morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-04-15
From: Spring Mtn Shelter

To: Jerry Cabin Shelter
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: overcast clouds

It rained most of the night;therefore, very wet outside when I woke. However, I was dry in my tent with no significant wet spots or leaks. Slow to get away due to everything being wet. I cooked in my vestibule, awkward but at least dry, packed and left camp at 9:30am. I stopped at Hemlock Hollow Hostel at Log Cabin Road to get a cup of coffe or hot chocalate but no one was home. I stopped at Little Laurel Shelter for lunch and also made a cup of coffee. I like my new MSN coffee filter. I am using coarse ground Eight O'clock 100% Columbian coffee and it tastes much better than the instant that I have used in the past.I continued on to Jerry Cabin Shelter, 4150 feet, but had to traverse a 1 1/2 mile open ridge that was all rocks and required some hand climbing. My speed was so slow that I was concerned that I might have to use my headlight but finally arrived at the shelter at 6:20pm. I set up my tent, gathered water and ate supper and went to bed, a long day.
Date: 2009-04-16
From: Jerry Cabin Shelter

To: Hogback Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Another 15 mile day and I had several significant climbs. I passed the Shelton Grave site Made famous by the book and movie "Cold Mountain". Two Union sympathizers tried to sneek home for a visit and the Confederate Homeguard killed them along with the "lookout" who was only 13 years old. There was a 1500 foot climb from Boone Cove Road to Frozen Knob/Lick Rock.The weather was cool but comfortable for hiking. I left camp at 9am, stopped for lunch at Flint Mtn shelter and arrived at the shelter at 6pm. There were a number of good tent sites so I tented again. I am beginnig to get a few blisters at the outside edge of both heels and will have to cover them tomorrow. I did my camp chores ate supper and went to bed early, I have a 20 mile day tomorrow but will try to reduce the milage if I can.I have been hiking with a nice couple from VA, Don and Nancy, they like to tent also.
Date: 2009-04-17
From: Hogback Ridge Shelter

To: Spivy Gap Camp Site
Miles today: 15.7
Weather: clear sky

I left camp at 8:30, the earliest departure for me thus far. I discussed the potential 20 miler with Don and Nancy and we all agreed to stop early at a camp site before Spivey Gap. Nancy actually is the fastest hiker and more experienced so she told us to hike "to her hiking poles" and stop.The elevation gain to Big Bald would be 1700 feet. The climb was tough but beautiful.I was slowed today by two separate nose bleeds. The dry dusty conditions have irritated my nasal passages, I will have to stop my aspirin till the nose bleeds subside.I saw Nancy at Big Bald, she stopped to enjoy the views and wait for Don. I continued to hike but created a problem, she never passed me so I could not "hike to her poles". I finally found a camping spot where Rattler had already set up camp so I stopped and set up my tent.Rattler was glad to see me . Early in his hike he was tenting alone and was visited by a bear so he likes company. Patty and his dog Jack came in later. Nancy and Don never did show. We had a small camp fire and went to bed early as has been my custom.
Date: 2009-04-18
From: Spivy Gap Camp Site

To: Erwin, TN
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: overcast clouds

I decided to make an effort to leave camp early. I had a hot shower and laundry facilities waiting for me at Uncle Johnny's Hostel in Erwin. I was able to leave camp a few minutes before 8am. Rattler and Patty had already left.It was a beautiful day, although a little hot for hiking. I arrived at Uncle Johnny's at 2:30pm and the first thing to greet me was trail magic by Joe Kick Ass and his girlfriend. They were grilling hamburgers and hotdogs and had a cooler of beer and soft drinks. What a treat!I had reserved a cabin, it was basic but very adequate. It had a bedroom, kitchen and living room, so there was plenty of room for me to spread out my gear and to relax. There were many hikers at the hostel enjoying the trail magic and some of them stayed; Patty, Rattler, Storyteller and Bound to name a few. Johnny provided the above with a shuttle to town and we had a nice meal at a Mexican Restaurant. On the shuttle back to the hostel Johnny suggested a slackpack from Iron Mtn Gap back to the hostel, so Patty and I decided to accept. It would be 19 miles but will be going downhill and with a much lighter pack.
Date: 2009-04-19
From: Erwin, TN

To: Iron Mtn Gap
Miles today: 20.1

A good night's sleep is valuable when one is stressing your body to the degree hikers do. I woke up at 6am and enjoyed a hot cup of coffee in my cabin. After preparing my pack for slackpacking, Paddy and I met Johnny's wife, Charlotte, for our shuttle to Iron Mtn Gap, the charge was $30 for the two of us. Charlotte and Johnny were originally from Birmingham and she worked as a nurse at Carraway Hospital so we had a number of mutual friends. A bonus was to stop at Hardy's on the way for an egg and sausage biscuit. I took a chicken biscuit to eat later, my own version of trail magic. In addition I had promised Bound an egg biscuit as we passed on the trail.It rained virtually all day with strong winds particularly at the gaps and on the ridges. I did indeed meet Bound on the trail with her heading north and me south. She stopped and ate the egg biscuit in the rain. I felt terribe; however, because Wendy was with her and I did not have a biscuit for her but Bound shared and they both enjoyed the treat.After 20 miles of hiking I was glad to get back to my cabin to take a good hot shower and put on dry clothes. I was too late for the 6pm shuttle to town for dinner but Charlotte was gracious enough to pick me up for the return shuttle at 7:30pm,dropped me off at Hardy's for a hamburger gathered the group and pick me up again on the way back to the hostel. I was in bed by 9pm.
Date: 2009-04-20
From: Iron Mtn Gap

To: Roan High Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: clear sky

I woke up early again in my cabin, enjoyed a cup of coffee, grabbed my pack and went to meet Charlotte for our return shuttle to pick up our hike at Iron Mtn Gap. Paddy and his dog Jack were in the van also. We passed Nancy walking down the road from Holiday Inn Express to the trail. She had taken a zero day in Erwin.We stopped at Hardy's again and I ordered the same egg and sausage biscuit with a chicken biscuit for later. I started hiking at 8:30pm with Paddy and Jack behind me. The weather was misty and cool but not too bad but that would soon change. I stopped at Clyde Smith's Shelter and had lunch and a hot cup of coffee. Paddy and Jack arrived just as I was leaving. His destination was also the Roan High Knob Shelter. As you will soon read unfortunately I never saw Paddy and Jack again, I enjoyed hiking with Paddy. I still was having pain and blisters at the lower lateral area of my heels, so while hiking up Roan Mtn I stopped and cut the linning of my boot with my knife and laced the boots differently and that made a big improvement. I really did not have much pain from that moment on with my boots. The net elevation gain from Hughes Gap to Roan Mtn Shelter was 2000 feet and it was very vertical. It was a tough climb and the higher I climbed the heavier the rain came down with winds gusting( we learned later the winds were 50 mph in the mountains).As I approached the summit, the rain turned into pea size hail then sleet. It was a miserable hike.I was happy to see the shelter, I was very cold, wet and uncomfortable. I quickly gathered water so I could get out of my wet clothes. The shelter is stone and was formerly a fire warden's cabin. It is one of the few shelter on the AT with four walls and a door. It is also the highest shelter on the AT at 6200 feet.. Needless to say, I elected to stay in the shelter and out of the foul weather. A young man from New Zealnd was the only person there and he decided to sleep in the loft. Later Bound and Wendy arrived and we thought that would be all for the evening but HellBender came in about an hour later. He told me Paddy and Jack stopped about 1 1/2 miles before the shelter; Paddy set up his tent because The weather was too harsh for his dog.We cooked in the shelter and I was reasonably warm in my 15 degree sleeping bag.
Date: 2009-04-21
From: Roan High Knob Shelter

To: Mt Harbor Hostel
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: clear sky

I am not accustomed to sleeping in shelters so my sleep was not great but considering the storm outside I was grateful to be fairly warm and dry. I had to get up several times to urinate and that was a rude awakening to go out into the wind and sleet but one must answer the call of nature. I was the first to wake and quietly tried to pack and cook my breakfast inside the shelter. Wendy soon awoke and we continued with our chores while the others slept. I left the shelter at 8:30 and began my hike in high winds and snow.It was difficult to walk due to the icy conditions and wind gusts that would knock me sideways. Little Hump and Big Hump Mountains are open meadows with no protection, so it was cold and miserable again primarily because of the wind. I arrived at Mt Harbor Bed and Breakfast at 4:30. They run two operations with a hostel that was full and also a bed and breakfast; fortunately, I had reserved a room. The facilities were very nice and clean. I took a hot shower while Terry and his wife did my laundry. I was able to get a shuttle into town but the only fast food store open was a Subway but it was good. What a change from the highest shelter on the AT in a snow storm to a nice cozy warm B&B in the same day!
Date: 2009-04-22
From: Mt Harbor Hostel

To: Moreland Gap Shelter
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: clear sky

I had a good night's sleep at the B&B. The breakfast was outstanding. Several of the hikers who stayed at the hostel came up to the house for the breakfast. Wendy and Braid as well as several others. The hike back to the trail was 0.3 mile and on the road I met Bound & Hellbender coming to the B&B for breakfast. There was a small climb up Buck Mtn and I passed a typical white church with a well kept cemetery. I ate lunch at Mountaineer Shelter. It was built in 2006 and was very nice. It was a long day and I arrived at Moreland Gap Shelter at 7pm. I was the only person there but when I came back from retreving water Wendy had arrived. She was glad to see me because she had been hiking with Spike and his wife and was nervous about him. Apparantly he had abused his wife at several shelters and had earned a bad reputation. In addition, Federal Agents were looking for him bacause he hit and injured a 65 year old male from New Zealand who had to leave the trial due to the injury. The story is more complicated but the bottom line is Wendy did not want to be at the shelter alone with Spike, so she was glad to see me.( I read recently after coming home that he was detained by Federal Agents. I do not know of his fate). I tented and she set up her hammock.I heard voices and saw flshlights at 10pm so I knew someone came in late and stayed in the shelter. The next morning I realized it was Spike. He was cordial to me but Wendy did not waste any time beakong camp and left with me. Wendy was having terrible pain with her eyes. She slept with her contacts in at Roan Knob Shelter and they had irritated her corneas. I told her I would help her get off the Mtn to Kincora and urged her to get medical attention.
Date: 2009-04-23
From: Moreland Gap Shelter

To: Hampton, TN
Miles today: 15.0

I had planned an early start to get to Hampton, TN in order to pick up my food drop at Brown's grocery. I was not sure what time they closed so I was a little anxious. Nevertheless, I did not wake up till 6:52 and I had to hurry. As I mentioned, Spike had arrived during the night with his wife and Wendy did not want to hike with them again. She packed in a hurry and ate a cold breakfast. We were also dealing with her eye condition. She was crying and depressed. We were on the trial by 8am. Wendy planned to stay at Kincora and I told her to ask Bob Peoples to get her to an eye specialist. She only had 6 miles to hike but it was a difficult and trying time for her. I left Wendy at Kincora and continued my hike. The Laurel Fork Falls area was beautiful. I saw my only snake, nonpoisonous, crossing the trail close to the creek. I did not have time to take a picture, it was too quick. I ate lunch at the base of the blue blaze trail to Laurel Fork Shelter. The 1.8 mile climb up to the summit of Pond Lake Mtn was brutal. It was straight up with the sun directly overhead, thus very hot and absolutely no water sources. Later I felt better after several other hikers, including Nancy, also complained about the difficulty. It was a 2000 foot elevation gain and the temperature was 70 degrees. My body was accustomed to sleet and snow and was not ready for a heat wave. I arrived at Highway 321 at 3:30 and was able to hitch a ride in about 20 minutes to Hampton. I went straight to Brown's grocery and noticed that they closed at 7pm so in retrospect I had plenty of time. I picked up my food drop and checked into Braemar Castle(a hostel). I was the only person there so I had plenty of room. It was basic but nice to get a shower and clean up. I took my clothes to a local laundry and had them washed. I ate at a BBQ joint and it was only OK. I picked up my laundry, went back to the hostel and sorted through my food drop. I went to bed at 9pm.
Date: 2009-04-24
From: Hampton, TN

To: Iron Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 15.3

Another good night sleep after the dogs finally stopped barking outside my window. I prepared my breakfast in the kitchen at the hostel. Sutton Brown, the owner of the grocery store and hostel, gave me a ride back to the trail. I began to hike around Watauga Lake. Watauga Lake is a very large man made lake that is 8 miles long. I had a number of nice views. As I crossed the Dam I met Bison and his group of four guys and I would see them off and on for several days. The hike up Iron Mtn was tough, I think the trail was designed for us to have several views of the lake. It seemed that the trail went to every minor ridge or peak for the entire 8 miles of the lake. The problem was that despite the efforts to give us good views, all I saw was the lake through a number of trees, no Kodak moments. The peaks were not long but were all straight up with no switch backs.It was another hot day, the record high temperature for that day was 87 degrees and it reached 85 degrees, normal average was 69 degrees. I ate lunch at Vandeventer Shelter. I needed water as did Bison and his group. The trail guide warned that it was a steep climb. Indeed, it was a half mile down and a STEEP half mile back up. I sweated out the liter of water that I collected. Next time I will believe the trail guide.I continued on to Iron Mtn Shelter. The terrain was not too bad but the heat was! I arrived at 6pm. A young man from Iowa, his trail name was Cy, and I were the only hikers at the shelter. Bison and his group said their destination was this shelter but they did not show. I tented and had a good night.
Date: 2009-04-25
From: Iron Mtn Shelter

To: Abindon Gap Shelter
Miles today: 15.3

I left the shelter at 8am. It is always pleasant to hike in the morning because it is cooler. Later in the day the heat and sparse water sources were again a problem to deal with. I met a nice couple from FL at Double Springs Shelter while having lunch who were section hiking in a unique way. They parked their motorhome close to the trail and would day hike to a spot and turn around and go back to the road where they parked their car. They spent the night in the RV and the next day they would park at a different road and hike to the previous site(using a GPS) and return to their car and do the same thing the following day etc. Therefore, they double hiked the trail. They were about 350 miles up the trail but actually had hiked 700 miles! I continued to search for water but very little available in this section, I arrived at Abindon Gap Shelter at 4pm. We had a brief shower after I arrived which help to cool things down a little bit. There were several hikers present, Cy, Joe Kick Ass and Guitar Dan. The bugs were bad. They were tiny black flies that apparantly recently hatched and would bite!I retired to the tent early because of the bugs. I am excited about entering Damascus tomorrow.
Date: 2009-04-26
From: Abindon Gap Shelter

To: Damascus
Miles today: 10.0

Another good night at Abindon Gap Shelter but I was warm trying to sleep with my 15 degree bag. The bugs were bad so I retired to my tent early last night. Cy and I left for Damascus early and since I had a car at the Lazy Fox B & B, we made arrangements for dinner. The hike to Damascus was easy but hot, only 10 miles. After checking in with Ginny at The Lazy Fox I took a tub bath in my room (the shower was upstairs) and I enjoyed soaking for a long time. I sorted through my gear and my drop box of food for the next section. I picked up Cy at The Place and we ate a very good hamburger with all the trimmings at Fatties. After dropping Cy back at his hostel, I went to my room watched TV, made a few phone calls and went to bed.
Date: 2009-04-27
From: Damascus

To: Damascus
Miles today: 0.0

Today is a zero day in Damascus. As one would expect, I had a restful night in my bed. Ginny served a big delicious breakfast which I enjoyed. At breakfast there were a few hikers that I had not met, Old Goat hiked the trail in 2006 and was doing it again with his wife, Check 6. Also present was "Madelyn from Maine". I took all three to the post office and to the trail head, it took two trips but I was glad to help. While parking my car, I saw Wendy coming towards the Lazy Fox looking for me. Bob Peoples did indeed get her to an eye specialist and she was much better after using the prescribed eye drops. She was going to Mt Rogers Outfitters to arrange a shuttle into Abindon for a follow up eye appointment. I told her that I was going to Abindon later to get a few needed items,ie band aids, and I would be glad to drop her off at the eye doctor and give her a ride back. She was grateful. I had a nice meal in Abindon at an old converted Pharmacy, very quaint. Later that evening I gave Nancy, Wendy, Cy and Braid a ride to the local pizza tavern and afterwards we went to an ice cream store. It is remarkable that on the trail one eats foods that you would normally avoid but hikers need the calories to avoid a deficit. Tomorrow back on the trail.
Date: 2009-04-28
From: Damascus

To: Lost Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: heavy intensity rain

I enjoyed another good breakfast prepared by Ginny and then left Damascus to get back on the trail. It was a hike of almost 16 miles. Hot again and there was a 1400 foot gain to Cuckoo Knob. The trail went down to US 58 then another 1400 foot gain. I had lunch at Saunders Shelter and felt good at that point. However the 6.8 miles to Lost Mtn Shelter was very hot and began to wear me down. There were a number of hikers at the shelter including Cy and Nancy among others. A funny story, I found a good tree to hang my food in a bear bag. I went back to my tent to get the food and then could not find the rope. I looked silly walking around in circle looking up in the trees but I finally found it!. I gathered water, cooked my dinner and retired to my tent for the night.
Date: 2009-04-29
From: Lost Mtn Shelter

To: Wise Shelter
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: broken clouds

I left the shelter at 8:15 and was mentally prepared for a long day of almost 19 miles. There was an immediate 2000 foot gain to Buzzard Rock and Whitetop Mtn Rd. The switch backs were gentle and I did fine with that portion of the hike. I ate lunch on the trail because Thomas Knob Shelter was over 12 miles away. The trail was extremely rocky and rough so it slowed me down and was hard on my feet and body. Several people were at Thomas Knob Shelter, Red Leg, Nancy and a few others. There was a gentle rain. Wise Shelter was only 5 miles but it turned out to be an adventure. Nancy decided to hike the Pine Mtn Trail, it was less rocky and shorter; she was anxious to get to the Visitors Center at Mount Rogers before 4pm on Friday to get her car. They close for the weekend. While traversing the open meadows in Grayson Highlands a vicious thunder storm occured and I was in the middle of open country with no cover. The 30 second rule with lightning implies you are in danger if you are only 6 miles from the lightning strike. After about 10 minutes I counted the time from the flash to thunder to be 3 seconds! I was in real danger; fortunately, I finally found a small clump of trees on Wilber's Ridge and stayed there for 30 minutes until it was safer to get back on the trail. The trail continued to be rocky and even though I was in peril I could not speed up my pace. I could hear thunder in the distance. I finally arrived at Wise Shelter at 5pm very wet and tired. Just before arriving at the shelter, I saw a beautiful rainbow and at last knew that I was safe. I decided to stay in the shelter rather than tent. At the shelter were Tank, Guitar Dan and Greg, a section hiker.
Date: 2009-04-30
From: Wise Shelter

To: Troutdale
Miles today: 16.1

I rested ok at the shelter. I was glad to be out of the rain but I sleep better in my tent. It was my second night in a shelter during this section. There were six hikers in the shelter, Cy, Tank, Guitar Dan, Greg and one other. Greg is a section hiker from Louisiana. He lost his right arm just above his elbow due to an accident on an oil rig when he was in his early twenties. He was remarkable doing his various tasks with one arm. I left the shelter in mist and fog at 8:15. My destination was Troutdale and perhaps the Baptist Hostel I passed over Iron Mtn and stopped at Old Orchard Shelter for water and a snack. My next stop was Hurricane Mtn Shelter for lunch. It was a nice new shelter but I was the only person there. The morning was pretty but soon it became cloudy and wendy but never did rain. When I arrived at VA 16 at Dickey Gap, I decided to try to hitch a ride to the hostel. I was able to get a ride in 15 minutes. I went to the hostel and found that Greg was already there. The hostel was nice with two rooms, electricty and heat.Each room would sleep four. A hot shower was available behind the church. They provided towels, washclothes, soap and shampoo. No laundry but I did hand wash my clothes. Four other hikers arrived and stayed in the other room. I walked to Jerry's ate a hamburger and enjoyed a big banana split. Greg and I sat on the porch of the hostel watched the sunset and had a peaceful evening.
Date: 2009-05-01
From: Troutdale

To: Partnership Shelter
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: clear sky

Greg and I left the hostel at 6:45 in order to be at Jerry's when he opened at 7am for breakfast. I had eggs, sausage and biscuits with gravy. Jerry gave us a shuttle back to the trail and I was hiking by 7:45. It started raining and there continued to be a light rain for about 90 minutes. The sky was cloudy and looked like more rain but it soon cleared. The hike had a few ups and downs but was fairly easy. I arrived at Partnership Shelter at 2:30. There was a big crowd and everyone was excited about ordering pizza. Partnership Shelter is unique with running tap water, a shower with reasonably hot water and the ability to have pizza delivered to the visitors center which was a block away. The Mount Rogers Visitor Center has flush toilets (available only while open) snacks, cokes and a phone that can be used with a calling card. Nancy was at the shelter but decided to stay in town and bike because the weather forcast called for heavy rain for the next week.. Greg also decided not to stay and went a few more miles so he could tent. Old Goat and Check 6 were there and I enjoyed my visit with them. The pizzas arrived at 6pm and were great. Tank, Guitar Dan, Jeanette & Ben, Almond Joy and others ate pizza with us and built a nice campfire. Tenting was not allowed so I stayed in the shelter.