morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-05-03
From: North of VA610

To: Jenkins Shelter
Miles today: 22.1
Weather: moderate rain

I started hiking this morning at 7:15 am. I saw a deer coming down off the mountain I camped on. It seems the best way to see wildlife is to be the first one through in the morning. It was a tough day hiking today. A guy in camp said that his watch clocked 4600 ft of up and 5000 ft of down from Knot Maul Branch Shelter which means I did more as I started 4-5 miles before the shelter. I'm staying at the Jenkins Shelter but not really. I'm camped out behind it because I was told the shelter was full. It looked like it could definitely hold another and probably another 2 and maybe 3. I hate shelter hogs! From the looks of the woods near the shelter, a lot of people got the same story - there are at least 10 tents pitched. The same afternoon thunderstorms came through today. I didn't get soaked - it was just sprinkles/light rain. I don't know whether I should count this as a rainy day or not... 22.1 miles to camp behind the Jenkins Shelter today.
Date: 2003-05-04
From: Jenkins Shelter

To: Jenny Knob Shelter
Miles today: 23.6
Weather: broken clouds

I got hiking at 6:40 am this morning, a few minutes after The French Guy, Daniel, and two others who were tenting, Itchy Feet and Just Do It. I passed the two tenters later. When I caught up with The French Guy, I stopped to talk a bit and Typhoon caught up. I ended up hiking with him the whole 23.6 miles today. He hikes at about the same pace as me so it made for a quick day. Having someone to chat with makes the time pass much more quickly. We arrived at the Jenny Knob Shelter at 3:40 pm. It was an easy day with very few climbs and no rain. The skies look like rain now, though, and it has gotten much colder than yesterday. Typhoon is a neat guy. Retired from the Navy and 60-some years old, he hikes faster than most of the young thru-hikers and doesn't stop much to gawk. Just my type of hiking partner. I'll probably hike with him tomorrow but will most likely go beyond the 22 mile shelter. I missed a day in my calculations of mileage and need to make it up to get to Waynesboro before the post office closes on Friday, May 16. 23.6 miles to Jenny Knob Shelter today.
Date: 2003-05-05
From: Jenny Knob Shelter

To: Pearis Mountain
Miles today: 27.9
Weather: light rain

I got up this morning with Daniel the French Guy's alarm at 5:30 am. I was hiking by 6:45 am with Typhoon. The day just flew by, even though it was drizzling all morning and most of the afternoon. We arrived at Doe's Knob Shelter at 4 pm. I cooked dinner, got water, said goodbye to Typhoon and Daniel, and hiked on. I hiked from 5 pm to 7 pm, saw two more deer - one at 10 yards, one at 20 yards. This was in addition to the one Typhoon and I saw near the end of our hike for the day (at about 20 yards). At around 6:30 pm while I was hiking it misted over and started pouring rain. My rain gear - which had dried out when the rain stopped in the afternoon - got soaked all over again. My wet tent is now wetter than it was before. Hopefully this all blows through overnight. I think I am camped just beyond Angel's Rest - a view (which is just fog right now) of Perisburg. If I'm not there, I'm near a spring which I didn't see. I estimate I did 5 miles beyond the shelter. Today I had to leave behind the only people I have found on the Trail who could consistently keep up with the miles I do (both Typhoon and Daniel) and someone who has a walking pace similar to mine (Typhoon). This is the most difficult part of walking big miles on the AT. You meet people for a few days and then must leave them behind because schedules don't match up. There are so few hikers out here that I have seen that are even interested in hiking 20 mile days consistently. This makes it doubly difficult to leave these two guys behind. But I must if I don't want to wait around an extra day or two in Waynesboro for my maildrop. Oh well... 27.9 miles to camp on Pearis Mountain today.
Date: 2003-05-06
From: Pearis Mountain

To: Bailey Gap Shelter
Miles today: 26.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I got up in the rain this morning and was hiking by 7 am. I got to Pearisburg at around 8 am. It took about an hour to get groceries and repackage them for hiking. I spent a half hour on the phone with the "support crew" and then was off. I ate dinner at the Pine Swap Branch Shelter and hiked on to Bailey Gap Shelter. I saw 6 deer today, 5 on the way down the mountain into Pearisburg and 1 on the way up to this shelter. It's getting too dark to write now. 26 miles to Bailey Gap Shelter.
Date: 2003-05-07
From: Baily Gap Shelter

To: Niday Shelter
Miles today: 27.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Last night there were mice running all over the shelter. I had one run across my legs in my sleeping bag which I tried to launch through the air. I don't think I succeeded, but it made me feel better. I also had one climb up the back of my head when I was lying on my side. I walked 27 miles today to the Niday Shelter. It was a long day but at least the rain held off. It is raining lightly now. It took me from 7 am to just before 7 pm to get here with a few breaks for snacks and lunch. There are 3 people in the shelter in addition to me: a father and son, and a guy who started March 7. All are thru-hikers. Tomorrow is hopefully the last "death march" day. I'm trying to make up a 20 mile day because I messed up my scheduling. I much prefer to have a couple of hours in camp before dark. Tomorrow is another day...
Date: 2003-05-08
From: Niday Shelter

To: Catawba Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 23.8
Weather: broken clouds

I made it to the Catawba Shelter by 5:30 pm today after leaving at 7 am this morning. The hiking went a little slower than expected because the profile maps don't show the small <200 ft ups and downs. There were a lot of those today, especially on the ridge walk up to Dragon's Tooth. A "Trail Angel" gave me a soda and some water at the last road crossing. The guy even had cards with "Trail Angel" on them. Tomorrow should be an easy 17.6 miles into Cloverdale/Daleville to resupply, shower, do laundry, etc. Dragon's Tooth was crowded with day hikers today. I'm not sure exactly what the Tooth is supposed to look like, but there was sure a lot of rock scrambling on the way down. It was hot today and I almost ran out of water. I'm going to have to start packing more water for these dry VA ridgewalks. 23.8 miles to Catawba Mountain Shelter.
Date: 2003-05-09
From: Catawba Mountain Shelter

To: Daleville
Miles today: 17.6
Weather: scattered clouds

I got up this morning at 5:10 am after spending the night in my tent which I set up last night. Several thru-hikers arrived at 9:30-10 pm and were not too quiet. Also, it was rather warm and the bugs were out. It rained during the night but I was able to leave camp at 6:15 am. On the way up McAffee Knob, I stopped to photograph a turtle crossing the trail. I didn't get to the Knob quick enough to catch the sunrise. I saw a deer after Tinker Cliffs. The Cliffs were really neat - I could see living up there like the Tinkers did after the Revolutionary War. Of course, they wouldn't have been able to see the cement factory down below at the time... After 12-13 miles, I passed the guy in the orange hat who I had seen yesterday. He had camped behind the Catawba Shelter and left really early - I just hike a little faster than him. He said that Virginia Tech had graduation tonight and the hotels were all booked. This put me in a very depressed mood, as I was looking forward to town. I got to town just behind several other thru-hikers, TN Man, Blue, and Red, and we found that there were no vacancies at the Best Western but were able to get rooms at the Econolodge across the street. I got a single - the others wanted to share a room. I was able to wash my laundry, shower, and get some Chinese food for lunch. Then I walked/ran (just before a thunderstorm hit) to the outfitter/grocery store. I bought what I needed for food - my pack will be heavy tomorrow. I've spent the rest of the day relaxing in the room, talking with the support crew at home, and repackaging food for tomorrow's hike out of town. 17.6 miles to Daleville today.
Date: 2003-05-10
From: Daleville

To: North of Blue Ridge Parkway Mile 91.8
Miles today: 21.0

I stayed up late last night watching T.V. so didn't start hiking until 8 am. The day was hot and humid and thus I was dripping sweat all day. I'm not sure why, but my body was really lagging today. I was only able to do just over 2 miles/hour even though I usually make 2.5-3. I think it was the heat and humidity. I got to Bubbet's Gap Shelter at around 5 pm and ate dinner and unpacked my stuff. A section hiker, Nan, commented on how bad the bugs were and so I started thinking about a hot night of swatting bugs. I packed my things and hiked to where I'm camped now, about 2 miles beyond the shelter. I may have a wet tent tomorrow (there was a loud but not very rainy storm while I was at the shelter) but I won't be swatting bugs. Tomorrow my pack will be lighter (less food) and maybe the weather will cool down (though the report in town said more of the same until Monday). The weather has been summer-like for at least a week. It's weird, we went from winter weather in the 40's to summer weather in the 80's - we seem to have skipped Spring. 21 miles to camp north of Blue Ridge Parkway mile 91.8.
Date: 2003-05-11
From: North of Blue Ridge Parkway Mile 91.8

To: Harrison Ground Spring
Miles today: 24.4

I started hiking this morning at 6:45 am. It had rained overnight so the tent was wet. As I hiked it got hot and humid like the day before but then the weather turned as fog rolled in and a few sprinkles occurred. After a snack stop at Bryant Ridge Shelter, the wind started blowing. As I climbed the 3000 feet of elevation gain to the top of Apple Orchard Mountain, the temperatures cooled and skies cleared. After the last few hot and humid days, this was a welcome change. It's funny how a little change in weather can affect your mood. The cooling really picked me up and made it a great day. I got to Thunder Hill Shelter at 4 pm and cooked dinner. When I arrived, there was a guy in his sleeping bag sleeping in the shelter and a big Husky taking up the other half of the shelter. I cooked on the table as I was afraid of getting bitten by the dog and afraid that the guy was sick. He woke up and I asked if he was sick. He said, "No, I'm just resting." Weird... I didn't plan on staying in the shelter anyway, but even if I had planned to stay I wouldn't have. Too weird... I hiked on to where I'm tent camped at the Harrison Ground Spring. The wind is roaring through the trees but the black flies are still bad outside. I'm inside my tent though so I don't have to deal with them right now. I saw two scarlet tanagers (males) with the brilliant red body and black wings. One was 30-40 yards away early in the day and the other was 10-15 yards away as I hiked from the last shelter to where I'm tented. I also got one of the "trail magic" sodas today. There was a cooler beside the trail which said "thru-hikers help themselves". There was only generic Dr. Pepper left but I'll take anything sweet at this point. I've started carrying powdered (sugar type) Kool-Aid. I have this at the end of the day to help keep hydrated. It's like having a soda without carbonation (at least it tastes that good on the Trail). 24.4 miles to camp at Harrison Ground Spring today.
Date: 2003-05-12
From: Harrison Ground Spring

To: Little Irish Creek
Miles today: 26.2

Started hiking this morning at 6:40 am. The weather changed overnight from windy and warm to windy and cold. The sky was clear and the best way to stay warm was to hike - perfect hiking weather! The weather changed several times throughout the day from hot to cold to hot, but the wind was blowing really hard the whole time. Now the sky has clouded over and it looks like rain. I'm tent camped with 3 other thru-hikers near a forest service road and creek. There is a "trail angel" here who is feeding hikers that come through. Nice guy. I got here too late to get a hot dinner, but did get a cheese sandwich and cold iced tea. There have been some beautiful tunnel rhododendron walks today. The bushes are in full bloom in places, so the tunnel walks are really cool. 26.2 miles to camp at Little Irish Creek.
Date: 2003-05-13
From: Little Irish Creek

To: Cash Hollow Rock
Miles today: 24.6

I started hiking this morning at 6:30 am. One other thru-hiker was just getting up when I was leaving. The day was cold and windy. It was just barely warm enough to hike in a T-shirt and shorts. I hiked to the Seely-Woodworth Shelter where I stopped to get water and dinner. I then hiked on to where I'm camped now which I think is just beyond Cash Hollow Rock but just before Cash Hollow Road. One of the problems with the "eat dinner and hike on" method of putting on a few extra miles is that the target spot to camp may not be flat enough to camp at. I had this problem the past two nights (including tonight). Fortunately, I have the range to hike an additional 3-4 miles if I have to - last night I did an extra 1-2 mile. I saw two Scarlet Tanagers chasing a third bird. The two Tanagers were both males, so I'm not sure exactly what was up. In the afternoon, I saw another two deer 50-100 yards away. It was sad walking these last few miles to where I'm camped now. I hiked by a spot where I camped in 1991 which is just below Spy Rock. In 1991, the spot was absolutely beautiful with green grass and, as I recall, no fire ring. Today, that same spot had a 20 foot cinder circle around a fire ring. The grass was still there but the spot was not as magical. I guess I'm kind of nostalgic - I want things to be as they were the last time I hiked this area. It is difficult to find a good spot where someone hasn't camped before now, whereas before the opposite was true. I think the nostalgic feel is partly why I hike big miles. Everyone did big miles in 1991. I'm not sure why. People still did zero days, but there was much less of a party scene. I love hiking and my body is allowing me to hike all day, so I am. I am not racing or competing (against anyone but myself), I just like to hike. Others are here for other reasons which are not necessarily the same as mine. 24.6 miles to camp about 1/2 mile beyond Cash Hollow Rock.
Date: 2003-05-14
From: Cash Hollow Rock

To: Hump Mountain
Miles today: 24.7

I started hiking this morning at 6:45 am and stopped to camp at 7:05 pm. I had to stop at the Maupin Field Shelter to get water - the spring wasn't running, so I had to purify some water from a little brook beside the spring. I also stopped for dinner at Dripping Rock Parking Area where there was another spring. This one didn't look good either. The climb up Three Ridges Mountain seemed to take forever. I thought it was only a 1000 ft climb from Harper's Creek Shelter but it was more like 2300 ft. The weather was cold this morning - I had to start hiking in my rain pants and coat. By this afternoon, the weather was warm (actually, too warm). The warm weather has brought the black flies back out. I hope they don't last long or at least I get out of the area before they're active. Of course, after the black flies come the mosquitos. Fortunately, the black flies don't seem to be a problem while I'm walking, so I do a lot of that. I also started seeing lots of poison ivy today. Maybe I'm seeing it because I'm hiking at lower elevations, maybe there is just more up here, or maybe it has just come out early (or even on time?). I had hoped to be ahead of the bulk of the trail-covering poison ivy. We will see what the northern portions hold. I saw another deer this evening. I saw her before she saw me, so I just stopped. She stomped and head bobbed for about 5 minutes, came closer to within 20 yards up the AT from me, and did the same thing. Then she ran. I'm not sure if she smelled me or just got nervous. I hike into Waynesboro tomorrow. Town day! 24.7 miles to camp on Hump Mountain.
Date: 2003-05-15
From: Camp on Humpback Mountain

To: Waynesboro
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: overcast clouds

I arrived in Waynesboro, VA today from camping out on Humpback Mountain. This is the first entry I ve done from the trail -- all others have been done via snailmail and my transcriber (Thanks!) I think she will update it with additional information later once the entry gets through but at least this gives people a heads up.I ve been doing well and doing some really big days. Initially I was doing the days (21 to 28 miles per day) to make a town goal. But I found that I really like hiking all day. If this will continue for the rest of the trip I don t know but at least for now that s what I m doing.I m staying at a hotel in town tonight and headed into the Shenandoahs tomorrow. It was raining while I was walking around town today to get something to eat and get to the library so I ll probably be hiking in it tomorrow. So much for new dry shoes...I m off to get groceries, then just rest and relax at the hotel...[From Transcriber]Last night in the middle of the night I was awakened by a deer snorting on and on. He/she went on continuously as he/she walked/ran past my campsite. This has happened several other nights, but this was the closest the deer has come to my tent. Weird... I started hiking this morning at 6:30 am. It took me 2 hours to get to the Pand Wolfe Shelter (about 3 mph). It was an easy walk - very well graded. I then hiked on to Rockfish Gap and made it there by 10:30 am. The first car blew by me as I tried to hitch out into town, but a car turning onto US250 stopped and took me to town. He dropped me at the Post Office. I got my box, walked to the hotel, got a room, and called home. I needed to get my trekking pole replaced as the 845 miles of wear has taken its toll. Then I got to run around town. A 1/2 mile here, a 1/2 mile there to the laundromat, to the Chinese Buffet for an ACYE lunch, to the Post Office to send a box home, to the Library to check email and Trail Journals, and to the grocery store. All this took most of the day. I've spent the rest of the time eating, packing/repacking food from the store, and resting a bit. I got a phone call from Trog who got the phone number from my sister. It sounds like he is doing well. He is still hiking and that's good. He is in a hotel in Perisburg tonight and in good spirits. It's about time to relax a little and get some sleep. The rain started in the middle of the day today. I don't expect tomorrow to be much drier than this evening. The weather report says rain for the next week. Wet, wet... 12.5 miles to a hotel in Waynesboro, VA, today.
Date: 2003-05-16
From: Waynesboro

To: North of Doyle River Cabin
Miles today: 25.8

It's close to 8:30 pm and I'm camped a little closer to the AT than I should be. It's been misting most of the evening and the trees are dripping. I can barely see to write this by daylight. The past mile has been like a rain forest and briar patch combined.   It was almost impossible to find a clear flat spot to camp. I couldn't find a spot which satisfied all SWP regulations. I did over 25 miles today and am too tired to continue... I started hiking this morning at 7:50 am. I got up at 5:30 am and left the hotel at 7:30 or so. It took a long time to get a hitch out of town. A lady in a sedan picked me up - not expected, but I'll take anything I can get. Anyone who says SWP is easy hiking doesn't know what they are talking about. It was 500 ft climbs and descents all day - a real rollercoaster. I looked at the profiles and the terrain does not change - oh well. The trails are very well groomed, though. Even a very rocky section had gravel dumped between the rocks to make the walking easy. I saw 7 deer this evening. Several were within 5 yards. I saw another male Scarlet Tanager and a female, and also 2 rabbits this morning. 25.8 miles to camp north of Doyle River Cabin.
Date: 2003-05-17
From: North of Doyle River Cabin

To: Pocosin Cabin
Miles today: 25.3

It rained all night. My tent was soaked in the morning. It was kind of misting/drizzling when I got up. I started hiking at 6:30 am. It misted and drizzled most of the day. I had planned on camping near the Pocosin Cabin (which is locked - owned by the PATC) after eating dinner there. Just before I got to the cabin it started raining in earnest. I cooked dinner under the porch roof. The porch actually looked like a nice place to stay for the night but it would violate regulations. In addition to a roof, the porch had a fireplace and a pile of not-so-dry wood. I was just getting ready to pack up when Crow arrived. I had met her and another woman thru-hiker at the previous shelter (I don't recall the second woman's name). I told her that this looked like a good spot to stay, especially if we could get a fire going. Crow went back and got the other woman and her pack. I started a fire using all of my Boy Scout knowledge. This was made especially difficult because all of the wood we gathered was soaking wet. With some paper from my Journal book, some wax which was on the mantle, and a lighter I was able to get a fire started. We dried out most of our stuff and slept near the fireplace. (At lunchtime, the thermometer in the shelter read 45 degrees F, which, when added to the wetness, made for perfect hypothermia weather). 25.3 miles to camp at Pocosin Cabin.
Date: 2003-05-18
From: Pocosin Cabin

To: Byrd's Nest Shelter
Miles today: 25.1

It rained all night and was still raining in the morning. I got the fire going again with what was left in the fireplace (sticks) and the hot embers. We all ate, packed up, put on our partly wet gear, and headed out. I started hiking at 7:15 am. I hiked all day, stopping only at the two shelters on the way for a snack, privy stop, lunch, and water. I arrived at Byrd's Rest #3 at 5:30 pm. Camping is not allowed here but I'm cold, wet, tired, and don't really have a better option. I was shivering all through dinner and only now that I am in my sleeping bag am I almost comfortable. The concrete floor here is filthy and there is no broom. I used a handful of dry leaves instead. Contrary to what the PATC volunteer said at the last shelter, the weather has not cleared up. It continues to mist/drizzle (which is better than rain which was falling most of the day). The temperature is still in the 40's. The PATC volunteer said that the weather tomorrow is supposed to be good. I will only believe that when I see sun and blue sky! Rainy days, like today and yesterday, are absolutely miserable hiking. It is more like marching than hiking. You march from one shelter to another with your head down (so the rain doesn't run down your face off your rain jacket hood) and stop only long enough to eat a quick meal when necessary. If you stop too long, you get cold and risk hypothermia. I did see 13 deer this morning in a lull of the rain (so I could lift my head and focus my eyes farther ahead than 5 feet in front of my feet). Some were as close as 10 yards. Maybe the weather will break for tomorrow as the weathermen have predicted - I'm not counting on it, though. 25.1 miles to camp near Byrd's Nest Shelter.