morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-06-11
From: Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church Hostel

To: Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church Hostel
Miles today: 0.0

Today was fun, a good day off in a town that has it all. The dinner last night was great, a big dinner with seconds and thirds and ice cream and brownies for dessert. The hostel operates a bit like a homeless shelter for hikers, there are American Red Cross cots to set up in the basement, free snacks that have been donated, a few breakfast items in the morning, and shifts of volunteers that are always there for us. The hostel doesn't open until 5pm and you have to be out by 9am, but they will hold your pack and lock it up for you if you plan to stay another night. That means you've got to carry all the stuff you need for the day, so I ended up carrying my laundry and a bunch of other stuff around town. Not really a big deal, but I'm not used to carrying things with my arms. A trip to the library, the outfitter, laundramat, post office, Ming Garden, and Kroger were on my list. Ming Garden was great, a $7 Chinese food lunch buffet that serves beer? What's not to love? Me and a few other hikers (Mofo, Cruiser, and Matt from DC) helped clear some plates (let's just say I got fourths) and get our money's worth. The Kroger trip was cool, the second Kroger I've been to, but really one of the first times I've thought about the supermarket industry seriously since I left. A well designed store, but they use loyalty cards (my biggest pet peeve) and doesn't have much of a health focus, reminds me of Shaw's. Anyone can sell food, I felt like there was something lacking from the shopping experience...personalization, friendliness. Maybe I just think about it too much.Back at the hostel now, watching a movie and eating some grub from Kroger. The outfitter is terrific, and the library was the best on the trail yet. My ankle is feeling a lot better, not all better, but I'm trying to rice it (rest, ice, compress, elevate). I don't want this to be a problem anymore.Kick:Kiss:Happy Trails,TransitionOnly 7 more days of waiting...
Date: 2009-06-12
From: Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church Hostel

To: Quality Inn -Waynesboro, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

First off, Happy 54th to my father. It is his birthday today and I didn't want to forget to mention it. Yes, I'm still in Waynesboro. This town is great, but it's not the reason I'm really here. This morning was tough, I've been bumming bad. I think I have officially lost my camera's memory card and my USB card reader. 1000+ pictures, 6 or 8 videos, all of it is gone. Well, not everything, I have posted a lot of pictures online, as you all know. I will have those thanks to Google, and my habit of always updating when I can. A lot of the other pictures were extraneous, but I want them and can't believe they're gone. I think I left it at the library after uploading yesterday, but it's gone and they haven't seen anything. Probably got swiped. Ho hum.I stayed because of my ankle, too. To be honest, it was probably worse than I made it out to be, cruising into town on Wednesday hiding a limp. Yesterday's rest brought me back to 80%, and another day of rice-ing has helped so much. I'm feeling real close to 100% again, have an ACE bandage to wear now. The softer grades of the Shennies will help to, no steep downgrades.There is good news today, a glimmer of hope. I have crossed state lines, I've even crossed the Eastern Continental Divide, I've traversed many mountains. But today was special, I have truly broken new ground and entered a land which I have dreamt for for so long. Today, I realized I have hiked into the land of Dunkin' Donuts. Damn you, Krispy Kreme, I have longed for the taste of a real Hazelnut, 2 cream 2 sugar iced coffee for far too long to be tempted by your cheap donuts. No, only DD's can do. I, like America, will run on Dunkin' Donuts from now on. It's a beautiful thing.Kick: My card being gone, duh.Kiss: Dani's voice, DD's, Domino's, beer, and an ankle that feels good as new.Happy Trails,TransitionCan it really be just 6 more days...
Date: 2009-06-13
From: Quality Inn -Waynesboro, VA

To: Blackrock Hut
Miles today: 19.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Back on the trail, it felt really good to start hiking again. The double zero in W-boro is the longest break I've taken this entire trip. Zero days number 6 and 7, marking a week of rest over the past two months. I guess when you put it like that, it doesn't sound like very much. Dan at work told me a story once about the Tour de France. During their 3 weeks of intense competition the riders get 2 days of rest, or two "zeros". Most riders pass up the chance and still go out for a leisurely 60 mile ride because their afraid of feeling sluggish the next day without some sort of exercise. Well, I must say, I don't share their sentiment. The rest was wonderful, and my body feels great.It is hard to describe the feeling, stepping off the pavement and onto the trail. 40 lbs of food, water, and the rest of your life in your pack, loaded to the hilt, 100 miles of national park wilderness ahead of you. Not knowing what will lie ahead, knowing only that you will march on for 20 miles a day through rain, sweat, and pain. And then you take your first step. The anxiety goes away, and simplicity is all that's left. Left, right, left, right, left, right.I slept in and got a ride back to the trail from an Angel and started out at 11. I got to the self registration kiosk and filled out my backcountry permit, just like when I entered the Smokies. The miles were soft and easy and I made 3 miles an hour all day. Ah, I love the Shennies. I got some trail magic from an '08 thru hiker, cold sodas, pringles, and cheese about 15 miles in. It was his way of giving back, and it was lucky for me! Put a real boost in my step! It was good timing, too. About 15 minutes later the sky opened and I got drenched. It passed though, and it was mostly nice the rest of the day.It was about to start raining again, thunder rolling in the distance, and I was less than a mile from the shelter. I start bookin it to get here and guess what....I saw my first bear today! It wasn't on the trail, but instead 12 feet up in a tree! It heard me coming, shimmied down the trunk like a monkey, and took off FAST into the woods. About 150-200 lbs and as quick as lightning, I'm glad I spooked him before I got any closer!This shelter is nice, they call them huts in the park, but they're really just like most of the other shelters. It's getting late, and I have another 21 to do tomorrow.Kick: Late start, pouring rain in the middle of the day.Kiss: Trail magic, easy miles, first bear sighting, good times.Happy Trails,TransitionOnly 5 more days alone...
Date: 2009-06-14
From: Blackrock Hut

To: Hightop Hut
Miles today: 21.4
Weather: clear sky

What a gorgeous day in the Doah. A Class 1 day of blue skies and 75* weather with relatively low humidity. The views have been pretty good so far, they should call them the Green Mountains after seeing mile after mile of rolling hills and bright green trees. It looks like mile after mile of green carpet.I left this morning from the shelter at around 8:45 where there were a couple of weekenders and one other thru hiker who has his brother with him for a couple of days. I made the miles fairly easy, but there were a lot of PUDS (Pointless Ups and Downs) in the way. 7 miles in there was a campground that the AT skirts right by, and I was a stone's throw from pop up campers and winnebagos. I stopped for 11sies and met a nice local couple and chatted for a few. Hiking in the Shennies, especially during the weekend, is a lot different. I crossed Skyline Drive 10 times today in 21 miles, and I must've seen 100 people. I'm used to crossing a road every couple days and only seeing other thru hikers.I stopped at Pinefield Hut for an hour and got some lunch and some water. That hut was really nice and I was slow to leave. 8.5 more miles and voila!, I'm here. There is a ridgerunner here and a half dozen vacationers. They're all nice, a few are from Indiana and a couple are from PA.Tomorrow I'm planning another big day, 24 miles to Rock Spring Hut. The big attraction is that there is a place called Big Meadows Wayside about 20 miles in where I can get a burger and a must-have blackberry milkshake. Two days later, I'll be out of the park, Thursday I'll be walking into Front Royal. Friday I meet the girls. I am so excited!! Not next Friday, or the one after that, THIS Friday!!Kick: PUDS!Kiss: Beautiful day, good views, my ankle is still feeling good.Happy Trails,Transition4 days left of trail loneliness...
Date: 2009-06-15
From: Hightop Hut

To: Big Meadows Campground
Miles today: 20.4
Weather: overcast clouds

June 15th, today marks 2 months on the trail. How did I celebrate? I crossed the 900 mile marker! It was another fine day in the Doah. I like calling it the Doah so I can class it up Mainah style. Although I was feeling pretty zapped today, the going was fairly easy once again. Leaving the shelter a little before 9 again helped me get here a little before 5. Big Meadow is a wayside, lodge and campground just a tenth of a mile off the trail. I stopped here to better break up my days, doing 20/19 instead of 24/15.It's the strangest thing, I actually just paid a guy $20 to pitch my tent. Oh well, a first for everything. The good thing is that I got here and Sideshow was already here. He got a $80 room at the lodge the size of a shoebox, but offered for me to take a shower for free in his room. After we went and had dinner together, I felt really out of place in a restaurant that almost qualifies as "fine dining". I got a beer on draft, meatloaf with fresh asparagus and potatoes, and an unbelievable blackberry ice cream pie with meringue on top. Delicious. I topped off the evening by talking to Dani for over a half hour. I can't believe it's coming up so close. I don't want to wait any longer.Today I saw 7 different deer and another bear. Well, almost. I was hiking along and heard another crash, boom from off the trail. The trail was lined with 4' ferns and bush, but as I looked I saw a bear's head bobbing up and down, running the other direction. He just came out off one of the trees. Another cool thing is that I have yet to go a day on the trail since Pearisburg without seeing at least one deer. Almost 300 miles of seeing deer every day.Too tired to write any longer, 20 tomorrow, then 22 to a hostel. 5 miles on Thursday will bring me into Front Royal, woo hoo!Kick: I'm tired. Climbed up the biggest mountain on the AT in the park today.Kiss: No rain, easyish miles, talking to Dani, and that blackberry pie.Happy Trails,Transition3 more days until the girls come down...
Date: 2009-06-16
From: Big Meadows Campground

To: Pass Mtn Hut
Miles today: 18.8
Weather: light rain

Ah, a nice relaxing day in the Doah. 19 miles is pretty easy around here. I started out from the campground this morning around 8:30 under the threat of rain. I had a hard time getting going, but started walking eventually. I didn't know this at the time, but I just heard that Cha Chee got his tent ripped apart by a bear last night because he left his food bag in there when he went to go get dinner. That could've been me, I did the same thing, I practically used my food bag as a pillow last night. Crazy. Lucky.I passed the highest point on the trail in the park today, Skyland (another well known wayside), and saw another bear! I really saw the bear today, too, he was 75 feet in front of me hiking north up the trail. He turned around and posed, but as soon as I reached for my camera he darted off the trail. I asked him if he was going to Maine, but he didn't stick around to answer. When I got to Skyland I lost the trail because I couldn't even see from one side of the road to the other to see where it went to. It was interesting.22 miles tomorrow will bring me to the northern exit of the park and the Front Royal Hostel, where $20 will buy me a real bed (with linens, ooh!) and a ride into town, tv and internet, and all the other wonderful amenities Then it'll be less than 5 miles to town on Thursday where I'll get a motel room and wait for the girls to come down Friday morning! Awesome!Here at the shelter with a big crowd, Pickle, Trusty, Skunk Ape, Sideshow, Limbo, Bird, the birds (3 girls named Mockingbird, Hummingbird, and Tufted Tit Mouse), Cha Chee, 4 section hikers, and 3 or 4 weekenders. Crazy, but good to see some other thru hikers again.Kick: The rain was cold this afternoon, and the two biggest climbs were at the end of the day.Kiss: Cooler weather, good views, easy miles, and only 27 more miles to Front RoyalHappy Trails,TransitionOnly 2 more days!!!!!
Date: 2009-06-17
From: Pass Mtn Hut

To: Terrapin Station Hostel
Miles today: 22.5

Rain rain rain! 22 miles of cold, windy rain blowing in in my face all day. I barely took a break all day, not that it would've mattered, I was soaked through after a half a mile. My shoes are a joke at this point, both of the soles are tearing off the boots and they have giant rips down both sides. My treads are worn down so badly I feel like I'm walking in slippers and can't get a grip anywhere. Today the rain and puddles flowed freely in and out of my boots, along with the mud. It was miserable for hiking, but a wonderful oasis on the trail awaited.About 7 miles in Spicoli, Sideshow, Wolfpack, and I all stopped at the Elkwallow Wayside and got some food. Burgers and fries, soda and of course we all got Blackberry Milkshakes. Mmm..so delicious. Now I am at a great hostel called Terrapin Station, run by Mike who hiked the trail in '95 and the PCT in '98. He's got some great stories, great pictures, and an awesome record collection. Everything you need at your fingertips, a true hiker run hostel, all for $20, you can't beat it. A short day tomorrow brings me into Front Royal, 960 miles and 64 days of hiking all day, through the pain, the rain, the heat, the cold, and the bugs. Ugh, am I there yet?Oh yeah, and I saw another bear today. 50' off the side of the trail, standing there staring at Spicoli, Sideshow, and I right before Elkwallow. Totally not afraid of us, just hangin out staring. Kinda freaky...but, 4 bears in 5 days of the Doah, not too bad!Kick: Need I say it? Constant rain in the face.Kiss: Knowing today was my last big mileage day for awhile, I get to take it easy and rest up!Happy Trails,Transition
Date: 2009-06-18
From: Terrapin Station Hostel

To: Super 8 -Front Royal, VA
Miles today: 4.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Yes! I have made it to Front Royal, no more miles alone, no more waiting, the girls are leaving at midnight tonight, I'm in a hotel and all is right with the world. Today was sunny and the miles were easy, and short. I got to sleep in, take my time leaving Terrapin Station, and still made it to the road by noon. I stuck my thumb out and got a ride within 10 minutes, from a two seater Mustang of all cars (generally the least likely hitch ever). But the guy was really nice, gave me a tour of the town and dropped me off at the hotel. He even let me check the rate, if it was too much he would drive me to the next motel, and so on. Crazy, it's good to know there are always nice people in the world no matter where you are.I am in the hotel now, anxiously counting down the number of hours left until they get here. I went to McDonald's earlier and made a fool out of myself...two double cheeseburgers, chicken nuggets, fries, soda, parfait, mcflurry...all for lunch. First MickeyD's in two months though, it was good. I've got some stops to make around town, but I'm waiting to do them with the girls so we can all get our stuff together tomorrow. We plan on taking the day to hang out and prep for their first days on the trail. I can't wait!Kick: Anxiety! I want today to be over!Kiss: Knowing the girls are coming so soon, knowing I don't have to hike alone any more!Happy Trails,Transition
Date: 2009-06-19
From: Super 8 -Front Royal, VA

To: Super 8 -Front Royal, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Ending: Super 8 - Front Royal, VAMiles: 0.0Well, today was the day I've been waiting for. I waited anxiously for the girls to come this morning, but they were running behind schedule and didn't get into town until 11. Boy, was it worth the wait! I waited outside and gave everyone big hugs as soon as they got out of the car, reunion at last! They came bearing gifts, too! Mom brought rice crispy squares and cookies, they got my new boots and superfeet, and I got a care package from Dad and Kim!Thanks to Dad and Kim for the homemade granola, pain meds, and snack bars, they are all delicious. Thanks to my Uncle Dave for the new pair of socks, too! Heather forgot the Gritty's though, but I appreciate you thinking of me in such a kind way (haha). Everything is new and smells so clean! I even bought a new shirt and new swim trunks to hike in, so no more orange shirt pictures for weeks at a time. With all this new stuff, I feel like a new man! Well, the thing that most accurately notes my 'transition' is that the beard is gone! Crazy, I know, and I know some of you have had fun following my faces pictures, but I don't know if you can imagine wearing an inch of carpet on your face in 90* heat. It's been bothering me for awhile, so the girls and I went to the local barber shop and told him to take it all off! I don't even recognize myself, but it feels so good!Dani, Heather, and I went to lunch together while Mom took a nap in the hotel room before driving ANOTHER 10 hours to get back home. Thank you so much Mom, this wouldn't have been possible without you. After she left we mulled around town, grocery shopping and going to the outfitter. I bought a new sleeping bag, a 40* synthetic instead of the 30* down bag I have been using. I'm still trying to figure out whether or not I'm actually gaining or cutting weight in this whole change. The 2 person tent is 1.5 lbs heavier, I cut 14 oz. with a new bag and got rid of my liner, I resupplied on all the little things like meds, but I sent the last of my extra 'cold' weather stuff. I think I'm about neutral, if not I haven't added more than a half a pound.It's time some sleep, it's a big day for all of us tomorrow. Talk to you all later.Kick: Back to hiking tomorrow, I want to hang out and visit forever!Kiss: The girls are here! I got lots of free food and packages and new boots from home!
Date: 2009-06-20
From: Super 8 -Front Royal, VA

To: Manassas Gap Shelter
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: moderate rain

First day with the girls today! I had so much fun hiking with them today. We left the hotel at around 9 in the rain, we tried to go to the outfitter to see if they could either give us a ride back to the trail or send a package home for us, or both. But they weren't open yet, so we had to walk the mile or so to the Post Office in the downpour and then hope for a hitch. Well, we got one luckily, a nice guy who lives near the trail picked us up (it's a lot easier to hitch with girls). He dropped us off at the trail head and two seconds later BOOM-CRACK! Welcome to the AT, ladies, now let's go hike in a thunderstorm!About a mile in, the girls started to redefine their idea of what humidity really means. They had a hard time breathing the air was so thick. Heather resolved to smoking more cigarettes to fix the problem, whatever floats her boat. It was high 80s today and the humidity was bothering me, and I'm used to it, but it made it worse being in the thick, green, low elevation woods. We made it 5 miles to the lunch shelter and found some terrific trail magic from some former thru hikers Half Elvis and Sudoku and friends. Burgers, dogs, beer, chips, little debbies, they had it all, and hiked it in in a wheelbarrow over a mile from the road! Thanks again guys!Another 5 miles brought us here, we got to cross some train tracks right before the train went by (Heather actually got stuck on the other side until it went by), and we climbed about 800 feet right at the end of the day. There is a big group of 11 weekenders, dads and sons, that have set up a tent and a hammock INSIDE the shelter, so no one can sleep in it. It is really, really, annoying to me but I've gotten over it. Heather is in my one man, and Dani and I are in the two man tent. All is well and we are going to sleep.Kick: Muddy trail, two downpours, and a big loud group at the shelterKiss: Hiking with the girls, trail magic, a dry night, and no blisters in my new shoes!Happy Trails,Transition
Date: 2009-06-21
From: Manassas Gap Shelter

To: Rod Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: scattered clouds

67 days, I can't believe I'm still out here! Happy Father's Day to my dad and all the others out there! Day 2 with the girls went well, but I'm afraid Heather's knee is starting to give. Bow and I have been making pretty good time, but the Sis has been taking it slow to nurse the pain. We made it though, and Heather was only an hour behind us getting here. We hiked all together as a group for about 5 miles today through Sky Meadows State Park and beyond. It was fun and easy going (for me), and the girls both set personal mileage records today.Bow and I got to see a very interesting shelter today, too, while we were waiting for Heather. It's called Dick's Dome and it is almost globe shaped, but only sleeps 4 or 5 people at the most. The sound of the river was pretty though, and it was good to rest for a few minutes.The mud continued for miles and miles more today, but the rain held off, so I suppose we compromised. We're off to Bear's Den Hostel tomorrow, a rolling ride along 10 miles of the "roller coaster", which is a section of trail famous for 10 ups and downs in 13 miles, all of them view less. We're hitting the 'coaster as soon as we set foot out of the shelter tomorrow morning. Yay!Kick: Heather's hurt, and plans to find a way to get home when we get to Harper's Ferry.Kiss: No rain, a good day of hiking with the girls, and no ticks today!Happy Trails,Transition
Date: 2009-06-23
From: Bear's Den Hostel

To: David Lesser Shelter
Miles today: 11.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Started out at Bear's Den this morning around 9 with Bow, after letting the Sis get a head start. Her knee is really hurting her, but some stretching helped it out I think. We caught up and hiked with her for the first 8 miles today, which included the last 3 of the roller coaster. We were moving pretty slow, and the heat was getting to us all. We finally get to the Blackburn Trail Center, somewhere recognizable to check our mileage.Guess what that mileage was? 1001. One thousand miles I have gone, and I got to celebrate with the girls. I also had to celebrate by going .4 downhill to the center to get Bow and I water (voluntarily, Bow's got a good blister going on). The Sis moved on and actually beat us there. She completed the last 3 miles in Crocs, which seems to have helped a lot. Here we are in our tents, even though this is a very nice shelter with a porch and Adirondack chairs with a separate picnic shelter and hanging porch swing. The water is a haul, but everything else is great, it even has tent pads. Onward tomorrow, to Harper's Ferry!Kick: Heather's getting off in Harper's, earlier than planned, because of the knee.Kiss: No rain, fairly flat after the coaster, and a good time at the shelter.Happy Trails,Transition