morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-04-25
From: Deep Gap

To: Clyde Smith Shelter
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: broken clouds

I got up at 7:00am to warm temperatures and clear skies. I ate breakfast and decided to wait until 8:30 am to see if Hammer came by. Hammer never showed so I pushed on to the next shelter. Right from the start I had a pretty significant climb but when I got to the top of the mountain there was a dense evergreen forest. It was so dark and cool there that it made you feel that you were in the enchanted forest.Along my hike I met fellow thru hiker Amy who had gotten a trail name Snowplow. She told me that she had seen Hammer a few hours earlier. When I got to the Cherry Gap Shelter and read the trail log I learned that Hammer had spent the night there. At this point he had about 6 hours of hiking time on me. As I neared TN Hwy 107 I met two day hikers and they told me about some trail magic near the road crossing. Sure enough when I got there I found a cooler but unfortunately all the drinks were gone. That¢s OK; it¢s the thought that counts.   When I got to the road crossing there was a group of cyclists there and they began to ask all kinds of questions about the AT and my hike. Before they left they ask me if I needed anything and I could tell that they were very sincere about their offer. I told them no, but thanked them for the offer.I had just put on my pack, when the two day hikers showed up.(Dave & Jerry) These two trail angels gave me all the snacks they had in their packs and even offered to take me to town for something to eat. I declined the ride but man the snacks meant the world to this tired and hungry thru hiker. What great guys!Overall the hike was not too difficult today. A few mountains to climb but the elevations stayed fairly constant. In the afternoon I got my first glimpse of Roan Mountain. At over 6000 feet that is going to be one tough climb tomorrow.Two interesting things happen today; as I crossed one ridge there was a turkey hunter using a slate call. I picked up my treking poles and quietly walked by without him even noticing me. Secondly all along my afternoon hike I encountered hundreds of baby grasshoppers on the trail. I bet the wild turkeys and songbirds in the area are happy.I got to the Clyde Smith Shelter about 4:15pm with the intent of fixing an early supper and putting a couple more miles in, but the thunder and rain convinced me to stay put.
Date: 2008-04-26
From: Clyde Smith Shelter

To: Mountain Harbor Hostel
Miles today: 21.6

I got an early start today with the hope I can catch Hammer. Right out of the gate was Little Rock Knob which was pretty tough. But then there was Roan Mountain. It took me over 2 hours to get to the top and then to the parking lot. This mountain really kicked my butt! With heavy fog and no views, I moved on to Roan High Knob Shelter for lunch. When I got there I was treated to trail magic in the form of sodas. Man they sure tasted good with my oatmeal. I read the trail register and saw that Hammer had stayed there last night and planned to hike 15 miles today. It¢s good to hear his foot is doing great but I sure wish he would slow down! This meant I would have to do at least 20 miles to catch him today. I quickly packed up and hit the trail.As I crossed Round Bald I met a couple from China and their American guide. When they learned what I was doing they asked to have pictures taken with me. I next met a couple from Charlotte, NC and they had a lot of questions about the AT and my hike. They graciously gave me some candy. Thanks Trail Angles.I crossed several Balds today and all offered fantastic views but none compared to Hump Mountain. Although pressed for time I took a few minutes to take photographs and absorbed the beauty of the area. I met fellow thru hiker Long Way True here and she told me that she had shared a shelter with Hammer last night and he talked about staying at a hostel near the road crossing. Based on my estimate, I would be at that crossing at 7:00pm but I would have to hustle.   The last hour of my hike was made up of large rocks scrambles that were murder on already tired feet. I got to the hostel at 7:45pm and luckily Hammer was there and better yet they had one last bunk left.It took nearly 22 miles but I had finally caught up to Hammer. It was going to be great to be hiking with him again. I was too tired to cook so I caught the shuttle to town and got the largest sandwich I could buy. The clerk even gave me a discount. Trail Magic three times in one day, Wow!
Date: 2008-04-27
From: Mountain Harbor Hostel

To: Campsite
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: broken clouds

Hammer and I left Mountain Harbor Hostel about 8:30am. With clear skies, steady breezes, and fairly level terrain hiking was great for the first half of the day. Hammer and I stopped for lunch at Jones Falls which was a real treat.The afternoon hike continued to be fairly easy with only a few ups and downs. As we passed one large stream, we both wished we had our fishing rods and were actually picking out spots where we believed the fish would be.By 2:00pm the rain started falling and continued pretty hard until about 5:00pm. We were finally able to locate a camping spot and begin the process of setting up camp without getting our stuff too wet. Man do I have a lot to learn! About an hour later it stopped raining long enough for me to fix my favorite supper; instant loaded potatoes. Its funny how foods that I would never consider eating much less have as a main course are now what I look forward to. In the morning we have a 10 mile hike to Kincorra Hostel. Boy do I hope its not raining
Date: 2008-04-28
From: Campsite

To: Kincorra Hikers Hostel
Miles today: 11.3

I woke up at 3:00am to condensation dripping on my nose and yes it¢s still raining heavily. Thank goodness I¢m in a dry tent and warm sleeping bag. I got up at 6:30am and it was still raining so there was nothing else to do but get up, pack up, and start hiking. I did a much better job keeping my gear dry this time. The tough part was putting on cold and wet rain gear over shorts and a t-shirt, burr¢¦. Hammer is getting a later start. I think he is hopping that the sunshine fairy will emerge and he can pack up without getting wet. Fat chance!I got to the first shelter and ate a quick snack. Man is it cold and wet. Within minutes of stopping I got chilled. I still have 6 miles to go and hiking with rain gear on is not only exhausting but it slows you down considerably. I got to the hostel about 1:00pm and luckily there was a bunk left. I took care of the usual chores and man was it great to be warm and dry. Everything in my pack was damp and dirty so a lot of time was taken to square away everything.I took the shuttle to town and got a sandwich and milkshake. After walking to several locations I finally got phone service in the middle of the parking lot. Not the best place to make a phone call but it would have to do. I spoke to my wife and let her know what my anticipated arrival day in Damascus would be. I can¢t wait to see her and my daughter.Special thanks goes out to the Candy Lady who came to the hostel and prepared several dozen cookies for the hikers. They were great!
Date: 2008-04-29
From: Kincorra Hikers Hostel

To: Vandeventer Shelter
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: overcast clouds

I woke up this morning really refreshed. This is probably the best I have slept since I have been on the trail. Blues Traveler has joined Hammer and I and plans to hike with us for a while. He started out a few minutes ahead of us but with two food bags; he can¢t resist raiding the hiker box, we should soon catch up to him.The first treat of the day was Laurel Falls. What a beautiful site. Hammer and I spent several minutes there taking photos and admiring the beauty of the falls. We are both committed to stopping at these type of locations and really soaking in the experience.The only tough climb today was Pond Mountain; very steep and long. After that the terrain leveled out and eventually went down to Watauga Lake. We caught up to Blues Traveler there and decided to take out lunch break at the picnic area. The rest of the day was the usual ups and downs but there was not any really difficult hiking. Let me qualify that statement. There is never easy hiking on the AT, just some times are not as hard as others.   The views around the lake were so beautiful I spent quite a lot of time there. We arrived at the Vandeventer Shelter about 5:30pm but decided to tent camp since the temperatures were going down to the 20¢s tonight. A lot warmer in a tent.
Date: 2008-04-30
From: Vandeventer Shelter

To: Double Springs Shelter
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: clear sky

We decided to sleep in this morning to let our tents dry out completely. Well, that¢s the excuse we are using. I fixed oatmeal and then strung out my tent in the nearby trees to take advantage of the sun and wind.   Blue skies today and light breezes with temperatures in the 50¢s by mid morning. Great hiking weather.We were blessed today with fairly level terrain throughout the hike and it allow us to take additional breaks and really enjoy the beauty around us. Shorty after crossing TN Hwy 91 we entered a beautiful pasture that had terrific views. We spent a lot of time here eating snacks and soaking up the warm rays of the sun. Being warm and dry can really brighten a hiker¢s spirit. As we crossed the pasture we jumped a rabbit that only went about 10 yards and then started eating again. Better be glad its not hunting season!We got to Double Springs Shelter about 5:30pm and found a great camping spot near a water source.
Date: 2008-05-01
From: Double Springs Shelter

To: TN/VA Border
Miles today: 14.8

I got up at 7:00am but decided to take the time to fix a hot breakfast. I got on the trail about 9:00am with each of us starting a few minutes apart. A lot more ups and downs than I expected based on looking at the map. Throughout the day I checked to see if I had phone service and finally got it on a high ridge. It¢s funny that I can be in the middle of no where and have phone service and not have it in town. I spoke to my wife and daughter about 30 minutes. Boy do I miss them and can¢t wait to see them Saturday.We stopped at Abingdon Shelter for lunch and to get water since we plan to stealth camp about 3 miles from town.We finally got to the TN/VA border about 5:00pm. What a great feeling to have two more states down and 457 miles hiked on the AT! We all had our pictures taken at the boundary sign to mark the achievement. We hiked about another mile and found a campsite on an old logging road. We should be able to get to town in about an hour in the morning.
Date: 2008-05-02
From: TN/VA Border

To: Damascus VA
Miles today: 3.5
Weather: scattered clouds

We got up at 6:30am and everyone was packed and ready to go in less than 30 minutes. Something about clean clothes, showers, and food. Blues Traveler was the first to hit the trail and man did he have his afterburners on. All I could hear him say was ¢I¢m hungry¢!We made it into Damascus about 8:00am and what a beautiful quant town it is. It looks like something out of Mayberry. The first order of business was breakfast at Damascus Eats. Hammer and I got the Hikers Stack which consisted of plate size blueberry pancakes. Try as I could I could not eat them all. Of course Blues Traveler said he was still hungry. Our next stop was the outfitter. I got measured again and the outfitter confirmed what I had been told in Hot Springs; I needed a medium pack. With 1500 miles to go I had no choice but to get smaller pack. What a contrast in service from the dealer where I originally purchased the pack. This outfitter not only form heated my hip belt but showed me how to properly adjust my pack. He also gave me tips on distributing weight in my pack. The previous dealer had done none of this. A matter I will have to take up when I get home. I can¢t tell how good it feels to have a proper fitting pack.I was blessed today to meet The Only Wanderer who was allowing hikers the use of his phone. With no cell service and little time left on my phone card this was really a godsend.While I was in the library I got a great surprise when my buddy Eddie came in. He and his wife were in town riding bikes. It was great seeing him and sharing photos and my experiences on the trail.My wife and daughter should be here by lunch tomorrow. Can¢t wait!
Date: 2008-05-03
From: Damascus VA

To: Zero Day
Miles today: 0.0

It was a rough night last night. I thought I was just suffering from allergies but the chills that started late yesterday and continued through the evening have convinced me it¢s something worst. I tried for some time to get some sleep but not wanting to disturb my roommates, plus not being able to breathe well forced me to get up and get some fresh air. Man this can¢t be happening to me! I stayed up until @ 2:00am and after a couple sodas I started feeling better. I went back to bed and actually got a couple hours sleep.I woke up this morning feeling much better. I did not feel like a big breakfast, just some milk and OJ. I took care of my mail drop and spent the rest of the morning entering journal pages. I was in the reading area of the library when I saw my girls approach. Several minutes of hugs later we were off to Abingdon VA to grab lunch.My wife and daughter were really shocked and concerned about the weight I had loss. One problem thru hikers have is that you are burning at least twice as many calories as you consume. It was great visiting with my girls and catching up with things back home. But just like phone calls these visits are bitter sweet and end far too soon.The rest of the day was spent taking care of the last couple items on my to do list. We plan an early start in the morning.Its time to go hiking!
Date: 2008-05-04
From: Damascus VA

To: Lost Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: clear sky

I got up during the night and saw that it had rained. I woke up at 6:30am, took a shower and then packed up. Blues Traveler, Hammer and I stopped at the In the Country Restaurant on our way out of town and had breakfast. Dust in the Wind and Liberty were there and we had an enjoyable conversation.We finally got on the trail @ 9:00am and thank goodness the climbs today were not too strenuous. I¢m still pretty weak from my cold and little sleep. I just plan to go slow and steady today.I got to the Saunders Shelter @ 1:30pm to have lunch and met Hammer and Blues Traveler there. We are all planning to stay at the next shelter.On my hike today I passed a pond where I saw several dozen very large tadpoles in the last stage of development. I also helped a trail maintainer remove a blow down from the trail.I got to Lost Mountain Shelter @ 5:15pm and although I wasn¢t hungry I fixed supper. I actually felt better after eating. I hung my food bag and went to bed early. Hope the rest will help me get over the bug.Blues Traveler's old hiking partner, Pop Top has joined our group.
Date: 2008-05-05
From: Lost Mountain Shelter

To: Rhododendron Gap
Miles today: 13.0

It started raining right at sunrise but thank goodness it stopped within ten minutes. I got up and fixed some oatmeal. I¢m feeling better but the slowness in my movement tells me I¢m not the same yet.I got on the trail @ 8:00am with others in the group following close behind. Thank goodness the hike today was also pretty easy.Walrus had left some ramps by the trail and I finally tried one. They have a strong nutty flavor but are actually pretty good. It took a couple hard candies to get the taste out of my mouth. I had heard of Ramp festivals in the mountains of NC but didn¢t know what the plant looked or taste likeWhen I approached VA Hwy 600 I saw what I thought were ropes tied around trees but they were actually tubes collecting maple syrup.   I got to Thomas Knob Shelter and the wild horses were nearby. I actually got to pet one! The views behind this shelter were excellent and the sun hitting the rocks actually warmed the area.We decided to eat an early supper then move about a mile to a campsite at Rhododendron Gap. What a beautiful area this was. After setting camp we all went to a nearby field to enjoy the beauty of this area. It really reminds me of the mountains of Colorado.
Date: 2008-05-06
From: Rhododendron Gap

To: Hurricane Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: broken clouds

All during the night the wild horses were running thru our camping area. It was a wonder that one of our tents were not trampled. The stars were beautiful last night, too bad it was too cold to stay out and observe them for any length of time.We got up to frost on the ground and had to hang tents to thaw and dry.Hammer and I got on the trail @ 8:30 with the commitment that we were going to stop often and enjoy the highlands. Man were they beautiful! Today was another great day of hiking. Good terrain and great weather.The highlight of the day was breaking 500 miles on the AT. Hammer and I had our photos taken to celebrate this achievement.
Date: 2008-05-07
From: Hurricane Mountain Shelter

To: Campsite
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: clear sky

I stayed in the shelter last night with Hammer, Blues Traveler, Pop Top, Zack and Retread. I had a great night sleep. I was on the trail by 7:30am to great weather and temps in the 60's by mid morning. Hammer and I have decided to hitch into Troutdale VA to get some snacks. I have never hitchhiked in my life so this was a real weird feeling. The first two vehicles did not stop. I actually think they increased their speed! The third vehicle was the charm and took us to Jerry's Supermarket & Dinner about two miles away. What a great place! Good food and friendly people. Jerry offered to help us in any way.The first order of business was a good breakfast. Man those gravy biscuits were great. I then went to the church hostel for a shower and to get into clean clothes.Jerry's place also has a computer so I was able to edit my photos. The owner of the dinner gave Hammer and I a ride back to the trail and we were hiking again by 1:30pm. Hammer and I crossed one stream today that had several trout rising to eat insects off the surface. Where is my flyrod!We hiked to a campsite about 8 miles away and met Baggins there. She is taking 3 years to complete the trail. At 4'7" and using very little gear, I really admired her guts.Tomorrow we will be at Partnership Shelter. You can actually order pizza at the visitors center. Yep, its all about food for a thru hiker.
Date: 2008-05-08
From: Campsite

To: Chatfield Shelter
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: clear sky

Last night we had 5 tents in an area designed for 3. Real tight arrangement especially when getting up to go to the bathroom.Got started by 8:30am with skies looking like it was going to rain at any moment. We got to Partnership Shelter by 11:00am and ordered lunch. I also called my wife and gave her a list of items to send me.Got back on the trail by 1:30pm and the hiking was much tougher with a couple mountains to cross.We got to the shelter about 5:00pm just as skies darkened and it started to rain. Glad to be in a shelter tonight. Heading to Adkins VA tommorow to do laundry and pick up a maildrop.
Date: 2008-05-09
From: Chatfield Shelter

To: VA 42 Campsite
Miles today: 16.3

It rain most of the night but luckily its just misting this morning. Blues Traveler and I got to Adkins @ 9:00am and went to a local dinner for breakfast. Hammer and Pop Top arrived later and we all took care of laundry and showers and were back on the trail by noon.We had a couple of mountains to climb today but with good switchbacks it was not too diffcult. I met some trail maintainers who were taking down a shelter that had been a source of problems because of its closeness to town. We crossed several pastures today with beautiful views and Holston River that would have been great to fish. Hammer and I got some trail magic in the form of an apple and snack bar as we crossed one of the stiles.About 6:30pm we started looking for a campsite and within minutes had found one near a good water supply. We had just finished dinner when the thunderstorms came.
Date: 2008-05-10
From: VA 42 Campsite

To: Campsite @ Mile 568.4 
Miles today: 20.3

It started raining again just before sunrise but it only lasted a couple minutes. I got up at 6:30am and began the process of drying out my tent somewhat and packing up. We are heading to the next shelter to fix breakfast and hang tents to dry. I got to Knot Maul Shelter @ 9:00am and fixed some oatmeal. Its funny that a food I didn't really like tastes good now.Back on the trail by 10:00am. Today I encountered a Blacksnake that was partically under a log. I touched it's tail to get it to move foward but it actually came around a gave me a better photograph.I got to Walkers Gap at 2:30pm. What a pretty place to have lunch and with a piped water supply to boot. Todays hike was made up of mostly ups and numerous rock scrambles. Very tough hiking! We were really having a hard time finding water when Blues Traveler found a good water source. We all filled up and I went ahead to find a campsite. Luckily I found one within minutes but we had to set camp by headlamps. We got to bed by 10:00pm, way pass hiker midnight.
Date: 2008-05-11
From: Helveys Mill Shelter

To: Campsite @ 568.5
Miles today: 14.9

I woke up to dark skies and as we were packing it started to drizzle rain. We headed to Jenkins Shelter for breakfast and hopefully dry out our tents. It¢s here that we said our goodbyes to Pop Top who is leaving the trail and Blues Traveler who is going to overnight in Bland, VA. Heading to the next shelter it looked like it was going to rain at any moment. About 11:30 am it started raining and I could hear thunder in the distance. I was crossing Bushy Mountain when suddenly the storm was on top of me with constant lighting strikes and heavy rain. I ditched my pack and hiking poles and headed for a thick growth of rhododendron. There I made myself the smallest target possible and prayed for the best. After about 40 minutes the storm passed but by this time I was quite cold from the lack of activity and was shivering badly. I ate am snack bar and started hiking as hard as I could to warm up. Within an hour the sun popped out and I was starting to dry out. When I was about an hour from the shelter it started to rain again but I got there before the bottom dropped out. I actually had phone service at this shelter so I called my wife to wish her a Happy Mother¢s Day. I also spoke to my daughter and let her know how much I loved and appreciated her. There is no way I could have made it on the AT without the help of my wife and daughter.
Date: 2008-05-12
From: Dismal Creek Falls 

To: Helveys Mill Shelter
Miles today: 18.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Raw weather this morning is making everyone reluctant to leave the shelter. I got on the trail about 8:30 am and made it to Jenny Knob Shelter which was 10 miles away by noon. Now that¢s high stepping!Today the winds were blowing 20-30 mph and a couple of times I was blown right off the trail. After a quick snack I was back to hiking and made it to Trents Store @ 3:00 pm. There I enjoyed one of the best and biggest hamburgers I have ever had. Definitely a real hiker friendly business. After purchasing a couple of food items to get me through a couple of days it was back to the trail head.Approaching Dismal Falls meant that we had hiked 600 miles on the AT. I took a picture of me, Hammer and Jack a Roo to celebrate the event.