morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-04-13
From: Clyde Smith Shelter

To: Overmountain Shelter
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: light rain

It's morning and absolutely pouring. I refuse to get out of my tent, which is mostly dry, which isn't at all like being mostly dead. A few small leaks have been revealed by the storm (thanks!), so I'll have to seam seal it again, if, okay when, the world drys out. Squish, madman that he is, headed out about 1/2 an hour ago. Actually, hats off to him. He's done the first month and enjoyed it, despite a balky left knee that forced him to walk stiff legged, and shin splints on BOTH left and right lower shins.***Long hard climb this morning in the rain over the humps of Roan Mtn (elev 6200) and onwards to Roan High Knob Shelter, at 6285 ft the highest shelter on the trail. Lots of snow still up there, and near freezing temps. It stopped raining, and Rockhound and I hiked downwards, often in a path that had become a freezing cold stream. Imagine hiking this in sandals! Glad I'm not, like some other hikers far hardier than I. Being a wimp is so much more enjoyable. Roan was difficult, and the Catawba Thodendendrum garden up there wasn't in bloom yet. Climbed through the 2.5 billion year old (exposed) rocks after Carvers Gap and then the going got easier and visibility better and better all the way to this shelter. This is an old converted baarn, and is spaciously accomodating 8 of us. Of course it's freezing again. Elk Park tomorrow.
Date: 2004-04-14
From: Elk Park, NC

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

(Entered by Melicca)Dave called last night. They made it to Elk Park -- but not w/out excitement. MORE SNOW! only about 2 inches this time. Rockhound woke up in the middle of the night and I guess discovered the snow and alerted everyone else. They have decided to try their first slack pack hike on 4/15 and spend the night in the hostel again. They should be in VA by Sunday!! Yeah!!
Date: 2004-04-14
From: Overmountain Shelter

To: Laurel Creek Lodge
Miles today: 8.7
Weather: light rain

Another day of contrasts. Awoke in the middle of last night to find it was snowing again! That wasn't supposed to happen. The forecast was for 60 degree weather, but this storm surprised everyone. My boots were frozen, but I squeezed into them with a hand from a hard barn beam. My tent was hanging to dry, so it was frozen stiff (but dry until it melted!). I jammed it into it's bag, shivered into my clothes, and was off! Squish and I actually hiked together this morning.We climbed Little Hump Mtn and Hump Mtn in a snow and with wind gusts that were over 50 MPH. Driving snow froze my left cheek, and I had to lean pretty hard into the winds at times. Mostly we were walking through a bald, supposedly with beautiful views, but visibility was very bad. We got into Elk Park around 12:45, after catching a lift in the back of a truck. After the P.O. was reopened after lunch break we walked in, mailed a few letters, and hocus pocus, the mail drop I was expecting showed up. Perfect timing! Then, it got even better. The postmaster got a call and handed me the telephone as I stood there. It was Rockhound. He, J-Bird, and Burning Boots were about mile away, getting a lift to Laurel Creek Lodge and did we want to come? Oh yeah!So here I am now. More about this wonderful place tomorrow. It's late, and boots by the stove, showered and laundered and well fed, I'm off to bed.
Date: 2004-04-15
To: Laurel Creek
Miles today: 23.6
Weather: clear sky

Dickensonian day. It started off with a delicious breakfast. Then John, the good man who lives here at the Lodge, drove me, Squish, Rockhound, J Bird and Burning boots back to where he'd picked us up the day before in the snow. Wearing only daypacks, we walked mostly level terrain back to the hostel bunkhouse. Big miles. Tough day for me personally as I developed a R. shin splint around ten miles and limped my way slowly back to base. It's called slackpacking, and it means by today's definition, carrying only the bare daily essentials. Makes the pack weight a lot less of course, and uphills less painful, but it doesn't really increase one's speed.Nicest part of the hike was the blue blazed side trail about 4 miles past Elk Park that led to Jones Falls. With all the storm runoff the fall was really thunderous.Weather forecast says the good weather should stick around for awhile. I sure hope so. Oh Hoplite and Ichabod, Love Bug and Dead Man Walking, and Sweaty Pig are all at the Lodge too.
Date: 2004-04-16
From: Laurel Creek

To: campsite just south of Vandeventer shelter
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Too tired to write very much this evening. Got a late start out of the hostel, slack packed 13 miles to where John had driven with our packs (thanks John!), then hiked another 4 to Vandeventer Shelter as the sun was setting over the mountains. Found the shelter full, tured back south and went a little way until finding a place to tent.The Laurel Falls and Watagua Lake area is beautiful. I'd like to come back here with Melicca sometime.Met Flora and Fauna today, 2 sisters hiking together whose journals are also on this site. R shin still painful.Check out Laurel Creek Lodge.com for more information about a nice place to stay. Low frills, but very friendly and in a beautiful location. There's a picture of it that I hope come out and is posted.
Date: 2004-04-17
From: campsite just south of Vandeventer shelter

To: campsite just south of Low Gap
Miles today: 18.2

Oddly, I'm writing this to the sound of motors. There's a road just a tenth of a mile north of here and this campsite is not quiet. No matter. The bignews is that tomorrow I cross into VA! It's been a long five weeks but I'm walkin' home.It was around 80 degrees and sunny today, hot weather and in sharp contrast to the snow of 3 days ago. I limped all day today. The left foot is pretty blistered up as well. Nice to be off the feet at night.Hello to my friends at PVCC & elsewhere! I miss you. There are even some aspects of work I miss. To Melinda, my workforce development colleague that offered kindly to host me in Damascus - I've lost your contact info and cannot find you. Thank you again for your kind offer of your hospitality. Surely the hostel will be no match.A newcomer is camped out here with the usual suspects. Semicolon, a young lady from MI. She's keeping about the same pace we are and is also heading into Damascus tomorrow. She too is also on trailjournals.com. And thanks to good conversation, she knows about the size of Rockhounds Microworks (pump).The woods are waking up and brown hillsides are turning green. It's beautiful, especially at the lower elevations.
Date: 2004-04-18
From: Demasscus, VA

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

(Entered by Melicca)Heard from Dave today! He and Squish are in Demasscus (I'm sure I misspelled that). They are staying at a church/hostel place w/tons of other hikers. Dinner was at a homey place where the food was cooked and served by thru hikers and they sat with about 20 other hikers for dinner. Sounded like they had fun. No more snow, thank goodness. The weather has improved. Dave's foot/shin is still bothering him, so they may have to slow down a bit. No new boxes of items. But I did get flowers today at work from Dave. What a great husband!
Date: 2004-04-18
To: Damascus
Miles today: 14.9
Weather: clear sky

Marched out of TN and into VA today. VA, my home state! A difficult day, but only because of the shin. Otherwise the trail was extremely level. The temp was in the 80's, and water was a little scarce. Reached the trail town of Damascus around 3:30 and found lodging at "The Place", a Methodist run hostel for AT hikers and cyclists on the Transcontinental Bike Trail. The life of occasional hosteling takes some getting used to. Tonight there were 6 of us in this room in bunk beds without mattresses as usual. Squish, Rockhound and I were were Semicolon, Flora and Fauna. Strangers, trying to give each other some privacy where little space exists. There were at least 4 other rooms at this hostel and most if not all of the bunks were full, plus some common areas.Had terrific communal dinner with about 20 thru hikers at the hiker owned and operated Side Track Cafe. Simple fare, but very filling and good. Black beans, rice and chicken, greens, water, sweet tea, ice cream and deserts. Among other hikers I hadn't met before were: Leki-less (TJ), Country, Bramble, Nuffy and Patrick Deaner (TJ), whose brother had just gotten off the trail.Talked to Melicca twice today and am missing her very much. Being closer to home is both good and bad.
Date: 2004-04-19
To: Pond/campsite
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: overcast clouds

First time camping alongside a pond, and the sound of the water is soothing. Ran around Damascus all morning doing errands, ate a big lunch at the family owned Dairy King, and headed out of town around 12:30. Talked to a few people at Piedmont Works before I left town. Did make a sweet stop at "In the Country", where I grabbed an ice cream sundae to eat as I walked back up into the mountains. The first mile of the day was flat and followed alongside a great looking stream. In fact, several miles were spent within view of the stream until eventually I clmbed too high and it was lost.Damascus was a LOT of fun. It was very hard to leave. I'm tired now, and not going to write in the journal longer tonight, but will try to relate some of the stories later....late addition. More about the side track cafe. Ate breakfast there too. What a great vibe. I can see how people get sucked in here and don't leave for awhile, but then when they do leave it seems to happen quickly, ala Rachel, a good spirited girl we met there, who cooked dinner, then quit the next morning to get hiking again, or for other reasons.
Date: 2004-04-20
To: Thomas Knob Shelter
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Some fellow is playing a Native American Chorded (or corded) flute over the voices of the people staying in the bottom of this shelter. I'm on my thermarest in the shelter loft along with the gang. It rained this afternoon, clearing the humidity from the air. I limped wetly, boring. Some lithe young woman doing trail running ran past me 3 time today. Three times! I nearly cried as I watched her and I momentarily stop walking. I can remember when I used to run effortlessly - let alone walk so. Most everyone out here is doing the AT shuffle to some extent or other. The trail just beats you up. This is the last time sleeping over 500 ft for over 1,300 miles. The mountains are about to get lower, go mountains go mountains, starting around the end of the day tomorrow.Rockhound and I split 2 games of chess this evening. Bent one of my Leki's when I hit a tree with it, frustrated at the left shin for starting to splint. Long day planned for tomorrow.Too tired to cook tonight, so I continued my AT diet of a couple large candy bard, Gorp, and spoonfuls of peanut butter for dinner. One of the nice things about being out here, you can eat all the chocolate and calories and crap you want and still lose weight. It's alchemy.
Date: 2004-04-21
To: stealth campsite 3 miles south of Troutdale
Miles today: 18.3

One of the bet days on the trail today. Weather was sunny and not humid and the footpath passed through some great sights. Awoke around dawn to the sounds of Burning Boots and J Bird dressing in the darkened loft. They've got nearly a week of big mileage days planned trying to get into Pearisburg by Tuesday to meet family and pick up their dog Hershey. It'll be odd hiking without them after nearly a month of doing so daily, and cooking and tenting together. Bye guys! We'll probably pick them up again after Pearisburg. Rockhound hiked today with Squish and I. In the morning we squeezed through a natural rock tunnel "Fatman Squeeze". Not too tough, kinda fun. Continuing on, we entered Grayson Highlands State Park. Wild ponies roam free here (okay, fenced in, but the park is vast). They eat the grass and help to maintain the balds that so confuse the Park Service people. The views were tremendous and I saw lots of ponies, even petting one pretty unafraid one. Hit the 500 miles mark today. A good number, one I can be pround of when I stop this and return home. That's almost heretical thinking out here, but the truth is I miss my "real life". Meanwhile, I'll continue to walk. Home is just over 300 miles away.To everyone who has emailed me, hello!!! I'm sorry I haven't returned emails, i'ts harder to get time online than I thought it would be. When I get back there will be a lot of catching up.
Date: 2004-04-22
To: Partnership Shelter
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Tonight I'm at the "Taj Majal" of AT shelters. Next to the Mt. Rogers national Recreation area headquarters, there's two levels, no drafts except from the open windows, a solar shower and a filtered faucet (hot & cold). Plus the road is 1/4 mile away, and a local pizza place delivers (only shelter on the AT where this happens). There's also a phone at the headquarters - I talked to Melicca for an hour and a half after the rest of shelter had fallen asleep.Good day today, over rocky but not too difficult terrain. A few sprinkles of rain. got going early, admired Comers Creek's cascading waterfall, & hitched into Troutdale to pick up a mail drop. Thanks Melicca, M&D, and Grandma! Ate a huge lunch at the Troutdale trading post & hitched back to the trail. Good mileage on a mail drop. Nice to get back to hitching again - and it's been easy.Also sleeping at this shelter are a couple of section hikers, Footloose (met him first at Elmer's, easygoing guy, Squish, Rockhound, Good to Go (TJ), WillieGoat(TJ) and... Scuba(TJ). Finally caught the guy, I've been just behind him for weeks now. I'd ready of him before starting out. He's from Waynesboro, near where I live, and the local paper did an article on him. His girlfriend Tina had also emailed my account here. Nice fellow, enjoyed chatting with him.
Date: 2004-04-23
From: Partnership Shelter

To: Crawfish Valley, Fish Creek
Miles today: 17.8

A hot and humid day today with intermittant showers. It's raining now, as I tent 10 feet from the edge of a stream. Rockhound and Squish are in their tents 30 feet away. For me, nothing promotes a sounder sleep than the audible movement of water, so I always sleep near it if I can.Before I forget, thanks to Rockhound's mom Bernadette for the great choc. chip cookie bars. We've all got too much food and are competing to lighten our backpacks by getting others to eat some of our food.The trail marchedup and down between 2400 and 3300 ft in elevation today. It was pretty rocky early, but smoother later. One tough climb around Brushy Mtn had me flowing sweat. Between the frequent rains and the humidity there's no chance of anything really drying and all of it smells bad. Talked to Claude Ferry mid afternoon from a pay phone when I hit Rt. 81 and he said weather is expected to improve, thankfully. Hurray for my eye in the sky, C.F.Saw 2 good sized black snakes on the trail today, one almost 5 feet in length. Didn't know they rattled their tails like rattlers in warning. Other than them, the only snakes I've seen have been garters, no rattlers or copperheads.
Date: 2004-04-24
To: Chestnut Knob Shelter
Miles today: 16.7
Weather: clear sky

I'm encamped at the Chestnut Knob Shelter, 4,400 ft elev, a stone building a the top of a mountain bold. Nice play, it has windows and doors and is in good condition. The door is the real rarity. Got some nice pictures of a pretty sunset, hopefully at at least one will come out. There also seems to be a storm approaching. It rained last night after dark, so tonight's rain would be a double treat. Also here are Squish, Rockhound, LWOP (TJ), and Bushy. Tenting outside are Good to Go and Willie Goat. Good to Go is the more serious of the two, and the pusher. Willie Goat moves a little slower, in flow. He's had a rough day or two lately. His journal will explain, I'm sure.Best part of today's hike was taking off my shoes and numbing my feet at Lick Creek, enjoying the sunshine and just kicking back. Would have hiked further today, but the way the shelters are spaced and the lack of available campsites here made it difficult. So, hopefully a longer day tomorrow. Hopefully longer sounds weird, but it's only that I'm trying to get to a certain place at a certain time. The days are much more enjoyable when the miles aren't too high. Otherwise all one does is walk, and that's not enough. I've got 269 miles to get to see melicca on time.Oh, also really enjoyable this morning was strolling across meadows on private property. Great big views, easy footing, butterflies everywhere, etc. We even pickedup some ramps (thanks SCUBA) and morels.Worst part of the day, PUDS. Stands for pointless ups and downs. There were plenty of them today and many more to come.
Date: 2004-04-25
To: Helvey's Mill Shelter
Miles today: 23.8
Weather: light rain

Longest day yet, the last few of them in thunder and lightning, too tired or uncaring to get into raingear again. And unwilling, Red Ledge just doesn't breath that well, and so sweat makes one as wet as if wearing no rainger at all.Highlight of the day was crossing Wolf Creek 12 times before we finally marched back up into the hills and ceased that foolishness.In the shelter with Squish, Rockhound, GoodtoGo & WillieGoat, drying our stuff out on lines strung across the shelter's front. Another long day planned for tomorrow. Trying to get to Pearisburg Tuesday night.
Date: 2004-04-26
To: the great unknown
Miles today: 26.0

Woke up the sound of more rain, and hiked a hard and fast ten miles to Jenny Knob,the first shelter. There, in a foul mood, I changed clothes into my last semi dry set, blew up my thermarest, slung my sleeping bag upon it, and pulling the collar closed had a nap. When I woke up, warmed, I found the others in the shelter were doing the same thing. Pretty funny, looked back upon. Later, there was talk about where to hike to next. Eventually, Squish, Good to Go and Willie Goat headed out to hike to Wapiti Shelter, 14 miles up the road. It was around 2:30. I was unwilling, again, to leave a nice warm shelter and couldn't make up my mind where to go to, so I hung back and Rockhound hung with me. I very much wanted to be out of this mess. Therefore, I asked Rockhound if he'd like to accompany me on a walk to Pearisburg that evening, 30 miles away. He gamely said "All right", and it was on! We packed and made quick plans. We'd nap for a few hours, and then leave around 8, hike all night in the dry weather and be in Pearisburg in time for breakfast. Just take it nice and slow.As it turned out, I couldn't sleep, so I read a book that was in the shelter. Nails (TJ) and Dances with Scarf (TJ?) showed up and were very considerate and quiet as we lay to the side trying to sleep, with ear plugs in. Later, Hoplite showed up, an excellent surprise. He'd been hiking the last few days seeing our register entries and had been hoping to catch up. And here we were leaving again. Disappointing, but our paths will cross again.Around 7:30 Rockhound and took off. The air was cool, and the moon was about half full, but our headlamps were necessary by about 9 o'clock. Night hiking is very cool. All your underused senses come more awake - at least for awhile. We crossed valleys that smelled fragrent from some tree in bloom, and spent a long time hiking near a stream that was swollen to nearly a river. Not sure what seperates one from another. Only once did we get lost, when the trail took a sharp right that we missed, and after some confused backtracking we found the path again.Around 1:45 we passed Wapiti Shelter and sat down, having some food - pretty much the last of mine. We were both tired, Rockhound especially, but when I said I was going on at least to the next shelter 8 miles up he gamely said he was coming too. Actually, he never said anything, but just started packing up his equipment. I was surprised, having thought he was going to call it a night and sleep in the shelter we were .1 away from. He's been a great hiking companion, strong, funny, and only kind words to say about everbody (with one notable exception who will not be mentioned).Anyway, on and on we went, weaving a bit, up steep ascent and rock slopes. The trail was not cooperative. Not long after, we became aware the moon and stars were gone, and guess what? Here comes the rain again. We looked for a flat spot for him to pitch his tent. It was a little after 3:00 and I was for going on, but when his tent was set up and the wind was blowing, and rain was starting again, he asked if I wanted to crash and I did! Fell into a hard, hard sleep.
Date: 2004-04-27
To: Pearisburg
Miles today: 16.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Woke up 3 1/2 hours later to mixed sunshine and clouds. Broke camp quickly, walked past a beautiful view spot off the rocks, viewed, walked on. Eating cereal from a bag that Rockhound gave me and here came Squish. He seemed pleased and surprised - but not too surprised. Guess what? My brother knows me. We hiked to Doc's Knob Shelter where I ate the last of my food and Squish tossed me some tuna, which I ate plain. Yuck, but so what. The afternoon featured dear running near the path, surprising and unplanned for "ups", and took forever. There was, however, a beautiful view spot called Angel's Rest where Squish and I took pictures and looked down on the town below. We talked, and then walked down into the town below. 622.0 miles done in 6 1/2 weeks.
Date: 2004-04-28
From: Pearisburg

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

(Entered by Melicca)Heard from Dave today - they made it to Pearisburg - Wet and cold. TONS of Rain. Apparently Green One and Rockhound decided to hike through the night to get their miles in. Amazingly no injuries or wrong turns. They are putting in 20+ days. Everyone's feet were apparently hurting. They sounded good. But once you're off the trail and showered and warm... it's easy to sound good. They are headed to me and should be here on May 8th.
Date: 2004-05-14
From: new entry

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I am getting off the trail. The next few weeks will see me doing some thru-hiker support, a little hiking (but not much), projects around the house, and then a return to work. Thank you to all those who have been following along - and to those reading along at PVCC have a happy graduation! I look forward to seeing you all again.If further explanation is necessary, suffice it to say that my "other" life was more attactive than life on the AT adventure. Of all the trail's many virtues, I will miss the camaraderie most, with unlimited quantities of chocolate a distant second, and the luxury of time to walk and think third.There are many pictures still to be posted, and I'll do that as soon as things calm down a bit.Green One
Date: 2003-08-25
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

It was almost exactly a year ago that I decided to hike the AT this year. A year of constantly thinking and planning. I just finished hiking the John Muir Trail (read my JMT 2003 journal on this site), doing more miles per day than was probably safe. I'll have to remember to begin the AT slowly, and work up to high miles.I've just left my previous apartment and moved to where I can stay for just six months. Nothing to do now except save my money and wait for March....
Date: 2003-09-18
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

The world was simple -- stars in the darkness. Whether it was 1947 B.C. or A.D. suddenly became of no significance. We lived, and that we felt with alert intensity. We realised that life had been full for men before the technical age also -- in fact, fuller and richer in many ways than the life of modern man. Time and evolution somehow ceased to exist; all that was real and that mattered were the same today as they had always been and would always be. We were swallowed up in the absolute common measure of history -- endless unbroken darkness under a swarm of stars.Thor Heyerdahl, "Kon-Tiki"