morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-05-24
From: MP 749.1

To: MP 767.0
Miles today: 17.9

Day 3 of slackpacking was successful. We got a relatively early start and drove out from Geezer's house. We found an unmarked trailhead parking lot about 100 feet East of our starting point and parked there.The most challenging thing about slackpacking is the coordination of logistics. I developed an eight day plan based on practical mileages, parking lots, and driver availability. It's a pain to put together, but essential if you want to avoid daily hemming and hawing over the plan.It's complicated enough just to figure out how to get to these places and when to get there. I stopped at all three shelters on my route today. Geezer only stopped at the first two. It's fun to keep track of people's progress, and find out what's going on in people's lives.Bryant Ridge Shelter was an architectural triumph, with room for 20. I don't recall hearing about this shelter, but it has a covered porch area, upstairs, and heavy-duty notched/pegged construction that looked like it would last 100 years. Lee picked us up and greeted us with sandwiches and Gatorade. What service! 17.9 miles were hiked: 749.1 (Bearswallow Gap/ VA 43) to 767.0 (USFS 812).
Date: 2016-05-25
From: MP 767.0

To: MP 784.3
Miles today: 17.3

Back at Geezer's house last night, we are well and slept well. On the way back, we picked up "The Matrix" from the library, since Geezer had only seen bits and pieces. It was still as good as I remember, although as a civil engineer, I can tell you there are no 200 foot diameter sewers beneath our cities capable of hiding futuristic hover-ships. And I don't see why the machines would have enlarged them.Geezer opted out of today's hike, perhaps rethinking things after The Matrix, perhaps just needing more rest. He still dropped me off and picked me up though. I faced motivational problems today myself, and concentrated on just moving forward.It was in the upper 80's today. Just prior to Matt's Creek Shelter, I saw my first bear! It was a cub down the hill from me. It looked at me, and I looked at it. I took the world's worst photo and then it ran off down the hill toward the creek in a flurry of fur and leaves. I nearly needed a privy for the next couple minutes every time a lizard or squirrel disturbed some leaves as I watched for Mama bear.I also saw a 6 foot black snake and when Geezer picked me up we saw a 200+ pound bear from the car away from the trail. 17.3 miles were hiked: 767.0 (USFS 812) to 784.3 (US 501, VA 130).
Date: 2016-05-26
From: MP 784.3

To: MP 799.3
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Well, the big news is that I have rebased from Geezer's house to the house of his friends, Jim and Cindy, I'm Wintergreen, VA as of last night. It was a little slower start than usual as I packed up everything I've accumulated, but it got done.Geezer elected to shuttle me around in lieu of hiking, due to General health issues. It was a much better day for me. I managed to catch up to a bunch of hikers I have been chasing for a couple weeks. Geezer shuttled them around yesterday while he was killing time waiting for me, and caught me up on all the trail gossip.Slackpacking has its benefits, but it can be a little socially isolating. Most interactions happen at shelters, towns, or hostels, so if you're not there you're not as much of a familiar face. However, driving the Blue Ridge Parkway has been spectacular. The views are really something to see. We passed the Ottie Cline Powell monument, about a four year old who wandered off and died in that spot.   It's a bit morbid and depressing, but it's part of the trail. 15.0 miles were hiked: 784.3 (Glasgow) to 799.3 (Reservoir Rd.).
Date: 2016-05-27
From: MP 799.3

To: MP 814.6
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Geezer is back on the trail, and today we chose to do a Southbound slack pack, mainly to go down a 3100 foot mountain instead of up it. Today was a social extravaganza.We met Rucker who has a relative that went on a bike ride across France with Geezer as part of a class he taught. We saw Slim Rims (formerly Dawn) who we hadn't seen since the smokies. We saw the entire Patches crew, Five Star, Back Scratcher and Can Do (Who got a photo with us) who we haven't seen since the N.O.C., and Chicken Feet who is a regular lately.We also had a good break with David and Sara at the stream that was questionably described as a "swimming hole", and saw Strider and Wildfire there as well. Everyone who came up the mountain looked absolutely spent, and these are physically fit people with 800 miles of trail experience. So I felt a little less guilty, and I am pleased with my decision.I did forget to mention that Geezer and I stopped at the Devils Backbone barbecue/brewery, and saw Raw and Moose there! We also saw Alex (don't know her trail name now) who we first met on 3/14 at Hawk Mountain Shelter.Dinner tonight was a luxurious mussels with rice and salad. We are getting the royal treatment at Jim and Cindy's. 15.3 miles were hiked: 799.3 (Reservoir Rd) to 814.6 (Salt Log Gap).
Date: 2016-05-28
From: MP 814.6

To: Zero Day
Miles today: 0.0

Sweet zero days are upon us. I took another one because I felt like it, and that was the schedule we say up before Geezer took two days off in the five day interval. It allowed us some social time with Him and Cindy who are also staying here with us.We visited the farmers market and I had a danish, a donut, and a custard for brunch. If I'm going to waste away, I'm not going down without a fight. We stopped at the outfitters in Waynesboro where I got a Sawyer Filter system, like most everyone else. My filter was nearly clogged, and then the handle broke, so that was the perfect time to make the switch.I do have to hike 13 days in a row to get to Harpers Ferry by the time my wife gets there, but it shouldn't be a problem. At least the first three are slack packing anyway.It was a delicious salmon and asparagus dinner, so I am getting all the essential nutrients if you're wondering. Most of the day was devoted to resting, and it was exactly what I needed. 0 miles hiked today.
Date: 2016-05-29
From: Zero Day

To: MP 831.5
Miles today: 16.9

Jim dropped Geezer and I off at Salt Log Gap, which despite being 32 miles away took us two hours to reach due to a car drop off, poor road conditions, and one missed turn. It just takes a long time to travel around these mountains. Time seems to slow down, and everything takes a little longer.The first highlight was spy rock, which I climbed, after 15 people of various ages and climbing abilities descended. It had some great views in several directions, and I can see why it is such a popular day hike.The rest of the day wasn't particularly hard. We met Tropps at the Priest Shelter. He was Southbound in the May 5th snowstorm with us, but got off the trail and is now headed North.The shelter log served as a confessional, and had some very entertaining entries. The rain moistened everything, but didn't make things too miserable. Jim picked us up, and we showered before heading to a cookout (indoors due to rain) with Jim and Cindy's friends. It was a good time, and plenty of food was eaten. 16.9 miles were hiked: 814.6 (Salt Log Gap, USFS 63) to 831.5 (VA 56).
Date: 2016-05-30
From: MP 831.5

To: MP 847.0
Miles today: 15.5

I started out hiking today, straight out of Jim and Cindy's house. Of course first I had to retrieve my croc from their well-intentioned but crazy dog, Angus. The croc was retrieved, with only a few puncture marks and a lot of slobber. I left my crocs on their coat hanger for protection and to dry out.Jim hiked with us for the first mile or so. I got a little ahead and found out later that Geezer fell on this really slippery wet rock that I nearly slipped on as well. He was bleeding and bruised but continued on.We went southbound today, per our now routine habit of avoiding all extra work. It was a good decision, because overnight rain made everything slippery, and this gave our 3000 foot descent down Three Ridges Mountain time to dry out, mostly.We came across several weekend backpackers at a shelter, and they treated us like celebrities. It was fun to be the more experienced hiker for once. We found Geezer's car and drove it back to the house, finally down to only a half hour. We stopped at the store and picked up some extra calories. Early in the day, we ran into a tattooed hiker who looked a little shaken, saying he just saw a bear hanging out right near the trail. I proceeded cautiously, but saw no bears. 15.5 miles were hiked today: 831.5 (VA 56) to 847.0 (Dripping Rock).
Date: 2016-05-31
From: MP 847.0

To: MP 861.3
Miles today: 14.3
Weather: broken clouds

Today was my last day slack packing, and my last day at Jim and Cindy's house. I can't thank them enough for sharing their house and shuttling us around for days. There wasn't much uphill early on, but the humidity turned me into a sweat factory. It was a quick hike today, with relatively good trail conditions. We ran into David and Sara, and her mom Peg at Paul C. Wolfe Shelter. They were keeping the miles down to avoid wearing out their guest, but she looked like she was doing fine. I think she was surprised at the openness with which both men and women share their privy needs. That takes a little getting used to.I saw my first ring necked snake which was surprisingly small. We made it to the highway and got in Geezer's car (planted by Jim and Cindy) and did some minor shopping before Geezer saw me off at the Quality Inn. I talked in the phone with several people, including my wife. We are lining up a visit for Harper's Ferry, so I need to keep making miles. I had Pizza Hut delivered which was convenient, but the taste was lackluster. It's a brand new hike starting tomorrow, and I'm looking forward to it. 14.3 miles were hiked: 847.0 (Dripping Rock) to 861.3 (US 250).
Date: 2016-06-01
From: MP 861.3

To: Blackrock Hut
Miles today: 20.7
Weather: clear sky

The Quality Inn didn't look like much, but it was a good value. I loaded my full pack and got a ride from trail angel Steve Doherty to the trailhead. A mile in I filled out my bureaucratic paperwork to enter Shenandoah National Park. I saw plenty of wildlife today: a deer (one on the trail, one at a road crossing on Skyline Drive), a ring-necked snake, a 5 foot long black snake living under Calf Mountain Shelter, and a bear!It was a younger one that I surprised. He jumped to a tree about 15 feet from the trail and went a couple feet up and then just stared at me. I would have had the perfect picture of my phone was on. As I backed away, he got down off the tree and ran into the vegetation. After that, every squirrel fart sounded like a bear to me. Water was limited, and it was a long way to Blackrock Hut. But I made it just after 7:30, got water, cooked dinner, and set up in the shelter. It was my longest mileage day with a full pack, but the alternative was to do a very low 7.7 mile day or stealth camp with a ton of bears.Geezer went back to Radford yesterday so he'll be at least a day behind me to Harpers Ferry. It was a beautiful day weatherwise, and I was really enjoying the hike for most of the day until I got tired. 20.7 miles were hiked: 861.3 (Waynesboro) to 882.0 (Blackrock Hut).
Date: 2016-06-02
From: Blackrock Hut

To: Pinefield Hut
Miles today: 13.2
Weather: broken clouds

I slept like a rock in the shelter, probably due to my total exhaustion. I woke up and took care of some journaling. It was a pleasant morning hike to the Loft Mountain Campground store. I enjoyed some HaagenDaz cookie dough ice cream and a nice break.They also had real bathrooms, a water dispenser sized for filling bottles and ample outlets to charge phones and battery packs. I hung out there longer than necessary, but eventually moved on.It was a short day to Pinefield Hut. The sky was darkening with distant rumbles of thunder. I took a photo at Ivy Creek Overlook and put on my rain gear just before the squall hit me. My waterproof boots somehow filled with water after about 10 minutes, and every step was like a pressure washer between my toes.Fortunately, it was only a mile and a half from the overlook to the hut. I showed up soaking wet, and fortunately there was more than enough room for me. The rain doesn't seem to be letting up, but I'm fed and dry. I'm hearing the forecast for tomorrow is rain all day, so hopefully that's incorrect because I'm planning to hike a lot of miles tomorrow. 13.2 miles were hiked: 882 (Blackrock Hut) to 895.2 (Pinefield Hut).
Date: 2016-06-03
From: Pinefield Hut

To: Bearfence Mtn Hut
Miles today: 20.6

I slept well considering I was in a shelter. There were no comments about snoring, so either I'm snoring less or people are being more polite. I saw 5 bears today! The first two were textbook fleeing bears. Then I saw another young one pausing and then running down a hill to my right. Then I looked up to the left and saw a bigger bear through the grass. I backed away, identifying myself as a human. The bear then crossed the trail with a tiny cub, both chasing after the first younger bear. I am up to seven bears on the trail, which is cool. I was worried I wasn't going to see any. I briefly got on the wrong trail at MP 910.3 due to completely confusing signage. About every other hiker got on the wrong trail there as well and added a few tenths of a mile to their day.I stopped at Lewis Mountain Campground for snacks. I found Joker there (The Non-Dutch one). I haven't seen him since Hot Springs I think. He was with a group that offered me a hot dog which I accepted, and had a good conversation with them. They offered to share their camp site, but I moved on.I found Comomdo and Cubbie ('13) at the shelter. They were one of the first trail journals I followed in real time. It rained again this afternoon and I am soaked. 20.6 miles were hiked: 895.2 (Pinefield Hut) to 915.8 (Bearfence Mountain Hut).
Date: 2016-06-04
From: Bearfence Mtn Hut

To: Rock Spring Hut
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: light rain

I slept well at Bearfence Hut. I took a leisurely pace this morning and got some work done on my journal. I got to talk with Comomdo and Cubbie. They have a great blog on Trail Journals from 2013 (Comomdo and the Florida Flip Floppers). This year that are just hiking southbound through Shenandoah National Park, carrying "Paul's Boots" for this section of the trail. Paul intended to hike the trail at the age of 50 but passed away prior to beginning the trail. Comomdo's blog was inspirational to my thru-hike, so it was great to meet them in person.It was a shorter day, but I had a nice break at a wayside restaurant / tourist trap. I got a blackberry milkshake which was excellent.I was able to call home today, which is always a boost to morale. I am looking forward to a mini-break in Harpers Ferry. I was the second one into Rock Spring Hut. I made an early decision to stay here and hustled through all of my chores: got water, visited the privy, cooked and ate dinner, washed my spork and lid, brushed my teeth, and set up my sleeping area.It was wise because the shelter was soon flooded with people frantically trying to get out of the rain. I am dry though, and headed for a hostel tomorrow. I got a video of bear #8 today. 11.5 miles were hiked: 915.8 (Bearfence Mtn Hut) to 927.3 (Rock Spring Hut).
Date: 2016-06-05
From: Rock Spring Hut

To: Luray, VA
Miles today: 14.1

It was an interesting shelter last night. About every hour or so, a group would come in exhausted but smiling, ready to talk about their exciting day / how many miles that hiked / how much alcohol they consumed. They would finally settle into bed and another group would restart the cycle.I got a good rest, but a mouse did wake me up. I found out in the morning it had been chewing on my bootlaces. They are still intact, but damage was done. I called and arranged a shuttle to the Open Arms Hostel, which has nothing to do with Second Amendment rights. The day's hike wasn't overly challenging. I stopped at the Skyland Resort for a sandwich and talked to Comet who will fittingly only be seen once this thru-hike since she is doing 25 to 30 mile days.After this I saw a bear cub off to my right. I then heard a noise above me. The mama bear was directly above me high in a tree, and growled at me. I carefully walked onward and saw there were actually two cubs. I then turned around and yelled at some dayhikers to stop, whose kids would have surely disturbed the same bear if I hadn't discovered it first.I ran into Dolittle who I hadn't talked to since Franklin. He is trying to catch up to the rest of Team Blue. The hostel owner gave me a ride and took me to an outfitter in town to get resupplied. That's full service.I went with four other guys to an Italian place, Dominico's, and got an excellent value there. 14.1 miles were hiked today: 927.3 (Rock Spring Hut) to 941.4 (US 211, Thornton Gap). Four bears were seen today, bringing the total to 12!
Date: 2016-06-06
From: Luray, VA

To: Gravel Springs Hut
Miles today: 14.3
Weather: few clouds

I enjoyed my stay at Open Arms Hostel in Luray. It was fun to stay in a hostel open less than a year and see a promising business in its infancy. The hostel owner generously shuttled me around town, and I suggested she advertise the shuttling, which makes Luray much more appealing. I finally pared down some contingency items I've been carrying since Springer. Leaner and meaner is my new style, more out of necessity than anything else.There were some ups and downs today, nothing dramatic. I found Chicken Feet, Raw, Moose, and Wander at Elkwallow wayside. I said farewell to daytime cooking/ real food by ordering a cheeseburger, fries, and blackberry ice cream.Raw and Moose are back on the trail after taking some time off, so it was good to see them. David and Sara were seeing a doctor in Pennsylvania, so hopefully it's not too serious.In the last hour of the day, I saw five bears (a mother with two cubs, and then a mother/cub combo walking down the blue blazed trail to the shelter). The experience of seeing these bears is so peaceful. There seems to be an unspoken truce that nobody gets too close to the other species and no one gets hurt. The bears are my favorite part of Shenandoah National Park.It's not raining this evening, for the first time in a week. I got dry last night and am still dry now. Laundry will be priority #1 in Harpers Ferry, because I didn't have time in Luray. 14.3 miles were hiked: 941.4 (Luray) to 955.7 (Gravel Springs Hut).
Date: 2016-06-07
From: Gravel Springs Hut

To: Denton Shelter
Miles today: 18.6

The mice were active last night. Despite my plastic bag decoy, they were skittering around all night. At one point, one bounced off my arm and then my head. That will wake you up very quickly. One crawled up my arm and I flung it across the shelter. I heard it hit a distant wall and someone probably dreamt of mice raining down on them. But all in all, a decent night.The highlight today was exiting the Shenandoah National Park. It was a cool experience, but I'm ready to get back to the basic trail. I leapfrogged with Stryder and Wildflower all day, and got to know them a little better.I found the willpower to skip Front Royal. Jim & Molly Denton Shelter is really well done. It feels like someone's backyard - it even has a horseshoe pit! There aren't too many people here tonight. Front Royal must have enticed them to stay.Weather today was gorgeous, a hikers dream. I saw a bear cub, after Shenandoah National Park, bringing my total to 18, 16 in the park. I met Jelly and his dog Peanut Butter (Maggie). Napster, Cicero, Stryder, and Wildflower are also in or near the shelter tonight.I briefly made phone contact home, but was able to text more reliably, so was at least able to do that. 18.6 miles were hiked: 955.7 (Gravel Springs Hut) to 974.3 (Jim & Molly Denton Shelter).
Date: 2016-06-08
From: Denton Shelter

To: Rod Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 18.4
Weather: broken clouds

Jim & Molly Denton Shelter was great. I had my best sleep in a long time. Today's hiking wasn't particularly difficult, or scenic. It was very windy but sunny and warm at the same time. A lot of branches fell today, but none on me.Sky Meadows State Park was very well signed, and the path was as smooth as could be. I hiked by myself, but passed Stryder and Wildflower occasionally. There was some top notch trail magic by a guy named Magic today. He was cooking soup, and I also had a donut, apple, orange, Sam's Cola, a beer, and one for the road. He hiked last year, but only made it to the point where he was doing trail magic.Big Stick, Hamwise, Salty, Stryder, and Wildflower are all around here tonight along with another mother/son team doing a significant section from Duncannon, PA to Marion, VA. The roller coaster and the 1000 mile mark are tomorrow. 18.4 miles were hiked: 974.3 (Denton Shelter) to 992.7 (Rod Hollow Shelter).
Date: 2016-06-09
From: Rod Hollow Shelter

To: Blackburn A.T. Ctr.
Miles today: 17.9

It was a day of milestones: 1000 miles, exiting Virginia, and completing "The roller coaster". I had heard reviews of the roller coaster that it wasn't that bad, but I found it absolutely exhausting. I think some people break it up by stopping at Bears Den Hostel, but I did it all in one day. I finally made it to the Blackburn A.T. Center, and was shown the potable water and given a pop and a muffin. Then I was offered some leftover potato salad and bread with butter. I was full enough that I decided not to cook any of my own food. Instead I relaxed with a book on a porch swing in their screened in wrap around porch and enjoyed the fading light.The cabin is a four-bunk accommodation, which is full tonight. There are also a few tenters, and volunteer trail-maintainers who use this place as a base of operations.1000 was a huge milestone, but I didn't see any marker for it, if there was one. West Virginia looks and feels about the same as Virginia did. I'm looking forward to a shorter day and Harpers Ferry tomorrow. 17.9 miles were hiked: 992.7 (Rod Hollow Shelter) to 1010.6 (Blackburn A.T. Center).
Date: 2016-06-10
From: Blackburn A.T. Ctr.

To: Harpers Ferry
Miles today: 12.5

I slept well at Blackburn A.T. Center and with Harpers Ferry motivating me, I got hiking by 8:00am which was early for the crowd I was bunking with.The trail today was flat to slightly downhill, and only a little challenging. I'm a couple locations the trail becomes less obvious because everything looks like the trail, but I didn't lose the white blazes.I crossed the Shenandoah River and checked into the Econo Lodge, where I showered and then walked over to the ATC headquarters. I got my photo taken and ran into a lot of friendly faces.I then walked the 0.6 miles back from High Street to the Econo Lodge without a pack. I then met my wife who flew in and rented a car. Dinner was at Glory Days in Ranson, where I had my fill of fish and chips.Harpers Ferry is a very interesting place to visit, especially if you're interested in civil war history. 12.5 miles were hiked: 1010.6 (Blackburn A.T. Center) to 1023.1 (Harpers Ferry).
Date: 2016-06-11
From: Harpers Ferry

To: Zero
Miles today: 0.0

It was a zero day in Harpers Ferry. Karie and I met up with Geezer and his wife Lee for lunch at Bisou Bistro. I took possession of all the stuff I was storing in Geezer's car. We checked in at the Hampton Inn in Charlestown and enjoyed the hot tub and pool. 0.0 miles were hiked.
Date: 2016-06-12
From: Zero

To: Zero
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

It was my second zero day in a row. Today's main trip was to Washington, D.C., which I hadn't seen since I was 13. We saw the Capitol, White House, Washington Monument, and Lincoln Memorial. It was sunny and hot, but a great experience to see the city. I'm sure we could spend weeks there and not get bored. We saw an old town called Shepherdstown where we had dinner. Then it was back for the hot tub - part two.0.0 miles were hiked.