morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-04-20
From: Nolichucky River

To: Stealth Camp above Indian Grave Gap
Miles today: 8.1
Weather: light rain

Full of energy this morning and did an amazingly fast 4 miles mostly uphill out of town. Stopped for lunch at the shelter but kept on going.Ran into Perfect Storm who had carried a lot of fresh food out of town, had a small fire going and was making fresh quesadillas with mushrooms, onions, green peppers and cheese and offered to make one for me. Sat with him for awhile and enjoyed the snack.Finally got moving again. A couple hours later it started to cloud over and threaten rain so stopped to camp with Clarity, Power Nap and Cappy. Had a nice little fire (even though it was drizzling) and a good night¢s sleep although packing and carrying a wet tent tomorrow isn¢t my favorite thing to do.
Date: 2010-04-21
From: Stealth Camp above Indian Grave Gap

To: Cherry Gap Shelter
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: light rain

Rained all night so was very slow getting out of my sleeping bag. Finally did about 8:30 am, packed up quickly (wet tent and all) and got on the trail. I was out of water so hiked 3 miles to a water source and had breakfast there about 10:30 am. Climbed to another bald called Beauty Spot but didn¢t have any views as I was walking in the clouds and everything was shrouded with fog.Climbed Unaka Mountain, which had a dense spruce forest on top. The pine needles on the forest floor were a welcome cushion for the feet. There¢s something about a conifer forest¢s atmosphere with the dark shadows and soft silence that embraces me like a lover¢s arms. Add the whisper of a cool breeze and ghostly tendrils of fog and you have the thrill of a dangerous lover.Stayed in the shelter at Cherry Gap. I was too cold and too wet to go any further.
Date: 2010-04-22
From: Cherry Gap Shelter

To: Clyde Smith Shelter
Miles today: 9.1
Weather: scattered clouds

Talk on the trail is all about the stomach/intestinal bug that¢s indiscriminately hitting hikers.   Four people (thankfully tenting) were getting over it and one got sick during the night. Can¢t seem to find a common denominator but we¢ve named the 24-hour bug the ¢Nolichuckies¢.Roan Mountain is the last really big, hard mountain we need to climb until we get to New Hampshire. I can see it in the distance and it is a bit intimidating at over 6,200 feet.Again did a fast three miles first thing in the morning. Had a pleasant lunch spot in the sunshine in a meadow.Slept soundly in the shelter with a 2 am wake-up as a few night hikers with headlamps ablaze came through, but went right back to sleep.
Date: 2010-04-23
From: Clyde Smith Shelter

To: Overmountain Shelter
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: scattered clouds

Rained overnight but stopped by morning so decided to do the big miles (for me). Climb Roan Mountain and go all the way to the famous Overmountain Shelter, which is an old barn. So climbed the almost impossibly steep 2,200 feet up Roan Mountain. Encountered snow, but not until the upper elevations. The trail up the mountain reminded me of the ¢trench¢ in the Smokies, only more rock strewn. Hiked into the shelter on top, which is the highest shelter on the AT, and had a big hot lunch, which gave me the energy to make it to the next shelter.The Overmountain Trail intersects the AT near the shelter. This trail was used during the Revolutionary War when men from over the mountain came 170 miles to fight the British using their own horses, guns, and supplies ¢ and won the battle.Crossed two magnificent balds with wonderful visits and crossed the oldest rocks to be seen on the entire trail, estimated to be 2.5 billion years old.At the shelter, I chose to sleep on the lower level rather than with so many people in the loft. The view was amazing, a perfect prospect of a long, lush valley which I couldn¢t help but think would make a perfect golf course where only hikers would be allowed to use golf carts. In the middle of the night, though the wind kicked up and blew all night right into our lower level, I just rolled over, turned my back to the wind and went back to sleep.
Date: 2010-04-24
From: Overmountain Shelter

To: US19E
Miles today: 9.2

Chilly morning but quickly warmed up when the sun rose. Everyone was up and out early which is normal when we¢re approaching a hostel or town.Crossed two high balds, one after another and watched Roan Mountain recede into the distance. This whole area is called the Roan Highlands and is considered a rare ecosystem. During the summer goats graze one of the balds. The other one is grazed by long horned cattle from Africa. The trail went right through their pasture. If they had been curious and come close, it would have been a bit nervous, but they were down on the lee side of the bald as it was quite windy. My backpack acted like a sail and when the gusts came, it actually would blow me a few feet off the trail.Coming off the balds, it was an easy long downhill and a short 12 mile road walk to the Mountain Harbour Hostel. Unfortunately, all their rooms and bunks were taken. They rented out their RV to six hikers and even their horse trailer was full. So I tented.That night my tent¢s ability to handle high winds and rainstorms was surely tested. Had 60 mph wind gusts and torrential rain. My tent held steady and stayed dry as a bone so I slept long and well.
Date: 2010-04-25
From: US19E

To: Stealth Campsite by Laurel Fork
Miles today: 12.6

Breakfast at the Mountain Harbour Hostel was over-the-top. Spiral cut ham, hash browns and cheese, chocolate cake, cinnamon buns, eggs, sausage, fresh fruit, etc... Best breakfast so far on the trail!Cannot believe I've hiked over 400 miles. The terrain today was kinder than it has been for awhile with nice long ridge walks and rolling hills. No mountains today, a welcome change.Found out two of the guests at the hostel yesterday had the Nolichucky flu or whatever the bug is that has been hitting hikers left and right. Glad I tented last night and glad I'm tenting again tonight. Was on the trail hiking at 10:00 am. Took a 0.1 mile blue blaze to see Jones Falls. It was so worth the extra couple of tenths of miles. Crystal clear, long cascade down slabs of slick rock. Beautiful place for lunch. Stopped at the Mountaineer Shelter which was beautiful 3-level structure above Mountaineer Falls where I gave myself a quick splash clean-up. Very refreshing.It was a gorgeous da and the hike was a pleasure. After an initial climb, we crossed meadows and walked along the Elk River for awhile. Hiked until about 6:15 pm and decided to tent in the woods along with Pete, Hoofin' It, Squash and Swift next to a beautiful stream. The sound of the water was very relaxing and I fell asleep quickly.Woke up around midnight to the sound of rain. I was dry and warm but I knew it meant a heavy backpack tomorrow with a wet tent.
Date: 2010-04-26
From: Stealth Campsite by Laurel Fork

To: Dennis Cove, USFS Rd 50
Miles today: 11.8

Today was a two-scream day. The first was when a hiker came up behind me and said hi. The problem is that I'm really in the zone when I'm hiking and I didn't hear him coming up. The scream was because he was only about 8 feet behind me, which is way inside my personal zone. Out here personal zones are strangely skewed. My personal zone while hiking is about 25 feet yet when sleeping in a shelter, I'm shoulder-to-shoulder with people I may have only met an hour before.The second scream was when I almost stepped on a snake. It was just a little one but totally startled me.So after those two scares, I came upon a portion of forest that was very dark with big old trees and lots of underbrush. It was like I was walking into the dark maw of the forest, but then I realized this is MY forest and the nervous fear went away.Last half of the day was hiking in the rain down to the Kincora Hostel. Managed to get the last bunk and good thing too, because it rained hard all night.
Date: 2010-04-27
From: Dennis Cove, USFS Rd 50

To: Dennis Cove, USFS Rd 50
Miles today: 0.0

Needed to make numerous phone calls to handle details of my "real life" and heard it's supposed to get down to freezing tonight and rain all day, so easy decision to take a zero here. Also needed a little time to plan out my next few mail drops. Definitely hiking tomorrow even though that means I'll get "stuck" in Damascas over the weekend waiting for the post office to open Monday morning to pick up my mail drop.
Date: 2010-04-28
From: Dennis Cove, USFS Rd 50

To: Watauga Lake Shelter
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: few clouds

Started hiking at 9:30 am after a pizza breakfast. Beautiful sunny day. Started through the Laurel Fork Gorge which is a deep gap with a small river, mostly whitewater, running through it. The trail maintenance and engineering with rock stairs, wooden bridges and routing was top notch.Slowly gained elevation as I started climbing Pond Flats Mountain (3700') from 1,900'. The higher I went, the steeper the trail. Finally gained what I thought was the summit only to find I had another 400' of elevation that was even steeper than before.Saw the first Azaleas in bloom, such as a visual treat.Today's hike then took me down to Watauga Lake which is a man-made lake with the largest earth-filled dam in the country. It was built in the 1940's.Stayed at the Watauga Lake Shelter with Hightower (he's back on the trail again), Graye, Silverback, Tequila John and Gear Bomb.
Date: 2010-04-29
From: Watauga Lake Shelter

To: Stealth Camp just S. of Iron Mountain
Miles today: 13.7
Weather: clear sky

Must have still had some quicksand in my shoes from my hostel stay. It was hard for me to get up and get going. Didn't leave the shelter until about 10:30 am.Followed the lake's shoreline for a few miles before walking across the dam and doing about another mile road walk before going back into the woods. Steadily gained elevation while still following the shoreline of the lake. This is a very large lake. I didn't lose sight of it until late in the afternoon.Stopped at the next shelter (Vandeventer) for lunch but refused to walk another half mile one way off the trail to get water. Have enough to get me to the next water source. Hightower ambled in while I was there and he decided to call it a day.Before leaving however, I laughed at the graffiti. My favorite was about Bob Peoples, the owner of the Kincora Hostel and legendary supporter and maintainer of the AT. "When Bob Peoples comes to this shelter, the mice bring food to him."The next water source that I was relying on turned out to be pretty bad. I was tired and wanted to camp but pushed another 2.5 miles and camped alone about a quarter mile from the Iron Mountain Shelter just above a great spring.
Date: 2010-04-30
From: Stealth Camp just S. of Iron Mountain

To: Abingdon Gap Shelter
Miles today: 16.1
Weather: clear sky

Up, packed, and out early. Since one's hike is ruled by water sources, I grabbed 2 liters at the spring, hiked the quarter mile to the shelter and had breakfast.The day had all the earmarks of becoming very hot and humid. If I have any chance of making it into the post office in Damascas before 11:00 on Saturday morning, I have to do big miles today - 16 or better.So wrapped up breakfast quickly and started out. To my delight, I had a nice long ridge walk and the miles flew by. Did 8 miles in about 4 hours and stopped at the Double Springs Shelter for lunch.Continued on but the heat was really taking a toll and I was running out of energy and water - again! Found a campsite about 2.5 miles after the shelter which my body really wanted to stop at for the night but if I want to make Damuscas, I have to go another 6 miles today.I slogged on, sweaty, tired and a bit discouraged. It takes a whole hour to go 2 miles! I can hear my mother say "Now don't overdo it?" So I had my first trail argument with mom. "Why not overdo it? Why not push my limits?" The scary thing about how your head messes with you is that I'm 61 and mom died 18 months ago. There she goes again, just laughing.So I did 16+ miles, made it to the next shelter and set up my tent. Tonight is my last night in Tennessee. Tomorrow morning I cross over into Virginia. All I have to do tomorrow is hike 10 miles before 11:00 am. (Mom's still laughing....)
Date: 2010-05-01
From: Abingdon Gap Shelter

To: Damascas, VA
Miles today: 10.2

I've pretty much figured out that I'm a 2 mph hiker, slower if the ups or downs are steep. So knew I had to be on the trail early to get to the post office before 11:00 am. The internal alarm clock worked really well. I woke up at 4:15 am, broke camp and was on the trail by 5:00 am. in the dark with my headlamp. At one point I heard something crashing through the woods a little downhill from me. I didn't want to know what it was so I clacked my hiking poles together and yelled "Go away - go away." I love when I'm listened to - the critter went away.Made it into Damascas at 9:45 am and the post office by 10:00 am, as planned, and picked up my mail drop.Got a private room very reasonable at Dave's Place the hostel run by Mt. Rogers Outfitters. While walking around town later after I had showered. I saw Q-Tip, Trinket, Cotton, Pacer and Hoofin' It.First town food was a huge hamburger with portabella mushrooms and blue cheese at Quincy's. Stopped at Dollar General and bought Cokes and snacks for the afternoon, then went back to Quincy's for a huge calzone. Couldn't stop eating all day.Trail Telegraph let me know that several hikers had their food bags stolen by a bear at Watauga Lake Shelter a day or two after I stayed there. So long as the bears keep showing up after I'm gone, I'll be happy.
Date: 2010-05-02
From: Damascas, VA

To: Damascas, VA
Miles today: 0.0

Felt justified in taking a zero day after 3 days of higher than normal (for me) mileage. Spent an hour or so in the shade of the hostel porch figuring out what kind of mileage I need to be doing in order to finish on Katahdin in Maine on September 15, 2010. It was a very sobering exercise. I have roughly 1700 miles to go. Estimating that 400 of those miles will be 8 mile days due to tough terrain further north, the remaining 1300 miles need to be 15 mile days. And that's with no zero days. The upside is that I've done a few 15+ mile days so I know I can do that distance. The downside is I'm not sure I can do it day after day. Even though this hike should be one of enjoyment and discovery, I'm going to have to deal with this self-imposed pressure to do the miles. So I'll have to maintain a healthy balance between hiking the miles and yet taking the time to enjoy all the nuances of the trail.
Date: 2010-05-03
From: Damascas, VA

To: Lost Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: light rain

So with new resolve, I checked out of the hostel and headed out. The quicksand of town held firmly to my feet, however, as Jeff, owner of Mt. Rogers Outfitters insisted on readjusting my pack which I actually really appreciated because it never fit quite right. He spent 20 minutes right there on the sidewalk in front of the store loosening, tightening, and working his magic so my pack hugs me properly now. Thank you Jeff. However, then the vortex of town managed to pull me into Dairy King for breakfast, but for sure then, I was on my way even though it was almost noon.Along with the huge hiker population that goes through Damascas, there's also a big biker crowd because of the rails to trails bike path called the Virginia Creeper Trail. As a hiker (and non-purist), one can choose to follow the Creeper Trail for about 12 miles rather than stay on the AT. With a heavy pack and still sore knees and feet, I chose to do the Creeper and save myself a couple steep climbs. The Creeper follows the Whitetop Laurel Creek which is mostly a gentle whitewater trout stream. The entire 12 miles of the Creeper was fairly level with a slight 2-3% uphill grade that was hardly noticeable. The views of the rapids and waterfalls and sound of the rushing water was a delight all day long. I stopped in at the "party" campsite about 4 miles out of town. About 14 young people there, most of whom I had previously met. They tossed a Yuengling to me which is one of the nicer ways to take a 15-minute break. As the recreational smoke was being passed around, I declined or I'd never get any hiking done today. When the conversation came around to what everyone did in their real lives, I couldn't help but mess with their heads a little bit. So with a straight face, I told them that I had worked for the DEA when I lived in Miami. It got real quiet real quick, and I couldn't help but laugh. I told them I had only been a contractor and didn't work in the field, and besides the DEA was a lot more interested in white powder than a little weed. Everyone relaxed. Two more hikers came in, each carrying a case of beer. I think they are all planning on partying there through trail days, an annual 5 day event mid May in Damascas. I said my farewells and continued on.A few miles further, I was at Pete and Scout's camp. We've been yo-yoing for awhile but he thinks he'll be getting off the trail soon as he's running out of money. I wished him well - very nice guy.The Creeper Trail finally met up with the AT again, so it was back to the forest trail with its rocks and roots.Made it to the full shelter about 7:15 pm and set up my tent. Gear Bomb, Hoofit, Crazy Karl, Sweet Cheeks, Stray Mom, Tequila John, Silverback, Graye and a few others were there. Ate dinner and went right to bed.
Date: 2010-05-04
From: Lost Mountain Shelter

To: Thomas Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: clear sky

My first thought this morning was that I was heading into the Grayson Highlands today. This is another of the very rare Appalachian Highlands areas with bald mountaintops in the 4,000-6,000 foot elevations. Grayson is known for its spectacular views, wild ponies and dramatic rock formations which of course the AT trail designers have us scramble over, around and sometimes under. So, do I hike an "easy" 12 and enjoy the Graysons, or do I push it and hike 17 to keep my daily mileage up?I was a very bad girl when I was in town yesterday and bought a pack of cigarettes. I smoked about half of them and they made the decision for me. I hiked 12 of the slowest, most out of breath miles since the beginning of this hike, and burned the rest of the pack of cigarettes in the campfire.The Forest Service was improving one of the horse trails in Grayson and had to clear some big rocks. They would set off explosive charges a few times a day. They were done blowing things up for the day by the time I hiked by, although I clearly heard each blast they detonated through the day.After climbing a tall bald, I found a spring that was literally gushing out of a mountainside. I didn't filter or treat, just drank long and deep. Very refreshing and icy cold.These high mountains are extremely rocky so did a lot of scrambling over and around stones and boulders. The trail was rock-filled also and the going was slow.Five of us slept in the 16-man, 2-story shelter. The water source was about a quarter mile away and was surrounded by a fence as there are wild ponies in these Highlands and the fence prevents them from contaminating the water source.
Date: 2010-05-05
From: Thomas Knob Shelter

To: Hurricane Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 16.2
Weather: clear sky

Woke up at 7, had breakfast, and was on the trail at 8. Saw about a dozen ponies in the open area near the water supply. As I was looking at them, I didn't even see the deer about 20 feet in front of me until she moved a few feet, stopped, and stared back at me. Beautiful, fat doe that didn't appear frightened by my presence at all, probably because they're not hunted up here. Also saw a rabbit and a groundhog.The trail was mostly in open meadows with occasional rock climbs, all with spectacular views. Didn't expect so much hiking in the open as I didn't put on my sunscreen. Should have because I got burned a bit today.I came to what must have been the "maternity meadow" because a pony stallion was standing guard over a few mares with babies and a few more that looked as if they would foal any minute. They let me get quite close but I made sure I didn't get too near their business end. Don't need a broken leg from a wild pony kicking me. (See photos for this date.) Now that my mileage is increasing, I'm starting to flip the hundred mile markers quickly. I passed the 500 mile mark today. Even this sounds like a mind-boggling number but it boils down to one foot in front of the other, and repeat.Now a few words about Virginia privies. After experiencing the priviless State of Tennessee, Virginia's privies are downright Hiltons. Don't tell Georgia, Tennessee or North Carolina, but Virginia's my favorite state so far.So I had breakfast at one shelter, lunch at another and dinner at a third. The shelter I stopped at for the night was almost new and very well laid out.It was a long day, I was very tired and not the happiest of hikers at the end of the day. When I feel this tired and dragged out and know I'll be doing the same thing tomorrow, the next day and the next, it's hard to stay focused on the goal of Katahdin in Maine. When I get to feeling like this, which is more often than I would like, I tell myself that my goal is just to hike one more day. And I then keep hiking one more day.
Date: 2010-05-06
From: Hurricane Mountain Shelter

To: Stealth Camp North of VA 670
Miles today: 13.0

I was enjoying my morning cup of coffee at the picnic table which was under roof at the shelter watching the sunrise, listening to the symphony of bird song starting the day. The sun's rays filtered through the green canopy making the dew drops glisten like diamonds when I heard the throbbing whine of jet engines coming 0in my direction very fast. Seconds later, a military fighter plane went between "my" mountain and the one on the other side of the gap below me AT EYE LEVEL! And then it was gone. Not exactly the kind of thing I'm used to out here in the woods. A few moments later, it made another pass at low level and high speed. Later found out the military uses these mountains for low level target practice - with lasers - not real bombs. Sounds like the kind of "practice" they'd do for Afghanistan. And so the real world intrudes, but it was exciting to see.Hiked about 3 miles and saw a handwritten sign that there was trail magic at the Hurricane Campground about 1/2 mile off the AT in the form of breakfast. Thru-hikers really don't like to do miles off trail, but food is an overriding factor and I took the 1/2 mile (1 mile round trip) detour. A fellow hiker and his dad were doing the trail magic so I had a second breakfast of eggs, sausage and blueberry pancakes.Continued on as the day got hotter and hotter. Stopped at the Trimpi Shelter for lunch and took a one hour nap. Finally got moving again but was running out of daylight in a couple hours, so I was quite glad to see two tents set up at a stealth site. Silverback and Graye were there and had left enough room for my tent so that's where I stayed for the night.
Date: 2010-05-07
From: Stealth Camp North of VA 670

To: Chatfield Memorial Shelter
Miles today: 13.8

Up, packed and out by 7:15 and did a blistering 7 miles by 10:15 to the Partnership Shelter, a new 2-story shelter with a shower and running water. You can also get pizza delivery right to the shelter which I immediately ordered for lunch. A section hiker, Chuckachino, came in and prepared espresso coffee using some really good Brazilian beans for everyone. He was just ending his section hike and when he heard I was hiking to get into Adkins to pick up a mail drop, he offered to drive me from here. So off we went only to find my mail drop didn't come in. However, I did get a package from my daughter which was a delightful surprise and well worth the trip. I left a forwarding order with the post office for my mail drop box to be sent to me 90 miles up the trail.Chuckachino dropped me off back at Partnership and I hiked another 7 miles from 4:15 - 7:30 pm which was a lot more effort late in the day than it had been this morning. Stayed at the Chatfield Shelter for the night.