morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-04-17
From: Trimpi Shelter

To: Atkins, Va.
Miles today: 22.2
Weather: scattered clouds

We did have company in our shelter last night. "Hogwalker" came in late. In his "real" life he rides motorcycles, hence his trail name. It was a great hike in sunny weather today. We're in the village Motel and have had dinner at The Barn Restaurant and a blizzard at the Dairy Queen. We saw a lot of "trail maintainers" today. These are volunteers who take their own time to help keep the trail in good shape for hikers (cut away blow-downs, refill where the water has eroded, etc.). I hope they know how much they are appreciated.
Date: 2004-04-18
From: Atkins, Va.

To: Chestnut Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 23.9

It was a long walk today with a lot of "up," but the views and the sunset from the shelter was worth it. The shelter is really nice tonight. It is like a stone house with windows, a door, and built-in bunks (but, of course, no electricity or running water). It is at an elevation of 4400 ft., so the wind blows constantly and it's kind of chilly. "Hogwalker" and "Hawk" are in the shelter with us tonight. "Hawk" carries a guitat with him and he played for a while before everbody bedded down (around 9:00). We hear that tomorrow should be an easy walk, but the best attitutde is to just take each step as it comes - and walk north!
Date: 2004-04-19
From: Chestnut Ridge Shelter

To: Bland, VA
Miles today: 21.5
Weather: overcast clouds

I told you about the sunset from Chestnut Ridge, but let me tell you, the sunrise was equally spectacular. I got up during the night (privey break), and the stars were beautiful. The ridge overlooks Burk's Garden and the lights down below with the stars above - it was hard to tell where one ended and the other began. Today's walk was fairly easy. There were many creek crossings. My hiking partner worked hard not to get wet, but I took great pleasure in splashing right thru (remember its in the 80's - we went from winter to summer). When we came out at the road we decided to hitch into Bland and get a room, shower, and a burger at Dairy Queen.
Date: 2004-04-20
From: Bland, VA

To: Wapiti Shelter
Miles today: 26.3
Weather: light rain

I didn't tell you about the "Trail Magic" yesterday. At the Jenkins Shelter a sign had been posted saying that a local Church was taking hikers into town for dinner. We missed it, but I understand that about a dozen hikers got fed. I jokingly said that maybe they would have "leftovers" at the road crossing. Well, when we got there a cooler full of ice, drinks, and candybars was waiting. Farther up the trail were gallon jugs of water (very much appreciated in this heat). On the other hand, for the first time, we couldn't get a hitch out of Bland and ended up walking the entire 2.5 miles out of town. We had gotten up at 6:00 because we knew we had a long day, but it was after 8:00 before we got back to the trail. Oh, well, we accomplished what we intended for today, and it was another beautiful walk. Oh, and we saw a snake today. It was just a small black snake in the middle of the trial trying to get warm in the morning sun.
Date: 2004-04-21
From: Wapiti Shelter

To: Rice Field Shelter
Miles today: 23.5
Weather: overcast clouds

"unfinished" left the shelter at about 2:30 to begin his hike today!??? Out here everybody is pretty free to hike their hike however they choose. Some people are doing 28-30 miles per day and some are hiking 5-10. Some get up eary and some start late or some just spend the day in the shelter reading. Some take naps during the day and hike late, and some like to stop around noon. When you hike the mountain ridges all day you can see the beautiful green valleys on both sides of the ridges, but today as we started down into Pearisburg the trees were budding, Dogwoods were blooming, flowers were blooming, everything was just so GREEN!(even the poison ivy). We stopped at Wades Market and got a snack and then headed up the trail. The shelter tonight is in a beautiful site (you can see into West Virginia on one side of the ridge - Hello Rose - and you can see the lights of Pearisburg on the other side. "Papa Bear" and "Mad Professor" are in the shelter with us tonight - lots of fun conversation.
Date: 2004-04-22
From: Rice Field Shelter

To: Warspur Shelter
Miles today: 25.0
Weather: broken clouds

We're on schedule to be at Rt.621 tomorrow where my husband will pick us up. My hiking partner has tickets to the Metallica concert in Roanoke on Sat., so we get a zero day. Tonight there are section hikers and southbounders in the shelter with us, and we've been sharing info. We told them all the great places they needed to see and do (South) and they gave us some insider advice about what was coming up in our hike. We were also glad to hear the Southbounders had seen "Xena" and "Bloody Cactus." We hadn't seen them since Hot Springs, N.C. and had been wondering about them.
Date: 2004-04-23
From: Warspur Shelter

To: Route 621
Miles today: 19.5

When we got to the road my husband had been playing "Trail Angel" by passing out drinks, lunch cakes, fruit, etc. to hikers as they came by. We dropped my hiking partner at a motel in Roanoke where his wife is going to meet him tonight. Today was another beautiful hiking day. We went over mountains and thru some beautiful pasture fields (one had little donkeys). We saw the Keffer Oak Tree - the largest tree in the south on the A.T. The wildflowers look like a carpet of purple, yellow, and white along the trail. We got our first thunder storm today. We were about half way up Sinking Creek Mtn. & we heard thunder. We hustled to get our pack covers and rain jackets on before the downpour! It was a real blessing, because it made the rest of that climb a lot cooler!
Date: 2004-04-24
From: Route 621

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

My grandson spent the night with us last night, so we went out to Dairy Queen for breakfast. This is his opening day for Little League Baseball, and he had to be at the field by 10:00. I did some laundry & got a hair cut. I saw a lot of people who are following our hike, and they are so supportive. We're over 700 miles now - 1/3 of the way through - EXCITING! The grandson's parents are going to the Metallica concert with my hiking partner, so we're going to CHUCKIE CHEESE for dinner. We'll probably do a short hike tomorrow. Today has been really great.
Date: 2004-04-26
From: Taylors Mtn. Overlook

To: Parkers Gap Raod
Miles today: 25.1

There are certain advantages and disadvantages to hiking out of home. Advantages: 1)sleeping in your own bed; 2)clean clothes every day; 3)hot bath every night; 4)no trail food (except for lunches). Disadvantages: 1) you're quite a distance from the trail so you have to get up at INHUMAN hours; 2) you reach the trail car sick (yes, the sound you hear is me gagging) because you have to find all of the squiggly forest service roads to get to the trail. O.K. I agree - the advantages far outweight the disadvantages. We got up at 5:00 today - in the pouring rain. The hike was pretty easy - we had done 18 miles by 2:00 and finished what we had planned to do by 4:30. We saw lots of deer today (but very few hikers). Do you know what "Dutchman's Breeches" are! It's one of the many, many wildflowers that are blooming! We saw fields of them along the trail. The dwarf iris, trillium, azaelas, wild strawberries are all so beautiful. The understory of the forest is just exploding with color. All of you who can get out into the Va. countryside shouldn't miss it!
Date: 2004-04-27
From: Parkers Gap Raod

To: James River Foot Bridge
Miles today: 17.0

Short day today. Finished around 2:00, so I could go to my grandson's baseball game. Favorite part of today's hike - passed under "The Guillotine." It's a rock formation and the A.T. only passes under a rock three times in 2,168 miles and this one is on Apple Orchard Mtn. I also enjoyed crossing the James River on the foot bridge. Where I live in Alleghany County is less then 5 miles from where the Cowpasture River and the Jackson River meet to form the James River. Oh, by the way, today is the 50th day of our hike!
Date: 2004-04-28
From: James River Foot Bridge

To: Route 60 - Buena Vista, Va.
Miles today: 21.4

We did today's hike south to north. I had hiked the "Three Sisters" before and after looking at the profile maps we decided it would be a much easier hike in revers - and we were right! When we finished "Hogwalker" was coming across the bridge and needed a ride to a campground and we were able to give him a lift. After than I had to take off to Roanoke to get new shoes - my soles have started coming off - after 800 miles I'm not surprised.
Date: 2004-04-29
From: Route 60 - Buena Vista, Va.

To: Tye River
Miles today: 25.7
Weather: broken clouds

Well, good-by to Buena Vista (good-by Mary Jane). It was a beautiful day and a beautiful hike. There were a couple to tough "ups" (Bald Knob and the Priest), but Cold Mtn. was rolling green hills with spectacula views. The hike from the Tye River to the summit of the Priest is considered one of the toughest climbs on the entire A.T., so you can imagine our amazement when we looked up and my husband had walked up to meet us. We've really enjoyed this time of hiking out of home, but I'm afraid it's quickly coming to a close - well, maybe a few more days.
Date: 2004-04-30
From: Tye River

To: Humpback Mountain Parking Area
Miles today: 23.4

Boy, the miles in Virginia are just flying by! We will pass thru Waynesboro and start into the Shenandoah National Park tomorrow. The "Three Ridges" today were tough. I had done this area of the hike before so there were no surprises. Someone (a non-hiker) the other day asked, "Don't you get tired?" Well, if you mean every bone, every muscle, and every fiber of your body begging you to stop walking and you know you still have four miles to go to the shelter - well, yeah, I do get tired; but, the challenge is part of what this experience is all about. "Mello" said today that he loved the "hiking." He said that for him the experience is like 50% the hiking; 25% the views; and 25% the people and relationships along the trail. I'm not sure I "love" the hiking - it's the means to the end for me. For me, hiking the A.T. is all about the "journey." The whole trail experience - the physical challenges, the people you meet, seeing the backroads of all the states you pass through, and learning to be self-sufficient with just what you carry on your back - that's a good feeling.
Date: 2004-05-01
From: Humpback Mountain Parking Area

To: Beagle Gap
Miles today: 12.0

Short day today. Wanted to get home early so I could go see my grandson in his school play and it's my Mom's birthday, so I need to try and visit her today. We've entered the Shenandoah National Park and (especially since it's the week-end) there's a lot more traffic on the trails and on the roads (which the trail crosses often). I've been trying to decided when to "switch" from my winter sleeping bag (20 degrees) to a lighter one (45 degrees). Just when I think I've decided then the weather forecast for Monday night is a "freeze warning." The lighter bag will save me about 12 oz. in pack weight. Is it worth it if I'm cold??? I'll probably go with the lighter bag, but keep my long underwear.
Date: 2004-05-02
From: Beagle Gap

To: Brown Gap
Miles today: 17.6

We got a later than usual start today. The forecast is for rain, and when we got to the Park it was really, really fogged in. In a couple of hours the fog lifted, and it was a beautiful day (although humid). We met "Bones" today, and we caught up with "Kung Fu" and "De Ja" who we had hiked with before. We're trying to decided when we have to end this luxurious slacking out of home. Probably on Tuesday or Wednesday. It takes about 1 1/2 hrs. to get to the trail now. I guess it's time to pick up the pack and go - but when we do we won't be back until the hike is over. I mentioned I bought new shoes. I've worn the new ones the past two days and they've done great. Having to change shoes during a hike is "scary." My old shoes had over 800 miles on them, and I was losing chunks of the sole, but I still hated to change. I was able to get the same North Face hiking shoe, but, HOLY COW, I've gone from a size 8 (hiking shoes-my regular shoes have been size 7) to a size 9 1/2! I don't have any other shoes in my closet that I canget my big, ugly, fat feet in. I guess when I get back I'll just have to wear flip-flops.
Date: 2004-05-03
From: Brown Gap

To: Swift Run Gap
Miles today: 21.7

Wow, I guess we were flying today. We did today's hike in 8 hrs. and finished around 4:00. This is our last slack packing day and our last sleep-at-home night. We go back to the shelter tomorrow night. We actually had some sleet today while we were walking - I had on shorts and my knees were freezing. I wore my gloves and my precip jacket all day - it was chilly. Hope it's warmer tomorrow. We saw some deer and turkeys today. The deer were about 10 feet off the trail and weren't scared - they just stood and watched as we walked by. We are getting really excited about finishing VA. and heading into Harper's Ferry. We expect to be there by Saturday. I'll update again as soon as I can. Thanks to all of you who have signed my guest book and wished me good luck. I love you all!!!
Date: 2004-05-04
From: Swift Run Gap

To: Rock Springs Hut
Miles today: 20.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Husband dropped us at 9:00 and we hiked until 5:30. I didn't go to bed at home until about 2:00 last night - lots of last minute details just like when we left for Springer on March 9th. The hike wasn't too bad, and we saw lots of deer. I brought my light sleeping bag, so I'm praying it doesn't get too cold tonight. At bedtime, the deer were walking around the shelter. It's a nice shelter. Mello, Early Bird, and Bodie are sharing it with us tonight.
Date: 2004-05-05
From: Rock Springs Hut

To: N. of Thornton Gap
Miles today: 23.0

The hike was a little difficult today. There were a lot of ups and downs, and the downs were really rocky. This makes it hard on your feet, ankles, and knees - and my right ankle and shin have been grumbling. The choices for shelter tonight were at 14 miles or 28 miles - neither suits - so we're tenting. The deer are walking all around us as we set up the tent. We have been hoping to see a bear in the Park, but now I hope the bear stay away tonight. We've hung our food bags, and I hope they're far enough away from the tent. We stopped at a store along the trail and I got a ham/cheese sandwich, french fries, ice cream, and Pepsi - so we don't have to cook dinner. My sleeping bag did great last night. I used my liner and my silk-weight underwear and stayed warm.
Date: 2004-05-06
From: N. of Thornton Gap

To: Jim and Molly Denton Shelter
Miles today: 23.0
Weather: clear sky

What an interestind day! When I turned around to crawl out of the tent this morning, I had to practically "shoo" the deer away. They were standing everywhere and weren't bothered by us at all. We could hear them waling around outside last night, and could hear a buck "snorting." I know I've mentioned how beautiful the wild flowers are, but I don't think I've mentioned the butterflies - all sizes and colors everywhere. The shelter tonight is fantastic. It has a loft with windows, a picnic shelter, privy (of course), and an outdoor shower. I tood a cold shower - outdoors! Imagine how desperately dirty you would have to feel to resort to this! It was so refreshing! We left the Shenandoah Park today. On the way out the views were spectacular. Oh, and the bugs were too. The little black gnats are eating me alive - time for the Deet already.
Date: 2004-05-07
From: Jim and Molly Denton Shelter

To: Rod Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: broken clouds

We've just discovered a "hitch" in our plans. We have our food boxes at the A.T. Conference headquarters in Harper's Ferry and we found out they aren't open on Sat. & Sun. So we decided to make today a little shorter (18 miles), and do 21 tomorrow, and then just have 9 miles into Harper's Ferry on Sun. (MOTELS & RESTAURANTS). We hope we can come up with enough food for the extra day. We might have to drop by the Bear's Den Hostel and pick up some snacks. We called the A.T.C. and they're going to take our food boxes over to the outfitters in town which is open daily 10-6. That should work out. We're getting ready to cook dinner and it's thundering all around us. We're the only ones here at the shelter right now - I wonder if there are hikers out on the trail racing to beat this storm. This shelter's shower is a pipe coming out of the creek about 4 ft. high - believe me, after walking in 90 degrees today it was refreshing!
Date: 2004-05-08
From: Rod Hollow Shelter

To: David Lesser Memorial Shelter
Miles today: 21.0
Weather: scattered clouds

It rained cats & dogs last night. It actually started around 5:00 while we were fixing dinner and it was like the thunderstorm (with lightning) just kep rolling one after another. We were so glad we had decided to stop and not hike on (another 7 miles) to the next shelter. Boy! We would have finished the day soaked! I have referred to some of our hikes a "roller coaster" ups and downs, but today we did the section of the trail called "The Roller Coaster." There are 10 ascents and descents in 13 miles- up, down, up, down - ten times. Yeah! It's done! We also crossed the West Va. line today. I love my home state, Va., but I don't mind saying good-by for a while - I'll be back soon - when the hike is finished! Two Southbounders who were in the shelter with us a couple of nights ago mentioned that some northbounders said the "Roller Coaster" was just an annoyance! I thing the SOBO's took that as "chest thumping" (bragging). I thought about this all day while I was walking (what else is there to do?). At a certain point during your hike you come to a realization that, yes, by golly, I can do this! Barring any major catastrophe, I'm hiking to Maine - to Katahdin! No matter what the trail throws at you - yeat, snow, rain, rocks, roots, ups, downs - these are all challenges and you take them one at a time. I really think the hikers that siad the "Roller Coaster" was an annoyance weren't minimizing the difficulty but were saying it's just one more obstacle to overcome!
Date: 2004-05-09
From: David Lesser Memorial Shelter

To: Harper's Ferry, W.Va.
Miles today: 9.4

Crossed the beautiful Shenandoah River in Harper's Ferry. What emotions! My family has always been really into Civil War history and knowing the histoical significance of this little town and the fact that I have walked over 1,000 miles to get here - it was a very exciting morning. Out first stop of course was for food at The Coffee Mill a little outside cafe where I ate Barbecue and drank lemonade. We walked thru town to the outfitters, picked up our boxes, and were walking to the Comfort Inn when we passed the Appalachian Trail Headquarters. We were peering thru the window when Lori came out, took us in, let us sign the register and have our pictures taken for the scrap book. We were hikers #38 & 39 registered this year. I hope all of you are still hiking!
Date: 2004-05-10
From: Harper's Ferry, W.Va.

To: Pine Knob Shelter
Miles today: 23.0
Weather: clear sky

Our 1/2 day stay in Harper's Ferry was great. I really want to go back some time! Yesterday wewent into Harper's Ferry across the Shenandoah River and today we came out across the Potomac River. As soon as we crossed the Potomac we were in Md. We followed the C & O Canal for about 3 miles. There were turtles lieing on logs in the sun. The trail today went thru 2 state parks and passed numerous civil war monuments. The trail also went passed the first monument ever erected to honor George Washington in Washington Monument State Park. We're in the shelter tonight with Rican, Stanimal, and Big Foot. It's really warm - about 60 tonight - I'm not complaining!
Date: 2004-05-11
From: Pine Knob Shelter

To: Deer Lick Shelter
Miles today: 22.3
Weather: scattered clouds

O.K. I slept in Va. on Sat.night, W.Va. on Sun. night, Md.on Mon.night, and tonight I'm sleeping in Pa. Pa. is our 7th of 14 states we will pass thru. Trail days in Damascus this week-end is taking a lot of the hikers off the trail. I'm not interested in going backwards. I'm only hiking north. The trail will probably be pretty lonesome thurs.- sun. But then everyone will be trying to make-up the time. Rican hiked with us today and is in the shleter with us tonight, but he is the only other thru-hiker we've seen. We're all pretty beat today - I guess it's the heat and humidity. It stated in the 60's last night and was in the mid80's today. I hate to admit it, but a good thunderstorm sure would cool things off!
Date: 2004-05-12
From: Deer Lick Shelter

To: Birch Run Shelter
Miles today: 23.2
Weather: clear sky

The shelter tonight is beautiful and in a beautiful spot near a stream. The first thing we do now when we get to camp is build a fire - not for the heat, but for the smoke - to keep the bugs away. We passed the Antietam battlefied and park first thing this morning. When we crossed a road we could see a pizza place about .3 miles down the road, so we hoofed it down there and had lunch. Even with the break we were still at the shelter be 5:30 which gives us some good time to eat dinner and rest. We had planned the traditional stop at Pine Grove Furnace State Park to eat 1/2 gal of ice cream (celebrating our 1/2 way make on the trail), but we just found out it's not open on weekdays until after Memorial Day. We've had these disappointments all along the hike - lots of places had a May 1st opening date and we missed it because we're ahead of schedule. Oh, I wanted to mention, we saw these huge ant hills today. They were like three feet in diameter and over two feet tall. We were taling to a trail maintenance guy and he said the park was full of them - and, be careful, don't sit down near them. Good advice!
Date: 2004-05-13
From: Birch Run Shelter

To: Alex Kennedy Shelter
Miles today: 25.5
Weather: scattered clouds

This was a fun day even though we put in some long miles. We got to stop at Pine Grove Furnace State Park for a Pepsi out of the machine and then we stopped at Green Mountain Store to try and eat the traditional 1/2 gal. of ice cream. My hiking partner put his away - all 3500 calories of it. I got about half through my Capuccino Crunch. My hiking partner said, "Mom, you're going to be wired after all that caffeine. So far, I feel O.K. although I'm not sure I'm going to want a lot for dinner. There's a good stream by the shelter tonight and so far we're alone. That means I can get a good "bath" and change into some clean clothes. The simple joys of summer hiking.
Date: 2004-05-14
From: Alex Kennedy Shelter

To: Darlington Shelter
Miles today: 18.2
Weather: few clouds

Boy, was my hiking partner right about the Capuccino ice cream. I was still awake at midnight (I usually go to sleep when the sun goes down)listening to the night sounds ( I heard a coyote -I guess it was a coyote). The hike today was really mellow. We got into Boiling Springs around 8:30 and had brunch (my hiking partner had breakfast - egg/cheese croissant - and I had lunch - chicken salad sandwich and chips). There was a steep climb to the shelter at the end of the day. We got there around 3:00, but Duncannon is still 12 miles away, so we decided not to push it. Around 5:00 two phys.ed. classes from Boiling Springs High School showed up. This was the culminating activity for their class (an over night backpacking trip). It was fun having young people around and seeing them experience life in the woods (unfortunately, there was a long walk down hill to the water source). It was also a lot of sudden sensory input for us! One hiker commented (we were sitting in the shelter looking out at them, It's like watching a wide-screen t.v. - hey, and the only show on was reality T.V.