morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-05-07
From: Devil Fork Gap

To: Sams Gap
Miles today: 8.7

Troop 237 drove up to Devil Fork Gap and started making tacos. Talk about trail magic! It¢s all around me up here! I woke up to fresh homemade black walnut muffins, macadamia nut cookies, and it wasn¢t long before I was served two fresh made tacos! It was a great sunny morning and I spent it wisely! The troop leaders were very friendly and informative. One gave me a set of Tennessee/North Carolina maps. The very ones I had been looking for and couldn¢t find. They told me that this valley was union during the civil war and a lot of the graves I had seen yesterday were from the war. They buried them where they fell and each year every grave is visited. Once a year, cars are allowed up to the gravesites. I got a real good idea what is to come as they all knew the trail very well. I was going to do a short day anyway, so I was in no hurry to leave. It was a most pleasant morning. While I was dawdling, Masa, the Japanese guy, came through. He helped the boy scouts cut up onions and had some milk and cookies and tacos. The scouts all had to lift his pack. They estimated it at 60 pounds! And this guy started April 16th. He says his English is very ¢Cheap¢, but he has a 6 month visa and he is in a hurry to get to Maine! He also has a bear bell on each hiking pole! I told them that¢s how you tell bear scat from other kinds of scat. You look for the scat with bear bells in it! Anyways, I finally headed out at about 11:30 and followed a little waterfall a ways. I crossed Boone Cove Road. Everything around is Boone this and Boone that! There were more gravestones and a couple old log cabins that had been smashed by a fallen tree. I saw parts of old stoves and bedsprings and jars and stuff. Probably from the 60¢s even. I met Tom and his dog odin. They offered me an apple. I¢m telling you, trail magic is everywhere these days! I met southbounders. Bonnie and Clyde, Raven, Muskrat, and more. Got cell service for the first time in 5 days, so when I reached Sams Gap, I drove to Chestoa and I¢m updating journals, paying bills and eating at A&W! Saw the Topper gang at the Holiday Inn, They are a good 25 miles ahead of me! Talked to Diana, they¢re probably going to have to hitch to get to trail days or just skip it, she said. So, anyways, that¢s where I am, I am still doing it. A little bit at a time!
Date: 2005-05-08
From: Sams Gap

To: Spivey Gap
Miles today: 13.3
Weather: few clouds

Magical Day! Came across Sunshine and Seico just breaking camp and stopped by to visit. Sunshine wanted to know all about her dog Tucker. She left him at Hot Springs and was missing him. Seico was breaking down the tent and collecting his laundry from the tree?!? I didn¢t ask! Anyways, they invited me to join them for a hamburger at Bill Grace¢s house which was just off the trail a ways. I was glad to hike along with them, chatting and watching the dogs play. It was another lovely sunny day. They weren¢t real sure how to get there, but we found a road going towards Mars Hill and walked a mile and a half to the deli and found someone who did know. Sunshine and I had a nice visit while he hitched up to get their food box, then Seico bought us some pizza and we waited for Bill to show up. I¢ve heard Seico likes to buy girls food! Anyways, It was wonderful and when Bill got there, he gave us a lift back to the trail. We found the little sign he left us about a mile later. Turns out his house really is just off the trail, we just didn¢t go far enough up the trail! So, we stopped by to see his log cabin home that he built from a kit. It is impressive. Lots of character to it and a splendid view. I filled up my water bladder and he gave me a soda as well. So, I still had all my lunch in my pack as well as extra dog food for Bisbee! It was 4:20 in the afternoon and I had a lot of miles to go to get to Spivey Gap, so I said goodbye and headed up to Big Bald. It was Big! It was Bald! Wish I had more time, but was traveling light and wanted to get going. I stopped at Big Bald Shelter to visit and sign the log. Met Mr. Fusion and Tortuga and a third hiker, (Didn¢t remember the name, Again) and guess who else? Yes, Bill was there ahead of me, said he knew a few short cuts. He had hot dogs and buns and sodas. So of course, I couldn¢t turn down a Ballpark Beef Frank. I roasted it up and shared some with Bisbee and then scooted on down the trail. I knew it would get dark, but just as it did, I spotted Chilly, Feacher and Surface and met a southbounder named Seven. There were two hammocks, first I¢d seen since before the Smokies! I stopped to visit, then put on my headlamp and finished the last two miles into Spivey Gap for a ride into Erwin. Cooked up some Chicken rice and went to bed. I'm still doing it!
Date: 2005-05-09
From: Spivey Gap

To: Nolichucky River
Miles today: 11.2

Didn¢t see a hiker the whole day till I came out at Uncle Johnny¢s. It was hot, the dog was tired. I was hoping to get on the river, but it took me too long to get out. On the bright side, I got to meet McGyver. I¢d heard about his HAM gear for days now and he got it all out and showed it to me! Then Firedog wanted to make a stove out of my pop can so I let him use my tools and watched as he threw one together. I hope it works for him, he didn¢t really want to spend the money for a Tinman stove. I still think the Tinman stove is a great stove at a great price. Then we all went to Pizza Hut and ate at the all you can eat buffet. Met another couple who are completing the hike this year that they started last year. I think her name was grasshopper, not sure about his name. Well, I got to burn photo CD¢s then off to bed. I¢m still doing it!
Date: 2005-05-10
From: Nolichucky River

To: Iron Mountain Gap
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: light rain

Long Day! Yes, a very long day with a late start no less. I wanted to sleep in so bad! Anyways, I took off up the trail and got stopped by a train! a long train! It was threatening to rain off and on and it thundered all day. I went to get a stick out of my shoe so I put my foot up on the bank and it made sort of a tent out of my poncho, So Bisbee crawled up underneath and sat down. Did I mention he is not real crazy about rain and even less about thunder! It's another lonely day. Only people I saw were southbounders. Well there were two guys at the last shelter, but I didn't stay very long, it was getting dark. I see what they mean about going slow. It's a lot more fun! But I got through it! I'm still doing it!
Date: 2005-05-11
From: Iron Mountain Gap

To: Carver's Gap
Miles today: 14.0

Another long day. And again pretty lonely. It was not raining though! I screwed up and didn't tighten my lid on my bladder. It leaked and got everything in my pack wet and left me quite thirsty till I got to Ash Gap! That's a steep hill with no water! I finally got to Carver's around 7:00 pm. The best part of the day was meeting Little John and Charlie Brown. We spent the evening catching up. They had thinking I was just an imaginary hiker. The alledged Jellybean. They are headed for Trail Days in the morning. I'm still doing it!
Date: 2005-05-12
From: Carver's Gap

To: Trail Days
Miles today: 0.0

Woke up this morning and decided I wasn't going to walk today. To heck with it, I'm going to Trail Days. So, I drove from Carver's Gap, through the world's shortest tunnel and found the party at Damascus! Woo hoo. I'll be here a couple days, so I'll let you know how it goes. I'm still doing it!
Date: 2005-05-13
From: Trail Days

To: Trail Days
Miles today: 0.0

Hey, there's a library here and I didn't even have to wait long for the computer! Damascas is wonderful. The locals are very friendly. Went to the campground yesterday and got a shower. They didn't charge. Ate at the new restaurant and had the most wonderful strawberry cream cheese pie. So today, I went to the blood screening and the fat testing. I've lost 14 lbs. and 9% body fat. WOW! I feel good too. This is the best fitness program. Hike in the woods, eat all the milkshakes and pies you can find and still lose weight! There was a vet who checked out all the hiker dogs and he says Bisbee is doing great! I'm seeing all the hikers who have passed me or I have passed and eating lots of free food. The Baptist Church is sponsoring meals, movies, and screenings. The town park is full of venders. I met Papa Smurf and got a photo. Tonight I'm going to the circle of drums at the campground and listen to best trail stories. Well, got to share so, Happy trails, I'm still doing it!Did indeed go to the circle of drums. I thought there were going to be trail stories, but that must have been somewhere else.
Date: 2005-05-14
From: Trail Days

To: Trail Days
Miles today: 0.0

Today was just.. I can't believe.. there are just no words... Picnic Basket flagged down my truck and we got to visiting. He works with my Uncle Jake in New Jersey. Jake told him to look after me, but how do you find a hiker you've never met among 30,000 other hikers who all look similar, you know, long hair, backpack, wet and smelly, YET! He found me!!! It was awesome. He has worked with my uncle for about 15 years and is section hiking. He came to trail days and I had jumped ahead to check it out. Not only that, but I won the drawing at the Backpacker Magazine booth! A GoLite Jam pack, an alcohol stove, a weather station, a knife, a pair of Thorlo socks, sunscreen kit, a town bag. I'm not sure if that's everything, I'll fill in the brand names later too, but WOW! This is incredible, and I hardly ever win anything! This was the jackpot!!! So anyways, earlier today, I had been checking out all the vendors and booths at the town park. I got my hair buzzed for free and put my name in for a few drawings. (Pronounced drawlings) and stuffing my face with funnel cake. I think I have seen just about every single person here that I have seen on the trail. Can't get their names strait, but I know where and when I met them. (Does that count?). I signed the T-shirt for trailjournals and got a T-shirt myself. Signed up for ALDHA. The talent show was packed. Talked to Thirsty Turtle Press about publishing my journals and a quick stop at the library to check out the book sale and update the journal. I headed back to the GoLite booth and saw Flying Brian demo his cook kit with some others. Then headed to my truck to get ready for the hiker parade! As I was walking over there, it started to rain, then it poured! Bisbee and I crowded into the Sundog outfitters and waited next to the band. Then we walked through town in the pouring down rain, everybody was throwing water balloons and using super soakers. It wasn't Bisbee's favorite event, but it was fun, I thought I had got out pretty lucky, but then TAZ found me. She was living up to her trailname, running around like a little devil with a humongus super soaker and totally soaked me. I got a few photos and some video, but I was taking a chance with my camera! Anyways, I went a got a shower at the Iron Horse campground again and had a delicious rib eye steak! Then went and won the drawing I mentioned earlier. I still can't believe it. I am so totally amazed. I'm still doing it!
Date: 2005-05-15
From: Trail Days

To: Carver's Gap
Miles today: 0.0

Got to see Picnic Basket off this morning. That was real sweet of my Uncle Jake to have him check on me! I hope you have a great hike Picnic Basket. On the way back to the trailhead where I left off at Carver's Gap, I went just a little off route to Morgantown, NC to see my Aunt MaryLou and cousin Heidi. She graduates in a couple weeks! Congratulations Heidi!!! Marylou went all out and fixed us chicken wings, potatoe au gratin (my favorite), salads, and all kinds of good stuff! It was a great visit! Now, Back to work! or really, play. I'm still loving it!
Date: 2005-05-16
From: Carver's Gap

To: Roan Mountain (US 19E)
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Back to the grindstone! Been goofing off for four days now. Time to get moving again. Got a new pack to try out and it seemed to work wonderful! At least if not overloaded. I miss a few features of my old pack, but it works well for its weight. I hiked alone again today. I guess that¢s part of the trail! The views are clear though after yesterday¢s rain. BP passed me and I talked a little with him at the first shelter during brunch. I thought maybe he was British Petroleum, but he had a great story about falling in a Beaver Pond in Maine! I met up with Diesel, Walks by grace, and their dog, Harley again. I had met them between Devil¢s Fork and Sam¢s Gap. He¢s limping in on a stress fracture. I offered to trade packs, but he said he¢d be fine. They had stayed at the Yellow Mountain Shelter, the cool RED BARN. I wish I had gon in the 0.2 miles to check it out. I did get some photos from pasture above it. The balds and Hump Mountain were beautiful. I¢m so glad I didn¢t hike them yesterday in the pouring down rain! They were really magnificent. Bisbee rolled in the grass and chased around and around! I took another wrong turn on an old road. I thought it was a grassy ridge trail, but I had missed it! It was just an old road. I turned around and BP was eating lunch again at the intersection. Then off the trail. Stopped at the Apple House Shelter. It was deserted. Went to the road and drove to Dennis Cove. Met Nuffy, an Australian who lost her pack at traildays. They had come around and I gave a donation, but she got all her gear replaced. Thank goodness! Met a Bob and Goof too. Goof was getting ready to cut up salad for the HardCore workers. Lots of locals hanging out in the parking area, so I moved to the campground a half mile away. Nice! Had it all to myself! Flush toilets and everything but a shower!
Date: 2005-05-17
From: Roan Mountain (US 19E)

To: Dennis Cove
Miles today: 23.8

WOW! My first day over 20 miles! I should have stopped about 22. The last two miles, my toes were killing me. I¢m thinking it might be time for Tevas. It¢s too hot for heavy socks. That¢s for sure! I enjoyed the efforts of the HardCore workers this year on the new relocation! One bridge said ¢No diving from Bridge¢. It was a lot easier than I had heard. Though, the best part of the day was the hike through the meadows near the beginning. The butterflies are everywhere, saw a couple fly fishermen on the river and talked to Chuck for a while when I stopped for an early lunch! At 5:30 I made it to Walnut Mountain Road for hot spaghetti and Pringles potatoe chips! Then headed off down the trail (Yeah, down for a change!) At the Moreland Gap Shelter, I caught up to BP, Rich, and someone else. They were all talking politics, so I just signed the log and took off again. I dragged in to Dennis Cove at 9:20 pm. Exhausted and with sore toes.
Date: 2005-05-18
From: Dennis Cove

To: Iron Mountain Gap
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: scattered clouds

Slept in. Didn¢t get going till 11:30! I guess yesterday was just too much! My feet hurt, I have two blisters on my left foot, and I just plain got no energy! But, I gotta walk. This is what I do. Damascus, here I come! I have had good weather, its just a bit warm. Bisbee is not enjoying the heat either. The trail today was special! Beautiful Rhododendron and Mountain Laurel are blooming. Laurel Falls was awesome! Laurel Fork Shelter is back on the high water route, so I didn¢t stop. I didn¢t think too much of the Pond Flats though I did get through on the cell phone finally! Then I popped down to Watauga Lake, was tempted to go swimming, but was too tired, walked past a rope swing, then got lost for a quarter mile or so when I crossed a creek and headed up the powerline trail. It didn¢t take me as long this time to figure out that if there are no white blazes¢¦TURN AROUND!!! Passed Bjorn and 3 other hikers who were sobo from Damascus to get their missed sections. As I passed the Watauga Lake shelter, I met a guy (Piggy) pumping water who said the shelter was full. I crossed the Dam and then there was another blasted PUD! But I did get a good sunset out of it anyway. Can you tell my feet hurt! I¢m still doing it! Just not as fast as usual!
Date: 2005-05-19
From: Iron Mountain Gap

To: TN 91
Miles today: 15.8

Beary Scary! Talked to two different groups, a 3 person group saw a big bear. A single hiker saw a little bear. I saw 3 big piles of scat on the trail! No bells or pepper spray in the scat though! Otherwise, it was a pretty normal day. Not too many hikers. I met Otter (likes water), Veggie Lover (likes veggies) and Tinkerbell as they were cooking breakfast on the trail. Otter said the bear was crashing around in the bushes about 2 am and making huffing noises. He was worried because he had put menthol powder on his feet. I came around the corner and was surprised by a hiker in the Vandeventer Shelter. It snuck up on me! He was packing up trash left by previous hikers and he wasn¢t too happy about carrying it out! At the Iron Mountain Shelter there was a guy crashed on his mat at 1:30 pm and Sideshow (previously call rasta hair guy ) and another eating lunch. There is a resident cat there that Bisbee chased up into the rafters. My blisters were a little tender, so I was hiking pretty slow today. It took me 10 hours to hike 16 miles so I was averaging a slow 1.6 miles per hour with breaks. Otherwise, just another day in the woods. I¢m still doing it!
Date: 2005-05-20
From: TN 91

To: Phoenix, AZ
Miles today: 0.0

Guess what! I bailed! at least temporarily. I'm headed home to Phoenix to see my Sister before she flies half way around the world to New Zealand. She made out a new will, so obviously, she's going to be doing some crazy stuff over there in the adventure capital of the world! Wish I was going with her! Anyways, I need to see my family, check on my house, pet the cats, clean the pool, you know, all the normal people stuff. Then I'll be back! I promise! My plan is to leave the truck here this time and follow a more traditional thru-hike regime. I may or may not repack mail drops. We'll see. I have all this food, but its so much easier to pick up fresh stuff along the way! I'm still going to do it!
Date: 2005-06-05
From: Phoenix, AZ

To: TN 91
Miles today: 0.0

I am going to do it! I'm back! This time I brought my niece Lexi "Dog Tag Girl" as well as her dog, Bisbee, and a 5 day old kitten, Slurpy! I hope you can fully imagine what fun this is going to be!!! lol! Already ran into hikers I have met. KG and her hiking companion, and Phoenix at the Baja Cafe. So, Tomorrow, we're back on the trail and headed north. Hope this 12 year old knows what she is in for. I'm going to turn it over to her so check the bottom of the page for her entries,Happy Trails, Jellybeanhey peeps waz up i don't know why i excepted goin on this trail i bearly like one day hikes ,but jellybean took my dog and insisted this was different and more fun. hope she's right. how exciting i've brought dogs hiking and for car rides ,but never a 5 day old kitten we have to bottle feed and when i say we i mean i. the kitty is a handful and a winer not to menstion a mager pain in the butt for bisbee litteraly she thinks he's her mother since we lost the mama kitty on our fourth stop thought it would last longer then that well gotta hit the trail.love,lexi crow "dog tag girl"
Date: 2005-06-06
From: TN 91

To: TN 91
Miles today: 0.0

Well, actually, we're still in Damascus. Can't get a shuttle till tomorrow morning, but it's a great place to be! Mount Rogers Outfitters hooked us up with showers and a pair of shoes for Lexi. Then we hung out at the town pool all afternoon. Can't wait to get back on the trail, though it's going to be a lot tougher now. I'm hoping and it might work out, that Lost Yankee will show up in a couple days and join us again. He says his knee is lots better, but he is still having car troubles, so, I've got my fingers crossed. I'm still doing it!
Date: 2005-06-07
From: TN 91

To: Abington Gap Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: clear sky

On the trail at last! We got a shuttle from Dave at Mount Roger's Outfitters and returned to where I had left off at TN 91. Lexi's carrying about 20 lbs and I am carrying all the food! We forgot our hiking poles, but other than that, it was a beautiful day to be hiking. A little cloudy, not too hot, not raining, no bugs, Wow, What more could we ask for! It is interesting watching a 12 year old experience the trail for the first time. She was surprised herself that she wasn't bored. First thing, we saw a deer in the newly mowed field. She played drums on the tree leaves. she stopped to take photos of all the plants I have already come to know. She stops a lot! A redish frog caught her eye, then a snail. I told her to keep it up. I want to see a bear! And she did. Well, we didn't see a bear, but a big tortise stared down Bisbee on the trail until I moved it aside. We were surprised when we arrived at Double Springs Shelter. I kind of thought that might be our destination for the day, but it was only lunch time. I made up some ramen and Lexi and Bisbee played chase up and down the trail to the spring. Blue Gill and Hashbrown stopped by for lunch and said they'd play cards with us if we got to Abington Gap Shelter. We set out again for the campsite near 421. After numerous breaks, mostly to feed Lexi's 7 day old kitten, we had another snack and decided to keep going. The kitten didn't make it, so we had a burial ceremony and dug a cat hole. Then pressed on to another campsite. We set up her tent and my hammock, cooked our noodles and then the thunder started! Guess what, Lexi was bored! She wanted to pack up everything and go play cards at the shelter really bad. So we wadded up the tent and hammock and got our raingear on just as it started to rain. We hiked in the rain, then in the dark rain and finally got to the shelter. Of course, the boys were ready for bed instead, but it was just as well, we were beat ourselves. Bisbee curled up inbetween us and got us all wet and went to sleep.
Date: 2005-06-08
From: Abington Gap Shelter

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: light rain

Rude Awakenings! Some guy, I didn't even want to know his name, came over to the shelter very early and yelled "Ya'll awake!" Of course we weren't nor did we want to be. Hashbrown politely obliged him and lent him a stove and he went away! He was in blue jeans and flannel! We saw him later with a huge pack and stuff hanging off it everywhere, part of it unzipped. He was undoubtedly the first person I had wished I hadn't met on the trail. I wasn't afraid of him so much and just really annoyed by him. Anyways, Lexi cooked her first meal and made oatmeal and hot chocolate for us and we headed out on the infamous Damascathon! It was another interesting day with a baby rattlesnake and a really big black snake making the top of the list! We were really tired and our feet were hurting, but we walked into Damascus around 8:00 and hurried to the Dairy King to get dinner and milkshakes. We got a nice shower at Dave's Place and pretty much crashed. If you can call it sleep, Lexi rolled around a lot and I kicked her in the nose at least once. Bisbee had to be right in the middle of it too!
Date: 2005-06-09
From: Damascus, VA

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

Another rude awakening! This time it was much more pleasant, as it was the Long Lost Yankee who had drove all night to join the circus! His muffler fell off three miles back and he forgot to put on his license plate, but he's here and so is his dog, Cody! We're excited. We hung out at the hostel, did our laundry during a thunderstorm and resupplied and repacked. Tomorow, we plan to get an early start and head on up the trail. I'm still doing it!