morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-06-10
From: Beagle Gap

To: Calf Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 1.5
Weather: clear sky

Today included resupplying and having homemade pizza with the greatest hosts on the A.T. - Theo and Alissa. Finnegan and I decided to skipping the section on the trail from Buena Vista to Waynesboro, which included a nasty bad mountain called "The Priest" - we heard it offers no forgiveness and with the heat we decided to just start in the Shenandoah National Park now. So we said a temporary farewell to Theo and Alissa in the evening and they dropped us off along the Skyline Drive. Finally - in the famous Shenandoah! We only walked a few miles to the first shelter for the night. The "huts", as they are called, don't have bear cables like the Smokies, but "bear poles". So bear proof in fact that even HUMANS can't hang food from them. It's wicked hard!! Haven't seen any wildlife yet, but I hope our hike with include a bear tomorrow!
Date: 2007-06-11
From: Calf Mtn Shelter

To: Loft Mountain Campground
Miles today: 6.5
Weather: broken clouds

 Finnegan and I hiked seven miles today before I found the dreaded: a deer tick lodged in my arm pit. Taking advice from my mom, we decided that at the closest town I will go to a clinic and get it checked out. Bummed and getting late with seven more miles till the next shelter, Finnegan and I decided to walk on Skyline Drive for the remainder of the day. Not a few minutes after that Finn complained his ankle was hurting. I looked down and said, "Ah, that's because you are bleeding." Apparently, he had a blister pop. Now, both in sour moods, we decided hitching to the next campground would be a good idea. Luckily the first vehicle picked us up. The fact that we got a to ride in a sweet RV was enough to lift our spirits. It was an older couple from Florida with two miniature toy poodles with pink toenails. They both made their home on Finnegan's lap, who is not a dog person. I had to contain my laughter for the rest of the trip. The couple dropped us off at Loft Mountain, where we set up camp in the RV park. We made friends with a couple of guys on a road trip and ate pink marshmallow/dark chocolate smores. Started out a bum day but in the end worked out just fine. Tomorrow the plan includes getting closer to Elkton to get meds for my bite and hopefully seeing some bears!
Date: 2007-06-12
From: Loft Mountain Campground

To: Smith Roach Gap - Hightop Hut
Miles today: 1.5
Weather: few clouds

We ate lunch at the Loft Mountain restaurant with Byte Code and Church Mouse today - off to a late rainy start. Ok, we admit it - we half hiked today, half yellow blazed our way to the shelter before Elkton. Hey - we avoided most the rain! Ha! Got to the shelter early, later joined by Bulldog, Byte Code, Church Mouse and a few more hikers I don't have trail names for. After dinner I decided to make my way up for a privy visit. I did my business and then pushed the door to get out - but I couldn't. The latch on the outside to stop flies and rodents from getting in had self closed when I pushed the door shut! I had this sudden sense of claustrophobia. Every spider web and mouse turd was magnetized and staring at me as I rattled the door. What if I die in here!!?? "Girl found dead in the Hightop Mountain Hut privy in the Shenandoah National Park today. Police say she was stuck." Ah! I panicked screaming, "I'm stuck in the privy!!! SOMEBODY HELP!" After what seemed like forever someone walked up, "Are you ok?" "I'm stuck in the privy! Let me out!" After I was rescued I walked back down to the hut to be joined by about 10 laughing hikers. Ok, I admit, it was funny, but hikers behind me - beware the privy that eats people.
Date: 2007-06-13
From: Smith Roach Gap - Hightop Hut

To: Elkton VA
Miles today: 0.0

From Momma Ash - Danielle found a deer tick attached to her a couple of days ago. She and Noah got to the clinic in Elkton today as fast as they could. She made it under the 3 days from the time of the bite and was given a huge dose of antibiotics as a precaution against the possibility of Lyme disease. If she has no symptoms within 30 days she never got LD or it's cured.Finn and I woke up to a bear this morning about 100 feet from our tent!! It was really big and just minding its own business eating breakfast. We weren't fast enough to get any good pictures but it was a pretty cool site to see. We hitched in at the Elkton exit to go to a clinic. The doc said I was lucky to get there today because deer tick bites are best treated within three days of the bite. He assured me I'd probably be fine and dosed me up with some super antibiotics. Phew... We are staying the night at the Country View Motel and possibly aqua-blazin' tomorrow. We'll see....
Date: 2007-06-14
From: Elkton VA

To: Shenandoah River - Newport
Miles today: 0.0

From Momma Ash - Danielle called me from a canoe today - she and Noah are aqua blazing on the Shenandoah River. They started in Elkton and plan to put in at Royal Front on Monday.They got as far as Newport today - 21 miles.We got it all set up - Finnegan and I will be taking a break fromhiking (and ticks) and aqua-blazing the trail in a canoe from Elkton, VA to Front Royal, VA.The Shenandoah River Outfitter in Luray came and dropped off a canoewith us this morning and we set off on our new journey. Despite itraining on and off during the day - it was a lot of fun. We had 2dams to portage and at the first one a guy helped us with our canoebut unfortunately we left our guide book in the back of his truck. Sowe ended up camping at an RV campground for the night. Turns out wedid 21ish miles today which we were pretty proud of. Not only will mylegs be in shape after the AT but my arms will be too. I'm alreadysore!The best part of today was seeing bald eagles along the shore. A rareand breathtaking site. So neat! Hopefully we will see moretomorrow.
Date: 2007-06-15
From: Shenandoah River - Newport

To: Shenandoah River - Luray
Miles today: 0.0

Today, we rafted to the outfitter to get a new map and guide booksince we had no idea where we were the whole day. Didn't see much ofanyone - we practically had the river to ourselves. We came across someinteresting finds though - a pig¢s foot floating down stream, a cow¢sshoulder blade and a tire grave yard - about 50 in all.Interesting... We also decided to create a game out of getting thecows along the bank to moo. Oh, it's so much fun.We camped at the outfitter after doing 24 miles today. Theircampground was packed with families and scouts. I was in awe of someof the set ups there. Most tents twice the size of cars. Peopleunloading box after box of food and luxurious items from their Xterras.Finn and I stood there; I with my jaw agape standing next to our 1.5tent, able to fit everything we own on our backs. I mean our tentalone was the size of most people's camp chairs. I thought I wasliving it up camping with my iPod - these people had TV's!! Is thiswhat camping outside the AT is like, I wondered as we had our dehydrated dinner watching the campers next to us eat steak. Ha-ha!
Date: 2007-06-16
From: Shenandoah River - Luray

To: Shenandoah River - Low Water Bridge, Bentonville 
Miles today: 0.0

21 aqua-blazing milesFinnegan and I have discovered Cheeze-Whiz. It's pretty much thegreatest thing ever. We have cream cheese Cheeze-Whiz, but couldn'tfind any bagels so we made up a great hors d¢oeuvres - a Pringles creamcheese whiz sandwich with imaginary olives. We don't have anyolives but we imagine they would taste good on this combo. Yum.We also discovered that we have an inner pirate in both of us. Theriver brings it out in us. We even traded pirate jokes with somefellow college boys in tubes we passed today: "What¢s a pirate¢s favoriteletter? ARRR!" & "A pirate walks into a bar with a wheel stickin' outof his shorts and the bartender says, what¢s with the wheel mate? Thepirate replies, arrr it's drivin' me nuts!"We continued down the river going, "Arrr... arrr!" Finn and Idecided tonight at the nearest gas station we are going to buyBoone's Farm (yeah, we are classy) and raft down the river with it ina paper bag pretending it's rum like real pirates. Yo ho and a bottleof Boone's! Ha-ha! We got to go down Compton Rapids today which is the biggest rapid we'll cross and Finn yelled, "Ye can wet me britches, but ye can't wet me soul, Arrr!"We are camping at the Low Water Bridge Campground tonight with 200million boy scouts. I walked out of the camp store a bit ago and I kidyou not, a boy scout asked me if I'd like to try his cheese whiz. Nothanks, I have my own. Finn just heard a few of them say they weregoing to spray our tent with whiz so I have to go guard the tent.Should be a fun night!
Date: 2007-06-18
From: Shenandoah River - Front Royal

To: zero in Front Royal
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

No Cheeze-Whiz on the tent last night just lots of loud screaming andlaughing from the scouts a few tents over. Ha-ha.Finn and I made it today to Front Royal a day early. Our canoe waspicked up and we said goodbye to the river. Before heading to thetrail again we took a zero today staying at the Pioneer Motel. Pickedup bounce boxes and all that jazz and even checked out a movie thisafternoon in town.Tomorrow I start hiking the trail again for what will be my last 50miles on the AT. I've decided to get of the trail at Harper's Ferry.I decided this for several reasons. One is that I'll be lucky tofinish by October at my rate and frankly that's too long. Second isI'll be broke by October - ha-ha. I also kind of feel like a bum.It's time to get a job and I miss my family. I've had a great lastweek in the national park and on the river and I want to leave thetrail on a high note - no better time then now. I'll leave the sappyTJ for when I get to Harpers but I just wanted everyone to know what was going on.So for now I head out tomorrow to finish Virginia and hit therollercoaster. Oh yeah - and resupply on Cheeze Whiz. Hehe.
Date: 2007-06-19
From: zero in Front Royal

To: Jim and Molly Denton Shelter
Miles today: 5.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Had a morning start walking to the outfitter to what the weathermancalled a "hot, muggy, slimy day." Gross. He said it was going to bein the low 90's and humid as all get out. His tips in this kind ofnasty weather included: staying indoors, avoid strenuous activity, andstaying near AC. Sweet - pretty much the opposite of what thru-hikers do.We braved the heat and went to the outfitter for fuel where Iceman andBuffalo Bobby let us hitch a ride with them to the trail head. Weheaded up hill 5 miles in the AWFUL heat before getting to the Mollyand Jim Denton Shelter. The shelter rocked. It had a solar shower, eating area, porch and chairs. Very nice. The heat drained usdespite the small mileage and we hit the hay early.
Date: 2007-06-20
From: Jim and Molly Denton Shelter

To: Manassas Gap Shelter
Miles today: 5.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Well, the heat got to me. I woke up this morning with a wickedheadache. I could barely walk and felt sick to my stomach so wewalked into Linden to get out of the sun. It must have just been theheat from yesterday and being dehydrated because as soon as I got someliquids I felt much better. After seven hours my headache was gone sowe went back to the trail for another short day of 5 miles. Tonight we areat the Manassas Gap Shelter and got to see a fawn and snake here sofar. The place is also covered with blackberries and I alreadycollected some for my honey container where they will soak for mybagel breakfast tomorrow morning. Yum! Some rain showers seem tohave brought in a cold front so hopefully tomorrow won't be so hot.G'nite!
Date: 2007-06-21
From: Manassas Gap Shelter

To: Rod Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 12.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Made it to the Rod Hollow Shelter for tonight. Ate our way through the forest here stuffing our faces with blackberries. It was wonderful! We saved some for the bears though, don't worry. I actually heard a few bears last night from our tent grunting. I'm beginning to be able to judge the distance and although it seemed less then 100 feet away it didn't get too close to our tent. Stopped at Dick's Dome Shelter for lunch, which is by far the strangest shelter I've been too. As people were saying in the trail journal,¢ What in the...?" The shelter isn't really a dome, but it is, and it's pretty small and covered in roofing shingles. I didn't know what quite to think. Ha-ha. After that Finn and I hit the road and our guide book said in either direction there was either a restaurant or country store within a mile. The thought of cold soda sounded too good to resist so we started hitching. A woman picked us up whose son had thru-hiked before. She took us in one direction and the restaurant from the guide book was shut down as of 6/19. There was a sign on the door that said, "All of our foods are still available at the Upperville Country Store just a FEW MILES down the road." She was kind enough to drive us there. Only a few miles were more like eight. And the Upperville area is very uppity. We got to drive by lots of huge farm mansions and Willard Scott's country farm property. Finally got there though and hit up the store for a short re-supply. We hitched back to the trail head in time to miss the nightly storm and an eagle scout that works out of D.C. drove us back. He told us all sorts of neat things like how in a few days we'll be hiking past an old presidential bunker and that if Washington D.C. was ever blasted by a nuclear warhead we hikers would be able to roast marshmallows in the Blue Ridges. Good to know. At the shelter we met two southbound section hikers one of which turned out to be from my hometown. He went to high school with one of my friends and knew some of Finn's friends from college. SMALL WORLD!! Even on the A.T.! Tomorrow Finn and I will make our way into the Roller Coaster - a "13.5 mile section with ten ascents and descents - The Virginia corridor is narrow here, leaving Trail crews very little choice other then to route the path up and over each of these viewless and rocky ridges." Awesome! Sign me up! Am I tall enough to ride this ride? Here we come.....!
Date: 2007-06-22
From: Rod Hollow Shelter

To: Bears Den Rocks/Hostel
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Woohoo! The Roller Coaster was not the best amusement ride I've ever been on and there wasn't any cotton candy or elephant ears to go with it - but Ben & Jerry's at the Bears Den Hiker Hostel!! Finn and I made 10 of the 13.5 miles today which lived up to their description in the guide book. We stopped for the night at the "castle in the middle of the woods." It's a hiker hostel literally in the middle of the woods made out of a stone mansion called Bears Den. They have a hiker special, which you know I took advantage of, that includes a pint of Ben & Jerry's, a shower, a soda, a 13 inch pizza, bunk for the night and laundry for $25. Can't beat that! I tried to eat my entire Ben & Jerry's but I'm suffering with the last inch. Finn and I discovered that each pint has over 1,000 calories, but hey, you only live once! Plus, I'm losing weight like crazy. I've almost lost 25 pounds according to the scale here. In fact my shorts don't really fit anymore and a few poor south bounders today saw my underwear because I didn't realize they were falling off. Ha-ha. I'm sure I'll gain it all back by next week. It's crazy to think that I only have 2 more days of hiking left. Seeing the wall of 2007 thru hiker pictures here made me miss the trail already. Harper's Ferry is so close! Tomorrow we will be done with Virginia and kiss it goodbye as we cross the West Virginia state line too - another milestone soon to be passed! Yeahhh! Until then I have a nice bunk and Ben & Jerry's waiting for me. Chow!
Date: 2007-06-23
From: Bears Den Rocks/Hostel

To: Blackburn Trail Shelter
Miles today: 7.9

From Momma Ash: Danielle called me when they crossed into West Virginia this morning- whew, whew! Tomorrow is the last day of the hike. I talked to both Danielle and Noah tonight and they both sounded excited about moving on but a little sad too.I finished my last inch of Ben & Jerry's for breakfast this morning. Yum! As we were leaving we mentioned to Queen Diva we were doing a lazy 10 mile day again to the David Lesser Shelter. She said, "Heck, do a 7 and go to the Blackburn Hostel instead." Finn and I had no idea there was another hostel so close, we couldn't pass it up. So, in the morning we cross the Virginia state line into West Virginia and celebrated on a log with Cheeze-Whiz and soda we carried from the Bears Den with us. Virginia gave us a lot of fun experiences, but come on people, could we make the state any bigger?! Ha-ha, can't believe it took us a month to get through it! Chow VA! Peace! So, we got to the Blackburn Hostel, which is another blue blaze straight from the trail. It's actually the PATC headquarters - which is the Appalachian Trail Maintaining group for a large portion of the AT in Virginia. They have a host family stay there as caretakers and allow AT long distance hikers stay there for free. They also fed us a free dinner. The view from the old cabin was amazing, as it looks out to the distant Washington D.C. We ate on the screened porch and were joined by two employees of the ATC, "The Boss" and his wife, Hopeful and Hikelet, me, Finnegan, Big Brother, All Right, two trail maintainers, and Iditarod. The feast was a great pasta dish, salad and bread, and in the end Hopeful brought out fresh brownies with candles in celebration of Finn¢s and my last night on the trail! It was a wonderful night for our last night and a memory for all times. Tomorrow we will have our last hike into Harper's Ferry and hit the 1,000 mile marker! Exciting events to come!
Date: 2007-06-24
From: Blackburn Trail Shelter

To: Harpers Ferry WV/Potomac River MD
Miles today: 12.7
Weather: clear sky

We made it! We pulled into Harper's today despite the hot humid weather. We not only hit the 1,000 mile marker, got to the mentally half way point of the trail, but finished the West Virginia section and made it to Maryland! After Damascus, Harper's Ferry is somewhat of a Mecca for hikers as well. The ATC has their headquarters here so we were sure to stop there before celebrating our completion with cold beer and good food. :D A lot seems to be going through my head right now and with lots of excitement, so for now Finn and I are off to relax at the Hilltop Hotel (the creepiest hotel in the whole world) and enjoy the views of the Potomac River. The plain tomorrow includes catching a train to Massachusetts. I'll keep you posted!
Date: 2007-03-10
To: Walk For a Past Friend
Miles today: 0.0

"A Walk For a Passed Friend"Chris Messier was a very good friend of Rob Anctil's. They went through grade school together. Ever since they were kids, Rob can remember Chris practicing on his drums and wanting to be in a band. Well, his dream came true and he was part of a very successful band, "Project Mess." On May 20, 2005, his career was cut short when he stepped outside to take a breath between sets at a show, when he suffered a heart attack and died at the age of 40. Rob had decided he would like to try and keep his memory alive by starting a musical scholarship fund in Chris's name. He decided the best way to do this was to walk the Appalachian Trail in order to raise funds.ABOUT THE TRAVELERS:Robert Anctil is a Martial Arts educator who established his school Anctil's Martial Arts & Fitness Super Center in 1991. His personal martial arts career began in 1979. During his career, he has accomplished many personal goals. His most memorable being named 1 of under 100 people in the world to run a marathon on all seven continents and, in doing so, raised $50,000 for cancer research. With a drop out rate of 84%, hiking the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine is sure to be his most formidable challenge yet.Bono is a 2-1/2 year old good spirited, highly exuberant English and American Black Lab mix. His hobbies include snowmobiling, jet skiing, four wheeling and chewing sticks. Ever since he was a puppy, his owner has been training him for this journey. His pack weight will be 1/2 of his weight (approximately 22 lbs.). There are 2 lengths of the trail in which he will have to be crated forward to an advanced destination since these are two no-go areas for trail dogs. These are the Great Smokey Mountain National Park in eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina and Baxter State Park in Maine.For more information go to www.anctilsmartialarts.com
Date: 2007-03-14
To: Maine
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Preparation and Getting ThereFrom what I have read on the internet, most of us who are considering thru-hiking the AT are in the same boat as far as second guessing gear choices. I, on the other hand, might have been a bit more frantic. With a final last minute pack change and a 2 hour ordeal adjusting it on the carpet at EMS. But, I think all this is necessary in order for you to gain the confidence in what you will be dealing with for the next 6 months.Weighing out all my gear with my mom, down to the last q-tip was very valuable in showing me how fast everything adds up to what I would be carrying on my back for the next 6 months. I was at 45 lb.s and my dog at 15 lbs. I've still made some changes since that day and will continue to "tweak" my gear as I trek along home northbound. The weather here in Georgia is alot warmer than I thought it would be, so I think I'm safe in sending home a few clothing articles. If temp drops at night (and I know it will) my warmth will come in my sleep system.It has been a long road to prepare - today 3/15/07 was occupied by last minute supply shopping for sewing needles, measuring cup, bug spray and other things. With my last meal being a big juicy hamburger. All in all, it has been a journey getting prepared and getting here, now the real journey begins!
Date: 2007-03-15
To: Planes, Trains, Automobiles and a Sick Dog
Miles today: 0.0

Planes, Trains, Automobiles and a Sick DogIt just amazes me as to how many forms of transportation zoomed by me in our journey to Amicolola Falls, Georgia, the Southern terminus at Springer Mountain. With Cheryl (my GF) at the wheel and my mom riding shotgun we headed south.As planes flew over head and cars and trucks sped by, I thought to myself, "I can't believe a trip that would take us 19 hours to drive (and drive we did through the night) would be accomplished by me in 5-6 months and my only vehicle will be my feet!The start of the road trip was thrown a snag when my hiking partner Bono (aka Scuff) contracted Kennel cough days before we left. A trip to the vet for some antibiotics and robitussin seemed to have done the trick as we pumped him with meds at every gas station we stopped at. All in all, the trip was uneventful, your basic "long through the night drive."I do hope though that I can follow the white blazes home better than we could figure out the GPS!Bowleg and Scuff