morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-07-05
From: Wilson Creek Shelter

To: Rt 220, Daleville
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: moderate rain

We woke up sore and found that we had no Ibruprofen to ease our aches. I also forgot my gaiters and today threatens rain. Hiking without gaiters means litter gets into your boots -- pebbles, leaves, dirt, debris, and your socks get a ring around the ankle. Hiking in rain without gaiters brings water into your boot, saturates your socks and you can never get the inside of the boot to dry, at least never to my satisfaction. So first thing, I decided to fashion a pair from my heavy gauge garbage bag used to line my pack. I cut off the top section and cut the section in 2, wrapped it around both ankles and fastened with duct tape. Neat gaiters. Rain started around 1PM and we rushed to reach the Fullhardt Knob Shelter where other hikers were also waiting out the rain storm. Dan took a nap. Crowded shelter with one couple talking non-stop, others playing cards, etc, and Dan fell right asleep. Greeny and I decided to get wet and test the gaiters. We left Dan sound asleep and made our way for 5 more miles to our destination. For a while I thought we would never get there. Rain started again and nothing seemed as it should be. I told Greenie, I am walking off this trail and will find a policeman to tell him: "I am lost". There was no doubt I should see civilization, after all, I-81, Rt. 220, 11 and VA 816 and VA 779 are all there congested together...why were we not getting there?Finally, with rain pouring down, I offered to cross the busy road (not I-81) to get to the car and drive it back to save Dan extra steps. We decided on the motel and dinner at Rancho Viejo.
Date: 2006-07-06
From: Jennings Creek

To: Bearwallow Gap
Miles today: 6.4

We moved a car to the Middle Creek Campground and slackpacked to Bearwallow Gap. Signs of rain but that's all. Today is a nice easy hike particularly since we carry only water, lunch camera and raingear. We have started meeting up with thru-hikers, and since we continue to "go north but hike south", we meet the same T-Hs. Today we saw "Go-Mo" along with "Limbraker" and "Whistler" They left Springer Mt. in early April. Limbraker appears so fragile, I can't believe they made it this far. A young couple, maybe mid-30's who quit their jobs (computer genius and nurse) to do this instead. We hope they make it to Katahdin.Berry season is upon us and we take advantage stopping for blueberries along the way. Greenie's van is waiting for us at Bearwallow Gap, so we stop by the IGA in Buchanan (known locally as Buck-a-nin)for salad, chicken and sodas. Forecast says 50 degrees tonight. Middle Creek Campgound is not crowded and we set up our tents.
Date: 2006-07-07
From: Parker's Gap Road(BRP)

To: Jennings Creek
Miles today: 11.4

Today's hike is not exciting, no real mountains to climb and so we are in the forest most of the time. Altough I should mention Floyd Mountain (3,560'). the At Thru-Hikers' Companion book describes hiking in Virginia as easier than where we are used to coming either from Maine or from Springer Mountain. For one thing there is more civilization, but also the mountains are lower. this does not mean it's a walk in the park, but to me it does mean it is less interesting.Bumped into Go Mo again. She is from Orford, NH and when she said that we asked if she knew the Pattons. Well, not only did she work for Sally at Mary Hitchcock, but her daughter is now working for her. Sally is head nurse over there. They used to own the Orford Inn but we understand they moved closer to the new hospital, or something. Also bumped into Limbraker and Whistler who HATED last night's stay at the Middle Creek Campground. They apparently rented a cabin which was the pits. We liked our tent and in fact are going back there tonight.OK, Middle Creek Campground used to be "A Wonderful Life" Campground until new owners took over last year. Tonight, which is Friday, the place is crowded with week-enders from the area, I guess. A whole different culture...they come with their beers and ATV's and cycles and anything that makes noise into the wee hours including KIDS!. A nice family place. Don't go on week-ends.
Date: 2006-07-08
From: Petites Gap. USFS 35

To: Parker's Gap Road
Miles today: 7.3

Good weather over Thunder Ridge, The Guillotine, and Apple Orchard Mountain (4,225'). We feel the view is on the "better" scale for the BRP due probably to the rain which washed away some of the "air debris"...I don't think they call it pollution. We hiked under The Guillotine and wondered when it would crumble on someone's head. If Old Man of the Mountain can lose his face, why not the Guillotine? Wildlife is picking up: hen turkey and her brood, deer with fawn, more deer, talk of bears but none today. bumping into thru-hikers again: Whistler, Limbraker, and met a young man we called the Pied Piper. He is very engaging and all listen to him as he speaks. He says he thru-hiked the AT a few years agao, hiked other trails, is from Hawaii, a retired wind-surfer. Now calls himself Free Spirit and feels he can go anywhere whenever. Today he tells everyone of the great meal at Peaks of Otter with views of Flat Top and Sharp Top from the lakeside seating.Once back to our car we find 7 thru-hikers trying to hitch a ride to Peaks of Otter, all on the Pied Piper's say so. They are back-tracking 20 miles. Naturally we helped them out as best we could before heading to Buena Vista (locally known as Buna vista...long u)for chow and a motel room at the Buena Vista Motel
Date: 2006-07-09
From: Petite Gap

To: US 501/130
Miles today: 9.9

We pitched our tent at Wildwood Campground last night, so this morning we headed to the footbridge at the James River. Today we planned to hike north so that we could "come upon" the James River rather than have it at our backs. We left Greenie's car at the footbridge, then picked up Spirit who needed food and took her to Glasgow, then headed to Petite Gap. We hiked an easy 10 miles downhill approaching James River. We walked along the river for at least a mile. Weather very good offering views of the river as we traveled along the south face of the gap. It was a little tricky seeing the Foote footbridge, but Greenie and I finally made it across and waited for Dan. How he did this we don't know, but he missed it completely and crossed along the train trestle....this is an active railroad bridge...then had to climb a chain link fence to nearly fall in the river, and there we spotted him, dribbles of blood flowing where he got nicked, chatting away with local fishermen. Met Face Plant and his dog Nobi, thru-hikers, who are really moving. We think we will not see them again. Back to Glasgow where we picked up smoked suasage, sauerkraut, rolls and beer. We did not see Whister and Limbraker upon return to the Wildwood campground and figure they went to Glasgow since they were waiting for a mail drop. dinner was really good. Slept well in our tents again.
Date: 2006-07-10
From: Punchbowl Mountain Crossing

To: US 501/VA 130
Miles today: 10.9

From Wildwood Campground, a quick breakfast of coffee and breakfast bar, we went to the Punchbowl Mt. Crossing and began our 11 mile hike on a nice comfortable day. Not too humid, not too hot. Bumped into Whistler and Limbraker again who did, in fact, spend the night in Glasgow at the Ma and Pa Motel. Greenie and I were moving slowly because we couldn't stop eating berries and they were plentiful along the way: blueberries, raspberries, black raspberries. All day. Views were there but clouded by haze. Hiked Bluff Mt. (3,372'), the site of a monument to a little 4-year older named Ottie Cline Powell. He died in the fall of 1890. He'd left his schoolhouse to gather firewood and never returned. There were little rubber duckies on his monument. We stopped at the Johns Hollow Shelter for lunch and completed our day by going to the Otter Creek Parkway restaurant for a nice dinner. We tried in vain to find the road to Little Irish Creek where we'd planned to tent, but gave it up in favor of the Buena Vista Motel in Buena Vista. Looked just right to us.
Date: 2006-07-11
From: US 60

To: Punchbowl Mt. Crossing
Miles today: 10.5

Buena Vista is pronounced bUna vista. We went to Hardee's for breakfast, and parked the car at VA60. Today there are signs of heat and humidity. We will perspire. Two miles into the hike along Brown Mountain Creek, where freed slaves worked their shares until 1920 when the landlord sold the property to the USFS - two miles in we reached a shelter and congratulated ourselves for such good time, then off we went again. A mile or so later, Sharon and I both hit the ground instinctively when, out of the silence came a roaring rush of tremendous noise - I thought a plane was heading for us and would crash right there. I thought of N. Korea who are getting ready to let one loose. As quickly as it arrived, the noise was gone and it was silence. It took a while for us to regain our composure. May have been a military SST, but BOY! scared the wits out of us. We continued to eat berries and we moved along crossing a few foot bridges and climbed Rice Mt.(2.228'). Back at the car, we headed back to the Otter Creek Parkway Restaurant. Drank 5 root beers. Drove to Rt 605 for a nice BRM campsite by Davis Creek where we were welcomed by another month-long camper who told us about snakes.
Date: 2006-07-12
From: U.S. 60

To: Salt Log Gap
Miles today: 8.8

From the BRM campsite, it was a long haul for our cars up VA 605 to VA 633 to USFS Rd 63 and finally Salt Log Gap. We needed Greeny's GPS and that was neat to see that it seems to know how to direct you on deserted dirt roads. This hike included more raspberries which we cannot resist. We ascended Cold Mountain (4,022') which is a bald and it was wonderful to walk through. Balds are open space and this one is probably mowed now and again, but after walking in dark forests, it is so pleasant to feel space around you with flowers abloom and views all around. We skipped going to the Cow Camp Shelter for our lunch because it would have meant 1/2 mile one way OFF the trail, so we found a few nice rocks to sit on. Once back to our car, we headed off from Rt 60 to The Dutch Haus B&B owned and operated by Earl and Lois Arnold. What a treat to have her greet us with a laundry basket. "Everything in, I'm doing laundry!" We hustled to our assigned quarters and stripped of hiking clothes and other stuff we had in our packs. She gave us robes to lounge in! For a modest fee, Lois will prepare dinner and we took her up on this given the closest restaurant would be 45 minutes away. Good idea because it was just what hikers love: meat loaf, corn, potatos, dessert. Early to bed. Greeny leaves tomorrow morning and Earl agreed to shuttle us for a slack-pack. The other guests were Diane McCormick (as in Cyrus) and we find that her husband is a relative of the VA born inventor of farm equipment; a thin man from Belgium whose name I never understood; and the Arnolds' parents. Dan and I will hike the next 2 days, then head off to Waynesboro where we will have our first zero day. Kathy Zygmunt of MO will meet us there and continue to hike via the car shuttle method. We last saw Kathy in 2003 in Bland, VA when we decided to get off the trail due to non-stop excessive, discouraging rain.
Date: 2006-07-13
From: Fish Hatchery Road

To: Tye River
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Greeny left this morning. She's gotta go to work. It was a brief "seeya, nice hike, bye-bye" since Earl Arnold, the innkeeper was waiting to shuttle us to Fish Hatchery Road. This was a steep 1 mile approach incline on rocky terrain. We were sweating by the time we reached the trail. Hot and humid, but at least overcast. Our hike takes us through the Priest Wilderness, a wild forest with little to distract you. The Priest is a massif (4,063') offering great views but today, alas, they are muted by clouds. We stopped at The priest Shelter for a bite of lunch and Dan napped for at least 30 minutes. I read a few Natural History articles in an abandoned magazine. Because of our slow start, and our easy pace, we returned to the Dutch Haus at 6 PM. Lois was getting ready to prepare dinner for us and her other house guests. Another great dinner in a very comfortable home.
Date: 2006-07-14
From: Reeds Gap BRP Mile 13.6

To: Tye River
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: broken clouds

Earl shuttled Dan and I to Reed's Gap. Lois had prepared a nice breakfast of fruit, Belgian pancakes and coffee...hmmm. Rain threatens and Earl cautions us that if we hear thunder, which he said is forcasted, we should take the blue Mau-Har Trail because it would be safer. Mau-Har Trail is described as being shorter but harder. We hiked about 3 miles and decided to take the trail mainly because it had to prove more interesting the the one we were on. the book says we would come upon waterfalls and good swimming holes. Wellll. Shorter, sure, but it may have taken us longer given it is downright hazardous. Very steep, very narrow and very rocky. We are drenched in sweat when we come upon a creek with small cascading falls inviting us for a quick dip. As it turns out we believe we had more fun on the hazardous Mau-Har Trail.Car was sitting there waiting for us and off we went to Waynesboro. Tomorrow will be our first "zero" day. We are to meet up with Kathy on the 15th and head out on the 16th to continue the hike. dinner was at Scotto's Italian Restaurant.
Date: 2006-07-15
To: Waynesboro
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

We spent our day organizing ourselves and our stuff. Then headed for Charlottesville to explore and roam around the historical section. Enjoyed a robust cup of coffee at Dirt Cafe...they have many coffee shops in Charlottesville. Returned to Waynesboro to find that there is no call from Kathy yet, so head out to Gavid's Steaks Family Restaurant (no beer when it has the word "family"), return to find still no word from Kathy. About 8PM, I decide to revise our hiking plans and see how I can contact a Trail Angel to give us a shuttle...sort of disappointed because I'd called a few times to confirm everything, etc...and then Lo! Kathy called to say "I'm here!". She'd stopped to visit her daughter in Kentucky but was ready to head out tomorrow. Oh Goodie!
Date: 2006-07-17
From: Calf Mountain Shelter

To: Rockfish Gap
Miles today: 7.6
Weather: clear sky

Shelter activity began early. The older couple who arrived late last night were no where to be seen. The thru-hikers like to get going and there were about 6-7 who had sheltered here last night. Sleeping was difficult, again I'd forgotten the ibruprofen. Kathy's toes were really blistered. The blisters were on top of the toes, mostly the big toe - both feet, but also the adjoining toes. Her hike would be painful. She spent time doctoring as best she could and decided to go to Rockfish Gap Outfitters in Waynesboro tomorrow to be fitted with new boots. No way she could keep hiking this way. As it is, her toenails will probably fall out. We headed out on a monotonous hike (except for the raspberries) to Rockfish Gap and waited for Kathy to get off the trail. It must have been 95 degrees. Really hot. We drove to the outfitters to discuss the situation and she decided to take a "zero" day tomorrow and return for proper fitting after spending the evening tonight doctoring the feet. Kathy got bandages and Epsom salts and other things to dry out the blisters.We headed to Loft Mountain Campground, picked site C53 and signed in at 1/2 price with my Golden Age Passport. Showers, restrooms, campstore, the works, and very quiet.
Date: 2006-07-18
From: Loft Mountain Campground

To: Blackrock Gap
Miles today: 8.1

We left Kathy at the campsite. Her toes are too blistered to walk. She will soak them in Epsom salts to dry them out as best she can, then go to Rockfish Gap Outfitters to be fitted with new boots.We had an easy hike on a 90 degree + day. There were a few breezes which felt like someone left the refrigerator door open but those moments quickly gave way to oven door openings. Saw my first bear of this 2006 hike. It scampered away too quickly for Dan to glimpse it but he did hear it. We moseyed along easy hiking terrain and took advantage of wild ripe raspberries that covered some of the areas, especially plentiful along the Dundo Group Campground area. We crossed paths with the thru-hikers again, the same group we met along the Blue Ridge Parkway. We climbed Blackrock (3,100) which was a cliff toppled over some thousands of years ago and it unexpectedly offered dramatic views. Bumped into Mustang and Earl Parks who are hiking this section of the AT, that is the Skyline Drive. Turns out Earl and Evelyn Parks are the couple who arrived late at the shelter 2 nights ago. They saw how crowded it was and headed up the hill to set up their hammocks. This is the first time hiking for Evelyn who is sporting a heavy looking backpack, too. Back at the Loft Mountain Campsite, we find Kathy and she has new boots and a smile on her face. Goodie.
Date: 2006-07-19
From: Simmons Gap

To: Loft Mountain Campground
Miles today: 7.9
Weather: light rain

Kathy is hiking with her brand new boots after spending another night soaking her toes and doctoring the feet. She is very cautious in these preparations having suffered a serious foot problem last year. She does not want another infection. Ivy Creek Overlook along Skyline Drive, mile 77.5, offered such cooling breezes today with temperatures in the 90's again with high humidity. Met thru-hikers who told us of a bear by the creek...Dan was ahead by a few hundred feet and missed the adolescent by the trail. He was chomping away at my berries when I saw him, maybe 40 feet away. "Stay right there, OK?, I just want to pass". Bear spoke English because he did stay right there and I did pass. He appeared to have an adult-sized head but a youth's body, not like the big rumped one I saw on the way to Blackrock Gap. I caught up with Dan to earn that he missed it. Dan connects with the bear and thinks he could be a descendant, at least spiritually, so he is not happy to have missed this bear too. Later when Kathy caught up with us, she too saw the bear still eating my berries. He was closer to the trail this time and she had to shoo him away with noise. Back at Loft Mt. Campground, Dan is absorbed by Cormac McCarthy's book; Kathy tends to her feet and is feeling much better and relieved.
Date: 2006-07-20
From: Swift Run Gap

To: Simmons Gap
Miles today: 9.5

We prepare to leave Loft Mt. Campground amidst the clouds this morning. A six-point buck came through a nearby campsite. Our hike offered many sightings of deer and pickings of raspberries again, but no bear today. One thru-hiker who was completing the Skyline Drive area (a 7-8 day hike) had spotted a bear each day.We climbed Hightop Mountain (3,587) which offered a landscape view of Harrisonburg. Saw our same group of thru-hikers heading to Swift Run Gap. This gap is where the Spotswood group crossed from the Piedmont across the Blue Ridge into the Shenandoah Valleyback in 1713 after Jamestown was settled in 1607. This was the first European migration across the Blue Ridge. Fortunately for me, Dan is a teacher of American History at the Palm Beach Community College. How he knows this stuff on the top of his head, well, how? Tonight we will tent at the Lewis Mountain Campground and on the way we stop at an overlook to view Massanutten Mountain. (Mass-o-nuttin. This will be a running joke along our hikes. There's Mass-o-nuttin!) Massanutten is a 50-mile long, 6-mile wide mountain range of ancient sandstone. The mountain range separates the north and south forks of the Shanandoah River. From the Massanutten Mountain range you can look east to the Blue Ridge Mountains and look west to the Great North Mountain. I tried to find how it was named but it's pretty sketchy. According to the National Recreation Trails Program website, Massanutten probably originated from a Native America word for either sweet potatoes or the baskets that the American Indians wove. The overlook was 3,200' elevation and he valley 1,800 feet below at the upper end of the river valley still on the BRP. Back at the campsite for curried chicken and rice which we eat in the tent because of the rainstorm. We have shelter at Lewis Mountain.
Date: 2006-07-21
From: Booten Gap

To: Swift Run Gap
Miles today: 11.7

We bumped into Mustang and Crankbait (Earl and Evelyn Parks) and we chatted with them to find that Evelyn recognized the trail names of Mike's Brother and Juno. "From where?" I asked. She read about us in someone's journal a year or so ago. Turns out the Parks are friends of Slimer (AT 2003)'s parents and they read Slimer's journal. Slimer was a thru-hiker we bumped into many times during our month of hiking in June 2003. He was a bit lonesome we felt and missed his brother "Gather" who was hiking ahead of him. We last heard from Slimer when we received an email from his dad that Slimer was doing contract work in Afghanistan. What a coincidence. they don't even live in the same state as I recall. Earl and Evelyn are the couple who stumbled into the shelter area on the 16th...the ones who headed up the hill. Turns out they have hammocks and they'd found trees to hang the hammocks. But this was Evelyn's first time out hiking with backpack and all. Her comment on this trip was: "For all the money this equipement costs us, we could have had a great fancy vacation!" We all know she was just joking, though. We walked along and nothing really stands out about this section. I was stung by a spider...I think it was a spider, on my left shoulder, on the back. We tented at the Lewis Mountain Campground, not as nice a campground as was the Loft Mt one.
Date: 2006-07-22
From: Hawksbill Gap

To: Booten Gap
Miles today: 11.8

We started the day by trying to secure a tent site at Big Meadows Campground but the ranger told us they were full. This is the best of all the campgrounds along the Skyline Drive because it offers a lodge, restaurant, cabins, suites, camp store etc., and is located by a gorgeous meadow of several hundred acres, where sightings of wildlife are plentiful, especially deer but also bear and bobcat. We decided to start our hike which would take us right by Big Meadow and we would ask again since there could be cancellations or whatever.And so we started. My hands were itching, and so was the back of my neck, I was itching and as we moved along, jeepers, it just seemed to be all over. When we stopped for a lunch break, I asked Dan to look at my back, it felt weird. Both Kathy and Dan's eyeballs opened wide. "What's the matter?" Well, I was covered in welts, huge welts. "It could be hives" said Kathy. "Oh, hives, that's OK, hives go away don't they? I knew someone who got hives once and they went away." but I had to run my hands under a cold faucet and I could do so since we were in one of the parks's picnic areas. I decided I must have placed my sticks in something poisonous because my hands were so itchy and beet red, I might add. "We'll have to get you some Benadryl at the campstore". I continued to hike and thought little of this. But I did not like the fact that half my lips looked as if I had had Botox injections, and that one eyelid was sticking out of my face. We stopped at the ranger station and were lucky to get a tent site for the night. We bumped into Evelyn and Earl and I asked Earl about my big welts. Earl is an EMT person in real life. But Earl couldn't solve the problem, so on we went up to Hazeltop Mt. (3,812') for great landscape views including Massanuttin. Once at the site, we got the Benadryl at the camp store. I took 2 and we went to the restaurant for a great dinner and glass of wine. I felt wine would help me too. Slept like a log.