He refused to rate the fall, but I give it an "epic."When we got to Atkins, we ran into the estrogen party sans Bandit, who'd hiked ahead to do Virginia in 30 days. The girls convinced me to stay in Atkins.Best part of the day: I called Susan, my best friend from 7th grade, from the phone at Partnership Shelter and set up a meeting in Pearisburg on the 27th!Today's haiku:Hiking is like hair:It grows on you, whether youwant it to or not.
Date: 2006-04-23
From: Atkins, VA

To: Knot Maul Branch Shelter
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: broken clouds

Weird day emotionally. I woke up fine and everything was happy and good, but quickly I became impatient and angry with Bear for some reason. Yes, I'm too stressed out about getting to Pearisburg on time, but why? Why can't I just chill out?The main thing is I have fun being slow and know that I should make time to let things happen. But I think I feel like Bear's trying to slow me down or make it impossible to hike the miles we want to. More probably, it's that he likes starting late and I like ending early, which makes it harder to do long days. At any rate, I'm a basketcase.Had breakfast at the Barn, where the waitress dropped most of our food the first time around. I managed to save my egg biscuit, which was delicious. The best part was when she asked what she needed to bring again (i.e., what she'd dropped), and Lowkey went into a long explanation of the biscuit: "You dropped it on the floor, but she picked it up and ate it anyway. Does that count?" It did. I told Lowkey that it was worth spending the night in Atkins just to hear her say that.I got into the most beautiful farm country and I again got the overwhelming feeling (for the first time since the Smokies) that I had to die in that moment because I'd never see anything so beautiful again. I kept stopping to try to take it all in, so I could always remember it. I took pictures, but knew they wouldn't capture how gorgeous the farmland melting out of the mountains was.And of course we ended up staying at Knot Maul Branch with the girls, making it a big 15 for the slow group.
Date: 2006-04-24
From: Knot Maul Branch Shelter

To: Chestnut Knob Shelter
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: broken clouds

Woke up to a throbbing ankle--whoa, what did I do to it? I went back to sleep hoping the pain would go away, but no such luck. Dr. Bear's initial diagnosis was a bone bruise, but that later changed to a twisted ankle--maybe it will feel better tomorrow?I tried not to walk too hard on it, even wrapped in Sarsparilla's Ace bandage, but I was sloooow today. We did the big up to Chestnut Ridge, a hideous patch of brambles and sadness, in 6 hours. I wanted to hike more, but it looks like the only campsites are at 1 and 7 miles from Chestnut Knob, a great shelter with windows and a DOOR! The wind is howling, but I guess we just have to stay here tonight, which means we'll probably have to hitchhike into Pearisburg the 27th.
Date: 2006-04-25
From: Chestnut Knob Shelter

To: Laurel Creek
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: few clouds

We hiked about 14.6 to a campsite with a picnic table just off the road. My ankle felt a lot better and I was up to a 2 mph pace by the end of the day. We will need to hitch to Pearisburg, but we might be able to hike far enough to have just a one-day, 24-mile slack left. So much for my plan to haul until I go off-trail May 3.It's past 8pm and raining cats and dogs, so Bear put his tarp up over my tent and has "invaded" for the night. This isn't the roomiest 2-person tent around. I just hope the rain stops by the time I get up tomorrow--it'd be nice, if my ankle feels better, to get an early start and maybe do 20 to a shelter. Just a thought.
Date: 2006-04-26
From: Laurel Creek

To: Pearisburg
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: light rain

Things always work out for the best, right? Because I'm really regretting setting up my meeting with Susan the 27th. I feel like it's getting me so behind. Then again, taking a zero tomorrow is probably the best thing I could do for my ankle.We woke up to no rain, but Bear convinced me to sleep in a little, so it started raining again during breakfast. We didn't end up hiking until 10, after being passed by the Turtles and Casey Jones and Doodle. We hiked 7 miles to hitch into Bland and then Pearisburg. Trying to get the second hitch, we met Bill, the owner of the hostel in Pearisburg, who drove us to the hostel. There we met Papa Bear, Li'l Bear, and Freebird. This, by the way, is why I prefer hostel stays to hotels: you get to meet more hikers and the social scene is better.Tired! As can be imagined, I didn't sleep well last night, so I've got some catching up to do.
Date: 2006-04-27
From: Pearisburg

To: Pearisburg
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Bear and I moved to the Motor Lodge, took our showers, and had lunch at the sports bar. I called some D.C. friends to set up lunch during my 5-day hiatus, then Susan to set a meeting time.Dinner with Susan was great! She's studying to be a vet; she and her fianc© have two dogs and three cats in their nice apartment.Came back for Bushwhacker's birthday. Switchback, Bear, C-Ram, Bandit, and the girls all came--the girls with a red velvet cake. Crumbs and 4-Today popped into my room while Bear was partying in Bushwhacker's room and we had a really good girl talk. I like them a lot and how easy it is to talk to them, like they're old friends.
Date: 2006-04-29
From: Jenny Knob Shelter

To: Wapiti Shelter
Miles today: 14.2
Weather: clear sky

Got off to go to Trent's Grocery to call Dad for a different pick-up and had lunch with Bear, John & Lilly, and Patches. Saw Ajax, with a nasty head wound, and met Senator hiking back to the trail.Sheltering at Wapiti with the friendly retired section hikers from last night, including Gus, Preacher's friend. One of them walked into the creek to retrieve my runaway water bottle, proving once again that I'm a hopeless klutz always in need of being rescued.On that note!
Date: 2006-04-30
From: Wapiti Shelter

To: Oakton, VA
Miles today: 16.6

Dad picked me up at the Dairy Queen in Pearisburg, a fantastic meeting place if ever there was one. He loved it when John approached him and asked if he was "Tortoise's Dad." It took him a moment to figure out that yes, he was Tortoise's dad!Happy to get home at least. Dad says I was ripe on the car ride back to Oakton.
Date: 2006-05-01
From: Oakton, VA

To: Oakton, VA
Miles today: 0.0

Did a lot during my week at home: hung out with the Senate crew; watched some great plays; bought a hammock; tried not to stress out too much. It felt weird not being recognized as a thru-hiker, and I did start to question my life plan...this new civilian world feels alien and strange.
Date: 2006-05-07
From: Rice Field Shelter

To: Pine Swamp Branch Shelter
Miles today: 12.3
Weather: light rain

The moderate 15-mile day I had planned became a dismal 12.3 to the first shelter, where Grey Fox was making a fire to dry off. Met Miss Parkay, who's super sweet. The shelter is supposedly full at 9, but there would've been room for at least one more...Crake?This group is fun, but I feel that by staying here tonight I'm demonstrating a complete lack of effort in catching up with everybody. Then again, is that what I want? I feel like if I keep making excuses to be slow, there's no way I'll make it to Katahdin. Just once I'd like to do more miles than planned in a day rather than fewer. When was the last time I did that?When will I set up my hammock?
Date: 2006-05-08
From: Pine Swamp Branch Shelter

To: Keffer Oak
Miles today: 21.2

Love it how I answer my random questions on the next day. I'm lying in my hammock, which is set up in the boughs of the Keffer Oak, a 300-year old tree that's 18 feet around. Camping with Barefoot Nate (who came up with the idea of hanging my hammock up in the tree), Sherpa Chef, Bill E. Goat, Leprechaun, and Cosmic Punchline. It worked out perfectly, because I wanted to camp 3 miles before Sarver Hollow and that's where this is.It's so cool hanging in the hammock from the tree that I don't care that it's dipping like mad. And I did my first real 20-mile day with minimal complaints from my body. Oh, and the toasty fire Grey Fox made last night was maintained all night by Cosmic, who exchanged his sleeping bag for a cotton sheet, not expecting 35-degree nights. Great to share a shelter with someone so motivated to keep the fire going!
Date: 2006-05-09
From: Keffer Oak

To: Niday Shelter
Miles today: 9.7
Weather: overcast clouds

The hiking today was miserable. I think Parkay hit the nail on the head when she said she had flashbacks to Albert Mountain. Rocky, slippery, frightening, and all for no view. I promised the moon for the rocks to end, but they didn't. This, of course, after a brutal uphill that had me following ber-Dude's step-step-break advice.Of course, I had no chance of making my planned catch-up 19, because I didn't leave camp til after 10. I didn't sleep so well in the boughs of the Keffer Oak, and was afraid to break camp--it just seemed so daunting to get everything out of the hammock and packed. I really missed the roominess of my tent.Then there was the socializing around the oak. Parkay caught up and Barefoot Nate climbed high into the tree before taking a 20-foot fall that looked REALLY painful. Yet he managed to jump right up and immediately start walking around. It was amazing and impossible to do justice to.
Date: 2006-05-10
From: Niday Shelter

To: Lost Spectacles Gap
Miles today: 15.1

From freakishly cold to startlingly hot, but that's not the important thing...Wow, getting off Cove Mountain (i.e., Dragon's Tooth) was hard! My god. Sheer cliff face a good bit of it, and metal handholds bolted into the rock (rebar) on two separate occasions. It made Albert Mountain seem like a walk in the park, and scared me silly about the White Mountains.So basically I spent the last mile praying for the rocks to stop and begging for camp. Then I get to a huge, beautiful campsite, and no one's there. What happened to Nate, Sherpa Chef, and Miss Parkay, whom I was supposed to camp with so we could hike to the Home Place together tomorrow?Since I was hungry, confused, and had to pee, I decided to stay put. As I took care of my nightly chores, I even began to warm up to the idea of camping alone for the first time, something I've been wanting to do since I got back on the trail. So here I am. It was a little scary at first, but now it's glorious. And it's warm.
Date: 2006-05-11
From: Lost Spectacles Gap

To: Johns Spring Shelter
Miles today: 8.4
Weather: light rain

It turns out the Miss Parkay and the Nates camped out on top of Dragon's Tooth. No matter. Today's the Home Place!I spent the whole morning hiking with them after we crossed paths, and thinking about how great it is to meet new people on the trail. Remember a week ago when I was worried about catching up to people? How silly I was!We caught up to Train in town and I talked with him about the Saved by the Bell crowd, who seem to all be off trail. Then Parkay and I moseyed over to the Home Place, where I got to play a rollicking round of 20 Questions with Grey Fox, Crake, Poles, Sanford, and Sir Lancelot. The answer was Peter Venckman from "Ghostbusters.")But the main attraction: food! It was indescribably delicious. Started with lemonade--the best I've ever had in my life--and sweet tea. Then the main course: fried chicken, pork barbecue, roast beef, all phenomenally good; green beans, leek whipped mashed potatoes, pinto beans, stewed apples, biscuits, and cole slaw. Delicious. Parkay ate herself "retarded" and many others ate themselves sick. Our table had 11 hikers, but there were two other hiker tables there AND one waiting to be seated when we left. It was so worth slowing down to eat that meal. I've been kicking myself that I didn't sneak out a Nalgene of that lemonade. Mmmm.Those of us with the strongest stomachs managed a mile to the shelter, where we ate even more: weird food from Grey Fox's bizarre maildrop, which included cosmic brownies, bread and butter pickles, salsa con queso, and Triscuits.
Date: 2006-05-12
From: Johns Spring Shelter

To: Daleville, VA
Miles today: 18.8
Weather: broken clouds

McAfee's Knob was so amazing, with the rock formations as well as the awe-inspiring view, that it made the last hundred miles worth hiking. I took a nice long break with Sanford, Hui, Parkay, Crake, and the Nates, as well as some really nice day hikers. Then I had lunch on Tinker Cliffs with the group.Somehow ended up hiking into town with Grey Fox, whom I'm really warming up to. We talked video games and politics and swapped crazy thru-hike stories. We ate at Bojangles when we got into town, then hitched to the Hollins Motel, a total pit of despair far away from everything.
Date: 2006-05-13
From: Daleville, VA

To: Curry Creek
Miles today: 8.6

Hitched back to Bojangles for breakfast, hiked another 1.5 to the post office, and got picked up by Del to go do my laundry. There I met Figgy, Swiss Miss, and Snapper, who was also concerned about finishing by mid-August.I set up camp very efficiently, and although it only rained a few drops, none of my stuff got wet. I'm starting to really like my hammock and get the hang of maneuvering around inside. Got a great night's sleep.
Date: 2006-05-14
From: Curry Creek

To: Bobblets Gap Shelter
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: moderate rain

Rain! I managed to stay out of it this morning, but spent over an hour in a thunderstorm once I got to the Blue Ridge Parkway. So yet another short day, in a full shelter with Grey Fox, Poles, Miss Parkay, Tinkerbell, Hind's Feet, Hui, and Sir Lancelot. The last actually asked if I planned on finishing this year...how mean!Still, after Trail Days I vow to do 100+ miles a week and not carry 8 days of food.
Date: 2006-05-15
From: Bobblets Gap Shelter

To: Cornelius Creek Shelter
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: overcast clouds

I think Grey Fox had a really good idea with his "A15" club, assembling a group of hikers who need to be done by August 15th (or whenever) to encourage each other. I think if everyone shares the same goal, there will be less pressure to stop for the day without putting in the miles, and the groupthink will tend to be toward finishing on time.Also, today saw the top three privies of the trip AND the most awesome shelter yet, Bryant Ridge. I wish I could've stayed there tonight, but I took a long break. Orangeman called it a chalet, but it was also reminiscent of a beach house. Totally luxurious!Today's cravings: Generous George's and the Homeplace lemonade.
Date: 2006-05-16
From: Cornelius Creek Shelter

To: Matts Creek Shelter
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Today I determined to have deep thoughts. I was really in the zone, even though I was going slow for a lot of it.There was this great trail magic--Lounge Lizard, an injured would-be thru-hiker and recreation & leisure PhD student doing his thesis on AT thru-hikers. He gave us food and asked us questions, and I think he may give us a ride into town tomorrow.
Date: 2006-05-17
From: Matts Creek Shelter

To: Boone, NC
Miles today: 2.2

I'm so glad I'm going to Trail Days!We hiked two miles, including over the longest foot bridge on the AT, over the James River, to see Lounge Lizard waiting to pick us up. We ate more of his trail magic, and went to breakfast at the H&H Restaurant in Big Island. While waiting for Grey Fox's friend Casey to pick us up, I taught Crake and Grey Fox how to play sudoku; Grey Fox got $20 for lunch from a passerby (so we ate again); we drew straws to buy each other random presents for under $1; we played Blisters and Don't Eat Pete; I wrote letters; we got pints of ice cream; we gushed over Zelda. I think we spent a good 10 hours there, clearly irking some of the people at the gas station/restaurant.One of the best moments was when I was sitting on the sidewalk between Crake and Grey Fox and both started whistling the theme to Zelda. Do I smell a fellowship brewing?Finally Casey picked us up and drove us to his AMAZING bungalow in Boone, complete rusty mountain feel, with ample beds for all, and even a sauna.It's a pretty indescribable feeling not knowing what's going to come next but feeling ready for it--embracing the adventure. I've become a lot more trusting of new people and open to new experiences. How will this hike change me?
Date: 2006-05-19
From: Boone, NC

To: Trail Days!
Miles today: 0.0

Escape from Boone! The plan was for Baloo to pick us up after work, but that kept getting pushed back as we got calls of extra chores he had taken on. So Poles and I tried out the sauna, met Crake's golden pomegranate, and they shaved my head on the deck. It was vaguely freeing but surprisingly anti-climactic, perhaps because of the buzz cut before or the fact that I have so few occasions to look at myself these days. At any rate, we didn't think things through too well, as I then went to lunch with a hair shirt.When we FINALLY got to Damascus, it was hiker city. I ran into C-Ram and Shanae, Bugs, Pebbles, ber-Dude, Overflow, Train, Granite, and Jebus. It was really fun to catch up, and great to see everybody.
Date: 2006-05-20
From: Trail Days!

To: Trail Days!
Miles today: 0.0

Saw a hiker talent show before the hiker parade, where I beaned a six-year-old in the chest with my only water balloon; got my bent and sad trekking pole fixed by the Leki people; had a nice dinner with Figgy; found Snake; sang in Billsville with a crazy woman; met Parkay (and loads more hikers); did an impossible 20 Questions with Sanford and Grey Fox; got muddy feet; ran into Mickey One Sock, who asked what my mom would think of my hair; talked to Monk, Dud, and Bags, who all asked about Bear; drank small, mediocre, overpriced lemonade.It's amazing how, as many hikers as I've met, it's only a tiny fraction of even the '06 gang. I was thinking--wondering--how deep into this subculture I want to get. I feel like it would be easy to get really immersed.