morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-06-05
From: Seeley - Woodworth Shelter

To: Harper's Creek Shelter
Miles today: 14.3
Weather: light rain

14.3 miles in 7 hoursWent to bed in the damp, raw, chill shelter and woke to the same. Two hikers had sent warm clothing home aso were badly chilled. We loaned them clothing to pile on.I didn't stir till nearly 7 AM. Nothing like the sound of rain to dampen the drive to do big miles.Went slogging out by 8, cursing the weather we'd been having the past month now.The trail took me far up, over Spy Rock, Main Top Mountain, and the Priest Mountain. No views anywhere except dense fog whirling past.I was beginning to feel sorry for myself when on descending Priest Mountain I came to a lookout spot. The clouds had lifted and the sun shone down on the valley below. A trail "runner" (hired by the ATC to check on conditions along a segment of the trail) was sitting there along with Salt Lick.   He offered to give us a ride to a general store at nearby Montebello when we all reached the road crossing below. In we went; Coyote, Salt Lick, and I, in the back of his truck for a feast of hot chili and chocolate milk. The three of us sat in the back of Joe's truck under a "cap," and had fun commenting how ripe we all smelled. We judged it to be 90% from feet. [I'd say other parts too! GCN] Joe, the trail runner, is a contractor in Valley Forge PA, who leaves his work behind each summer for work on the trail. Thanks Joe!We got back to the trailhead to find bags of grapes and cherries at the sign post; the magic kept coming.We dried gear in the sun, then made the short hike up to this shelter. We found four young people up for a weekend hike out of Charlottesville. One's a med student there, one a school social worker, one a grad student in cancer biochemistry, and the other the trip organizer who heads an outing organization locally. They had a good fire going and we all had a good dinner hour. They even brought along the fixin's for s'mores!None of the hordes of boy scouts we met on the trail made camp here. That makes life easier. Think I'll tent tonight on the faint hope it won't rain again tonight.Big miles tomorrow in hopes of hitting Waynesboro early two days later. Lots of planning to do there, for Gloria's visit a bit later.G'nite   Now or Never
Date: 2004-06-06
From: Harper's Creek Shelter

To: Paul C. Wolfe Shelter
Miles today: 22.3
Weather: light rain

22.3 miles in 12 hoursA dry night and clear morning. It was a treat to be tenting again. Shelters are fun to socialize in, good to stay dry in, but lousy to sleep in. Too much night noise, and mice.First out by 6:30 since I was aiming for a shelter 22 miles ahead. First major job was a 2000 ft climb up Three Ridges Mountain, as rough as anything in the Smokies. Nice views but very hazy.A new humid summer-type weather mass had moved in overnight, so warm that the rocks, still cool from the recent cold rains, "sweated," My poles and shoes couldn't get a grip, and I slipped all over the place and fell once. Most of today the trail consisted of broken rocks.Met many Boy Scouts out for the weekend. They were conditioning themselves on these steep peaks for their trip to Philmont Scout Camp in NM in the next few weeks. Their leaders said the vertical climb here in the east is just as tough as it is out there, if at a lower starting altitude.Critters noted: Haven't mentioned any woodland sightings lately. Maybe I'm still stunned by Glasgow, the lost world of dinosaurs. But, today was just as good:1) I set my foot down along side a 6 foot rattlesnake. Both of us were quite unaware until I was stepping inches away from him. I skipped on past a few yards before turning and looking back. What a handsome fellow: shiny black, white belly, a diamond pattern in gold on his back, and nine amber rattles on his tail. We stared at each other motionless, before I took a picture and moved on. The ground was still cool and damp, which might explain the rattler's sluggishness. Whew!2) A mile from this shelter, around 6 PM, I came across a newborn fawn in my path. It stood, wobbly, then knelt as if to become invisible. It didn't move as I stepped past. A few yards away its twin was wobbling through the woods. They must have been a day old. Mama looked on silently a bit further back in the woods.3) I startled a pileated woodpecker at close range.Arrived at the shelter late, with barely enough time to do the evening routine. Had a most refreshing dip in the rushing stream out front. I'm the only one here, quite a change from the crowded sceenes of evenings past. Tomorrow a short 5 mile into Waynesboro for a "nearo" day, bustling around doing laundry, provisioning, phoning home and work, emailing, and making arrangements for a two night section hike out of Waynesboro when Gloria visits on 6/15. Can't wait! [Me too! GCN]Full of instant mashed with tuna, and Ramen. Food of the gods, or at least hikers. The end of a tiring but good day.G'nite! Now or Never
Date: 2004-06-07
From: Paul C. Wolfe Shelter

To: Waynesboro
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: light rain

5 miles in 2 hoursA peaceful night, with the cheerful noisy stream for company. The shelter was another big modern post-and-beam affair with a large covered porch and big inside space with bunks around the walls and windows at the back to give light. It's nice to see the old relics from the 50's and earlier are being replaced.An easy walk in to the road crossing into Waynesboro. Amost immediately a car pulled up with an offer of a ride.He was Bill Gallagher, recently retired chemical industry rep from NJ, who shuttles hikers since moving down here to escape the long wet Jersey winters. He worked out my itinerary both for tomorrow and when Gloria arrives,and will take me to the trail tomorrow. Many thanks, Bill.A hectic afternoon spent doing laundry, getting repairs at the local outfitter, provisioning at Kroger's Supermarket, and catching up on email at the big modern town library.History repeats itself, yet again: on checking in at the Quality Inn the clerk had my name and address already. It was my son Rob's from his hike in 2000! Same thing happened back at NOC at Nantahala.Had a belly-busting session at a Chinese restaurant buffet, a call home, then a visit with friends from Navy days who Gloria and I will visit when she comes down. They decided to give me a preview look around town and a trip to a dairy-treat. The magic just keeps coming.Bill comes by to shuttle me to the trail at 8:30 tomorrow. It's way past hiker midnight, so time for bed.G'nite! Now or Never
Date: 2004-06-08
From: Doyle River Overlook, Skyline Drive

To: Hightop Hut
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: scattered clouds

17.0 miles in 8 hoursTurned in way too late last night but got up at the usual 5:30, so felt tired much of the day. Extremely humid, hot weather.Bill, the shuttler, dropped me off at milepost 82 on the Skyline Drive at an AT crossing, about 20 miles north of Waynesboro. The plan is to hike fast up the Shenendoah National Park (SNP) section of the AT in time to meet Gloria at Harpers Ferry. We'll then drive back to Waynesboro, hang out with our old Navy friends the Nathes, then the two of us hike the section I missed. That would give us two nights on the trail.The miles went slowly even though the trail was good and inclines generally moderate. Met and hiked with Chasqui around midday.The shelter here is packed and noisy so it's a pleasure to be tenting. No sign of rain. Chuck, a young man from Los Alamos is in the neighboring tent site. He's section hiking the SNP but is having feet problems already. Too many miles too soon? Hope it goes better tomorrow.I'm tired from last night and the long muggy day. As I write this in my tent toward dusk, there's a woodthrush sing-off going on all around me. Very aggressive fluttering around and even some scraps. A hot time in the old town tonight.I've started doing tick checks daily, since several hikers found them and on some dogs as well. They go for the warm furry places which can't always be seen directly.As for Lyme Disease, that hasn't been reported south of PA even though the ticks are down here as well. Can't figure it.Yawn...G'nite! Now or Never
Date: 2004-06-09
From: Hightop Hut

To: Big Meadows Campsite and Lodge
Miles today: 19.5

19.5 miles in 9.5 hoursUp with the woodthrushes at 5:15 feeling renewed. A miracle occurs overnight, possibly helped by my "hiker pills."Morning hiking is my best time of day. The trail flowed by. Nice surface, easy grades.I met two trail maintainers, both volunteers with full-time jobs. Since OSHA craked down on chainsaws, they cut through blowdowns up to 12 inches in diameter with big diamond tipped pruning saws. What an effort. We appreciate most their weed whacking the trail edges. No more poison ivy and nettles gently brushing against our legs!Lunch at a commercial campsite serving the AT and the Skyline Drive, which stay close together. Lots of goodies in the camp store! Then on to another commerical campsite and lodge for the evening. First a shower, then a good meal in the big dining room.I ate with Wrangler, the guy at the tentsite next to mine. He's a 3rd generation cattle rancher in central Florida, my age, doing some zero days while nursing a pulled back muscle. Nice guy. His grandfather told him of a visit to his Baptist church by Osceola the second, son of the Seminole Chief Osceola. The son, a Catholic like all seminoles from their early meetings with the Spanish, came as Catholic missionary in an effort to convert the Baptists!I hear some hikers are taking an alternate route through this stretch; they're renting canoes to paddle the Shenendoah River, which flows northward parallel to the trail. This is called "aqua-blazing" as opposed to white or blue-blazing.It's gathering up with a 50% chance of rain tonight or tomorrow. Looks more like 100%.On that note, will turn in and dream of dry weather.G'nite!AT from Calf Mtn, VA to Boiling Springs, PA Now or Never
Date: 2004-06-10
From: Big Meadows Campsite and Lodge

To: Pass Mountain Hut
Miles today: 18.8
Weather: light rain

18.8 miles in 9.5 hoursA dry night. Off by 6:30. Wrangler was still in his tent so couldn't say goodbye.Stopped in at Skyland Lodge, another sprawling semi-luxury resort, by 10AM, in time for a killer breakfast in their dining room.The trail led past several rocky ledges, but the haze was so dense I couldn't make out any details far below.Passed yet another establishment, the souvenir shop at Thorton Gap. As I sat outside tackling a pack of donuts, a woman asked to interview me as an AT hiker for her online radio station out of Vancouver. She was on her way back from DC where she filed past Pres. Reagan's coffin from 3 AM to 6:30 AM. She was retired Navy out of Norfolk and a professional stilt-walker!Arrived at this shelter just ahead of a heavy shower, so will sleep inside. A full house tonight, with an all new cast of characters: Rael,(engineer from Mass between jobs), Poler,(a school teacher from Wyoming who quit her job to do this hike), Hot Rock,(her hiking partner, a motor cycle repairman who also quit his job), Mary Blue and some latecomers. Everyone seems agreeable, and a good evening is shaping up.One of them related a problem they ran into at the shelter they stayed at the night before. A raccoon had learned how to shinny up the long steel pole, chewing his way into the goodies. The solved that problem by greasing the pole with Neosporin ointment, a hiker staple.For once I started a campfire instead of someone else. My contribution to hiker morale.G'nite! Now or Never
Date: 2004-06-11
From: Pass Mountain Hut

To: Compton's Gap (Terrapin Station Hostel)
Miles today: 22.0

22.0 miles in 10.5 hoursAnother bad shelter night. I should have tented, since it didn't rain. A deranged woman shuffled in toward dark, and after endless rummaging and fussing with her pack, took the remaining space on the floor(next to me). We were kicked and poked through the night as she tossed around. She also slept with her headlight on. None of us got a clear story from her on where she was headed.First trail stop was at the snack bar at Elk Wallow Gap for multiple cheese and egg biscuits. Then up some big hills; Hogback and North and South Marshall. A heavy haze obscured any distant views. Then a light rain set in around noon. Quite warm and comfortable, so I only put on the pack cover.As the afternoon and miles wore on, the rain became heavy and colder. By 5PM I was nearly running along the slick muddy water-filled trail in an effort to stay warm, heading for this hostel. The thought of food, hot showers and dry clothing go me there.Mike Evans, a 1995 thru-hiker named "Greenpeace" runs the place. It's a big modern house with the cellar converted to a bunkroom, den, kitchen laundry and shower/bathroom. He's an ardent "Dead-head" and Phish fan, who drives to all their concerts. Nice guy, nice place.All the other hikers were in town for an evening at the flicks and Mexican restaurant, giving me plenty of time for shower, laundry, dinner and a call home.Here I sit, no longer wet, chilled, tired or muddy, and full of microwave pizza and Ben and Jerrry's. Life is sweet!G'nite! Now or Never
Date: 2004-06-12
From: Compton's Gap (Terrapin Station Hostel)

To: Ashby Gap
Miles today: 24.3
Weather: light rain

24.3 miles in 11 hoursA delicious warm dry night at the hostel, in from the rain. My gear was still wet but the sky was clear. Mike, the proprietor, shuttled me well up the trail to hike back "empty" (slackpacking). It was 25 miles but easy ones with time to stop and chat with hikers and do trail maintenance as I went (snapping off "face slapper" branches). I met many hikers today since most are "NOBO's" and I was a "SOBO."I rolled in to the hostel by 7PM still feeling fresh. Slackpacking may not be much faster, but it's much easier on the body. Cutting 25 pounds from your weight makes all the difference to knees and feet. Now I can better imagine the misery of being, say, 60 pounds overweight. A new cast of characters at the hostel tonight: Cuppa Joe, who I hadn't seen in over two weeks, Loser,(a traveling representative to big industry for Norton antivirus, who tends to leave things along the trail), Dead Reckoning, (named by his Boy Scouts), and some others.Much easier miles ahead. I'll be glad to get to Harpers Ferry in 3 days. Think the "Virginia Blues" are kicking in. It happens for a variety of reasons:1)By the time they reach Virginia many hikers have figured out their life's meaning and direction.2)Virginia is an endless state at over 600 miles. After grinding out day after day of big miles, you still wake up in Virginia.3)This year, we've been hiking in sweltering humid midsummer conditions, with frequent rainstorms. Skin rashes set in, in embarassing places (not me,yet) and you always feel sticky. It's easy to think that crossing the state line you'll walk into a fine, dtry weather system.My low point came yesterday after 22 miles hiking solo, ending up cold and drenched. But everything's OK now - how quickly life changes for the better.G'nite! Now or Never
Date: 2004-06-13
From: Ashby Gap

To: Bear's Den Hostel
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: broken clouds

13.5 miles in 7 hoursA fairly quiet night...a snorer among us but only intermittent. Mike shuttled me from his hostel back to Ashby Gap to resume my hike northwards, with pack.For the past few days the quality of the scenery along the AT varies wildly. Sometimes it winds through stands of huge stately oaks with an open totally shaded forest floor. Then the trail passes through "junk" woods, small nondescript trees choked with brambles and vines, clearly molested by man.Today we hit the notorious "roller coater," a 13 mile stretch of 10 steep ups and downs over rocky uneven trails and swampy bottomland. Slow going, tough on the feet, demoralizing after the recent easy "big miles."We finally hit cicada country. What a racket, and all these snazzy-looking bugs landing, then dying, on the trail. I was hoping to catch this year's invasion.Summer of the cicada This Bear's Den Hostel is a palace! It's a fieldstone mansion in the style of an English manor, plus a few turrets, built as a second home by a physician. The living room has a curved end wall where his wife, an opera singer, could give concerts. She was also known for tramping the trail, singing Wagner.The building has bunks all around, and a huge kitchen, dining room and living room for hiker use. I feel as if the true owner were about to walk in and throw out all us grimy trail bums.I've been spoiled by this hostel life. Tomorrow, easy miles to a shelter, then easy miles to Harpers Ferry the next day.Fed and showered, and now tired. What else to do but turn in?G'nite! Now or Never
Date: 2004-06-14
From: Bear's Den Hostel

To: Harpers Ferry (Comfort Inn)
Miles today: 20.5
Weather: light rain

20.5 miles in 10 hoursAwoke with the birds in our English manor. I made piles of pancakes upstairs in the beautiful kitchen, with enough for some other hikers. On my way out at 7:30 I took some outside shots of the place. It was a surreal experience. First came the remainder of "the roller coaster," several miles of steep rocky PUD's. Then the trail leveled out.Met quite a few "SOBO's," one of whom did the whole AT way back in 1979 while taking a year out of college. His trail name was "Buckeye" after his home state of Ohio.Another state line crossed! The cicadas were out in force. I was startled by something sounding like a raven giving a long croak flying up from behind. It was only a cicada, calling as it flew. Dying and dead cicadas littered the trail. No other critters of interest to report.Got to the shelter before 1PM and decided to move on to Harpers Ferry even if it meant another high-milage day. My pack was light and the legs felt good, thanks to brief rests every 90 to 120 minutes with shoes off and feet up while snacking and swigging.Oppressive heat and humidity, with rumbles of thunder ahead the closer I came to Harpers Ferry.I crossed the Shenendoah River, which had gotten quite broad and deep since I last saw it several day to the south. The trail led directly into Harpers Ferry where I eventually found the Comfort Inn and made myself at home. Laundry tonight, provisioning and internet tomorrow, then Gloria's arrival by mid-afternoon. Goodbye Virginia Blues! Street scene, Harpers Ferry G'nite! Now or Never
Date: 2004-06-15
From: Harpers Ferry (Comfort Inn)

To: Harpers Ferry (zero day)
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Zero dayI got in late yesterday and promptly got lost wandering up and down the steep streets looking fo the Comfort Inn. By the time I checked in, the few local restaurants scattered far off around town were closed. Angelo's Pizza saved the evening by delivering a big chicken parmegian dish. Yum! Then to bed.Today dawned warm and misty, promptly becoming sweltering hot. I plodded up and downhill around town to the Bolivar town library for internet, then back to the outfitters, to a local pub, then finally to the ATC headquarters.Unique caterpillar outside Bolivar town library At the ATC center I looked around, signed the thruhikers' register (I'm the 326th so far this season), then posed for a photo outside in front. Quite a few hikers I knew had signed in over the past few days.The big kick was to pull out the 2000 register. There, on 6/28/00, was Rob! And by coincidence, or was it, he struck the same pose as I did.Then by mid-afternoon Gloria arrived. We spent the rest of the afternoon walking around the historical district of nearby Charles Town, (founded by George Washington's brother Charles Washington), then to an early dinner at a tasty Chinese AYCE buffet, then back to the Inn to prepare for our hike together.G'nite! Now or Never
Date: 2004-06-16
From: Harpers Ferry (zero day)

To: Zero Day
Miles today: 0.0

(Guest journalist Gloria N.)Zero DaySlept in well past hiker wake up time, then we drove south back to Waynesboro on I-81 to spend the night with friends from my Navy days. There stood the Blue Ridge to the east, with familiar sounding road signs whizzing past.We spent the day with our old friends from our Navy days in San Diego, Marg and Jim Nathe, at their lovely home in Waynesboro. Learned about their sons Paul and David who are now living in Chicago and Philadelphia. After dinner they gave us a driving tour of the beautiful Waynesboro area. We were struck with amount of development that is occurring in the area on what was most likely farmland. Huge homes with incredible views of the Blue Ridge seemed to be sprouting everywhere.We will be hiking north from Waynesboro 24 miles to Doyle River Overlook, where Bob set out over a week ago. The distances should be easy but the hot, humid, summer conditions, with afternoon thunderstorms will be a chllenge. All packed after an enjoyable reunion with the Nathes.
Date: 2004-06-17
From: Waynesboro

To: Calf Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: scattered clouds

7 miles in 4.5 hoursBy guest journalist Gloria NicholsonHad a wonderful breakfast with Marg and Jim Nathe, then said our farewells. Jim drove with us to drop of the car then brought us back to the beginning of the trail just outside of the Shenendoah National Park boundary where we began our hike.It was warm but clearer with less humidity then yesterday. We hiked up a delightful tree covered trail for the first mile or so. After crossing the Skyline drive the terrain changed as we climbed up into fields of wildflowers and overgrown shurbs. Every now and then we'd catch the sweet fragrance from what might have been wild madder (abundant clusters of small white flowers). With no tree cover the gentle climb up Bear Den Mountain was sweltering. At the top we passed several huge communication towers. We noted that the trail was in need of maintenance, tall grass brushed our legs and poison ivy peeked out at sock level. Another problem was that the trail was poorly marked; whites blazes were very far apart. The Potomac ATC has much to do.View from AT on Skyline DriveClouds gathered as the afternoon came and by 3 PM when we arrived at the shelter we had a refreshing rainstorm.We pitched our tent and then went about getting the meal ready. At the shelter we met several thru hikers as Fly, CeeBee, Tin Man and some section hikers as Pimple (a chef from NYC) and Scarf as well as 5 more late arrivers.
Date: 2004-06-18
From: Calf Mountain Shelter

To: Blackrock Hut
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: scattered clouds

13 miles in 8 hours.By guest journalist, Gloria NicholsonAfter a restless night and a quick breakfast we were finally off by 7:30 after a stop at the spring to resupply our water for the day.The trail went through an old oak stand, cool and dark. Up one side of the mountain, down the other, and into a completely different eco-system, pines and sandy soil. Most of the day the trail followed the ridge with numerous PUD's. We crossed the Skyline Drive Parkway numerous times. At one crossing we came across Cee Bee having her painful knee taken care of by Bill, a massage therapist from Conn. who had stopped to admire the view.It was becoming more humid and soon thunder clouds gathered and by 1 PM we were caught in a downpour. No shelter, at first the rain felt good then we cooled off quickly. The rain continued for a good 1/2 hour before it let up. Unfortunately the humidity seemed unchanged even after the rain.Just as yesterday the path was overgrown with tall grass now very wet. As the grass brushed against my legs all I could think of was the importance of a tick check when we got to camp.Blackrock Shelter This shelter had its own rattlesnake! A section hiker from Florida decided to capture it and carry it off to a safer distance for the evening. Shouldn't have mouse worries here!Snake wrangling