morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-05-03
From: Pond tent site outside Damascas

To: Just past Thomas knob shelter
Miles today: 16.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Wonderful sleeping last night. Woke to cloudy skies which quickly cleared to sun and warm breeze. Beginning of trail was relatively flat and easy as it joined up with the Virginia Creeper hike/bike trail. But this soon changed as we approached our first obstacle of the day, White Top Mtn. 5120'. It was a long steady climb with few switchbacks. When we popped out of the woods we still had a bald to climb to get to what we thought was the peak, Buzzard Rock. The wind was blowing fierce and gusting to about 20 mph, almost strong enough to knock you over at times.I had a real hard time climbing that but once there we had lunch in the sun, protected by the rocks. The rest of the day continued to be up climbs to a shelter near Mount Rogers, VA's highpoint. The shelter was already filling up and we were going to stay there due to the cold and the wind. Greg took a short hike to the summit of Mount Rogers when Crazy and Armsleeve came to the shelter and said they found a nice camping spot in the woods protected from the wind. So when Greg got back, we grabbed our stuff and went down the trail to the campsite.Today we saw another snake (cornsnake?), heard our favorite warbler and saw a black and white warbler. Its great having someone who enjoys getting into stuff like wildflowers, birds and other wildlife. Greg and I are really enjoying just taking it all in.
Date: 2006-05-04
From: Just past Thomas knob shelter

To: Hurricane 
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: scattered clouds

A glorious day. We had sun and cool breezes all day. The area around our campsite is typical highland country: grasses, small shrub/scrub, isolated fir trees, rock outcroppings and in this case wild ponies! I don't where the herd came from but just like the Chincoteague ponies, colts are rounded up each year and some are auctioned. There were about 9 adults in the area where we were camping and I saw 4 colts. Very cool. They're pretty accustomed to people...and like to chew on your clothing and gear for the salt. Most were multicolored with thick fur and long tails and manes.We hiked through the highlands all day up and down but basically stayed around 5000'.My feet were bothering me most of the day so I didn't make very good time. Greg of course was jamming through the relatively easy terrain. Lots of boulder gardens.Ran across that warbler with the really long song. I finally timed it ...9 seconds. Still have't seen it, no idea the size, color or anything.Finally made it to the shelter around 6 pm. James, Red Beard, Hikin Mike, Trench Coat were already there, and Natty Bo got there alittle after us. The skies were dark and ominous and thunder was already rumbling so we were glad to be in a shelter tonight. Another milestone, we passed the 500 mile mark.
Date: 2006-05-05
From: Hurricane 

To: Troutdale
Miles today: 6.3
Weather: moderate rain

Woke up to light rain but didn't really mind as we were doing a short hike mostly downhill to Troutdale to pick up our maildrop and Greg's new hip belt. Not much of a town there but we stopped at the baptsist church hostel to stay the night.It was a room with outside porta johns and showers but just fine. The pastor was very nice and took us into the next town where there are stores. We bought some real grocery food for dinner and found a hot spot outside the Radio Shack and were able to send email. The paster also drove us to the house where Greg's package was delivered and to the PO to send home the old one.When we got back, we found that our friends Mute Snail, Hiker Cycler and Tap Heel were there, so they stayed in our room.
Date: 2006-05-06
From: Troutdale

To: Partnership shelter
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Got out early but it was cool and windy. Hit the local diner for breakfast then hitched a ride to the trailhead. The clouds rolled in and out all day but no rain. The forests seemed to green up over night. Where a couple of days ago you could see through the trees, now is just green. Oh and the poison ivy is out too. Now that we are in the lower elevations we are going to have to watch out for it. It was rolly today but none of the hills were too steep. Lots of birds singing that now we can't see at all because of the trees. We did get to see a pair of rufuos-sided towhees flitting around close to the ground.Besides birds, reptiles and amphibians haven't seen much in the way of mammals, but now that we're lower in elevation and temps are warming, I suspect we'll see more.Got to the shelter, which must be the primo shelter of the trail as there is a sink for cleaning stuff, showers, and a phone fairly close by. You can actually order pizza delivery. When we got there a few folks were already there. We all put in an order and asked the driver to bring us some beer.Greg and I went for the salads and put in for a few beers. Tapheel, Mute Snail, Hiker Cycler, Berkenstock, Brave friend, She bear, Jodie Foster, Arm Sleeve, Natty Bo and James are all here. Even though it doesn't look like rain we are staying here for convenience of not having to put up a tent.
Date: 2006-05-07
From: Partnership shelter

To: Relax Inn
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: moderate rain

0507Partnership Shelter to Relax Inn at I 81 truckstop11 milesWoke up to rain which only got harder as we waited for clearing. Finally got on the trail and rain wasn't too bad except temperatures kept dropping to 38 degrees by 1 pm. By the afternoon we were all designed to stay at the truck stop motel. Greg and I , September and Brave friend all decided to get a room. It was a tiny romm with barely enough room for two beds. With our 4 wet packs and wet gear and clothes , it smelled like a swampy mess. We did laundry, got beer and pizza and more beer (2 cases) and had a great time laughing all night. Lots of other folks from the shelter ended up there too.
Date: 2006-05-08
From: Relax Inn

To: Knot Maul shelter
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Overcast, but never rained. Feet hurt, knees tough so I took my time with September. We camped at the shelter with Bravefriend, September, Yoshi, She Bear and Minnesota Smith. The guys built a big smokey fire, almost smoked us all out.Today flame azaleas, columbines rhododendrons and magnolias all starting to bloom.
Date: 2006-05-09
From: Knot Maul shelter

To: Jenkins shelter
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Cloudy but not rainy. Had a big mountain to climb (Chestnut Knob 4000 ft in 4 miles). Thought it would be a lot harder hean it was. However the rest of the day was tough as we were cruising along this ridgeline that went up and down and had a lot of rocks sticking up, little trippers.We topped out on a grassy bald that went to a big stone shelter where we stopped for a quick break. We still had half the hike to go and the 4 of us (me, Greg, September and Bravefriend) all spread out along the trail. I was doing pretty good until the last hour or so, when as I was hiking down toward the shelter, I tripped and stubbled a few feet, clutching nothing but air but clamping into the ground with my feet until instead of a faceplant I arrested the motion and did not fall.I got to the shelter by around 7 pm a bit beat up and tired. It was me, Greg, Bravefriend, September and Yoshi. Lots of deer, a flying squirrel, gobs of birds, including a pileated woodpecker and finally saw 4 lady slippers.Nice night tenting out under a bright moon.
Date: 2006-05-10
From: Jenkins shelter

To: Bland VA
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: light rain

Woke up super stiff in my knee. Probably due to the yesterday's "almost fall." Had to take it easy all day. Nice day, easy trail, all kinds of birds singing all day long.I know most of these entries are pretty mundane. However our days are pretty simple in that we wake up early (about 7-7:30) every day, break up camp, make breakfast, dress and hit the trail.
Date: 2006-05-11
From: Bland VA

To: Bland
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Took a zero day in Bland as the weather kept changing from rain to sun to rain to sun. Resupplied, did some journal entries and then on the way out of town (in the rain/then sun) we were offered a ride to the trailhead. We just stood there not knowing whether we really wanted to get back to the trail or back to the the little town of Bland.So we passed on the ride and as the weather got nicer and nicer, turned around and went back into town to relax , party, eat and finish uploading our journal entries.
Date: 2006-05-12
From: Bland

To: Jenny Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Woke up to wind and swirling skies but sun. We (me, Greg, Bravefriend, Firefly, Brainfreeze, and Yoshi) were all anxious to get back on the trail. After a hearty breakfast at the only place in town to eat (besides Subway and Dairy Queen) we hit the road and quickly hitched a ride to the trail head.Just before we hit the woods, Greg noticed his camera missing and knew he had left it back at the hotel. Brainfreeze and I went ahead (Bravefriend, Firefly, and Yoshi had already gone ahead) while Greg hitched back to the hotel. He got a ride to the hotel and the guy waited while he got the camera and drove him back to the trail. Another very nice person! The day was cool but mostly sunny and the trail was pretty level (compared to all days so far). It was also pretty uneventful. We decided to stop at the second shelter and stay as the skies had grown dark and cloudy and we were pretty sure rain was coming.The shelter filled quickly and several tents were also pitched. All together it was James, just Steve, Me, Greg, Minn. Smith, Brainfreeze, Brave friend, Firefly, Jodie Foster, Natty Bo, and about 6 other folks.We cooked hotdogs on the fire and ate fresh salad yum. Pretty uneventful night hanging around the fire and talking.I'm sure lots of journal entries are kind of boring but each day is incredibly similar while at the same time very different.We wake up early (about 7-7:30) every day, break up camp, make breakfast, dress and hit the trail. The terrain can be anywhere from flat to very steep, grassy, muddy or rocky with little to look at besides your feet to awesome vistas. But each day we are rewarded. These rewards might be a glorious field of flowers, a new plant or flower specimen, warblers egging you on as climb a steep hillside, colorful snakes, lizards and salamanders sunning themselves, views of pastoral valleys or mountain ridges that seem to go on forever, crystal clear charcoal night skies dotted with thousands of stars or falling asleep to the sound of owls hooting to one another or a single whip-or-will calling through the night.Or we might be rewarded with hooking back up with friends after hiking by oneself most of the day and spending the evening talking until we can't keep our eyes open. Its hard to explain the joy of these very simple days but it is pure indulgence in one's self and surroundings.
Date: 2006-05-13
From: Jenny Knob Shelter 

To: Woods Hole Hostel
Miles today: 20.9
Weather: light rain

A long hike, first part was very steep then nice ridge walking and the hard part was rock jumping all the way down the downslope. The hostel was great and run by Mrs. Robb , wife of a former Asst. Sec. Of Interior during the Carter Administration. It was a very simple hostel made out of a barn with cooking area downstairs and sleeping upstairs. There was room for everyone (about 12-14 ). The next morning we had breakfast in the main cabin house. Slept absolutley great...didn't hear a snore. Milestone: Passed 600 miles
Date: 2006-05-14
From: Woods Hole Hostel

To: Pearisburg 
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: light rain

Lots of sun with a short hail/rain shower which cleared as we made it to the ridge with wonderful overlooks. Another hail/rain storm hit us as we headed down the switchbacks into town. Did our chores, got a room and some beers and watched late night TV.
Date: 2006-05-15
From: Pearisburg 

To: campsite on Peters Mtn. before Symms Gap
Miles today: 11.9

Managed to get out of town even though the weather looked bad and lots of other hikers were staying another day. Greg and I and Brainfreeze got on the trail by 11. Coming out of town the trail wound through bad parts of town interspersed with poison ivy laden woods. We even went past an industrial dump for the local factory.We were going to stop at the first shelter on top of Peters Mtn. but it was still early we hadn't hiked long and it was really windy there so we hiked alittle further to a campsite that had great views great tentsites, a fire ring and plenty of wood. Lots of lovely solitude.
Date: 2006-05-16
From: campsite on Peters Mtn. before Symms Gap

To: Campsite past Wind Rock
Miles today: 16.1

Woke to mist clouds and cool temps but no rain! Decided to try to go as far as possible since we were getting a late start. Trail rather rocky. We got to a place on the river where the bridge was washed out so Brainfreeze and I took an alternate route along the road while Greg crossed along a downed tree. The uphill climb to Wind Rock 4000 feet was even more rocky then the morning. Temps were still so cold that I had my rain pants on all day. When we reached Wind Rock there were two young guys Darryl and Russel just out of college who were just hanging out and building a fire. They offered us each a beer (Newcastle Ale). What nice trail angels.Although we were tired we hiked alittle farther down the trail since Wind Rock was indeed Windy. We came across a great little site out of the wind and much warmer. Made dinner and then off to bed ...hopefully for an early start tomorrow.
Date: 2006-05-17
From: Campsite past Wind Rock

To: Sarver Hollow Sheltern
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: broken clouds

Had a great hike today. The weather quickly turned from grey to sunny and our first leg was mostly level. It seems that most hikers are off the trail already heading for Damascus for Trail Days. We did a really steep climb with an elevation gain of about 1000 feet in 1 mile. Stopped at Kelly Knob for a brief lunch. The rest of the day was rolling up and down through forests and fields. Before the shelter there was one more hill to climb not quite as steep as the morning's. Just as we were within a quarter mile of the shelter the sky turned dark grey. I tried to hike fast down to the shelter as I could hear raindrops hitting the hill above me. Just as Greg and I got there the skies opened up to a brief but steady shower. Brainfreeze wasn't as lucky and was a bit wet when she got to the shelter a few minutes later.Very nice shelter with plenty of room for the three of us and one bird nest with 3 chicks. The mother got used to us quickly as she foraged for food and brought it to the nest (will have to look this bird up as she was rather plain dark grey on top, light underbelly black beak and eyes, a slight point to the top of the head). Another bird possibly the male also visited the nest and looked like it was trying to feed the chicks but the mother continued to repel it.
Date: 2006-05-18
From: Sarver Cabin

To:  Pickle Branch Shelter
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: light rain

Have started to hear hermit thrushes in addition to wood thrushes. Went to sleep to the sound of barred owls calling to one another and woke up to the sound of baby chicks peeping for food.Had to be one of our best days. The weather was gorgeous...sunny with big puffy clouds and an almost constant breeze to keep us cool. The terrain constantly changed from slabs of creamy grey rocks, to lime green forests, to pine covered mountains. The blueberries are starting and the mountain laurel and rhododendron are blooming.Our one big mountain was 1500 feeet in about 2 miles that, because of the switchbacks, wasn't that bad of a climb. The area around Pickle Branch Shelter is spotted with sink holes and caves, so Greg wants to come back to this area another time to explore.Folks at the shelter included us Brainfreeze, Piper, Skeetch and a man named Glen and his dog Pepper. It was such a nice day that Greg and I tented out in a small sinkhole near the shelter. A storm threatened our dinners but never really hit and we stayed up around a warm campfire until 10:30.
Date: 2006-05-20
From: Damascus

To: Damascus
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Got picked up by Brainfreeze's friend Chris at the Boy Scout Shelter outside of Catawba this morning and headed for trail days. Its a small festival with lots of junk and really cool gear. We missed the parade but apparently it was an out of control water fight. Saw Armsleeves and met his Dad as well as Billy Goat who we haven't seen since Fontana Dam.Gonna check out a few more things around town then its off to the next little town (Abingdon) where we are getting a hotel room and (hopefully) doing alittle laundry. Chris needs to fumagate his trunk before he drops us off back at the trail site tomorrow. Searchin' for old friends and meeting new ones!
Date: 2006-05-21
From: Damascus

To: John Springs shelter
Miles today: 1.0
Weather: clear sky

Well here we are back at the very same place we were Friday night. I don't know how we count these miles since we have hiked this 1 mile section from the road 3 times, once Friday night, again Sat. Morning when Chris picked us up and again this afternoon.Had to recover alittle from Trail days and do our chores. Hit the trail around 6:30 pm.Chainsaw and Able Jack were also at the shelter as well as Marly. Looks like everyone here is headed for Daleville tomorrow.
Date: 2006-05-22
From: John Springs shelter

To: Troutville 
Miles today: 18.8

Started the day by scaring up a couple of deer dozing by the trailside.Great weather for rock scramblin' which we did most of the day. Tinker Cliffs and MacAfee Knob afforded perfect views of where we had already hiked that day and where we were going. Hooked up with Chainsaw and Able Jack on the Trail and Compost at a shelter stop.We pretty much took our time because it was such a nice day and there were so many wonderful places to hang out.We paid for it though as the last 9 miles were kind of hiked fast.We hit I-81 around Troutville about 8:30 and went straight to a Mexican restaurant for Margaritas and dinner then across the parking lot to Howard Johnson's where we split a room.
Date: 2006-05-23
From: Troutville 

To: Fullhardt shelter 
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: clear sky

Well after resupplying and other random acts of work we got out of the Interstate exchange by about 2 pm. My knee still wasn't feeling that great from the push yesterday so I slogged behind Greg and Brainfreeze. Marly was already at the shelter and a new guy Slick B showed up. We quickly found out that the water source was dry. That made the decision to drink the 24 oz beer that we each packed in that much easier. Then came out the snack foods. After falling into some comfortable conversation Brainfreeze and I decided we really wanted stay at this shelter instead of pressing on another 6 miles starting out at 6:30 pm.Of course since we were slacking today it means that tomorrow is going to be a 19.9 mile day that we'll have to do completely as there is no camping areas between here and the next shelter. Greg was a little annoyed but after finding water (about an hour expedition) and getting back at camp he was back to his old self telling stories and having fun.Things have been kind of rushed lately so I'm glad to already have the tent set up and journal worked on and it's only 7:00 and we still have full sun. We might actually eat dinner while its still light. Got to get to bed early so we get an early start tomorrow.
Date: 2006-05-24
From: Fullhardt shelter 

To: Cove Mtn. Shelter
Miles today: 19.9
Weather: broken clouds

Got an early start...up by 7 out by 7:30!The trail was relatively easy as we paralleled the Blue Ridge Parkway. In the past two days water sources have gone from plentiful to dicey at some places to absolutely dry. At one overlook, Greg talked Brainfreeze into talking to some elderly vacationers into giving up any water they might have...they did not and just informed her that the area was in a drought.We all were feeling the effects of low water when we reached a shelter around 3pm for lunch. But luckily there was a tiny stream with enough water to get our filter in. After gorging ourselves with food and water we got back on the trail feeling like we needed a nap like after Thanksgiving dinner. I was hiking slow today my knee still botherng me. But the trail was beautiful with overlooks off the Blue Ridge Parkway. Once we got back in the woods, the rhododendrons were blooming a lucious lavender pink and by my feet, spiderworts in blue, purple, magenta and pink guided the way.When we got to the shelter, there was as expected no water so Greg and Marly offered to go for water not just for us for but also for the kids in the woods ....see note below.They basically had to bush wack down through the woods , find a tenouous stream , and hike back.   Note: it's 9 pm and an Emergency helicopter is circling overhead looking for a snake bite victim....there's a GROUP OF WAYWARD KIDS CAMPING HERE , one of them got bit supposedly by a poisonous snake (copperhead) while he and a buddy were going for water for the group.
Date: 2006-05-25
From: Cove Mtn. Shelter

To: Thunderhill Shelter
Miles today: 17.2
Weather: light rain

Today was up, up, up. Floyd Mountain was a bear in that it was steep about 1000 ft elevation gain in one mile. We soon separated, everyone hiking their own pace.Although it was tough and steep, it was a great day and a great hike. Morning clouds (without rain) kept the sun was becoming oppressive and we slowly made our way up. I was soon enveloped in a sea of lime green and when the sun did break through the light was filtered through the overhanging leaves.I was the only one enjoying the day as squirrels, chipmunks, lizards sankes and a cornucopia of insects scrambled, slithered and buzzed around. After making it up this hill we then had a less steep but more rocky hill to our campsite for the night.Already there when we arrived were Marly, LB, Postcard, Identity Crisis and a few others. We tented out and the winds blew cool.Our rewards for today included, hermit thrushes singing back and forth, yellow lady slippers and fields of huge ferns (about chest high).
Date: 2006-05-26
From: Thunderhill Shelter

To: Glasgow
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: light rain

Tented out last night...rain soon started. Luckily it had pretty much finished by morning. Today was a cool critter day. I was already way behind Greg and Brainfreeze coming down the mountain when I came across a huge black snake and soon after a deer that allowed me to get within 30 feet before bounding off. As the trail started up the mext mountain I encountered numerous lizards and a large box turtle.I caught up with Greg to the lunch shelter where we considered taking a shorter day and going into town to resupply instead of hiking two long days before another road crossing to a town. We pitched it to Brainfreeze. We all agreed and headed for Glasgow. We got a hitch right away (always a good sign). Glasgow is as podunk as it gets but it does have a motel, small grocer, laudermat and bank all within a block or two of each other. We resupplied with what was available, did laundry and since there is no place eat, went back to the grocer for sandwich fixings for dinner. Our entertainment of the night was sitting outside our room eating sandwiches, drinking beer and watching the one town cop go up and down the main drag pulling everyone over for speeding. On all our walks about town we never once saw a speed limit sign. Podunk!Getting out early for a 10-16 mile day.