morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-04-07
From: US 321

To: US 321
Miles today: 0.0

I was planning on hiking today, honest I was.It started snowing last evening, and the ground was white this morning. The forecast low for tonight is 20 deg and that's in town-- when we hike out we'll be camping about 2000 ft higher. We heard that Roan Mountain, where I camped a few days ago, received 10 inches of snow last night. So we wimped out. (Or were we extremely intelligent?) Here today is Just Rick, Putt, and me. Putt came in about 4:30 yesterday afternoon. He's a retired electrical engineer, obviously a very smart guy. So I've had a good rest, and I'm ready to hike again. Sutton Brown, who owns this hostel is a very nice guy. Just Rick asked him about getting a ride to a larger town to get a sleeping bag liner or bivy sack (Rick has a 35 deg bag). Sutton gave him a liner bag to use and just told him to mail it back when he's done with it.I've got to watch some of the Masters the last couple days. Tonight is rib night at the local bar-b-que restaurant, but that had nothing to do with our decision to stay!It's suppose to slowly warm up the next three days and no precip, so tomorrow it's back to the trail (have I said that before?)
Date: 2007-04-08
From: US 321

To: Iron Mtn. Shelter
Miles today: 15.4

Today was not the day I had planned. At 8am, Sutton shuttled Just Rick, Putt, and me to the trail. It was cold (16 deg last night) but sunshine and no wind. I started with lots of clothes but soon removed some layers as we got hiking. I seemed to be moving slow and Just Rick and Putt went on ahead. About 10am I saw Just Rick on the trail ahead of me. As I walked up to him, he told me he had no energy and just wasn't feeling right. He was headed back to town, and said he was going home. I was shocked as he had been hiking so strong, stronger than me. We said our goodbyes and wished each other well. Hopefully he'll be feeling better soon and can get back on the trail. It was a reminder to me to cherish each moment out here because I really don't know when it'll be over.I kept heading north and reached this shelter a little after 4pm. The snow was all melted in town but not up here. Where the rhododendrons shaded the trail, it was snow covered. I set my tent up as that should be warmer than the shelter. Then I built a fire and cooked my four hotdogs. I kept the fire going until 7:30 and then headed for the tent. I'm the only one here tonight, so this is the first night on the AT camping by myself. It's a little strange but it's OK.
Date: 2007-04-09
From: Iron Mtn. Shelter

To: Abingdon Gap Shelter
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Today started off cold. I had some frost inside the tent, but the water bottles didn't freeze (I wrapped them in my rain jacket and set them against my sleeping bag). It was hard to get out of the warm sleeping bag, and I didn't start hiking until 9am. Butch told me a few weeks ago that the hiking never gets easy but it gets less hard. Today was less hard, the ups and downs were shorter and less steep and I was doing more miles per hour without trying. I met Natural Hiker and The Umbrella Lady heading south. They're north bounders-- but went to Damascus to hike south to get out of the snow and to see people they hadn't seen for awhile. When I told them my trailname, they asked about Just Rick as they'd heard we were hiking together. They hiked with Rick their first week. Later Five String and his dog caught me, and he's tenting near the shelter.When I got to this shelter Backyard Boogie was here. I'd met him at Miss Janet's. He'd seen Just Rick at breakfast that morning in Hampton. He also said that Butch, Sundance, and Gray Wolf all started out from Hampton (US321) this morning.Tomorrow I'll cross the Virginia state line then get to Damascus and a date with my wife!
Date: 2007-04-10
From: Abingdon Gap Shelter

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: clear sky

Today"s hike was great. Only 10 miles to town. The town vacuum tends to suck you right in. Backyard Boogie and I hiked most of the way in together. Five String left us in his dust. Still we got to town just after noon. Backyard checked into a hostel, and we stashed our packs there and went to eat a cheeseburger. After that, we saw Putt and talked to him awhile. We made plans to meet for dinner at 6:30pm. Julie called while we were talking and was a half hour away. I got my pack and walked down to a park to wait for her. She even recognized me when she drove up! We drove up to the B&B, checked in, and I got a shower and into non-hiking clothes. We drove around Damascus, then parked and checked out the outfitters and library. At 6:30pm we went to the restaurant and Iceman Dan, Backyard Boogie, and Putt showed up. Before we ordered, Butch and Sundance walked by-- just getting into town from a 26 mile day. They checked into the hostel and then joined us. Julie got a good intro to the trail experience!
Date: 2007-04-11
From: Damascus, VA

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Zero days are a good thing. Julie and I had an awesome breakfast at the B&B. Eggs, sausage, hashbrowns, fruit, and raspberry/blueberry pancakes! We did my laundry then stopped by a coffee shop that wasn't offically open yet. There we met Stumpknocker and Mrs. Gorp, two legendary hikers who are on a cross country bike ride. We went downtown and met Graywolf and his wife. We then drove Butch to a drugstore to get a knee brace. In the afternoon we drove to Abingdon and bought a new pair of hiking boots. Heard from Just Rick today. He's home and happy, but missed on the trail! This evening we went to the Baja Cafe and had dinner with Butch, Sundance, Lone Wolf, Stumpknocker, Mrs. Gorp, Backyardboogie, Pinky and The Brain. We met Riders on the Storm there also. Tomorrow is a slack pack-- going 21 miles or so. Life is good in Damascus
Date: 2007-04-12
From: Damascus, VA

To: Whitetop Mtn Road
Miles today: 21.3

Twentyone miles is a long way for me-- even if we were slackpacking. Lone Wolf drove Butch, Sundance, Backyardboogie, Pinky, The Brain, and me out of Damascus this morning, and we walked back to town. We got to see a lot of hikers that are just ahead of us. I met Toesocks 1&2, Hawk, Alleycat, and Limestone for the first time. I also saw Iceman Dan, Swamp Yankee, HHH, and Five String.Lone Wolf also provided Trail Magic twice during our hike. First, at about 7.5 miles into our hike, he was sitting there with a cooler of beer and cokes. I drank a beer and took a coke for the road. Then with 5.6 miles left, he parked his truck at a road crossing and I had another coke. We started the hike at 9am and I got back to town just after 6pm.Tomorrow I'll take a day off and Julie and I are going to Grayson Highlands State Park. Note to self: If you leave your daypack in the back of a pickup truck with Sundance, Pinky, and The Brain-- check it for added rocks before hiking.   (Can't believe I fell for that one!)
Date: 2007-04-13
From: Whitetop Mtn Road

To: Whitetop Mtn Road
Miles today: 0.0

Another zero day for me! Julie and I had another huge breakfast at the B&B then drove to the hostel. We loaded Butch, Sundance, Backyardboogie, Pinky, and The Brain's packs into our car. Lone Wolf drove them to Whiterock Mtn Road and they headed north. Julie and I were spending the day at Grayson Highlands State Park which was about 10 miles into their hike. We met up with them at the park and had some pop, apples, bananas, and Swiss Cake rolls for them. After eating, they shouldered their packs and continued north. On our drive to the park we had driven up Whitetop Mtn to show Julie the view and Five String was just crossing the road so we gave him some trail magic. It was a sunny day, and when we got out of the wind it was warm-- but up on top of the mountains it was cold. We took a couple short hikes in the park and Julie took quite a few pictures.I'm planning on a couple shorter slackpacking days for tomorrow and Sunday. Hopefully I can get most of the higher elevation hiking done before another cold wave (and possible snow) gets here.
Date: 2007-04-14
From: Whitetop Mtn Road

To: Massey Gap
Miles today: 9.6

It was a slackpacking day. We had another big breakfast at the B&B (I'm counteracting some of the weight loss this week). Julie drove me to Whitetop Mtn Road, and I walked north. She drove back to Damascus and did some shopping (she's very good at it)! Whitetop is supposed to have some flying squirrels, but I wasn't lucky enough to see one. The hike also went over Mt Rogers and then into Grayson Highlands State Park. Grayson Highlands looks alot like Montana with large, open rocky areas. There are also wild ponies there, and I saw about 20 ponies and got some good pictures. Julie was waiting for me when I got to the parking lot, and we headed back to Damascus. We did a little more shopping at the outfitter, including filling up my fuel bottle, then had dinner. Tomorrow I'm hoping to slackpack some more, but there's a chance of snow-- so we'll see. An anecdote from Twofer¢s wife: I was waiting for Doug (it¢s still hard for me to call him Twofer :-) at Massey Gap in GraysonHighlands State Park (a beautiful place filled with wild ponies and amazing scenery), when I startedchatting with two gentlemen, of the non- ¢thru-hiker¢ type. I was explaining that I was there to pickup my thru-hiker husband as one of them wandered over to take note of my license plate.¢You¢re a long way from home,¢ he said, and I agreed. I explained that I was ¢slack-packing¢ myhusband-- which means that I was dropping him off at the beginning of his trek each morning andpicking him up at the end of his hike each afternoon.¢How old is he?¢ he asked.¢Fifty-one,¢ I answered.¢How did he find the time to take this hike?¢I began to explain about the whole Maytag deal. . . about how my husband saw the demise of the factory, and that he asked to be let go so that he could do something else. . . how he got a new degree, this time in Ecology. . . and how, after he received his degree, he could envision theopportunity to take a ¢walk in the woods,¢ as Bryson would say.One line of conversation led to another as the more chatty of the two hikers showed me themap and helped me plan a good place to pick Twofer up the next day. As they prepared to leave, themore quiet of the two, the one who noticed my license plate, paused and said, ¢Tell your husband Ithink he¢s really smart to do this. He¢s really smart.¢ They drove away for their next short hike of the day, leaving me to ponder the wisdom of myhusband, Twofer, who is following his heart into the woods.I¢m proud of you, Doug / Twofer. I admire you. . . and ¢I love you more than air.¢
Date: 2007-04-15
From: Massey Gap

To: VA603/Fox Creek
Miles today: 9.8

The weather mostly cooperated with my hike today. We had another great breakfast at the B&B and then loaded the car and checked out. Julie dropped me off at Massey Gap in the Grayson Highlands, and we could see some wild ponies from the car. It was in the mid 50's when I started hiking. I walked in clouds for quite a bit of the hike. At one point above treeline, I couldn't see 30 yards in any direction-- but the trail was well worn so I didn't have any trouble staying on the trail. Along the way, I passed the 500 mile mark!About 1pm it started raining and the temperature started dropping, eventually sleeting on me a couple times. I got to the road about 2:30pm, and Julie was there waiting for me. As we headed to Marion, VA, there was snow on the ground and slush on the road. Mostly the roads were just wet, but it was snowing pretty hard by the time we got to our motel. This is April isn't it?
Date: 2007-04-16
From: VA603/Fox Creek

To: Dickey Gap / VA650
Miles today: 8.5

We woke up this morning, and it was still snowing. Went to Walmart and bought some supplies I needed for the coming days. After a late breakfast, Julie drove me to the trail for my last slackpack day. The roads were fine, but there was quite a bit of snow in the mountains. The first part of the trail was uphill, so that got me warmed up. I went over Iron Mtn at 4320 ft and there were drifts that were 6-8 inches deep. I didn't see anybody during the hike, and there weren't any footprints in the snow-- so I was the first person through there today. It was beatiful and very peaceful, and my feet didn't get too hot! Mother Nature had used the snow and wind to prune many trees, and since I was making better time than I'd planned, I did trail maintenance as I went. Julie picked me up, and then we stopped at Partnership Shelter to drop off the rest of the pop and apples that we'd bought to do trail magic. Partnership Shelter is 0.1 mile from a visitor center, so it's easy to get to. We talked to Backyardboogie and Toesocks 1 &2 while we were there. When we got back to town, we did my laundry, ate dinner, and got organized for tomorrow. Julie heads home tomorrow, and I'll have to get use to carrying a full pack again!
Date: 2007-04-17
From: Dickey Gap / VA650

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

Julie headed home today. We got an early start, no since prolonging the goodbye. Julie dropped me off at the trail a little before 8am. It's tough to say goodbye, but it was a great visit. I think Julie got a good feel for the hiker community.   [ an addition from Julie: I really do like and admire the hiker community-- from the welcoming attitude of Damascus, VA to the wonderful souls who wander the trails. An amazing experience! Although I have no plans to ever do it myself ("duh!" say those of you who know me and my love of creature comforts :-), I do now better understand the call of the AT. ]The hike today went well-- sunshine and most of the snow was gone. I took my time since no one was waiting for me at the shelter or a road. I met Fitch while taking a break at the first shelter. He had been in Troutdale waiting out the weather. I got to Partnership Shelter a little after 3. This shelter is 0.1 mile from a forest service visitor center where I ordered pizza. Roughing it my first night back out! There are two section hikers here also.I bought new boots while Julie was here, and they worked well (Merrill Ventilators). I also switched to my summer sleeping bag (1.5 lbs lighter) but kept the rest of my winter gear. The pack felt heavy starting, but it doesn't take too long to get use to it again. Onward north!
Date: 2007-04-18
From: Partnership Shelter

To: Crawfish Valley / Reed Creek
Miles today: 17.8

Today was a long but good day. I left Partnership about 8am. It slowly warmed up all day long. I crossed under I-81, and at this exit is a motel, gas station, and a diner. I stopped at the gas station and bought a few more snacks for the next few days. Then I headed for the diner and Fitch was heading my way. He's headed to a beach with his sister for a few days and had walked up to the next shelter to write an entry in the register letting those behind him know. He went to the diner and ate with me. He also told me that Backyardboogie and Toesocks were at the hotel and had been looking for me. I thought about heading back to the motel, but I really felt like being in the woods-- so I headed on. I stopped at the shelter where Fitch had left his note and left one for Backyard and Toesocks, then I headed for this campsite. I called Julie from a ridge and she was safely back home.I got to this campsite a little before 7pm. I put the tent up, cooked some Ramen, and built a fire. There were a few sprinkles while I was eating. It's almost 9pm now, which is hiker midnight, and it feels like it to me. I think I'll sleep good tonight!
Date: 2007-04-19
From: Crawfish Valley / Reed Creek

To: Chestnut Knob Shelter
Miles today: 16.7
Weather: clear sky

I wasn't planning on hiking this far today. It rained most of the night, so I got a later start than normal. The first shelter was 7.7 miles into today's hike, and I stopped there and made some mac-n-cheese for lunch. As I was packing back up it started raining and I heard thunder. I sat in the shelter debating whether to go on or not. It stopped raining, and I headed on at about 2pm. It rained off and on until 5, then it rained steady. I was planning on camping, but didn't want to set up in the rain-- so I kept walking. The last 4 miles to the shelter included 2100 ft of uphill. When I got to the shelter I was surprised to find it had four walls with a door! It's probably 15 deg warmer in here than outside. RoadDog is here also He's section hiking and has camped alone the last three nights. At about 9:30pm, two more hikers arrived at the shelter. They are Cisco and Sonora, a young married couple on their honeymoon! I camped alone last night. I'm kind of in a thru-hiker vacuum right now. I didn't get to talk to them much as I was about asleep when they arrived, and they were still sleeping when I left in the morning.
Date: 2007-04-20
From: Chestnut Knob Shelter

To: Campsite near VA 615
Miles today: 14.7

Hiking rule of thumb; always camp near a cooler full of Gatorade. This actually happened for me today. This campsite was my goal from this morning, so it was just luck that there is a cooler of Gatorade and a trash can here! Thanks Green Valley Methodist Church. I mentioned before that it's a fine line between a thru-hiker and a bum. But if you're a bum, people yell at you to get a job and buy a car. If you're a thru-hiker, people give you things and go out of their way to help you. I wonder if I walk around my hometown with my pack after this hike is over if people will give me stuff! It was foggy at the shelter starting out, but the sun soon burned it away. Today's hike featured a long ridge-walk in the morning with several great views. I met two thru-hikers(Starvin Marvin and Pearl) who are doing a flip-flop hike. That's where you do part of the trail one direction then flip and do the other half the other direction. They told me that there's about 20 hikers not to far ahead of me. I'm camping alone tonight. RoadDog thought he might come this far, but he didn't make it. Too many views to take in, I bet. I had a fire, dinner, and a couple Gatorades and now am in my tent with a ballgame on the radio. Life is good!
Date: 2007-04-21
From: Campsite near VA 615

To: Jenny Knob Shelter
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: clear sky

After a cold morning, summer has returned. I started the day in jacket and gloves then got to sit in the sun with my shirt off this afternoon. The trail was pretty nice walking, unlike the rocky ridges of the last couple days. A couple hours into today's hike Hermie passed me. We met a couple more times when he took breaks. He thru-hiked last year and is getting in shape to hike the Pacific Crest Trail starting next month. Lee got to the shelter about 7:30pm, after a 30 mile day. They're both planning a 30 mile day into Pearisburg tomorrow. I'll do that in two days, 14 tomorrow and 16 on Monday. Those are good days for me.   [ note from Julie: Pearisburg is quite near Blacksburg, VA- home of Virgina Tech and several thousand hearty, Hokie souls. God bless each one! ]
Date: 2007-04-22
From: Jenny Knob Shelter

To: Doc's Knob Shelter
Miles today: 22.6
Weather: clear sky

I guess plans are made to be broken. I was planning 14.2 miles today, but for some crazy reason I did 22.6-- my biggest day yet, and I wasn't even slackpacking! I left the shelter this morning at 7:30 which was an hour later than Hermie and Lee. At one road crossing, there was a grocery store 0.4 mile from the road. I walked there and found they also had a little restarant, so I had a double cheeseburger and fries! I typed a couple emails then used the public phone to send journal entries. Then it was back to the trail. When I got to the shelter where I was planning to stay, it was 3:20 pm. I figured I could do the 8.4 to the next shelter and be there by 7:30pm.   Wrong. There was a 1200ft climb to start, and as Gray Wolf would say, "That hill kicked my booty." Then the rocks started again which is slow walking. At 7:30pm I took a quick break and put my headlamp in my pocket. I thought I might not get to the shelter til 9. At 8:30 I rounded a corner and saw a girl standing on the trail talking on a cell phone. She told me the shelter was 2 minutes ahead! When I got to the shelter, Hawk was there, and I found out that it was Alleycat who was my angel on the trail. I had met them when I slackpacked south into Damascus. Tenting nearby are Ladybug and Natural High whom I haven't met yet. Tomorrow is a short day (8.2 miles) into Pearisburg and right now I'm thinking a zero on Tuesday sounds good but who knows. My plans are obviously made to be broken.
Date: 2007-04-23
From: Doc's Knob Shelter

To: Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 8.2
Weather: clear sky

Today's walk into town was nice, but my legs did feel tired after yesterday's big miles (big for me, anyway). Most of the walk was on a ridge at about 3600ft and there were good views of the valley. The last 2 miles was a drop of 2000 ft into town. I'm still debating on taking a zero tomorrow or doing a short hike out of town. I guess I'll see how I feel in the morning and check the forecast.Hikers I've seen in town are Ladybug, Natural High, Five String, Swamp Yankee, HHH, and Blue Sky.
Date: 2007-04-24
From: Pearisburg, VA

To: Campsite / Spring
Miles today: 8.1
Weather: few clouds

I woke up this morning not sure if I'd hike or zero. I went and bought groceries for 5 days then got them packed up. The weather forecast was calling for showers all afternoon and thunderstorms tomorrow. I finally decided to do a short day as it would get the big climb out of the way. I ate at Hardees on my way out of town-- just after noon. Mt Cameron and Toasty passed me shortly before we got to the first shelter out of town. I was planning to stay there, but the water source was 0.4 miles away and the skies were clearing off (it only sprinkled twice for about 10 minutes all afternoon). Mt Cameron and Toasty were taking a break at the shelter when I got there, and we all decided to hike another 1.4 miles to this campsite with a good spring close by. We had a fire and good conversation; they're both just out of college. I'd met them briefly near Damascus but had never camped with them before. I felt pretty good today, no long term ill effects from my 22.6 mile day although my feet do want it known that they much prefer these 8 mile days. I'll probably hear from them tomorrow.
Date: 2007-04-25
From: Campsite / Spring

To: Bailey Gap Shelter
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Today is the 2 month anniversary of my start at Springer Mtn. For some reason today was a hard day, physically and mentally. It got hot and humid which may have something to do with it. I tried to drink a lot of water, but that also means you have to carry a lot. When I got to this shelter at 4:45pm, I debated about going another 5.1 miles to a campsite but eventually decided to stay here. It's 7:30 now, and I'm the only one here. I'll get a good, long night's sleep and see how it goes tomorrow.The highlight of today was having to wade my first stream since I started, and this was because the bridge had been washed out. The stream was probably 40 ft across with knee-deep cold water. I waded it in my sandals and didn't have any problems.