morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-05-25
From: Narrows Road, Pearisburg

To: Woods Hole hostel
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: scattered clouds

What we get from this adventure is just sheer joy. We do not live to eat and make money. We eat and make money to be able to enjoy life. That is what life means and what life is for. George Mallory   I shed more tears of joy today. It's hard to express the gratitude I feel for the experience of being so well cared for. The tears just flow. I'm a faucet.    Neville prepared a brekky of homemade cinnamon rolls, fresh fruit, cheesy grits with pimentos, scrambled eggs and her own bread with apple butter or preserves. About twenty of us shared this meal at two tables, the regular table and the limber table, a low coffee table for those who could sit cross legged easily. It was a spectacular beginning to a fabulous day. Every day is just better than the day before.    Michael and Neville are massage therapists. I had Neville work out some kinks in my muscles, especially in my shoulders. I do not have any regular pain anywhere, but two months on the trail can beat your body up a bit. Her therapeutic touch was healing and most wonderful.    There are two family groups at Woods Hole, Housebroken's parents and Nimble's mom and brother. I understand the excitement of both mothers, who are seeing their sons for the first time since they began hiking. We caught up with Polaris around this time last year, and it was so good to see how well he looked and to meet some of his hiking friends.       Nimble's mom, Cindy, kindly gave Redspecs and me a ride to Pearisburg. We resupplied at Walmart and stored the items in her car. Then it was off to the trail, to return to Woods Hole. We had a very steep three mile climb out of Pearisburg to a viewpoint called Angel's Rest. Maybe it was the massage--I felt as if I was being lifted up that mountain. I was at the viewpoint in just under an hour. We enjoyed lunch there, then followed a ridge line with views for miles. It was a beautiful day and an enjoyable hike.      Dinner prep was under way when we arrived at the hostel. Nearly thirty people were having dinner and it was nice enough to eat outside. A delicious meal was served with plenty of food for all, even with hiker appetites in play. I set my plate on a porch chair and was plugging my phone into the charger when a chicken stole my buttered bread. We went eyeball to eyeball after that, as she thought me an easy mark for a while. I stood my ground and devoured everything on my plate.    Over the last two days I've seen many hikers here: Housebroken, Faceplant, Loopy, Pantry, Nimble, Side Show, Bitter Goat/Swami, Acorn, Speed, Patchouli, Section Dave, Dirty Rice, Sole Sister, Stretch, Siren, Laces and Brook Trout, The Beast and many others. It's all so good I keep crying. Tie Dye(Extra pix)
Date: 2013-05-26
From: Woods Hole hostel

To: The Captain's place
Miles today: 19.8
Weather: few clouds

Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit. Edward Abbey   After another nourishing brekky, Neville drove us to Pearisburg. We hiked by a Celanese factory then climbed up and out of town. The weather has been beautiful for hiking--on the cool side and often with a slight breeze. We crossed many power lines, which afforded us views, and even hiked alongside one for a while.       Hiking with Redspecs is a delight. We stop to eat every couple hours, and try to take a longer break with a nap or rest at lunch. He is often ahead because he has a longer stride,   but I sometimes climb first as I am still a strong climber. But not today, as my pack is heavy with several days food supply. He is kind and thoughtful and has a great sense of humor.    We hiked through beautiful high meadows, fern forests (my favorite!) and across a rocky ridge line. There was a lengthy, steep climb at the end of a long day--hardest for me as I'm a morning person. By 7:30 p.m. we found ourselves at a zip line which would take us to the Captain's place. Oh my, another giggling adventure.    The Captain and his wife have a lovely home just across the river from the AT. He loves hikers and generously offers his yard for tenting, or his screened porch for sleeping if it's raining. There is a 'fridge stocked with every flavor of soda on the porch. All free--he would not take anything except our heartfelt thanks.    But to get to this paradise, you must cross the river on an ingenious zip line. RS and I were a bit tired, but game for anything that would yield a cold drink. We hauled the seat to our side and I tried to get both legs over it to sit down. Massive gigging ensued, as I couldn't get my second leg through. It would have been much easier if I'd taken my pack off and hung it on the carabiner provided, but after 10 hours of hiking this just didn't occur to me. I eventually got seated, now to belly laughter from both of us, and I was off as RS pulled me across. What a blast!      We got RS across safely and set up our tents. Other hikers were just returning from a hiker feed ten miles away. We met the Captain and it turns out that he is a photographer, too, and he invited us in to see some of his work. He is a very interesting guy, and we were so thankful for his hospitality.    Nutella, Snow, Hollywood, Pundit and a few other hikers were there for the night. Hollywood has been slacking Snow (her husband) through this part of VA. They have a beautiful baby daughter, who is so cute and not at all fussy while living with her parents in a tent or the occasional motel.   I bet she has a thru hike in her future. It's all good at the Captain's place on the river. Tie Dye(Extra pix)
Date: 2013-05-27
From: The Captain's place

To: Laurel Creek shelter
Miles today: 17.3
Weather: broken clouds

Yes, Virginia. You rock!!   Today is Memorial Day. Thank you to all who have served our country and made it possible for our nation to remain free and strong.    For me, today was Trail Magic day. I polished off a peach soda at the Captain's with brekky. Just after we started hiking, we came to a wooden bridge crossing. Hikers resting there offered us fresh muffins which had been dropped off by another hiker's mom. So good--cherry chocolate. Then we leapfrogged a lot with Snow, Pundit and Nutella, who gave us carrots and hummus. Mmmm, been a long time since I've had a carrot. Thanks!!   We had lunch at a beautiful view spot, and took a nap in the sun. This was the first time in days that I was not cold upon stopping and it was glorious. Later, at a road crossing, a section hiker was at her car to return home. She gave us an apple and some almonds. We wolfed that down, happily.    The last part of today's hike was a 2.5 mile climb. Ick for me, but off and up I went. It was arduous but I put my head down and kept going. At another road crossing about two thirds of the way up we came upon a container--trail magic, way up here? YES!!! I had a soda, an oatmeal cake and a peach, and that wonderful food got me up the last part--a steep rocky road climb. Thank you so much, Special K and Super Dave. You rock!!!   The kindness of so many strangers defines the AT hiking community. It is an awesome feeling to receive tangible gifts from people I will never meet, but whom have taken the time to provide for hikers passing through. Far from random, these acts of kindness are deliberate, directed and selfless on the giver's part. I am very thankful to be part of this world. I doesn't get any better than this, to see these expressions of love over and over. It's all lovely. Tie Dye
Date: 2013-05-28
From: Laurel Creek shelter

To: Niday shelter
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: clear sky

Up we climb with glad exhilaration. John Muir   We hiked away from Laurel Creek shelter in the cool morning air, and crossed through several beautiful pastures and over numerous fence stiles. The Keiffer Oak was just ahead, a magnificent tree over 300 years old. Hollywood was hiking there with Tiny Toe in a baby carrier and she warned us of a rattlesnake on the trail ahead.    The big climb for today was next, happily for me in the morning hours. I had seen where we were headed from the farm meadows, and my guide showed a gain of over 1000 feet in less than a mile. Watching for the snake, up we went. Nowadays I rarely stop when climbing, but   Redspecs and I reached a rock part way up, sat, and shook our heads. We would get there, but old legs were complaining! We never saw the snake and looking for it at least kept my mind on something besides the absurd steepness of the trail.    Atop the ridge, we crossed two power lines, littered with downed dead trees and rocks. Sure enough, at the second, RS was hollering "go wide".   Another rattlesnake. I never saw it, but he got a photo. Moved on from there with haste.    Thereafter we followed a ridge that was a series of large rock slabs. On a ridge line profile sometimes you find a nice flat trail, covered in pine needles (OK, in my best dreams, but I have experienced this once or twice), sometimes it's rocky--you never know. Today the rock slabs were at a 45 degree angle and the hiking was hard on the legs and feet. We had fewer miles to cover and this terrain slowed us down.    We walked very carefully and arrived at Niday shelter around 5 p.m.   This was a welcome change from the previous two nights when we'd reached our destination at 7:30 p.m. We had not even cooked anything for dinner the previous night, but made up for it now with a feast of tacos and Mexican rice with summer sausage.    The Beast was there and remarked that he'd seen a sizable black snake at the water source when he saw me with my empty containers. Went zero for three on snakes today as I saw no sight of it. Fine by me.       A little later I heard a female voice approaching Niday. It was Whirled Peas, a hiker I knew of but hadn't met yet. She is delightful, and had just resumed her hike after spending five days with relatives. Her mom had given her loads of food and I was amazed to see the following hit the picnic table: a bag of hard boiled eggs, an onion, two tomatoes, two apples, an avocado, a block of cheese bigger than my fist, a bag of fudge, a mini bottle of Courvoisier and her regular trail food. Bon appetit! It's all good. Tie Dye
Date: 2013-05-29
From: Niday shelter

To: VA Route 311
Miles today: 16.8

She travels grubbiest who travels light. Erma Bombeck   Plan for today: up and out early from Niday, a long, interesting walk and a SHOWER. Yee haw, I'm gonna be clean again. Tonight. Everything is rank, sweated out, icky dirty. Thru hiker reality is that everyone smells, our feet stink from grimy socks and boot funk and our bodies are bug bitten and sticky. But a shower looms. Best!      Our morning walk was on a beautiful switchbacked section of trail. At the top a wooden bench awaited us. We sat and enjoyed a snack. A grassy road then led us to a beautiful monument in honor of Audie Murphy, who had died in a plane crash nearby. Commemorative items had been left there and the US and Texas flags flew overhead. More benches invited us to sit, relax and reflect. A side trail led to a stunning view. It was all very moving.       We hiked forward and went higher, on what eventually seemed an endless ridge climb. Winding, rocky and continued up.   We heard a plane above and Specs said he could see the pilot's face. At last we reached the Dragon's Tooth. This is an area rock slabs on the side of the mountain.   Time to go down.       Following the white blazes took us on steep rocky trail with narrow ledges and metal handles in some areas of vertical drop. Sometimes we handed our trek poles down to whomever went first as they were useless here. We climbed down carefully, balancing our pack weight against the rocky steps and slabs. I wanted to take more photos here, but was too busy trying not to fall off the mountain. It was exhausting.    After the steepest portion, we hiked down rock steps and rocky trail--but wait, we kept hitting hills here, too. Up and down, rocks never ending and feet and bodies protesting. We came to a grassy clearing with signs and I thought at last the end was near. It was, but not before slogging through another mile and a half of rocky ups and downs with more slabs to test our mettle. I would have loved to slide down most of these on my butt. Or maybe just throw my pack down and jump on it.    At last, road in sight!!!   Whooping and hollering, Specs and I high fived it and walked the last bit to the Four Pines hostel. We were tired and happy find a large garage, full of assorted cots, old sofas, patio chaises and a shower. Yes, yes, yes.    We got a lift to a local grocery for food, talked with other hikers and washed our grubby selves clean. A vey happy ending to a great but tiring day of AT hiking. It's all good when grubby ends and clean begins again. Tie Dye
Date: 2013-05-30
From: VA Route 311

To: Four pines hostel
Miles today: 5.9
Weather: broken clouds

If you don't know where you're going, you might end up someplace else. Yogi Berra       Blessings keep coming to me, and I am just so grateful. We were headed to Daleville, 26 miles away. With a spectacular stretch of trail ahead. Tired, too, after eleven days hiking straight. I got a text from my friend Alex, whom I'd met in Hampton, TN. Would it be OK if he came up and slacked me through this part which includes McAfee Knob? Well, knock me over. Yes. I would LOVE that, and the chance to spend time with a special friend.   Ok for Redspecs and Sole Sister, too? Of course. Too good. So now we know where we are going.    We did a little six mile slack back to Four Pines in the morning and threw our stuff in our packs. It was a beautiful day and the morning walk was just enough to work the lactic acid out of my legs. That left a twenty mile walk tomorrow over a stretch of trail that ranks in the top five for most hikers. How perfect.    I ate a little brekky today and had shared my lunch. Those calories were gone quickly after the morning walk and I was already very calorie deficient after days of hiking on trail food. This would come back to haunt me.    Alex arrived and we all went to Daleville. One more hike and then a zero day. Specs and I would have hiked nearly 200 miles in thirteen days after the walk tomorrow and we were tired. Today felt like a zero as we'd done the morning miles easily and were occupied with laundry and other stuff. Planning, pizza, NBA playoffs and beer rounded out a great day.    It's an amazing world on and around the AT. I've met people that will be my friends for life. In person and through this journal. I didn't realize when I left my close circle of friends after moving from NJ that my next friendship community would be made out here. The connections felt when sharing this experience can run long and deep. Folks of all ages who share a similar mindset are all around, and I've seen the powerful bonds of old and new friends repeatedly. And it's so wonderful. Very very astoundingly wonderful. It's all a blessing with good friends. Tie Dye.
Date: 2013-06-01
From: US 220/Daleville

To: US 220/Daleville
Miles today: 0.0

The wise man bridges the gap by laying out the path by means of which he can get from where he is to where he wants to go. J.P. Morgan   Zero day in Daleville, VA.   Nothing could be finer. Redspecs and I had traveled nearly 200 miles over the last 13 days and knew it was a bit too much for us. We'd plan differently going forward, but today was for sleeping and for me, constant eating.       Town chores cried out for doing: laundry, resupply, journal and email, post office, outfitter.   There were many hiking friends in town, so catching up and enjoying time spent in their company was on the agenda.    It was finally time to mail home some cold weather gear.   I'd been so cold at Woods Hole that I'd worn everything I had. But, it was getting warmer (yes, it's June 1st, after all!) and I sent home my fleece vest, rain pants, wool beanie and a extra top and Capri pants which I wasn't using enough to justify keeping.    We spent time at the outfitter as Specs is having his trek pole handles refitted. They arranged to have the right parts sent to Waynesboro. I ate twice before lunch, and we shopped for the next five days. Torrential rain fell at mid day and I was happy to be watching that from the local coffee shop and splashing in the puddles for fun rather than hiking through it.    I could feel my body recovering rest- wise, and I kept eating all day. It was a wonderful zero day and I knew our future held more zeros at regular intervals. I wasn't too efficient at anything all day, and time slipped by. Email and journal were eclipsed by food, planning and friends. It felt great to just hang.    My brother has a vacation home just south of Reeds Gap, off the Blue Ridge Parkway. We had met Polaris in this area last year and slacked him and his group of six from the house for several days. I worked on a similar plan for us....and it's looking like a pretty sure thing. Not as easy as it seems, as we need at least one car/driver.   My kids are the answer and we hope to see both of them in a week. We will hike north to Buena Vista and arrange to meet Friday morning.    It's all good and restful!Tie Dye
Date: 2013-06-02
From: US 220/Daleville

To: Wilson Creek shelter
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: light rain

What did I tell ya? There's the whole world at your feet. And who gets to see it? But the birds, the stars and the chimney sweeps. Bert, in "Mary Poppins"   And thru hikers--we see so much daily that is overlooked by those traveling a little faster. Our world is so magnificent--you just need the time to focus on things and enjoy.    RS and I left town and stopped at a small sign immediately. I nearly kicked a lone bottle of Sprite off the trail--it was right at my feet. We looked at each other: trail magic? Great start. We polished it off and hiked away awash in a sugar shot. Superb.   The trail was so beautiful, winding through pastures, by small fields with rolled hay bales, and up and over numerous fence stiles. The sweet honeysuckle smell almost made me forget my hiker perfume. We wound down into the forest as the skies darkened.    A light rain began falling but it wasn't cold. The rain intensified and the trail turned into a river. I saw a salamander and a frog at a stream crossing. I was soaked, but my pack was protected by my pack cover. Boots were squishy. It was 2.5 slippery miles to the next shelter and we made tracks.    At Wilson Creek Shelter we found Sole Sister, Ledge and Slick napping. We decided to stay the night, as neither of us likes to hike far in the rain. After changing into dry clothes we made a hearty dinner. I am determined to eat more and filled up on potatoes, Ramen with sun driedi tomatoes and salmon and some of RS's beef stroganoff.       This shelter has an interesting privy. On the door, someone had artfully wired together an AT symbol out of twigs.   Beneath that was a sign: Caution! Rat snake lives in/under privy ".   I entered very cautiously but saw no sign of a snake. Inside were four bottles of Lysol spray cleaner. I'm not sure what one would spray the cleaner on....maybe the snake if it appeared at an inopportune moment. Doesn't really sound like a high percentage plan.       Night fell and so did more rain. I am so thankful to be dry. It's all good. Tie Dye. (Extra pix)
Date: 2013-06-03
From: Wilson Creek shelter

To: Cove Mountain shelter
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: light rain

One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.....William Shakespeare (Troilus and Cressida)   It rained all night at Wilson Creek and our things were damp this morning.   We hung stuff up to air and dry a bit before hiking out. Cloudy skies and high humidity joined us as we walked on.    The trail now crosses the Blue Ridge Parkway regularly. It's fun to pop up at overlooks and read informational signs and enjoy the views. Another plus is using trash cans to lighten our load.    At one overlook there was a display sign about the AT. RS was snapping pix there when a van pulled up. An older gentleman stepped out and we began chatting. He was Wanderlost, here with his grandsons, revisiting sites from his 2004 AT hike from GA to CT. He would have been seventy something when he hiked and he asked specifically about Dragon'a Tooth, where he'd broken two ribs. We assured him we knew it well.       His trail name stemmed from losing his way on the back side of Blood Mtn. The crew at Neel's Gap named him and today he wore a ball cap with John Muir's "the mountains are calling and I must go" embroidered across the top. He was the best!   We met his family and they asked us if we'd like a soda. Yes, please!   Hungry? Oh yes, starved! Out came assorted car food. Here, you can have all this....but how to carry a big bag of sour cream and onion chips, a Ziploc of cheese, a tray of fresh cheese danish?   Plus, a gust front came up, raindrops threatened and they wanted to take our pix next to the AT sign.    So here's the scene: I'm stuffing chips down (as politely as possible) RS is doing photos, we are trying to suck down the sodas at light speed so we can give the empty cans back, and we haven't let go of the danish yet. Smile for the camera!   Rain began so Specs and I dashed for the tree line to cover our packs. Wanderlost's family piles into their van but their leaving is delayed when stuff falls out the back. Specs and I see our chance.....we each grab a hunk of danish and run back to return the rest with our thanks. The wonderful woman takes the tray and thrusts a sleeve of saltines and two pieces of wrapped American cheese into my hands. Bye!!! Thank you so much, Wanderlost and trail angel family from Kansas. You all ROCK.    We hiked fast to the next shelter and opted to stay there for the night to avoid more rain. A lovely trail dinner included appetizers, compliments of Wanderlost, served by candlelight, brought to us by a very special prospective thru hiker named Julie. It's all good by candlelight on the AT. Tie Dye(Extra pix)
Date: 2013-06-05
From: Thunder Mountain shelter

To: James River Rt. 60
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: light rain

Be very careful what you set your heart upon, for you will surely have it. Ralph Waldo Emerson   ..... and we were gifted with a marvelous walk from Thunder Mountain shelter to the James River. Alex took the bulk of our gear to town and we skipped, laughed and hiked our way north. An initial climb was followed by miles of easy, beautiful trail. We took a break at a road crossing, then carried on towards the James River.    The last part of the day was a walk through blooming rhodies and mountain laurel. The green tunnel has effectively been painted all shades of pink and purple and it's stunning. A lovely creek ran along side the trail from the last shelter to the river walk. I felt so good when I reached the river that I ran -- not just a jog but a dead out run.    We crossed the James River by traveling over the longest footbridge on the AT. A group of young folks were picnicking on the bridge and looked up to see me yee-hawing across the river. It's just too hard to keep quiet when the end is in sight and you feel as excited and as enthusiastic as I do. I love this hike, every day in every way.    We all ended the day in the little town of Natural Bridge. In a cute roadside motel next to the Pink Cadillac Diner. You guessed it, an Elvisarama with food. Outside stood a King Kong figure, easily 20 feet high. Not sure how to connect those dots. It's all good with Elvis!Tie Dye