morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-05-05
From: Damascus, VA

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

This is Sparky's son...just wanted to give a quick update that the direct link is now enabled for this journal. You can link to it by going to http://www.trailjournals.com/sparky2013. For editorial purposes this was also a journal entry to log a zero day in Damascus
Date: 2003-07-01
From: Harper's Creek Shelter

To: Paul C. Wolfe Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Tues 1 July 2003      Harper¢s Creek Shelter to Paul C. Wolfe Shelter 22.3 miles Had force myself to stop walking today when I got to my predecided destination of Paul C. Wolfe Shelter after 22.3 miles. It¢s been another very comfortable day for hiking, although the sky¢s cloudy and the views are hazy. After walking huge mile days for so long even having walked mostly 2mph today I arrived at the shelter a little early and for a few miles contemplated going on to near the highway or all the way into Waynesboro. I¢m thinking much about trying for the pancake record at Weasie¢s so I want to set myself up for a good try. Tomorrow I¢ll go in and get there something about 10am which should be good. It was great to slow back down today. I can think more freely, wildlife doesn¢t jump when I round a corner, and I generally enjoy it more. Found some trail treasure just north of Dripping Rock; soda and honeybun, I appreciate it. Now if only I could come across that every two miles¢¦¢¦.   ¢applejack-
Date: 2013-05-06
From: Damascus, VA

To: Damascus, VA
Miles today: 0.0

Woke up to the sound of rain pounding on the roof. I smiled and went back to sleep, I knew I had made the right decision to take a zero day and wait out the rain. Waited until just before the breakfast bell to go downstairs for coffee. I am staying at the Lazy Fox in Damascus. The 80-something year old proprietor makes a fantastic breakfast. A legend up and down the trail. She refuses to retire because she says she loves meeting the people who stay with her and she believes quitting would shorten her life. I seriously believe she is closer to 90 than 80.Today was a lazy day. My only chore was to go to the post office and mail home the pages out of my guidebook that I have already hiked. That's it! The rest of the day was spent resting, napping eating and visiting with trail friends, some of whom I thought were ahead of me and some I thought had gone home. Bad weather brings hikers out of the woodwork and they pile up in town. No one likes to hike in bad weather. We are set up to do a slack pack tomorrow. There is still a 60% chance of rain but we will be coming back here tomorrow night so even if we get rained on we will be able to dry out before we go back to hiking on Wednesday. I am hoping for clear weather when we go through the Roan Highlands where the wild ponies are. Otherwise, the day has been pretty boring, but restful. On-On
Date: 2003-07-05
From: Bearfence Shelter

To: Pass Mtn Hut
Miles today: 26.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Sat 5 July 2003   Bearfence Hut to Pass Mtn Hut         26.8 miles Yes, another blessed day for a stroll along the Appalachian Trail! No rain today, much blue sky and pleasant white clouds to travel 26.8miles to get here to Pass Mtn Hut. I¢ve actually eaten probably the nicest cuisine today for a non-town day on the trail. Got up and left early on the trail at 6am so I could co breakfast at Big Meadows Wayside at 9am after 7 miles. Mmm. Buckwheat pancakes with blackberry syrup and bacon, with a side of eggs n toast. On the way to, I came to the top of a rise and stopped to do something and three bears scattered from 15 feet in front of me. Two one-foot-long babies, one up a tree 10 ft, the other across the trail, and a larger bear, possibly Ma, ran further into the woods. I waited, and decided to just get out of this area and, hands together like prayer, walked through. Half hour later saw another larger bear, after it launched into retreat. So from big Meadows it was 9 pleasant miles to Skyland dining room, a somewhat more upscale place where prices are about 30% more than what I¢d usually like to pay, but that¢s OK here and there. A Sam Adams, chicken quesadillas and a bacon cheeseburger with fries satisfied my taste buds with a pecan and a lemon square for dessert. Another 11 miles and here I am, finishing off this tasty day with my last baked food, Grandma Peg¢s cookies. Here at the hut the other hikers (5) are a bit jealous of my bug net that I set up inside the shelter. There¢s been talk of mugging me for it and they thought of putting a snake they found up here to evict me, but they¢ve actually subsided to offering to rent it, but I don¢t think it¢ll happen for 40 cents. I was going to write more last night, but the local species of no-see-um was givin it to me something fierce so I had to quit that and set the net up. Nobody there had a net either so I felt bad. Not that bad.   ¢applejack-
Date: 2013-05-09
From: Thomas Knob Shelter

To: Hurricane Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: few clouds

I passed 500 miles today, WOO HOO!!!Never say never. I swore I would never spend another night in a shelter but circumstances can change your mind for you. When I got to Thomas Knob last night I was so exhausted that I gladly set up my gear for the night. It was still raining buckets. And, as I expected, the young folks sat up until waay past hiker midnight talking, singing and laughing. This morning some of them gave me "the look" as I was packing up. I just smiled. A mare and her foal made an appearance just as I was getting ready to leave which got everyone excited and out of their bags with their cameras. The sky cleared and the fog burned away around 10 and the rest of the day was a perfect spring day. The path, however, was a muddy mess with occasional rivers to rock hop through. Come to think of it, the Grayson Highlands was mostly water and rock hopping. I arrived here at 5 pm today without much effort. Mostly Zombie walking. I was by myself so I was alone with my thoughts. It was pretty cool for a change. Just as I got my tent set up it started raining again! I hope it won't last long, packing up in the rain is the worst. On-On
Date: 2003-07-07
From: Terrapin Station Hostel

To: Dick's Dome Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Mon 7 July 2003   Terrapin Station Hostel to Dick¢s Dome Shelter   19 miles Mmm. Country breakfast. Half-gallon ice cream. Mmm. After that, it was quite easy to walk 18.9 miles this afternoon. Mike at terrapin Hostel has a great operation going, and he graciously gives a free shuttle to Front Royal, where I got breakfast and hit the ATM. The nineteen miles were pretty ordinary, save for one 0.2 miles open country area, which was scenic. I think that as I am nearing the populated area of Wash DC and mountain¢s elevations are decreasing, the exciting parts of the trail will tone down for a little while. Passed three shelters on the way today. One was a 12 mile into the walk and I didn¢t even stop, the Denton Shelter was quite nice and sported some sort of shower, and the Manassas Gap Shelter which sports copperhead snakes. I don¢t carry the musical instrument for snake charming, so I moved on to Dick¢s Dome Shelter, a queer sort of wooden dome tent-like structure which only would sleep 2-3 comfortably. But the water source is nice which is more important to me. You know, after all I¢ve gone through on this trip, I¢ve come to the conclusion thatI AM THE MAN! I AM AWESOME!It must take a person with incredible focus, determination, and will to do this trip at all.And I go on, keep up with my schedule, and Mother Nature can¢t slow me down nor detract from my enjoyment of the trek with heat, rain, other!Realizing that, I think I deserve something¢¦so I¢ll plan to spend my night Thursday at the nice shelter 6 miles out of Harper¢s Ferry.And I¢m gonna have steak, I¢m gonna have beer, I¢m gonna have a fire, and it¢s gonna RULE! -applejack-
Date: 2013-05-11
From: Partnership Shelter

To: Atkins, VA
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: clear sky

Glad to roll out and start hiking even though it was threatening rain. Last night the rain storm collected the darnedest collection of people who came in from the weather. Loud, obnoxious people that you would normally avoid come in to the shelters too and make you wish you were anywhere else on earth. It started raining around 9 am and I walked mostly on ridge lines, in rain and fog, all morning long but as I was sitting at the Chatfield shelter, eating lunch, the sun came out and burned the fog away. I walked in sunshine the rest of the afternoon until I walked out of the woods onto US-11. I walked over to the Relax Inn and got a room and then walked up to the Barn Restaurant and stuffed myself on a Cheeseburger and Tater Tots. The day was capped off by another rain shower so I was glad I got a room. This motel is certainly not a posh accommodation but it is dry and I won't have to pack out a wet tent or have to ignore a loudmouth know-it-all when I try to go to sleep. And, best of all...no chainsaw snorers!!The only down side to sunshine and warm temps is that it brings out these vicious gnats/flies and, of course, I'm allergic to their bite and have bumps all over my arms and legs that itch like crazy. Heading off to Bland in the morning after breakfast at the Barn. On-On
Date: 2003-07-08
From: Dick's Dome Shelter

To: Blackburn Center
Miles today: 26.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Tues 8 July 2003   Dick¢s Dome Shelter to Blackburn Center PATC   26.8 miles Another day of much variety on the AT whilst doing 26.8 miles. But then, with that many miles there¢d Better be variety! Got up and after I have breakfast about when I leave it begins raining, and does so for 3 hours with occasional distant rumbling thunder, so my shoes were wet/moist all day. Went through a section called the ¢roller coaster¢ for the characteristics of going up & down repeatedly for elevations of 500+ feet gain/loss. When I got to Snicker¢s Gap I wasted some time following blue blazes that actually are more white than blue (c¢mon) and when I found my way I stopped for 40 minutes at a pub/restaurant called Horse Shoe Curve Rest., where I had a delightful respite from my day in this comfortable place with a cheeseburger and a Couple Sam Adams. After which I picked up speed to make destination by dark, the Blackburn Center of the Potomac AT Club. There I was greeted warmly and instantly offered dinner, and when it was served I thought he was serving someone else too! The spaghetti & green beans were piled sooo high. He¢d of said he¢d give me a portion to match my big day, but this was the first time I¢d actually seen it true! Tomorrow it¢s 12 miles to Harper¢s Ferry and I think a slight change of plan- zero day Thursday, yet I still want beer, and there ought to be fire! Today I finally hit the West Virginia border after the most-mileage state (Virginia) consuming 23 days-Alright!   -applejack-
Date: 2013-05-12
From: Atkins, VA

To: Knot Maul Shelter
Miles today: 13.9

I could not have ordered a more perfect day. The only thing that kept it from being a ten was that the wind was just a teensy bit strong. Otherwise the temp was just right (about 50 degrees) and the sky was sky blue and clear as a bell from all the recent rains and with cotton ball clouds. I rate it a solid 9. TRAIL MAGIC!!! I got trail magic twice today. The first time was at breakfast when a guy who does shuttles in the area picked up the tab for our group. We asked the waitress his name but she did not know it so we don't even know who to thank. The second trail magic was in the form of sodas and pb&j sandwiches at the hwy 42 road crossing. That hit the spot because I had not eaten lunch because of such a huge breakfast. The trail was good today. Had the usual hills to climb but I was having a good day and did not struggle at all. If I had not started out so late (9:15am) this morning I would have hiked farther but I ran out of daylight and decided to stop here for the night. I was able to get the exact tent site that I had in 2011 when I hiked here with a friend from Little Rock.When I got to the Davis Path campsite, the point I thought was 1/4 of the way to Katahdin I started to celebrate with some other hikers that were there but one guy, Blood Orange, a confessed Math Major, informed me that the 1/4 mark was still a little over a mile up the trail so I continued on and when I got to a point that I considered sufficient I threw my hiking poles in the air and gave a yell WOO HOO. I don't think anyone heard me though. Tonight it is supposed to get down to freezing. This might be the last cold snap of the year. Bring it on!! I love sleeping in my tent in cold weather. On-On
Date: 2003-07-09
From: Blackburn Center

To: campground
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Wed 9 July 2003      Blackburn Center to Campground      12.4 miles Today was different. I¢d gone the 12.4 miles to town in the morning and did my ATC office visit. Hit the post office and then walking down street with my drift box I was offered a lift from a past thru named Bonzo, who is quite cool. He instantly offered that I camp with him and his pal, and he made right for Food Lion, as I wanted steak. So I bought extra beer, and got there and it¢s like, a row of gravel RV sites parallel to the Shenandoah River. The sites being in between the water and the road, on the other side of the road being railroad tracks, everything running parallel. His friend, Hotdog, was a cool fellow as well, and we got along well, drinking beer all afternoon/evening and people visit now and then. Here and there during the afternoon a rafting business would come by with a busload of people right next to the spot we were hanging out at behind the ghetto ¢blue tarps¢. And also the entire time I was there, even through the night, locomotives idled at high rpms right across the street. It was one of those situations where you dream of what you¢ll do when it¢s over! I was dreaming of a night at Comfort Inn! I endt up sleeping under the tarps, somehow strung up my net, and had to sleep on the hard, sharp gravel! Their little puppy kindly came by and pulled it down so¢s I had to climb out and restring it. That was probably the only uncomfortable surface I¢ve slept on so far.   ¢applejack-
Date: 2013-05-13
From: Knot Maul Shelter

To: Jenkins Shelter
Miles today: 19.1
Weather: clear sky

Another great day made even more special because one of my sons best friends from the Air Force, Chris, and his father Darryl, looked me up on the trail and brought some of the best trail magic I have ever had! Brownies, cookies, beer, bug spray, trail maps of Virginia and home grilled venison! That was several hours ago and my mouth is still watering! That boy must really care a lot about my son to look me up in the woods and THEN hike down a mountainside for 4 miles to bring me trail magic. Chris, I am honored, you and your dad truly made my day!Today's hike was a memorable one also. If yesterday was a 9 then today would have to rank right up there if not higher because the views were better. Call it a 9 1/2. I'm saving that 10 for something spectacular.... LolOn the downhill, leaving the Chestnut Knob shelter I started feeling soreness in my right lower shin area that progressively grew worse during the afternoon. It is okay on the ups and flats but really talks to me on the downs. If it is not better in the morning I think I will get off the trail in Bland and give it a rest then see where to go from there. It does not seem all that serious right now so, hopefully, it will feel better in the morning after a good dose of vitamin I and a nights restOn-On
Date: 2003-07-10
From: campground

To: Rocky Run Shelter
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Thurs 10 July 2003   Campground to Rocky Run Shelter   15.4 miles In the morning Bonzo nicely gave me a ride to the post office, in this van he¢d gotten from a well-known hostel owner, Miss Janet. He¢s planning on going to CALI in few weeks to do the John Muir Trail. So I did a few miscellaneous things and hit the trail for 15.4 miles. It rained wed. Afternoon and this morning and was foggy all day, so the few viewpoint vistas were void. It was neat walking the C&O Canal towpath for a few miles. I¢d passed the Ed Garvey Shelter, which I really originally wanted to stay at because it¢s, like, super overkill, but went on because some other thru¢s told me they were going to Rocky Run Shelter and it was one of their birthday, and I also plan to party with them Sunday. Getting to the shelter, for the first time it was full and I had to tent it, but there¢s a nice deck on which I set up. Had another MRE which my Ma¢s friend Ella sent in my food boxes, and this time I cared to use the included heater and it was a nice meal, yet way too heavy to carry a menu based on MREs. I carried it in but ate this meal first off my back! It has a lot of packaging and a lot of things I carry anyway and things I don¢t need ¢ like moist towelette and a coffee packet. Although I gave them to other hikers who did appreciate them. Geo¢s birthday today ¢ he¢s 60! Some of his friends got him a bag of essentials (fig newtons, crackers, Crown Royal nip, etc.). He¢d brought a flask of Jack Daniels to celebrate ( I just carried for myself a nip of Jager). Actually, after last night, I don¢t think I¢ll need beer for a long time!-applejack-
Date: 2013-05-14
From: Jenkins Shelter

To: US21 & 52, Bland, VA
Miles today: 11.9

Early to rise I first heard two Whip-o-Wills then Crows and finally the bird I have been calling the morning bird because it is usually the first to start the morning off. Maybe it was a little cold for it this morning. I wish I knew more about birds in order to identify what it is. It's song is so joyful and pleasant. Except for the normal ups and downs of walking in the mountains, today's walk was rather pleasant, unlike the rock hopping of yesterday afternoon. The soreness in my shin subsided after I warmed up and had me convinced that the soreness I experienced yesterday was temporary but as the day wore on it became sore again and the fleeting thought of hiking past Bland went by the wayside and I finally called the Big Walker Motel and booked a room then called "Bubba" for a shuttle. While getting all this worked out I got in touch with a hiker friend that I knew was on the way to Damascus, to Trail Days, to ask for help in replacing a broken tip on my hiking pole. Mission accomplished. Having knowledgeable friends in the outdoor business is always a bonus. I'm taking a zero day tomorrow and Thursday to let my shin heal then will try a short mileage day Friday to see if I am going to be able to continue. On-On
Date: 2003-07-11
From: Rocky Run Shelter

To: Ensign Cowell Shelter
Miles today: 15.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Fri 11 July 2003   Rocky Run Shelter to Ensign Cowell Shelter      15.7 miles I don¢t think I¢m hiking this too fast, even though nobody is passing me, but I do think there is some things that could be worth checking out that if I had a bit fewer things coordinated to my schedule, I¢d allow a push to my schedule in order to include the things that I don¢t expect that come up. For instance, a super-cool shelter or a dream campsite on a bluff that comes up not at the end of the day¢s expected miles. That¢s something I¢d consider in the planning of another such trip. But this pace is pretty good at 20 mile/day average. I think for my personal habits 15-20 miles/day is comfort zone. I do realize however, that I¢ll miss the pre-spring and more importantly the autumn seasons by doing the trip entirely in summer. I think I¢ll just have to head for the woods on the weekends in the fall to fill the void. Very pleasant day to walk, I did 15.7 miles and had the time to read the writing at a Civil War battle site and the George Washington monument. Stopped at the Dogpatch Saloon for lunch and a few Sam Adams with other thrus Peach Monkey, Pnut, Geo, Sherpa, Spitz, and Wolverine. On the 9 miles between there and this Ensign Cowell Shelter was a particularly rocky section that could be a warning of Pennsylvania. Though the people I had lunch with are going to have beer at the next shelter, I stayed here because there is plenty of room and it¢s nice and young. The next one is to be quite full. But Man! I need to be doing more nights by tent and less by shelter. This shelter thing can grow to be a habit. I really feel that the experience would feel closer to nature in a tent than in a shelter. But I¢m already here, so OK, I¢ll sleep in the stinking shelter tonight! (read in sarcastic tone)   -applejack-
Date: 2013-05-15
From: US21 & 52, Bland, VA

To: US21 & 52, Bland, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Lazy day. No hiking. I layed around watching TV and icing my shin. Lunch at Subway and shopping at the Dollar Store. Dinner was with the Kiser family and a friend of theirs at a Steakhouse in Wythville.Now it's bedtime. It's been a tough day. On-On
Date: 2003-07-12
From: Ensign Cowell Shelter

To: Tumbling Run Shelter
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: few clouds

Sat 12 July 2003   Ensign Cowell Shelter to Tumbling Run Shelter      17.7 miles I awoke last night briefly to a couple of people snoring but pretty much slept right through it. People are impressed with how well I am able to sleep in the midst of snorers and my ultralight equipment with hard sleep surfaces. I tell them I owe all my good sleep to my Golite nettent. It keeps me bug-free, the mice don¢t bother me, nor have snakes. I tell them the net filters out the snoring, and I¢ve yet to be abducted by aliens, thanks to the net. Some of the hikers out here I¢m sure have been abducted more than once! This net is gold, man! A quite pleasant 17.7 miles today to this here Tumbling Run Shelter. Pretty easy terrain today, went through a park or two, passed a hang glider launch though it was windy so no pilots were there. Left Maryland crossing the Mason-Dixon Line into Pennsylvania and thought about the same old topics and songs. I carried a nice amount of firewood over half a mile to the shelter, and it rained briefly but now it¢s not and I¢ve burned the wood in the fire pit. We don¢t seem to have many campfires as thru-hikers, seems most energies are devoted towards walking. I am quite happy with my trip, though I¢ve had thoughts that it might be nice to have a trip where you walk 10-12 miles/day and stay up late around a campfire. Just thinking about the possible aspects missed while enjoying my trip in this particular way. I think that when I¢m camping in the fall I¢ll have to have plenty of campfires to fill the need!   -applejack-
Date: 2013-05-16
From: US21 & 52, Bland, VA

To: US21 & 52, Bland, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Another lazy day. More laying around, more eating and TV watching. The boredom was interrupted by a visit from my old hiking buddy "Mad" Mike Davis, and his cohorts, who brought me a new pair of tips for my hiking poles. We had a nice visit and Mike had the new tips on in nothing flat. A surprise showed up in the afternoon when "Cabo" walked by my window! He came off the trail for a town night. We had a good visit and caught up on trail gossip. He is hiking solo now too. Ironic.I'm heading back to the trail tomorrow, I think my shin has healed enough to give it a try. On-On