morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-06-14
From: Pine Swamp Branch Shelter

To: Laurel Creek Shelter
Miles today: 18.5
Weather: scattered clouds

I've spoken of the kindnesses of those who've taken me to town while filling my hands with homemade cookies, or those who picked us up each day after hiking and gave us dinner and breakfast before returning us to the trail.But I've failed to share with you the smaller, yet wonderful trail magic gestures that have found me. About a week ago on the way to Bland, I started a climb through a thicket of mountain laurel when I happened upon a large Styrofoam chest with the magic words ¢Welcome Hikers¢ written on it. When I opened it, what was revealed was a cache of fruit juice, sodas and V-8. I've been craving fruit and its juice since its weight makes it less feasible to carry out of town. Like a kid in a candy store I grabbed and quickly vanquished an apple juice. There have been five gallon buckets suspended from rope pulleys a month back that were stuffed with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, lemonade and fresh strawberries.Today as I crested the steepest climb of the day and was trying to catch my wind, two ice chests sat near a log with those magic words again. Off went the pack and down went my very tired ass onto the log to savor a coke and cookie - a chocolate cream one! It was left by Super Dave¢¦ and I signed and thanked him in written words in the journal he left. The bounty had been there for several days by the time I reached it, but there were still plenty of sodas.It's these kindnesses, as well as others, which make the whole AT experience so memorable. It's the constant generosity of others shown to we, complete strangers, that renew my faith in humanity so frequently out here. Thank You for your big hearts!
Date: 2004-06-15
From: Laurel Creek Shelter

To: Pickle Branch Shelter
Miles today: 22.3
Weather: light rain

In 1704, in a quiet valley, a small seedling began to rise from the earth in a land that centuries later would be named Virginia. Sheltered from natures harshness by the surrounding trees, it weathered summers drought and winters cold during its most vulnerable stages. As a youngster of some four feet tall, it found itself between a coyote and a skunk. Although it didn't think so at first, it got hit by the little black and whites aromatic spray. A silver lining lies behind every cloud and the aroma kept the local grizzlies and black bears from scratching up against it.Seventy odd years later, it witnessed the Frontiersman becoming Minutemen rushing to arms to battle others in red coats. By chance and circumstance, its quiet hidden valley spared it from the axe and saw¢¦ and so it grew! As the years past, it began to out pace its neighbors thanks to the hollow that funneled even the most meager amount of water to its roots. And so it continued to grow even in the dry years. Another hundred years brought uniforms of blue and grey to battle over the rights of all at its field. Its ever growing limbs and dense canopy of shade helped to cool the wounded¢¦ while its branches would be the last thing some of these fallen warriors would ever see.Fifty more years would see it being used as a marker, a property line. This, once again, would keep the axe and saws from touching its bark. Young lovers would meet and picnic, it would see much that others would not.It is now 2004, some three hundred years from that fragile beginning and a Thru-hiker named Postcard walks up to admire its massive trunk and majestic limbs which seem to defy gravity; Its wide stretched limbs remind him of the welcoming open arms of a loving parent.Now, an old growth landmark, this magnificent White Oak looms over all its neighbors. Known as Keffer Oak, it is one of the miracles of this planet and one of the wonders of the Appalachian Trail!
Date: 2004-06-16
From: Pickle Branch Shelter

To: Catawba
Miles today: 11.9
Weather: light rain

My hands look like raisins and my feet like prunes. Both pairs of socks are wet as well as all my hiking clothes. The trail is boggy, mushy mess from the non-stop rain. The rocks which are numerous are now also slippery. The rain pants I switched to in Damascus have helped, as well as the water-tight second pair of hiking shoes, but with rain falling at one inch an hour, everything just gets wet! Its days like these why my sleeping bag is in two water resistant stuff sacks and why my fleece and long-john bottoms are sealed in a Ziplock inside my clothes bag. It is imperative that those articles stay dry.Despite it all, it hasn't dampened my spirit. For the last four days, I've been moving north solo. My past companions either are still behind me or were delayed. Four days of rain does test one's emotional endurance, not to mention slow one's pace.By lunchtime I had completed the 11.9 AT miles to the road crossing that would take me to Catawba. There I'd pick up my mail drop as well as find the Down Home B & B. As the hard rain turned into a deluge outside, the people at the post office called the B & B for me to see about a vacancy. Yea, I swear. Small towns seem to help one another.All my stuff is drying out now, I've showered and shaven, feeling clean and human! It will be no damp, cold wooden shelter in the rainy woods for me tonight. Just a bed with linens and a movie on TV¢¦ Ahh, so nice, it's been a trying four days and an expensive one. My digital camera died when moisture worked its way through two Ziplocks sending it to the land of worthless toys. My watch which gives me the time so I can monitor my mileage, tells me the barometric trend, serves as my alarm clock wake up, informs me of my elevation and is my compass, also drowned and was unable to be revived. Both items are used everyday which is a good trail rule-of-thumb for what you carry and what you don't, will need to be replaced quickly. Tomorrow I'll receive my breakfast and ride back to the trailhead, then its about twenty miles to Daleville and a zero may be in my future!
Date: 2004-06-17
From: Catawba / VA 311

To: Daleville, VA
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: scattered clouds

It may be one of the most photographed vista overlooks on the AT¢¦ it is called McAfee Knob. The rain had moved off last night leaving clean air and long views. A youth group out for a few days snapped a photo of me there, and then I snapped about 10 or 11 shots of them, each with a different camera. A few miles later came Tinker Cliffs where I laid my pack on its side and plopped down using the pack as the back of a chaise lounge¢¦ and drifted off for a 30 minute catnap. Oh, the freedom afforded by the AT! The sunshine was glorious all day, what a change. The only low point was finding out that the Mexican Restaurant was closed for renovations. RATS! Here in the Howard Johnson's (newly acquired from Best Western) it's the first HoJo's I've stayed in since my buddy Gary and I went to Ft. Lauderdale, accidentally on Spring-break week back in the 1980's. What a zoo! Fortunately, being members of the P.T.A. (The Professional Tanners Association), the sun saved the weekend with its light.
Date: 2004-06-18
From: A Zero in Daleville, VA

To: Daleville, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Zero days are like what weekends are for all of you. This was my seventh day-off in the last seven weeks. But, by hiking into town after a full day, I get to enjoy two nights of showers, easy laundry and food that I don't have to carry. However, I would not say that a zero gives me a more normal life. For me, normal does not mean hanging out in laundromats or walking to stores where cars are whipping past me with nary a consideration for right-of-way. I walked into a bank today and picked up on a defensive, apprehensive ¢may I help you?¢ because my clothes were not normal, I had a pack on my back and that my face was not familiar. I suppose that's sort of OK. You can imagine how the clerk's opinion soured all the more easily when my credit cards computer rejected my request for an advance. The clerk was dismissive to me, not willing to try it again. I nudged her to dial the 800-customer service number. Hesitantly she did and she learned to her surprise that it was for my fraud protection, she also learned that my credit did not merit her apprehensive looks!I continued to be polite, despite the chilly reception, and explained that I was hiking the AT and was not homeless. By the time I left, I feel the clerk and her associates had learned a page from the ¢don't judge a book by its cover¢ school of thought. Why they even wished me a safe journey!I next headed to the Post Office to pick-up my mail drop, but before I got there I found a salon. It's been a month and a half since my last hair cut. I've been shaving every town stop, but the hair definitely needed some attention! When I walked in, a very chilly reception greeted me. I asked if they took walk-ins? A slow up and down look at me was then followed by a slow hesitant ¢Y e s.¢ Great I said. I introduced myself using my real name and started chatting with the ladies of the salon. It seems that although this miracle of a footpath was at their doorstep, none knew anything of it. In no time ladies on the edges had moved over to ask questions and join in the laughter.There I was getting all neat and trimmed while entertaining the ladies and helping them, maybe just a bit, not to judge too quickly. When I finally left the salon, the ladies all waved and wished me well on my journey and had me feeling that I was an AT Ambassador. I suppose that is true, isn't it?My errands today, hopefully, showed people that all things are not what they seem¢¦ and I too reminded myself to be more patient with others.It was a zero day that turned into a ten.
Date: 2004-06-19
From: Daleville, VA

To: Bobblets Gap Shelter
Miles today: 18.5
Weather: broken clouds

Met a different sort of fellow today while hiking out of town. He was heading southbound, and I naturally am heading northbound.We stopped abruptly and stared at one another for a moment, and then I said ¢Well Hello there little fellow¢. ¢Who you callin' little fellow?¢ he answered.¢Umm, I didn't mean to¢¦¢ then he interrupted saying¢You Two-Leggers¢¦Jeeze!¢ Trying to make amends I asked if he was trying to hike the whole trail? ¢No, just a section.¢ He responded, and then asked ¢You?¢ I said ¢Yes, my plan is to go all the way to Maine.¢ ¢Maine?¢¦ Where the heck is Maine?¢ he asked.I just simply replied that it was a fair-piece north of here¢¦ and then asked about how far of a section was he intending to hike? ¢To that tree over there¢¦Should be there in an hour or two, I'm quite fast!¢ He said proudly.¢Oh¢¢¦ I said, ¢Do you have a trail name?¢ ¢Doesn't everyone out here?¢¦ they call me Rocket.¢ ¢Hi Rocket, I'm Postcard¢ ¢Listen Postcard, it's been a little slice of Heaven¢¦ ¢ he said and added ¢¢¦but I don't mean to be rude, you think you could get those big honk'n feet of yours out of my way, I've got feet to make today and I'm burning daylight.¢¢Ummm, Ohh, yea sure¢¦ Pardon me¢¦ have a good hike.¢¢Yea right¢ he replied.
Date: 2004-06-20
From: Bobblets Gap Shelter

To: Thunder Hill Shelter
Miles today: 23.6
Weather: clear sky

Today, was maybe one of the nicest days since leaving Springer Mountain. A cool front moved in last night bringing with it some chilly 40 degree temps¢¦ good sleeping weather! It also vanquished the near 90% humidity we've all had to hike in for the last two weeks. The bright sun and clear skies put me in a wonderful mood. I'm a bit confused as to if today is the first day of summer or tomorrow the 21st? The reason being that the first day of summer is hike naked day, which I didn't, nor did I intend to. But a male hiker named Bilbo did know that today was indeed the first of summer, just hiked into camp butt naked except for his backpack and a strategically place bandana since he was approaching the shelter. Great¢¦why couldn't it have been Heidi Klume?Came to the most interesting landmark right at the end of the day. It's called The Guillotine¢¦ and, it is a bit un-nerving to walk underneath which you must since there's no other way. You try to not let it get to you, but it does¢¦ with little double-time quick stepping I got through with my head still attached, so I won't be joining Nearly Headless Nick anytime soon.
Date: 2004-06-21
From: Thunder Hill Shelter

To: Punchbowl Shelter
Miles today: 25.1
Weather: overcast clouds

This whole section between Daleville and Waynesboro has had me a tad confused on how to hike it. With needing to get to one town for a mail drop, shelters and the terrain, none of it seemed to present me with the ideal plan¢¦ until tonight. It was another big mileage day just so I could do another tomorrow and still not be where I'd want to be. See what I mean? Of course, the new plan involves town food with a motel followed by reaching my Montebello stop the next day and more town food! Now that's a good plan! ¢¦Things are lookin'up. I had a cool deer encounter this morning. The doe was standing across the trail looking at me when I saw her. I stopped to look and hopefully not spook her. She didn't seem scared at all, so I began to say hello and talk to her. She'd twitch her ears at my various words while raising her nose to smell me. She moved a bit off the trail to nibble some plants, which allowed me to move slowly by. As I continued to talk to her, she did something that none of the other 26 deer I've experienced so far on this adventure have done. She walked back onto the trail and started following me at about 20 feet back. I'd stop and turn back to talk to her and she'd stop too. I'd walk on, so would she. It was so cool¢¦ Quite Special! I'm not sure why I didn't think I'd see this many animals before hand, but I see so many everyday. It's all very magical in a way!
Date: 2004-06-22
From: Punchbowl Shelter

To: Buena Vista, VA
Miles today: 10.9

Last night I had to remind myself that it's not the miles we do that is important, but the journey! By deciding earlier that when I reached the road crossing I'd hitch nine miles into Buena Vista, I got to experience another piece of texture.I opened the ¢Hiker to town¢ bandana I had made, and the second vehicle to drive up, quickly stopped to pick both Waker and I up. I met Waker about a week ago and our pace has had us at the same place, so now were hiking together. Any way, no more than 30 seconds had elapsed since reaching the road that we had our ride! Waker and I were then treated to a wild and fun ride down the mountain in the back of a pick-up. The driver was good and his right foot heavy. The mountain was curves on curves on curves, but with his driving skill the ride echoed that of a roller coaster¢¦ and all because we chose to go to town. Part of the fun of the AT is all that surrounds it and how we negotiate our way through it!
Date: 2004-06-23
From: Buena Vista, VA

To: Montebello, VA
Miles today: 16.6

The disaster of a week ago, the hard rain that killed both my watch and my digital camera, has now been fixed.   Unfortunately, it required buying new of each and today as I reached The Dutch Haus B & B, my new digital camera was here waiting.   The last weeks lack of drawings on my journal was simply because there was no way to photograph them.   So all should be getting back to normal again¢¦ normal that is in it¢s own abnormal way.Here at The Dutch Haus, I¢ve met more new faces that have shared more news of hikers who¢ve come off the trail.   The numbers are reducing, but to me, there still seems a lot who are moving north!Today, if you¢ve noticed the total miles section, I crossed thru another landmark¢¦ Whoa, that¢s a lot of miles!!
Date: 2004-06-24
From: Montebello, VA

To: Maupin Field Shelter
Miles today: 18.2

The Appalachian Trail teaches its travelers many things!! Patience... Staying in the moment... and Honor!  Having played golf for some time now, I can say the lessons learned are the same.   Honor being the greatest of these!   With no one other than you to count your strokes and then mark your score- card truthfully is all about honor.Today the A.T. gave me a little test of honor when I least expected it.   The story begins with a wonderful sunny, low humidity day¢¦ Hiking out of Montebello and its Dutch Haus B & B gave beautiful views all day.   After a lunch break at the Tye River crossing where I gave the feet a celebrational soak in honor of the coming of summer. It would be a long climb (3000 feet) up and over Three Ridge Mountain.   It was everything the profile maps showed it would be.   Tough!!At the onset, a trail sign said that my destination for the night, Maupin Field Shelter was 8.8 miles north.   Now, all 8.8¢s are not created equal and this 8.8 was rock on rock with steep, lung exhausting, leg weakening climbs!As I reached the second of three ridges, I came upon a trail sign that stated a side trail could be taken to the left reducing the distance to Maupin Field Shelter to only 3 miles¢¦ The sign also stated that the Appalachian Trail continued straight with the sameMaupin Field Shelter being 6 to 7 more miles¢¦ and knowing the A.T., that routing would take me up the toughest part of this steep mountain.I stared at this crossroads trail sign and weighed the options. Go left and be at the shelter in an hour or so, or go straight following the A.T. another six or seven miles up a steep, rocky ascent.Come October, when I finish my journey in Maine and all 2,174 miles of the Appalachian Trail, I can submit a document to the ATC (Appalachian Trail Conference), the governing body of the A.T. stating that I have completed its entire length.   They in turn note the achievement in some logbook and then send me a small piece of fabric, a patch.   It has a number and a word embroidered on it in gold thread which says; ¢2000 Miler¢¢¦ That is the simple designation given to those who claim to have hiked the A.T.¢s full length.   It doesn¢t matter whether you do it in one season or twenty, just that you¢ve done it all.   And, it¢s all on the honor system.   I continued straight¢¦
Date: 2004-06-25
From: Maupin Field Shelter

To: Waynesboro, VA
Miles today: 21.3

The last twenty-four hours have been considerably black and white. Let me explain. Back at last night's shelter, Waker and Trail Dawg (a hiker I met the day before) show up late from Montebello. Trail Dawg is holding his pack rain cover out in front of him, a bit unusual. He lays it down on the shelter floor and opens it to reveal a small nose twitching. Out came the tiniest of young skunks! Although the size of a grapefruit, it kept raising its tail to spray¢¦which was of the amount of an angry eyedropper. Of course, I had all my gear out on the shelter floor while Trail Dawg's stuff was still in his pack. The others there quickly suggested that he must return it to where he found it on the trail if it was to have a chance for reunion with it's smelly kin-folk. Cute, unusual, but not shelter broken. We all hoped the little fella good luck and safe passage!With the forecast calling for¢¦ wait for it¢¦ rain, I moved swiftly all morning hoping to cover as many of the 21+ miles into Waynesboro before it began.I was flyin' low as my mother would say. I had all 21 miles done by 2:15, that's quick. But just as I neared the end of the distance, my eye caught a big black piece of something, about 100 feet up the trail. At first I thought it was another hikers pack cover, but that was quickly made clear when it turned around onto the trail facing me, it was a large Black Bear! I stopped, froze, thought, then yelled ¢Hey Bear¢ and started hitting my hiking poles together. The bear thankfully turned and ran up the trail out of sight. It was big and I was alone, so I continued to yell ¢Hey Bear¢ while hitting my poles together as I moved slowly up to where it had been¢¦ had no choice, the vegetation was too thick, the trail was my only route!Bears don't like human contact, mostly; I hoped I wouldn't face the exception. Nothing else happened and I made it to the road and the day's destination. It was thrilling to be confronted by so large a Black Bear while by myself, but I'm glad this story lacks any further drama.
Date: 2004-06-27
From: Waynesboro, VA

To: Black Rock Hut
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: scattered clouds

All of us since starting have heard constantly about ¢Wait till you get to the Shenandoah's.¢ Meaning that the terrain becomes more gentle and you'll be able to make bigger miles. The only issue with this statement is that the more miles you do, the less time you get be in the park. As it is, my plan is to exit the entire length of the Shenandoah National Park's 100 miles on the morning of the fifth day. But that's getting ahead of it, I've just entered the park and yes, the terrain is more gentle. Shenandoah National Park has something the other parks don't¢¦Wayside Grills with real town food. Why these grills even have wine & beer in the next door camp stores. But today's hike only started the park, tomorrow will take me to the first of these Waysides. It will be far from a primitive existence. The other thing you hear about is how tame the deer are since hunting isn't allowed, they get used to you so they're not as skittish. I saw five today, bringing the number up to 35 meetings thus far. I will admit to having black bear a wee bit more on my mind since the other days encounter. And this park has a whole bunch. Well, lets go see what we can see, it should be exciting.
Date: 2004-06-28
From: Black Rock Hut

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

Despite the wonderful wayside restaurant which cooked up a nice double breakfast for me, and meeting the hiker with the computer operated artificial leg named One Leg Wonder, one thing was causing me much angst. It seems the calendar, Harpers Ferry Post Office hours of operation, available motel rooms and the big July 4th holiday weekend are all at odds with one another. It seems upon looking deeper into it, my suspicions are correct. If I continue to do mid-twenty mile days for each of the next five days, I'll arrive in Harpers Ferry on the late afternoon of the 3rd. The Post Office will be closed by then, so I'll be stuck in town for two-and-half days. I'm guessing that a room as well will be hard to come by? But what's most important to me is getting my picture taken by the ATC for this years book-files. I'll call them to see if they'll be open on the 4th, if so, short of a room, some of the pressure will be off. Normally, I'd take a zero there, but with the holiday, a lot of what I'll need may be closed. As you can see, I'm fretting since I don't have the answers¢¦some of the town habits are obviously still within me. A phone call or two will provide the missing info.One thought is to use my arrival in Harpers Ferry as the time I see the folks, my sister's family and my cat, which by now surely thinks I'm dead. Maybe that's the best solution to all these conflicting timetables? I was going to wait till Pennsylvania. What was interesting today? Well, as I mentioned, meeting One Leg Wonder. He did a funny Linda Blair-Exorcist impression by keeping his artificial leg still and him walking around it at his high-tech joint pivot. He has a great sense of humor. I don't think of him in any other way than as a Thru-hiker, which I know he liked.The other was seeing my first, fully-grown skunk in the wild; much more significant than that little pint-size stinker the other day. I spotted it when I was no more than four feet from it! I quickly gave myself a wide berth from the big stinker. And like yesterday, I saw another 4 to 6 deer. Of course the birds are everywhere, but I did hear and owl this morning, my first since North Carolina.Well, its getting dark and as of right now, I'm the only one here in the hut. Will tonight be the first solo night for me since I began? Only two more days and I celebrate my two month anniversary on the trail¢¦and tomorrow I walk through 900 miles. Boy are they flying by¢¦Oh wait, son of a gun, looks like another hiker just showed up tonight.