morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-06-12
From: Blackrock Hut

To: Pinefield Hut
Miles today: 13.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Slept amazingly well, even with the concern over bears. Woke up at 5:30 AM and started packing up so I could take advantage of hiking in the cool of the morning. After packing, I went up to the shelter and retrieved my bear bag and started breakfast. Boss had come in late and slept in the shelter. Two rats bothered him a bit in the night. Of more concern to him though was the bear he saw last night as he was getting water. He slept with a pile of rocks next to him in case he had to chase it away.So I'm getting my coffee and granola fixed and I hear Judy say, "Bear!" This big adult bear is right across the creek from where we had camped. They quickly finished packing and brought their gear up to the shelter and started preparing their breakfasts. As soon as they cleaned the tent area, the bear crossed the creek, climbed a rather spindly tree and watched us from there as it ate berries from the tree. It was only about 50 feet away and we all ate quickly and us 2-legged visitors left in a group. Exciting way to start the day! Even though I have a healthy fear of bears, they truly are magnificent creatures.The hiking again was "less hard" and the miles flew my in the cool of the morning. Judy and I decided to go to one of the park waysides for lunch and to have one of their famous blackberry milkshakes. We hung out for a couple of hours relaxing and talking to people, and then headed out to do the 5 miles to the next shelter.We started hearing thunder in the distance and the sky got dark with clouds after only hiking a mile when Judy saw a sign pointing to "Trail Magic" 200 yards. Easy decision. We went down the side path and the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club who maintains the huts and trail through this section had hot dogs, chips, cookies, fresh fruit, soft drinks and beer, AND had a big canopy tent set up so we all could stay dry as it almost immediately started to rain. Perfect timing and great "magic". What a nice group of people.We spent a couple hours there, topped off our water at the superb Ioy Creek spring and continued on to the shelter.Judy was about 250 feet behind me when I heard her shout and then heard something crashing through the woods. A bear cub had been about 10 feet up a tree (and must have been there when I walked by!!) but jumped down and ran off when Judy went by. We stuck closer together for the rest of the hike to the shelter.We were still stuffed from the wayside lunch and trail magic so ate light and decided to sleep in the shelter - hopefully undisturbed - and definitely dry as it looks like rain tonight.
Date: 2010-06-13
From: Pinefield Hut

To: Hightop Hut
Miles today: 8.2
Weather: broken clouds

Quiet night. No critters. Woke up about 6:00 AM but was very lazy and didn't get out of camp until about 8:45 AM. Had a choice to do an 8 mile or a 20 mile day. With the heat, humidity, and chance of rain, my slow start chose option A, the 8 mile day.Even though the climbs were "less hard", they still had me drenched in sweat by the time I reached the summits. The heat makes for slow going, carrying more water, and taking more rests. Even with all that, Judy and I arrived at the shelter at 1:30 PM.We had it to ourselves so keeping an eye out for incoming hikers or boy scout troops, we brought a lot of water up from the spring, washed up and did laundry. My clothes were disgustingly dirty but at least I rinsed out some of the sweat salt and dirt. Judy used one of her waterproof stuff sacks with some water, Dr. Bonner's soap and "agitated" her dirty clothes in the stuff sack. Then rinsed them and hand wrung. Worked like a charm and we hung all the wet clothes on a line in the sun.Unless I go to one of the campgrounds in Shenandoah National Park, my next real shower isn't for 5 more days. Think I'll hit one of the campgrounds. Since being out here I've developed a high tolerance for dirt. Even though the rinse-off felt good, I still really feel grimy so I must be pretty gross. Last I heard a weather report, it's supposed to be in the 90's tomorrow. Ugh! More sweat.Another good reason for going to the campground is that my worst fear will be reality unless I go to the camp store and buy toilet paper. Not something one likes to run out of when in the woods.And speaking of fears, after the last two days of bear excitement, I'm looking much closer at all those dark shadows both in the forest and up the trees. It was surprising how quiet they are when moving through the forest. Let's just say I'm a bit bear-anoid.Also saw a little spotted fawn walking on the trail. He started disconcertingly running towards me. When he realized I wasn't his mom, he skidded to a stop and made a bleating sound. Sure enough, mom was off in the woods to the right, made a huffing sound, and mother and son were reunited. Awwww. Wish I had a video of him skidding to a stop - it was almost cartoon-like. The clouds have been flirting with us so decided to sleep in the shelter in case it makes up its mind and does rain tonight.
Date: 2010-06-14
From: Hightop Hut

To: Big Meadows Campground
Miles today: 20.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Hit the 900 mile mark today AND did my first 20-mile day. My dogs (feet) were definitely barking today. Woke up at 5:00 AM and was having a leisurely breakfast, sipping my coffee and reading a steamy novel. I glanced up at one point and there was a deer not more than 15 feet from me. I never even heard her. Don't know if she was really quiet or if I was just engrossed in the book. With my bearanoia, I think she was just really quiet. Judy and I were on the trail at 7:00 AM and stopped for first lunch about 6 miles up the trail. We continued another 6 miles and stopped at the Lewis Mountain Campground for second lunch; IBC Root Beer, sweet tea and potato chips - and bought the much needed TP.We met a lady from Australia there, Alpine. She's hiking the trail until the end of August, then starting a new job as an attorney in Hanoi, Vietnam. She mentioned she was going to hike another 8 miles to the lodge at Big Meadows as they have a restaurant there. Judy and I decided to go there too.The miles weren't particularly difficult, just long. Judy and I got a campsite, set up our tents and went to dinner. We'll shower and do laundry in the morning and get breakfast at the gift shop (Starbucks and muffins).I'll definitely sleep well tonight.
Date: 2010-06-15
From: Big Meadows Campground

To: Byrds Nest #3 Shelter
Miles today: 14.4

Just before sitting down in my tent last night, I heard a little critter scurrying around near Judy's tent. I saw the shadow but couldn't identify the animal. Suddenly it started running towards me. As I'm fumbling to turn on my head lamp, I made a loud sound like "pfft - shoo" to scare it off. Then it got caught in the beam of my headlamp and I saw it was a skunk. I got very still and quiet real quick. Note to self, identify the critter first before making threatening sounds.Did laundry, showered and hit the trail about 9:00 AM with an initial goal of getting to the next "lodge restaurant" for lunch. Made it and had a wonderful meal with Judy. Swift and Gear Bomb stopped my my table. They're both staying at the lodge tonight. Cody's there too.After lunch, I hiked another 6 miles to the next shelter where I'm planning to stay because of the threat of rain. Littlefoot and his mom are here tonight, too, along with Judy.
Date: 2010-06-16
From: Byrds Nest #3 Shelter

To: Gravel Spring Hut
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Judy left about 4:30 AM or so this morning to catch a shuttle into Loray and spend the day there. I woke up about an hour later to the sound of drizzle. Made it back to the shelter from the privy just as the skies opened and we had a hard downpour.Packed up, ate breakfast, chatted with Littlefoot and his mom for a bit and got on the trail at 8:30 AM. The rain had stopped but I was in the clouds and it was very foggy.Hoofed it 12 miles to the last wayside in the Shenandoahs and had lunch about 2:30 PM. As I finished eating, the distant thunder seemed to get closer and the fog more dense. The wind picked up and we had a 20 minute gully washer with me nice and dry in the wayside.I still had 5.5 miles to go for the day so donned the raincoat and set off once it had settled to a light rain. An hour later the sun came out but it was still nice and cool which makes hiking more comfortable.Arrived at the Gravel Spring Shelter at 7:15 PM. There's signs posted that there's been problem bears in the area. Oh great! And nobody else is here! Double great - NOT! Another thru-hiker showed up at the wayside as I was leaving and there's still another hour or so of daylight so maybe he'll show up. I'll keep my fingers crossed.In the meantime, I'll go get water and make dinner. I'm going to hang both my food and pack out of the reach of a bear, and if no other hikers show up, I'll set up my tent inside the shelter and have a pile of rocks handy if any big black 4-legged critter gets too curious. I have a feeling it's going to be a night of light sleep.Hallelujah! Joe and Whippersnapper showed up just before dark. We all stayed in the shelter which was good from a safety standpoint but not so good because one stayed up late and the other got up really early so I didn't get my usual 8-10 hours of sleep.No bears sighted.
Date: 2010-06-17
From: Gravel Spring Hut

To: Chester Gap Trail
Miles today: 9.6

No bears sighted and left the shelter at the same time as Whippersnapper in the morning. Safety in numbers.Climbed a couple mountains with outstanding views of the valleys far below and then had a long downhill.Took a .5 mile side trail to the Terrapin Station Hostel for shower, laundry and to pick up a mail drop. Swift and Tiger Lily, formerly known as Gear Bomb, showed up a bit later.We all went out to dinner with Mike, the owner, to the Griffin Inn where we played pub-wide Trivial Pursuit and ate dinner. We came in second in Trivial Pursuit!
Date: 2010-06-18
From: Chester Gap Trail

To: Jim and Molly Denton Shelter
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: clear sky

Went to breakfast in town and dropped off Swift and Tiger Lily to do a 10-mile southbound slackpack back to the hostel. Slackpacking is where you carry only food and water for the day and leave your heavier backpack at your destination point. You can usually do bigger miles by not carrying the heavier weight.Just as I was getting ready to leave the hostel at 11:00 AM, Judy hiked in. She wasn't sure if she was going to stay the night or continue on but would decide after she showered and did laundry.I hit the trail and took my time. It was warm and I wasn't in a hurry because I only had 9 miles to do. I stopped for lunch at the Tom Floyd Wayside shelter where I met my first homeless person on the trail. His clothing and gear were a dead giveaway that he wasn't a hiker. He was nice enough but I was glad to be moving on.Arrived at the idyllic Denton shelter. It's new and very nice with a porch, a separate covered area with a picnic bench and even landscaped with flowers. And who was here? Judy! She yellow-blazed (hitchhiked) 5 miles and then hiked in 4.Also met Kashi and his wife who are doing a 3-week section hike. They stayed in the shelter, Judy and I tented.Just before going to bed, I saw a luna moth. They are beautiful and look like something out of a fairy tale.
Date: 2010-06-19
From: Jim and Molly Denton Shelter

To: Ashby Gap, US 50
Miles today: 14.8

Judy was up and out early, I was about 90 minutes behind her all day. Heat and humidity were not my friends today - it was into the low 90's - so the energy was sapped pretty fast.Was shooting for an 18-mile day but gave it up at Ashby Gap, phoned the Bear's Den Hostel which is about 14 miles up the trail, and they came and picked me up. I stayed there in their woman's dorm.Just before I got off at Ashby Gap, I crossed a low stone fence which was surveyed as a property line by 19-year-old George Washington.
Date: 2010-06-20
From: Ashby Gap, US 50

To: Bears Den Hostel
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: broken clouds

The Bears Den Hostel dropped me off at Ashby Gap at 8:00 AM. I carried just a daypack with lunch, water, rain jacket and camera which is called slackpacking. Thought it would be an easy, quick day. I was wrong.This section of the AT is called the Roller Coaster because of the numerous ups and downs. Combine that with temps over 90 degrees and rock strewn trail and it became very hard very quick. Add to that a fall that again made my right knee scream with pain.I was not a happy camper. I hobbled into the hostel late in the afternoon totally discouraged and started to seriously think about leaving the trail. This is not a decision I want to make without serious deliberation so I will get a good night's sleep tonight, hike tomorrow and think on this.
Date: 2010-06-21
From: Bears Den Hostel

To: Blackburn AT Center Hostel
Miles today: 7.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Knew I had a short day today so took my time and left the hostel at 10:00 AM. Another 90 plus degree day but not nearly so many ups and downs. Just as many rocks though, so the going was slow.Stopped for lunch and a snack and took 30 minutes each time. Moved slow, dealt with the rocks, right knee still hurts and I was exhausted when I got to the hostel. So still not in a good place mentally for continuing this hike even though I'm out of Virginia and now in West Virginia and I passed the 1,000 mile mark today.Still planning to hike tomorrow.
Date: 2010-06-22
From: Blackburn AT Center Hostel

To: Harper's Ferry, WV
Miles today: 12.4

Hiked out of Blackburn with Judy and continued to deal with the 90 degree heat and the rocks. The most irritating thing about the rocks is how much they slow you down. When I have miles and miles to hike, I get frustrated with the slow pace. Add the heat which has me drenched in sweat even on the easy climbs and the soreness in my right knee, and I started seriously thinking of a bail-out plan to leave the trail at Harper's Ferry.Up to this point, thoughts of leaving the trail were confined to the afternoons when I was tired and hungry but morning always brought the excitement of a new day. However, I've had three not so good days in a row where the hiking hasn't been much fun. In addition, my less than expected mileage has now pushed my completion date to late September.Hiked into Harper's about 1:00 PM and went to the AT Conservancy Headquarters. Saw Trinket, Q-Tip and Slackimus there. Can't believe I caught up to them but they were on their way to heading out. Got my picture taken and was thru-hiker #435 - my number at Springer was #128, so a few hikers have passed me since March.Checked in at the Town Inn. Decided not to see a local doctor about my knee and will check for flights home from DC tomorrow. There's a commuter train that goes into DC from here and the station is right across the street.Went to bed early and woke up just before midnight. I'm really conflicted about leaving the trail. I remember writing in an early prep entry that Harper's was going to be the low point of my trip; that if I was tired and hurting and sore that it would be hard for me to get the juices flowing to do another thousand miles. And like a self-fulfilling prophecy, it's so true.I need to get more sleep and think on this some more. My biggest regrets in life have been for things left undone and I don't want a few bad days to dictate this decision.
Date: 2010-06-23
From: Harper's Ferry, WV

To: Harper's Ferry, WV
Miles today: 0.0

The left brain is a strange and a wondrous thing. You give it a problem and it chews on it almost subconsciously until it comes up with a solution. So it shouldn't have really been a surprise when I woke up this morning and had all these random details running around my head of what I need to do to continue my hike, such as lightening my load by carrying minimal food (4 days at most) and mailing home a few exraneous things (about 1 pound's worth). Guess the left brain doesn't want to go home. So perhaps I'll do a few hundred more miles but today I'm taking a zero.a
Date: 2010-06-24
From: Harper's Ferry, WV

To: Dahlgren Backpack Camping Ground 
Miles today: 17.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Had feet on trail at 6:30 AM with an easy 3 miles on the C&O Canal Towpath and then a climb to the ridge which I reached by 9:00. Another 90 plus degree day with a chance for thunderstorms this afternoon. There's a wonderful cooling breeze up here on the ridge which I'll be on for most of the day. Shortly after leaving Harper's Ferry, I crossed the Maryland state line so I'm in a new state now and one I've never been in before.Saw the War Correspondents Memorial, the inspriation for which came from the journalists reporting the Civil War.No views and 70% rocks so the going was slow at times. I noticed some small blueberries growing on low bushes alongside the trail. I tasted one and sure enough, they were blueberries. First time I ever picked a blueberry growing wild in the woods.Hiked to the Dahlgren Back Pack Campground which has restrooms and hot showers and is free! Thank you State of Maryland. Spent a restful night in my tent.
Date: 2010-06-25
From: Dahlgren Backpack Camping Ground 

To: Pogo Memorial Campsite
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: haze

Took a wonderful hot shower at the campground and washed my hiking clothes. Also slept with my food bag as there were about 10 other people and two dogs camping and the likelihood of a bear coming into camp was minimal. Was up and out on the trail my 7:00.My right Achilles tendon is sore today and hurts every time I put weight on my right heel so I took some Ibuprofin. It still hurts though and I'm taking it slow.Went by the Washington Monument - the FIRST one - that was built around 1830 and was the first monument built honoring a US president. It was used as a watch tower by Confederate troops during the Civil War.Coming from the Midwest, the Civil War is something that I only learned about in school. Today, and for the last several days, there are reminders everywhere this chaotic time in our history. I walked by redoubts coming into Harpers Ferry. Harpers Ferry itself just drips with history with the infamous takeover of the arsenal by James Brown, the abolitionist, and was home to the "Secret Six", six influential men who financed the assassination of Lincoln. I've crossed over many battle sites with the stone walls still in place where battle lines were drawn. Some won by the south; some by the north. And although the north prevailed and the Union stayed intact, both sides lost so many of the best of their generation. As I walk through these areas, I can almost sense the fear that must have been in every one of those men's hearts, and the courage it must have taken to do battle. I crossed I-70 on the Appalachian Trail footbridge and half a dozen vehicles honked at me. Decided to get some lunch and a cold beer at a biker bar a couple miles down the road that is known to cater to hikers too, and got a hitch in 5 minutes. Got a hitch back to the trail real quickly too. Hot day and cold beer--perfect combination. People are absolutely fascinated that I'm thru-hiking and always ask a lot of questions. #1 question is still whether I'm hiking it alone.So I'm hiking along a bit slower than usual favoring my right foot and another hiker about mid 40's male is hiking toward me - NAKED. He must do this often because he's tan ALL OVER. We exchanged rather ordinary pleasantries considering the circumstances and I warned him of the family hiking with kids about a mile behind me. You just never know what kind of wildlife you'll see out here.The sun is setting on a rather interesting day so I'm going to climb into my tent and rest my foot.Just as I was finishing this entry, four more hikers came in to camp one of which was Hanso. He wears a kilt, sleeps in a hammock and cooks his whole grain (mostly quinoa and millet) vegetarian meals from scratch having soaked the grains all day in water as he hikes. He generously used his array of exotic spices which would be the envy of any kitchen spice rack. A few minutes later, 'Bama, owner of Hyperlite Mountain Gear came in, stopped and chatted, but he's going another 15 miles before stopping for the night. Hardcore.
Date: 2010-06-26
From: Pogo Memorial Campsite

To: Stealth Camp at Mason Dixon Line
Miles today: 15.3

Slept well though woke up once about 3:00 AM as a hiker came through on the trail. That's taking hiking in the cool of the morning to a whole new level. I went right back to sleep.Woke up about 6:00 AM and enjoyed the morning sounds of the forest. Finally pulled the plug on my air mattress which always gets me up and going. Right heel is still really sore but not quite as bad as yesterday. The problem I'm going to have if I do shorter miles for a couple days is that I'll get into my next mail drop town late on July 3rd and the post office will be closed until July 6th, so I'll lose two days of hiking. I don't want to do that as the completion window for this hike is getting narrower and narrower. On the other hand, if I don't let my foot heal, my hike will be over very soon. I'll take it slow and easy today and if I need to stop early, I will.It was a long and hot day of hiking slow. I dealt with a couple of boulder fields early on. Took many breaks and loaded up with 2.5 liters of water 5 miles into the day as water sources for the next 10 miles were iffy. Good thing because I drank almost all of it during the course of the day.Four miles from where I was heading for the day, Maryland slapped me in the face with another boulder field, but this one was a mile long. Not good to be dancing from rock to rock at the end of a long day, but it was interesting, especially trying to keep track of where the trail went. Many of the blazes were on the rocks and many times I had to stop and find the next blaze before I proceeded so I wouldn't "lose" the trail.Stopped at Pen-Mar Park and made a beeline for the pop machine. Then made dinner and watched the sunset as the park is on a bluff overlooking Maryland and Pennsylvania farmland.After dinner I hiked the .2 miles to the Maryland-Pennsylvania border and camped on the north side of the Mason Dixon line, so I'm officially in Pennsylvania.