morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-10-13
From: Robert and KendraÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs House

To: Robert and KendraÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs House
Miles today: 0.0

Day 116 0 day Robert and Kendra¢s HouseKendra made French toast for us, she was surprised that ask for. I slept well last night, their house is quieter and more in the country than most shelters I¢ve slept in. Me and Pyro drove into Roanoke to let out some steam. We went to awful authurs, had a few beers, and 2 pounds of boiled shrimp. There was a fall festival going on too. When we got home Kendra had made chili for us. She is such a good host. It seems that I take advantage of my zero¢s.
Date: 2007-10-14
From: Robert and KendraÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs House

To: Tentsite @ 1484.4
Miles today: 4.9

Day 117 4.9 mi Tentsite @ 1484.4I went to church this morning to see a part of Kendra and Robert¢s life I had not seen. It was fun to see Robert lead the music, Kendra play piano, and Alan (Robert¢s Nephew) play drums. I got to see Kendra sing too. It was the first time I had been at church in seven years, it was fun. I didn¢t feel like going back to the trail. We stopped for lunch and got back to the trail at 4:30. I hadn¢t worn my hiking shoes for two days but my blister felt no better. My shin splint was no better either. I saw a good place to camp and took it. Pyro wanted to hike on so he did. I was very sleepy. I built my first fire on this whole trip. It was company during these this early darkness.
Date: 2007-10-15
From: Tentsite @ 1484.4

To: Niday Shelter
Miles today: 17.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 118 17.6 mi Niday ShelterWell I slept for almost 13 hours last night. It has finally happened to me, the feeling of wanting to be done. Not quit, but just be done. It has to do with my shin splint still hurting just as much as the first day, and my blister. So in a 20mi day I take about 40,000 steps. I get to feel my shin splint 20,000 times and my blister 20,000 times. It wears on me. It has to do with being around family to and the normalcy it brings. Halfway through the day I stopped at Pickle Branch Shelter, there I found a man who was in a lot of pain from blisters. We both did not say much, just grumbled at our situations. It¢s funny now when I think about it. I climbed up the mountain to the Audy Murphy monument erected near his plane crash site of 1971. He was the most decorated soldier in WWII. I hiked down hill 1500ft which made my shin splint hurt so badly at first I didn¢t notice I was mashing my teeth. I crossed the road and hiked up to the shelter. I saw a man in plain clothes hiking down. I hate when shelters are near roads. He would not make eye contact with me, nor talk. The only weirdo I¢ve met so far. I built another fire to keep myself company.
Date: 2007-10-16
From: Niday Shelter

To: Wind Rock
Miles today: 23.1

Day 119 23.1 mi Wind RockWhat a difference a day can make! That is why it is best to wait a day or two when making a decision about the trail. I feel much better in my head today, even though I still hurt. I walked over three different ridges today. Lots of climbing, all rocky. I put some blister patches and duct tape over the blister, it felt a lot better. It was hot today, I walked out in the sun a lot, but thankfully water was aplenty. I don¢t mean to keep talking about it, but my shin splint still hurts just as much. I am as used to it as I can be. My mind feels better, I have more energy, I feel back to my old self again. I took a few more breaks than usual. I thought a lot today about what I will do when I get back. Especially when it comes to a job. I¢ve determined that I have absolutely no idea. I hope to be surprised with something that I¢ve never thought about before, and love it! I saw ¢Wind Rock¢ in my data book, ¢perfect¢ I thought. I finished the day with a steady climb up to Wind Rock and camped there. Still overcast so no view of the sunset.   I met a couple from Detroit, Michigan, Tracy and Chris, who had come to the mountains to get away from everyone. They seemed happy so they must have done a good job. I thought that that this trip was going to be about getting away from people and into nature, but people are who I long for.
Date: 2007-10-17
From: Wind Rock

To: Pearisburg, VA Holy Family Catholic Hostel
Miles today: 26.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 120 26.8 mi Pearisburg, VA Holy Family Catholic HostelI hit the trail about 7 a.m. Shin splint still hurting. I dropped of the mountain down to Stoney Creek valley. I got some water with soapy bubbles in it and houses up stream. Luckily I found a smaller stream up the trail. I dumped all of that other water out. At the Pine Swamp Shelter, I found the shelter to be in a bad way. A tree had fallen on it. One of my few fears out here. One of the bunks had been totally inundated. It was scary to see a fear realized. I climbed up to the ridge and stayed there the rest of the day. All the springs were dry up there. I had to ration my water. When I do that, I drink a small sip to quench thirst, but my body needs more. I take more breaks to cool myself down instead, it helps. I redressed my blister with more duct tape, then took a short nap because of the heat. I felt a little humidity rain this morning, but no count. I crossed the new river into Pearisburg, VA and then through some roadside wasteland. I could hear the Celco factory in the valley all day long and then finally saw it at the end of the day. Then I hiked past their Celco landfill for hazardous waste. I guess companies like to pick small town to make the town dependant on them so the town can¢t complain. I hiked down to the Rendezvous Motel, what a name. I tried to hitch, but no luck. I asked the lady at the motel for a ride, she obliged. I stopped by the store, then Wendy¢s. I called Becky and found out her sister Kendra is going to have a C section tonight. Everyone was worried. I walked another mile carrying groceries at my sides over to the hostel. It was hell. Sweating again, and shin splint rocking. When I got there I saw the hurt guy from the Pickle Branch shelter. He had caught a ride out. This time I caught his name, ¢Uncle Walt¢. He was told he looks like Walt Whitman. He does! He was an interesting guy with a very heavy studder, from Brooklyn, Austrian accent, 60¢s, and long grey hair. We enjoyed conversation and shared the Key Lime pie I had bought at the store. I feel better, but tired of hurting. I¢m thankfully off to bed. Much thought goes to Kendra, Robert, Sharon, Becky, and especially Cade. It could be his un chosen birthday as I write.
Date: 2007-10-18
From: Pearisburg, VA Holy Family Catholic Hostel

To: Jenny Knob Shelter
Miles today: 30.8
Weather: light rain

Day 121 30.8 mi Jenny Knob ShelterUp and out at dawn. I walked down to the store to buy some toilet paper. How could I forget a thing like that last night! A guy offered me a ride back to the trail. He went inside and I called Becky to see how the night went with her sister. It went great, and today I am ¢Uncle Farsang¢! So today I hike full of joy and happiness for Benjamin Cade McPherson.   I am so happy for all of this. I called Robert and left a voicemail to tell him so.   I didn¢t get a chance to get the TP before I got a ride back to the trail. I started the day right up ¢Angels Rest¢, a huge mountain at the edge of town. My stomach hurting all the way from the ¢town food¢ last night. It was very windy and overcast today. I walked five miles through a valley where all of the creeks had dried up. It was a weird thing to see, it was like nothing I had ever seen. I noticed today how beautiful the woods are getting with the colors. I thought again about how fortunate I am for all of this. At dusk I got water from a river, I hate doing that. I had 6 miles to go by headlamp.. Back to the light bubble! I had to redress my blister on the way in the night. I got down to the last road crossing at Crandon, VA. I saw faint blazes on the telephone poles to my right. I followed them for 34 mile and then they ended. Road crossings are never marked good. No trail to be found. I walked back to where I started, stepping off into the ditch each time a car passed as to not be harassed. I was mad, hurting, and ready to give up for the night. I walked past where I came out of the woods, and 200 yds up the road was the trail. I walked a mile up to the shelter and fell out. I found a map and saw that the trail had been rerouted a few years ago, but blazes not taken down. Good work! I cooled down, ate some food, and went to sleep. Shin splint blazing even without walking.
Date: 2007-10-19
From: Jenny Knob Shelter

To: RiverÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Resort Fayetteville, WV
Miles today: 12.1

Day 122 12.1mi River¢s Resort Fayetteville, WVDaylight came too early. Today is the day I get picked up by my dad and we go to Bridge Days in WV. We¢ve been a couple of years before, but this year will be different. Bridge Days is the one time a year that base jumpers are allowed to jump off the New River Gorge Bridge, 876' tall and the world's second longest single arch bridge. I was so tired all morning, my body dragged, my eyes were heavy.   I got to the meeting spot at Bland, VA 15 min before him. I waited at the Senior Citizens center. I could have passed for a broken old man. My dad showed up, I hugged him and it felt so good. That is one thing I miss out here, hugs.We stopped and got some supplies and headed over to River¢s Resort. I had set this goal to make it to Bridge day two weeks ago when I was 300 miles away. It is really the only goal I have set for myself to make it to a certain place. I¢ve walked 553 miles in the past month. Today I¢ve been on the trail for four months. At Rivers we set up our tent in the community tenting area. Everyone that we knew from years past started showing up. The guys from SC, Jeff, Greg, Randy, and Chamus showed up, the girl from WV, Amy, came, then Jeanie. It is definitely a reunion. Everyone commented on my beard. We spent the night catching up. The guys Greg and Jeff had a good story about when they went scuba diving 40 mi off the SC coast. When they came up Greg¢s boat had sunk. It was $15,000 to recover it. I think I¢ll stick to hiking.
Date: 2007-10-20
From: RiverÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Resort Fayetteville, WV

To: RiverÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Resort Fayetteville, WV
Miles today: 0.0

Day 123 0 day, River¢s ResortWe all were not rafting today, so we walked down underneath the bridge to the New River to watch the jumpers. It¢s amazing to watch. Some don¢t pull their chute to the very last second. It was a warm sunny day, some of us swam. We really enjoyed each other¢s company. We were down there for several hours then hitched a reide back to the top. The night was full of fun. Amy brought a drum, Greg played it. We sat in a circle around the fire. Amy¢s friends showed up, Serat (Sara), from India, Isabella, from Germany, and Samantha. The drumming got louder and the girls danced around the fire. Jeanie had been taking belly dancing for the last few years and showed her practice. She was intense. It was all amazing. A guy, once from Africa, showed up to give Greg a break from drumming. His name was Gordon, and after some talking I found out he was from Johnson City. He had once owned the train station, wanted to renovate it, but without cooperation from the city or the railroad, he had to give it up. The drumming got louder, and everyone from the campground started circling around to watch. It was a great party and a great time. A guy named Mark had the comment for the night, ¢Just kill me now, cause it can¢t get no better.¢
Date: 2007-10-21
From: RiverÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Resort Fayetteville, WV

To: RiverÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Resort Fayetteville, WV
Miles today: 0.0

Day 124 0 Day Rivers resortTime to go rafting on the Upper Gauley river. We have done it once before, and was kind of board. But not this year! This is the first year I didn¢t have to wear a wet suit. I just put on all the clothes that I had. So I get my laundry done at the same time! Rivers is selling all of its property to developers and moving. This means changes for everyone. Including our guide Terry. He is a little fed up with it all and today is the last day of Gauley season. He was holding nothing back. Terry hit every hole, surfed every spot, and flipped the boat many times in the big whitewater. He was doing things that no other boat would attempt. All the other guests and guides were looking at us as if we were crazy. I just stood up and screamed with my paddle held high. At one point we lost our guide and my dad. We navigated the boat while my dad swam ¢the Box¢. My dad said that he spent more time in the water on this trip than all trips combined, I agree. I had so much fun.For the last time for it to be Rivers this year, we had a time that is almost unexplainable. We can¢t get our heads around it. The people were awesome, and the rafting was so good that we probably won¢t do it again. We¢ll just go back to see our friends.
Date: 2007-10-22
From: RiverÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Resort Fayetteville, WV

To: Some motel on Highway 77
Miles today: 0.0

Day 125 0 day Some motel on Highway 77We packed up, got breakfast at Tudor¢s biscuit world, drove a awhile, ate Mexican lunch, the got a motel. We were both tired and it was too late to get back on the trail. I enjoyed the cable TV and a soft bed.
Date: 2007-10-23
From: Some motel on Highway 77

To: Chestnut Knob Shelter
Miles today: 21.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 126 21.7 mi Chestnut Knob ShelterI got to the trail about 10:30, my Dad walked with me for a while, then gave me another heart felt goodbye. As he hugged me I tried to remember it and knew I would miss it when he was gone. My shin splint and blister are better. Amy, the masseuse, worked on it this weekend. It amazingly gone. I have new shoes from Alpine. No excuse not to hike. My head was filled with the weekend, so the miles went by quick. Most of the leaves have fallen, leaving a sea of yellow. It threatened rain all day, but never did. I hiked up to 4500 feet, higher than I¢ve been for a long time. I stayed at Chestnut Knob shelter. It is an old Fire Warden¢s cabin over looking Burkes Garden. The garden is the original site that Vanderbilt had chose for ¢Biltmore¢. The wind blew hard, I¢m lucky this shelter has four sides. I am lucky on all ways, I love my life!
Date: 2007-10-24
From: Chestnut Knob Shelter

To: Davis Path Shelter
Miles today: 20.2

Day 127 20.2 mi Davis Path ShelterToday I hike for Kendra Mcpherson. I know right now her life is so busy with the new baby. Every day is brand new for her, I can relate.Wow, it rained all day. I haven¢t hike in rain since Bear Mtn, NY where Snacktime left me. I can¢t say I¢ve missed it. It was a steady rain all day. I stopped at a shelter for lunch, I had only walked 9 miles. I had a hard time getting started again. It would be easy to be a ¢fair weather hiker¢, but not today. I walked across many farm fields and once in the woods the rain was deafening with all of the newly fallen leaves. The temp dropped in the afternoon, a put on another shirt and hoped for more climbs. I¢ve seen no one in the past two days. I got to Davis Path shelter and immediately changed into dry clothes. I now have no pillow, I¢m wearing it. The rain beat the tin roof all night. I am anxious to get to TN, I don¢t like that feeling. I usually have no plan past today. I guess that is just the way it is walking toward home.
Date: 2007-10-25
From: Davis Path Shelter

To: Partnership Shelter
Miles today: 14.3
Weather: moderate rain

Day 128 14.3mi Partnership Shelter.It rained all night and all day. It¢s neat to see all of the creeks and streams com back to life. I hated putting on all of my wet clothes this morning. I could have laid around all day. I stopped at a store at exit 54, GroseClose, VA. Seeing signs for Bristol felt good. I hiked on and stopped at an old farmstead that was part of the Settler¢s Museum. It was totally furnished with period furniture and d©cor. I redressed a new blister on my heel and curled up on a couch with a quilt and took a nap. It was a good break from the rain. I arrived at the road to Sugar Grove, VA, hitched a ride down the mountain. I road in the back of a truck, the rain stung and the air was cold at 55 mph. I ate at Sugar Grove diner, voted #1 in Smyth county for 4 years for country cookin¢. I caught a few hard looks from the hunters, I just nodded at them. They had rooms, but they were all full. Hitched another ride back up to the shelter.
Date: 2007-10-26
From: Partnership Shelter

To: Old Orchard Shelter
Miles today: 24.7
Weather: light rain

Day 129 24.7 Old Orchard ShelterToday I hike for Robert Mcpherson. I can imagine Robert going through his regular day, just wanting to get home to his new baby boy, Cade. It must be exciting for him. I¢ve always liked Robert, I¢m proud to know him. All I wanted to do all day is get out of these wet shoes. It rained enough on me today to make me cold. I dropped under 500 miles to go today. Wow, that seems small. I was in VT for my first 500. I¢m already planning my days for TN, I¢m excited about it. I wish that I could audibly play the thought that go on in my head for people to hear how random everything is.   I camped at the shelter and let mice run all over me through the night.
Date: 2007-10-27
From: Old Orchard Shelter

To: Lost Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 23.2
Weather: clear sky

Day 130 23.2mi Lost Mountain ShelterToday I hike for Jonathan Crowe, my cousin from Boston. It was really good to see him when I walked through MA. He really made me feel welcomed. It was good to gain him as a friend. Today started out dreary and dark on Pine Mtn. I was closed in the clouds. It was like something from a movie. I heard some more beards that I recognized from ME. By the time I got to the edge of the Grayson Highlands the skies had cleared and it was beautiful. All of my significant summit days have been clear. Thanks to all for the positive thought and prayer. I saw around 90 people today, which was daunting after only seeing a few in the past few days.My feet are starting to fall apart from all of the rain in the past few days. I hiked all across the highlands. I saw the first place I had stayed in a tent by myself. It was Wilburn ridge. The day was beautiful and then the wind blew 70 mph that night. I was 8 years old and scared. I hiked up to Buzzard Rock toward the middle of the day. I could see Grandfather, Sugar, Hump, and Roan from there. Seeing those mountains sent chills through my body. It was home! It was great to get out of the rain and the green tunnel for a while, up to the balds of VA. I loved it all day.
Date: 2007-10-28
From: Lost Mountain Shelter

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 131 15.8mi Damascus, VAI am so excited to get to Damascus. I woke up at 6:15, hiking in the dark by 6:45. I hit the creeper trail, it would have been nice to follow that all the way into town, but the AT had a few more mountains for me to climb. I walked into town about noon. I¢ve been coming up here since I was a kid with my Dad. The outfitter was closed since it was Sunday. I wanted to stay at Dave¢s place. Dave owns the Outfitter also. When I was 10 he thru hiked the AT. He was bigger than life to me at that time. I walked over to the burrito spot for some lunch. While I was there a guy walked up and asked ¢need a room¢. ¢Yep¢ I said. He got me a key to Dave¢s Place. Score! This ¢guy¢ was ¢The Pirate¢. A mainstay of the Appalachian Trail. He has hiked it many times. I was happy to meet him, he¢s a good guy and a lot crazy in a good way. As I left lunch I saw Dave. We stood on front of the Hostel and swapped stories for two hours. Man, that made my day! I could finally relate and share stories with my childhood hero. Talking to him was fitting with the way this trip has gone, everything just works out. I stopped over at ¢The Place¢, a legendary hostel of the AT. I met two girls there, Lisa and Rowan, who were riding their bicycles from Providence, RI to Austin, TX. ¢That¢s cool¢ I thought. We talked stories of travel. They are on a shoestring budget, raising money as being puppet performers, and really being dependent on others for help. Traveling for the sake of traveling, It¢s pretty cool.
Date: 2007-10-29
From: Damascus, VA

To: Iron Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 25.9

Day 132 25.9 mi Iron Mtn ShelterToday I hike for Terry ¢Tennessee¢ Busler. A very very good friend of mine. I can¢t tell you how much this guy means to me. His day has been coming for a while. He lived in TX for too long, now he is back. A perfect day to hike for him since I crossed into TN today. I left out of Damascus, VA this morning after breakfast with the pirate. I walked three miles to the TN state line. When I got there I played a song, wrote a song, played my harmonica, jumped around, screamed, and celebrated. Pure happiness flowed from me! No reservations on any of my feelings. As I hiked on I felt as if everyone who had not made it this far had their hands on my back pushing me up the trail. I felt light. I hiked past an old original At shelter where a couple was sitting enjoying the sunshine. They asked for a picture of me. Sure! We talked of the trail. Richard and Susan were out hiking for the day. As Richard talked of the tail and wanting to thru hike I could hear the emotion in his voice and could sense an uncomfortable squirm in his body. He felt the same way I did when I decided to hike. It felt so familiar to me. He had considered hiking the trail many times, but ¢life¢ got in the way. He said he couldn¢t make time. I told him that no one can make time, we just have to decide what we want to do with the time we¢re given. I also told him what is five or six months in the years of life. I hiked away from him and felt full of ¢want¢ for him to hike the trail. I turned around and hiked back to him. I told him what had helped me to decide to hike the trail. I made list of all of the positive effects of hiking the AT, then a list of all the negatives. What I found is that all of the negative effects were only coming from fear of the unknown and that they did not add up to much. After telling him this, I recognized the uncomfortable squirm of making a huge decision in him. I saw myself in him only a little while ago. I wished him well and hiked on. I know he¢ll hike it!I hiked on a beautiful ridgeline all day. I spotted South Holston Lake through the trees. Another good reason to hike for Terry today. It is my, Terry¢s, Dad¢s, and the late Mike Grindstaff¢s favorite places to go. Man, it¢s good to be home! I crossed highway 91 at the top of Stoney Creek and saw more water containers than I had seen at any road crossing. Thanks to everyone for that. I¢ve hiked this stretch three times now. Itry to look at my surroundings through first time eyes to see what my brothers and sisters are seeing, and I can tell you that it is beautiful!
Date: 2007-10-30
From: Iron Mtn Shelter

To: Home!
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: clear sky

Day 133 15.8 mi Home!The woods were very still last night. No bugs chirping, no wind, no town noise. The first that I can remember, I slept well. I started hiking before dawn. I got to see my first TN sunrise. It is different than the rest. Henry Joy, his wife Flora, my parents, and Sharon met me at Watauga Dam in a boat. I didn¢t recognize the boat at first, it was a rental. Henry¢s boat had failed, but he made the day still work. We had been planning this day before I started. Flora made some great soup and sandwiches. Becky¢s Granny had made her family famous sourdough bread for us today. We parked and sat in the sun and just enjoyed the day. I loved it more than anyone. I hiked the remaining 2.7mi to highway 321 with my Mom. It was good to be around here in my woods. I rode to the house where Becky was waiting. I also saw her through first time eyes. I spent the cold night in a warm bed.