morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-07-12
From: Doc's Knob

To: Pearisburg VA
Miles today: 7.8
Weather: light rain

Last night a father and his two children ¢ a boy and a girl in their late teens, joined me. They were a pretty quiet and sober group, especially the children. They had just started south, and the daughter was already having some problems with her boot, the sole of which was beginning to separate. I gave her my duct tape, to help her out. They realy didn¢t have much to say, and had intended to move on, when we got one of those very heavy late afternoon thunderstorms ¢ so heavy that it convinced them to spend a quiet and otherwise uneventful night with me at Doc¢s Knob.   Awoke had started for Pearisburg early in a misty and overcast morning. There was a slight climb up to Pearis Mountain, and then a long ridge walk. Virginia seems to specialize in these ridge walks, and on this one, like most, there was little to see. The viewpoint showed only a mist filled valley.   It was along this ridge however that I got my second, and much better bear sighting. I heard a sound off to my left and saw a big black bear ¢ 100 to 120 pounds ¢ running in full sight from left to right. After about 20 yards he stopped and turned and looked at me. We both stared at each other for a few seconds. I was concerned because he had stopped close to the trail ahead, and I was worried that if I continued to walk towards him, he might feel that I was being aggressive ¢ a no-no with bears! So I just banged my hiking poles together, and he tossed his head, and loped off over the crest of the ridge, as if to say, ¢If you are that noisy I want nothing to do with you¢ It was a great moment, and a wonderful sighting.   I continued on highly elated to the Angels Rest overlook, to view the same mist filled valley. Then it was a steep, but not too difficult, descent of Pearis Mountain, and the sudden emergence into civilization again at Lane Street in Pearisburg. The Rendezvous Motel is right there ¢ the scene of the infamous episode of the rude hiker and the manager, that has led her to refuse to hold drop boxes for hikers in the future, as related to me by Trashman.   After some confusion in my mind as to the directions to downtown Pearisburg ¢ I finally distinguished my left from my right ¢ I took a blue blazes trail, literally along the highway to downtown.   I am currently ensconced in the Holiday Lodge, Room 9, showered and filled with food from their restaurant. Spoke with Kathy ¢ all is well ¢ and also collected my mail drop ¢ ID required. Also have my laundry done and some tentative arrangements for the trip home, via Roanoke.   And guess who is here at the hotel? The Dad and the teenage kids from Doc¢s Knob! Story from him is of continuing boot trouble and a moth in his daughter¢s ear that forced their return.      So ends this segment. Am now at 600 + miles. Slow and easy segments mean easy days but slow progress. But progress is progress.   We shall see how it continues in the future         Thought for today ¢               The hardest thing about hiking the AT is being away from my wife and family!.
Date: 2004-09-12
From: Rice Field Shelter

To: Pine Swamp Branch Shelter
Miles today: 12.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Got a decent sunset last night, the sun went down behind a bank of clouds. I sat outside overlooking the valley and watched as the lights came on in the town below, and as the darkness grew I could see the sparkling lights spreading across the valley.   Slept intermittently to the sound of a chorus of frogs serenading the night and the far off sharp yelping cries of a fox. What realy kept me awake however were the intermittent explosive gun shot like reports of acorns falling on the metal roof of the shelter. Took me quiet a while to get used to it.   Awoke early to an extremely heavy mist and set out shortly after dawn. No hope of a view of the sunrise or of the valley because of the dense mist. I made my way carefully over the bald from blaze post to blaze and reentered the mist filled forest. The trail winds its way along the crest of Peters Mountain, skirting the border between Virginia and West Virginia. Gradually the mist dissipated under the onslaught of the warming sun. The trail was up and down along the ridge, with a lot of loose rock and tough going over some extensive rock gardens. There was no water along this entire stretch and I was thankful, once again, for the extra liter in the soda bottle.   I finally came to Symns Gap Meadow ¢ I love meadows ¢ and this one came equipped with its own wild apple trees and a good supply of small apples. Here I met with a SOBO woman, and shortly after her companion struggling to catch up. At Dickinson Gap I came across another three SOBO having lunch. Two of them were from Dayton, and the other was British. No sign of the anticipated historical marker in the Gap ¢ unless it was the red painted and partially destroyed cement pillar ¢ no inscription that I could see. Met with one final SOBO after that ¢ wearing a Mountainsmith Auspex like mine ¢ and he told me to expect a ¢Bunch more SOBO¢s ¢ in the next few days.   Shortly thereafter I passed the junction of the yellow blazed Allegheny Trail that leads to Pennsylvania. My sights are however set on the white blazes leading always north. I found the going realy tough today. A real struggle on the ascents, even though I made reasonable time, I was really struggling.   Finally it was a classic series of switchbacks down off the mountain to the shelter here. This shelter is dedicated to Bob Trimpi ¢ a young 18yo {1951-1969} Vietnam War hero, according to a register entry. I am now post dinner. There is no cell signal here. Looks like another solo night for me.   Feel good now, but it was a tough day, especially since most of it was ridge walking and smooth descents.Thought for today ¢   Primitive fears produce an emotional, not a rational, response.
Date: 2004-09-13
From: Pine Swamp Branch Shelter

To: Warspur Shelter
Miles today: 12.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Slept alone and well, despite the chorus of amorous frogs taking voice at sunset. Arose before dawn in anticipation of a tough day, and I was not disappointed!   Started off with a nice walk alongside the stream ¢ I love streams ¢ and made VA635 in Stony Creek in good time. The trail then parallels the creek, but although audible it is hard to see. The trail goes up and down with some rocky segments, before it crosses over Dismal Branch on a very nice footbridge and an even nicer one over Stony Creek.   It was then a long hard haul up the side of Big Mountain until I reached Bailey Gap Shelter. At this stage I thought that the worse was over, after all I had finished my major ascent of the day, but not so! The anticipated easy walk along the ridges of Big and then Potts Mountains was a killer. Not alone was it up and down, but it was a series of relentless and unending stone gardens. I could not get into any sort of rhythm and realy labored all day long.   I also collected a large amount, and variety, of burrs and sticky seeds along this stretch on my pant pegs and especially on the Cho-Pat knee braces that I wear. I finally arrived at Wind Rock [4100¢ Vista] a realy nice view and a great cell signal. Left a message for KT. From there the rocky gardens continued and then gradually disappeared towards the summit of Lone Pine Peak ¢ I saw only Hemlock on the top. At last things got better and the descent into Warspur was positively pleasant. This trail down was very well maintained, nice broad sweeps, with excellent trail work and numerous intermittent rock steps. Very nice.   Made it here to the shelter ¢ 12.7 miles in 10 hours - and I was beat. This is a very nice shelter with an open area in front and close to a cascading stream. I will be able to hear the water rushing over the rocks to lull me to sleep. I saw no one during the day ¢ a first in this section ¢ and I anticipate another solo night. Some bugs here.   Saw an entry in the register here from Slow Barbara in June, and also an entry from Gamecox and Swampfox ¢ good to know that they were all still hiking.   Tomorrow looks like another tough day with two big climbs. We shall see.Thought ¢ It is best to divide the impossible into a series of possible steps.
Date: 2004-09-15
From: Sarver Hollow Shelter

To: Niday Shelter
Miles today: 6.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Slept late this morning, knowing that I had a short six mile day planned. After a leisurely breakfast I climbed back out of Sarvers Hollow and back on to the trail.   It was then a leisurely and pleasant hike along the crest of Sinking Creek Mountain. The Companion says that this ridge is a Continental Divide. The rain falling on the west side flows into Sinking Creek Valley and, via the Mississippi, into the Gulf. Rain on the east side flows into Craig Creek Valley and, via the James, into the Atlantic.   On the ridge I met two SOBO¢s, a husband and wife. They had started out north together from Springer. She became ill at Damascus, and he continued north to Harpers Ferry, where a recovered wife rejoined him. They have decided to SOBO to Damascus, so this will be a double hike of Virginia for him. From looking in the register here at Niday I think that they may be called "Mother Nature" and "Smokestack".   While hiking along this section ¢ there are no more rock Cairns by the way ¢ I discovered that I had picked up a lot of seeds on my pants legs and on my Cho-Pats. Some of these were very unusual to me. They were very long and thin, like a needle, and were attached via a little crow¢s foot at the business end.   The trail then switches over to the east side of the ridge. This is a totally different kind of hike. There you encounter open exposed slanting slabs of rock, reminding me of Blood Mountain, and although I was crossing this on a good weather day, I muttered a prayer for the poor souls who are forced to cross it in the wind and the rain. The downward slope to the east also played merry hell with the little toe of my right foot. Tough going on exposed rock faces interspersed with briars and brambles.   Finally the trail relented and left the rocky crest - the turn marked by a BLUE blaze ¢ and then began a gentle descent here into the shelter. I don¢t normally complain about the blazes, or the lack thereof, but those rocky exposed slopes and bramble patches along the crest could do with a few extra.   Got here early and had a hot lunch of tuna and Tompato, will plan on eating dinner later. Wrote a letter to KT. The SOBO¢s said 10¢ of rain are expected from Ivan this weekend. I hope to be in Catawba before it hits. No fun in hiking the AT in a hurricane. Thought ¢       Speed Kills [the enjoyment]
Date: 2004-09-19
From: Catawba

To: Lamberts Meadow Shelter
Miles today: 10.2
Weather: clear sky

This was the best day of hiking so far ¢ acting as a counterpoint to the last, and worst day of hiking, the infamous struggle over the Dragon¢s Tooth.   Had another great nights sleep and an early breakfast. Said a long and genuinely regretful goodbye to David and Lucy. He drove me to he trailhead and I was off and hiking again. It was a great day to hike, temps in the hi 60¢s to lo 70¢s with a warm sun and a nice gentle breeze to keep me cool. I don¢t think that I broke into a sweat all day long.   The first part of the day was the ascent to McAfees Knob. This is a well-traveled section of the trail and is impeccably maintained. There are even boardwalks over some sections where the exposed rock slopes too steeply! I came across three maintainers actively working on the trail on the way up. There were a lot of blowdowns and debris scattered everywhere after Ivan, and many of the large new blowdowns were obstructing the trail.   McAfees Knob was spectacular ¢ great views of the valley on a day of perfect visibility. Met a day hiker and three young men who had camped out and so managed to get my photo taken on the Knob. It certainly was a great vista.   Then it was down off the Knob ¢ after a break for Lucy Downs home cooked cookies ¢ and then on towards Tinker Cliffs. The trail is along the ridge and doesn¢t have a lot of good views, but it does pass a few interesting rock formations including the Snack Bar Rock, where it passes between two big rocks and I had a second break on an exposed ledge on the east side of the ridge with a great view of the Carvin Cove Reservoir. It was just magical lying back on the warm exposed rock with my boots off and the entire valley spread out below my feet ¢ literally! There was a warm summer-like breeze cooling off the noonday heat, and a sweet smell of pine and summer wafting up on the breeze.   If McAfees Knob was good then Tinkers Cliffs were better. Here the trail runs along the edge of the exposed cliffs, I mean along the EDGE! I was walking along feet, and sometimes only inches, from an unprotected sheer drop of several hundred feet straight down ¢ and you know I don¢t like heights. But the views along the exposed cliffs were outstanding.   There were a large number of day hikers on the cliffs, and I got a great photo of a young couple sitting together on the very edge of the precipice with their feet dangling off into the void.   Then it was down off of the cliffs and on here to the shelter. I felt good all day long, the weather, the trail, the views, all helped, and physically I felt in great shape. This is the first day that I have not been utterly exhausted at the end of the day. My hiking clothes are not even damp with sweat.   Two grommets have now pulled out of my right boot, and I think that the butane gas canister is just about to run out. Got a weak signal here and spoke with KT. My plan is for another 10 miles tomorrow and then the scheduled rest stop and zero day at Troutville.   A realy great dayThought ¢It is the difficulties that keep us going
Date: 2004-09-20
From: Lamberts Meadow Shelter

To: Troutville - Comfort Inn, Room 110
Miles today: 10.4

Slept well and started early.   After a slight down and a stream walk ¢ I love streams ¢ it was another slow and steady ascent back up onto the ridge. It had been a cool night and the cold had extended itself into the early morning hours, these are pleasant hiking conditions, in the cool of the morning with the sun just beginning to rise over the crests of the mountains. Along the ridge crest this morning there were several good vistas looking down into the easterly valleys and over the distant mountaintops.   In the clear cool September morning the valley looked freshly scrubbed as though from a recent rain, all of the details of the roads, farms, buildings and fields seemed especially sharp and clear-cut, edged in a rosy glow from the freshly risen sun. In the distant mountain and valleys were frozen lakes of mist, with their waves and crests tinted pink by the sun which picked out the straggling offshoots of mist trying to escape down the smaller valleys.   Most of the day was spent on this long curvilinear ridge walk, with surprising and unexpected rocky and jagged sections that demanded strict attention and careful negotiation. As the trail curved around, I was now on a very narrow and exposed ridge with excellent and simultaneous views to the right and left.   On the left was the busy and highly commercial I81 valley with its heavy development, housing and factories. There was much evidence of new construction with large areas of exposed red soil indicating the sites of future expansion. On the right was a valley, totally devoid of development, with the placid and lake-like Carvin Cove Reservoir in its center. Quiet a contrast!   But all good things come to an end, and it was finally time to descend down off of Tinker Mountain, which was showing increasing signs of spray painted vandalism on its rocks, across the N+W railway line and Tinker Creek and on into the I 81 Interchange and on here to the hotel.   Spoke at length wit KT. Tried to call JC¢s Place in Glasgow, where I hope to stay during my next break, only to find that the number is not in service. Wonder if it is closed? Met two SOBO¢s here who had stayed in a cabin at Wildwood Campground and they said that it was fine.      Currently I have a severe and continuing attack of the hic-cups ¢ I had far too much food at Shoneys AND the Waffle House. Right boot still two grommets short and no place to fix it here.Thought ¢    What you see depends on your point of view.
Date: 2004-09-21
From: Troutville - Comfort Inn, Room 110

To: Troutville - Comfort Inn, Room 110
Miles today: 0.0

Slept late. After breakfast confirmed with PO in Glasgow that they had my package and that the motel there is still in business. Did a resupply at the local convenience store ¢ the Supermarket here closed. Am now ready for five days ¢ six nights - to Glasgow. A bunch of 10+ SOBO¢s here at the motel say good trails ahead to Glasgow.   Went through my mail on the Internet access here ¢ love that hi speed stuff.   Spoke with KT; she will mail the Waynesboro box on Saturday. Jury-rigged a lace hole in the leather of my boot where the grommet pulled out by stitching a loop of nylon thread through the old leather. I am getting good mileage out of that needle and thread.   Hic-cups continue unabated. We shall see. Thought ¢      Little things can make a huge difference. Hic-cup!
Date: 2004-09-23
From: Wilson Creek Shelter

To: Bobblets Gap Shelter
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: clear sky

Still with the Hic-cups!   Rocks did show up last night, carrying with him a package of eight hot dogs, and all of the fixings, all the way from Buchanan! Made a fire and they cooked the hot dogs. He also brought a beef sandwich [only 79 cents ¢ reduced from $1.79 due to age] and we had a good time talking. He is from Israel and knows of Tom who I met in the Smokies. They all left at 4.30AM to hike into Troutville for the AYCE breakfast at Shoneys. I missed their company.   Started late and hiked at leisure on a short 7.3-mile day. Met a bunch of SOBO¢s including, Iching and Flocket, and soon had my introduction to the Blue Ridge Parkway [BRP]. The AT parallels this road , which later becomes Skyline Drive, for about 200 miles. I have been hiking within sight of it for much, and sound of it for all, of the day. At the spots where the AT crosses over the BRP there are a series of ¢Overlooks¢ designed for the motoring public, but spectacular to view for all. Today I went through Taylor Mountain Overlook, Montvale Overlook, and Harvey¢s Knob Overlook, all with spectacular views to both the east and the west.         At Harvey¢s Knob there were a bunch of people watching for, and counting, the broad wing hawks. This is the main fall migration route for the birds heading south to Mexico and South America, and it is also an official counting site. They told me that the site is manned from 9AM ¢ 6PM every day during the migration season and helps determine the official migration numbers. They said that sometimes there are so many hawks that the birds form a huge circular boiling mass of raptors in the sky, a sight that they call a ¢kettle¢. So far this season, they said that they haven¢t been seeing too many. They also gave me some home made seasoned bread!      One of them, Wrong Way, is also a hiker and told me of the trail conditions north of here and some possible problem areas for water supplies.      I also met with Free Spirit SOBO, wearing hunters orange ¢ it is officially fall and the hunting season has started, and soon after her I met with Peg Leg and Flare all SOBO to Springer. They all tell me that there will be a continuing flow of SOBO for the next few weeks.      The continuing hic-cups were the only distraction from a very pleasant hike on a well-maintained trail within sound of civilization and with much human company. If these hic-cups don¢t clear up by Glasgow I will look into what medical facilities are available to get checked out there. I believe that Thorazine is still used for hic-cups.    No register here.Thought ¢          Perfection is the enemy of good.
Date: 2004-09-25
From: Bryant Ridge Shetler

To: Thunder Hill Shelter
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: broken clouds

Last evening three hikers SOBO arrived late. Smokey, Four Winds and Porch, had all intended to stop at the next shelter north ¢ Cornelius Creek ¢ but had found it occupied by a homeless woman who was living in it. She had spread out all of her stuff in the shelter and was acting more than a little weird, telling of people spying on her at night with night vision goggles! They decided that they had better come on here and covered the five miles in 1.25 hours. Admittedly it was all downhill for them, but that is good going.   I got a poor cell signal but did manage to talk with KT. I hic-cupped all night long, but they went away at breakfast, only to recur on and off all day long. Today was 10.3 miles, but had a total of 3000¢ of vertical elevation. I started out with an ascent of Floyd Mountain, up to Cornelius Creek. I got water there, but resisted the urge to visit with the homeless lady ¢ no reason to go poking a snake with a stick! Above the shelter I met with two day- hikers. I told them of the homeless lady and they said that they would call it in to the Rangers when they got back from their hike.   After Floyd Mountain the trail is level for a bit and then starts up Apple Orchard Mountain to 4225¢ with an FAA radar dome on the top. Impressive views from the summit, and since I was doing well, I lounged around on the open meadow ¢ I love meadows ¢ on the summit.   After that the trail leads back down into the woods and then passes under the Guillotine ¢ very impressive. This is a natural cleft in the rocks and a large boulder is lodged in the cleft and the trail goes right under it. There are only three places on the trail where you walk under a rock, Fatman¢s Squeeze, here, and in Maine. It was then an easy walk here to Thunder Hill, and, yes, there is good water here in a small walled- in spring with a good trickle into it.   I have been joined by two SOBO, Shredder and Focus, who have decided to stay here after hearing of the homeless lady at Cornelius Creek.   A good day ¢ tough ascent but a good day.   Thought ¢          If you want to understand what someone means, you need to listen to what they are saying ¢ carefully!
Date: 2004-09-27
From: Matts Creek Shelter

To: Glasgow - Ma & Pa's Motel, Room 7
Miles today: 2.5
Weather: light rain

No cell signal at Matts Creek. Was much bothered by the hic-cups during the night. I am now getting bad reflux oesophagitis from them. Slept intermittently and late.   Started down a pleasant stream-side walk on Matts Creek this morning ¢ I love streams ¢ and was on the banks of the James river in no time. The trail then parallels the river as it goes east and soon the remarkable Foot foot bridge [it is named after Bill Foot] came into view. It is the longest foot bridge on the AT and is very impressive. It is just upstream of a railway bridge. The river here is wide and slow moving, almost lake-like, and it was a sight to behold with the bridge reflected in the still waters of the river in a dull and overcast morning light.   The first car I hitched stopped, just as it was starting to rain, and I was here in Glasgow in time for brunch. Got my drop box ¢ I.D. ¢ and laundry done. Hurricane Jeanne is starting here tonight with 2¢ of rain predicted and another 2¢ for tomorrow.   Spoke with KT on the public phone ¢ no phone in the motel. Will stay here until the hic-cups resolve and the storm passes, both need to happen before I continue on.   Thought ¢          It is better to have a lot of small bad things go wrong, than one big bad thing go wrong .