morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-03-15
From: Atkins, Virginia

To: VA 42
Miles today: 12.2

Severe thunderstorms were forecast for the Roan Mountain area today so Recess and I decided to do a short hike north of Atkins and then go to Roan tomorrow when the weather is supposed to be nicer.Recess drove up to highway 42 and walked back towards Atkins and I headed north out of town toward her car. We met close to the middle at Crawfish Creek.We also met Sgt. Rock of Whiteblaze fame there. He was hiking the section southbound and was meeting his wife at the end. Sgt. Rock and my friend Wildcat are both from Maryville and now they both have stories of frostbite to share: Wildcat's toes from the CDT and Sgt. Rock ears, he got frostbite during an early February storm on the AT.The "severe" thunderstorms didn't develop until we were done hiking for the day. We stopped in Marion to do some hiker stuff and then drove to the Mountain Harbour B&B to spend the night, passing through Bristol on the way. In Bristol this weekend is Nextel Cup NASCAR racing. We might end up going back that direction about the time when after race traffic will be insane.* * *Skit's bits:* Number of stiles crossed today: 10 (the trail went through a lot of pastureland).* Friendliest grocery store so far: Ingles in Marion (they asked another customer for their discount card so we could use it and besides giving us directions to the library they also called over to find out how late it was open.)* Time I picked up Recess at the Settlers Museum: 1:50 p.m.* Time it started raining: 2:02 p.m.* Miles more than me Recess hiked in the same amount of time: 1.8 miles (to finish a short section she had yet to do in Virginia, but I did hiking in Atkins).
Date: 2008-03-16
From: Hughes Gap (plus road walk to 143)

To: Lynn Camp Creek
Miles today: 21.0

Hughes Gap to Lynn Camp Creek - 182.1 miles.Ok, Hughes Gap to 19E - 18.5, and Highway 42 to Lynn Camp Creek - 2.5 (21 total).It seems I may have been destined to hike Roan Mountain this year in less than ideal conditions.It was cool, windy, icy and the summits enclosed in low clouds. There was inch-deep hoarfrost on the trees, grasses and signs and no views from the balds and grassy ridges.Still the weather was much improved from when I skipped it. For one thing it wasn't rainy. It was also not as windy. Although it was colder.We met a lot of other hikers and made good time finishing the section by 4:30 p.m. We got through Bristol hitting just the start of the post-race traffic and having to halt twice as police let swarms of fans cross the road to the parking lots and road shoulders where their cars were parked.Recess dropped me off on highway 42 abut 7:30 p.m. and I night hiked the 2 miles to Knot Maul shelter. Upon arriving I found two people sound asleep in the shelter so I decided to not wake them and hiked another half mile before setting up camp.* * *Skit's bits:* Something cheesy: I'm notorious for putting cheese in the fridge at hostels and hotels then forgetting it there when I leave. I put my cheese in the fridge at Mountain Harbour and asked Recess to remind me of it. When we got back from hiking we grabbed our stuff and paid for some sodas in the fridge. Two hours later Recess asked me if I had remembered my cheese. Crap, I forgot it. She offered me the rest of the cheese she had, but I declined. That night I set up camp and was pulling my sleeping bag out of my pack when the big hunk of cheese fell out with it. Recess had grabbed it from the hostel and hid it in my pack.* Number of thru-hikers who had signed the Roan Mountain register between March 7 when Dozer and the three Canadians were there and when I came back through on March 16: 0* Movie watched at the hostel with Bob and Gary: Dirty Harry
Date: 2008-03-17
From: Lynn Camp Creek

To: Laurel Creek
Miles today: 23.2
Weather: clear sky

Happy Saint Patrick's DayIt turned out that it was Dozer and Dr. Pepper who were sleeping in the Knot Maul Shelter last night.Dozer caught up to me as I was taking a break on the climb up Chestnut Ridge. He scared the crap out of me as I was sitting along the trail listening to my MP3 player, brushing my teeth and looking at a map when he walked up and said 'hey.' I jumped. He said he had called out a few times, but I was oblivious.I hiked with Dozer for about six miles then stopped to take another break and Dr. Pepper showed up. Dozer is 50, but looks 40. He hikes at a strong pace without stopping. Dr. Pepper is 31, a former Marine, and has a hiking pace fairly similar to mine. I had passed him twice without meeting him (in Damascus and at the Knot Maul Shelter).We hiked past Burkes Garden today, a big bowl completely surrounded by high ridges and filled with farms. It looks like an old volcano caldera, like Crater Lake, but filled with green grass instead of water. I'd like to check a little more into its history.The trail has been rerouted to follow the highwater route around Little Wolf Creek so you no longer have the 17 fords of the creek. It looks like the bridge over Laurel Creek was washed out which may have led to the reroute.I'm 49 miles from Pearisburg. I think I will be able to get there with two long days of hiking.* * *Skit's bits:* I'm supposed to say hi to Dozer's wife. Hi Dozer's wife.* Plane crashes heard by Dozer and Dr. Pepper yesterday: 1 (some boy scouts actually saw the single-engine plane crash north of Atkins)* Trash seen at roadside pullout: deer carcass, human feces, kids' clothes, propane bottles, beer bottles.
Date: 2008-03-18
From: Laurel Creek

To: just past Wapiti Shelter
Miles today: 33.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Well I guess I should make it to Pearisburg tomorrow since I have less than 17 miles left.Fueled by a chicken dinner with mashed potatoes and green beans at Trent's Grocery, I night-hiked until 11 p.m. I was going to stay at the Wapiti Shelter, but there was someone there when I arrived at 10:45 p.m. and I thought it would be rude to wake them so I hiked on a bit.I had some chafing issues in the middle of the day and my legs are a little sore, but for doing 33 miles I feel surprising good. I think that is the most miles I have ever done without involving a slackpack of some sort.Wonder how I'll feel in the morning.There was a story in the paper on the plane crash Dr. Pepper and Dozer heard. Two people were killed in the crash. The flight had originated in Canada and the pilot had reported ice on the plane's wings.* * *Skit's bits:* Number of times I've night-hiked to a shelter in the last 3 days only to move on when I found it occupied: 2* Number of locations my GPS shows the Wapiti Shelter at: 2 (It looks like it may have been moved after a trail relocation.)* Blue blaze I took today: Road walk from Trent's Grocery up to Dismal Falls then back to the AT after crossing Dismal Creek on a log. (It seemed to me about the same distance if not longer than the AT but avoided having to take a sidehike to see the falls).
Date: 2008-03-19
From: just past Wapiti Shelter

To: Pearisburg
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I have absolutely no energy today, good thing I only have to do 17 miles by 5:30 or Emily might end up waiting around for me.I suppose hiking 33 miles, setting up camp at 11 p.m., going to bed after midnight, being kept up by a mouse rustling around the tent, and waking up at 7:30 might have a bit to do with my lethargy.I thought I heard a tornado siren as I left camp and before climbing 1,500 feet to the top of a ridge. Medium-size very dark clouds and flying quickly over the ridge, but none really looks like a tornado producer to me.The rain stayed away until noon then started lightly and kept getting stronger. The guidebook says the views from Angel's rest (2,000 feet above Pearisburg) are outstanding, but I mostly saw clouds whizzing past.Descending into Pearisburg I realized I was a little ahead of schedule so I began to walk very slowly instead of arriving early and having to sit in the rain. I walked out on Lane Street at exactly 5:30 and at the exact same time Emily pulled up. Awesome. I hopped in the car and we went to go find something to eat before heading to Blacksburg.* * *Skit's bits:* Places Emily drove me: Wendy's, her house, outfitter, Dick's Sporting Goods, Carnival Shoes, Wal-Mart, sub shop.* New things I bought: Rainjacket (Columbia Thunderstorm); 2 pairs shoes (New Balances 402s, buy one get one half off at Carnival Shoes so I got two pairs for $62 after passing on the $80 "hiking" shoes at the outfitter and Dick's).* Length of time it took me to shave off 5 weeks of beard with disposable razors: 25 minutes* Time I went to bed for the second straight night: After midnight.
Date: 2008-03-20
From: Pearisburg

To: VA 635
Miles today: 21.3

It was a brisk opening day of spring on the ridgeline, but a rather pleasant day once you were down in the valley.The Pine Swamp Branch Shelter is no more (but it looks like they are getting ready to fix it). Only the outside brick wall and wooden side bunks remain. Apparently last spring a tree fell on the shelter, completely destroying the roof. There were hikers in the shelter, but none were on the top bunks and nobody was hurt.I passed Tabasco today and apparently unknown hiker, Vagus, Stride and Amazon also left Pearisburg after me. I did a 22-mile slackpack and was flying down the trail scaring up deer left and right. I made it the 12.3 miles from Rice Field Shelter to whats left of Pine Swamp in 4 1/2 hours. My new shoes seemed to be doing well for Day 1.Tabasco hiked 700 miles of the trail last year before going home to his wife, but is intent on doing the whole trail this year. When he saw me he asked if I was a dayhiker. With new shoes, new coat, freshly laundered clothes and a shaved face I probably looked and smelled like a dayhiker.The bridge across Big Stony Creek has also been washed out so you either have to ford it or roadwalk 2 miles.* * *Skit's bits:* Number of yellow "No fishing, hunting, trespassing" signs on both sides of trail on climb out of Pearisburg: At least 40* Percentage of stiles that no longer need to be used to cross fences on AT: 38.6* Only hiker I know for sure that is still ahead of me on the trail: Shine On You Crazy Diamond (that's too long of a name so I am calling him SOY CD). I think Trek is still out there way ahead, but am not sure.Recess' pieces:* Number of natural lakes in the entire state of Virginia: 2 (Mountain Lake near Blacksburg where Dirty Dancing was filmed, and Drummond Lake in the middle of the Great Dismal Swamp).
Date: 2008-03-21
From: VA 635

To: VA 42
Miles today: 18.5

After another fairly late night, Emily again got up before work to give me a ride to the trailhead.The cold morning air helped keep me awake and moving as I headed uphill early. I had expected some of the NOBO bubble to have stayed at Bailey Gap, but there was no one there and nobody had signed the logbook.I took the road paralleling above the notoriously rocky section of trail just before the Salt Sulphur Turnpike.The climb up to Rock Gap was as tough as I remembered and this time there was no trail magic waiting from Super Dave.Saw a couple people on Kelly's Knob and got to the road at 4:00 where I sat and read some of "Where is Joe Merchant," a book by Jimmy Buffett.Around 5 pm Vagus came across the field. He asked if I was Skittles and then thanked me for the advice I had given him. This puzzled me for a moment as I had not met Vagus until then, but then he clarified that his real name was Clinton and he was from Florida. It turned out he had e-mailed me before the hike with a bunch of questions that I had tried to answer. It was cool to meet him.Turns out the whole group -- Tabasco, Stride, Amazon, Vagus, Dr. Pepper and Dozer -- had stayed at the roofless Pine Swamp Branch Shelter last night. Vagus has to finish early for medical school so he might start bumping up his miles.Ate dinner at the Reisingers'. Emily's mom made a salad and lasagna. It was a great meal.* * *Skit's bits:* Book I was reading while waiting at VA 42: "Where is Joe Merchant" by Jimmy Buffett.* Dinner made at the Reisingers' by Suzanne, Emily's mom: Lasagna, lettuce salad, brownies. It was delicious.* Number of days after the fact I am writing this journal: 3 (staying in town is detrimental to journal writing).
Date: 2008-03-22
From: VA 620

To: VA 624
Miles today: 7.7

A real fun day of hiking with Emily, Will and Tom Reisinger, going over Dragon's Tooth.Tom dropped Emily, Will and I off at VA 620 and drove around to the Dragon's Tooth parking lot. Then we had a race to see who would get to the junction atop the ridge first.We stopped to climb a small baby tooth, jutting 12-15 feet high. It was a fun climb. Tom had been waiting for a while at the junction when we got there.There were dozens of people crawling all over the Dragon's Tooth on a nice Saturday afternoon. We hung out on a slightly more secluded ledge and enjoyed the views.Climbing down, Will and Tom took a secondary trail down to the parking lot then drove around and picked Emily and I up where the AT crosses the road.We went back to Blacksburg, had another great meal made by Suzanne, watched some basketball, went back to Emily's house and got caught off guard again when the clock reached midnight.* * *Skit's bits:The Department of Homeland Security helped us out today. After Tom and Will picked Emily and I up a white truck honked at us and pulled up alongside us at an intersection. The top of a logo on the side said Homeland Security. The guy told us there was a pair of shoes on our bumper. Tom had forgotten his non-hiking shoes there and had managed to drive close to a mile over several bumps and a couple of turns without them falling off. As the truck drove away I noticed it said Construction Company on the bottom half of the logo.* * *This day in bad trail poetry:People clinging todecaying dragon's teeth, butwhere is the dragon?
Date: 2008-03-23
From: VA 42

To: VA 620
Miles today: 18.7

Spring is beginning to make itself known. More birds are singing along the trail and a few flowers are starting to unfurl.Emily and I thought we would have to do another criss-cross, key handoff hike today, but the rest of her family decided to meet us in the middle and drop a car off for us at the finish (her dad gave us a ride to the start).Since it was Easter I tried to sing a few Easter songs, but couldn't really think of definitive Easter hymns. I ended up signing part of This is My Father's World and The Old Rugged Cross. I also sang O' Canada, which is a fun anthem to sing.The second half of the day we crossed a narrow ridge which proved dangerous because it was covered calf deep in leaves and the leaves hid rocks that caused you to trip and slip.We also passed the Audie Murphy memorial. Murphy was World War II's most decorated veteran (3 Purple Hearts) and died in a plane crash near here.* * *Skit's bits:* Flowers seen today: Trout Lily, Striped Pipsissewa (striped wintergreen), partridge berry. (Tom IDed the flowers).* Number of days in a row I've ate dinner at the Reisinger household: 3 (tonight it was pork roast, fruit jello, mashed potatoes and peas. I think Suzanne made the fruit jello in honor of me being from Minnesota.)* * *The day in bad trail poetry:Rustle, rustle, rustle, rustlecrunch, crunch, rustle, crunch,hidden rock, stumblefootache, heartbreak
Date: 2008-03-24
From: VA 624

To: McAfee Knob
Miles today: 9.6
Weather: broken clouds

There are a few snowflakes falling, it is windy and I am cowboy camping on McAfee Knob. If it snows harder I might have to pack up and move on a bit to a place I can camp, but I want to get up at dawn and try to get a photo at McAfee, one of the most photographed points on the trail.Emily dropped me off at VA 624 around 6:15 p.m. and I walked in a bit of a trance, deep in thought for much of the night. I didn't have to turn on my headlamp until 8:30 p.m.The main group of NOBOs is in Daleville tonight (16 miles north of me) according to one of their trailjournals I read today while hanging out at Emily's. (She was at work while I organized some CDT maps she printed for me, downloaded songs on my mp3 and generally surfed the internet). If I do two long 25-28 mile days I might catch them. It would be fun to hike with some other people a little, but I'm also taking most of next weekend off to spend with my West Virginia friends -- Jay and Jolie -- so I'd end up chasing the NOBO bubble again. Thats okay, it gives me a goal.* * *Skit's bits:* Number of days in a row I spent at least a few hours in Blacksburg: 6 (Wed. night through Mon. morning)* Book I am currently carrying: Alive* Number of trips Emily or a member of her family made to and from a trailhead in the past 6 days: 9 (twice Emily made two trips in a day to slackpack me)* Number of new songs on my mp3 player: 138* Number that say unknown track: About a third.* * *The day in bad trail poetry:Cowboy camping under a starry sky,the bright moon makes sleep hard to come by,my head is filled with thoughts, hopes and dreams,it's Marlon Brando, Pocahontas and I
Date: 2008-03-25
From: McAfee Knob

To: Wilson Creek Shelter
Miles today: 27.3
Weather: clear sky

It was a cold, frosty morning as I woke up to a wet, icy coating on all my gear.My fingers were cold after packing and barely worked as I tried to take a few self-timed pictures on the knob.The hiking was easy most of the day and I passed Dr. Pepper and Tabasco about 3 miles before Daleville where they were talking about getting a hotel.I ate lunch at Pizza Hut and kept moving, meeting Amoeba who was hiking southbound. She told me that Vagus and Stride were just ahead of me and that Amazon had trenchfoot and was taking some time off the trail. Amoeba and I apparently just missed meeting near Monson in 2004.I reached the Wilson Creek shelter a little after dark and met Vagus and Stride, who were preparing to nighthike. I've already done 27 miles so I'm staying here. They were fun to talk with and I'll probably see them again at some point tomorrow.Tomorrow I'm taking a blueblaze -- I just don't know which one yet. I'm either going to the Peaks of Otter and hiking Flat Top or staying on the AT longer and taking a side hike to Apple Orchard Falls, both should be cool hikes.* * *Skit's bits:* Items at the Lambert's Meadow Shelter: 41 (yes 41). Climbing and Rock & Ice magazines, a Virginia license plate, a sign warning of ROUS (rodents of unusual size) and a glass Coke bottle.* Number of people I saw moments after I was belting out part of Phantom of the Opera: 4 (none of the four guys said much of anything as I passed them).* Sample questions and answers for the game Such and Such at the table at Pizza Hut:1. They played two wild and crazy guys on SNL2. They carry blood to and from the heart3. In reference to tobacco, put that in your ...4. The marionette who comes to life, and the toymaker who created him5. Chewy fruit flavored candies named after two guys with rhyming namesAnswers1. Steve Martin and Dan Akroyd; 2. Veins and arteries, 3. Pipe and smoke it; 4. Pinocchio and Gepetto, 5. Mike and Ike* * *The day in bad trail poetryCold sunrise at McAfee,Silhouette on a jutting slabself-timer set to 30 secondsnobody else is here yet* * *Skittles, Tabasco, Dr. PepperCandy, condiment, soda popAmoeba's making her own shapeVagus is taking the trail in StrideOh where doth Amazon, Dozer, et. al hide?
Date: 2008-03-26
From: Wilson Creek Shelter

To: Cornelius Creek Shelter
Miles today: 25.6
Weather: clear sky

On perhaps the warmest, sunniest day (upper 60s) we've had yet I opted to blue blaze to the Peaks of Otter and do the hike over the top of Flattop. (I put the AT mileage in since the 10-mile roadwalk and 5-mile hike about equals out as near as I can tell.)The Peaks of Otter rise sharply from the lowground to the east and look more impressive than they really are. They were once thought to be the highest peaks in Virginia and before any major exploring had taken place Thomas Jefferson guessed they might be the highest peaks in North America. But with Flattop topping out at just over 4,000 feet they aren't even taller than Apple Orchard Mountain which we go over tomorrow.I was tired this morning and didn't hit the trail until 8 a.m. Still I caught Stride and Vagus as they were breaking camp about 3 miles up the trail. We hiked together for about 7 miles, taking a lunch break at Bearwallow Gap before they stayed on the AT and I went to the peaks. I hope to hike more with them in the future. We talked a bit about doing the Maryland Challenge (41 miles in a day).At the shelter I met a hiker named Biff (after a Sesame Street character) who is hiking southbound from Shenandoah to Springer. He said he had thought about then flipping back up, but that he was already tired. He expressed surprise at my thin sleeping bag, had a hard time believing I had hiked 25 miles today and when he heard I had thru-hiked in 2004 gasped "Why would someone want to do it again!?". I don't think he's enjoying himself.Early in the day we also met Broadway (GAME '07) and his dad, Plus-One. Broadway said he had heard of me -- "you've done a lot of hiking, right?" - which was a nice little ego boost.* * *Skit's bits:* Weight of my heavy pack (Kelty Red Cloud) and sleeping bag (0 degree synthetic): 10 pounds* Weight of my current pack (ULA Conduit) and sleeping bag (20 degree down): 4 pounds* No. of days I've worn my knee brace since switching packs on March 15: 0* No. of deer I saw while walking the road today: 5* No. of deer I saw from the trail: 0* * *This day in bad trail poetry:Off-keyFlat and sharp tops struck a major chord with Mr. Jefferson,but proved to be merely introductory notes to the Hallelujah Chorus of the Rockies* * *An Ode to Butt Chafe (for Kris Johnson)Oh scourge of big-cheeked hikers that strikes without prediction,Thou rubbest thee raw in places inverted,And maketh thee walk as though corncob inserted,Oh what can cure this dreaded affliction?,A good wash, clean shorts and a zinc oxide addiction
Date: 2008-03-27
From: Cornelius Creek Shelter

To: John's Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 21.6
Weather: broken clouds

Well now I've got to put in some good miles in the next day-and-a-half as I'm meeting my friends at 11 a.m. on Saturday in Montebello instead of Buena Vista. So I've got 36.4 miles to do.I debated about doing a few more miles tonight since I was at the shelter by 7 p.m., but decided to stay and talk to Scrabble and Ember (It was Ember's phone I was able to use to call my friends and change meeting places). They are 19-year-old kids who are doing a flip-flop hike having started in Waynesboro. Ember got his name after almost starting a fire with his white gas canister. He was trying to start a campfire with it when the flame jumped to the canister, his hand caught fire and he left a trail of fire by the creek and on the water when he tried to throw the canister in to put out the flame. Or at least that's pretty close to the story, I was laughing too hard as he was telling it to remember everything. Scrabble got his name from a Pictionary game (he guessed Scrabble from a drawing nobody should have been able to guess Scrabble from). They have a journal at postholer.com.Down in the lower James River today many more flowers and trees are blooming and another sign of spring made an appearance -- I got bit by a mosquito.* * *Skit's bits:* Lowest elevation trail has reached to date: 670 feet on the Lower Rocky Run Row bridge.* The James River Foot bridge is made for pedestrian traffic and is the longest foot-use-only bridge on the trail, but its name comes from the man who helped make the bridge possible: Bill Foot.* The periodic table of elements was written in the Matt's Creek register for some reason. I knew hydrogen and helium, beyond that it was a lot of guessing.* Here's a few to figure out, starting from the right side of the first complete row in the chart: K Ca Sc Tt V Cr Mn Fe Co Ni Cu Zn Ga Ge As Se Br Kr* * *This day in really bad trail poetry:Don't steal from the Apple Orchard you hikers,for those who can't resist tempting the fates,a punishment worse than Jean Val Jean's is theirs,the guillotine awaits