morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-03-28
From: Old Orchard Shelter

To: Partnership Shelter
Miles today: 24.7
Weather: light rain

7:20 got on trail and during the day we decided to have lunch at Trimpi shelter. As we got close to the shelter it started raining and Jordan started sprinting down the trail because the shelter wasn't too far away. Watching Jordan sprint down the trail just made my feet hurt that much more. AHHH youth! Anyway I hiked the mile to the sign for the shelter and the sign was a little confusing and I thought I should hike the blue blaze to the shelter but the book didn't say the shelter was off trail so I decided to hike on. Well you guessed it I missed the shelter on the blue blaze. I ended up eating under a couple large pine trees where I got a little wet but not bad. I waited a little while for the boys but decided to hike on. Then I saw it and wished Jordan was with me. Those that have watched the movie "TREK" will understand this next experience more but we saw "The Bus". Because of the movie the yellow school bus in the middle of a field meant a little more to Jordan and I than it did to Felton. I reminisced about how it must of been for those guys to be at the bus in 2001. From there we hiked 10 miles to the Partnership Shelter where we were able to order some Pizza Hut!! We went to the Ranger station and used the phone on the outside of the station to call Pizza Hut. We ordered 5 large pizzas and three 2 liters of Mt Dew. We finished all the pizza but 2 slices. The shelter was rumored to have a hot shower but when we got there the shower room was full of spider webs and the handle was missing to turn it on. Then we read a note stating it won't be on until 4/1/08. As usual we are early for things to be open or working properly (more to come on this in the future). None the less we were happy to be fed and in a shelter as it started to pour outside. The shelter was very nice it even had a roomy loft that had 2 barn door type windows that you could open on either end. The shower was attached to the side of the shelter. The only thing it was missing was an electrical outlet so that you could charge up electronics. Lucky for us there was some construction going on at the Ranger Station and a temporary light pole was installed with an outlet so we all took advantage of that to charge up our electronics. This time it payed to be early as it might be gone by the time the masses arrive later in the season.Playing with the tying of the shoes to find the right fit. I need to have the toe box loose so I will leave that loose and use a surgeons knot to keep it that way and then tighten the top of the shoe as tight as possible. I have to keep some room around the top of the foot because of the high arch. If I push the arch down too much that causes pain on the balls of the feet.
Date: 2008-03-29
From: Partnership Shelter

To: Knot Maul Shelter
Miles today: 25.5
Weather: overcast clouds

The Day Jordan actually became "Liquid". We came across the old school museum today. We were side tracked by a very enthusiastic history buff told us about all the history of the school and the surrounding areas. We stopped by The Barn for lunch and grabbed a burger and fries and resupplied at a gas station. I totally needed a resupply but not from a gas station. Sometimes you do what you got to do. So I purchased all junk food for the next couple days until we get to Bland.After hiking for 25 miles, what we saw at Knot Maul Shelter was unsettling. The shelter was covered with tarps and one guy came out from behind the tarp to say hi and chat with us. Turns out there were 7 people and a dog in a 6 person shelter. Now 3 more just walked in (US) so that makes 10 people and a dog. Seemed that no one wanted to be outside and the people inside were very accommodating and made room for the 3 of us to slide into the shelter with them. It was tight but do able. So we ate and then waited to the last minute before going to bed. Around Midnight I woke up to see Liquids leg going out the tarp. Turned out that he took all his gear and set up his tarp for the first time. He needed some fresh air because the tarps trapped the warm air in the shelter.
Date: 2008-03-30
From: Knot Maul Shelter

To: Jenkins Shelter
Miles today: 19.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Temps were in the 30'sLiquid, TransFat, and myself left on a very cold morning that was tough to get out of the sleeping bag. The three us us hiked for a few hours up and down a few mountains when Liquid and I came upon the top of Chestnut Mtn. We had no idea the top of this mountain was a bald. You see Jordan and I learned early on it's best to hike in shorts, t-shirt, and our rain coats if needed. Well the rain coats were needed today, not to keep the rain out but to keep the body heat in. Once we got on top of Chestnut Mtn we noticed the trees were gone and the wind really started to chill our bare legs. We decided we didn't want to stop and put our long pants on so we continued to hike on. Well the hike on turned into miles and our legs were red and numb from the cold wind. After hiking for about 40 minutes or so we hit a tree line that I took advantage of and put my pants on over my shorts. Liquid didn't bother because he (and I) knew the shelter was just ahead. Little did we know the shelter was only a few hundred yards away. The clouds were so thick we could only see maybe 50 feet in front of us. When we opened the door to the shelter we saw an old friend of Liquids and TransFat by the name of Allgood. He was in the shelter with a couple of his friends. Since it was lunch time and I had my stove at the time I boiled some water for lunch. My platypus has a ziplock on one end and after I poured the water into my cup I couldn't zip the bag back up. I asked one of the guys at the shelter to see if he could zip it for me and he couldn't either. Our hands were so cold that we couldn't possibly zip the bag. I leaned it against the wall and got the stove going and then warmed my hands by the stove which allowed me to finally zip the bag. Allgood and his buddy entertained us by playing the mandalyns for us. Boy could they play. It was the first and only time that I heard an instrument on the trail. Banjo never played hers for me. I was given some whiskey to warm up and boy did that hit the spot. You could feel that warm me up all the way down.After our concert we all packed up and left. I followed one of the guys out and he took off like a jack rabbit. I was unable to keep up with him and my efforts caused a few issues for me. One issue is I fell twice on the ice and during of the falls I bent one of my trekking poles. (Didn't get it fixed until I got to Port Clinton Ye Old Backpacker really went out of their way for our group) Liquid couldn't believe that I didn't get hurt on one of the falls where my feet just went out from under me and I fell flat on my back. Today was the first NASCAR race I found on the tail and it sure does make 4 hours pass real fast. It engages the mind to think of something other than hiking. Next thing I knew we were at the Jenkins Shelter and wouldn't ya know it the station was fading in and out with just a few laps to go. Luckily for me Liquids radio got better reception and he filled me in on what was happening.
Date: 2008-03-31
From: Jenkins Shelter

To: Jenny Knob Shelter
Miles today: 22.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Monday -- Another cold morning where no one wanted to get out of their nice warm sleeping bag. We hit Bland after about 10 miles of walking today. I knew I had to do my first hitch today so I started praying for an easy last night. When we got to the road US 21/52 we had about 10 cars pass us and then a funeral procession passed with a police car in the front and rear. The people in the procession kept waving to us as we stood next to the road. Shortly after the procession went by a lady pulled over and moved some stuff in her blazer to make room for the 3 of us. She drove us to town and told us the lay of the town and dropped us off at the post office. As Liquid was inside dealing with his tax stuff a lady stopped and asked if we needed a ride back to the trail. After I got done with my phone calls I went in to the PO and sent my stove home. One less pound to carry. The three of us decided it was time to have lunch and little did we know that the DQ was .7 miles up the road and as we road walked I noticed the nice lady that offered to take us to the trail head was heading back from where the DQ was. We hiked to DQ and ordered up a bunch of food. I made the mistake of trying to keep up with Liquid on the amount of food that was consumed. I had a BBQ sandwich, 2 Dbl cheese burgers, fries, and a huge brownie and ice cream desert. We then had to leave on a very full stomach and head to the grocery store to resupply for a few days. I was unsuccessful at getting a ride to the trail head from the grocery store, but once we moved down the road a piece we got a ride within 5-10 minutes. A nice couple let us into their Fullsize SUV. We started back where we left off to find we had a little road walk ahead of us. We needed to get over I-77. Once over we had a climb and none of us felt great. I think the ice cream did us in. The climb us was brutal and when the Helveys Mill shelter came along Liquid and Felton wanted to call it quits. So I left Liquid and Felton today to continue my journey alone. I need to do 20+ mile days to keep a strict schedule to meet Johnna in Harpers Ferry on April 19th. (Little did I know what awaited me in the future)
Date: 2008-04-01
From: Jenny Knob Shelter

To: Pearisburg
Miles today: 30.8
Weather: scattered clouds

7:02 Got on trail First thing in the morning I had an owl swooped down in front of me and land in a tree not 70 yrds away. He sat there for awhile and was pretty cool. Reminded of the time I was deer hunting and had an owl land 3 feet from me and we had a stare down for 10 minutes.As usually I had some gorgeous views. I had planned a 22.6 to Doc Knob shelter but when I reached the shelter at 4:16 I decided that I had enough gas in the tank to do a 30.8 to Pearisburg. My longest day yet. Stayed at the Holiday Motor Lodge. Talked to Breck while I was over at the Chinese restaurant for about an hour. Went back to the hotel room and watched the whole season of Deadliest Catch.
Date: 2008-04-02
From: Pearisburg

To: Bailey Gap
Miles today: 23.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Rough night sleep at the hotel. Didn't have much gas in the tank today to get going. I got to the Pine Swamp Branch Shelter and found that the shelter didn't have a roof on it. I guess a tree fell on the roof recently and there was a lot of lumber laying around so that means the maintainers are on the job. Maybe they will have it fixed for the masses when they arrive.Trail was full of rocks and had a few views one of which was a little bald. Decided to try and call the family while I ate some dinner so I tried to contact my brother to wish him Happy Birthday as his birthday is in two days. I got his voicemail. I thought I might get better reception up the trail so I stashed my phone in my side pocket of the backpack. I have done this a couple other times. I hiked on another 4 miles to Bailey Gap and ran across a sign that said the bridge was out and I could try and ford the river or take the 3 mile road walk. I chose the 3 mile road walk so that I would have dry feet. I finished the first 3 miles and got to a right turn that took me back into the woods for the last 1.1 miles. Those miles wound around a little on flat ground but once it started climbing it went UP. I don't like to sweat before I go to bed but I had no choice in the matter if I didn't want to headlamp that night. I pushed for the shelter and once I got there I met a guy by the name of Donkey Legs. He is from New Zealand but has lived in California for 7 yrs now. I unpacked the backpack and got ready for bed when I reached for the cell and couldn't find it. Turns out I dropped it. Now the good news is that I know it was in the last 4 miles of the journey. Bad news was that I had one tough climb to get to this shelter and I wasn't about to reclimb this mountain for a stupid phone. I asked Donkey Legs if he thought the shelter was 1.1 miles from the road and he said no way. It was definitely longer than 1.1 miles. I concurred.I figured that I would just purchase a new phone when I get to the next town. No big deal. It was time to replace it anyway.
Date: 2008-04-03
From: Bailey Gap

To: Niday Shelter
Miles today: 28.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Hiked with donkey legs a little. Had lunch with him at War Spur Shelter at 11:10. Passed up War Spur, Laurel Creek, and Sarver Hollow Shelters. Donkey stayed at the Sarver Hollow shelter but I couldn't hold up because my schedule was to get to Niday so I pushed on. Little did I know what lied ahead of me. I started hiking and came upon Sinking Creek Mtn which had a rocky knife edge. Normally that isn't a big deal but it turned out that the mountain was covered with what else but ICE. I had to put the trekking poles away and had a rough time collapsing the bent pole but I did manage. Most of 7 miles was the knife edge that was scary. The top was all rock and if I were to slip down I wouldn't hit any trees for 50-100 feet. I took my time placing every foot hold but on occasion I would slip around and have to grab onto something. I kept praying for this thing to end but after a long while I finally asked for Mercy and with in a few minutes the trail went down and the ice disappeared. You could just feel the tension go away and the body started to relax. I'm not sure I have ever been so happy to see a shelter thus far on the trail. I didn't have any problems sleeping that night.
Date: 2008-04-04
From: Niday Shelter

To: Stealth camp after VA 785
Miles today: 20.4

I have found out that things happen for a reason out here and loosing the cell phone was no different. Johnna's Mom and Dad were stopping by to see me and John was going to do some hiking with me. I am pretty confident that I lost the phone because of the ice that was on top of Sinking Creek Mtn. John would have hiked with me regardless of the danger. Had lunch at Pickle Branch Shelter. Well at least by the sign on the trail as the shelter was .3 miles off trail. While I was sitting there eating the bugs are out. The last few days have been cool and the bugs haven't been out but today was warmer and the bugs came out. When I get done with lunch I have to climb 1200 feet to Dragons Tooth.On the food side of things I think I needed to get some more protein in the digestive system. I need to keep the muscle development that I have gained thus far. Made it to VA 785 and walked down the road and walked up to a nearby house and asked to use the phone and the Va Tech lover was nice enough to let me use his phone and gave me a soda. I called Johnna and let her know where I was and that I was OK. I thought I was on VA 311 but I wasn't. I walked .3 miles to a gas station that had hot dogs, pizza, ice cream and all kinds of other stuff. I got all the above and then walked back to the trail and proceeded on. I started hiking and hiking and hiking but the shelters never came. I know I didn't walk past two shelters so I sat down and figured out what went wrong. The road I was on was VA 785 not Va 311. The day was getting shorter and I didn't think I could walk 4 more miles so I decided to put the hammock up. It was a nice spot to stop and watch the lights in the valley come on one by one.
Date: 2008-04-05
From: Stealth camp after VA 785

To: Stealth short of Fullhardt Knob Shelter
Miles today: 24.0
Weather: light rain

Started the morning off at 8am and headed to McAfee's Knob. There was about 20 high school kids that were there. The day was mostly cloudy but the clouds were higher so that you could see quite a ways away. I hiked passed Campbell Shelter and had lunch at Brickey's Gap at 12:30. After lunch I walked over Tinker Cliffs which offered some tremendous views of the surrounding area. Stopped into Lamberts Meadow Shelter to use the privy and ran into a couple section hikers. That shelter had the most magazines I've seen in a shelter. There must of been about 3 dozen magazines. As I continued on I ran into Troutville and did Grocery shopping at Krogers and then hit the Wendy's which was in the same mall parking lot. I was unable to find an Alltel store. The nearest one is in Roanoak. I got back on trail to stop around the Va 652.Animal count today Deer 142 rabbits9:03pm I'm Laying in the hammock with pouring down rain. I wasn't really planning on sleeping in the hammock that night but the town stop chewed up a little more time or maybe I should blame the 8 am start either way its all on me. I was hiking up the mountain headed out of town moving up the switch backs when it started to sprinkle and then rain and shortly after it started to pour. I decided to stop and put up the hammock on the side of the mountain (glad I have a hammock over a tent) where I had a tough time keeping things dry as I put up the Hammock. I did manage and everything stayed dry. I could hear some cows all night long.Forgot that earlier today I ran across a really swampy area that was extremely muddy. In that area there was a bridge and next to the bridge was a cooler. I opened the cooler and found nothing but healthy stuff. There were vitamin K chocolate pieces, cro»tons, and other stuff. No fruit.
Date: 2008-04-06
From: Stealth short of Fullhardt Knob Shelter

To: Cove Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 22.6
Weather: light rain

Weather mid 40's and cloudyThe phone issue is starting to get old and frustrating. Little did I know that it would be such a problem getting a new phone. I really miss talking to the family. Yesterday I tried to get a lady at Wendy's to let me use her phone and she said no way. Grocery list from yesterdays shopping: Cheese, Little Debbies, candy bars, banana, sunflower seeds, pop tarts, donuts, danish, tuna, peanut butter, batteries, oreos, cheeseIts, dried cherries, sandwich meat, bagels, and almond joys. Walking through the Blue Ridge Parkway. Easy hiking today should have pushed myself a little harder today to the Bryant Ridge Shelter. I heard that was an AWESOME shelter. Made it to Fulhardt knob at 8:20am, Wilson Creek Shelter 11:30. Then a little while later I ran into two trail maintainers so we chatted for a little while. Then I walked on for a quarter mile and then realized they probably had cell phones and would have let me call Johnna. DOHHHH. I walked on up to the parking lot and saw their cars so I wrote them a note asking them to relay a message to Johnna for me. (Which they were kind enough to do but Johnna was frustrated because she could't get the info I wanted back to me) Passed quite a few overlooks today on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Passed Bobblets Gap Shelter at 2:35 and passed up a couple more overlooks but the cloud cover had them socked in and ended up at Cove Mtn Shelter. I'm constantly checking to make sure that I am on schedule to meet Johnna in Harpers. Thus far I'm on schedule.
Date: 2008-04-07
From: Cove Mtn Shelter

To: Matt's Creek Shelter
Miles today: 29.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Big day today with 29.6 miles. Made it to Bryant Ridge Shelter and it sure is a nice shelter. It's got to be one of the best shelters thus far on the trail. It was 9:30am when I got to the shelter and so I had a little snack while I was there. I made it 5 miles down the trail to Cornelius Creek Shelter at 11:35. Then proceeded to Black Rock where it was fogged in. Startling story today. It's about noon and I'm listening to the radio, star spangled banner was on, when I think I hear something. It's getting louder and louder. I pull an ear bud out and it sounds like elephants coming up behind me. I turn to see two runners sprinting by. I ask if they have a cell and they don't. Lesson learned today is to keep one ear bud out so you can hear your surroundings. Will come in handy on down the trail as I get into rattler territory.One of the highlights of the day was the Guillotine (1:16). It's a well known rock formation on the trail where a boulder got stuck between two larger boulders and you need to walk under the boulder that is stuck. Passed Thunder Hill Shelter at 2pm and pushed on for 12.4 more miles. Don't remember the time I hit Matts Creek Shelter but I would guess around 6-6:30. I can't believe I did close to a 30 mile day today. (Later on when I talked to Liquid he couldn't believe I did a 30 mile day through this stretch either)Matt's creek shelter was occupied when I got there. There was a section hiker by the name of Otis and his son and his son's friend. Otis tried out his cell and there wasn't any coverage but his son offered to hike out with me in the morning and let me try his phone in the car which was 1.4 miles away and the trail walks right by his car. When I arrived to the shelter there was a very large creek with big boulders and I yelled over to Otis and his son asking where they crossed the creek and the creek was so loud I couldn't hear them. I just went for a spot that didn't look very good and ended up slipping and falling into the creek. Luckily I only got one shoe soaked and the other a little wet. But the ego was damaged. It was the first time I had fallen into a creek or stream on the trail thus far.Otis had a nice fire going that night and had purchased some hot dogs and offered them up to me for dinner. I took them up on the offer and polished off quite a few. I put my shoes next to the fire to dry out as we talked and got to get know one another the fire got hotter and hotter. I looked over at my shoes to see that the plastic had melted and part of the soles were melting as well.