morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-06-26
From: Lewis Mountain

To: Big Meadows Campground
Miles today: 8.7
Weather: overcast clouds

I know, pretty short mileage day. We had heavy rain all night and fog this morning. So, we were slow in getting out of the Loft Mt. Campground in Mama Poky's rental car. We had to drive nearly 45 minutes to Lewis Mt. where we left off yesterday. By the way, Lewis Mt. is at the 900 mile mark of the AT. Using a car to slack pack us has some logistical problems. One is the busy weekend made it necessary for us to set up a base camp at one campsite even though we have been moving north further and further from that campsite each day. Each day we must drive further to and from the trail. So when we got to Big Meadows around 11:00 AM today and discovered there was an available campsite, we decided to stop hiking and move all our gear from Loft Mt. to Big Meadow. This took more than four hours. We did eat lunch first including another fantastic blackberry shake. It was almost 7 PM before we finished setting up camp at Big Meadow. It was out of the question to do any more miles this day.Rainbow, Burnie and I had showers and did laundry before we cooked a late dinner. Poky cooked dinner for him and his mom so ran out of time for a shower since the building closes at 8 PM. Rainbow decided it would be fun to walk the AT section that skirts Big Meadow at night. So Burnie and I joined her for a 1 hour walk with headlamps. We got some wonderful views of lights down in the Shenandoah Valley.Here is hoping we can do some big miles tomorrow.Life Is Good!! "Gabby" aka Art Cloutman
Date: 2004-06-27
From: Big Meadows Campground

To: Thornton Gap
Miles today: 17.6

Well we did a lot better today. We did not have to travel as much by car. And the weather was perfect for hiking, cool breeze and bright sun. Passing along the overlooks between Big Meadow and Mary's rock was wondrous. It is Sunday so many day hikers are out there and SkyLine Drive has an overflow of traffic. I hiked with Rainbow during the morning. Then met Burnie and Poky at Skyland where we ate our snacks since the dining room doesn't open until noon. After lunch Rainbow took off first thinking we would catch up to her. Then Poky started hiking. I waited for Burnie. She says she doesn't need anyone to wait for her but I think she really likes the company. I know the miles go faster for me when I am talking with a fellow hiker. We stopped at the Pinnacles Picnic area where Burnie took off her boots to rest her feet. She has some blisters and her feet just generally hurt. We stopped again at the Bird's Nest Shelter. Burnie was struggling to keep walking. Rainbow showed up having gotten behind us by going to an overlook we did not visit. We took some time at Mary's Rock to look at the views. We didn't make it to Panorama until 6:30 PM, where Poky had been waiting for over an hour.Burnie, Rainbow and I decided we were to tired too cook so we ate at the Big Meadows Lodge after returning to the camp ground. Rainbow¢s camera battery was stolen from its charger when she left it in the laundry room to make a phone call. She talked to the authorities. Hope they can recover it but it isn't likely.I set up a little fire for us but everyone got involved in other things. Guess I will have to put it out and go to bed. Life Is Good!! "Gabby" aka Art Cloutman
Date: 2004-06-28
From: Thornton Gap

To: Gravel Spring Gap
Miles today: 14.3

Today was comfortable with clear skies and reasonable temperatures and humidity. We had some great views and frequent encounters with deer. Before leaving Big Meadows camp ground we had to take down our tents and hammocks and stuff them with our packs into the car. We drove to Thornton Gap were Rainbow and Burnie made a quick exit heading up the trail before Poky and me. They argued they needed a head start since we are faster. I don't believe that is true. I think Poky and I have more endurance.There were great views today. We made it to Elk Wallow Wayside by noon. That was 9 miles in three hours. After some burgers and blackberry milkshakes we decided to claim a campsite at Matthew's Arm before heading north. But, Katie from Syracuse was at the wayside. She has been trying to catch up with us for almost three weeks. I asked Pokey and Mama Pokey if Katie could joins us. They saw no reason to not include her. We would just have to do some double car trips to shuttle 6 of us and our gear around.Rainbow and Burnie headed out to continue their hike. Pokey, Katie and I rode with Mama Pokey to Matthew's Arm where we set up my tarp and put everyone's camp gear under it. Then we headed back to Elk wallow to hike and catch up with Burnie and Rainbow.Katie and I took up the rear. We talked the entire 5.8 miles finishing in 2.5 hours. Mama Pokey returned to pick us up after shuttling Rainbow to our campsite. We had a nice dinner. We haven't figured out tomorrow¢s hike yet. Life Is Good!! "Gabby" aka Art Cloutman
Date: 2004-06-29
From: Gravel Spring Gap

To: Chester Gap/Front Royal
Miles today: 13.4
Weather: clear sky

This was an easy hiking day with pretty good views. Especially nice was the view from Compton Summit. I hiked with Katie most of the day. At the top of the trail on Compton Mt. there are two blue blazed trails to views. Both are .2 miles. Katie chose to follow the trail to the right. We walked the .2 miles to a rock out cropping and found Crazy Legs and Tall Tales sitting on the rock eating lunch. Katie knows them and Burnie hiked with them early in her hike. Crazy Legs had read some of my register entries at shelters and thought I was a girl. She and Tall Tales plan to marry on October 3rd. So they have a very strict schedule to finish on time. They must also take a week off to finalize wedding plans.   We caught up with Burnie, Rainbow, and Pokey at Tom Floyd Wayside. It turns out that they chose the left hand blue blaze trail on Compton Peak. Fancy Free - from NH and T-bot were at the Wayside for a break. We talked awhile then headed to VA 522 where Pokey¢s Mom was waiting with cookies and drinks.We now crowded 4 people into the back seat and headed to the post office before it closed. When we came out we could no longer fit all the hikers and the mail drop packages into the car so Pokey and I went with Pokey¢s Mom to the Super 8 motel were we booked 2 rooms and unloaded some gear then went back for the other 3 hikers.Tonight we went to the Jalisco Mexican Restaurant where we had one of the best meals since we got on the trail. After a laundry we tried to figure out our next course of action. Too tired to make any decisions.I got three mail drops today. My usual food drop from Sue was just what I needed. James Jones sent me a great package with trail mix and several trail bars. Sue Russo, Rachel's mom, sent me a Mountain House dinner, candy and some other goodies. I guess they are Mail Angels. Life Is Good!! "Gabby" aka Art Cloutman
Date: 2004-06-30
From: Chester Gap/Front Royal

To: Dicks Dome Shelter
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: scattered clouds

We put our backpacks back on today. Pokey and Pokey Mom slacked us to Manassas Gap, about 8 miles, where we got our packs and headed up trail another 7 miles to the shelter. Katie, Burnie, Rainbow and I are sharing the shelter with 3 section hikers and Still Frank. Actually, the shelter is quite small so Frank, Burnie and Katie are tenting. The shelter is a geodesic dome which will hold 4 comfortably. We are squeezing in five. Pokey decide to do some day hiking today with his mom. Tomorrow and the next day he will do a couple of 20 mile days to catch us in Harpers Ferry.The hiking today was easy but there were no vistas since the trail is completely in the woods.Life Is Good!! "Gabby" aka Art Cloutman
Date: 2004-07-01
From: Dicks Dome Shelter

To: Sam Moore Shelter
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: scattered clouds

This was a tough day. We hiked in high temps and humidity with full sun all day. To top it off we had to do the first half of the Roller Coaster. It is 10 ridges each about 1000 feet high and 1 mile between summits. There are rocks and streams to be crossed and no scenic vistas. We took a three hour long lunch break at Rod Hollow Shelter after 8 miles of hiking. Then we tackled the roller coaster. It is much tougher than I anticipated. Plus the summer conditions slowed us all down. We dragged into camp at 8 PM. It was torture making and eating dinner because we were exhausted.Crazy Horse is here. He has taped pant legs to his knees as gaiters and his feet are wrapped in Tyvek and duct tape. He claims he started a south bound hike on April 10th from Abol Bridge since Katahdin was inaccessible. He needed snow shoes and ice axes to make it through Maine and the White Mountains. Sleet and an avalanche challenged his survival skills. He said he has done a thru hike 11 years in row and this is his second southbound hike. He is very strange. He answers most questions with yup or nope. He claims the weatherman has predicted all day rain thru Sunday and possibly longer. Rainbow suspects he may have a mental disorder from his behavior. She has worked in the medical field and as a social worker. Well, I'm down for the count. Life Is Good!! "Gabby" aka Art Cloutman
Date: 2004-07-02
From: Sam Moore Shelter

To: David Lesser Shelter
Miles today: 14.1
Weather: clear sky

It sure seemed longer than 14 miles today. It never did rain despite the dire predictions of Crazy horse. In fact the sun shone all day with high humidity. We had to walk 6 more miles of the Roller Coaster. We stopped after 3 miles to visit the Bears Den Hostel. Mmmmmmmm, Ben and Jerry's for brunch. We each had a pint. That had us flying down the trail with smiling faces for about 1 hour when the sugar high wore off. It was a struggle after that to deal with he ups and downs and the rocks in the trail. I don't know how we will handle PA rocks. Guess we will deal with that in a couple of weeks.The David Lesser Shelter is beautiful. We made it here about 7 PM. There is a very large deck that has been recently stained. And the floor of the shelter was painted within the past week or so. A fresh batch of mosquitoes has me hop'n. A lady who started her thru hike last year is here for her last night on the trail. She has had to do some creative flipping because of injuries that took her off the trail.Burnie and Katie are tenting down below in the woods. They seem to be bonding. They are talking and laughing now. We are all planning to make good time into Harpers Ferry tomorrow for mail drops and Outfitter visits. Then we will check into the hostel for a zero day on Sunday. Pokey should catch up with us there with his mom. Burnie¢s folks are meeting her in Harpers Ferry for a visit. We don't know for how long.Life Is Good!! "Gabby" aka Art Cloutman
Date: 2004-07-03
From: David Lesser Shelter

To: Harper's Ferry WV
Miles today: 9.4
Weather: clear sky

Somehow the miles go very fast when you are hiking into town. We made the 9+ miles in 3.5 hours. And we had rocks and roots to deal with but few ups. We did stop for a couple of short breaks. Katie and Burnie had to make it to the post office for mail drops. So that got them up a 5 AM. and were hiking before 6 AM. Rainbow and I didn't leave until 7 AM.   My mail drop is at the hostel which is booked solid so we cannot stay there as planned. We found the Appalachian Trail Conference Center on Washington Street where Rachel tried to find us hotel accommodations. She was wonderful. Fancifree walked in and offered to share her room at The Hilltop House. So that is where we will spend our zero on July 4th. Burnie and Katie are hanging out with Burnie¢s parents who have come to visit her. They shuttled us around HF so we didn't have to haul our gear all over town. We stopped at the Outfitters where Baltimore Jack is working. Would you believe he sold Burnie a pair of trail running shoes and sold me a hiking skirt -dah kilt?Rainbow, Fancyfree and I had the luncheon buffet finishing about 4:45 PM then walked down town to the deli for another meal.We haven't head from Pokey and his mother. I can't access the message on my cell phone and I lost their number. I'm assuming they are in town somewhere. Life Is Good!! "Gabby" aka Art Cloutman
Date: 2004-07-04
From: Harper's Ferry WV

To: Harper's Ferry WV
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

It seems that every time we have a zero day it rains. Today was no exception. Thunderstorms in the morning made it look like a bad day but things worked out well.The hotel had an all you can eat buffet breakfast which I took full advantage. Then I visited the ATC center and talked with Rachel, the delightful young woman who was in charge of the place. I signed the register and hung out for awhile. Rainbow, Fancyfree and T-Bot showed up after an hour or so. Rainbow told Fancyfree that the Deaconess of the local Episcopal church had invited Fancyfree to stay in her house to recover from the infected blister on her heal. They went down to the house in the afternoon to meet Georgia the deaconess.We have not found a Laundromat anywhere in town, so I washed my shirt and under shorts in the sink and hung them to dry in the bathroom. Hope it works because I would hate to get a wet shirt sweaty.There was a 4th of July cookout and band concert about 1/4 mile from the hotel. Rainbow and I went were we had to pay $1.00 for an entire meal. Then we went back to the ATC where Pokey and Pokey Mom had arrived. More hikers showed up like Walrus who just finished his 500 mile section hike for the season and Nitro and Mike showed up. They left the trail for a short time to take care of personal business. A newlywed couple, forgot their trail names, are also here. Pokey Mom has been helping them often through Shenandoah National Park. BlueMoon, a local trail angel, posted signs for a cookout at his house, so we all headed there for some free food. Regular Frank and Hiking Bear arrived while we were there. And a couple we met in Waynesborough showed up about an hour later. We watched the Arlo Guthrie movie "Alice's Restaurant" on cassette and got a kick out of the hippy humour. The younger people didn't know the song. Well, we've got to hike again tomorrow but I can't get my mail drop until I reach the hostel. I sure hope it arrived. If not I am in deep trouble since there are no good stores nearby. Why didn't I use ATC as my mail drop?Life Is Good!! "Gabby" aka Art Cloutman
Date: 2004-07-05
From: Harper's Ferry WV

To: Crampton Gap Shelter
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: scattered clouds

It is hot hot hot. Temps in low 90's. We hoped to hike out of town and do about 17 miles but it is too hot. You never get to start early enough when leaving town to do bigger miles. We went to the AYCE breakfast buffet at the hotel and spent about 1.5 hours consuming as much as our bodies would allow. Fancy Free has to spent more days in town for her infected blistered heel to recover. Rainbow and I headed to the ATC center with our packs to take a couple of pictures and say goodbye to Rachel. I walked through town with my new hiking kilt feeling a bit self conscious but it really is cooler wearing a skirt than a pair of shorts. We stopped at the Harpers Ferry Hostel on the banks of the C&O canal for my mail drop then headed up onto the ridge to continue our hike. We took refuge in the Ed Garvey Shelter to get out of a T-storm and waited out the next storm as well. Crampton Gap Shelter is just beyond Gathland State Park where several civil war memorials and the War Correspondence Memorial are located. We stopped there and got cold drinks from the machines then read some plaques and headed to the shelter. The mosquitos are fierce here this evening so I've gotta stop writing. Life Is Good!! "Gabby" aka Art Cloutman
Date: 2004-07-06
From: Crampton Gap Shelter

To: Pogo Memorial Campsite
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: clear sky

Lots of day hikers and vacationers on the trail today. We left camp before 6:30 AM to avoid the heat. The air was much cooler today and way less humid. Crazy Legs and Tall Tales passed me around 7 AM. They were slack packing. Their plan to spend the weekend off the trail to make final plans for their wedding backfired because none of the businesses they needed to contact were open on the long holiday weekend. They forgot what the 4th of July means.We stopped at Rocky Run Shelter where T-Bot was still packing to start his hike for the day. Skywalker spend the night in the shelter with T-Bot. She was expecting Chomps to show up but he never arrived.We took a break at Dalhgren Backpack Campground to take advantage of the free showers. Then spent a few minutes at a monument to generals killed during the Civil War; one Union and one Confederate.At the Washington Monument - this is the first monument built to honor our first president - we met many tourist who had tons of questions about backpacking the AT. We did our best to fill them in. I managed to make a cell phone call to my wife, Sue.We used a foot bridge to cross interstate highway 70. Then stopped early at Pine Knob Shelter to cook dinner. A camp group arrived while we were there. The kids were 11 year olds who had just hiked 8 miles. Billy the Kid said he spotted a note to us from Julie and Bill back at Rock Run Shelter. Rainbow headed out for the miles to the campsite. Pokey and I stopped at Annapolis Rocks to check out the views and again at Black Rocks. There were rock climbers and photographers at the rocks. We should have gone to the campground and set up then back to the rocks for the sunset.Life Is Good!! "Gabby" aka Art Cloutman
Date: 2004-07-07
From: Pogo Memorial Campsite

To: Stealth Campsite after Penmar
Miles today: 14.3

Late getting up today. We didn't start hiking until 7:00 AM. Lots of rocks and some ups and downs. As we got close to Ensign Cowall Shelter a park ranger came down the trail. She explained to Pokey's queries that she was concerned over a register entry that hinted of suicide. She indicated the entry was left in the register at Devils Racecourse Shelter.Rainbow and I stopped at the Devils Racecourse and checked out the entry. It was a girl who made a statement about how she would do anything for her boy friend. She would drop of high rock if he asked. Neither rainbow nor I considered it suicidal. A couple was at the shelter that offered us sandwiches and fresh vegetable. We enjoyed their trail magic and then ate the lunches we planned. Pokey didn't stop he wanted to spend more time at Penmar picnic area.Rainbow and I spent 1 hour at the shelter before we headed on. We stopped at High Rock to take in the views. A man at the rock asked us all kinds of questions about thru hiking. He offered to drive us anywhere we needed to go to help us on our hike but we didn't need anything at the time. It took us another 1.5 hours to reach Penmar where Pokey was just returning from the parking lot with three hot pizzas he ordered. What a treat.Saffron, Sea legs, PuckFinn, BlueMoon, and Buck Wild arrived and ordered their own pizzas. Thunder showers started to roll in. We are now trapped in the sunset pavilion waiting for the rain to stop and the sun to set. Life Is Good!! "Gabby" aka Art Cloutman
Date: 2004-07-08
From: Stealth Campsite after Penmar

To: Quarry Gap Shelter
Miles today: 20.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Wow!!! A twenty mile day. And a great eventful day at that.We were up shortly after 5 AM and hiking before 6:15 AM. The air had cooled and humidity was low. We reached Deer Lick Shelter before 7:30 and stopped to check the register. By 9 AM we found T-Bot at the Antietam Shelter. This shelter adjoins a park and picnic area. We got some water from the outdoor spigot then headed on. At Tumbling Run Shelter we found 4 young women hiking southbound for a month to the southern end of Shenandoah. They were taking a zero today. I talked with them awhile then headed on.At Chimney Rocks we stopped for a break and some lunch. We had already done 10 miles. There was a rehab boys outdoor adventure group taking a break here also. The kids were great. I enjoyed talking with them and their teachers.We reached Caledonia State Park around 5 PM, 18 miles so far. We had more pizza and ice cream. We swam in the pool and had showers. Then headed up the trail to Quarry Gap Shelter for the night.Life Is Good!! "Gabby" aka Art Cloutman
Date: 2004-07-09
From: Quarry Gap Shelter

To: Pine Grove Furnace State Park
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: overcast clouds

I am half way along the AT having reached mile 1087 of the 2174.1 miles. Weather was wonderful today. The trail was easy to walk. We stopped at Birch Run Shelters and Toms Run Shelters for breaks. Many of the shelter sights have 2 shelters. Toms Run, Birch Run and Quarry Gap are all double shelters.We checked into Iron Masters Hostel about 5 PM. Then we checked out the camp store. I didn't do the 1/2 gallon challenge. I like ice cream too much to make myself sick over eating. I want to take a trip to CT to visit Sue and attend a wedding. It will get me off the trail for 4 or 5 days. I think the break from hiking will do my body good, but I will loose a lot of miles and set my end day back by 4 days. It looks like Duncannon would be the best place to get off of the trail. Unfortunately it is only 50 miles away and I have 5 days to get there. I going to have to slow down for a few days unless I can come up with another plan.Life Is Good!! "Gabby" aka Art Cloutman
Date: 2004-07-10
From: Pine Grove Furnace State Park

To: James Frye (Tagg Run Shelter)
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: overcast clouds

In editing my journal entries, I have discovered this section was never posted. So, two days of entries are from memory.I recall, Pokey, Rainbow, Fancy Free, T-Bott and I took our time leaving Iron Master's Hostel. We stopped at Fuller Lake for a few hours to swim and eat. Pokey did a modified 1/2 gallon challenge by eating 4 pints of various flavors of ice cream. I don't remember the young lady's name who brought us trail magic, her picture is included. She ahd been attempting a thru hike but had to get off the trail. We hiked up to Steeple Pole cliffs and took some time to check out the views. More pictures are included. I don't recall the weather at the time but I think it was hot.Life is Good!   Gabby Art Cloutman
Date: 2004-07-11
From: James Frye (Tagg Run Shelter)

To: Boiling Springs
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Another missing journal entry:I remember that for some reason I left camp later than everyone else on this day and took my time getting to Boiling Springs. Long walks through corn fields in very hot sun were a high light of the day. I was very impressed by the man made lake in Boiling Springs. Ducks ands swans were swimming in the lake and many people were strolling along the side walk nearby. I, of course, had to talk to everyone. The ATC Regional office was right next to this lake in the center of town. Rainbow, Fancy Free, T-Bott and Pokey were sitting outside the office as I approached. The local ridge runner offered to find us a place to stay for the night. We ended up in the back yard of a B&B in our tents. Fancy was having terrible problems with blisters. She did not have her tent with her for some reason so I offered her space under my tarp. When the T-storms came through during the night she bailed, joined T-bott in his tent. Amanda caught up with us on this day. The 1st day we met her was at Chestnut Ridge Shelter in VA. Her dad was hiking with her to get her started. Her reason for hiking was to get in condition to enlist in the marine corp. She is currently over the weight limit for officier candidate school. I didn't think she would ever catch up with us bu here she is. She has lost weight and is hiking strong. She tried to rig her hammock as a makeshift tent since there were no trees but she got pretty wet. She is learning but sometimes the hard way.Before going to bed, Pokey and I did some spong bathing in the man made pond. We were not allowed to use the bath room facilities at the B&B so had to visit the nearby gas station. There was a nice pizza joint in town that we took advantage of. Also, there was at least two ice cream shops. One had home made ice cream which we fully enjoyed.   It was very hot with threats of t-storms.