morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-06-04
From: VA 601, Rocky Gap

To: Craig Creek Valley, VA 621
Miles today: 16.7

June 4, Slackpacking ExtravaganzaHappy anniversary, Grandma and Grandpa! Happy birthday, Dan!Did you know that if you microwave wet socks, they will dry? These are the complicated things I'm learning out here. I feel like I'm losing brain cells by the minute.So. Ronin and Young Eagle decided it'd be a good idea to rent a car to slackpack ourselves for a few days and make up some time. They pulled up to our hotel room this morning in a purple PT Cruiser ready to rock and roll. Not exactly as tough as the A-Team van, but it'd have to do. We had developed a master plan - a few big days of slackpacking and then back to reality. So, we moved over to the Howard Johnson and got our things ready to go. There were a couple of rules to go along with the car - 1. seatbelts must be worn, 2. the driver is the DJ, 3. and only Ronin and Young Eagle could drive.We scoped out the maps and decided to divide into teams. Young Eagle and I would hike north as the Foxtrot Uniform Team and Ronin and Melk would hike south as the Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Team. We'd exchange the keys when we met in the middle and each team member was obligated to ask two times whether the exchange had been made. Young Eagle and I dropped Melk and Ronin off at Craig Creek Valley and then headed over to Rocky Gap. We didn't start hiking until 12:45 p.m.The day went well, it was nice not to have a full pack. We didn't take a lot of breaks since we started so late. We did stop at the shelter at mile 666 so Young Eagle could post a devilish note in the register. We finished our portion of the hike around 9 p.m. We waited for about an hour for Ronin and Melk to pick us up. In the meantime, it started to rain and get cold out. We started to worry about where they were but they finally showed up.We headed back to Troutville and stopped at Waffle House for some "dinner" at 11 p.m. It was a late night and a long day.- I don't remember what sounds were happening last night. Post Trail Thoughts:I like to call this period of time on the trail the "Daleville Doldrums". Clearly we all needed some sort of reprieve or else we wouldn't have gone to such desperate measures as renting a PT Cruiser to make up miles. It was fun nonetheless. Young Eagle was obsessed with the 666 shelter. In fact, he was planning all day to write an entry about it in his journal. I just checked it out and it's quite entertaining. Young Eagle v. The Beast: Part IAs Young Eagle and I waited for Melk and Ronin that night we started in on our life stories. We also enjoyed some cans of soda left on the trail for magic. As it turns out, Ronin almost hit a deer and was freaked out driving in the dark and rain so they were driving extremely slowly. Glad they made it.
Date: 2007-06-05
From: Craig Creek Valley, VA 621

To: VA 311, Catawba
Miles today: 21.2

June 5, Goin' to Catawba We got a late start again today after breakfast and a run to the local convenience store.Young Eagle and I dropped off Ronin and Melk and then proceeded to our destination. We'd be hiking north again today. I think what I enjoy most about this ordeal is having music to pump us up in the car before we hike.We started hiking just before 11 a.m. and we started climbing immediately. The trail was awesome though - very gradual and well maintained. I could see the elevation we were heading to the whole time and I actually got motivated by it. I tried something new today - hiking with my iPod on. This was a first and I was loving it. Tom Petty sang me up the mountain, John Mellencamp sang me over the bumps, and then Madonna aided my descent. I'd forgotten what I even had on there and they were luck of the draw. It made the time pass so much faster and made me think less about how hard I was working.Young Eagle and I stopped at the top for a rest because some kind person put a park bench up there. Then we stopped at the Audie Murphy memorial. After that, we didn't stop until lunch. Then we trucked out the miles until the swapping of the keys.We went over Dragon's Tooth today with several references to us battling the dragon himself. Turns out Ronin fell about 10 feet overcoming the tooth. It was a technical climb down - very steep and rocky, even with rungs at times.Later we passed through a field of bulls. That's right. Before we climbed the stile to enter the field, I was swarmed with thoughts of Spanish bullfights. Would we have a fight on our hands today? Could Young Eagle and I act nonchalant enough to go unnoticed? We passed through safely only feeling threatened once. I scared one of them, he shrieked and ran off, then followed me for a minute.The rest of the hike went pretty fast. About an hour before we were done, the wind started blowing like crazy and then the thunder, lightening and rain began. All Young Eagle and I could do was hope Melk and Ronin were waiting with the car. We sped up a bit and finally got there - greeted by Team Whiskey Tango Foxtrot. I was so happy. We drove straight to Subway for dinner. While we were there, we heard "Stand By Me" on the radio, how appropriate.I crashed hard tonight. Very tired.- Sound of the fan in the hotel room. Post Trail Thoughts:I remember Young Eagle taking lots of action shots as we came down from the Dragon's Tooth area. It was an intense little place with a rocky and steep descent. Then I think we came to a place called "Lost Spectacles Gap". What a funny name. When the rain started and we tried to book it to meet Ronin and Melk, I had to focus on something other than the rain pelting me in the face. So I started signing. "When the lights go down in Catawba...and the rain falls on your face...oh I wanna be theeereee, in Catawba....ohhh..ooohhh..ohhh.ohhh." Journey has some great hiking songs.
Date: 2007-06-07
From: Daleville

To: Daleville
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

June 7, Above Average Zero by Team AverageI finally got to sleep in today without feeling guilty. I didn't get up until after nine which was delightful. We all sort of mulled about the hotel room and then decided to go to breakfast at Cracker Barrel since we'd missed the hotel breakfast.Good decision. I ordered wild Maine blueberry pancakes. Absolutely heavenly. There were more blueberries in those pancakes than pancake batter. We sat outside of the Cracker Barrel rocking in rocking chairs for a bit and then headed to the Roanoke County library to use the internet. I didn't realize we'd get sucked in there for hours but we did. Melk and I were ready to go long before the others so we walked down the road to Cafe Soilel for a smoothie and a shake. It was 90 degrees today! After that chunk of the day was gone, we swung by the outfitter. I bought a new pair of socks - hopefully they will be lighter and more airy. Next stop, Kroger. We got some cheese, baguettes, olives, prociutto, dark chocolate, bruschetta and grapes. We stopped by a wine store for a few bottles of red, headed to the pool at our hotel and started roughing it. I've never felt as hardcore as I did today. As Bigby would say, "hiking is hard". I promise I'll get dirty again soon.We sat by the pool for hours eating and relaxing. I took about a five minute dip but it was so cold! Today was a great zero, I finally had a zero where I got to just relax. I didn't do my laundry or resupply but, boy, did I have a nice day.Very tired.- Sound of TV and other members of Team Average laughing.Post Trail Thoughts:What a day this was. I think this was the best day spent off of the trail. I remember some of our fellow hikers looking at us with jealous eyes. You have to remember, the last time I'd eaten bruschetta, grapes, cheese, olives or dark chocolate with red wine was probably quite a while before this (well, not the chocolate). It was all heavenly.Ronin and Young Eagle ended up making another wine run later in the night because we apparently didn't buy enough. Melk got quite tipsy that night, I recall. Around 10/11 p.m., we all decided we were hungry so we tried to go to Rancho Viejo but they were closing. We circled around town for what seemed like forever but everything was closing. We ended up back at the hotel room eating yucky pizza. And then we all passed out for a while.Some random things this makes me recall include: Young Eagle had names for his knees. He called one Thunder and the other, Lightening. And he would always sit down and say, "I will make it to Katahdin with the help of Thunder and Lightening" in a very large voice while grabbing each knee as he referred to it.Ronin used to get so mad when people would say the trail was well graded...because it almost never was. I mean...MAD.
Date: 2007-06-08
From: Dalevile, VA

To: Dalevile, VA
Miles today: 0.0

June 8, Good IntentionsI woke up today planning and expecting to hike. Ronin, Young Eagle and I would wait for Melk to be picked up by her friends for a wedding and then we would slackpack about eight miles. We still had lots to do - laundry, resupply, post office, and a visit to the outfitter - so it felt appropriate to take a short day.We went to Cracker Barrel for breakfast. I had the heavenly wild Maine blueberry pancakes again. Melk and I came back after that while Ronin and Young Eagle went to the outfitter. Melk got picked up around 1 p.m. and Young Eagle, Ronin and I got ready to hike.One minor snafu - my hydration tube had somehow molded overnight (ew). So, YE took me over to the outfitter and I got a replacement. I'm not really sure how that happened but it did. I'm lucky I was in a place where I could so easily fix it.Anyway, back on track, we dropped Ronin off at the trailhead and proceeded to our end. We were supposed to park the car at a Forest Service Road and start hiking. Well, the road was a mess - even compared to other Forest Service Roads. The car was getting scraped on the bottom by large boulders. There was no room to even turn the car around and there was certainly nowhere to park it. Young Eagle decided it was probably a bad idea to park the car in the middle of the road and that was really our only other option. Also, we'd be hard pressed to find anyone willing to shuttle us back out there later.So, we called Ronin and told him to hold tight and we'd pick him up - this slack just wouldn't fly.We headed to the library and then to Rancho Viejo for dinner. It was pouring when we came out, I was glad not to be hiking in it.We're currently working on laundry and getting ready to eat some ice cream.I think I will be around Daleville a little bit longer as Eric is coming to visit tomorrow! - Sound of Sanford and Sons on TV, Ronin laughing, the AC in the hotel room.Post Trail Thoughts:I don't remember much else from this day. It was an eventful breakfast and I was sad to see Melk go, if only for a few days. I do remember that the flavor of my ice cream that night was NY Super Fudge Chunk. This also made me remember that I used to use my pack cover as a laundry basket when I was doing my laundry. Wahoo.
Date: 2007-06-10
From: Daleville, VA

To: Daleville, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

June 10, Lazy DayRan into Talker Man this morning, it was great to see him! He actually extended an invitation to Eric and I to come out to his house in Maine when I finish if it's around the same time or after he finishes! How nice. He promised lobster too!Extremely lazy day today. For some reason I am totally wiped out. I took quite a long nap in between breakfast and dinner. Not much else to speak of except that we went to the movies to see Ocean's Thirteen. Good flick.Didn't accomplish much today.- Sound of "Shrek" on TV.Post Trail Thoughts:This day is the first day that falls into the abyss of AT memories. I don't remember anything about this day other than running into Talker Man again and going to the movies. I'm sure it was a great day though!
Date: 2007-06-11
From: Daleville, VA

To: Daleville, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

June 11, Last Day in Daleville?Happy birthday, Eric! And thank you for coming to visit!Another uneventful day today. I'm a little sad to report that since it is Eric's birthday and we didn't get to do much to celebrate. We checked to see if any minor league baseball teams were playing - none. We were about to go to the pool - the hail came down. So we decided to drive to Blacksburg. We drove around a bit and visited the VA Tech campus and walked around the memorial for the students who died in April. It was pretty somber. The campus, though, was gorgeous. Almost made me want to go to college again. It was a nice day.We had dinner and then resupplied. Back to business tomorrow morning. The logistics should be interesting since Eric will not be with me all day - just moving the car around and meeting me in various places. We shall see ... the forecast calls for scattered thunderstorms all week. Grr.On a side note, I've really gotten used to being around mountains. As we were driving today, I realized that the mountains surrounding the highway would not be there when I go home. How odd will that be. Hiking in Michigan will never be the same again.- Sound of "Dateline" on TV, cars outside, sound of the fridge in our room.Post Trail Thoughts:If I remember correctly, this is the night we had dinner at Red Lobster and used the gift card that W.B., a total stranger, had sent to me in Troutdale. Oh, sweet crab legs.
Date: 2007-06-12
From: Black Horse Gap

To: VA 614
Miles today: 14.5

June 12,Three Months on the TrailI am exhausted. I'm almost convinced something's wrong with me.Eric dropped me off at Black Horse Gap at ten to 9 a.m. The trail was awesome - very few hills and pretty level. It crossed the Blue Ridge Parkway more than a half dozen times. Eric actually met me at a few of the crossings for snacks and lunch, it was really nice. He even had a chair set up for me! I was able to make really good time which was nice too.When I got to Cove Mtn. Shelter, I read in the register that TalkerMan had left his Army cap at the last shelter. He was promising a ride from Katahdin and lobster to whomever returned it. Hmm...Eric met me about a mile up the trail from VA 614 and we hiked down to the road together. I asked if he'd mind if we drove to the Blue Ridge Pkwy. near the last shelter to check and see if TalkerMan's hat was there. It would be about a 20 minute drive, a .9 mile walk to the shelter and then back. But it seemed really important to TalkerMan. And there would be lobster.So, that's what we did. As we were hiking down to the shelter, the thunder started. As I searched the shelter for the hat, the rain started. As we hiked back to the car, it started coming down harder. We were supposed to go back to VA 614 and hike four more miles to the shelter but I opted out of those miles at that point. I'll have to make them up tomorrow. And, sadly, TalkerMan's hat wasn't even there.I am really tired now. It was a nice day on the trail and I enjoyed the hiking. It sure is convenient slacking along the Blue Ridge Parkway.Three months on the trail - woohoo!- Sound of "Fever Pitch" on TV.Post Trail Thoughts:I remember I was bummed that I couldn't help Talker Man out that day but we did get to do a little trailrunnning and that was fun too. Eric and I ended up back in Daleville but this time at the EconoLodge (I think that's what it's called).
Date: 2007-06-13
From: VA 614

To: Petites Gap
Miles today: 18.7

Eric dropped me off at the trail crossing at VA 614 at a little past 8 a.m. today. I was feeling very tired and the sky and mountains were full of clouds - not the most motivating conditions. I hiked up the first hill and I thought it was going to suck all of the energy I had. I was convinced this was going to be a long, tough day. Lots of climbing.I stopped at Bryant Ridge Shelter to knock some rocks out of my shoes and talked with Chopsticks, Comet, Alright, and a guy named John from Roanoke. After that, it was uphill for four miles. I'll be honest, I was dreading it - I've been feeling a general lack of energy the last few days - but it was not unbearable. I turned my iPod on and found motivation in Queen, Rolling Stones, and other greats. It was a tough, sweaty, humid climb but I knew once it was over, I could just relax again. A trail crew was out weed-wacking, very nice.I made it to the top in about two hours and then climbed down a bit to Cornelius Creek Shelter. Stopped there with the same group and a deer who was not scared. It was lunch time but I wasn't hungry (what?) so I just had a Clif bar and went on my merry way. Moments later, we were visited by the daily eruptions of thunder, followed by the daily pouring of the rain. Will this be routine for much longer? I was okay with it as long as there was no lightening. That's good because it stuck with me on and off for the next hour or so. I had to pass something called The Guillotine - a large boulder suspended over the trail - and an FAA tower on top of Apple Orchard Mtn. But soon after that, I was sitting in Eric's car on the Blue Ridge Parkway at our selected destination. It was only 2 p.m. so I knew I could hike some more and I felt like I should since Melk left me a note in the register saying she was thinking of hiking into Glasgow and I knew Ronin and Young Eagle were there too. There was no way I was getting all the way there but a few more miles couldn't hurt. So, the next logical place was Petites Gap, which would be five more miles. I was making great time there and met Eric on the way back to the car. We hiked the last 1.5 miles back to the car together and I met Melk's parents when we arrived. They had met her there earlier. Nice folks and it was good to put faces with the stories Melk's been telling! Now I know those people labelling her food drops!My knees are pretty tired and I am tired but I feel way better than last night. I'm glad to have made a dent in the miles today.- Sound of spagetti boiling. Post Trail Thoughts:This was a really good day for me - speed wise. I felt like I was going pretty fast and was very pleased that I tacked on the additional miles at the end of the day. It was also very nice to meet Melk's parents...just the beginning of lots of quality time with the Melkersons. Slackpacking is a draining experience if done for days on end.
Date: 2007-06-14
From: Petites Gap

To: Glasgow
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: light rain

June 14, Short, Sweet and ProductiveToday was probably a nice hike...had there been more than ten feet of visibility or the rain ever let loose. But it was short.I had been planning on a 20 mile day but I also needed to get to an outfitter and, since we were staying near one in Lynchburg, I opted for a shorter day on the trail and more chores off of the trail. Eric and I headed to the outfitter and I was sad that they didn't have my shoes. I needed something - after more than 400 miles on this pair, part of the bottom is falling off and my knees are feeling it. So, I opted for yet another type of Montrails, can't remember what kind. They didn't have the socks I was looking for either. Sad. I just bought a new pair and I love them so I wanted to get one more pair.That out of the way, we headed to Glasgow to pick up my bounce box. The PO was closed for lunch when we got here so we headed to the Tired Feet Motel and Restaurant for lunch. After that, I went back to retrieve my box. There was also a nice postcard from David there - thank you, David, they make me smile every time! So now I just needed to hike. The weather had been grim all day - drizzle, rain and grossness. Eric dropped me off at Petites Gap at 2 p.m. and I started with pants and my rain jacket as it was pretty cool outside. I passed Sweetwater just as I started hiking, good to run into him again. The rain didn't let up but the hiking was pretty easy. I was able to keep my speed up and dream of the warm, dry car the whole way. I'm sure there were great views along the way but I couldn't see a thing. Just another day in the green tunnel 'o Virginia.Eric met me about a 1/2 mile before Matt's Creek Shelter and we hiked the rest of the way together. We even got to cross the James River Foot Bridge - a bridge dedicated to the memory of William T. Foot, a former thru-hiker and trail maintainer. This was a huge bridge which I'm sure took a lot of manpower to build - pretty cool that folks did that for Mr. Foot. We were done hiking by quarter to six and on our way to a warm place.We had to pull over when smoke started coming out from under the hood of Eric's car. It was burning oil so we pulled into a car wash to hose it down and then picked up some oil to refill it. I actually thought it was pretty funny - of all places for an AT hiker to be, an auto store!?Well, that's really it for today. Glad to be warm and dry again. It sure will be hard when I have to hike with a full pack and deal with it when it rains!- Sound of the shower running. Post Trail Thoughts:At Matt's Creek Shelter, I met Mountain Man. Eric had already talked to him that day and he seemed pretty odd to both of us - he told us he'd thru-hiked several times before but then kept asking us where the water was, etc. It was all very strange. I later found out that the cops were looking for this man. Posters of him were hanging in the Doyle in Duncannon when we arrived. I think he was stealing. Lame.