morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-05-29
From: Lambert's Meadow Shelter, VA

To: Partway up Fullhardt Knob, VA
Miles today: 12.6

I think today was the first time I've managed to resupply without spending the night in town! I got my mail drop at the outfitters and immediately ate both apples my mom sent and bought another 32 oz of apple juice! Daleville wasn¢t the most exciting place to hang out, so it¢s just as good that I moved on. However, without a hotel room its tough to get a shower, and they charge a whopping $9.00 at the truck stop! So...I¢m dirty.I had a few frustrations on my way out of town so I didn¢t start hiking until 8 pm and just pitched my tent near the trail when it got too dark to see around 9:10. Pocketmail was being fussy so I had to dictate a couple mail drops to Leon to send my mom. He also gets lots of credit for exchanging my broken cell phone and getting me a new one quickly. It also turns out that our film from Gatlinburg to Damascus got sliced through the negatives, so Leon¢s in charge of figuring out what can be done about that. He¢s a gem. Poor boy though, he keeps getting more AT chores as I realize how competent he is!My last frustration brings me on to a bigger topic: water. Water sources have not been fabulous lately, but it¢s so hot that we can¢t be too picky. Since the Miox was Lindsay¢s, I just bought some iodine tablets. However, I don¢t like the taste and I¢m not sure it is healthy to ingest that much iodine, so I wasn¢t purifying where I thought I could get away with it. I knew I as being risky, so I bought Aqua Mira, a chlorine system, immediately when I got into town. Too late, maybe? I had small explosions in my stomach and got sick directly after eating french fries at Hardee's. I¢m not sure if it was the greasy food or something I picked up in contaminated water. I bought some Imodium and pray it's not the latter! We¢ll see how I do tomorrow.I hiked over 106 miles this week! Now that I¢m on my own, it¢s interesting to play around with how long I¢m capable of and comfortable with being out between town stops. I need to try and get my pack weight down a bit more. I have a lot of warmer clothes that I used to wear while hiking, and now they just get carried in my pack. My 10 degree sleeping bag might be overkill as well, but I¢d like to see what the weather does before I send more home.So I was reading guestbook entries, and Lady Green and Sir Limpsalot (who gave us our names) were wondering if Lindsay and I still go by Chardonnay and Cabernet. Yep! In fact, I feel more like Chardonnay than ever, since Lindsay is a day behind and isn¢t around to call me by my real name. So from tomorrow on, our journal will be under the section with people's trail names, not "Erin and Lindsay." People know me as Chardonnay on the trail and won¢t ever find my journal if it stays under my real name!All right, enough rambling from me tonight!Good night,ErinPS: I lie! One more ramble. Happiest birthday to Jenny, and happy Memorial Day to everyone! It pleases me that the outside world has birthdays and barbecues for holidays...time is indeed passing and I'm not just hiking endlessly.
Date: 2006-05-30
From: Partway up Fullhardt Knob, VA

To: Bobblet's Gap Shelter, VA
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: clear sky

I have hiked over a third of the trail! It's about 2,175 miles according to my 2004 Wingfoot (it's our guidebook with distances to water, roads, shelters, towns, etc.) so 725 would be a third. I'm also halfway through Virginia¢s 550 miles.I meant to go further today, but I took a break with Rip, Pillbox, Treehugger, and Bright Eyes that lasted about 3 hours! I started hiking at 8 o¢clock this morning to avoid the heat, so the afternoon break was warranted. There¢s a stretch tomorrow of 9 miles without water, so Bright Eyes is (attempting) to wake me up at 5:30 am so it won¢t be so hot. I think 2 liters of water should be okay. Oooh, and I don¢t think I got sick from contaminated water, as I had no explosive episodes today. But you can bet I¢m a diligent and conscientious purifier now!It looks like we keep passing over the Blue Ridge parkway for a while. Good opportunities for trail magic, you'd think? We¢re 0 for 3 so far. We¢ll see what tomorrow brings!Going to sleep to the sound of whippoorwills...Erin
Date: 2006-05-31
From: Bobblet's Gap Shelter, VA

To: Cornelius Creek Shelter, VA 
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: few clouds

Wow, it¢s the last day of May!Bright Eyes successfully woke me up at 6:00 this morning and I was hiking by 7:30. A new record! Early days mean long breaks, specifically swimming at a swimming hole at Jennings Creek! I look forward to lots more swimming this summer.Virginia is definitely a mental battle. Physically I'm feeling good again after breaking in my new shoes. The terrain, though not flat, is more forgiving than earlier in the trip. People push push push to do big miles, then get burned out, stop having fun, and doubt why they're out here. I had a conversation with one guy today who said there's at last one point in every day when he wants to quit. Bright Eyes said she hated the trail for a couple weeks and is trying to figure out how to enjoy herself again. It¢s nice to know I¢m not the only one struggling to keep my motivation.So this is a new hike for me, and I've been experimenting with just how I want to do it. What makes me happy out here? What sort of rhythm am I most comfortable with? Maybe early mornings and long breaks, maybe big miles then breaks in town, maybe shorter days and skipping through towns. I really struggle with homesickness and spend a lot of the day thinking about who is visiting when and how it breaks up my trip. I should see Brandon in a couple weeks, and Leon in PA in a month (that might be the only reason I step north of Harpers Ferry!). I should see Buzz in NY, Molly in CT, Mom in MA, Dad and Mr. Brown in VT, and I'll get some time on the lake in NH and see old friends in the Whites. I really feel like this is my trip now, and I reap the consequences of decisions I make, good or bad. Lindsay definitely has strengths that I was able to draw from, but it¢s just me now!Best of luck to me. I¢m feeling very determined.Cheers,Erin
Date: 2006-06-01
From: Cornelius Creek Shelter, VA 

To: Matt's Creek Shelter, VA
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: scattered clouds

I didn't particularly feel like hiking this morning, but I had a really nice day walking with Home Cookin' and Double Zip.  Donkey, Corey, and Mouse finally caught me and it was a good group at the shelter tonight.  Plus, we're camping at a creek and I was able to wash some grime off my body.Wildlife has been interesting lately.  The deer just hang out and stare at us, and there is constant scurrying in the woods from lizards and squirrels.  I see at least one black snake a day.  I hear they're harmless, but a 4 ft snake hanging out on the trail always startles me.  And of course the insects...I shake out my boots every morning for millipedes, and the black flies and mosquitoes and bees make breaks tricky.  No bears yet, though there are many reports.There obviously isn't much going on.  I¢m tired and content.Cheers,Erin
Date: 2006-06-02
From: Matt's Creek Shelter, VA

To: Punchbowl Shelter, VA
Miles today: 12.7
Weather: broken clouds

I really did mean to do more miles today. Everyone at the shelter last night meant to! I'm fully responsible for bringing down everyone's mileage today. I got out of my tent this morning and decided that with town so close, you might as well get some ice cream! My original reason to go into town was to visit the medical center and get an antibiotic because Ed (as the gang fondly calls my digestive tract issues) was back. However, I felt good last night and in the morning, so decided ice cream was a better reason to go into town. Nope, I started getting rumbly at lunch and had to buy more Imodium. Now the timing is unfortunate, because Rip, Pillbox, Treehugger, and Hot Springs hiked in watermelon (I'm not kidding!), root beer, hot dogs, s'mores stuff, cookies, chips, and grapes. Wow. How could I not gorge? The privy is straight up a hill and its raining...its going to be a long night. If this continues, I¢ll have to see a doctor in Waynesboro. Still, props to everyone who hiked in the treats. It was a nice night and well worth making up extra miles in the next couple days.I was able to receive messages from the guestbook today, and it was sooooo nice! I gain inspiration from a lot of places...my family is amazing. No one has better mail drops than me, and thanks to Ethan for the knife and everyone's genuine interest. People I meet on the trail also inspire me. I'm always blown away by women like Bright eyes, Willow, Zoomer, and Double Zip. I'm trying hard to catch up to Jangles and Baro! And apart from my own stubbornness, the rest of my motivation comes from everyone else, so a high point of my week is reading guestbook entries. I'm always surprised at who is following along. So thanks for signing- it really means a lot to me.Hoping to get some sleep tonight,ErinPS: Happy birthday, Joshua!
Date: 2006-06-03
From: Punchbowl Shelter, VA

To: Seeley-Woodworth Shelter, VA
Miles today: 24.9
Weather: overcast clouds

What a day! I'm not sure what got into me, but I did some hiking today! I did hear wind that a certain roommate of someone close to me has placed a bet against me finishing because I¢m not "hardcore" enough! Now I don¢t think that being "hardcore," whatever that is, is necessary at all for this trip. In fact, those sorts of people usually get injuries. You just have to walk every day and put up with a lot of different discomforts (cold, poison ivy, rain, blisters, chafing, dehydration, exhaustion, hiker grime, etc...). But today I was shooting for "hardcore."On top of hiking further than I ever have (with a 3,000 ft climb midday, no less!) I saw my first bears of the trail at lunch. They were two youngish black bears running down a hill. Hoorah! It really thrills me to see bears in the wild. Growing up we saw them do tricks for ice cream at Clark's Trading Post, but I get so excited seeing them doing their own thing when they don¢t know I¢m watching. Note to self: start hanging food again instead of sleeping with it!Other exciting tidbits include the fact that I get a shower tomorrow and Hot Spring's toenail finally fell off. He¢s been very concerned about its likeliness to get infected and his lack of insurance.A good day all around,Erin
Date: 2006-06-04
From: Seeley-Woodworth Shelter, VA

To: Harper's Creek Shelter, VA
Miles today: 14.3
Weather: scattered clouds

It was tough enough to justify going into town today since ill be in Waynesboro on Tuesday. However, I had to pick up a mail drop, and a shower after 12 days was pretty appealing. Now add in a 900-foot descent to get there! I was cursing the mail drop heading down to town, knowing I'd have to climb back up every step of it with a heavier pack.So even better than getting a shower today (which cost $3.50) was a FREE lunch at the Dutch Haus B&B. I promise, there were no strings attached. Earl, the owner, picked up Zoomer and I, fed us pulled pork sandwiches, green beans, egg salad, fruit, lemonade, pudding, and a muffin, then gave us a ride back to the trail! They have a great thru-hiker rate if you want to spend the night, and I highly recommend it.I'm zonked, sleeping in the shelter tonight because it was nearly dark when I got here.Good night,Erin
Date: 2006-06-06
From: Paul C. Wolfe Shelter, VA

To: Waynesboro, VA
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I really don¢t deserve this! A woman today pulled over on the road, congratulated me on making it over 800 miles, and gave me a bag of grapes! Waynesboro has a list of trail angels that give hikers rides into town, so I got a ride and made my way to the YMCA for a free shower! Finally, the Lutheran Church is kind enough to put us up with showers and a TV and computer for free. Again, I ask what I did to deserve this. It¢s not like my house burned down or I'm an orphan...I¢m on vacation! If I walk with a limp and have been deprived of fresh fruit, it¢s my own fault. At any rate, I deeply appreciate everyone's generosity.I got a fabulous mail drop today, decorated by the Condaps! There was a lot of gushing at the post office. Thanks for the rocks, Kira!Finally, I made plans to see my brother this weekend! Logistics can be tricky, but if I can hike 20's for the next few days things should work out. We¢ll see how things go.Cheers,Erin
Date: 2006-06-07
From: Waynesboro, VA

To: Blackrock Hut, VA
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: clear sky

The Shenandoahs rock my world. There are always rumors about sections of the trail, and they're never true when you want them to be (i.e.: Virginia is flat). I was told the Shenandoahs are easier hiking and that you can get blackberry milkshakes in the park. I was cruising today- no rocks, a nice smooth grade, and the 20 miles flew by. I'm hopeful about a milkshake tomorrow.Good night,Chardonnay
Date: 2006-06-08
From: Blackrock Hut, VA

To: Hightop Hut, VA
Miles today: 21.4
Weather: overcast clouds

I stupidly took a 3-hour lunch break today with 15 miles to go, so my day was a blur. The milkshake machine was broken, so there were no milkshakes today. Maybe tomorrow?Zonked,Chardonnay
Date: 2006-06-10
From: Skyline Drive near Big Meadows, VA

To: Pass Mountain Hut, VA
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Woohoo! Even though they got caught in traffic from an accident and were 3 hours late, Brandon, Caroline, and Meredith all made it! We hiked 1.4 miles to the next shelter and ate our steak, asparagus, and corn. We brought s'mores for everyone else to avoid bad things happening to us in our sleep.I'm so happy that they made the effort to come see me and hope they enjoyed themselves. They got to meet the whole crew tonight! It¢s nice to let people from home in on trail life. Maybe they have a better idea of what I¢m doing now and the people I¢m hiking with.It¢s not over yet! Bagels and eggs for breakfast...very good motivation for me to get to sleep so morning will come.Cheers,ChardonnayPS: Happiest birthday to my cousin Krystal (who has yet to sign my guestbook). Sorry you couldn¢t be here for the celebration. I promise I had a couple extra s'mores for you.
Date: 2006-06-11
From: Pass Mountain Hut, VA

To: Terrapin Station Hostel, VA
Miles today: 22.7

Oh what a long day. I didn¢t make it to the hostel until 9:15 pm. I had actually lost the directions to get here and in desperation resorted to knocking on someone's door to ask where it was...and I had picked the right home!Brandon, Meredith, Caroline, and I had eggs and bagels for breakfast. What a treat! They went off for a hike to a waterfall and I headed North on the AT. Had they hiked with me another 18 miles they would have seen what was my highlight of this park- 3 bears! I was very quiet for once, trying to get a picture of a deer, when I heard branches breaking in the woods. Too slow for a deer, too big for a squirrel, and hikers tend to stay on the trail. I was mesmerized for a good 20 minutes watching a cub play with a branch. I thought a slightly larger bear was the mama, but wasn¢t impressed with her size. I finally got past them on the trail, thinking I was safe, when up popped mama bear from the bushes! Eeeek! Her snout was gooey (was it just blackberries, or was it BLOOD?!) and I scooted along swiftly.My body is very tired and I'm looking forward to relaxing at the hostel tomorrow and doing short miles to the next shelter.Cheers,Chardonnay
Date: 2006-06-12
From: Terrapin Station Hostel

To: Jim and Molly Denton Shelter, VA
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: scattered clouds

My plan for rejuvenation is working. I slept in until 9 am at the hostel, which is amazing considering there were 11 other people in the bunkroom packing up at 7 am. I had the place to myself all afternoon to watch television, eat, and shower. I also scrubbed my pack and did laundry since I have some bad poison ivy on my arms that itches like crazy. If it's not one thing, it's another, right? I could have left much earlier and done more miles today, but I've been so tired that I left at 3 pm and only did my 9 miles. Delightful! Someone left a cooler of meat at the shelter, so we cooked it up and I had pork loin and sausage for dinner. It was nice to show up before dark and get to bed on time.I'm officially out of Shenandoah National Park. Honestly, I'm not fully sure what the draw is here. I much preferred the Smokies. It was strange to cross skyline Drive so often and the views weren¢t amazing. I guess it is a very accessible place for many people so they come with their RV's and drink overpriced blackberry milkshakes. One man was disappointed not to see any bears, so he got a picture with a real live thru-hiker (me). I did appreciate the easier terrain and was thrilled to see the bears yesterday.Cheers,Chardonnay
Date: 2006-06-13
From: Jim and Molly Denton Shelter, VA

To: Rod Hollow Shelter, VA
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was pretty unremarkable. My feet felt good, my legs felt strong climbing after the flatness of the Shenandoahs, and I made it to camp by 7 pm! I'm trying to get into a healthier routine of earlier starts, slightly shorter days, and getting to camp earlier. Both my body and my mind need this change.My only complaint (there must be at least one, or my name wouldn¢t be Chardonnay!) is what I think is poison ivy. It doesn¢t bother me during the day, but I've been waking up at night scratching like crazy. I told my Mom it¢s getting better, but I¢m pretty sure it¢s getting worse!Good night,Chardonnay
Date: 2006-06-15
From: Blackburn AT Center, WV

To: Ashburn, VA (Meredith's Apartment!)
Miles today: 12.6

Woohoo! I can¢t believe I made it to Harpers Ferry! This strange but quaint little town is apparently the "psychological" halfway point for northbound thru-hikers. Sure, I still have 80 miles and two states until the actual halfway point, but I'm done with Virginia! Before I started hiking it was always "if I make it to Harpers Ferry..." and I have now! Also, I passed the 1,000-mile mark. I've never even driven that far! Unfortunately I will not be singing Bon Jovi's "Living on a Prayer" until the actual halfway point in Pennsylvania...wouldn¢t want to get ahead of myself.My cousin Meredith picked me up in Harpers Ferry. Her friend Brandy wasn¢t psyched to sit downwind of me at lunch. It was a pretty relaxing afternoon. I ate a lot and we bought some normal person clothes so I can tour D.C. tomorrow. However, I'm not sure my feet can stand anything but my cushy crocs, so ill still look like a silly hiker.Happy to be clean and relaxed,ChardonnayPS: Happiest birthday to my father!
Date: 2006-06-16
From: Ashburn, VA (Meredith's Apartment!)

To: Washington, DC
Miles today: 0.0

I woke up in my cousin's apartment today and had some breakfast before shegot up...half a bag of grapes, some ice cream, leftover chicken broccolicasserole...you know, just a little something to get my day started! What atreat to lounge around, take a shower, and catch up with my old friendsRegis and Kelly! I probably could have stayed at the apartment all day, butwe headed out and visited the Holocaust Museum downtown. It was interestingand thorough, if not depressing, and kept my legs limber walking around. Wethen met up with my brother for dinner. I chose Indian food, definitelysomething I haven't seen much of on the southern half of the trail. Weended the evening with some wine at her friend's house, and I was certainlythe hit of the party. It was nonstop AT questions from deodorant (which Idon't wear) to outfit options (obviously one option) to friends I've made(clearly all weirdos).Strange to be in the real world. My hiking world almost makes more sense tome. It's so simple to have one pair of clothes that I sleep in and spend myday in. Everything I own fits in one backpack, while at home I need anextra storage unit to contain my belongings. My needs are simple: food,water, rest. I have few responsibilities to anyone, no voice messages torespond to or bosses to check in with; just to hike every day and keepmyself healthy. And yet...I really like this real world! A shower everyday, skirts to wear and hair to do and people to see and electronics to playwith. It has certainly occurred to me that 1,000 miles is no small feat,and I could stop now and return to the real world. But...2,175 miles is amuch bigger feat, and I still feel up for it. So on I go. But I tell you,I'll be ready to go back home to something more comfortable.Cheers,Chardonnay
Date: 2006-06-17
From: Washington, DC

To: Crampton Gap Shelter, MD
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: broken clouds

Similar to most of my other get-back-on-the-trail-after-town experiences, I was dreading going back to Harpers Ferry this morning. But now I'm back in my trail groove and feeling good.Meredith has a really great group of friends. Inquisitive, but good people. I think they sat up all night thinking up more trail questions for me (what do I crave the most? who do I miss the most? would I please wear deodorant today?) and four of them (one on a motorcycle!) even came to harpers ferry to go for a hike. If only all my town stops could be so pleasant...thanks Meredith!My mom continues to put superhero efforts into the mail drops. Really, I've heard that she walks around town with cardboard boxes. This time I got more sparklers (is that legal?!) and a tennis ball...trail magic for a dog, she says. Hmmmmm...Within 10 minutes of heading out, I was thinking what a pitiful death for all the bugs that fly into pools of sweat on my face and die a salty death. Gross! It was super hot today and I was craving fruit and juice immediately. At a picnic area just before this shelter there was, of all things, a juice machine! But evil tease, it only took quarters, and I always get rid of change leaving town. I saw a couple leaving the parking lot and ran to them (I know those of you who have witnessed my stiff hiker limp think this isn¢t possible, but its true, I was fast!) and they exchanged my bill for quarters. To make a long story short, I had glorious juice with my dinner.I¢m planning on another zero two weeks from today when Leon comes to PA, so I feel like I have to work hard until then. I¢m considering getting an early start tomorrow, but we'll see!Cheers,ChardonnayPS: Eeeek! One last DC story before I wrap this up. I was getting a metro ticket when I looked up and there was a friend from Boston I hadn¢t seen for two years! Crazy things always happen to me. I'm glad I'm still recognizable after nearly 3 months in the woods.