morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-06-19
From: Rockfish Gap, Waynesboro

To: Waynesboro
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

June 19, Whirlwind in WaynesboroAn unexpected zero today. I was expecting to hike ten miles today but this is how the day went instead...I forgot to turn my alarm on my watch off last night so it woke me up at 6 a.m. and I couldn't fall back asleep. I hopped online to figure out how to buy my old shoes. I also looked at my checking account balance only to find I'd been charged for one night too many at the HoJo in Daleville. I then realized I had a lot to do today.My phone rang around 8:30 a.m. - it was Ronin calling for a ride to town. Eric went to fetch the A-Team and came back to the hotel. We then drove TalkerMan and Are We There Yet? to the post office and then went to breakfast at Weasie's Kitchen. Two trips were made back to the hotel. And a trip to the outfitter. Somewhere in there, the A-Team discussed plans about hiking and I couldn't figure out a way to stay with them and zero later in the week so I decided to just zero today.I called HoJo in Daleville about the overcharge and they needed me to fax them proof. So, over to the library to print and fax my credit card statement. I called Montrail to discuss the warranty on my shoes. Picked up the other Average people and did laundry, ate lunch, went to the post office to mail my shoes to Montrail, went back to the outfitter so Ronin and Young Eagle could buy things. While there, Eric called and mentioned TalkerMan needed to get back to the PO. So, Melk and I ran to fetch him, went to the PO, back to the outfitter to get Ronin and Young Eagle. Back to the hotel for a couple for a hours. While there, I simultaneously packed, shook down my pack, and helped Melk make a Twister board on Young Eagle's Tyvek groundcloth. Had a great time making the Twister board...and I'm sure Young Eagle's dreams will be more exuberant sleeping on that thing too!After that, two trips to the Chinese buffet were made and then a trip to Kroger to resupply. Eric and I sat by the pool for a little bit and then I took care of some gear purchases I needed. Whew. What a whirlwind.I'm hoping my Montrail Odysseys will be delivered to the PO tomorrow. I also ordered new bladders for water only because mine are looking pretty beat and are hard to clean. I ordered a new food bag since the zipper part on mine broke recently. It might all come together soon.Ready for some rest and I wish I felt more relaxed after this zero. My left achilles was hurting all day but it feels a bit better now.I got TWO fortunes at the Chinese restaurant - 1. You will have good luck and overcome many hardships, 2. He who hurries cannot walk with dignity. Nice.- Sound of the fan in the hotel room.Post Trail Thoughts:This day was SO not relaxing. I remember getting back to the hotel room at night and just feeling beat. It was then that I realized (to a certain extent) what hostel owners go through during thru-hiking season. Shuttles galore! It was very nice to be able to help some of my trail friends out with Eric's car though!
Date: 2007-06-20
From: Waynesboro

To: SNP, Loft Mtn. Campground
Miles today: 0.0

June 20, Going CampingMelk sent me a text message this morning that said "we r going to zero". Who am I to argue with that - especially when yesterday did not leave me feeling refreshed at all. So, Eric and I decided we'd go camping. We packed up and did some town chores with the A-Team and then headed down Skyline Drive to Shenandoah National Park. We are at Loft Mtn. Campground and it is a beautiful day. Perfect temperature and the sun is shining.A family just walked by our campsite on a trail that leads to the AT. The dad was telling his daughters that the AT goes all the way from Georgia to Maine. His daughter replied, "well, I don't wanna go that far". It does sound preposterous, doesn't it? Especially considering that in two days, I will be snapped back into reality when Eric leaves and I have to carry ALL contents of my pack ALL day over ALL of the mountains. That won't be a pretty sight for anyone. ...We've been relaxing in our camp chairs for a few hours now. It sure is nice to have a chair with a back. I'm glad we had this day to rest. But I am excited to start hiking in SNP. Legend has it that the terrain is really nice - almost flat. Not sure if I buy that but I hope it's true. I'm excited about how the park is laid out - we can carry about two days of food because there are several little stores just a short jaunt off of the trail in the park. There's even a taproom nearby. I'm excited to hit Front Royal and then Harpers Ferry and then the halfway point. It's an exciting place to be, really. I'm already planning my celebration in Harpers Ferry - I would like to buy a new shirt. All of the pink is killing me. And I've been training for the Half Gallon Challenge, an obstacle many thru-hikers participate in at the halfway point where they eat a half gallon of ice cream as fast as they can. I am a little worried because I couldn't even finish my pint last night - imagine three more! Such worries, I know.Well, it's cooling down a bit so I'm off to fetch layers!- Sound of the breeze blowing through the trees, voices from the neighboring campsite.Post Trail Thoughts:This was a nice, relaxing day. I was glad to be camping with Eric - though I wasn't really sure what to do when, after about an hour, I didn't have to get up and keep hiking. I remember Thumper walking by that day and I hadn't seen him in a while so that was nice.Also the day that Eric found a tick on him!
Date: 2007-06-21
From: Rockfish Gap, Waynesboro

To: Blackrock Gap
Miles today: 19.3

June 21, Summer's HereReally, I am too exhausted to write much. It was a long day and Team Average was dragging all day. We did enter Shenandoah National Park though. It was not flat. Eric and I saw two bears crossing Skyline Drive after he picked me up.- Too tired to hear sounds.Post Trail Thoughts:Wow, this day is still a bit of a blur to me. I do remember a couple of things though: - We were all pretty tired that day. We took breaks to eat Snickers and Clif Shot Blocks. - It was Hike Naked Day, the traditional way thru-hikers celebrated the first day of summer. None of us participated - although, when we had to wait about a half hour for Melk at one point, we teased that she was taking so long because she stopped to hike naked for a bit.- When Eric and I were driving along Skyline Drive that evening, we saw Cobweb and Mayo and I remember being excited to see that they were nearby.
Date: 2007-06-22
From: Blackrock Gap

To: Hightop Hut
Miles today: 22.1
Weather: overcast clouds

June 22, More HikingI knew it was going to be a hard day. Eric was leaving and I had to keep walking.Eric dropped me off at Blackrock Gap at 9:30 a.m. and we said our goodbyes. I was sad and was pretty sure hiking all day wouldn't cheer me up. But, I went on anyway.The morning went by quickly without much to speak of other than me being lead down the trail by a giant walking bird (no idea what kind). I arrived at Loft Mtn. Campground at noon and found a note from Ronin letting me know they had gone to the wayside for some lunch. So, I decided to give it a whirl. It was off the trail but how far could it be? 1.3 miles I would soon find out! I stopped to ponder whether I really wanted to make the trip - I mean that's just silly.I decided to go but was not totally enthused. In fact, with each step I grew more bitter. I kept thinking about how this was a long day anyway, not to mention 1.3 miles to a wayside that don't even count.By the time I got there, it was hard to hide my bitterness. I was glad to see the rest of the A-Team was still there and so was Sweetwater. We all joked about the ridiculous walk and then I ordered a BBQ pork sandwich. It actually ended up tasting like beef jerky which made me sad. I also ordered a chocolate shake. We sat there for a good while until we decided we ought to hike again. Come to find out, we could have taken the Frazier Discovery Trail and only walked 0.6 miles to the wayside...so we were smart enough to take that back. In fact, we raced. Young Eagle and I went up the Frazier trail one way and Melk and Ronin went the other. They beat us.We still had around twelve miles to go at that point and we decided to regroup at the sign for the Pinefield Hut. We did that around 5 p.m. I was sick of hiking and I didn't feel like going eight more miles to the Hightop Hut. But, I still went. The last two miles were obnoxious and full of climbing. I've learned not to listen to anyone - all legends about the Shenandoahs say they are flat. They are not flat. They are a mini rollercoaster. Grr.Anyway, made it to the hut around 8:15, I think and set up my tent. Ate dinner and hung my bear bag on the ridiculous pole system supplied. Very frustrating.I am exhausted tonight.- Sound of the wind.Post Trail Thoughts:Boy, was I bitter this day. It was really the walk to the wayside that made the day go downhill but once I was there, I started to feel better. Sweetwater, if I remember correctly, was also pretty perturbed about that walk as well.The rest of the day was pretty painful and I remember Melk, Young Eagle and I stopping a few miles before the shelter so we could all complain about our aches and pains. Come to think of it, this may have been the beginning of the end for us - we were ready to be done but kept on so, in the end, we resorted to taprooms and cabins in SNP!
Date: 2007-06-24
From: Lewis Mtn. Campground

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

June 24, SNP Fun Woke up in Luray today knowing we didn't have a ride back to the trail for quite a while so we headed to breakfast. It was the A-Team plus Rosie.Killed some time in the room while we packed back up and then headed to the outfitter to stash our packs. Howard, the owner of Evergreen Outfitter, was our ride. He was nice enough to drive us even though they don't formally do shuttles.We had lunch while we waited at the Artisan Grill - a tomato and mozzarella sandwich - yumm. We had added Are We There Yet? to the group by then.We got a ride around 3 p.m. and I enjyed the drive for a whiler. I was lodged in the back seat and felt a little claustrophobic so I shut my eyes and just took in the smells as we rode - horses, smoke, fresh air, laurel. It's amazing how many things you smell in a day. Then I fell asleep. We knew it was too late to go very far so we just planned a single digit day. Rosie hiked with us and is staying near us tonight.We rented a cabin for the night and headed to the taproom in the lodge. We hung out there for a couple of hours - there was even live entertainment! It was a nice night.- No real sounds to speak of. Pretty quiet actually.Post Trail Thoughts:Wow, what strong hikers! Able to avoid the lure of comfort and booze. Able to knock out twenty mile days for weeks...never giving in to temptation. Yep, that's us! It sure was nice to do a single digit day though. And it sure was nice to enjoy the taproom. I think we did the Shenandoahs the right way!
Date: 2007-06-25
From: Big Meadows

To: Skyland
Miles today: 8.1

June 25, Enjoying Our National Park Experience I woke up to Melk saying, "Guys, we need to get up, it's 7 a.m." We all laid there for about 15 more minutes. I was so comfortable in my bag. I got up and started getting ready and shortly after that everyone else did too.We headed over to the dining room for breakfast (blueberry pancakes) and then packed up. We made it to the trail around 10:15 a.m.The hiking was unremarkable today - pretty easy but also rocky and hilly. Here's the brutal truth, hiking in SNP is not flat. Don't listen to anyone who tells you otherwise. Everything is either green or brown unless you see a bear which is black. It just seems like something we have to get through to get out of VA.I did get to see a bear on the trail though! It was about 15 feet away and there were about eight people around. It just sort of milled about and then meandered away. Pretty cool - too bad my photos look like black blobs. It was just then that I got to meet The Bruiser's (a thru-hiker from last year) dad - he was out doing a section. I was pretty excited to meet him since I followed her journal last year.So, I got to the road that leads to Skyland at 1:45 p.m. and decided to sit and wait for Melk who was behind me. While there, I performed surgery on my shoes, adding some cut up bandana under the arches in my insoles to add support until Front Royal. I hope it helps, my right achilles has really been hurting after about six or seven miles each day. Anyway, I got tired of waiting so I started to Skyland Lodge. Turns out Melk had gone down the last road crossing and was already there.We had a yummy lunch and decided we wanted to enjoy our SNP experience so we called it an early day. We spent the rest of the day playing Hearts at the taproom and relaxing.We've all felt pretty burnt out these last few days. I think it's because each of us but Ronin is trying new shoes and we're pretty achy - making big miles quite strenuous and we've been trying to make big miles every day. But, we will take it easy until Front Royal and then try to pick up the pace again. It's a nice break but we'll have to get back to reality shortly.It was a nice day.On another note, there are small signs everywhere that we are getting further north. Suddenly, not all restaurants are offering sweet tea - that would be blasphemy in the South. I'm finding more and more fresh (not fried) vegetables on the menus - a true accomplishment. Maybe my stomach will recognize them again. And, last, the accents are getting less thick. It's actually pretty cool to see things like this change. It's the small things like that that let you know where you are in America.- Sound of Young Eagle turning a page in his book, a car outside, Ronin breathing heavy.Post Trail Thoughts:We're rocks I tell you!And I just have to add that I can remember two very specific times on the trail that I woke up to the perfect feeling - this day was one of them. The air was cool and crisp and I was in my sleeping bag not wanting to budge. Thank goodness for more taprooms. Seriously, who designed that park!?
Date: 2007-06-27
From: Pass Mtn. Hut

To: Gravel Spring Hut
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: scattered clouds

June 27, Almost out of SNPHad a nice leisurely morning at the hut today since we only had to make it 13 miles. Melk, Young Eagle and I hit the trail around 8:45 a.m. Again, the trail was pretty unremarkable. Green, hilly, and rocky. We made it to Elkwallow Wayside by 11:30 a.m. and we were tired from the heat. We ordered some lunch and sought refuge from the flies but they followed us everywhere. We were dismayed that this wayside was not like the last one, with tables inside to sit at. But, we dealt with it and ate our lunches. Round two was chocolate milkshakes. We kept moving to try and escape the flies but they kept following us - all of them. We would go into the store and sit for a little while and then come back out and gripe.We laid down in the grass for a while and Sunshine and Google showed up. We all hung out for a while. In fact, the three of us were there for about four hours. We only had a little over five miles left so we waited until we really needed to go.We left around 4 p.m. and were moving pretty slow at first. It started raining about a mile into the hike but it was actually refreshing and made the air a little cooler. More green, hilly, rocky hiking.We got to the shelter at 6:30 p.m. and I set up camp and then headed to the shelter for dinner - we were making hot dogs that we packed out from the wayside. Mmm. We had to boil them because the trail crews are renovating the fire pit here. Worked out pretty well in my pot.We are here tonight with Gray Turtle, Gypsy Spirit, Speaks Little, Youngblood, New Day, Sunshine, Google and a man whose name I didn't catch. We played Hearts with Youngblood and now it's time for me to call it a night. I have a headache and am pretty tired.Lots of fun times and good jokes by my fellow Average friends today. Much discussion about spelunking and trail magic.- Sound of bugs on my rainfly, an airplane overhead, wind rustling the leaves in the trees, crackles and pops all around. Post Trail Thoughts:It strikes me that we preferred to sit at the wayside and get totally ravaged by flies rather than hike on and relax at the shelter. It's pretty telling, really. But it was fun to hang out with Google and Sunshine nevertheless. I had a great time at the shelter that night, swapping stories with New Day and Youngblood and making hot dogs.
Date: 2007-06-30
From: Jim and Molly Denton Shelter

To: Rod Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: broken clouds

June 30, Gettin' back into the grooveI slept in the shelter last night to avoid the rain. I actually slept pretty well until alarms started going off at 6 a.m. I got up and got ready and hit the trail at 7:35 a.m.The hiking this morning was challenging but not unbearable. There was a lot of climbing but it was broken up by short streches of somewhat level terrain. It was an ideal day in that we had a good place to break every five miles. We all stopped at Manassas Gap Shelter for a morning snack after five miles. After another five, we stopped at Dick's Dome Shelter for lunch. I had cheese, crackers, an almond Snickers bar and some 100% fruit juice Veggie Tales snacks. Madame Blueberry is the best. Melk and I also stopped for a break five miles later after a pretty intense road crossing of US 50 at Ashby Gap. My favorite part of the day was hiking through Sky Meadows State Park. It was very pretty and I've decided I love state parks - the trails there are usually pretty flat and not rocky.For most of the day I was hiking alone but we would all convene at the shelters - Team Average, Mayo, Cobweb and Tuna Bag. The last three miles though, I hiked near Young Eagle.It was a very well laid out day - we got ten miles in by noon which felt great. I was in camp by quarter after 5 p.m. and we had all night to just hang out. It's been a while since it's all worked out that way so I am quite pleased.I pulled two ticks off of me during my nightly tick check - I felt defeated. I also felt defeated because I apparently left my water tank at Dick's Dome Shelter today. What a bummer.Well, we are in the final countdown to get out of Virginia! Tomorrow, we will zigzag into and then back out of West Virginia. The next day we will get there for real. Then, celebrations will ensue.I am now listening to fireworks and I wish I could see them. - Sound of fireworks nearby, Young Eagle rummaging around his tent, an airplane in the distance. Post Trail Thoughts:Since being back from the trail, I have flashbacks about different places and events every day. This is one of the days I flash back to quite often. If I could design a perfect day of hiking, it would go much like this. This is how I like to hike...up and out of camp early, hike five miles and take a break with great company. Back at 'em for five miles and then a break for lunch around noon, again with great company. Hike the last stretch near friends, get to camp early and shoot the breeze at the shelter. I had a great time that night - joined by the A-Team, Cobweb, Mayo, Tuna Bag, and Gray Turtle. We also ran into Copperhead a few times that day too. And while at Dick's Dome Shelter, chatted with Mrs. Baggins. Cobweb and Mayor threw stuff at each other the whole time - food, I think. If there was a larger group I would have loved to walk to Maine with, this was it! The glory days.
Date: 2007-07-03
From: Harpers Ferry

To: Harpers Ferry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

July 3, Harpers Ferry ZeroWoke up too early today - 7 a.m. on a zero is just nonsense. Youngle and I went to the hotel's free breakfast and then fell back asleep.Later we headed to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy Headquarters to take the traditional Polaroid photos in front of the building. We spent quite a bit of time there reading about the trail, the people who have made it what it is today, and looking at the 3D map. I was hiker number 506 for the year. It was a pretty neat little place - they even had one of the measuring wheels that Myron Avery used when building the trail. Wow. It made me feel good to look at the 3D map - what we've been through looks quite a bit worse than what we still have ahead of us.After that, we headed to lunch and then to the outfitter. My plan for the last few hundred miles was to buy a new shirt in Harpers Ferry to celebrate the halfway point. So, I am now the proud owner of a blue shirt - yippee.The rest of the day was spent hanging out and watching a marathon of Miami Ink until it was dinner time. Mayo's future brother-in-law was in town and drove us all to The Pub for dinner. It was a quick trip because everyone was pretty tired. We came back and Tuna Bag shared a bottle of champagne with us to celebrate 1,000 miles. Fun.- Sound of Miami Ink on TV, the AC. Post Trail Thoughts:I decided the ATC headquarters is a must-see for all AT hikers. It's amazing to see some the tools original to the creators of the trail and to learn more about the history. What a great idea...I just want to give Benton MacKaye a noogie...in a good way!
Date: 2007-07-04
From: Harpers Ferry

To: Harpers Ferry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

July 4, Fourth of July Not a great day today. I've had stomach troubles for the past couple of days and things went quickly downhill after lunch today. I ate my pasta with red sauce and then quickly felt like I was going to pass out. I broke into a sweat and my vision was impaired and I had to ask Melk to escort me to the bathroom. Only I had to sit down before we even made it there. I tried to hide myself so other restaurant-goers couldn't see me. Then I got sick in a cardboard box. Melk helped me out while she laughed at me and I really appreciated it. I felt a lot better after that though. Ronin's friends drove me back to the hotel and I took a two hour nap. I am currently working up the nerve to eat dinner. - Sound of Youngle chewing gum, Ronin writing, Melk talking about her Aunt Vivian. Post Trail Thoughts:When Melk came over to where I was hiding from the other restaurant-goers, I asked her to grab one of the cardboard boxes from the huge pile that was near us. She obliged but took the time to inspect each box for quality first - though I'm not sure what standards there are for a box that will soon contain vomit! I finally yelled to her, "It doesn't matter - give me that one!" and proceeded to get sick. Ew. I missed the box a little and Melk had to take me to the bathroom to clean my shirt. Double ew. I remember we saw Mayo and Cobweb walking in the restaurant just as I came out of the bathroom and all I could do was try and hide my shirt!The A-Team took care of me for the rest of the day which was really nice - they let me sleep and Young Eagle brough back some Gatorade - good friends!