morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-10-23
From: Campsite near VA 611

To: Laurel Creek Campsite
Miles today: 16.2
Weather: clear sky

We both set our alarms for 5:30 and were on the trail at 7:45. Temperature 44. The light is not really good enough for hiking until nearly 7:30. We climbed up to 611 (about .3 mile) and then onto the ridge top. The trail ran up and down along the ridge for 8 miles, and nearly all of it was exposed to a fierce West wind. At VA 612, we were in a somewhat valley with the only water supply until Laurel Creek, another 7.9 miles away. We ate lunch and stocked up on water in case we did not get all the way to Laurel Creek.The trail ran uphill on 611, crossing over Interstate 77, for .8 miles and then up a gravel road for another .6. The wind was right in our faces, so I just put my head down and trudged on. Since I had just eaten, my hands, even in mittens, were freezing. The good part was a cell tower that had AT&T. A text from Lee asked about the Atkins mail drop, which I thought she had sent Monday. She called the Comfort Inn and found out that the manager would not get mail again from the PO until Monday. That meant Traildog's box would not arrive either. So she called back, learned that the mail would be picked up in the morning and made us reservations. If she had not been late, we would not have known until Sunday when we arrived. Texted Doyi a happy birthday message. Heard back that he hopes to join us for a few days. No signal now, so I can't answer. That would be fun, though he is a much faster hiker than either of us. Hope he won't mind slowing down! Also texted Journeymen to update him.We continued to make good time in spite of the constant wind and decided to go all the way to Laurel Creek. That had been my original plan for today, but we had lost some 4 miles yesterday and the day before, so I was not sure we could make it. We arrived at 5:30. The campsite is large, and we have it to ourselves. Plenty of time to set up and have dinner before dark. Of course, we both had water, having lugged it all the way from our lunch spot, and we are by a creek. Oh well.Tomorrow is a little uncertain. I had planned on the Chestnut Knob Shelter, 14.8 from here. The climbs are more significant, and Traildog says it is on a grassy bald, exposed to the wind. He knows of sites past it, but we may not be able to go that far. We'll have to be flexible. My knee is okay with the bandana tied just below it, but I do feel the occasional twinge. I don't want to overdo and make it worse.
Date: 2014-10-24
From: Laurel Creek Campsite

To: Walker Gap
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: overcast clouds

I had a nice site at Laurel Creek surrounded and protected by Rhododendron. I heard some hikers come by late, but they went on.This morning was cold: 44 in tent, 34 outside. I got water, and we got a reasonably early start. I had messages from Lee about goings on at General Seminary, but I had to let go of my reactions -- nothing I could do from here. We met This Is It, Dirty Matt, and another SOBO on Garden Mountain Ridge. Traildog was disappointed that trees partly obstructed views of the Burch Garden valley. It is a lovely and peaceful looking valley completely surrounded by mountain ridges. The last couple of miles seemed endless. We finally got to Walker Gap about 6:15 and decided to camp on a flat and well used area right by a small parking area with one pick up. We got water while it was still light, then set up and ate. A guy came back in the dark from bow hunting, and we chatted briefly with him before he headed off. He warned us that he would be coming early in the morning, and we assured him that we would be getting up early and not to worry.I am feeling my allergies. Knee okay but cranky sometimes, particularly downhill.
Date: 2014-10-28
From: Partnership Shelter

To: Campsite before Dickey Gap
Miles today: 13.0

Had a tough night with the congestion from the cold so did not get a very good sleep. We had agreed to a later start, so I did not start the morning routine until 6:45. Got on the trail at 8:50.First lunch just past a stream before VA 640, and Traildog kindly got me water while I rested. Still wheezing on the uphills -- and we had some good ones -- but my energy level was better than yesterday.We had a second lunch at the Trimpi Shellter, supposedly .1 off the trail. I thought it was more, and it was a steep downhill. The shelter is in a pretty setting, is stone, and has a fireplace. We trudged back up the hill, looking at a long climb before going down to where we hoped to camp.I had originally planned for us to go to a church hostel in Troutdale, but it would have added 1.7 miles to the day, and we would have needed a ride. So we decided to tack the extra mileage on to what was going to be a shorter hike tomorrow and stay at a campsite .2 east on a blue blaze trail. Not easy to follow with all the leaves and infrequent blazes, but we found the site, complete with slightly rotted picnic table, spring, and privy. Not bad, and since we got here about 5:30, we had plenty of light to set up and get water. The forecast is for rain tonight and tomorrow morning, but we could see the setting crescent moon and stars before we retreated to our respective tents. Tomorrow we go to Old Orchard Shelter, which is near Mt. Rogers and the Grayson Highlands.
Date: 2014-10-29
From: Campsite before Dickey Gap

To: Old Orchard Shelter
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: light rain

We set alarms for 6:30 instead of 5:30, since we planned a shorter day and rain was forecast for the morning. It did start raining a bit after 5, but it was showery. I overslept by 20 minutes but managed to get packed up and ready to leave the campsite in under 2 hours. I had been quite warm in the night but could tell the temperature was dropping. We started off in rain gear and had a mostly downhill first 2 miles. Then began a climb of 1300 feet, broken by lunch at the Hurricane Mountain Shelter. The break was welcome, as the trail as far as the shelter was an old roadbed that had a consistently steep grade.The shelter is a very nice one, with a roof that extends over the picnic table. Spirit Walker and AT Spike were there, having decided to zero because of the weather. The shelter was in the misty cloud, and they did not expect it to clear. AT Spike is from Alexandria and is doing a section. He did a large part of the trail in 1977. Spirit Walker is from Cocoa Beach, FL, and she started south from Harper's Ferry September 7. She is going as far as Hot Springs.We finished the climb up Hurricane Mountain on a slightly more forgiving trail, descended to VA 603, and climbed again up to Old Orchard Shelter, 5 miles from the Hurricane Mountain Shelter. It is set at 4084 feet in an open grove of trees with a small grassy area in front and lots of tent sites. The sun came out shortly before we got there. We are in the trees down from the shelter but not out of the wind. We both set up to let the tents dry from the morning's rain, then got water and cooked at the shelter picnic table. It is 40 in the tent now and promises to be a cold night. We have just an 11 mile day tomorrow, beginning with a climb of 1000 feet, then down to 4300 and back up to Thomas Knob Shelter at 5430. I am hoping for clear weather for the hike through Grayson Highlands.
Date: 2014-10-30
From: Old Orchard Shelter

To: Thomas Knob Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: broken clouds

It was cold last night, and for some reason I was really pokey this morning. But it was a beautiful day, just as I had hoped. We began by climbing Pine Mountain at 5000' and then descended to the Scales, a livestock corral where they used to weigh and load cattle after they had spent the summer grazing on the highlands. It has a couple of trailers, and a ranger or caretaker lives there in the busy season. Also has a quite elegant privy. Shortly after the Scales, we saw our first Grayson Highlands ponies, two of them grazing off to the left of the trail. We continued walking through bald areas and then back into woods around Wise Shelter, where we stopped for lunch. From there, we climbed back out onto the balds and up to Wilburn Ridge. The views from the bald areas were spectacular, and yes, we did see more of the wild ponies, though not up close. The rocky ridge included a fun rock tunnel known as Fatman Squeeze. We climbed the rock outcropping at Rhododendron Gap, now above 5400', and eventually arrived at Thomas Knob Shelter, elevation 5430 feet. We had left our packs at a nice campsite, figuring that we would get water below the shelter and go back, or if the shelter was empty, we'd stay in the second level, which would be warmer. We did find the shelter empty so went back and retrieved our packs. Glad we did, because it is quite cold.
Date: 2014-10-31
From: Thomas Knob Shelter

To: Saunders Shelter
Miles today: 18.2
Weather: overcast clouds

It was 32 upstairs this morning, and frost covered everything outside. Traildog wrote our names in the frost on the picnic bench. The early morning walk was lovely as the sun rose and made the frost on the trees and grasses sparkle. We hiked down to Elk Garden and then back up to White Top Mountain, where the trail reached 5235'. We met three northbound section hikers who reported that the weather forecast was for 14" of snow overnight. The skies were darkening, and I was able to get a signal about noon and make a reservation at The Hikers' Inn in Damascus. Paul said we should get as far as possible, because snow was in the forecast. I checked Weatherbug, and it said rain starting late that afternoon. Wrong. It started just as we were finishing lunch a bit below Buzzard Rock, and it kept on the rest of the day. We decided to take Paul's advice and push on to the last shelter before Damascus (Saunders), with the hope of setting up inside.We hiked about an hour and a half in the dark, cold, foggy rain. Happy Halloween! A perfect spooky atmosphere. Traildog did a great job of finding the trail, and we found the northern access path that went .2 down to the shelter, which finally appeared. We had the place to ourselves and set up our tents inside. It is cold. I did not bother with cooking. Just ate a tortilla with peanut butter, Nutella and honey.
Date: 2014-11-01
From: Saunders Shelter

To: Damascus, VA (Hiker's Inn)
Miles today: 9.2
Weather: light intensity drizzle

Today's hike was not long in terms of miles, but it took some time. It was 31 in the shelter this morning, and we had about 3" of snow on the ground. Not too bad, but tough on the fingers getting packed up and tying the frozen shoe laces. We left about 10 and headed the .2 miles to the trail in about 5" of snow. All the trees, some of which haven't lost all their leaves, were coated with snow, and many, particularly the rhododendron were hanging over the trail. Traildog was in front, and he would either knock off the snow with a hiking pole or put his head down and plow through. I followed, doing the same. The footing was not bad, but we had to be careful to avoid big rocks. As we got lower (Saunders is at almost 3400'), the snow got heavier and wetter with the rise in temperature. After 3.8 miles, things got interesting. The AT had a detour to the Virginia Creeper Trail (a rails to trails bike and walking path) near VA 58. We stopped to get some water and use the very nice privy and then headed up the Beech Grove Gap Trail to intersect with the regular AT. The sign said .25 mile. We plowed uphill through lots of snow laden rhododendron, Traildog still in the lead. We thought we had gone way over a quarter mile without seeing the AT. And then the trail we were on seemed to end. So we headed down the way we had come and found the sign. Evidently we had our heads down going through rhododendron and missed it. So we dutifully turned, only to be met by trees fallen across the trail. We realized that it could get dark before we managed to navigate four miles of fallen trees and low hanging branches, so we retreated to the Virginia Creeper Trail and sloshed through slush for four miles to the edge of Damascus. Blue blazing? Yes, but we were soaked, tired and concerned about predicted falling temperatures and difficult, if not dangerous trail conditions. We probably covered more distance, so I don't feel too bad about it.After another mile, we arrived at The Hikers' Inn in Damascus. It is a biggish house on the main street, with three rooms upstairs and shared bath. They also have a hostel in the back of the property. We took off our wet boots and pack covers on the porch, Paul showed us to our nice rooms -- I have a corner room with a king bed -- and we got showers while he did our laundry. We then headed down the street to the Blue Blaze Cafe for dinner. I was delighted that they have Blue Mountain Full Nelson IPA and enjoyed a couple of those with a Blue Blaze Burger and fries. I was all set for fried blueberry pie for dessert, but they have stopped serving dessert in the off season. Too bad.
Date: 2014-11-04
From: Abingdon Gap Shelter

To: Iron Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: clear sky

The night was cool, but the temperature did not go below 40. It was 44 in the tent when the alarm woke me at 5 (6 in the DLST we have been used to), and I was able to do the usual breakfast and packing up routine without gloves. I am still slower in the cold weather, so it was 7:20 when we left. We hoped to make Iron Mountain Shelter, which was the plan before we stopped short last night, but it meant more miles in decreasing daylight.The hike was fairly uneventful, though we did encounter some deep wet snow and lots of water on the trail. My boots are soaked, and I wish I had the gaiters that won't arrive for another ten days or so. We did meet a bow hunter who Traildog described as a real Tennessee mountain man. His family had owned a lot of the surrounding hills, and, as Traildog said, he knew the animals and their habits. He described one nearly 1000 pound boar (male bear) and the territory it regularly covered. We happened to be in it, which was a bit daunting, but we saw only three deer today. We did walk through some open fields that are part of the Osborne Farm. The trail for .8 mile is a fully accessible gravel path leading to a hillside bench with a lovely view of Shady Valley and surrounding mountain ridges. We could even see Mt. Rogers, still snow covered. Signs at the road crossing before we re-entered the woods warned of bear activity in the area and said no camping or picnicking, hike the AT only. We knew that the Watauga Lake Shelter is closed, but there was nothing about Iron Mountain on the sign.We got to the shelter just after sunset and were happy to see that we again had a shelter to ourselves. It is not large, but we were both able to fit our tents on the platform, mine against the back wall and Traildog's on a diagonal. We had to be very careful not to whack our heads on the rafters. I have been relying on the Opsak odor-proof bags instead of hanging my food, but tonight it is hanging in a tree with Traildog's food. We don't need to attract any big critters.Since Watauga Lake Shelter is closed, it occurred to me that we might get a ride to one of the hostels in Hampton tomorrow night. It will add to the day, making it 15.7 miles, but the terrain does not look difficult. And, the weather report is for rain Thursday, possibly beginning tomorrow night. The plan then will be to get a ride back to the trail Thursday and slack pack back, using a 1 mile side trail back to the hostel. That's just 5.9 miles, but we'd be on schedule and have two nights indoors. So we plan to leave by 7 tomorrow morning.
Date: 2014-11-06
From: Wilbur Dam Rd. (Braemar Castle Hostel)

To: Hampton blue blaze trail (Braemar Castle Hostel)
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: light rain

Sutton had not remembered that we had talked about a 6 AM start time, so we were ready and standing in the shelter of the doorway -- it was raining -- for 15 or 20 minutes before he emerged from the darkness, walking back from the store. We were on the trail by a few minutes before 8 and walked in the rain until about 11 when it stopped. The trail crossed the Watauga Dam, with a very impressive drop into a canyon on one side and Watauga Lake on the other. We did take a break at the Watauga Lake Shelter, which got us out of the rain for about 30 minutes. The shelter is closed to camping until late 2015 due to significant bear activity.The weather was improving when we got to US 321, a little over 4 miles from our start point, and on the way up Pond Mountain, we had some good views of the lake and the dam. The profile in AWOL makes it look like a steep up and down of some 1800 feet each way, but maybe because we were slack packing, it did not seem too bad. We took the 1 mile blue blaze short cut out to 321, and walked another half mile to the hostel. The laundromat next to Brown's Store was closed, so Sutton let us use the machines in his basement -- an odd combination of an old cluttered basement and a high tech Eco-friendly washing machine. Another trip to the store, where I met up with Baltimore Jack, who said we should stop by Kincora to meet Bob Peoples. I went back to the hostel to shower and make dinner, while Traildog walked the mile to Subway. He brought back a quart of Corona, which we split while I ate my lentil soup, whole tomato, and bread. Sutton said we should come by the store in the morning to settle up.
Date: 2014-11-07
From: Hampton blue blaze trail (Braemar Castle Hostel)

To: Campsite before Upper Laurel Fork
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: light intensity drizzle

We intended to set off at 7, but we were both a little slow getting organized. I did enjoy hot oatmeal and coffee, but I also realized that I have come to like my cold breakfast concoction. The streets were wet, so we put on rain gear, though by the time we were on the trail it turned out not to be necessary. A fun part of the morning hike was Laurel Falls -- quite impressive, especially since the recent rain and snow gave them a strong flow. Then we climbed steeply up to Dennis Cove Road. Sutton had told us that the Pittsburgh Lumber Co. had built a narrow gauge railway through the area, and we followed the old trackbed frequently, even through some deep cuts in the rocks.At the road we debated a Kincora visit and decided we did not have enough daylight left to do that and make our goal for the day. So we hiked on, up past White Rocks Mountain, down and then up a 4000+ foot mountain and down to Moreland Gap Shelter for a brief break. The day was raw, and we were walking in slushy snow at the higher elevations. At some point, my right boot got water inside, and I could feel my foot sloshing against the sole. Ugh! The only way it stayed warm was keeping on the move. AWOL showed a campsite near a Forest Service Road, but we did not find it and continued on. Traildog spotted a good site just as it was getting dark, and we hurried to set up. Neither of us cooked. Rather, we both ate from our lunch supplies, I in my tent and sleeping bag while trying to get my poor feet warm. It promised to be a cold night, and I added my down jacket around my feet and slept in my other jacket and fleece hat.
Date: 2014-11-15
From: Sam's Gap

To: Devil Fork Gap (Laurel Trading Post Hostel)
Miles today: 8.4
Weather: clear sky

I looked at AWOL more carefully and concluded we could stay tonight at the Laurel Trading Post Hostel. I called, it is open, and we can call for a ride from the trail (it is 2.5 miles off trail). Traildog and I talked, and we agreed to try for that. Carol fixed a wonderful breakfast, and we packed up and headed out, stopping at the Post Office to bounce some of my stuff ahead to Hot Springs and at the Dollar Store. When we got to Erwin, Doug got us lunch at McDonald's, which we ate as we drove back to Sam's Gap.The day was sunny and cool, good for hiking. We climbed about 600 feet to High Rock, down about the same, and back up 700 to Lick Rock. Some snow was still on the north side of the hills, but the lovely thing was the hoar frost still on the highest branches of the tall trees, all above a definite line, and shining against the background of blue sky. As the sun warmed the trees, small chunks rained down, covering the ground around each tree.The descent to Rector Laurel Road was some 1500', and at one point we went straight where we should have followed a switch back. After some bush whacking on a steep hillside, I backtracked and found the switchback. Devil Fork Gap is actually a steep switchback climb up and over a ridge from Rector Laurel Road. We called the Trading Post, and in about ten minutes, Dave the owner picked us up.The hostel is the size of a single car garage with six bunks and a table and chairs. No insulation, but Dave did fire up a propane heater that did a pretty good job of warming the space. We had it to ourselves. The bathroom, however, is in the store, which closed at 7 and won't be open tomorrow, Sunday. Since Dave will come to drive us to the trail, he said he'd open up for us to use the bathroom. In between, the only option was to pee out back. We cooked our dinners and went to bed, hoping the heater will hold out.
Date: 2014-11-16
From: Devil Fork Gap (Laurel Trading Post Hostel)

To: Jerry Cabin Shelter
Miles today: 8.7
Weather: clear sky

The heater ran out of propane about 1 AM. Not a problem until time to get up in 37 degrees. I did, however, take advantage of the indoor space and the table to cook a hot breakfast for a change, and I supplemented the usual with some little cinnamon crumb cakes I had gotten at the store last night. Since we expected a cold morning and had a short day planned, we asked Dave to pick us up at 9. He had said the shelter had a fireplace, and we wanted to arrive in time to get wood and make use of it.The day turned out to be decent hiking weather -- in the low 40s with some sun. We followed a series of short ups and downs to Flint Mountain Shelter, where we took a break and had snacks. Then a .8 mile hike to Flint Gap, which marked the start of a steep 1000' climb before a somewhat gentler climb to Big Butt Mountain. We met a guy named Pete, who had hiked in to Jerry Cabin the day before for an overnight. He confirmed the existence of a fireplace and said he had left some wood.Not far from he top was the Shelton Gravesite. According to Traildog, the Sheltons were brothers in the Confederate Army on their way home when Union soldiers killed them. The site is in a grassy field and is well maintained. A little over a mile from the shelter, it began to rain lightly, enough to warrant rain jackets and pack covers. We had hoped to beat the rain.The shelter does have a fireplace, and the roof extends far enough to cover the picnic table. We ate lunch, set up our tents on the shelter platform, and then went on a wood search. Traildog used two Esbit tablets and Pete's dry wood to get a fire going. The fireplace is at ground level on one end of the stone shelter. Since there is no front wall, it can't really heat the place, but it felt good to sit near it on the platform. We cooked and ate near the fire as the wind outside began to increase. I think it is rain and not snow coming down. We'll see in the morning. Meanwhile, I am snug in my sleeping bag in the tent. Tomorrow, we head to Hemlock Hollow Hostel.