morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-05-08
From: Partnership Shelter

To: Relax Inn - Atkins, VA
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: scattered clouds

The A.T. shelters are knows for being inhabited by mice. The shelter last night had a loft, and there was a mouse in the loft floor that sounded like it was trying to tear down the shelter. He was noisy when we went to bed and still at it when we woke up.I visited the Mt Rogers Visitors Center when I headed out this morning, then hit the trail about 9. The morning was overcast, rainy, and cool, but it was sunny and mid 70s by afternoon. Toward the end of my hike I stopped to check out the Settlers Museum located adjacent to the trail. The museum is an 1870s farm similiar to those the German settlers that settled the valley lived in. I'm staying at a hotel in Atkins, VA with several other hikers. When I leave I will hike about 5 days to Pearisburg, VA then head back to Damascus, VA for Trail Days.
Date: 2009-05-09
From: Relax Inn

To: Knot Maul Branch Shelter
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: light rain

Got up about 7 this morning and went to the restaurant down the road for breakfast. I got online for an hour at the Shell gas station - its amazing the odd places that have hiker geared services. I messed around the hotel room for a while and finally hit the trail at noon.The rhododendron bushes along the first 4 or 5 miles of trail where starting to bloom with flowers. Thats the first I have seen and everything I have read says they don't bloom till late May or early June. Maybe it was an early spring, or maybe all the rain is causing them to bloom early. There are rhododendron bushes all along the trail, so when they flower, our daily walks will be beautiful.That reminds me of the little known story of how there came to be so many rhododendron bushes along the trail....The Appalachian Mountains were once just a forest of trees with the occasional wild flower or shrub. A mountain man named John Palinski had a great fondness for the rhododendron bushes (or tree if you prefer). He planted them all around his property and then gave his neighbors some to plant when they liked them. John thought everyone should see the beauty of the flowering rhododendron tree so he began to plant them throughout the Appalachain Mountains. His travels took him far and wide and wherever he went he always made sure to plant a few rhododendron bushes. Later in life local folks started calling him Johnny Rhododendronseed but his contribution was never well known. A cousin stole his idea, changed it to planting apple trees and of course everyone knows about Johnny Appleseed but history has failed to record the great work and original idea of Johnny Rhododendronseed.
Date: 2009-05-10
From: Knot Maul Branch Shelter

To: Brushy Mtn
Miles today: 21.0

I saw my first two bears on the trail today. The trail followed a ridge at about 4000 feet for 6 or 7 miles. A Japaneese hiker named Yuki was ahead of me and came over a rise and saw a mother bear and two cubs. The cubs quickly climbed a nearby tree and the mom went the other way down a hill. When I walked through a couple minutes later, I heard a strange sound from down the hill, then Yuki told me what was going on and took me back to point out the cubs. I took a couple pictures then we got out of the area before the mom took us as a threat to her cubs. Another hiker had seen the mom a couple hours earlier and there was a shelter log entry of a hiker seeing all 3 on Friday in the same area.I got on the trail at 7:30 and the skies were bluea and temperatures hit 70 degrees. Sunny weather feels so great after all the rain this past week. I took several breaks to enjoy the nice day and I am camped a couple miles past the last shelter.I also saw a cow skull today sitting beside the trail near a turnoff to a camping area. It was hard to tell if he hiked himself to death or if some hikers made steaks and burgers out of him. Speaking of burgers, if I get an early start tomorrow, there is a road crossing where I can hitch into Bland, VA for lunch at a restaurant. That should make me hike fast in the morning.
Date: 2009-05-11
From: Brushy Mtn

To: Jenny Knob Shelter
Miles today: 21.8
Weather: light rain

It was raining when I woke up this morning, so I laid in my bag for a while hoping it would stop. The rain my stopping by the time I broke camp and headed out about 8:20. I had heard about trail magic breakfast put on by a local church but thought it was at the road crossing to Bland about 8 miles up the trail. When I came to the first road crossing at three miles, some hikers told me that they were getting picked up there for the trail magic!! A local Methodist church picked us up and fed us breakfast in the church basement. They offered an impressive variety of food. For hikers who would have been thrilled with a breakfast sandwich and some juice, we ate egg and potato casserole, sausage and gravy, grits, sausage sandwiches, ham and biscuit sandwiches, fried apples, pancakes, homemade syrup, juice, coffee and milk. They also sent us away with to-go baggies of fresh baked goods, granola bars, and fresh fruit. It was all very good and much appreciated. During breakfast, Yuki started discussing the American's love for peanut butter. He said that in Japan, peanut butter is widely available, even the American brands, but peanut butter is thought of as a kids food and adults don't eat it. He said that he has questioned several hikers about why they carry the heavy peanut butter jars and they always get out their jar of peanut butter and begin showing him the label and pointing out all of the nutritous stuff. Yuki also said that he was going to ask Jimmy Carter about why peanut butter was so popular. I thought that was a pretty good joke from a foreigner about our peanut farmer president from 30 years ago. We were back on the trail at 11am and I covered 20 miles and arrived at the shelter at about 7pm. We crossed Interstate 77 today. When you drive the highway, you don't fully appreciate the enormity of constructing a highway through the mountains. It was amazing to walk beside a 70 foot cliff created when a huge chunk of the mountain was removed. I'm sleeping in the shelter with two hikers from Miami-Blisters and Snuggies.
Date: 2009-05-12
From: Jenny Knob Shelter

To: Woods Hole Shelter
Miles today: 20.4
Weather: few clouds

Hiked a fast 20 miles trying to keep up with Blisters and Snuggies. The weather stayed clear for the second day in a row. About 8 miles into the hike, we checked out the Dismal Creek Falls. We took a break there and talked with some hikers who had stayed there overnight. Made it to the hostel about 5:30pm. This is the second oldest hostel on the trail, younger only than Elmer's Sunnybrook Inn in Hot Springs. Woods Hole Hostel was started by Tillie Wood, in 1986 when she was 69 years old. The hostel was previously an old homestead and was built in the 1880s. Tillie ran the hostel for 21 years and is a trail legend to those who knew her. When she was diagnosed just short of her 90th birthday, her first concern was that there would be no one to run the hostel. Tillie passed on several years ago, but the hostel is now run by her granddaughter Neville. We had a delicious curry chicken, rice and vegetable dinner tonight. I'm going to eat breakfast here in the morning and then head to Pearisburg, VA.
Date: 2009-05-13
From: Woods Hole Shelter

To: Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: overcast clouds

We ate a traditional southern breakfast this morning that Grandma Tillie fed hikers for 21 years. Headed out about 9am and took my time hiking the ten miles into Pearisburg. I had previously planned to head to Trail Days today for the weekend festival, but I've changed my mind and am going to head home for the weekend. I will be back on the trail Sunday afternoon.
Date: 2009-05-22
From: Catawba General Store

To: Daleville, VA
Miles today: 19.8
Weather: few clouds

A hiker that camped at the general store last night had a slack-pack set up for today. It was a set price deal so the more people that slack-packed, the cheaper per person. So basically to help the guy out (lol), I joined in and for $5 each we got our gear taken 20 miles up the trail and just carried light day packs.We stopped at 2 of the best viewing spots in Virginia today - McAfees Knob and Tinker Cliffs. Both have rocks jutting out over steep mountain dropoffs. We me some locals at Tinker Cliffs who were able to point out where we had hiked the past couple days. I wasn't much help; my descriptions of where I have walked would always be about the same, 'Uh...it was green with lots of woods and there were some mountains...' Seriously, we were able to see almost all of Thursdays hike which actually looked like we had come a long way. Funny story for the day. I was one of the last of our group to leave McAfees Knob and I kept up a pretty good pace and passed everyone in our group except Spider. I kept thinking I would come up on him anytime but never did, so I figured he must have been hiking really fast. I got in town a little after 5 and saw him later at the hotel. He told me he got in about 6:30 because he went the wrong way when leaving McAfees Knob and hiked 2 miles back to the preveious shelter before he realized his mistake. Sometimes the trail looks the same because it is the same!I'm staying in town tonight to shower and do laundry. I head back out tomorrow.
Date: 2009-05-23
From: Daleville, VA

To: Fullhardt Knob Shelter
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I got a lot done today...not much of it was hiking. I woke up at 7:30 and went to the continental breakfast..came back to the room and watched a little sportscenter..went to CVS with Spider to get my pictures copied from my camera to a disk..went to the dollar store and taco bell while waiting on the pictures..headed back to my room and got my gear together in time for checkout. I was going to head out but the pool looked really relaxing, so I swam and laid by the pool for a couple hours with spider, swift, spoon, and patches. Spider and I got online for a while then headed over to Pizza Hut for a late lunch/early supper. We finally started hiking about 4 pm. We made it all of 5 miles to the shelter and called it a day.
Date: 2009-05-24
From: Fullhardt Knob Shelter

To: Cove Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 19.9
Weather: overcast clouds

I headed out about 7:30 this morning. I was feeling good about that start time but a section hiker that camped at the shelter was gone when I got up and when I saw him later he said he left about 5:30...showoff!The trail met up with the Blue Ridge Parkway for the first time today and will follow it for the next 100 miles or so. The trail crossed the BRP at several scenic overlooks. I was sitting at a picnic table near one eating lunch. It was raining lightly and the clouds had rolled into the valley. I watched and laughed as about half a dozen different vehicles pulled in, peered out into the clouds, and drove away without being able to see anything.I saw several deer in the area of the BRP and they all appeared to have little fear of humans. They would stand 50 ft away from me and just watch me walk by.I hitched into Buchanan, VA for lunch. I ate at a German bed and breakfast then hitched back to the trail crossing again. I am at a shelter with only one other hiker. The first month on the trail shelters would be full ever night with hikers tenting around the shelter. I guess the crowds have thinned out. I will hike about 3 miles tomorrow and meet my dad.
Date: 2009-05-25
From: Cove Mountain Shelter

To: Daleville, VA
Miles today: 3.2
Weather: moderate rain

I hiked out 3 miles to meet my dad today. He drove up from north central Tennessee and arrived a little after 10am. We drove back to Catawba, Va and day hiked up to McAfee Knob. The hike is 3.8 miles and climbs about 1200 feet, so it was a tough hike for my dad, but a good way to break him in. The weather was overcast and rain started about the same time we got to the top. Clouds covered part of the view, but we could still see half of the valley. It looked neat as clouds swirled around the top of the mountian and the rock overlook.We hiked back down, ate at Cracker Barrel and are staying in the Howard Johnson in Daleville that I was at last weekend. Its good to have my dad here and should be a fun couple day visit.
Date: 2009-05-26
From: Daleville, VA

To: Lexington, VA
Miles today: 0.0

The weather forecast this morning called for 'heavy rain'. We had planned to go north of where I got off the trail and hike back south, but no good thru-hiker hikes in the rain if he can avoid it. My dad already has the thru hiker mind set, so he is way ahead of the game. We drove the Blue Ridge Parkway for about 30 or 40 miles and checked out the scenic views. We stopped at a visitors center and decided to hike a short 2 mile loop up to a restored homestead and farm. On the way back we were about half a mile from the visitors center when it started POURING! When the first drops started to fall we ducked under a tree but soon realized this was futile. We tried to hurry back but got rained on enough to soak us several times over. Luckily we had clothes in the car and were able to change and dry off. We practiced another important thru-hiker skill today - eating like a thru-hiker. I ate good all day and we topped it off but eating steaks at an all you can eat Country Cookin restaurant tonight. We are staying in Lexington, VA tonight.
Date: 2009-05-27
From: Lexington, VA

To: Bryant Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

We checked out the historic town of Lexington this morning. We toured the cemetary where Stonewall Jackson is buried as well as his former home and also the Virginia Military Institute where he taught before fighting in the Civil War. It was neat to visit the areas along the trail I would usually walk by. The rain changed our original plans but things worked out great. My dad dropped me off about 1:30pm. I planned to hike about 9 miles to the 2nd shelter but I arrived at the first shelter and saw a bunch of people here I have previously hiked with and not seen for a while, so I decided to stay here tonight.I'll start serious hiking tomorrow.
Date: 2009-06-01
From: Humpback Mtn

To: Waynesboro, VA
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: clear sky

I am in Waynesboro, VA and have hiked a total of 852.5 miles. I will head into the Shenandoah National Park upon leaving here tomorrow. The next stretch of trail is referred to as the 'easiest 100 miles on the A.T.', so I am looking forward to that. The last few days have been hard with several days of over 4,000 foot of total climb. I am feeling well and enjoying my hike.
Date: 2008-01-23
To: Very first entry...
Miles today: 0.0

How do you start a journal that will act as your messenger to everything you left at home, for the next few months? I have been struggling to start this for a few weeks, but now, sitting at work with a few minutes to spare, I am mentally transitioning from an employee in a chemistry lab into a free man beginning an adventure.Who am I, and why on Earth would I want to thru-hike the AT. My name is Jordan Brokha Brown from Mason, Ohio, a suburb (yes...I live in a suburb) of Cincinnati. I graduated from the College of Charleston with a degree in Biology in May 2007, and am going to The Ohio State University College of Medicine this August. My decision to walk to trail came shortly following my acceptance when I realized I had about six months before I spend the next 40 years totally dedicated to the practice of medicine. Some would wonder why I don¢t work hard to save for school. With the extremely high cost of school, it has become a futile effort to try and pay for it working an entry level job. I would rather spend the tiny amount of money I have enjoying the trail.I am starting my hike on February 16th with a pack full of winter gear, vast amounts of excitement, and a little fear. I think about the trip every day, and anticipation builds each morning I wake up. But with that, comes a growing fear that I may not be able to hike the whole trail due to injury or time constraints. And honestly, although I would love to be a successful thru-hiker standing on top of Katahdin, I know the true magic of the trail happens along the way, not at the end. So as long as I give it everything I have, I will be successful.Have to go check on my reactions. Don't want any chemical disasters. More later¢¦
Date: 2008-01-24
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I want to mention the purpose of this journal. It is merely an attempt to force myself to chronicle a trip that means so much to me(if I think people are reading, I will keep writing...). I would love to be able to read it later in life and remember what it was like to be 23 years old. Also I want to be able to keep my friends and family up to date on my experiences during the trip. There is nothing I would love more than to be able to bring(drag) them along, but maybe through my journal they can have a moment where they feel they are on the trail with me. However, I never have had the knack for journaling, or even writing, so to those who choose to read, beware of the repetition, weak vocabulary, boring passages, and rambling that may shortly follow.I am planning on doing all of my journals with a pen and paper, and mailing them home during town visits. But in doing so, I am relying on someone to transcribe the scribble from cold tired hands, and put each day¢s entry onto the site. Along with the crumbled wet paper, will be a camera card for them to also share my photos with any who cares to look. So I want to thank my parents for supporting my decision to hike and for their help that I will most certainly need along the way. I also want to thank TrailJournals.com for giving me the means to share my experience.
Date: 2008-01-30
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

This is a quick note about my preparation for the trail. And I have to say, although I feel ready, I haven¢t thought much out. Mental Prep. I have to mention something about myself, because I am sure it will come up later. Whenever I do something, I put everything into it¢¦ until I hit a wall. I have a ten week attention span for doing anything. No matter what it is, playing guitar, reading, exercise, video games, working¢¦ I do them for 10 weeks, and then move onto something else. I just realized this as I am sitting at my desk, counting my work time sheets (yep, 10).   On the trail that will put me about half way. Big problem. I guess knowing this will give me an opportunity to adjust my hike when I start to burn out. Physical Prep. I¢ve never been in incredible in shape, and haven¢t desired to be. But I do wish I had spent more time running over the years so my legs and feet would be able to take the abusive impact of the trail. Last year I had a battle with knee tendonitis during a section hike, which ultimately ended it. I was devastated as it came out of nowhere, and there wasn¢t anything I could do but rest (go home). So this year, I¢ve been doing some 5 mile walk/jogs with my pack through our local golf course (mostly at night- golf ball to head equals not even starting the trail). I am hoping these warm ups will help me transition during the first few weeks of the trip.Trip Planning. Last year, I covered roughly around 200 miles of the AT, it was enough to make me realize extensive pre-planning is not necessary. There are many places to re-supply along the trail, so I¢ve decided to limit my mail drops. In fact, I¢m not going to prepare any. But I will have a support team (my parents) ready incase I need them to mail things. I still need to establish cut-off points and mile goals. Because I¢m going to be on a shortened timetable, I will need biweekly/monthly goals to reach, if I don¢t make them, I will know I won¢t make it to Katahdin in time. These goals will help me keep pace, and will be mental victories as I reach them.Alright, just a couple weeks¢¦(Also just realized there are around 35 I/I¢m/I¢ves in this passage. All I do is talk about me. Who would want to read this. Oh well, MY journal.)
Date: 2008-02-14
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Everything is ready. I'm packed, I've tried to tie up all loose ends, and I have printed the directions to Amacalola State Park. Tonight is my last night being at home, in my bed...comfort. But I can't sleep. Too much excitement. I want to thank everyone who has already left me messages in my guestbook. These kind words are so uplifting, even as I read them, having not yet begun. I can only imagine the impact they will have later. I will be able to get on and check the site about every week or two. And I will absolutely read every single entry made there. I am amazed that there are so many people, family, friends, and people I have yet to meet, who will be following me. The encouragement will push me through the tough days on the trail.Just wanted to make a final preparation entry. The next one I make, will be from somewhere in Georgia. I am thrilled to begin this journey, and to meet people from all across the country who have the same goal as I do. So long from the real world...
Date: 2008-02-15
To: Springer Mountain, GA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Quick update from the parents...Well, he¢s off. We made the round trip from Cincinnati to Amicalola Falls, GA and back minus one hiker. After being in the car for 8 hours, Jordan was ready to stretch his long legs. Next was the ceremonial sign-in and pack weigh-in at the Visitor Center. Then we headed up the Falls Trail, which is the start of the 8.5-mile approach trail to Springer Mountain, the official start of the AT. By the way, if you are ever in Northern Georgia, Amicalola Falls is really beautiful. Climbing the stairs to the top of the 729-foot waterfall makes you realize just what he¢s in for! We were whipped but Jordan seemed to be in good shape at the top, and he was the one carrying the 32-lb pack. After a few panting comments like ¢We can¢t believe you¢re really going to be in the woods for the next 4-5 months¢, we said goodbye - we love you, and he was off.
Date: 2008-02-16
From: Springer Mountain

To: Gooch Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: overcast clouds

First entry from the trail. What a wild swing of emotions. Let me start with the approach trail yesterday. Shortly after leaving the state park, I went through the "what am I doing here" phase. Then I ran into a day hiker and talked with her a bit. I went to the "I am actually here doing this" phase. On top of Springer Mountain, the "I am inspired and ready" phase. Hiking this morning after sleeping under my tarp (which is now soaked along with my bag from rain and sweat) the "this is incredible" phase. Then knee tendon problems begin, and the "please no, what am I going to do" phase.I've only been on the trail 30 hours and have had a different feeling each hour. But I've already met 5 thrus and several weekenders. The scenery is beautiful and the terrain is not that difficult. But how to deal with this knee. There was one time this afternoon when it didn't hurt. I passed a group of scouts going south who were on a tough climb. One guy about 12 years old was straggling way behind, breathing super hard, tears forming in his eyes. I thought to myself, that guy is working hard, and the next half mile was pain free for some reason. Sometimes you just have to tough it out. I'm planning on doing a few low mile days and taking plenty of vitamin I (Ibuprophen) to see if I can't tough it out.Lesson #1: SLOW DOWN