morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-04-15
From: Fullhardt Knob Shelter (732.8)

To: Cove Mt. Shelter (752.8)
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: light rain

Day 60 - Wednesday, April 15, 2015It rained almost all day. Again.But, as California would say if he were here, "It's all good."Other than that, one very good thing and one very bad thing happened.First, the good.John and Ann Dancy met me at Peaks of Otter overlook (747.1) and had a picnic for me. John emailed me a few days ago, asked when I thought I'd be there. He and Ann altered their plans by one day ¢ and there we were. Wonderful time together. And, oh yes, I ate all the chicken, potato salad, fruit salad, and doughnuts I could hold. And, no, it didn't rain on our picnic. I'm not looking forward to the next six days. They are going to be difficult.I need to catch up with the Hiking Vikings and Eddy, who is with them now, or I could hike hundreds of miles alone. They are 2 to 3 days ahead, so I may not be able to ¢ but I'm going to try.Step one is ¢ get to Waynesboro by next Tuesday night. That meant hiking 20 miles today, to Cove mountain shelter (752.8), and 108.9 miles over the next six days, a little over 18 miles a day. That won't be easy.Oh yes, the bad thing: I lost my water filter somehow. And I can't replace it until I get to Waynesboro. Until then, I have to drink unfiltered, untreated water.
Date: 2015-04-16
From: Cove Mt. Shelter (752.8)

To: Thunder Hill Shelter (770)
Miles today: 17.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 61 - Thursday, April 16, 2015It rained all day again today. Just in case you're not counting, I'll remind you ¢ that's three in a row.My feet are starting to come apart. Wet socks are like sandpaper on your toes. When I pull them off at night (and ring them out) I hang them up in the shelter, but of course they don't dry. The humidity is close to 100%.I hate to look at the bottom of my feet ¢ they have deep crevices even where they are heavily calloused. I should have brought more than one extra pair of socks. I'll fix that but I can't fix it until I get to Waynesboro.I almost hate to mention it - too much doom and gloom, but my headlamp, my very expensive headlamp, got wet and stopped working.Okay, two pieces of good news: one, flowers of all sorts, and trees too, are blooming. The woods are gorgeous.Two, I gained on the Vikings today. When I arrived at Thunder Hill Shelter, I saw in the shelter journal that the Vikings stayed there two nights ago after hiking only 10 miles. I hiked 17.2. Little by little, and it bit by bit.By the way, I forgot to mention that I sheltered last night at Cove Mountain with Ivy, who starts graduate school next month.Where?Harvard.
Date: 2015-04-17
From: Thunder Hill Shelter (770)

To: Campsite near Little Rocky Row Trail (788.2)
Miles today: 18.2
Weather: broken clouds

Day 62 - Friday, April 17, 2015I think California and the Hiking Vikings oversold me by a lot. They also left out a pertinent fact: I am married.Last night, a NoBo rolled into the shelter just ahead of another storm and, right away, asked if I was Lucky.There is a woman, a SoBo, who wants to meet you. The Vikings and California told her all about you, he said. You'll meet her tomorrow, he said, because she's only one day behind, and headed south.I did meet her. Pleasant woman, in her 60s.Don't remember how it came up, but when I mentioned something about my wife, she said, "You're married?!"She's a flip flopper ¢ something the Appalachian Trail Conservancy encourages to reduce stress on the trail. She is hiking from Harpers Ferry, Virginia to Springer Mountain, Georgia. Then she'll fly to Maine and hike south to Harpers Ferry. So I'll see her again, probably in the 100 mile wilderness in Maine.Anyway, I hiked onto the next shelter, Matt's Creek, and took a break there and checked the Shelter journal. There, to my surprise, I found that the lady had written that she might meet the love of her life tomorrow. "Are you the love of my life, Lucky?" she wrote.I responded in the journal: "Alas, I am not. I married the love of my life 51 years ago."And, now, the other news of the day:I lost another piece of equipment which will haunt me when it rains again, which it surely will. I'm a little embarrassed about how much stuff I've lost. I'll tell you about it someday, but not now. I'm still too ticked off.Today was the end of my fourth week back on the trail, matching the four weeks I hiked before taking seven Zeroes to attend to a medical problem.I am doctoring my feet, especially my little toes, like crazy, medicating and wrapping them. Three straight days of wet weather, and wet socks, hurt them. The skin on the outside of both toes is an angry red.Met an 81-year-old hiker today who was climbing slowly but steadily up a mountain. He wore elastic supports on both knees. He said he only lacks 35 miles from completing a section hike of the entire AT. Wash my mouth out for saying so but it was hot today. I hiked in a T-shirt.
Date: 2015-04-18
From: Campsite near Little Rocky Row Trail (788.2)

To: Cow Camp Shelter (810.2)
Miles today: 22.0
Weather: broken clouds

Day 63 - Saturday, April 18, 2015Finally! I was overtaken this afternoon by a NoBo whose name is Snowshoe. He left Springer Mountain in Georgia on February 28. He is the first NoBo I've seen in nine days.Would you like to know a little about today's 20 miles?Well, I hiked up a mountain and then down the other side, up another mountain, and down. Up. Down. Up, up, up. Down. And so on and so forth. Pretty much like every other day.Broke the 800 mile barrier today ¢ 810.2 is the new total ¢ and stayed at Cow Camp Gap Shelter with two Englishman, both section hikers. They are the second and third foreigners I've met ¢ Stretch, with whom I hiked in the Smokies, is from Israel.It was another lovely day, but the weatherman says it'll rain tomorrow.I haven't had a shower in a week.
Date: 2015-04-19
From: Cow Camp Shelter (810.2)

To: The Priest Shelter (827)
Miles today: 16.8

Day 64 - Sunday, April 19, 2015The weatherman was right. It rained off and on all day.Met a fellow from St. Louis, a 64-year-old chemist, when I stopped at a shelter to have lunch and hiked with him part of the afternoon. First time that's happened in more than a week.Anyway, after lunch, he left before I did and, later that afternoon, I found his wallet on the trail. And returned it when I caught up with him. His name is Blister ¢ you can guess why, I'm sure ¢ and he was was pretty happy about getting his wallet back. I felt pretty good myself. I had proof that I'm not the only one who loses stuff.It was an easy day. I knocked off work ¢ hiking ¢ at 3:45 because a storm was coming and I wanted to be in a shelter.There were six of us in the shelter when Snowshoe arrived ¢ Blister, Pac-Man, the two Englishman, and a SoBo. It was raining when Snowshoe got there and so foggy, you couldn't see the privy 30 yards away. It was a raw, ugly night, and tomorrow would be worse. We were in for it.Not a pleasant thought ¢ and I was still 34.7 miles from Waynesboro. I rolled over, facing one of the sidewalls of the shelter, and realized someone had urinated there. Probably several someones. But there was nothing I could do about that now. I rolled back over and went to sleep.
Date: 2015-04-20
To: SKYCOM
Miles today: 0.0

SKYCOM Update - Sunday, April 19, 2015I've finally caught up on the last four daily blog entries Dad wrote and emailed me pictures of, as well as labeled all of the pictures. The last blag entry I received via email was for Sunday, April 12, 2015 - a week ago.Dad and I have spoken on the phone several times, so I have a pretty good idea where he is/was.Day 58 - Monday, April 13 - hiked 16.3 miles to Lamberts Meadow Shelter (718.4)Day 59 - Tuesday, April 14 - hiked 14.4 miles to Fullhardt Knob Shelter (732.8). He called me from a Pizza Hut in Daleville, VA at noon, where he was resupplying for a long haul of six days.Day 60 - Wednesday, April 15 - hiked 20 miles to Cove Mt. Shelter (752.8) after stopping at Peaks of Otter (747.1) to visit friends for a late afternoon picnic and to get another day's food supply from them.Day 61 - Thursday, April 16 - hiked 17.2 miles to Thunder Hill Shelter (770)Day 62 - Friday, April 17 - hiked 18.2 miles to camp near Little Rocky Row Trail (788.2)Day 63 - Saturday, April 18 - planned to hike 22 miles to Cow Camp Gap Shelter (810.2)I have not heard from Dad since yesterday (Saturday) morning at 7:30. His plan is to hike 21.6 miles Sunday, 17.5 miles Monday, and 12.4 miles Tuesday, in order to make it to Waynesboro, VA (861.7), by Tuesday night, April 21, so he can resupply. Waynesboro is the southern entrance to the Shenandoah National Park.When we spoke on Saturday morning, Dad was in good spirits, good health, and hiking alone. He had not seen a NoBo in a week.
Date: 2015-04-20
From: The Priest Shelter (827)

To: Campsite on Humpback Mt. (849.3)
Miles today: 22.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 65 - Monday, April 20, 2015To my great surprise, and relief, it was not raining when I woke up today. It looks like it just might turn out to be a beautiful day.It sure did start well.As I was about to leave, Blister said to me, "Lucky, is this your ring."Somehow, the ring I had recovered for the Vikings, and safely stored in my wallet, had fallen out."Now we are even," blister said."No, we're not even," I replied. "What I found could be replaced with money. What you found could not."The storm we had been promised arrived late that afternoon, as I pressed to get in another 20 mile day. The rain came first, then thunder in the distance, then flashes of lightning. I was high on a bald, little one but a bald all the same. And I was the tallest thing on it. I ran for the tree line on the other side and took cover the best I could under a dead tree that had fallen.It was my first electrical storm of the hike and I didn't particularly like it.I clicked on in the rain until I got my 20 and then the rain stopped long enough for me to pitch my tent. I cooked supper inside ¢ Ramen noodles, dehydrated corn my wife had sent me, and bacon bits. Mmmm!And then the storm resumed in earnest.Lightning. Constant thunder. But I was dry, warm, and fed. I slept well.
Date: 2015-04-21
To: SKYCOM
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

SKYCOM Update - Tuesday, April 21, 2015 at 1720 ESTJust got a call from Dad - he hiked into Waynesboro, VA around 1p today and is ready for the 105 mile cakewalk through the Shenandoah NP over the next few days. His food held out - his health is good - although he lost his water filter.He's still hiking alone, but caught up to Medicine Man and a few other NoBo's at one of the hostels in Waynesboro (~864) and they are heading out to eat all they can tonight.One of my sons (Eli) and I are heading to Shenandoah NP to spend a little time with Dad on the trail this Friday and Saturday.Stand by for a slew of daily updates and pictures, as soon as I can decipher them and get them online (hopefully before we head west the day after tomorrow).
Date: 2015-04-21
From: Campsite on Humpback Mt. (849.3)

To: Waynesboro, VA - US 250/Blue Ridge Pkwy (861.7)
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 66 - Tuesday, April 21, 2015It was an easy 13 mile hike to Waynesboro. The day was clear, sunny although chilly. We broke camp and started up the first mountain about 6:35 AM. I was in Waynesboro six hours later, after fording three creeks.It's been a terrific day:A.) After nine days, I got a shower.B.) My clothes are cleanC.) I'm stuffed.D.) I've replaced my headlamp and bought another filter. And another pair of socks.Adam Stanley, who owns and runs Stanimal's 328 Hostel, picked me up at the trailhead, took me by an outfitter, and this evening hauled me and a SoBo who is also staying here to a Chinese all-you-can-eat restaurant. This hostel is a five star.And guess what? Guess who else is in town! We had supper with California and Medicine Man, who I had hiked with; Smokes and Sasquatch, who I had not, and two other NoBos, Nemo and Atticus.It was a good time.The resupply box my wife sent me was here, so I'm good to go in the morning.Shenandoah National Park, here I come.
Date: 2015-04-22
From: Waynesboro, VA - US 250/Blue Ridge Pkwy (861.7)

To: Campsite near Doyles River Trail (887.5)
Miles today: 25.8
Weather: clear sky

Day 67 - Wednesday, April 22, 2015After dinner last night I knew I had to make an all-out effort to catch up with the Hiking Vikings, Nate and Sharon.I had to cut their lead from seven days, which they got when I went out on medical leave, to two days. But even though I had averaged 19 miles a day coming into Waynesboro, I had not been able to cut into that final margin. Nate was obviously over his shin splints, which had slowed them, and now they were picking up speed.Why not hike with some of the NoBos I had dinner with last night?I would if I could.But all six of them can ¢ and do - hike big miles, mid 20s, sometimes more. And then they take a day or two off ¢ they take a zero. I hike in the high teens, usually, and I don't take days off. Our overall averages are about the same ¢ not identical ¢ we started from Springer, Georgia on different days. But close.I had hiked alone for more than a week ¢ since April 9 that, when California decided to take a break.Then why not hike with California again, he was at the dinner? I would like that. He was a good partner. But he's going to hike for several days with a friend who is coming to Waynesboro later this week.No, I had to make an all out effort to catch up with the Vikings. I knew from a text I had received from Sharon that they left Waynesboro two days ago and or 38 miles ahead of me. They were averaging 19 miles a day. I decided to bow my neck and hike 25 miles a day, or try to. I was tired of hiking alone.Today went well. Just as planned. The Shenandoah National Park is, relatively speaking, easy. I rolled. By 4:15, I made it to Blackrock Hut (They call shelters "huts" in the SNP), 20.6 miles. I've visited with two section hikers at the hut, ate a snack, and left at 5:10. I needed five more miles. And by 7:20, I had them. I pitched my tent near Doyles River Trail, mile 887.5 ¢ 25.8 miles. Best day, mileage wise, ever.
Date: 2015-04-23
From: SKYCOM

To: SKYCOM Hostel at Lewis Mountain Campground (915.3)
Miles today: 27.8

Day 68 ¢ Thursday, April 23, 2015I got up early and began packing up in the dark. Bye first light, I was eating breakfast, to pop tarts and two Carnation instant breakfast packets.This would be a short day, only 19.6 miles to Swift Run Gap, where I planned to meet my oldest son. He has a camper and we planned to camp together tonight and Friday night. But our plans went awry. He got caught up in traffic in Washington and I had two choices: sit by Skyline Drive and wait, or keep hiking. I kept hiking. He set up his camper at Lewis Mountain Campground (915.3) and I arrived at 7:25. I had hiked 27.8 miles. I had to be gaining.
Date: 2015-04-24
From: SKYCOM

To: Jewell Hollow Overlook (936.5)
Miles today: 21.2
Weather: clear sky

Day 69 ¢ Friday, April 24, 2015Bo fed me last night until I just could not eat anymore ¢ soup, salad, fruit, and bread. And a terrific breakfast this morning, some sort of eggs and cheese wrap.It was cold, below freezing again. Winter is back.Got off to a late start, after eight, but the terrain was easy again. I am falling in love with the Shenandoah.Bo picked me up near big Meadows Lodge, just before noon. We met on the trail near the parking lot, hiked a few minutes back to the truck and ate lunch together at Big Meadows Wayside.Bo rode his bicycle most of the afternoon and I hiked on to Jewel Hollow Overlook, mile 936.5, a 21.2 mile day. Three days, 74.8 miles. I didn't know where they were, but I just had to be gaining.
Date: 2015-04-25
From: Jewell Hollow Overlook (936.5)

To: Tom Floyd Shelter (966.5)
Miles today: 30.0

Day 70 ¢ Saturday, April 25, 2015Another below freezing day! Will spring never come?Oh well. Once you get going, once you start climbing, you get warm. You sweat.Bo filled me with pancakes and bacon ¢ we ate out last night, at some fancy restaurant on Skyline Drive [Skyland Restaurant] ¢ and by 7:20, he had driven me back to Jewel Hollow Overlook.I stopped by Pass Mountain Hut, 6.4 miles up the trail, and in the shelter journal, I found what I was looking for, an entry showing the Hiking Vikings had stayed there last night. I had cut almost 32 miles off their lead.But the bad news: Sharon wrote that they planned another "marathon" day. I checked my AT guidebook and I could see where they were going, Tom Floyd shelter ¢ 23.6 miles for them, but 30 for me. And it had begun to rain.I didn't get to Gravel Springs Hut (956) until just before four, hoping I would find them there, but knowing I wouldn't.I was curt to a section hiker who was there, in for the night, and I'm sorry for that. Rudeness is ugly. But I hated the fact that I had to give up the chase, or saddle up, go back out in the rain, and hike another 10.5 miles. But that's what I did.I walked as fast as I could, singing to myself to pass the time.It was a few minutes past eight when I arrived at Tom Floyd Shelter. It was dark, and my headlamp could barely penetrate the mist and fog. I was tempted to call out "Vikings!" But I wanted to surprise them. And then I heard their voices. As I approached, I heard one of them say, "Someone's coming."Then I called out, "Vikings!""Is that you, Lucky?""'Tain't no other," I replied.
Date: 2015-04-26
From: Tom Floyd Shelter (966.5)

To: Campsite north of Ashby Gap (990)
Miles today: 23.5
Weather: light rain

Day 71 ¢ Sunday, April 26, 2015I think the Vikings were almost is glad to see me as I was to see them.And I've got news: I've known about this for days, but I've not mentioned it, because we wanted to break this story with a video of the event, which technical difficulties have prevented.The Vikings are engaged.I know, I know. Some of you are wondering if the ring they asked me to retrieve a couple of weeks ago is a ring, or THE ring. It was a ring, but it has its own story.Nate told me he believed in asking a woman's father for his blessing before asking her for her hand in marriage.But Sharon's father is dead. So, Nate said, he asked in his thoughts. And then he found that ring, almost covered in dirt and mud, barely visible. It was the answer he wanted.I didn't sleep well last night. I was wet through and through when I got to the shelter. I stripped off my clothes, put on dry T-shirt, underwear and socks, and went to bed without supper.It was hard to roll out this morning. We didn't get started till 8:30 and they wanted a 20+ mile day. It was fun hiking again with the Vikings, but I realized right away that this wouldn't last long.Why?They need to finish their hike in the first week of July. I'm satisfied with mid July. Big, big difference. They need to average 18 miles per day; I need 16. For the next two weeks they want to hike 20+ mile days, to put some miles in the bank before they get to New Hampshire, where they won't be able to hike 18 miles a day. That's tough country, or so everyone says. I'm done with 20+ mile days on a regular basis.We did 23.5 miles and camped together on a hilltop at mile 990. I've averaged more than 25 miles per day for five days and I feel worn out.My shoes are coming apart ¢ I should have replaced them two weeks ago. My feet hurt almost all the time and I am developing thick calluses on the sides of both heels.But tomorrow will be better.I'll say goodbye to the Vikings, at least for now, but hello again to the Dancys - the couple who had a picnic for me on Day 60.
Date: 2015-04-27
From: Campsite north of Ashby Gap (990)

To: Snickers Gap, VA 7 & 679 (1003.5)
Miles today: 13.5

Day 72 ¢ Monday, April 27, 2015I packed up and left first. I would see the Vikings at least one more time ¢ when they passed me. They are much faster than I am ¢ almost everyone is.They wanted to do 20.9 miles, to the Blackburn AT Center (1010.9). I wanted to do 13.5 miles, to Virginia Highway 7, where John Dancy would pick me up.Maybe I'll see the Vikings later on, or maybe not. They're going to have a successful marriage, I think, and I'll tell you why. Many a morning, including this morning, I woke up to the sound of their laughter.John took me to an REI store where I bought new boots, new pants with a 34 inch waist, a backpack cover (yes, that's one of the items I lost), and another can of fuel (yep, lost that too).Got a hot shower (oh, so nice!) and Ann washed my clothes. John and Ann took me out to eat and I ate until I just could not hold anymore. This has been such a nice visit, just what the proverbial doctor ordered.John is going to take me to a store tomorrow morning to resupply and I'll be on my way.I'm going to slow down now. A lot. The idea is to get to Maine, not to get there first.
Date: 2015-04-28
From: Snickers Gap, VA 7 & 679 (1003.5)

To: David Lesser Memorial Shelter (1014.1)
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: clear sky

Day 73 ¢ Tuesday, April 28, 2015Took care of some personal business this morning and then said goodbye to Ann. John took me to a grocery where I resupplied and then back to the trailhead at Route 7. At 1:30 PM I was on my way north again. Hiked 10.4 miles to the David Lesser Memorial Shelter. Not good mileage for the day, but not bad for an afternoon. No thru-hikers at the shelter, but I did have a good visit with two section hikers.FAQsQ. Do you see much trash on the AT?A. No. Almost none, except at the shelters. It's amazing. Sometimes I walk for miles without seeing the tiniest scrap of paper.Q. Do you pick it up?A. Sometimes, not always.Q. What time do you get up, go to bed?A. Get up time varies, depending on my goal for the day. If I'm planning to do a 20 mile or more day, I'm up by 5:15, trying to get away by 6:30. I go to bed as soon as I can, sometimes, often actually, before 7 PM.Q. You mentioned that you lost your water filter a couple of weeks ago and then bought a new one (a mini ¢ Sawyer) in Waynesboro. How did you treat your water when you had no filter?A. I didn't. I looked hard for springs and topped off my 2 water bottles as often as possible. The one time I had to refill from a creek, I boiled it.Q. Do you have a budget? What is it? A. No, I don't. But I think I'm spending about two dollars a mile ¢ plus equipment.
Date: 2015-04-30
From: Crampton Gap Shelter (1033.8)

To: Pine Knob Shelter (1046.3)
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 75 - Thursday, April 30, 2015I called the Trail Angel, whose name is Vicki, shortly after 7 AM, and again, shortly after eight, and left messages. I explained my problem in the first message, but when I still could not get her after eight, I told her I was going to head north, and try to buy one along the way.The elastic bandage the ridge runner, whose name is Blissful, gave me was a big help. I wrapped it tightly around my gut, tucked my spare shirt under it, and headed north.At 8:16 Vicki texted me: "Lucky, I think I can help you. I will work on it and write U back with the details¢¦ keep walking north." And then, later in the morning: "I have it and just arrived at Dahlgren and will start walking south on the A.T. ¢ beautiful day! See U soon."And so, that was that.After hearing my voice mail, Vicki called her workplace, asked four and got leave, drove from her home in a Washington suburb to Harpers Ferry, picked up my girdle, and brought it to me.Why?Because, she said, helping people ¢ hikers especially ¢ makes her happy.And then she took me to lunch, and bought me a sandwich and dessert to take with me on the trail, for supper.Vicki does not have a trail name. What do you think about "Magic"? Or just plain "Angel"?Either works for me. This woman may have saved my hike.