morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2011-05-23
From: Lamberts Meadow Shelter

To: Wilson Creek Shelter
Miles today: 20.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Good day today, spirits are lifted with new shoes and good news. So I woke up today and hopefully had the last day with the serious pain starting in the morning though it will probably be a while before the pinky tow completely grows back its skin and it doesn't hurt in the beginning. Had some breakfast and packed up as usual and made some good time to town. 9 something miles in about three and a half to four hours. In town I walked straight to the outfitters and found new socks I wanted first, put them on and started looking at shoes. Finally decided on a pair of Oboz trail runners. Apparently designed by the same maker of Montrail before they where bought by someone else. With those on I picked up a bottle of Polar Pure which is an alternative to the Aqua Mira I have been using to purify my water. About same price but is good for 2000 gallons vs 30. Down fall is it is iodine based so have to deal with that taste. First liter I treated wasn't bad though. After that was a trip to Wendys for lunch, 3 $1 double stacks, 2 five piece nuggets, 1 large fry, and a dr pepper. It was all gone in about ten minutes. I didn't have to eat again until tonight. After that was resupply for five days. Also picked up a dessert for tomorrow night when I meet up with everyone, more on that later. After that while sitting around outside the outfitter waiting for the heat of the day to pass I went and looked for a light air of sandals. They didn't have any so I grabbed a set of insoles from new boots that were left in the hiker box. I then used some cord and made some sandals from them. Talked with someone who had said Pappy and Hover left town this morning and Veto and Fiber left yesterday, that meant they where probably going to the third shelter out. About 3:30 I decided to get going and get to at least the second shelter and see if I wanted to push for almost a 28 mile day. The trip to the second shelter was a lot of climbing and I drank near a gallon of water in the ten miles. Decided to stop there and just get up early and do the rest of the miles before they even wake up tomorrow. Just going to get to there camp and be sitting there when they wake up, which means I have to get up pretty early and its already 10:30. Here at cam tonight I am in my tent with high winds but clear weather earlier, still might rain though. Bugs are bad again tonight so I had to break out the bug net for the first time. Well time for some sleep before my last big mile day.
Date: 2011-05-24
From: Wilson Creek Shelter

To: Creek side campsite
Miles today: 27.0

27 miles and no luck on catching them yet but tonight I hear they are only about 3.8 miles away, just couldn't go any further after the big climbs with still many more to do.So as I mentioned I was going to wake up early to catch them before they left this morning. Got up around 4:45 and on the trail at about 5:45. Hiked the 7.3 miles to the shelter in record time and got there just after 8 to find they didn't even stay there, they had gone on another 6.5 miles. So off I went, the trail for most of these two sections criss crossed the Blue Ridge Parkway so the trail basically passed through all of the scenic overlooks along they way. Made it to the second shelter and meet Mishka, Mehow, SnowyRiver, and Rambling Man who have always been around us most of the trail. By this point at 11 I had already done 13.8 miles. In two more miles was a river crossing with a swimming hole. Headed there and dived in and washed the sweat off all my clothes. Not that it really mattered since now they where wet and shortly sweaty again as this was the start of a five mile climb up 2600 ft. to the next two shelters with an 800 ft dip. Decided to stay at this shelter instead of five more miles where I was told everyone moved onto. There was still over 2000 ft worth of climbing to do. But at the shelter when I arrived was a bunch of troubled teens in a group outing that didn't look like it would be good to stick around. So I did another 1.3 miles to a water source and found a spot to stay. Pheonix Rising also joined, the others from earlier I thought where coming here as well but must have stopped about a half mile earlier in a clearing. Setup my tent with the bug net up properly tonight and retired from the bugs around 7. Will be an early night after getting up so early. Again today I set a new longest day at 27 which also gives me a marathon day but couldn't quit work out the next few miles for a thirty. One day it will happen but need a few days break before I do it, and not so many big climbs.Tomorrow just before the next shelter I go through the guillotine, which is a boulder wedged between two slabs of rock you walk between. And again hopefully I catch up as long as they don't decide to do another long day.
Date: 2011-05-25
From: 27

To: Johns Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 20.3
Weather: few clouds

I finally caught up today with a twenty and they are planning an 18 tomorrow to setup for the resupply the next day. So big miles but not near as high as lately. Got up pretty late and didn't want to get out of bed. Finally started moving around 7 and cooked a breakfast and got on the trail around 8:15. Did the first climb right at the beginning of the day and met Mishka Meehow Snowy River and Rambling Man there and walked with them most of the day. Was actually planning at one point to go into town with them and zero because guess what, my other foot started to get shin pains. More on that later. Passed under the guillotine and at the end of the day crossed over the James River foot bridge where people jump off into the river. Watched some locals jump off and got a picture of them while they where falling. This was where the road to town was, but I decided to walk another 1.8 to where I knew everyone pretty much had to stop. Got here and finally reunited with everyone. Sat around catching up a bit and finally got ready for the evening. A lot of hikers here but only three of us in the shelter. It seems most stay in tents now because of bugs. My bug net for my tarp can also be hung in the shelter so doesn't matter for me.So yes today from all of the climbing yesterday and today my right shin started getting the shin splints. Worked through it walking correctly and wrapped it and it did ok. Hopefully it will get me to Waynseboro where I get a zero, about four or five days it sounds like.Time to sleep and get the miles over quick tomorrow and rest in the swimming hole where we are going.
Date: 2011-05-26
From: Johns Hollow Shelter

To: Brown Mountain Creek Shelter
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Hot day with the leg hurting pretty good for the second half of the day. Big climb to start the day with about 2200 hundred foot climb. Got up pretty early and started the trail around 6:30, Pappy was out shortly after me along with Bag Drop who I guess has been a new addition to the group. Made the first section of the climb in about an hour, at the top of that or the second part we got to Ottie Cline Powell monument. The spot is where a four year old kid wandered off and died about seven miles from the school he was at in 1890 or so. Then we had mostly downhill to the shelter. Stopped at the Blue Ridge Parkway and had a small lunch, a little later going up a short up hill I realized I didn't eat near enough and had to stop and eat more. About this time is where I really started losing everyone that started early. While getting water at a spring I ran into a ridge runner who walked behind me for the next 30 minutes or so. Talked about the trail and such and I eventually stopped and she kept going. Passed her shortly later when she was cutting up some trees that had fallen on the trail. Finally made it to the shelter with only Hover not beating me there who is having her own feet swelling issues and moved slow. After getting to camp i went to the "swimming hole" and soaked my feet for a while. Regina the ridge runner came in shortly later and had dinner when Hover recognized her from a hike she did before, there was some kind of connection but not sure other than hiking the Benton McKay trail. After dinner it was more of the normal stuff, talking about food, drpeppers, and other random stuff. Tomorrow is a town day so plans for all sorts of things comes up. We have a ten mile hitch to get into town so will be our first real hitch. Then the main plan is to get about 6-7 miles back out but I am pushing for about a mile out and thinking of bringing something good to eat. Also have only about three or four days of hiking to the next town so good food is an option and a very short day would be nice to be able to rest the leg.Was told once that everyone will have some kind of pain to complain about after a point. At least four people have some kind of issue going on of the seven or so of us hiking together right now. Goodnight.
Date: 2011-05-27
From: Brown Mountain Creek Shelter

To: Glen Maury Campground
Miles today: 2.4

Well I am writing this the next night due to not much sleep the night before. It was a good nero though.So last night I couldn't really sleep with the heat and didn't get cool enough till around midnight to sleep when the storm came in and kept me up till around 3 or 4. After that I woke up at 6 and decided to get moving to get into town. 2.4 listed miles I believe and it took like thirty minutes. Something was wrong with the guide book and had been the last two days. Oh well not going to complain. So I get to the road and now have to hitch the nine miles to town, stand there trying for about ten cars with no ride when Pappy gets there. He trys for ten to fifteen cars and still nothing. Then Hover arrives and we got a ride the first car that came by, go figure. So we get dropped off at Hardees and have breakfast there and I drink three large drpeppers. Bisquits and gravy are always tops for both Tomahawk and I, who arrived in time to get a ride as well. After breakfast we resupplied at Dollar General the dropped off our bags at the wine store who allows thru hikers to do just that and the wife drives hikers around town. She actually drove by us and picked us up and brought us there. Wonderful service even though its not necessarily something hikers are going to be going to a lot. After that we went to the library for a bit before hitting Franks for the Memories sandwich shop for lunch. Great reuben sandwich and fries. While everyone was sitting around there my lack of sleep hit me. I went back to the library lawn across the street under a tree for shade and slept for about an hour or two. Yes slept right in downtown in the grass like a homeless person, it was great. We all grouped back up and where supposed to hike back out, weather was calling for hail at two so no one was to enthusiastic to get going and finally decided to stay at the campground in town. Lucky for us since its memorial day weekend they were having a concert. Tons of people were there but the concert was way at the other end. After setting up our tents we retreated to a covered pavilion when the rain started. I sat there a while till the rain let up and then retired to my tent for the evening around 6 or 7 and went to sleep to tired to journal thus the reason for writing the day after. Some of the others had some wine they bought and went to the concert for three dollars. Was a good rest day for me that I really needed but still had a lot of walking. My shin wasn't to bad and actually iced it sitting under the pavilion. For dinner I split a fresh loaf of spinach bread with Veto we got at the wine store and bought a half pound of roast beef at a deli near by. Was a nice simple meal but great. Tomorrow 800 miles.
Date: 2011-05-28
From: Glen Maury Campground

To: Seely-Woodworth Shelter
Miles today: 13.4
Weather: light rain

Today was a great day with interesting morning and great trail magic from Hovers family who hiked out with us a few miles and are camped here with us. So we got up this morning and migrated back to the pavilion out of the early rain. Pappy and I needed to get some extra food because of the change of plans so we walked to a store and everyone got some food for breakfast and such, then we had to get a ride to the trail. We sent Hover out to hitch to no avail, with 6 people no one wanted to stop. Tomahawk finally just started walking and 100 yards away some one stopped and picked him up. That made Veto and Fiber do the same but we never saw them get picked up. After some more time with three of us and no ride we started walking. A lady in a truck pulling out of a side street seeing us hitching waited and asked where we were going. We told her to the Hardees at the road back to the trail. She offered to take us and we jumped in, just before the road she asked if we where needing to go further and offered to take us back to the trail. We make it back and when we pull up Hover's family is there who were early and supposed to meet us at another road further down the trail. Matt(dad), Pat(mom) and Abby(sister) greet us and they offer us food and drinks but we don't need anything after the resupply. We eventually start making the climb out and head for our meeting spot. Tough climb that really took it out of my leg but I eventually pull into a road before where we were supposed to meet and there Hovers family is again along with some additions of an aunt, uncle and family friend, Mark, Tina and MB and greeted with tons of food and drinks which much of is packed out with us. DrPepper and Nutty Buddys, pepperoni rolls, cookies, chips and apples consumed with a few dp's carried out. Along the way to the shelter we pass the first rattlesnake I have seen out here. About four or five feet long and three inches in diameter. Tomahawk stuck around to warn Hovers family and to get some good pictures. Fiber and Tomahawk have a competition to get the best rattlesnake picture. I make it to the shelter still on a sore leg and get a shelter spot, its just Twofer and me in the shelter. We sit around and eat a ton of food and talk about thru hiking with everyone. Eventually I get to bed and only write last nights journal and half of this one. Tomorrow Hovers family will hike back out and drive to another road to meet us again.
Date: 2011-05-29
From: Seely-Woodworth Shelter

To: Harpers Creek Shelter
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was a hot one but not as hot as it is supposed to be the next two days, expected record highs of 95. More trail magic from the family and some even hiked out another few miles to stay tonight as well. So the started out as normal but a little slower to see what the plans would be. Got walking to meet the family again about 12 miles in at another road crossing. On the way I climbed up spy rock which was a fun rock scramble up maybe 30 feet. Ok views but only of the surrounding valley. Next I made my way up the Priest mountain where I had another view of a valley with a cloud rolling in from where we were going. I skiped the extra length to the Priest shelter to look at the shelter register where everyone confesses stuff. With the leg I didn't want to walk the extra distance or take the time. Although spy rock and priest views I did do. After Priest mountain I had the 3000 foot four mile downhill to the road. Tough descent but eventually make it down and we wait for the family to arrive about thirty minutes later. Have some more food and rest a bit. Eventually say good bye and head up the start of tomorrows climb with two DrPeppers in tow. Make it to the shelter and Fiber and Veto are discussing moving on. I decide to stay here instead of doing a twenty mile day along with Pappy and Hover. Hovers Aunt, Uncle and Mb where possibly coming up here tonight. Tomahawk arrives a little later and confirms they are. We sit around talking with Zipper who hiked in 09 and eventually Mark, Tina and MB when they arrive. At some point I soak my leg in the creek and bathe and wash some clothes. For dinner I made the dessert of pistachio pudding, almond slivers and graham cracker pie crust. Mb decided to try out the shelter tonight and that about sums up the day.Tomorrow we are waking up early to climb the rest of the mountain and maybe doing a twenty two mile day to catch Fiber and Veto. I will have to see how my leg handles it and will be taking the afternoon off during the prime heat.Early day good night.
Date: 2011-05-30
From: Harpers Creek Shelter

To: Paul C. Wolfe Shelter
Miles today: 22.0
Weather: scattered clouds

So today was another rough hot long day. Tomorrow I will have to go to the doctor again this time for an infection. We also enter the SNP the day after most likely. And finally I have my first bear sighting though I wasn't the first.So we got up early to make our last huge climb for some time. Got it over then it was an easier day twenty two miles to our destination. That wasn't necessarily the case with the heat and issues I had. Half way or so I got some trail magic in a cooler with vitamin water and oreos. After that my foot really started hurting and the new problem appeared. A bite on my ankle started swelling and getting really inflamed. Every morning I doctor up my wounds with iodine and neosporin but apparently that just hasn't been enough. Early in the day when we caught Hover at one of the shelters she had seen a bear and two cubs. She didn't get any pictures so they are only imaginary with out proof. Gave her a hard time about it. Then a mile and a half before the final shelter I heard something running through the forest, when I looked up a bear stopped in the woods a little way off the trail looked at me for a second then took off again. So now I have seen an imaginary bear as well on the same day. As I get to the shelter I tell Hover I have seen an imaginary bear and she states she really did see a bear. When I say it was a mile back she says oh you actually saw a bear to. She thought I was giving here a hard time. I had been in a pretty down mood all day until I saw the bear with my legs and all. Only took until about seven miles from Shanendoahs to see one, oh well.Well tomorrow a visit to the doctor and all that good stuff.
Date: 2011-05-31
From: Paul C. Wolfe Shelter

To: Waynesboro Hiker Hostel
Miles today: 5.0

Nero day in to town with dr visit, not the kind of day I want to be having. Will be zeroing here tomorrow because I really need it and its really hot out. So we got up early as usual to get to town. On the trail at 6:30 with a very swollen left ankle from the infection. Getting moving is tough but once started things flow a little easier. Tomahawk and I made it to the road first with Veto and Fiber shortly behind. As we are standing there I man drives up and offers us a ride into town. Awesome, we head to Weasies and are dropped off after he shows us where everything was. Apparently while Pappy was waiting he actually had to turn down a ride while waiting for Hover and immediately got another with out trying. We are told the town is trying to become the friendliest town on the trail over Damascus, and from my experience they easily have it. After an all you can eat pancakes Tomahawk and I headed to the PO to get our maildrops and again mine had arrived in one business day. Awesome to have some camp clothes now that won't be soaked in sweat. We then headed to the laundromat and did laundry. While there I called the visitor center which keeps a list of trail angels who will take you around town. Got a number and a ride to the doctor along with REM who needed to get a rash from a tick checked out. Three hours later we finish with the verdict being a pretty strong infection. I was given a ten day supply of Augmentin, an amoxicillin/clavulanate antibiotic. Called the trail angel back up and got a ride back into town to the krogers where I resupplied with very little needed and filled my prescription. Shortly later I took my first dose with some cheese and chives crackers. An hour after that I felt pretty sick, the medicine can and did give me an upset stomach. Sat around feeling horrible a bit waiting for five when the church hostel opened. Started the walk down there and found everyone else who had the same idea and when they opened we got a spot. Really nice place with everything you can need except laundry. After that we went to the ayce chinese and had a bunch of food. I left early and came back to the hostel to get a shower and relax. Tomorrow and every Wednesday the church feeds hikers a spaghetti dinner so I am going to stick around for that. It sounds like the others might head out tomorrow but I really just need to stick around and relax. Talked with Shepherd earlier today who did get my glasses from the southbounder and is going to mail them ahead of me to Harpers Ferry. He is currently in Daleville with Daisy. So that will be nice to get my glasses back soon. Well here is to a zero and hopefully a better tomorrow.
Date: 2011-06-01
From: Waynesboro Hiker Hostel

To: Waynesboro Hiker Hostel
Miles today: 0.0

Took a zero here along with probably every other hiker in the area, it was just too hot to be hiking.Woke up and had cereal from the kitchen here at the hostel with actual milk. Then at nine when we were kicked out we went and sat in the library reading and the others sat on the computers most of the time. I chose a chess book and accessing you chess game. Took a couple hours studying opposition and flanking maneuvers for the end game. Around 11:30 we were all hungry finally, I had been hungry since 10. We went back to the chinese buffet. Afterwards we stopped at Kroger to shop around for miscellaneous stuff. I was looking for a light weight chess pieces now. Didn't have anything but found out we could take the bus to a WalMart. It arrived right when we got to the stop across the street. Five minutes later we were there and found what I needed. Others found some other items they were looking for. We wasted an hour before the bus came back and jumped back on. Unfortunately its one big loop and we had to go all the way around which was 55 minutes to our stop, with no ac or windows. Glad to get out and back into just regular heat lol. Still early so we went back to the library and read some more till the hostel opened back up at five. Back at the hostel we setup our beds and sat around a bit till they served dinner of spaghetti w/meatballs and sausage, salad, and fresh baked bread. Was good but wasn't very hungry and a little noxious from the medicine so didn't eat much. Even turned down the ice cream though I could sure eat it now. After that I just laid down all night listening to music, sorting my food bag and other miscellaneous stuff. So today my infection hasn't really gotten better so much but has not gotten worse. Hopefully tomorrow wiill be the turning point for it. Well I am going to see if they put the ice cream in the freezer here.