morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-05-09
From: Relax Inn, Atkins, VA

To: VA 42, OÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂLystery Pavilion (and on to Woods Hole)
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: clear sky

Help! I¢ve been abducted by slackpackers!Actually, I joined them voluntarily at mile 11, with my feet dangling in the cool stream to try to shrink them back to their normal size. I was carrying my resupplied and very heavy pack up and down hills in the heat and humidity when Scholar, Riva Queen, Rooster and Jester came by ¢ looking fresh and very light-footed. My sense of self-righteousness was gradually overtaken by a sense of futility: Krispy Kritter and Jackie (Lady Kritter) were already taking my food box on to Pearisburg ¢ wasn¢t that a form of slackpacking? In fact, wasn¢t it slackpacking to be mailing myself drop boxes?All rationalizations of course, to A.T. purists (all 5 of them), but the prospect of good company tonight and thereafter until Trail Days was too appealing a proposition. Why not experience the A.T. fully? From purist attitude to slackpacking, NOBO, SOBO, flip-flop, section-hike ¢ the whole schmear.Anyway, spending the night at Tillie Woods¢ place, Woods Hole, made the whole day worthwhile. We were hoping to slack from there for several days, but she doesn¢t allow more than one consecutive night for thru-hikers. She has a log cabin bunkhouse for hikers with comfy mattresses in the loft and a dining/sitting area downstairs and a hammock on the porch, and a privy decorated with drawings and paintings by her granddaughter Neville.All of this is set in a green nook of a valley looking over a field of grazing cattle. Each morning, she cooks breakfast for $3.50 for the first eight hikers who sign up, and then takes Polaroid photos of the whole group of hikers to paste in her trail register. I saw that NRChi and LiteFoot had already been through, with OverUnder and a few other fast hikers who¢d passed me ¢ good guys.The guest who interests me most, though, is Cimmaron, an 81-year-old former Scout Master, whose Azoran father had immigrated to RI. He¢s a pistol! ¢Everyone wants to take their picture with me,¢ he said. ¢When I reach Katahdin, I¢m gonna start charging for it!¢We have to leave too early for breakfast tomorrow, but I¢m hoping we can come back for a night as we get closer to Pearisburg on the trail.We saw a lot of beautiful Virginia countryside ¢ green rolling pastures ¢ from the back of the pickup truck this evening. (Krispy¢s buddy AWOL, another A.T. alumnus, lent him the truck to shuttle hikers to and from Trail Days. Thanks, AWOL!)
Date: 2004-05-10
From: VA623 

To: VA 42, OÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂLystery Pav (to Hungry Mother campsite)
Miles today: 17.3

Well, it¢s finally happened ¢ all the things I said I wouldn¢t do on the trail: I¢m slackpacking, and southbound no less. I suppose I could claim to have been abducted by aliens, or brainwashed, or just peer-pressured, but the truth is that slackpacking is FANTASTIC! Makes me want to toss out much more of the contents of my pack, to feel so light on my feet for a whole day of hiking.We had a long uphill hike today, but apparently it was much worse in the other direction. We ran into Mouse, Sox, Zippy, Switchback and Pokey at the top of the peak; they had been hiking uphill for four miles in the heat and humidity ¢ including one ten-mile stretch without water sources -- and they looked absolutely dead on their feet (though Switchback seemed really delighted and vindicated to see how the self-righteous non-slackers had stooped to slackpacking).A few miles from our last road crossing, several of our group jumped into a stream to cool off. When I told Riva Queen that I needed to take off my cottons before going in, her jaw dropped. ¢You¢re wearing cotton underwear?!¢ The hiker motto that ¢cotton kills¢ tends to be heard more in winter -- when the dangers of hypothermia are heightened by clothing that doesn¢t dry quickly -- than in the humid heat of spring, when cotton is more of a nuisance than a danger because it stays damp and heavy and prone to cause chafing or rashes ¢ discomfort rather than death. But RQ told me in no uncertain terms that I need to ¢drop your drawers¢ and go underwear-free. Without regular laundering, it¢s actually more hygienic just to wear the quick-dry nylon shorts. (Rael had mentioned this to me in passing once, that propriety might require me to hike none too closely behind him when the weather got warm, because he, too, was going to eschew the sub layer.) I¢m having doubts about whether or not I want to go to Trail Days now. If it rains, it¢s going to be one muddy tent city in Damascus. And it sounds a bit like a mob scene, too, which is not really my cup of tea. Maybe next year, when I can stay indoors¢¦!
Date: 2004-05-11
From: VA623

To: VA612 (to Hungry Mother)
Miles today: 15.2

If there is a special place in A.T. hiker hell for slackpackers, then that is where I¢ll go when I slip and fall off the top of Katahdin.I had pretty much decided yesterday not to go to Trail Days ¢ too many thoughts of waiting in line at port-a-potties, waiting in line for three hours for dinner, too much drinking, all night drum circles, pot smoking. It all sounded too much like spring weekend at college. And this time Trail Days has a sponsor ¢ Backpacker Magazine ¢ which could bring its own corporate vibe.However, as I wrung my hands over my newly non-purist hiker status, Dante¢s Inferno kept coming to mind, and fairly soon I had carved out in my mind most of a sketch describing the nine circles of A.T. Hiker Hell, and thought how much fun it would be to gather a few folks to perform it at the Trail Days talent show. [A preview: The first circle of hell is for fast hikers who clack their Lekis together or yell ¢Hiker behind!¢ when they want to pass you on the trail. The second circle is for slackpackers. The third is for landowners who provide easements for the trail instead of just donating their land to the ATC. Fourth is for gearheads ¢ people who don¢t stop talking about their high tech or ultra-light hiking gear after two months on the trail. Level five is for blue blazers (Pirate reigns here). And so on until Level Nine, where the yellow blazers (those who bypass parts of the trail by riding the highways) reside for eternity -- with Bill Bryson. After the tour of hell, our hero is shown heaven, where the trail angels wear ultra-light silicone-impregnated nylon wings.]We are a bunch of hurtin¢ puppies after today¢s hike; we may have a smaller hiking party tomorrow: Jester sprained his ankle again. Krispy took a tumble crossing a stream (the stream we crossed 12 times today). Rooster¢s blisters look as if they¢re about to go septic. And Beartrax may not want to hike without the boys, so it may just be us girls tomorrow! (Hopeful, whom I met southbounding back in Georgia, mentioned that, percentage-wise, more women who start the A.T. finish it than men who start. Apparently, too, there have been studies indicating that women¢s bodies are better suited to long-distance running and walking than men¢s.) Riva Queen¢s toes are bothering her, but she was still second to arrive at our meeting spot today.Today was my first day hiking without underwear (pardon my indiscretion, everybody, but enquiring minds want to know¢¦) and Riva Queen was right ¢ it¢s much drier and more hygienic. Take note, gals.Trail magic today, just past VA615. A trail angel had left a giant Styrofoam cooler packed with ice, fruit juice, Gatorade and chocolate. Thank you, trail angels!
Date: 2004-05-12
From: VA612

To: VA606
Miles today: 18.5

Before we left the campsite this morning, I asked that we honor our Road Goddess, Lady Kritter, (photo to come) for chauffeuring all of us around for the last few days. Jacquie is awesome!Then this afternoon, we left Scholar and Jester at the Relax Inn in Atkins. Scholar was suffering from a wicked migraine and needed to be still for 24 hours; she was planning to head down to Trail Days from there. Jester needed to get off of his ankle, and decided he¢d also head down to Damascus early. Sad parting, but I have no doubt that I¢ll see them again up the trail.
Date: 2004-05-13
From: VA606

To: Sugar Run Gap (to Miss Tillie's)
Miles today: 13.9

We said goodbye to Krispy, Beartrax and Lady Kritter this morning, who are on their way to Trail Days. Rooster may have to leave the trail for a while until his blisters heal. The end of an era¢¦if five days can be called an era.Riva Queen lost two of her toenails today and by the time she arrived at Woods Hole, her feet were a bloody mess. Neville, Miss Tillie Woods¢ granddaughter (an artist and art teacher), was staying at the main cabin overnight and indulged Riva Queen in a soothing foot massage after she¢d cleaned up her feet.Heat Miser, Chris and Elly were also there overnight. All of us managed to get on the sign-up list for breakfast with Miss Tillie tomorrow.
Date: 2004-05-14
From: Sugar Run Gap

To: Rendezvous Motel, Pearisburg
Miles today: 10.0

Last day of slackpacking! Miss Tillie¢s volunteer hostel helper took our stuff into Pearisburg in giant garbage bags and dropped it off at the hotel. Have to say overall, though, that we didn¢t make much better time slackpacking than we would with full packs, just because of all the driving required. And with all of the eating out we did, it was getting to be a little expensive. Still, the camaraderie of the Magnificent Seven was really marvelous. I¢d gladly do it again.Had breakfast ¢ at last! ¢ with Miss Tillie Woods this morning. (All I had to do was break her one-night-only rule ¢ twice.) She told us some of the history of the cabin she lives in, that her husband had come here originally to study the elk in this valley. The elk are no longer here. Her husband went on to a career in the upper echelons of the Department of the Interior. The hiker hostel was his idea, but, even with him gone, Miss Tillie has kept up the hostel tradition for two months every summer. What an amazing lady!Lots of mud on the way into Pearisburg and the trails were slippery. Riva Queen decided to hike in sandals today to ease the pressure on her toes, but didn¢t have much traction in them. We took it very slowly down the last hill into town. It was a relief not to be carrying full packs down that slippery slope.More trail magic at the road at the edge of town ¢ I had just been thinking out loud that I¢d love a Coke about now and¢¦ there they were! (There was beer, too, but I didn¢t feel up to that. Besides, I had two chocolate malts at Dairy Queen later. Oh yeah!) The guy who stopped to give us a ride up the road to the hotel turned out to be the trail angel; he was trying to get to Trail Days, but kept running into hikers; he must have shuttled five or so around town within the hour that he picked us up. Good people!
Date: 2004-05-15
From: Rendezvous Motel, Pearisburg

To: Rendezvous Motel, Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Rendezvous Motel, Pearisburg, VA0 milesGreat, relaxing day today after I got two boxes off in the mail ¢ one home with one of my fleeces and my fleece sleeping bag liner, hat and mittens; the other on to the Four Pines Hostel in Catawba with the rest of my food for this leg. Riva Queen doctored her feet and rested up while I explored a little.After breakfast at Hardee¢s ¢ the most happening breakfast place in town! ¢ I walked through town towards the library. Chris came running out of Darlene¢s Kitchen (the second most happening breakfast place) calling after me. I joined Elly, Chris and their friend Travis for coffee; they were headed down to Damascus ¢ my last chance for a ride! ¢ but with thunderstorms threatening, I figured I¢d rather stay on the trail than experience the mudfest that Damascus would probably be by nightfall. Riva Queen and I tested her feet by walking the short span of trail between our hotel and the road where we got a ride yesterday ¢ parts of it through the back yards of people¢s houses! She feels up to hiking again tomorrow. Yoda, Lucy, Mad Scientist and Mr. Cotton came in to visit, then I caught up on my Law and Order reruns before losing consciousness.
Date: 2004-05-16
From: Rendezvous Motel, Pearisburg, VA

To: Rice Field Shelter
Miles today: 6.3
Weather: light rain

Great to get out at 8 a.m. today and finish our short (but mostly uphill) hike early. Ate a lot in the afternoon ¢ fig newtons, chickpea curry (MRE), rice, broccoli, carrots, peapods, tuna on Triscuits, cheese, ginseng tea ¢ all the heaviest foods, to lighten my load for tomorrow. Passed Yoda, Mad Scientist, Lucy and Cotton, who had not reached the shelter yesterday afternoon before the thunderstorms hit, so had camped in the rain.In the shelter, there were a few folks (Kaalogi, LL Fuzzy, Zippy, Pokey and Switchback) on their way back from Trail Daze in Damascus. Sounds as though I didn¢t miss anything. Apparently, there were police in riot gear (!) and on horseback ¢ as if the townsfolk were expecting an uprising! All camping had been moved far out of town on a field that had been a landfill, which was wet and muddy. And the talent show was moved from Saturday to Sunday afternoon, so I would either have missed it, or had to stay longer to see it. The whole affair sounds different from the Trail Days of past years. Glad I didn¢t take time off the trail to go. Besides, with my hiking ¢speed,¢ I imagine that all the folks I would have wanted to see at Trail Days will be passing me soon anyway...My short-term hiking goal for this week is to get to the Four Pines Hostel in Catawba by Thursday so that I can partake in the Homeland Restaurant¢s southern barbecue night. Hiker appetite is starting to kick in and I¢ve had barbecue on the brain. I gorged myself Friday in Pearisburg at Dairy Queen and at the Chinese buffet. Riva Queen and I decided to go healthy on Saturday with bags of broccoli, carrots, celery and peapods and a fruit platter ¢ pump in the vitamins between bouts of starchy trail food staples ¢ oatmeal, Ramen and macaroni.Zippy, who has taught wilderness survival in the Navy for some years, showed me and Sox what an Indian cucumber looks like ¢ small but tasty ¢ and pinched off the edible tips of a trail vine (greenbriar, I think) in the Smilex (?) family. Tasted a bit like string beans. He¢s a great resource to have around!
Date: 2004-05-17
From: Rice Field Shelter

To: Bailey Gap Shelter
Miles today: 16.2
Weather: light rain

The ground cover along the trail has changed from dead leaves to knee-deep nettles, ferns, poison ivy, Queen Anne¢s lace, May apple, buttercups and wine cups, violets, wild strawberries, tall grasses, greenbriar, wild geranium, and other wildflowers. With the change of season there is more bushwhacking to do, though in places the local trail maintainers have taken a weedwhacker to the edges of the trail, bless ¢em. Now that hypothermia is no longer a concern, it¢s time to pay attention to sunburn, bugbites, poison ivy, nettles and snakes. I sent home my winter jacket, one of my fleeces and my fleece sleeping bag liner.It¢s just after 8 pm now and from my sleeping bag I have a view of the shelter picnic table, where Peter Pan and Adam, maps spread out before them, are planning their next stretch, Uncle Ben is checking his Wingfoot guide, and Zippy, Indy and Switchback are finishing dinner ¢ behind them all is Riva Queen¢s clothesline, with all of our wet clothes on it, drying out (or trying to) after this afternoon¢s thundershower. We hiked along a beautiful rushing mountain stream to Pine Swamp Shelter (a complete misnomer ¢ no pine, no swamp), another shelter in the style of Trimpi Shelter, with the stone fireplace set inside between two sets of upper and lower bunks. The stream was inviting ¢ I¢d have jumped in up to my waist if I hadn¢t already been damp from mist, heavy humidity and sweat.Mad Scientist¢s tent poles snapped last night, so he and Yoda decided they¢d stay on at Pine Swamp and hope that they¢d have it to themselves. Adam figured that the fast walkers out of Pearisburg (via Trail Days), might make it there in a day, so he and I moved on to Bailey Gap.
Date: 2004-05-18
From: Bailey Gap Shelter

To: Laurel Creek Shelter
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: light rain

I¢m watching the smoke from my lavender incense waft into my tent through the mesh door ¢ my one luxury item, which I stuffed in with my tent poles, to be used only on especially difficult days.Lots of rocks today ¢ tough on the tootsies. But, as with yesterday, I was in the company of Pokey for the last two hours, which lightened up my mood. She had taken the old AT route by accident ¢ at a completely unmarked intersection at Wind Rock ¢ and gone five miles out of her way. A number of other hikers have done the same ¢ where is the signage?! (I only knew which way to turn because a southbounder had written a warning about the intersection in the last shelter register.) It didn¢t help my mental state that evidence of a trail magic extravaganza remained half way up our last long climb ¢ empty soda and beer cans -- and a grill! -- that hadn¢t yet been collected by the trail angels ¢ but nothing left.Nevermind. I found some brook lettuce this morning and added it to my pasta this evening. Met Manzooka¢s dad, apparently a trail guru of longstanding, waiting trailside for his now trail-weary son. Warren Doyle teaches a course on how to prepare for an A.T. thru-hike and leads several people a year on a van-supported four-month fully slackpacked thru-hike. He was handing out Little Debbie oatmeal cr me cookie sandwiches and collecting trash (yes!) from passing hikers to pack out ¢ I was more excited about the trash than anything else!Bugbites, sunburn, hayfever and poison ivy ¢ spring is in full swing. Tried to nap at War Spur Shelter after lunch today but the blackflies and no-see-ums were out in force. I tried wrapping myself up in my pack cover, then my ground cloth, but the buzzing was too much.Finally made it to camp after a brief rain. (Afternoon rain is becoming the norm this week.) Decided to tent it just to get a better night¢s sleep tonight. Only 10 miles tomorrow. Saw lots of lady slippers today ¢ beautiful things!4 a.m. Have slept 4.5 hours, but now am awake to my bugbites ¢ ack! Need to get some ammonia for them, or something. Feeling sticky inside my sleeping bag. If my soap weren¢t in my bear bag, I¢d go over to the creek and take a spit bath. Wiping myself down with baby wipes doesn¢t make me feel clean.And the longer I¢m awake, the more I start thinking about breakfast¢¦oatmeal with dried apple and granola mixed in, coffee with milk, maybe a protein bar. I finished my tuna and most of my cheese and peanut butter sandwich cookies yesterday for lunch, so will have beef jerky, cheese, granola and Power bars for lunch tomorrow and Thursday. I have one mac and cheese left, two Ramens, and some garlic ¢ can probably find some trail greens to throw in for nutrition.
Date: 2004-05-19
From: Laurel Creek Shelter

To: 3 miles north of Niday Shelter
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Decided not to make tomorrow a 16-mile day ¢ don¢t want to be racing into Catawba tomorrow to beat the crowds for the hostel and the barbecue. Especially since we¢re crossing Dragon¢s Tooth tomorrow, which could be a challenge for non-climbers like myself.Hiked again with Pokey after lunch ¢ she¢s such a pleasure to be around. Is interested in stopping to look at flowers and wildlife, and knows lots of flower names ¢ saw Cordelia and firepink today.I also saw a box turtle today and though I should bring him to water. I found out later from Pokey that box turtles are not aquatic ¢ they eat field bugs. He was quite happy where he was. (Always best to ask before you do a good deed, I guess!)Mr. Box TurtleI¢m sorry that I moved youFrom your grassy home.Also saw a black and white garter snake.I¢m covered with bug bites! May need to start hiking in a beekeeper¢s suit.The terrain today was manageable. A morning climb in the rain, an afternoon descent to the shelter in a thundershower, but inbetween, a cool, breezy spring day, walking ridge rocks at a 45-degree slant to the right, and some sweet smelling white fringe flower trees at the top. Gorgeous!I¢m anxious to know when I need to leave the trail to get to Providence in time for my students¢ valedictory speeches. (Every graduating senior at the Met gives a valedictory speech ¢ a wonderful ceremony that lasts for a whole week.) I don¢t want to leave the trail before I have to. One benefit of a break from the trail, though, is that I¢ll have a chance to give my feet a rest ¢ get the feeling back in my toes ¢ and allow all my bites, bruises and scrapes to heal properly.I tented right beside the trail tonight, so will need to decamp before the early crew tomorrow.
Date: 2004-05-20
From: 3 miles north of Niday Shelter

To: Four Pines Hostel, Catawba
Miles today: 18.8
Weather: scattered clouds

6:20 a.m. Watching the sunrise. Heard the wild turkeys gobbling this morning. Passable night¢s sleep, apart from The Itch. The Four Pines Hostel is the giant garage of a hiker-friendly family with a shower in one corner and a soda machine in another. Lots of us here tonight, so all of the mattresses are taken, but I've got my foam mat.At last! Dinner at the Home Place -- family style dining with barbecue pulled pork, fried chicken, green beans, cole slaw, mashed potatoes, lemonade, tea, cobbler and ice cream -- hiker heaven!Ran into Queen Diva, Circuit Rider and their crew of trail ministry folks, who have been fantastic trail angels all the way from Dahlonega. (I first came across Circuit Rider and crew on the morning after that snowy night in the overpacked shelter. They carried the German lady with the sprained ankle, "Jake", and her pack down the hill next morning.) Nice folks!
Date: 2004-05-21
From: Four Pines Hostel

To: Lambert's Meadow Shelter
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: few clouds

Another 12+ hour day of hiking for me. Tough start to the day only because of hay fever and menstrual cramps. But ultimately it was a sweet roller coaster of a ride, through meadows and woods, up and down rolling hills all day, and culminating in the spectacular views from McAfee's Knob and the very splendid Tinkers' Cliffs, which the trail followed to the edge. The lore that Revolutionary War deserters lived up among the cliffs gave the area a sense of being inhabited -- I half expected people in 18th century garb to step out of the clifftop woods or out from behind one of the monolithic rocks, to come out of hiding briefly. From the cliffs, too, I could see the green hills and valleys up to the thunderheads on the horizon, lit gold and pink by the setting sun, itself hidden by clouds.The highlight of my day, though, was coming across Campbell Shelter, where there was no trail register. Tree Frog and Sunset had signed in on the back of a printed piece of paper that someone had left. Finally, I've found a home for the empty journal/trail register I have been carrying since my last mail drop. If it gets mailed back to me when it's full, I'll have a great souvenir of this journey.No pictures today because my last camera is full, but Adam "A.D." Hagerman (High Point, NC) took one of me standing out on the overhang at McAfee's Knob, one of the most photographed spots on the A.T., and I managed to convince him to get out there, too. A sweet man.When he and I finally rolled into camp, the shelter was empty of people -- just food bags hanging. Turns out that just as the crew were setting in for the night, a six foot black snake came slithering into the shelter from a hole in the back wall, climbed -- yes climbed! -- up into the rafters and was after the contents of a bird's nest there. The birds were divebombing the snake, trying to deter its progress. It dropped down to the floor and went back under the shelter, but when I returned there to hang my food bag, it was back in the rafters -- ech! Anyway, all of us are tenting tonight! -- down by the stream below the shelter. Maybe some snake stew for breakfast?