morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-05-24
From: smith mountain Lake

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Nothing much to report today. I woke up, ate, went down to the dock and stuck my toes in the water, drove to Walmart for a 5 day resupply, and came back to the house. I'm very lazy. My sis in law posted pictures of me on FB and all of my friends and family are marveling at my weight loss. I am starting to look like my old self, but I care less about that and more about how strong I feel, and healthy. Part of the reason I'm hiking is to reclaim my fit self. When my husband retires, I don't want to be a couch potato. I want to be able to participate in whatever retirement adventures we choose for ourselves. That has always been our plan, and I won't be able to do that if I allow myself to continue my menopausal downward spiral into a sedentary existence. At this point in my life- I found myself balancing precariously on a tightrope. Fall on one side of the rope to the "life after kids" I picture for myself and for Mark; traveling, hiking, hanging out with each other and doing every fun thing we want to. Fall on the other side- the dark side that was starting to look more likely- and I end up being a person who can't wait to get home, get in Jammie's, pour a glass of wine and binge watch Netflix. I was turning into that person who laughs with her friends and says she doesn't worry about her weight gain, her husband is stuck with her. I have been thinking a lot about that on this hike. Why should a person be "stuck " with someone? Why would I allow a human being to give me his income earning life- provide our family with a beautiful home- give our children a wonderful life- and then take advantage of his generous and committed nature by making him "stuck" with me? He does not deserve that. He works hard to stay in shape and be healthy for us, and I dropped the ball. I am grateful to him and this time he has given me to find my core. It is an investment in the rest of our lives together. I guess everyone experiences their mid life crisis in different ways. Mine came to me as a thick suffocating blanket of apathy. This hike has thrown that blanket off. I don't care about skinny- I care about physical and emotional health. Those are benefits of this hike that I can't deny. For dinner we went to some friends of Terry's. One of the couples had a son that thru hiked 13 years ago. He met his wife on the trail. That was a great story! Everyone had brought a dish to share and the food was fabulous. Strawberry rhubarb pie- my favorite- was dessert. While we ate, a groundhog wandered into the yard and their sweet dog, a friendly Chow named Penny, ran out and killed it, right in front of us. That was random and bizarre. (See pics) Terry had to get the jet ski home before dusk and we took off over the lake, jumping waves, going airborne. I was sure I was going to die on that ride. She is an excellent driver though, and we made it in one piece. She told me she wasn't even going full speed. I guess 2 months of walking has made me sensitive to driving on the water at the speed of light.
Date: 2015-05-27
From: WoodsHole Hostel

To: Rice Field Shelter
Miles today: 18.4
Weather: light rain

My day started with not wanting to get out the almost feather bed mattress. I finally forced myself up and then decided- what the heck-Im gonna have another shower. Live large! I then had an amazing breakfast, once again created by served by hickers (as we have been dubbed this year) and directed by Neville. This is such a cool place, and clearly more than just a job for the owners. This is their life. I hit the road around 9:30, a late start, and was quickly passed by all other late starters. I figured today would be fairly easy. The AWOL book showed some gentle inclines, nothing too sinister. I had a text from D.No and C. Shell earlier, saying they had stayed in Pearisburg and were getting a late start to let some sore feet rest. (remember, we think D,No has a broken bone in his foot but he is too stubborn to check it out). They were 10 trail miles ahead, so I figured I would catch them soon. The day got progressively more humid. I was soon sweating buckets and salt was getting in my eyes. The trail was much harder than I anticipated (as usual) and I wondered who started the bald faced lies about Virginia being easy. Virginia has been tough. I hit a long stretch with no water, after the rolling hills in the woods climb. I was approaching Pearisburg and did not need to resupply, so I would be bummed if I had to go all the way into town for water. The trail became steeper and steeper down, it was relatively new trail so there was only dirt, now slick from yesterdays rain. I was looking at an obvious slip and fall mark on the trail and proceeded cautiously so I wouldn't meet the same fate. I took one more step and then my feet were running in place, backpedaling, and boom- on my butt. I have lost count of how many times I have fallen. My butt is getting smaller though, so when I fall on it, it hurts more. I came to a little path steep down to a creek. I dropped my pack and headed down with my smart water bottles. They are the original ones I started with and I have a weird attachment to them. I know I need to replace them, but they started with me soI want to see how long they last. I only fell once on the way down, but I lost my footing and fell three times on the way back up, once nearly losing one of my bottle when I dropped it. Once I had my water, I was good to go. I hiked along the edge of Pearisburg, over a bridge and next to a factory. Then the trail went into the woods.Once back on the woods, I continued up, up, for a total 1777 foot elevation gain over 5 miles. The last mile before reaching the shelter was so steep, like Jacobs Ladder all over again. I decided to stay in the shelter and cooked and got setteled quickly. Holy cow-what a day.
Date: 2015-06-02
From: Lamberts Meadow Shelter

To: Trouteville
Miles today: 10.9
Weather: light rain

The rain continued until about 4am. Nature was calling at that time and I used my headlamp to make sure the resident rattle snake was not around before I stepped into the dark wet night and walked behind the shelter. How much discomfort can a person who is used to very comfortable tolerate? A flat air mattress on a hard wood floor, wet clothes and socks day after day, poor sleep, it all should add up to yuck. So why does it add up to awesome? Are the views, the challenge, the introspection, the people, are those things the counter balance to all of the pain and discomfort? Something keeps us going and somehow I have learned an incredibly powerful (and clich©) lesson. A day is just a day. THIS day is my most precious day. Whether it is a good day or bad day, tomorrow it will be gone and then that day will be my most precious day.Just Dave wanted to stick together for a few miles until we got out of the area of the stern mama bear and cubs. We hiked for a while and I enjoyed his easy going personality. He is a nice guy, and it is evident in everything he says and does. He is a strong hiker though, and after a couple of miles he was far ahead. I didn't see anyone else for a long time. Earlier in the trip, I wrestled with emotions and life events from my past that I had stuffed for years. I have tried to avoid those deep journeys into the dark parts of my brain, but on todays hike, a boring-ish slog into Daleville, the usual skeletons from my ancient history closet lined up for some face time. Today, in my wet clothes and wet socks, I gave those skeletons a long hard look. Why , even on a subconscious level, do we hang on to old hurts and regrets? Are they important to have rattling around in our psyches? Then I tried a visual. I imagined my hand reaching into my brain and flicking the skeletons. I imagined their brittle bones collapsing into a pile of dust. I imagined the dust blowing away. The past is the past. Cant do anything about all of that now, and really, who gives a shit? Not me anymore. Today I can live fully, breathe deeply. I can make new skeletons to brood over years from now or make other choices that don't include them at all. Who knows.The hike was not really difficult today and I made it to Daleville by noon. I walked through to the Holiday Inn provided by my trail angel brother and his wife, checked in and did laundry. The room was so clean, so comfortable. The rain started and continued all night! I finally hooked up with D.No and C.Shell and Pam came and took us to BBQ. Then to the outdoor store for new socks and the grocery store. Today, life is good. I had a good week of hiking and brought my daily average up a little. I am especially homesick for my family today and cant wait to see them.
Date: 2015-06-03
From: Trouteville

To: Daleville
Miles today: 0.0

ZERO! No miles today. Woke up to rain and gloom and cold. We decided to walk the mile and move to HoJos, it is cheaper and I don't want to take advantage of the Holiday Inn magic. The HoJos is full of hikers avoiding the rain. It's just gross out. We ate lunch with Mama Moab and Wallet at Pizza Hut. We went to the Goodwill to look for fleece blankets so we can send our warm weather bags home in a week or so. It was so funny when we walked in because hikers were lounging on all of the goodwill furniture. Pam and Mikey joined us for dinner at the Mexican restaurant . Hiking out tomorrow no matter what, but the forecast looks bad for the next week. No pain, no rain, no Maine!
Date: 2015-06-04
From: Daleville

To: wilson Creek Shelter
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: light rain

Rain rain go away. Tired of rain! It was drizzly, foggy and cold when I went to the lobby for the all you can eat breakfast.. It would be great if these hotels would include a protien, like sausage, but I guess if the room is $39.99 and 3-4 people are staying in it, that would severely Impact any profit. I saw Midwest Mama at breakfast. I had met her at Trents Store where she camped with us. She is a young 60 something section hiker. That day we parted at Trents, she took a nasty fall on rocks and fell on her face. This morning she was sporting the gash that she had just had the stitches removed from and an impressive black eye. She has been re-named Barfight. I liked that name for her, it is so improbable for her petite pretty self. We hung out at the Ho Jo until 11am precisely when the cleaning person knocked on the door and shooed us out. Sadly, we trudged into the trail. I'm back I said to the trail. I don't care said the trail. The rain stopped for a while and the hiking was very pretty today. It was easy, I thought. It could be that I am just refueled- I had hit a calorie deficit wall the day I hiked into Daleville. I did my best to overcome that with pizza, BBQ, and Mexican food during my time in town. The miles came easy and the climbs didn't kill me. Before the hike I kept hearing about people getting their trail legs. I never really understood what that meant. I kept waiting for my magical strong legs to appear, legs that never burned on uphills and feet tht never got sore. That never happened. I can hike longer and faster than I did,however, and I don't have to rest as much. But easy has not happened. I saw a red salamander or newt, I have been waiting to see one. They are so mythical looking, and pretty slow too. We made it to a shelter just before the skies started dumping rain on us. I was happy that my feet were still dry. We are all getting a trench foot kind of thing- after the full week with wet boots and socks, so we are babying them. Rain is forecast for tomorrow, but hopefully we will get some miles in before it gets bad.
Date: 2015-06-05
From: wilson Creek Shelter

To: Jennings Creek Campground
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: overcast clouds

The rain continued all night long. It was raining at 4:30 am when nature called. It was raining at 6am when people started stirring. It finally quit and I was relieved. It's not so much the hiking in the rain that I dislike, it's getting all of my gear and pack wet. Nothing dries in the woods. Just Dave, Tedzilla, Plgrim, D.No and C, Shell all hiked out before me. The plan was to hike to Jennings Creek 17 miles ahead. There was nothing particularly challenging about the hike today. A couple of climbs that required some effort, but mostly cruising. The terrain was equally average. No great views or sights. The trail cross crossed the Blue Ridge Parkway so we had access to trash cans. That was exciting. The parkway had areas for cars to pull over for overlooks, but the sky was foggy and the views were meh. It started to rain and I put on all of my rain gear. I decided to try to keep my clothes dry. It just spit for a while, but it was cold and foggy so I kept the FrogTrogs on for a while. Finally the sun came out and I packed the rain gear up again.When I complained to my husband about the rain, he told me that it wasn't the rain that was the problem. It was how I was thinking about the rain that was the problem. So whenever it rains, I will pretend to be a duck. Ducks like rain. Quack.We got to Jennings Creek and found a little campsite. Just Dave, Tedzilla, and Pligrim were already there. C.Shell and I found a private place and took an awesome bandana bath in the creek. D.No apparently jumped in the swimming hole, as evidenced by a high pitched shriek. The water was icy!Back at camp, we were eating dinner when we heard a child screaming in terror and crying very loudly. I walked over to investigate. A car had pulled up in the parking lot. Two men were sitting in the car, engine running. The man in the front seat was older and bearded and the guy in the back was younger. The car was overflowing with trash; fast food bags, cigarette cartons, beer cans etc. I said hello and that I had heard a child crying. They told me the younger man's girlfriend had taken the child swimming and he screamed because it was cold. I looked down past the bushes and sure enough, a young woman was in the water trying to get the screaming child , around 3 years old, to swim. I told the guys that the water was cold. I noticed the older guy had a beer in his hand and I stared at it longingly. He mistook my look for disapproval and snapped -yeah- I have a beer. I said good night and walked back to my tent. Honey Boo Boo would be proud of these guys.
Date: 2015-06-06
From: Jennings Creek Campground

To: thunder Hill Shelter
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: light rain

Last night, at 12:30, a violent thunder and lightning storm blew in. I had my rain fly on my tent open to let in the breeze and when the rain started coming down sideways I tried to close it. I discovered I need light to see what I'm doing. Quite a bit of rain got in the tent while I was fumbling around. The sky lit up and the thunder was deafening. There was no lapse of time between the Lightning and the boom. Not much to do but hope you don't get struck and that a branch doesn't fall on you and crush you. Yes, those are the things I think about alone in my tent. And how awesome the storms are. They really are mighty.The picture I posted here shows our elevation line today. It was basically an all day climb. The highlights of the day were the rhododendron tunnels in bloom. Hundreds of petals also layered the forest floor. I passed several of these today, and the sights took my mind off of the climb. The rock formations were also very spectacular today. Virginia is impressive with her massive boulders.I hiked alone all day today. I had a leak in my hydration system right out of camp and got a late start. I also stopped at Bryant Ridge Shelter for about an hour to dry my tent and sleep pad. They were soaking wet and heavy d from the rain. I challenged myself on the hills today to try to pick up my pace. When I finally made it to the shelter at our stop point, the whole gang was there and welcomed me warmly. They had a little fire going. I pitched my tent and went for water. I was pleasantly surprised to see Castaway at the shelter. He was with a new hiking partner, Haiti. Glad to see he is still hiking! Tomorrow is all downhill. (Sure it is!)Happy Birthday to my amazing Dad. I tried to call you!
Date: 2015-06-08
From: Glasgow

To: Brown Moutain Creek Shelter
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: broken clouds

I woke up early- to the sound of geese, sirens, big rigs, and birds chirping. I walked to the gas station and had coffee and a ham cheese croissant. Also took advantage of the flushing toilet. The facilities are great at the camp area- but the porta potty is- um- full. Gross. The guy at the gas station was playing music that was familiar to me, a sound from my childhood. He told me he was from Pakistan. I had lived there as a child, and we talked about the food and the smells and colors of that country. I told him how I used to line up with the little street urchins at the market, they selling combs and gum and I sold my mothers American cigarettes from the Commisary. I was blonde and light skinned and conspicuous but I thought I was one of them, vey happy in our budding businesses. My cigarettes were hot sellers. I wish we could all retain the innocence and goodwill we are born with.I stopped at the post office and impulsively mailed my sleeping bag home in an attempt to shrink my pack size and weight. Bought some air pillow insiles for my boots that have neary 800 miles on them.D.No and C.Shell decided to zero and rest Dougs knee. I was planning on a 15 mile day to a campsite next to a stream. Hitched a ride with a guy who crammed as many hikers as he could into his car. That is a good sport! The climb out from the trailhead was brutal. Just brutal. Hot, muggy and steep. Relentless.I stopped just shy of the top and put my new insoles in my boots. My feet were screaming. I was treated to some gorgeous views today, and eventually the trail leveled out. It started raining- hard- and the sky's were rumbling. I am trying my new thinking about the rain on for size. Quack. I finally reached my destination, but the campsite was full. Packed. I hiked on and the rain continued. Rain makes corn. Corn makes whiskey. Whiskey makes my baby feel a little frisky. Quack. When it started lightening and pouring super hard, I took shelter under I gigantic tree. I know that's probably dumb, but it kept the rain off for a while. I continued hiking and decided to go for the shelter, which would make my day 20 miles. It was dark when I reached a campsite and I wasn't sure how much further the shelter was. There had not been anywhere else to pitch a tent, so I just decided to stay. I put my tent up, cooked in the dark, and almost knocked myself out when my rock bag ricocheted straight back to my head as I tried to hang my bear bag. A guy named Fox hiked in and set up his tent. He hung our bags. (I just suck at that) he informed me that we were at the shelter, and pointed out the privy on the hill just ahead. I went to bed and froze my ass off because I mailed my sleeping bag home. It will get warmer! Quack.
Date: 2015-06-09
From: Brown Moutain Creek Shelter

To: Hog Camp Gap
Miles today: 8.1
Weather: scattered clouds

I slept cold last night. It was a mistake to send my sleeping bag home! I packed up and hiked out, knowing I was only a couple of miles from a road crossing that would take me to Buena Vista, a little town. I talked to myself- don't be weak. Don't go to town. Just keep hiking. As soon as I got to the road crossing, I stuck my thumb out, trying to catch a ride to town. Logging trucks were all that came by and they didn't stop. A guy doing trail running came out of the woods and gave me and a guy named Fox a ride to the Hardee's in town, 9 miles west of the trail head. I went into Hardee's and did not emerge for 4 hours. I charged my devices. I ate a 1/3 pound bacon cheeseburger, fries, 2 cokes, then another order of fries and a strawberry milkshake. I went next door to the dollar general and bought a tiger print throw to add a little warmth to my fleece throw. A nice man in Hardee's named Dave gave me a ride back to the trail head. He is a former hotel executive turned cattle farmer after his retirement. He and his wife are going to New Zealand to hike next year.My brother got me a room in Waynesboro for Friday night. I have to hike about 16 miles per day average to make it in time, which should be no problem, but I have to contend with two major climbs- the Priest and Three Ridges Mountain to get there, and there is a very inconveniently located 9 mile stretch of no camping because of bear activity somewhere in the middle of all this. When I got back to the trailhead, I continued the climb up Bald Knob. I climbed over 2000 feet in 2 and a half miles and took my time. I ran my battery down in my phone calling my parents and my kids, I facebooked. I guess I just didn't feel like hiking today. The trail got easier after the summit. There were large rock outcroppings, meadows, and trees and it was lovely at the top of Bald Knob. The trail went back into the woods and I saw deer and snakes, neither were afraid of me. The breeze was cool and refreshing. I came to a large meadow with campsites and it was already 7 so I decided to camp. With my extended stay at Hardee's, I only hiked 8 miles today.The walk for water was long, but beautiful. On the way back, a deer grazed next to the sunset. I took a picture and texted it to my brother Steve, who is going to hike with me a bit. He told me I'm living the dream. I know I am, but the dream needs a kick in the pants at the moment.
Date: 2015-06-12
From: Dripping Rock

To: Rockfish Gap
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: overcast clouds

I couldn't sleep last night. I binge watched Naked and Afraid and woke up a lot during the night. I finally just decided to get up. I had my thumb out at 6am and got a ride back to Dripping Rock. The morning was hazy and humid. I left my backpack soaking on the bathtub back in my room. I carried a water bottle in my hand, my filter in one pocket and my phone and snacks in the other pocket. Even though I had a signal much of the trail today (which normally slows me down because I tend to communicate with people)I made great time. I did communicate with Ghost Hiker while I was hiking. She is heading out of Waynesboro today at noon. Hope I can catch her soon! Slack packing is freaking magical! I nearly slack packed the first week in Georgia, with 20 pounds in my pack, but I was 30 pounds heavier and really out of shape, so I didn't feel the benefit. Today, I had no pack. I felt like I was flying. The first part of the hike had a steady incline, but I managed it easily. Thne it was down, past a pretty cool shelter with awesome little cascades and water area. It would be great if all shelters had a place where you could get into the water! The prettiest views were on Humpback, and since I was making good time, I took a couple of the side trails to the views. I made it to Rockfish Gap in less than 5 hours. Not bad, considering the stops I made. I hitched a ride back to the HI express and through the older part of Waynesboro. I was determined to reduce my pack weight after my slack packing experience today. I went through my pack with a fine tooth comb and eliminated things I never use. Then I went to Walmart for resupply. Next up: HOT TUB, in my underwear. After that, I went to eat Mexican food and saw Mama Moab in the restaurant! She was hanging out with her BFF, Chris. I joined them for dinner. It was nice because I really have not seen any hikers lately, I was a little lonely. I sure do miss D.No and C.Shell. I wont see Mama Moab again because she is aqua blazing (kayaking) the Shenandoah's and then skipping up to CT. She will pick up the section she misses after she summits K.My husband is meeting me in Harpers Ferry on the 21st, so I have to average about 17 miles per day to make it on time, and I cant zero here or until Harpers Ferry. Tomorrow I enter Shenandoah State Park- my old stomping grounds. I have not been there since I was a teenager, so I am excited to return.Big thanks to my brother, his wife, and Penn Tech International for the sweet hotel room! Love you guys!