morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-05-13
From: Lost Mountain Shelter, VA

To: Thomas Knob Shelter (5400'), VA
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: broken clouds

Day: 57Date: 5/13/06Start: Lost Mountain Shelter, VAWeather: Blue skies with high, puffy white clouds. Cool and breezy.Finish: Dennis Knob Shelter (5400')Miles: 12.2Cumulative A.T. Miles: 487.5Clay: In a previous post, I said that I felt like climbing Roan Mountain, TN was our "final exam" for the southern A.T. If Roan was our final exam, then climbing Mount Rogers (5490') was our extra credit. Knowing that we were hiking short but tough miles today, we chose to sleep in to gain the extra rest. We knew we would need it for the climbs today. All-in-all, we gained over 2,000 feet today. Tonight we are with Shrek, Soulive, Big Foot, Gray Goose, Willow, and a SOBO big-section hiker.Branch: Knowing that we only had 12 miles to do today, we had a lot of fun taking our time while we hiked. Today was the first time on this trip that we've seen our favorite flower--the red columbine.Today has been a great day for trail magic. Just after having come down off of Whitetop Mountain and just before our final climb for today, Tinkerbell, a thru-hiker from last year, was set up at a parking lot with cokes and fruit and he took our trash for us. We had a nice time chilling out with him and utilizing his chairs. He even let us take an apple to feed the horses in the Grayson Highlands tomorrow. After hanging out with him for a while, we hiked the fairly easy 4.5 uphill miles to the shelter. When we got there, we were ready to cook our dinner and do the evening chores. Upon arrival, I noticed that everyone was happy and had cokes in one hand and hotdogs in the other. Some super incredible men had packed in a charcoal stove, hotdogs, a cooler of drinks, cookies, and even ICE CREAM! Clay and I both devoured several hotdogs and we happily shared a cooking pot full of ice cream. What a wonderful way to do trail magic.We are nestled here in the shelter and everyone is full and happy and falling asleep even before the sun goes down. I think that I will join them in their happy slumber. Goodnight and God bless you tonight.
Date: 2006-05-13
From: Maupin Field Shelter, VA

To: Rockfish Gap, VA/ Waynesboro, VA 
Miles today: 21.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Day: 88 Date: 6/13/06 Start: Maupin Field Shelter, VA Weather: sunny Finish: Rockfish Gap, VA/ Waynesboro, VA Miles: 21.1 Cumulative A.T. Miles: 848.4 Branch: Today we woke up super early and were out of the shelter by 6:30. It seems that everyone is anxious to get their miles done and get into town today. Today's hiking ranged from the very difficult (scrambling up and down very sharp rocks). We had lunch on a rock outcropping about 10 miles into the day. As we munched on our PB&J, we watched as a huge bird glided on air currents in the valley below us. Even though I was exhausted from the last several days of hiking, I felt at home in the outdoors and happy that God would give us the opportunity to experience His Creation. After lunch, we saw the neatest animal sighting thus far. We were hiking along in our usual chattery and noisy fashion (which by the way is probably why we don't see too many animals), when we heard a crashing in the brush about 10 feet away from us. We watched in awe as a super tiny fawn, spots and all, awkwardly lept to his unsteady feet and attempted to flee from us as we hiked by. Since he was such a newborn, he stumbled numerous times as he dashed into the higher brush further away. It was breathtaking. Once again, I felt honored to view God's creation. (Clay said that from a naturalist's point of view it was nice seeing the bag of chemicals demonstrate a conditioned response--ha ha) By 5:30, we emerged from the woods and we greeted by the most wonderful sight of the day--Clay's parents--were there waiting for us. It was so good to see them! Kentucky and Giggles had gotten there before us and Clay's parents had treated them to a cold drink and some snacks and had even offered them a ride. So we all piled into the Suburban and overwhelmed Clay's parents with our stench. Its so nice to see loved ones. Clay's parents always make us feel loved and secure. We are going to sleep tonight exhausted from our longest day yet, but a smile is ever present on our faces because we know the next few days hold rest and good times with loving people. Clay & Branch
Date: 2006-05-15
From: Old Orchard Shelter, VA

To: Troutdale, VA; Troutdale Baptst Church Hostel
Miles today: 10.2

Day: 59Date:5/15/06Start: Old Orchard Shelter, VAWeather: Chilly, threat of rain, periods of promising sunshineFinish: Troutdale, VA; Troutdale Baptst Church HostelMiles: 10.2Cumulative A.T. Miles: 508.7Branch: Last night everyone got in their sleeping bags fairly early because it was remarkably chilly out. I ended up next to Bluebird, a wonderfully creative Christian lady, and had the best time talking with her. We talked for at least and hour and a half about topics all over the spectrum of life and spirituality. I truly hope run into her again during Trail Days.This morning, knowing that we did not have that terribly far to go today, we avoided the cold in our sleeping bags until well after 7:30. It was so nice to sleep in! The hiking was super easy and the terrain was rather unremarkable today. We were in Troutdale by 1:30 PM.Clay: Their was a person on the trail that was quite remarkable today. Soon after Grey Goose and Bigfoot left the shelter a person came from behind the shelter. It was freezing this morning (high 30s or low 40s), he had no tent, he had no backpack, he had no food or water. He was wearing a camouflaged jacket, a short sleeved t-shirt, jeans, a camo hat, a big buck knife on his belt, and mechanics gloves. The most odd thing was that he had put black dirt all over his face, and all over his hands and arms. His face and hands were very dark because of the dirt. My first thought was that he was a hunter but he had no weapon other than the knife on his belt. Blue bird, Chuck Norris, Branch, and I had no idea what he was doing out here as he made his way down the trail. He passed within a few feet of us, we greeted him, without making eye contact, he mumbled something back to us.As we hiked down the hill we saw that his mechanics glove was in the middle of the trail. The glove was next to the crossing of the A.T. and a horse trail. So, since we were not sure about the direction he went, we left the glove at the crossroads. As we climbed the next mountain, we found the fellow sleeping in the middle of the trail. I wanted to ask if he needed help but I figured that he just crossed a road and could have gotten off the trail. I asked myself, "Does he want to die? Is he running from someone or, maybe, running from himself?"Later that day accounts and speculations started surfacing about the person. Some people said that he in fact slept under shelters. Others said that they saw him hiking out of the woods a day or so ago and then he found the trail. Still others believed he was schizophrenic. Who knows?As we hitched a ride from Skyline (Thanks!) into the Troutdale Trading Post, we prayed for this kid and we hope he is okay. Tonight we are staying at the Troutdale Baptist hostel. Pastor Riggins is not here tonight. I hope we see him tomorrow.
Date: 2006-05-16
From: Troutdale, VA; Troutdale Baptst Church Hostel

To: Partnership Shelter, VA
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Day: Day 60Date: 5/16/06Start: Dickey Gap, VA; Troutdale Baptist ChurchWeather: Cold, overcastFinish: Partnership Shelter, VAMiles: 14.5Cumulative A.T. Miles: 523.2Clay: This morning we got up around 6:15 AM with Gray Goose, Bigfoot, Rich and Leslie (two coast-to-coast cyclists). We all had breakfast at the Trading Post. It was fun asking Rich and Leslie about their trip thus far, their recent marriage, and about the Mormon faith. They were a lot of fun and I wish they were hiking. What a fun couple.What a great hike today with Bigfoot and Goose. Even with long breaks, we still averaged 2 miles per hour today. I believe that, when hiking, we were hiking 2.5 per hour.Everyone out here knows that I am an itinerant minister as a vocation. Lately, people have been coming to me and asking me a lot of questions that they have been pondering throughout their life. The time passed by quickly today as I was approached and asked about the soteriological problem of evil and transworld damnation, the existence of God, the existence of Heaven and Hell, and the existence of the soul. The conversation was systematic, simple yet thorough, and called for challenge on a personal level. Most of all it was fun for all parties involved.Branch: Today was one of the first days that I have truly felt like a strong thru-hiker. We did the first 4.6 miles in 1.25 hours! I have noticed the my mindset when I come to climb has changed. Further south, I would approach a climb with something akin to fear and dread. I would desperately pick out the next place to catch my breath and then trudge to that point, pick out the next rest spot, and then start all over again until I finally reached the top of the climb. Lately, I have seen the climb, prepared myself to climb for the amount of time that I estimate that it will take and then hiking at a pace where I can keep moving the entire time. I now feel like I can conquer the trail at least around here.Today we reached two very small milestones for me. First, this morning, we got to "the bus". "The bus" is merely a broken down school bus that is abandoned in a cow pasture. Inside it sports a mattress that no one would dear touch, some chairs, a stove, and some other miscellaneous stuff. This is by no means a milestone for most people, but having watched as many movies about the A.T. as I have, it was neat seeing and exploring the bus that other hikers have shown in their movies. The second small milestone of the day was Partnership Shelter. Most shelters on the trail are three sided, mouse-ridden shelters with a stinky privy and a water source that is a small hike away. This shelter is different. We are in a loft that is mostly enclosed. The best part though, is that there is a HOT water shower, a sink with running water, and a tenth of a mile from here is a phone that is famous because a local pizza place delivers to it! We had a wonderful time eating our pizza and swapping stories with Cuppa Joe and the other hikers.
Date: 2006-05-17
From: Partnership Shelter, VA

To: Atkins, VA
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Day: 61Date: 5/17/06Start: Partnership Shelter, VAWeather: Overcast, cold at times (40s), mostly coolFinish: Atkins, VAMiles: 11.6Cumulative A.T. Miles: 534.8Clay: Last night Cuppa Joe (AT '05) came by the shelter with a case of beer (we politely declined this nice gesture) and lots of good advice and encouragement for all of us. He told us that we were on schedule despite what many of our friends and family have alluded. He said that, having crossed the last of several 5,000'ers and 6,000'ers in the South, we would pick up speed and mileage all the way through Vermont. Branch is very strong now in her climbing. We used to envision successfully completing 50-100 miles of trail but now we can truly envision completing the next 500 miles of trail bar any serious injuries. We should be able to knock out the next 500 miles in about one month.Branch woke me up from my deep slumber around 6:30 AM and we hit the trail by 7:30 AM. The terrain today began with a series of moderate climbs and ended in Atkins, VA with seemingly needless switchbacks and out-of-the-way trail meandering (i.e. we could see our destination way ahead of time but the trail took a "scenic" tour.)The conversation today was good and it made the miles pass by a little quicker. A hiker asked me today about having meaning and purpose in life. As we hiked along, I quoted Ravi Zacharias when he spoke at a Veritas Forum from the University of Iowa. Using an analogy, Ravi told a story about his children. He said that he has a 2, 4, and 7 year old. He said that if he says to the 7 year old, "John went to the door, John opened the door, and John saw a dragon", his eyes will light up. If he says to the 4 year old, "John went to the door and John opened the door", then his eyes will light up. If he says to the 2 year old, "John went to the door", his eyes will light up. Ravi's point was that it takes more and more to "wow" and excite us as we get older. Most of us try to fill the void within with earthly things, events, and philosophies that temporarily fill that void. So, we are left longing for more. Instead, Ravi concluded, we should seek God to consistently "wow" us because only God has an infinite capacity to give us meaning and purpose in life.
Date: 2006-05-18
From: Atkins, VA

To: Damascus, VA, Trail Days
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Day: 62Date:5/18/06Start: Atkins, VAWeather: cloudy, chilly, rainyFinish: Damascus, VA (Trail Days!)Miles: 0Cumulative A.T. Miles: 534.8Branch: I woke up around 7:00 am this morning excited that we were going to get to see our friends Kneebee and Medicine Woman today. So that we would not completely offend their noses, I gathered up our laundry and got it in the washing machine around 8:00 am. Most people around here are super excited about Trail Days. They are making plans to get together with old friends and people that they hiked with and haven't seen in a while, and they are excited about the vendors, programs, and other fun things that are only offered during Trail Days.We were supposed to hitch to Damascus and meet our friends there, but since it is a dreary, rainy day, we asked if they could come get us instead. Without hesitation, Kneebee and Medicine Woman nicely drove at least 30-40 miles out of their way to come and get us! When we saw them, it was like coming home. We immediately felt at ease and rejuvenated.We got to Damascus around 3:00 and set up their pop up camper at Ironhorse Campground just in time for a thunderstorm to roll in. Camping in the camper is super nice! Its got all the luxuries of home with the mobility of a tent. How cool!Having got the camper up, we set out to do some grocery shopping and to check in with some other friends who are coming to Damascus. Vapor, who hiked last year and some other friends are working hard to give hikers free medical help and free showers in town. We stopped by there to say hi and to check in, but couldn't find them. I can't wait to see them tomorrow.Tonight, we have had the best time with Kneebee and Medicine Woman. They fed us an incredible meal. We sat for hours around the table laughing and catching up. It was so nice to have this strange bit of normalcy. As I sit here in bed, full and happy, I am so thankful to Jesus for the encouragement that He always gives. I pray that this journal entry finds you encouraged, satisfied, and purpose-filled in all that you do.
Date: 2006-05-19
From: Damascus, VA, Trail Days

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

Day: 63Date: 5/19/06Start: Atkins, VA (Damascus for Trail Days)Weather: Day--cloudy and cool, Nighttime--rainFinish: Atkins, VA (Damascus for Trail Days)Miles: 0Cumulative A.T. Miles: 534.8Clay: Today we got up at 5:45 AM, ate breakfast at the Ironhorse campground diner at 6:15 AM, and woke up Kneebee and Medicine Woman around 8 AM. They were slow moving and they had a right to be. They were on vacation and they had not had a break as of yet! We had so much fun with them last night. We laughed hard all night long.Around 11 AM, we made our way to Damascus. We left Kneebee and Medicine Woman there and went shopping. My shoes have about 750 trail miles on them and they are looking beaten. They have literally lost 1/2" of cushion compared to the new shoe. So, as much as I don't want to do it, we are buying new pair of shoes for me to break in.It seems that the numbers of Trail Days participants are down this year. However, the number of friends that we have seen is at a record high. Our spirits are edified.Branch: The highlight of my day today has been seeing my family. My grandparents, mom and dad, 2 sisters, brother, and my sister's fianc©e all came to visit! When they arrived, I could have hugged each one for an hour. It was wonderful to hear what is going on in each of their lives, to hear every day chatter, and to be surrounded by people who love us!
Date: 2006-05-20
From: Atkins, VA

To: Damascus, VA, Trail Days
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Day: 64Date: 5/20/06Start: Atkins, VA (Damascus for Trail Days)Weather: ClearFinish: Atkins, VA (Damascus for Trail Days)Miles:0Cumulative A.T. Miles: 534.8Clay: Branch's parents, siblings, and Grandparents came into town last night. How fun! We spent the entire day with them, Kneebee, and Medicine Woman, Leigh and Caraleigh today.We used to only use Aqua Mira for water purification. Since entering Virginia, we have noticed that the springs and water does not seem as aesthetic as GA, NC, or TN. There is a lot of iron in these here mountains. So, we decided to purchase a water filter. We can't wait to use it.The hiker parade was a huge highlight for me today. As soon as a kid from the crowd on the sidewalk would spray a hiker in the parade, 10 hikers would spray the kid. It was all in good jest. Fishin' Fred and A.T. Troll soaked me the most today. They crack me up!Branch: I had the best time spending the day with my family! This morning, while Clay organized our receipts, the rest of the family and I left to do our town chores. What usually takes us several hours on foot, we managed to do in about an hour. All 9 of us tackled the grocery shopping like a military operation. I hardly had to look for anything before someone had found it.After completing the chores, we walked around the small town of Damascus for a while. Clay and I had to buy a water filter, and my sisters wanted to buy a "hippie skirt". I had the best time being one of the crowd, laughing, and being around familiar happy faces.
Date: 2006-05-21
From: Atkins, VA

To: Damascus, VA, Trail Days
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Day: 65Date:5/21/06Start: Atkins, VA (Damascus for Trail Days)Weather: clearFinish: Atkins, VAMiles:0Cumulative A.T. Miles: 534.8Clay: After having a great time with Branch's family, Medicine Woman, and Kneebee this weekend, we opted to stay at the Relax Inn today. We were overwhelmed by so many positive people and events this weekend, we needed to take a Sabbath.Branch: It was super hard to say good-bye to my family today. They drove us to the trail, treated us to one last meal, and my grandmother even tried on my backpack! Part of me wanted to beg them to stay just one more night, but each of them have lives to go home to. It really hit me how much I'm going to miss them when I hugged my sister and she said, "I'll see you in 4 months." Wow! That is a long time to be away. These last few days with them have definitely been days that I'll treasure for the rest of my life.
Date: 2006-05-22
From: Atkins, VA

To: Knot Maul Branch Shelter, VA
Miles today: 13.9
Weather: clear sky

Day: 66Date: 5/22/06Start: Atkins, VAWeather: Blue skiesFinish: Knot Maul Branch Shelter, VAMiles: 13.9Cumulative A.T. Miles: 548.7Branch: Our intent was to get a fairly early start this morning, but when the alarm went off, the intent definitely changed. Without even discussing it, Clay and I decided that it was better to get to the shelter later than to leave the bed sooner. So, we layed around watching the tv show "Saved by the Bell" and avoiding the inevitable walk today. It was interesting, both of us were looking forward to getting back into our trail routine, but not in a terrible hurry to get it going. We finally left the hotel room around 9:15 or so and by 9:20 we had made our first stop of the day--breakfast at a restaurant called "The Barn". At the restaurant, we met and had breakfast with Handlebar who is getting back on the trail after spending about 3 weeks nursing a hip injury. He seems to be doing well as he is planning to hike about 18.5 miles today.It was a little difficult getting back on the trail after a whopping 4 days off. Our muscles and joints groaned as they readjusted to life under the weight of the pack. Clay's feet hurt because he is having to break in the shoes he bought in Damascus. All of this was expected, though, so the aches and pains did little to hurt us mentally.Towards the middle of the day, we found a huge shade tree to sit down under and eat our lunch of tuna and mayonnaise (a welcomed break from the usual pb&j). Until this point, we had seen only one other person on the trail this morning. We were beginning to think that the rumors about the post Trail Days crowds were just rumors, when in no time, there were 5 other hikers sharing the shade with us. We had a great time eating lunch with Beth, Michelle, Garrett, Caveman, and Jumpstart.Tonight the shelter is full and there are about 8-10 tents jammed around it. A quick and general head count revealed that there at Very least about 25-30 people sleeping here, many of which we have never met before. We look forward to getting to know the new faces as we travel north.Clay: A few weeks ago a hiker friend of ours was at a library at the checkout desk. With her backpack on, she noticed a puddle of water beneath her on the floor. Referring to her Playpus water bladder, she exclaimed, "Oh, my bladder! It is leaking!" Everyone in the library looked at her and the puddle. Realizing that they thought that she was referring to her urinary bladder, she said to the crowd of onlookers, "Oh no. It's just water." Unfortunately, this did not help the situation much. She left the library embarrassed.
Date: 2006-05-25
From: Bland, VA/Big Walker Motel

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

Day: 69Date: 5/25/06Start: Bland, VAWeather: blue skies, breezy, humidFinish: Jenny Knob Shelter, VAMiles: 12.1Cumulative A.T. Miles: 591.3Branch: Last night was a tough night. I think I had a fever for much of the night and was plagued by constant body aches. So, when our shuttle, Dan, knocked on our hotel room door at 6:35 AM, I was not altogether thrilled to see him. Dan was an interesting fellow. He played us a CD of him playing the organ, piano, and keyboard. In his day, he was apparently quite the musician.Once we got to the trail, I was glad that I got up the nerve to leave the hotel behind. I felt comfortable and at home amongst the trees. The terrain was super amicable today and I had the best time walking and talking with Clay.Clay: The most fun event during the hike was also the scariest. We were taking a short break, as we do each hour, when all the sudden we heard a shrill, "Squeek, squeek, squeek...!" As immediate as the cry for help was there was a crash in the brush on the hill just a few feet from where we were sitting. Then, something like a black volley ball came tumbling toward us. The leaves crunching and the sticks moving only magnified the sound. I said to Branch, "Go, go! It's rolling towards us!" As soon as I had shouted this, the ball had stopped. Upon closer inspection, it was a black snake that had caught a rodent and had tumbled down the hill. It was coiled and ready to eat. It did not like us watching it eat. So, it tried to make sounds like a rattlesnake. We did not want to ruin it's lunch. So, we moved on.Our perspective has changed now. 12.1 miles was a short day for us. We finished by 1:30 PM. We were exhausted. So, we ate a lot of food and we elected to take a two hour nap. We feel a lot better. Good sleep is rare in the woods. Tonight we are with Veto, Weatherman, and Montreal 2006 (formerly "Foreigner"). We laughed at all of our quips tonight. What a fun group.