morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-05-29
From: Wilson Creek Shelter

To: Jennings Creek
Miles today: 16.8

Day #76Every morning after waking up I go through a routine while still in my sleeping bag. The first thing I do is send thought waves to Lady Kritter and say good morning. Then, I check body parts for aches and pains. Next, I meditate for 15 minutes listening to the morning sounds. Last, I go over today's itinerary and then its out of the sack. By this time hikers will start stirring, eat breakfast, and packing up equipment. One by one each hiker leaves for their next adventure on the AT. I woke up today feeling exceptionally good, for no apparent reason. Did my morning ritual and off I went.Today's hike was more like the rumors we¢d heard of what Virginia was suppose to be like. A pleasant path with some ups some downs and, I could not believe it - NO rocks! Crossed the Blue Ridge Parkway at several locations. I reached Jennings Creek with Bear Tracks, Quest and Chill Out by mid-afternoon. Crossing the bridge I look down at the creek and notice a family on one bank picnicking and fishing. On the other bank was this Charles Manson-looking character with his feet in the water. I yelled out "Burn!" Looking up he said, "I've been waiting for you." Burn had camp setup by the creek and had been fishing and eating trout all day. Bear Tracks and I joined him and setup camp. Quest and Chill Out moved on to the next shelter. Bear Tracks and I walked into the It's A Wonderful Life Campground. The kids were either riding their bicycles or in the pool. The teenagers attempted to play pool in the game room while flirting with the opposite sex. Fathers were fishing, drinking beer or tinkering with their pickups. The mothers were nesting and gossiping with other mothers. RV's were so close together I called it c-condo-camping. It was Memorial Day Weekend, the official start of the summer business. Had a very good cheeseburger at the camp store and then left as the outdoor PA system roared to life announcing events upcoming in the park. Towards late afternoon a car pulls up and a woman starts walking toward our camp. The face looks familiar - but she should be on the trail, not in a car. It¢s Scholar with her dad, Fred, with trail magic of cold drinks, fruit and assorted pies! Fred and Scholar were spending the weekend together. Thank you, Scholar and Fred, for the visit and magic. One by one the others hiked in - Rooster, Boo Boo, Arms, K-less. A thru-hiker by the name of Walking Stomach showed up and stayed at our camp. Walking Stomach is a 50-somthing year old woman from Connecticut. She spent several days with a friend recuperating from a heel injury. Apparently Walking Stomach is very active with the trail maintenance program in her state. She enjoys hiking and has done many sections of the AT. This will be her second attempt for a thru-hike.The evening was spent by the campfire talking and listening to the sounds of the creek flowing down the mountain.
Date: 2004-05-30
From: Jennings Creek

To: Thunder Hill Shelter
Miles today: 14.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Day #77Spent the morning fishing for breakfast. We cooked the spotted trout wrapped in tinfoil, smothered in butter (wish I had fresh garlic) and cooked over an open fire. The rest of the morning we sat around the fire discussing life on the trail and what each person expected to get out of it. Burn was acting like a kid in the water. He would pile rocks on top of one another to make the pool in the stream rise. Then on the banks he would dig channels for the water to flow. You just could not get Burn away from his toy. There seems to be a growing number of hikers who have changed their way of thinking about hiking the AT. Some, who originally were thru hikers, are now thinking about section hiking due to budgets, others are not happy with the day to day grind and still others feel the AT thru-hike experience is not as important any more and want to experience other possible ways of getting to Maine. For example, an aqua blaze - taking a raft or canoe on the Shenandoah River and paddling north for 100 miles. Past thru hikers have warned me this waning of enthusiasm would occur, usually happening in either Virginia or Penn. Each year the location seems to be change. I guess this year it¢s Virginia. I love being here. I am staying on course and not deviating from my goal of hiking north to Maine, then home to Lady Kritter.There was talk of maybe staying another day by the creek. Enough is enough, I thought. I came here to hike and I planned to put in some miles. I broke down my tent, packed my backpack and I was on the trail by noon. Arms, Boo Boo, Rooster, K-less and Burn soon followed. Bear Tracks stayed behind. The mountains of Virginia reappeared with a vengeance. The creek was at 950 ft. and today's mountain crossing was Apple Orchard Mountain at 4225 ft.   The majority of the day's activity was climb. And climb I did. Stopped at a great shelter called Bryant Ridge. This fairly new shelter has 3 tiers and beautifully constructed. A stream runs across the front and down its side. I wish I could stay here but it was only 4.2 miles from the creek. Upward I went. Around 7:30 I passed over Apple Orchard Mountain and descended into low level clouds. Came to a rock face section called the Guillotine, a large boulder wedged in between two rock faces about 15 ft. high with the trail running underneath the boulder. A perfect name for this rock. Reached Thunder Hill Shelter just as the last rays of daylight disappeared. The nomadic occupants of the shelter were already asleep so I set up my tent near the shelter expecting a restful night. Stay tuned for the night that will be long remembered by hikers.
Date: 2004-05-31
From: Thunder Hill Shelter

To: Wildwood Campground
Miles today: 16.9

Day #78The night started off peaceful. The moon was shining, the owls hooting. It was a pleasure to sit outside my tent with my headlamp off. My night vision adjusted to the moonlight illuminating the forest. I went to bed happy. Around midnight Arms, Boo Boo and Rooster pulled into camp. Boo Boo swapped gear with Bear Tracks and was setup in a Henessey Hammock, Arms cowboy-camped and Rooster was in his tent. K-less stopped past Apple Orchard Mountain and tented for the night. Somewhere behind him was Burn.Around 2:00 am the leaves in the trees steadily increased their vibrations as the wind grew. the rumble of thunder echoed in the background. Within minutes came the flashes of lightning and the growling of thunder became louder. By the sound of things it looked like we were about to be hit by a serious thunderstorm. 300 the darkness of night was lit up with flashes of lightning followed by thunder. The start of the rain, just a drizzle, didn¢t last long before the deluge took over. The drops were so heavy you could see the impact points on the rain fly. The muted light of morning was breaking and the rain kept coming down. During a lull, I rushed over to the shelter to find Arms and his equipment soaking wet. He was so tired last night from the night hike that he just laid his rain fly over him. Nobody was leaving the shelter in the present weather conditions. Walking Stomach was at the shelter and was about to leave when the distant thunder could be heard again. I told her if she waited until this next storm passed I would be her hiking partner into Glasgow. I believe in safety. Considering the wet, slippery rocks and steep descent, hooking up with partners was a good thing to do. Arms and Rooster were wet to the bone and could not spend another night in the mountains, so they teamed up for the hike into town. Boo Boo was going to stay on the trail and met us on the other side of Glasgow. The storm came and went. we left camp as the rain fell in a drizzle. An hour into our hike the rain clouds parted, sunshine broke through and the rain gear came off. The hike was mostly downhill on slippery rocks and mud from the shelter at 3960 feet over High Cock Mountain (do not know how it got its name) to Hickory Stand. The second half, down to the James River at 710 ft. was a pleasant walk. The bridge across the James River is the longest pedestrian bridge on the AT. On the north side of the bridge, a Trail Angel by the name of Ken provided trail magic with cold drinks and a shuttle to the campground. Arms, Rooster, K-less and myself spent the night in one of the cabins at Wildwood Campground, very hiker friendly owners. Ken arranged a ride for us to Super Wal-Mart and for me to pickup my mail drops in Montebello tomorrow. We re-supplied at the Wal-Mart and K-less thought it would be a great idea (and fun) to all get two-way radios. So we did. I could hear Lady Kritter's voice in the back of my mind saying, "Boys and their toys!" The rest of the day we played with our new toys and hung our gear out to dry.
Date: 2004-06-02
From: Punchbowl Shelter

To: Greasy Spring Road
Miles today: 21.1

Day #80"It is not so much what you believe in that matters, as the way in which you believe it and proceed to translate that belief into action." ~ Lin YutangK-less, Arms and Rooster came into the shelter area during the night.   The bull frogs never stopped their serenade throughout the night and into the early morning. It was a wonderful chorus of sounds. I have a different agenda than the guys so I let them sleep. I was up before dawn and on the trail with Cuppa Joe by 6:30. The weirdest thing happened to me this morning. While walking along the path, little butterflies began to follow me, dancing in the air around me, while others would fly in and out in front, showing me the way. It brought back memories of "New Age" posters I have seen of a beautiful goddess dressed in a flowing gown, walking with little fairies floating about. By now you are saying, "Save Krispy! He¢s been in the woods too long. Now he¢s seeing fairies." Yes, I have, and I will stick to my story of butterflies but do butterflies have human faces and giggle in high pitches? I met Pegasus packing up to leave for the trail at Little Irish Creek. We were happy to see each other again. I decided to hike with Pegasus and catch each other up on what events had occurred since we last saw each other in Atkins. We hiked through an area called Brown Mountain Creek. This area displayed stone walls and foundations from a black community that ran along its bank in the early 1900's. While walking through the area I envisioned the community alive with activity. Most of the afternoon was spent doing what Virginia does best to hikers - go up. On the top of Cold Mountain, 4022 ft., we had 360 degree view of mountain vistas. We stayed for an hour to look out at the vast expanse of mountain landscape and to catch the warmth of the sun.Another milestone was achieved at Salt Log Gap. We officially broke the 800 mile mark.The talk of the trail in this section has to do with a bed and breakfast offering a free lunch to thru hikers. The reputation of the B&B is very good for both their food and accommodations. The owners will even pick you up at a parking lot on Fish Hatchery Road. The plan was to hike as close to Fish Hatchery Road as possible, then hike to the pickup spot in the morning. We stopped six miles from the parking lot at a place called Greasy Spring Road. Tents were set up and, after a long day, went to bed early. Before I fell asleep I was thinking of all the different possibilities the B&B could have for lunch.
Date: 2004-06-03
From: Greasy Spring Road

To: Priest Shelter
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: clear sky

Day #81"To a man on an empty stomach, food is god." ~ Gandhi Woke up still thinking of the lunch so of course I was hungry. Broke camp at 7:30 and did a short six mile hike to food heaven. Missed the 11:00 shuttle by 9 minutes. The next shuttle according to the flyer was at 12:30. While waiting in the parking lot Cuppa Joe, Big Stick, Joe Flamingo, Meandrathal, and Ski Bum showed up. Just before 12:30, one of the owners, Lori, arrived in a pickup. Packs and bodies piled in for the short ride into Montebello. Downtown consisted of a general store/gas station, post office (same one I visited several days ago), a fire station and a trout lake across the street. The B&B is a log cabin located on 10 acres. We were directed to the enclosed back porch. The interior of the house is beautifully decorated and spotless. Those staying the night got to shower, given a terrycloth bathrobe to wear and their laundry done while in the shower. Lunch of hot pasta salad, fresh picked asparagus soup served in sundried tomato bread soup bowls. Assorted cold drinks, coffee and a slice of watermelon rounded out the meal. The meal was fabulous and worth the wait. Supper tonight is meat loaf with vegetables with dessert still to be a surprise. It was really tempting to stay but I needed to move on. On a sad note, Ski Bum called home and learned that a close friend, 22 years old, died of a heart attack and his grandmother was in ICU with two brain bleeds. Our prayers and thoughts go out to Ski Bum and the successful recovery of his grandmother. Each year a series of events stand out to make the AT hike unique, for example, AT 2003 is remembered for its rain. This year I think it¢s the views. I cannot think of a mountain top or vista whose views were disrupted by low level clouds, fog or rain. I felt guilty seeing all these views. I rated Max Patch better than Rocky Top, Beauty Spot better than Hump Mountain, McAfee Knob better than Dragon's Tooth and Cold Mountain better than Siler Bald, while the hikers at the same points last year might only have had one or two good viewing days. On the trail, you take what Mother Nature gives you. For us today, another day of panoramic views. Shortly after being dropped off near the trailhead by the folks of Dutch Hause, we climbed Spy Rock, a large rock outcropping that extended 50 to 75 feet above the trail. The top of the rock spectacularly displayed another 360 degree view of the surrounding mountains and valleys. Big Stick, Ski Bum, Joe Flamingo, Pegasus and I stayed on that rock for a long time enjoying the afternoon. The climb up Priest Mountain was not difficult and I stayed at Priest Shelter along with the folks I was with on Spy Rock. Pegasus and I decided to stay in the shelter after hearing the NOAA weather report - rain the next 3 days, low temperatures in low 50's. Should be an interesting next 3 days.
Date: 2004-06-04
From: Priest Shelter

To: Hard Time Hollow
Miles today: 13.6
Weather: moderate rain

Day #82During the night I was awakened by noise. I turned on my light and was greeted by two little mice rummaging through my stuff by my head. I shined the light up and saw a deer standing at the opening of the shelter looking in. We looked and greeted each other and then the deer slowly walked away. It is amazing the nocturnal activity that goes on in the mountains when you are awake and no telling what goes on when you are asleep. Before going to bed last night I listened to NOAA weather to decide if I was tenting or staying in the shelter. I was going to find a vista with an eastern view to watch the full moon rise. The weather outlook was dim. By early morning heavy rain was expected and not going away any time soon. 4:00 in the morning the rain started. I was sure glad I made the right decision. K-less, Rooster and Arms stayed on top of Spy Rock and cowboy camped. I am sure at daybreak they are wet and cold with no let up in sight.After a hard rain passed through, I left Priest Shelter around 9:45 in a drizzle. Going down Priest Mountain was not as bad as expected. The drizzle soon turned into a light rain for the rest of the morning. Lunch was spent at Tye River under a rock overhang that was dry. Big Stick, Pegasus, and Ski Bum and I enjoyed the dry spot and the hypnotic effect of the river's flow. What followed in the afternoon was an amazing display of Mother Nature's energy. Tye River is at 997 ft. elevation and our path was up to 3970 ft. to Three Ridges. The climb was steady and arduous. The higher I went the more my visibility diminished and the weather conditions intensified. The cloud mist was heavy, the wind howling, and the rain developed into a steady downpour as I climbed the first of the Three Ridges. By the second ridge the wind was at gale force the rain coming in horizontally. The only thing I could do was go forward. If I stopped the wind would chill me to the bone. I would look up at the bent trees with leaves vibrating to make sure no widow makers (dead branches) or trees would fall on top of me. The third ridge was fogged in, windy and wet. Blazes were hard to find so I looked down to stay on the worn path. At last I crossed the third ridge and was on my way down to Maupin Field Shelter. The consensus of everyone was to head to a place called Hard Time Hollow, another 2.5 miles beyond the next shelter. I was told that not going to Hard Time Hollow would be like going to New York City and not seeing the skyline from the top of the Empire State Building. Tired, wet and exhausted I followed Ski Bum, Big Stick, Pegasus and Joe Flamingo to Hard Time Hollow.
Date: 2004-06-05
From: Hard Time Hollow

To: Hard Time Hollow - Zero Day
Miles today: 0.0

Day #83Unexpected Zero Day at Hard Time Hollow (with a side trip to the hospital emergency room.) "Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections, but instantly set about remedying them - everyday begin the task anew." ~ St. Francis de Sales Hard Time Hollow is like no other place on the AT. Tucked alongside the Blue Ridge Parkway on 19 acres of mountain land is the home of an Amish mountain man by the name of Rusty. Up to 3 weeks ago he had no electricity or telephone. In fact, when the phone rings it is still new to him and he gets a chuckle. He cooks and warms his home with a wood stove, grows potatoes and raises farm animals that keep him company during the winter when the parkway is closed. Rusty loves the range of characters that hike the trail and his philosophy is "my home is your home." There are signs everywhere with Rusty sayings dealing mostly with the trail. "Hike in Harmony," or "No hitchhiking back to the Hollow from any point, when you¢re gone, you're gone." Rusty has been here for 22 years and has helped a countless number of hikers who pass through. I have added my name to the list.Last night as I was taking off my wet clothes, my back seized up. A major muscle spasm in the lower back. I could not stand, crawl, or walk. No matter what position I was in I was in Charlie Horse pain. With help from Pegasus and Big Stick, I was able to get down stairs and next to the warm stove. At this point, I was in no condition to hike. I was glad to be at The Hollow for the ambiance of the simple life, the help I needed with my back and more importantly, to be sheltered from the hard chilly rain that fell throughout the night. Woke up in the morning with the mountains shrouded in rain clouds. Rusty was making a trip into Waynesboro and offered to take me to a doctor. Six hours later, a visit to the emergency room, a shot in the butt and medication in hand for muscle spasms, I was back at the Hollow. Rusty cooked venison sloppy joe but he calls it "sloppy doe," while Big Stick and Ski Bum made vegetable pasta. All taste buds were happily satisfied by the end of the meal. Ski Bum and Joe Flamingo fired up the wood sauna and a good steam helped my spirits. I have come to a conclusion that my mental and spiritual abilities will not deter my quest to find the last white blaze in Maine. The physical ability, it seems, is constantly challenging my endurance. As long as I can take a step, or medically told to leave the trail, I will continue my journey northward.
Date: 2004-06-06
From: Hard Time Hollow - Zero Day

To: Hard Time Hollow - Zero Day
Miles today: 0.0

Day #84"Accept the place the divine providence has found you, the society of your contemporaries, the connection of events." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson Sunday is Rusty's special day because it involves going to church. He asked the hikers staying with who wanted to go? All 10 of us piled into a pickup and went to an Amish church service. We were greeted as friends and taken into the church where the women sat on the left, men on the right. The service was not long (1 hour) and afterwards everyone stood around in the foyer introducing themselves to us, or greeting one another. After church all the hikers were invited to the minister's house for lunch. We arrived at a brick house with simple furnishings and were greeted by the minister, Ken Miller, who introduced us to his wife, Linda, and their 6 children. Lunch was awesome. Mashed potatoes, corn, and pasta casserole. Bread was homemade as well as the strawberry and blackberry jams. Dessert was a homemade vanilla crumb pie with homemade strawberry ice cream. Truly, a delicious meal. After the meal the minister read some poetry, and for the grand finale, the complete family sang gospel songs in 4-part acappella. Finally, we were given a tour of the 3 generation family business - a plant nursery. When we arrived back at The Hollow, more hikers were coming in for their experience. The afternoon was spent by some playing frisbee golf, writing in their journals, or like me, walking the 19 acres. Today was a special day for me. One that I will always cherish, where strangers were taken in, shared in the joy of love and happiness, then sent away with stomachs satisfied.The further north I walk the AT, I find it less of a wilderness experience, but rather an experience of different communities, its people and their culture, small in size, that shows one why we are called the land of the free. These communities are separated by the mountains and forest so that each day is a new day, a new experience connected by events.
Date: 2004-06-07
From: Hard Time Hollow - Zero Day

To: Waynesboro, VA
Miles today: 21.1
Weather: light rain

Day #85I was getting restless recuperating at the Hollow. I was feeling better and I made the decision it was time to go. Rusty drove Pegasus and me to where we came off the trail at the Blue Ridge Parkway. We thanked Rusty and said our good-byes. It felt good to be back on the trail. To be walking in the woods, smelling the earth's fragrances, hearing the birds sing. Climbing up Cedar Cliffs I am startled by movement on the trail. Frozen in step, I see a brown colored animal, in cat like motion, running down the trail, away from me. All of a sudden the animal leaps to the left, silently, again like a cat, onto a fallen tree. What I believe to be a bobcat stealthily disappears into the forest without making a sound. Like my encounter with the bear, the event happened in seconds, not even enough time to at least get my hand on my camera. The weather in the morning and early afternoon was overcast, my favorite type of weather for climbing elevations. The downside were the views and overlooks at Cedar Cliffs - a whiteout of fog blanketing the valleys. I am beginning to feel less guilty of the quality of views and vistas I have witnessed. There seems to be, for me, always a balance in life. I believe if more people could find this balance we would be a better, more wholesome society.At 4:00 I arrived at Paul C. Wolfe Shelter next to Mill Creek. Feeling good and with good trail ahead of us, we decided to push on to Waynesboro, the southern terminal to the Shenandoah National Park.