morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-05-14
From: Mountaineer Falls Shelter

To: Vandeventer Shelter
Miles today: 32.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Today I climbed the big hill Nick took me over in January. I was thinking it wouldn't be so bad since I'm in such good shape and all... NOT! I may be in good shape, but that mountain didn't get any less steep. I hate that thing, it's steep as a @#%&$ wall!!! I didn't write yesterday, but to sum things up I should note that it was 15 mile hike into Kincora, by far the BEST hostel I've seen or probably will see according to other hikers... I hope they're wrong. I had a bunk, a great night's sleep, and the crowd was a lot less "interesting". I forgot to mention that Park Bench and Sanford caught up with me at Overmountain Shelter, a couple of guys that through hiked last year that I met in Hot Springs. Nice guys, Park Bench made gravy biscuits in the morning, perfect load of calories before I had to climb that beloved hill. Today was about a 17 mile hike. I went from Kincora in Dennis Cove to Vandeventer Shelter which had an awesome view of Watauga Lake behind it and below it well over 1,000 feet. I pulled ahead of J.B. and Melk, they're at a shelter or campsite behind me a few miles. I got in late because once again I got a late start out of Kincora. Oh well, it doesn't matter out here. On to Double Springs Shelter tomorrow night.
Date: 2007-05-15
From: Vandeventer Shelter

To: Double Springs Shelter
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Crossed mile marker 441 and some change today, 18 more to Damascus. I'll call Grizzly and Dad tomorrow to get some plans in order for my departure date from the trail and arrival date home to see friends and family for the last time until maybe October. I met a guy named Tyvek today. I had heard about him from Daniel back around Franklin, NC. Tyvek's sort of a trail legend, nice guy, hikes for a good cause, and very driven. He told me to check out his website, so I will and I'll also pass it on to everyone else who reads my journal (thelongwalkhome.org) Tyvek doesn't wear shoes and carries his things in a belt around his waist made of the material he's "trailnamed" for. It's pretty neat when you meet people that you've heard stories about that personify them as fictional characters in this story named "Appalachian Trail". It was an easy, flat day today, but I'm really tired and ready to go to sleep. Must mention before closing. I've been hiking close to a father and his 12 year old son from Fla. since yesterday. They have family close to Damascus and are making the 40 mile stretch from Watauga Lake (U.S. 321) to Damascus. Long story short... they arrived at Double Springs Shelter a while after I arrived and decided to hike on @ 2 miles to tent camp. About an hour later, they came walking back to the shelter looking a bit like they'd seen a ghost. Asking them what was wrong, I learned they had seen a family of bears (5!) walking towards them on the trail. The bears saw them and quickly scattered, but still scared they decided to turn back. This is the closest encounter I've had with bears myself so far.
Date: 2007-05-17
From: Double Springs Shelter

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: clear sky

Today's a much needed zero day, yesterday was 18 miles into town. My feet really hurt at the end of the hike yesterday, especially the front area or ball of my feet close to the toes. Rest should take care of the issue. Yesterday it rained, then cleared up to where my clothes dried. Then, immediately after I put my camera away from taking the picture at the town sign, the bottom of the sky just fell out. So I made it to "The Place" where I had a roof over my head and wound down.
Date: 2007-05-18
From: Damascus, VA

To: U.S. 58
Miles today: 17.0

I slack packed** today, it's almost like committing a deadly sin to some hikers. Oh well, I just couldn't sit around another day doing nothing, though doing nothing is nice sometimes... a lot of the reason I wanted to hike farther was because I know I'm going home for a long break... I need those miles!!! Slack packing is so easy, you feel like you're floating! It made me realize that if I lighten my load a good bit, my hike may be a little more enjoyable.   **slack packing is where you hike without your backpack on, get somewhere and and hitch hike back into town (in my case) and the next time you hike you can jump right to the point of the trail where you finished the slack pack hike.
Date: 2007-05-24
From: U.S. 58

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Here I am sitting at home updating the journals. I'm ready to hit the trail again, really ready. It's been nice seeing friends and family so far and comforting figuring out that I have not forgotten or become any less skilled as a banjo player... (one of my biggest worries) whewww!! But I have to mention something huge that I've realized since being home... it's hard and almost not right. I know that I'm going to be gone for another 4 and 1/2 months (at least) so I don't like to be around certain things that are going to make me wish that I wasn't hiking. So it's best for me to just be away and come back home when the time is right and as the Kruger Brothers*** say "when the work's all done this fall." For all of those I won't see again until October, and for those I didn't see while back in the good 'ole North State, Peace, Love, Happiness, and all the good stuff!***The Kruger Brothers are by far my favorite musicians and most inspired me to want to pick up a banjo.
Date: 2007-05-26
From: U.S. 58

To: thomas knob shelter
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Here I am, back on the trail. Not too many words today other than it's nice to be back after a wonderful break, which according to the way my knees and feet feel (sore) was a little too long for the body! It rained on me today for about 1/2 the day's hike... a proper welcome back from Mother Nature I'd say, testing my desire to be out in the woods. The fact that I won't see any of the fam or friends for another 4 months hasn't set in yet, but oh well... those are the kinds of things I mustn't think of out here because they can really get you down and feel like leaving the trail. I'll be approaching the Grayson Highlands State Park tomorrow, the famed place of the (sort of wild) feral ponies. The reason they're not wild is because the park service placed them there several years ago... and they're fenced in, but a HUGE fenced area it is, we're talking at least hundreds of acres. One of the ponies actually came to the shelter tonight looking to score some free food from hikers who don't know any better. You have to guard your pack from these ponies because they'll sneak off with one in a heartbeat! I'll post a photo or two.
Date: 2007-05-27
From: Thomas Knob Shelter

To: Hurricane Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 14.9
Weather: overcast clouds

This morning I rounded a turn in the trail to be met by 4 ponies standing right in the way. There was no way around them because I was surrounded by thick Rhododendron and Mtn. Laurel bushes. The gray one that I took a picture of was very brave... she came right to me where I was able to pet her on the nose. It wasn't pampering she was looking for of course... it was food, of which I gave her none. On a different note, I must mention Virginia's terrain. It is very agreeable and the easiest hiking I've seen so far. The geography has changed a bit, Virginia's ridges are very flat and uniform, making the climbing part of the day much less frequent and the ridgewalking (walking the top of a flat series of mountain tops) very lengthy and pleasant. I'm careful to say this because I know the entire state of VA will not be this way. I've met a few new folks, obviously, since the rest of the crew I'm familiar with are several days ahead of me. There's a young couple about my age named Speaks Little and Gypsy Spirit, an older man named Xenon, and another by the name of Moose who are quiet and reserved. I'm going to try a 20+ miler tomorrow to get to Partnership Shelter, the famous place of pizza delivery and possibly some cold beverages.
Date: 2007-05-28
From: Hurricane Mountain Shelter

To: Partnership Shelter
Miles today: 20.8
Weather: scattered clouds

My longest day so far. I arrived at Partnership shelter to find a group of folks doing some trail magic, they greeted me with a big bowl of cookies and cream icecream. Also, I beat a thunderstorm by 5 min.'s at most to avoid getting soaking wet! I ate pizza and hitched into a convenience store where I bought some cheap beer... the shelter, as another hiker put it in the register, should be renamed "partyship" shelter. My feet are sore because my shoes are nearly worn out, time for something new.
Date: 2007-05-30
From: Davis Path Shelter

To: Chestnut Knob Shelter
Miles today: 20.2
Weather: clear sky

Another 20 miler, and what day it was... toughest in VA so far! Unlike the first really easy stretch of VA I mentioned earlier. A few things to mention today... 1. the adventure aspect of this trip has hit me due much to the fact that I'm now walking away from home rather than towards. 2. It was so hot that I went swimming after about 8 miles of hiking... in a decent sized creek that was hard to resist, it felt soooo refreshing. 20 mile days are really tough, especially in the heat. So I've figured out how to deal with them in a way you can still enjoy the hike and not feel like you have too many miles to do. 1. Start early in the day, before the heat hits, and when I say early I mean like 6:00 am early. 2. Go Slow, don't be in a hurry. 3. Drink a LOT of water. 4. Take several breaks where you can sit down in a shady spot for a few min.'s. Something else I thought about today, what am I going to do when I'm finished with the trail? I've thought about how fun it may be to work at a ski resort up in New England for the winter, how awesome would that be!? Save all my bucks, hopefully live in a dorm or some kind of housing provided to employees by the resort? I'll check into it more as I get farther north. After the winter's over, hopefully I'll have done two other significant things... 1. Take the GRE and apply to grad. school at ASU. 2. Get recertified as a lifeguard so I can work at GGCC again and earn some scholarship money, etc. for my next round of college. Possible? Certainly! Sound simple? Yes. Will it be simple? No. Will it be worth it? Indeed.
Date: 2007-05-31
From: Chestnut Knob Shelter

To: Va. 615, Laurel Creek
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: clear sky

An easy day that ticked by quickly! Any day less than 20 miles tends to go by rather fast. I met back up with my friend Matt, aka. Yellow Snowman today. Fun guy to be around, we got some trail magic today (Gatorades in a cooler by the stream). Not much else to say... sorry everybody, some days are just normal, like another day in the office!
Date: 2007-06-02
From: Jenny's Knob Shelter

To: Wapiti Shelter
Miles today: 14.2
Weather: light rain

An awesome, fun AT day! I stopped in at a little po dunk gas station that has big cheeseburgers, beer and all the other conveniences provided by... a convenience store. Anyway, after the burger, Yellow Snowman and I packed a couple of beverages in the packs and hiked to Dismal Creek falls. We met up with a few other hikers and had a nice swim at the falls, then we hiked on to the shelter (Wapiti).
Date: 2007-06-03
From: Wapiti Shelter

To: Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: light rain

Yellow Snowman and I had the shelter to ourselves last night, we woke up after sleeping late and were greeted by nothing other than a terrential down pour of rain. So, not wanting to be cold and wet all day, we tried waiting out the rain until it got to be lunch time, noon. Did the rain stop? No, it only got worse. Basicly, today sucked! So we walked all day in the cold rain, got to Pearisburg at nearly 9 pm, walked into a cheap motel, which we split with another hiker, and called it a day. I'm not feeling very well coming into Pearisburg. My body sort of aches, I'm grouchy because I'd like to have some privacy and comfort... I feel a little bug coming on, not going to be fun. I'm going to zero tomorrow at the hostel and see how I feel the next day.
Date: 2007-06-05
From: Pearisburg

To: Rice Field Shelter
Miles today: 6.0
Weather: light rain

Yep, I feel pretty under the weather. I had a fever last night, today I have no appetite, and I have to poop a lot... something I'm sure everyone wants to know. On top of that, I already hate the fact that I traded in my worn out shoes for my boots until I can get something new at an outfitter in Daleville. Oh well, I gotta keep truckin'
Date: 2007-06-11
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Stewart called me this afternoon and asked me to let all his friends and family know that he is doing great. He sounded so confident on the phone. He is in Daleville, Va 714.3 miles from Springer and 1459.7 miles fron Katahdin. I had mailed him his boots to Pearisburg, Va and after several days he realized that they were not going to work for him due to weight. He was able to pick up a pair of Montrail Hard Rock hiking shoes at an outfitter in Daleville and now all is good. When your feet are comfortable it makes a world of difference. He will be updating as soon as he can get on line with Journal entries and pictures. He is sharing a room in a motel tonight with several other thru hikers and was going out for Mexican and will be back on the trail tomorrow. We are all so proud of what he is doing. Tommy Kincaid, Jr. (Tuna Bag's Father)
Date: 2007-06-11
To: Daleville
Miles today: 86.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Alright, I'm not going to keep elaborating on the negatives and go ahead and skip a few days of journal "entrying". As of June 11, I've gotten my strength back, I feel good again, and most importantly, hiked into Daleville where I'm getting new shoes! Yes!!!! I ate at Shoney's for breakfast this morning and consumed more food than I have ever put down without getting sick. All that being sick and having no appetite for days just built up and was finally satisfied. I got into town early today, so I'll be able to enjoy myself. There's a pool at the Econo Lodge where I'm sharing a room with 4 other guys, so it's cheap, and I got a bed, only one guy had to sleep on the floor. I'll be heading out tomorrow, my mind is in the right place once again, (and heart as well), life is finally great again on the AT, thank goodness, never again a thought of quitting!
Date: 2007-06-17
From: Daleville

To: Dutch Haus B&B
Miles today: 95.0

I made some great miles from Daleville to where I am now, Montebello, at the Dutch Haus Bed and Breakfast. The cost is 25 bucks, kind of expensive for me, but I couldn't resist. It's been nearly 200 miles since I've done laundry, and everything's included in that price... (laundry, internet, 2 Meals, a bed with sheets!, and just flat out... it's the best place I've stayed at so far, can't beat it!) So, this is where I'm updating my journals, they're not as detailed or insightful because I've let them all pile up and it would take hours of typing and a massive load of patience to get them all done. There's others waiting for the computer too... much love to all at home and those in Boone which I've thoroughly enjoyed laughing with over the phone with regularly.
Date: 2007-06-20
From: Dutch Haus B&B

To: Waynesboro
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

After leaving Montebello, the next destination on my list was Waynesboro, VA. I've been hiking with Cobweb and Mayo, two guys from Massachusetts that are pretty funny. Mayo's the type of guy who likes to bust people's chops, Cobweb much the same, and since I'm from the south, it's pretty self explanatory as to what types of conversations we have on a daily basis... childish, comic, mocking-like, etc. Mayo enjoys trying to impersonate some of my southern linguistic tendencies, while I always fire back by saying how they lack manners, class, courtesy, and all that other yankee stuff... hah, all in good fun.   Waynesboro is a friendly trail town, one of the larger towns I've visited along the trail. The Shenandoah National Park (SNP) is the next stretch of trail that lies ahead. It's reputation is that it's terrain is fairly gentle and unchallenging, there's plenty of places to eat along the way, and you're pretty likely to see a bear or two. I always look forward to the places that lay ahead of me, we'll see how the SNP plays out.
Date: 2007-06-24
From: Waynesboro

To: Luray, VA
Miles today: 0.0

So far I've been in the SNP for a few days and there's really not anything worth writing home about... literally. The park is a let down. The wildlife is not wild, (the deer are so tame that they may actually eat out of your hand)you never feel like you're in the wilderness (Skyline Drive is constantly an earshot over your shoulder), there aren't any good views, the mountains are not very spectacular, and the food that you can get along the way is expensive and sub average. The most exciting thing that does ring true about what I had heard about the SNP is the fact that I did see a couple of bears. Cobweb, Mayo, and myself have gotten off the trail at Luray to take a side trip... a little canoeing down the Shenandoah River. I must note that as I write this journal entry, we've already taken our trip and I can say that it was enjoyable, however it was very hot! The Shenandoah River is shallow and not too wild, so the rapids we hit were not as intense as I would have liked. We stayed on the river for two days and I must say that of all the zero days I've taken since on the AT, these were the most exhausting. The exhaustion is a different type than what you experience after hiking 18 miles a day. It reminded me of how I used to feel after a tough day at Grandfather Country Club in Boone where I lifeguarded for several summers in college. The sun just slowly drains you! At least when hiking you've got plenty of shade to take refuge in.
Date: 2007-07-04
From: Luray, VA

To: Harpers Ferry, WV
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Happy 4th to everyone out there! Today I'll be leaving Harpers Ferry, the spiritual halfway point of the AT. Cobweb, Mayo, Melk, Persistent, Young Eagle, Ronin, and myself all arrived here on July 2. What a great feeling it's been to take this place in! When we first got here, Cobweb, Mayo, and I went to the ATC headquarters. We had our pictures taken, signed the register, and put our photos into the archives. I'm number 500 this year in terms of thru hikers that have passed through Harpers Ferry this year. It's not a completely accurate count/number, but it's the best that the ATC can keep track of due to several factors... some hikers flip flop, blue blaze, yellow blaze, hitch hike, finish sections of their section hike of the trail, etc. I looked up several other people that I've met along the trail to look at their photos and even dug up Nick Matus (Grizzly's) picture from last year, number 112. I'm getting a very late start out today, but not a worry. I have several things to look forward to, the most significant being my anticipated arrival in Gettysburg (4-5 days from today). As always, much love to all my friends and family! PS... mileage so far at Harpers Ferry is @ 1,009
Date: 2007-07-07
From: Gettysburg

To: Gettysburg
Miles today: 0.0

The fourth of July, 2007, the first one I can remember where I didn't see any fireworks. Oh well... not a big deal, it was a fourth that I'll remember forever though. The night was spent in my tent at a campsite that was @10 miles into the state of Maryland. It started to pour down rain just as I got comfortably nestled inside and situated for a nice night's sleep. I spent a few minutes thinking a lot about how hectic the week had been for all of my friends back in Boone at Grandfather Golf and Country Club (I'm sure everything went well and I'll be in touch with ya'll soon and often). The next day, July 5th, I came to a road crossing where I saw a crowd of hikers jumping out of the back of a pickup truck as I enjoyed some trail magic from a hiker named "Jedi". I met the folks that unloaded from the truck as I scarffed down a couple of bologna sandwiches and a Gatorade. This group consisted of hikers Dirty, Tater, Grizzle, Bigby, Candy Bar, Jake, Boognish, G, Keymaster, and Veg. This looked like a really fun group of hikers, so for the next couple of days I stuck pretty close to them. It turned out that they, like myself, were planning to go to Gettysburg so I knew that sticking with them would mean an adventure, and hopefully an easy ride to Gettysburg.As it turned out, I made a wise decision. Upon reaching the PA/MD state line, we were welcomed by a family that picked us up on PA 16 named the "Rosesniffers". I'm still not sure if that was their real last name, but anyway, they were awesome! Bill and Amy Rosesniffer took us to their home where they cooked burgers and dogs for all of us, let us use their laundry and showers, camp in their basement and back yard, AND they cooked us pancakes for breakfast, AND they took us to Gettysburg... We had a great time, and I am still blown away by the hospitality they dished out. And most amazingly... what state was this all happening in? PENNSYLVANIA. I'm on what side of the Mason-Dixon Line? Gettysburg. What else must I say? It was absolutely incredible. Looking across that battle field, discovering that my confederate ancestor's regiment from NC was there (5th NC, Joseph Cowan Irvin), standing on the Confederate side and looking at what doom would have layed across that field for young southerners like myself 144 years ago, then walking up that infamous path taken by General Pickett's men... this just overwhelmed me! I was in a state of awe that I've never felt. And to top it all off... I walked here!... from Georgia! The battle field and all it had to teach was too vast for me take in in just one day, so I'll be back.
Date: 2007-07-08
From: PA SR 16

To: Quarry Gap Shelters
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Back to the trail after my experience in Gettysburg. Today I'm hiking with Candybar. She and I were able to get a ride from another hikers mother who came to visit in Gettysburg. This is my first real day of Pennsylvania hiking... I'm excited.
Date: 2007-07-10
From: Pine Grove Furnace State Park

To: Alec Kennedy Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

The highlight of today = the HALF GALLON CHALLENGE! For those of you at home and across the world wide web who don't know, the half gallon challenge is a traditional event that thru hikers participate in when they reach the official half way point. Here are the rules. 1. Buy a half gallon of ice cream, any flavor you wish. 2. (optional) Have other hikers with you, preferably a group of people you like. 3. Eat the entire half gallon, fastest time obviously wins. These were my competitors... Grizzle, G, Keymaster, Veg, Dirty, Candybar, and Maryland Edge, and in absentia, Tater (Tater had to compete later in the day because he was hiking with his parents). The results, I came in fourth place, 30 minutes and 15 seconds, pretty disappointing... I don't think I brought my "A game" to the table. In first place... Candybar... AMAZING! Finished in 18 minutes, blew us all away. It's unreal how a young, skinny, Canadian girl can pack such heat... she made all of us "men" look like midgets trying out for a professional basketball team. Second place went to Tater, third to Grizzle, fifth to Dirty, and then to Keymaster, G, Maryland Edge, Veg. By the way, it is HHHOOOOOTTTTTTTT up here in PA! If you want to know how it feels, just look at the pictures.