morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-05-27
From: Damascus VA

To: Damascus VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Navigator and I were sitting in the Dairy Queen eating all you can eat pancakes for $4.99 around 8:30 am when I looked out and saw Mom and dad pull up at the stoplight, what a welcome sight, I flew out the door, they pulled in and Mom jumped out and put a bear hug on me. Didn't think she would ever turn loose.Navigator came out and talked with Mom and dad, he took our pictures then he hit the trail, I really hate to see him get out in front as I know he pushes hard, I will miss the Navigator.We then drove to Saint Paul VA to see my Grandmother which is only about 35 miles, Granny was happy to see us, we sat around awhile then went to see my Aunt Connie and cousin Crystal. we stayed there awhile and headed back to Abingdon. We drove to the Wal-Mart close to Bristol off I-81 there I resuppliedI think Dad was surprised to see how fast I could get in and out. from there it was off to the barber Shop where I got my ears lowered as Dad call's it.Then we drove back to Abingdon and stopped at the Holiday Inn Express, they have no shuttle service to Damascus. dad then drove to Damascus and stopped at the MT Rogers Outfitters, he talked to Tom about a shuttle from the holiday inn back to Damascus the next morning. Tom made a phone call and set it up. Great bunch of people at MT Rogers, Dad bought some MapDana's so he could keep up with me on the trail.We then drove back to Abingdon, checked into the Holiday Inn Express on Hwy 58across from the Cracker Barrel.We went out to a steak house that night and the mother of all storms as Dad called it blew in, you guessed it, the power went off and we ate with the light of the battery powered Emg light's.Mom and Dad left that night to go back home, it was hard not to pile in with them and go home, but I started this and I'll finish it.
Date: 2004-05-28
From: Damascus VA

To: Atkins VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

What a night, got to sleep in a bed at the Holiday Inn Express in Abingdon VA, I took several showers just to be able to stand under the hot water. Dad woke me with a phone call about 7:30 am he called me from his office in Greensboro as the shuttle is supposed to pick me up at 9am, said he didn't want me to oversleep ( thats a Dad for you) I had breakfast there and it was great, took some fruit with me for the trail. Everyone was great there.Shuttle picked me up at 9Am just like Tom said he would, he dropped me off at MT Rogers Outfitters where I bought a small (very small) weather radio for 4 bucks. Then I went by the place and dropped off the fruit I had picked up at the hotel and left it there for the other hikers, we have to look out for each other, share and share alike.Then I hit the trail, raining hard and no end in sight.
Date: 2004-05-30
From: Damascus VA

To: Atkins VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Rain rain and more rain, when is it going to stop, didn't walk, sloshed all dayhard going everything wet except food and sleeping bag, that you guard with your life. Made it to Thomas Knob Shelter, tried to dry out best I could, hung everything up, cooked and went to bed.
Date: 2004-05-31
From: Damascus VA

To: Atkins VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Made it to Hurrican Campground side trail, pitched tent in the rain, this rain is starting to worry me, is there a cloud following me ? Made 19 miles today getting better and feeling good about myself.. I can do it, I will do it although it's hard. No one pushing you but yourself. Saw some wild ponies todayat least they looked wild to me"I Love It"
Date: 2004-06-02
From: Damascus VA

To: Atkins VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Made it to Atkins, actually Groosclose VA, staying at the Relax Inn, tried to call home from a pay phone today, all was in spanish, tried another pay phone down the road and same thing, called home collect, dad is going to love me for that as he got me this global calling card that he can recharge over the net when it runs low. Mom said no word from Brother Jorma.. it's been 11 days since he went into the Smokies, Mom and Dad are really worried. Mom said Dad called the Ranger station in Gatlinburg and reported Jorma overdue, he spoke to Ranger Randy there. They said they would put out an alert to the Rangers and the Ridge Runners on the trail to be on the lookout for him, 11 days and only enough food for max of 7 days ?? The Rangers said food would not be a problem as the hikers all stick together like glue, the Ranger seemed more worried about his ankle or that he may have wondered off the trail, hope they find him okBy the way folks Jorma is my older brother, he is supposed to be worrying about me, not me about him.I told Mom I would like to come home for the 4th of July and see my friends and maybe con some of them to come back with me on the trail. I'm really thinking about doing a flip-flop that is going to Mt. Katahdin Maine and coming back south to where I left off at that way I won't have to push so hard and get caught in all the snow and ice in Oct in Maine, all is well as long as I walk every foot of the trail, that is my goal in 2004.
Date: 2004-06-02
From: Atkins VA

To: Pearisburg VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Hit the trail again,made it to Chestnut Knob Shelter, best day yet 23 milesGot out my food bag to hang up, and thought I really have not had any bear problems, while I was thinking I heard a crash in the bushes and looked around and there was a bear running away, he had to have been standing there watching me, UP WENT THE FOOD BAG HIGH IN THE TREE'SMet up with a hiker today, very strange fellow, was talking in bible termsmade me very uncomfortable, don't get me wrong I have no problem with any one's belief, but this guy wouldn't shut up, so I put as many miles as I could between us, guess thats why I had my best day yet in miles.
Date: 2004-06-04
From: Atkins VA

To: Pearisburg VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

Made it to Va 606 Trents Grocery, good Cheese Burgers there, I have a thing about Cheese Burgers I am going to find out who has the best along the trail, and at this point Mountain Mommas in Davenport TN wins .. Best I have ever had, picked up some supplies and hit the trail againCalled home , A Ranger Clayton Brantley called Mom from the Smokies, said he found where Jorma had signed the trail Journal at Davenport Gap TN on June 1st, no one has seen him, he didn't check in at Mountain Momma's, but the fact that he had been there is a big sigh of relief. Mom said she was going to run his butt up the flag pole when he does check in. Poor Jorma, now he has a bad ankle and a mad MOM, I had rather have the ankle problem myself.
Date: 2004-06-07
From: Atkins VA

To: Pearisburg VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Made it into Pearisburg VA, staying at the Holiday House, Dad thought it was the Holiday Inn and tried to give them his Prority Points Nbr, Didn't work.Mom said Jorma called, he is in Hot Springs NC re-suppling, he said the reason he didn't check in was he never got off the trail for 12 days, he had plenty of food, hikers were giving it to him that were quitting, he didn't even stop at Mountain Mommas for a cheese Burger. Jorma said his knee and ankle were ok now, and he is starting to do 21 mile days, sounds to me like he is on a mission to catch me. No way big brother is going to catch little brother, gotta put it in high gear now and pick it up a notch, as the truckers say, put the pedal to the metal.Sure am glad they heard from Jorma I know MOM and Dad were worried , Wonder if Mom ran him up the Flag Pole, I doubt it, she was probably so happy to hear from him she didn't say a wordRe-supply and moving on.
Date: 2004-06-08
From: Pearisburg VA

To: Daleville VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: haze

June 7th is the last we have heard from Adam and Jorma, both should be calling in today or tomorrow, when Adam calls in we will update his Journal to keep you folks informed as to his progress. We Judy and I are keeping his Journal up for him,Kind Regards,Leon and Judy haleAsheboro NClhale@rtmc.netAgain, just some of the people he has met along the trail,Navigator, C-Note Bob,Trail Dog, Wipeout,Nitro,The Pope,Mr. Clean, Pokiemon, Dolphin,Icebreaker,Heinz (Nitro's Dad),, Tarsan,Takenabreak,The Fugitive, Bear Killer Man, Regular Brian, Flying Brian,Neon Leon,Slider,Gaul,Stumpy,FlashHand, DocBy the way Jorma's Trail Name is SLIMER, he has a real bad allergy problem this time of year, we won't go into details but you can guess how he got his trail name.....
Date: 2004-06-08
From: Pearisburg VA

To: Troutville VA
Miles today: 0.0

Left Pearisburg VA, Rain Rain and more Rain when will it stop ? I have resupplied to make it all the way to Troutville VA which is 91 miles of hard humping it. Left around 11am June 8th, called home to let Mom know I left, for some reason she always wants me to call before I leave out. Made it or rather sloshed my way to Rice Field shelter, a woman there by the name of Scout. Tried to dry out my gear again. Made it 8.2 miles, not bad sloshing for half a daystill raining, no end in sight. Mountains seem to be getting smaller 3 to 4 thousand feet now. Cooked my food and turned in.Gosh I love this.. wish my friends were here to enjoy it with me
Date: 2004-06-09
From: Pearisburg VA

To: Troutville VA
Miles today: 0.0

Got up, foggy and still raining, not too cold, wonder how the Navigator is doingup ahead. Cooked, packed up and hit the trail in the rain as alwaysMade it to Pine Swamp Branch Shelter, ate lunch there, and kept moving. Made it to War Spur Shelter 21 mile day.Met up with a group who call's them selves "In Search of Trout" never asked how they came up with that, they were Lumpy, Karma, Mad Dog, Happy Trails,Bees,Deeds and Sundog (not the Sundog in Damascus) I may have left some names out, I'm like that you know. Anyway I hooked up with the group, Lumpy is a former Marine who got injured when a Humvee fell on his knee shattering it, said he still had bone chips in it and was bothering him pretty bad, we made it to Sinking Creek Valley va 42 and met up with a local guy named Gator, well ol Gator invited us all to his house for the night, he had his wife with him and was driving a new Ford SUV. We took him up on the invitation and piled in. Ol Gator was a very interesting fellow, owned a Bar around Cawtaba, named it after his Dog, forgot what his Dog's name was so can't tell you the name of the Bar.Anyway beer somehow showed up and the group started drinking, someone mentioned going to town for dinner, and since I wasn't drinking (don't drink) ol Gator threw me the key's to his $44.000.00 SUV and off we went, Gator did not go with us, he stayed home. We went to the Home Place, family style food, great we all pigged out then drove around awhile and headed back to Gators place, next day we kinda goofed off and talked to ol Gator, he was something else. Anyway I decided to hit the trail, the group decided to stay at Gators and go back to the Home Place that night for some more of that good food. Hit the trailguess what, yeah you guessed it's raining. Made it to Sarver Hollow Shelter, Cat here by the name of Tigger, hikers had left notes to feed the Cat, I did feed the Cat Tigger, very friendly little fellow ( No Mice In This Shelter) It's good to be back on the trail and away from the wild bunch, ate and went to bed
Date: 2004-06-10
From: Pearisburg VA

To: Troutville VA
Miles today: 0.0

Walked all day, no rain, cloudy but no rain, we know the rain is coming and we will greet it with a wicked grin, you should know by now we are supposed to love this. Met up with a local called the Witch Doctor who was talking to a hiker with a sore and blisters on his foot, the Witch doctor went and got his sister the Witch, she rubbed some kind of salve on his foot, said she made it out of herbs she had gathered. we moved on and that evening the hiker BillyBoysaid his blister and sore had healed. I didn't look at it and didn't believe itstrange things happen in these hills. Then a dog came out of nowhere on the trail and tried to attack BillyBoy, he beat it off with his hiking stick, that was scary. not sure if it was rabid.Made it to Niday Shelter, what a day, I can deal with the rain better than with Witch Doctors and mad dogsI love this
Date: 2004-06-11
From: Pearisburg VA

To: Troutville VA
Miles today: 0.0

Hit the trail went by the Audie Murphy monument, didn't get off to see it.Went down by the Dragons tooth, Cove Mountain, now that was scary, small rocky path with narrow ledge and what looked like a thousand foot drop off, I tool my pack off and inched down it wondering how many people have been killed here.This is the meanest part of the trail so far. Made it to VA hwy 624 and pitched tent, guess what the Trout group is back with me, but they are getting off at Va 311 and going back to Cawtaba to eat at the Home Place and maybe see Gator again. Life is so good.
Date: 2004-06-12
From: Pearisburg VA

To: Troutville VA
Miles today: 0.0

Got up, raining again, sloshed along, pretty good day, no witches, no mad dogs, no Gators. I would like to take a minute to thank Mr. Gator and his wifefor all the fine hospitality they extended me and the group. But I did run into a chruch group at the Boy Scout Shelter, thay had pretty much taken over the Shelter, pitched tent in the rain, ate and turned inWish my friends were here to enjoy this with me, Mr. Clean would love this
Date: 2004-06-13
From: Pearisburg VA

To: Troutville VA
Miles today: 0.0

Sloshed along all day, good day very wet and dull, made it to Tinker Creek Shelter, tired and worn out seems when your wet you weigh 50 lbs more, out here you will notice things like that. Cooked ate and turned in, Navigator is three days in front of me, Tarzan, Nitro, Doc and Dolphin are on the trail ahead of meaccording to the journals, hope they are having as much fun as I am
Date: 2004-06-15
From: Pearisburg VA

To: Troutville VA
Miles today: 0.0

Got up, no rain sky looks like its trying to clear, goofed off tried to dry my gear out, hit the trail taking my time goofing off, nice and warm today.Made it into Troutville VA around 11 am, got a room at the Econo Lodge, called HomeMom said Jorma had made Damascus VA, he has avg 17 miles a day from Erwin Tn.Said he had some stories to tell for sure, I'll catch up on the next journal entry while here in Troutville Good 91 mile hikeLife is so good, I'm surely blessed.Mom said brother Jorma called from Damascus VA around 4 pm yesterday, called from a pay phone near the old train, said the trip had been hell from Erwin to Damascus with all the storms and flooding, he stayed at the Kincora Hostel said it was really nice and the people were great. His ankle and knee is ok now, his ankle had swelled so bad in the smokies he could hardly get his boot on, one day he wrapped his foot in duct tape and tried to walk, that didn't work at allSaid he was going to shed more weight from his pack and buy a light weight low top hiking shoes and try to pick up the pace to catch little brother (me) said he was thinking about getting rid of his sleeping bag and tent ? Boy he is serious about weight.Jorma said on the 13th of June he bounced around a corner and 20 feet in front of him sat a huge black bear on the trail sniffing something, he stopped dead and started backing up slowly, at the same time trying to get his pack off in case he had to run for it, the bear saw him and took off. After see'ing the bear run through the bushes Jorma said forget about ever trying to outrun a bearhe said it sounds like a Mack truck crashing through the bushes, Jorma said he does not ever want to be in that position ever again, never..Jorma said the Kincors Hostel was great, they took the hikers into town to shop and eat. Also mentioned he had shared some of his food with a young couple whom he overheard them talking that they were running low on food. Told him to be on the look-out for his Uncle Johnny Strouth's big Maroon PeterBilt as he runs through Damascus, Johnny lives about 30 miles away in Saint Paul Va.Informed Jorma that we had to have little Robbie (dog)put to sleep she was old and her kidney's shut down, we buried her beside Daisy Jorma's Dalmation whom he loved very dearly.Some of the people Jorma met on the trail,"Squatter" "Barking Spider" "Ho Bo Joe" "Ramblin Man" "Doodle Bug" "Ted from Greensboro" "No Pain" "Skittles from Alaska" "G-Man" "Mountain Goat" "Goat Chafe " "Row Boat (Andy Brown)" "Mutt" "Butter Finger" "Dead Man Walking" "Killer, who was wearing a Kilt", "Tex a former news paper reporter from Texas", Jorma said he met "Lone Wolf" in Damascus, he mentioned "No Pain" had hiked the trail 4 times, Jorma is staying at the Place in Damascus
Date: 2004-06-16
From: Troutville VA

To: Montebello VA
Miles today: 0.0

Adam left Troutville Va this morning around 11am, said he couldn't find any coleman fuel, Adam is headed to Montebello VA 93 miles ?? Jorma Left Damascus this morning and is headed to Atkins VA 75 miles.Good Luck and God speed to you both, when they call in again in about a week I will update you folks on their progress, they are sending in pictures I will post them soon.Oh, Mr Clean, Adam said hello and that he missed you on the trail,Gotta Love it,Adam 708 milesJorma 457 miles
Date: 2004-06-18
From: Troutville VA

To: Montebello VA
Miles today: 0.0

Jorma (Slimer) called in this evening at 6:44 pm, he left Damascus on June 16tharound 1 pm made it to Lost mountain Shelter.He left Lost Mountain Shelter morning of June 17th and made it to Old Orchard Shelter, He left old Orchard Shelter on the morning of June 18th and made it toPartnership Shelter where he called from.First thing he asked was how was Freckles ( our dog) ? Informed him we had taken Freckles to the Vet, they kept her overnight to check out a lump we had discovered on the side of her throat, the Vet said it didn't look good, they took a tissue sample and sent it off to the Lab for testing. The Vet thinks it's cancer, but we won't know until the tests come back, maybe Monday. Now Jorma is down and worried about Freckles. I dread telling Adam (Gather) about his Dog, of course we all love her. Freckles is 14 years old and has had a wonderful life with us, but still we hate the thought of losing her.Jorma couldn't tell me much about the past few days, said he couldn't think right now, his mind is on FrecklesAdam Gather is still out on the trail heading north, when we hear from him we will update this Journal for him.
Date: 2004-06-19
From: Troutville VA

To: Montebello VA
Miles today: 0.0

Adam (Gather) called today at 12:30 pm, he is at the Wildwood Campground Va 501 and 130, Gather asked if I could come pick him up, he wants to be home for a few day's with his Dog Freckles and see his friends also.Gather said he has not quit, will get back on the trail soon. I am starting to upload pictures. forgive me if I get names and places wrong, doing the best I can.Jorma (Slimer) has sent his TENT and SLEEPING BAG home along with more gear he doesn't need,, I told him I think sending the Tent back is a big mistake, he has no tarp or nothing to cover up with. Gonna be mighty cold lying under the stars, wet and cold at night, Said he was trying to shed weight.Gather said he was a light weight junkie ? Jorma (Slimer) is also worried about Freckles
Date: 2004-06-20
From: Troutville VA

To: Montebello VA
Miles today: 0.0

Jorma (Slimer) called in from Atkins VA, all is well he stayed at the relax Inn last night and is heading back on the trail today. Said he met Ranger Jan and keeps bumping into Skittles. Jorma also said he might get off the trail to come home and spend some time with Freckles, told him we would keep him updated aboutFreckles condition.Jorma left Atkins today heading north.Gather and I have been working on his Jeep Wrangler all day installing a new windshield frame and all new wiper parts, he is off visiting his friends now
Date: 2004-06-21
From: Troutville VA

To: Montebello VA
Miles today: 0.0

I am home now catching up, see'ing my friends. Will Ward my best friend just got back from China, he was over there with his dad.Dad and I put a windshield frame on my Jeep Wrangler, my Dog Freckles does have cancer in her throat don't know how long she has to live. She seems ok, but glad I got to see her. Freckles is 14 years old and my buddy and friend.I'm planning to get back on the trail this Saturday the 26th of June, maybe Jorma (Slimer) will catch up.Can't talk anyone to go with me on the trail, I tried to tell them how much fun it was but it didn't work, guess I'll have to suffer by myself.Until next time,
Date: 2004-06-24
From: Troutville VA

To: Montebello VA
Miles today: 0.0

Jorma (Slimer) called in today at 4pm from Pearisburg, sounded kinda down, he is also worried about Freckles our Dog. He has been making about 20 miles per day. He sent his tent and sleeping bag home from Damascus but we haven't got it yet. he wants the sleeping bag back and the rain fly from his tent. seems he got caught between shelters and had to curl up on the ground in the rain all night in the middle of nowhere, wet and cold. He is staying at the Plaza Hotel in Pearisburg. I asked him what happened to Skittles ? He said Skittles was two days behind him, about that time someone knocked on his door and it was Skittles.Slimer accused him of catching the bus (kidding). Jorma said yesterday he was lying in some bushes beside the trail thinking he was alone and let out a big loud yawn, he heard a yell and a section hiker was running down the trail, the section hiker thought Jorma was a bear in the bushes, they both got a good laugh out of it. It seems the hiker sat down beside the bushes Jorma was lying in thinking he was also by himself.Jorma (Slimer) will resupply tonight and hit the trail in the morning, next stop Daleville VA 92 miles away .Jorma said his shorts were stinking so bad while on the trail he rubbed shampoointo them while it was raining, he was one great bug ball of suds all the way down to his shoes, met some people and got some strange stares, he just kept walking, anyway said his shorts smelled much better.
Date: 2004-06-25
From: Glasgow VA

To: Montebello
Miles today: 0.0

Friday night, June 25, getting my gear together, gonna hit the trail again tomorrow. Dad will drop me off near Glsagow VA at 501 and 130 at the James River foot bridge. I will continue my journey north. First time in my life I've paid attention to weather reports, flood watch up that way, raining two inches an hour, maybe it will be gone by the time I get there.Brother Jorma (Slimer) is right in the middle of it, spoke to him this morning before he checked out of the Hotel in Pearisburg, he said it was coming down in sheets. Nothing to do but meet it head on.Fixing a lighter pack to take with me this time, Mom is sewing a pack for my Camel Back to go in, we'll see how it does.Happy I got to spend some time with my Dog Freckles, my guess is this will be the last time I see her.Maybe this rain will let up in Virginia, it has set a record 38 days in a row raining off and on. No wonder so many people are getting off the trail. I heard three people have already made it to Maine WOW they started back in Jan and Feb. Don't you know that was rough going through the Smokey Mountains. Gotta be tough to do that.Ok folks, I'll try to keep you updated as I move north, a great big thanks to all those who have signed my guest book and gave me support, I need all the support I can get,I have made it 766 miles from springer Mountain GA, only 1,394 more miles to goone pair of new hiking boots worn out, two more pair to go. One day I will figure out how many foot steps are in 2,160 miles ?Adam Hale (Gather)