morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2011-06-02
From: Waynesboro Hiker Hostel

To: Blackrock Hut
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: clear sky

Today was a very nice day in the morning with a cool morning and a heavy breeze. Still a longer day I didn't want to do but it was 7 or 20. The morning started at the hostel with more cereal that they restocked since yesterday. Decided to go ahead and hike out and packed up my gear when Pappy asked if I was leaving in the first group of people being taken to the trail by Santas Helper. Went ahead and jumped in and started back on the trail at 8:30 which is pretty good for a town day. Hiked .8 miles to the registration station and completed my form to enter Shanandoah National park. Early on we passed by radio towers which in the wind were making all kinds of noise. There where also some little seats to sit on which where basically like a metal riding lawn mower seat stuck on a pole. Wasn't much of interest for a while but I walked up on another group of hikers who were waking a break talking and there was a deer foraging about twenty feet behind them they had never seen. Walked up within about ten feet of him and he still didn't really move. After 8 miles in the next water source wasn't till the shelter at 20 miles. Carried only two liters knowing I had to conserve al day. Made it to camp with no issues but filled two liters and drank and cooked with them as soon as I got here. Later another deer wandered into camp and foraged around for a long time. Deer here ate definitely not scared of humans here. After dinner I got in bed around 8:30 for an early night. Despite rocky camping there are only three of us in the shelter. Infection still swollen especially after walking but will hopefully get better tomorrow. Shin splint wasn't to bad today so that was good.Time for sleep I keep passing out already.
Date: 2011-06-04
From: Waynesboro Hiker Hostel

To: Waynesboro Hiker Hostel
Miles today: 0.0

Well back to the boring post for a while it seems, first zero today of several. Woke up this morning and had breakfast and sat around a while before vacating the premises. Santa helpers dropped me off at krogers and then took some others to the trail and on the way back picked me up and took me to the library. At Krogers I got some gauze pads to cover the infection with and soak up the juices. Yummy oozing fluids lol. The infection has shown good improvement the last day with localized redness but the skin has died around the hole. At the library I read some and studied more chess and downloaded a free chess app to play. At five I went back to the hostel and setup. Then I showered for the second day in a row, tough to force myself to take one. Afterwards I put on new bandages and such. Layed around and iced my leg, ate dinner and ice cream. It will be nice to be healed again and walking pain free hopefully. Blisters, infections and shin splints really make walking not very fun. Tomorrow the hostel is closed so I will have to go to the YMCA instead and I think the library is also closed. Not sure what I am going to do but will find something to waste time. Still got a book and game so shade is all I really need.
Date: 2011-06-05
From: Waynesboro Hiker Hostel

To: YMCA campsite
Miles today: 0.0

Well today I had to leave the hostel till Monday night and camp down by the river at the YMCA. The library was closed so couldn't sit around there as well. Walked down to the site and setup my tarp and layed down for a bit and read. A lot of others arrived through out the day as well. Played a game of chess with Catch Up and another guy. Beat the first guy but Catch Up beat me. When I first arrived there was a homeless guy hanging around as well talking with Catch Up and another guy while drinking a six pack of PBR. The where talking about a game of Kings Table or some kings drinking game. They actually ended up beating on the capital of Colorado with the stakes being swimming into the dirty stinking pond near the tent sites. The homeless guy lost and actually waded into the pond and I got a video of it. He eventually left but showed up later that night after most had gone to bed and was pretty wasted, he left or went into the trees to sleep some where. For dinner Santas Helper took me to Arbys, I really just wanted a burger but that is where he wanted to go so that is what I got. It rained for a bit around ten with lightning but was not anything major. Not much else happened but again seeing a lot of hikers I have seen in the past.
Date: 2011-06-06
From: YMCA campsite

To: Waynesboro Hiker Hostel
Miles today: 0.0

Today I woke up to everything being a little damp but wasn't bad. Packed up my stuff and had Santas Helper drop me off at Krogers so I could get some food for the day. Had some Keifer milk, bagels cream cheese, turkey and cheese for the day and tomorrow. After that I was dropped back off at the library for the day. Sat around there reading and falling a sleep in the chairs, always great to be able to just pass out. Eventually made my way across the street to the hostel and checked in. Got to mention that Jay from way back showed up yesterday as well and stayed at the Y and check in at the hostel and I knew there where going to be issues. You have to give you name and such and get a picture taken. If I haven't mentioned it Jay will not let someone knowingly take a picture of him. Well the lady checking everyone in let him in without his picture being taken. Well later Irma one of the care takers who setup and runs the hostel showed up. Not sure if the other lady had called her or she happened to come by but the picture thing came up. She asked Jay to take a picture or at least give a name that could be read and information for their book in case issues arise. He naturally freaked out and Irma just couldn't understand what was going on. She finally said he could get a picture taken or leave so he left. For dinner tonight a hiker named Mark provided tacos for everyone that everyone helped cook for another guys birthday that was today. Apparently the guy when chances arrive buys a lot of food and cooks for everyone, was very cool. My infection is definitely getting better with most of the redness gone but still have a dime sized hole in my leg. The shin splint is getting better but not yet to the point I want to chance walking on it just yet. Thinking I will head out on Thursday and see how it goes, that will give me five full days off. Hopefully I can avoid anymore shin splints. After reading the net about them mine are definetly caused by the uphills due to where mine hurt. I will have to take the climbs slower and rest them more often from now on.
Date: 2011-06-07
From: Waynesboro Hiker Hostel

To: Waynesboro Hiker Hostel
Miles today: 0.0

Another zero today, had breakfast at the hostel and headed over to the library. Sat around there all day and felt pretty good. Didn't do anything but read all day and then headed back to the hostel. Checked in and setup and then decided to resupply and do some walking. Krogers is just two blocks away and I walked there to get some tortillas and peanut butter, all I needed for a four day three night walk to the next city. I can skip Loray if I am feeling good and eat some at the Shenandoah waysides and camp grounds. After resupply I went back to the hostel and just rested the remainder of the night. Thursday I plan to head back out so hopefully everything is good by then.
Date: 2011-06-08
From: Waynesboro Hiker Hostel

To: Waynesboro Hiker Hostel
Miles today: 0.0

Well today should be my last zero, gotta do laundry and sort the gear. So I woke up and had breakfast and then Santas Helper dropped me off at the laundromat. Did my laundry there and then walked back to the library to sit and read the rest of the day. Back at the hostel I setup and waited for dinner to be served for the Wednesday night meal. I had thought it was always spaghetti but apparently it is not. Tonight was baked chicken in wine and bread crumbs along with a bean salad, cole slaw, noodles, and bread. Chicken was really good and I had thirds. Also had ice cream this time vs last week when I was sick after taking my first dose of antibiotics. I then helped clean up the mess and relaxed the rest of the night. Plan is to get a shuttle from Santas Helper to the trail in the morning at 7 when he is going to the trail to pick up another hiker right near where I left. Infection is doing good and the shin splint feels good even after short walks. Tomorrow is the day.
Date: 2011-06-09
From: Waynesboro Hiker Hostel

To: Hightop Hut
Miles today: 8.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Wohoo back on the trail and my shin splint felt great especially after arriving here. A few miles under the belt felt good, glad it didn't take to long to get better.So I got up at 5:30 to be ready for leaving at 7. Took my last shower for a while, had breakfast and packed up. Santa took me and four others back to the trail. He dropped me back off right where I left off and then went two more miles to where he picked up another hiker. Was on the trail at 8:30 and walked a short 8 miles to the next shelter by about 1. Took a very short day to break in the leg slowly, and it only felt slightly tender and haven't felt it all since arriving at the shelter. Basically the terrain and views today consisted of trees with one rock vista over a small valley. The views in the car to the trail however passed about twenty overlooks. Poor hikers get none of the views. Here tonight with a bunch of section hikers and one other thru, Mountain Dew, who showed up much later. Temperature was around 90-95 and the flys and mosquitos have been horrendous. I spent some time in my bug bivy and again now just trying to avoid them. Tomorrow will be about a 12 mile day and the weather is supposed to cool off a few degrees as well. Will also pass one of the campstores that are indigenous to the area.
Date: 2011-06-10
From: Hightop Hut

To: Bearfence Mountain Hut
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Was a good day but still a little hot. 900 miles a campstore and a bear. No pain in the shin either.This morning I got up pretty early at 5. Had breakfast and tried to be quite for a bit until others started waking. Packed up and hit the trail at 6:30. Shortly after leaving I saw the only bear for the day. Just a quick glimpse as he ran into the forest. About four more miles in I hit the 900 mile mark, apparently there is a sign on a tree but I didn't see that. I just gouged 900 into the trail and took a picture with my feet in the shot. Took a break at a picnic area and had lunch and relaxed for a bit. About 12 miles in and only .8 from my destination was the campstore and I had arrived about noon. I had a dr wham and a chocolate mile. I sat around most of the afternoon and relaxed there till around 4. I then bought some hotdogs, cheese and pringles to take to camp with me for dinner and breakfast. At the shelter the water source was low and someone had actually taken a bath with soap in the only little pool available. Will be running pretty low in water till the next spot tomorrow. Another interesting thing here tonight is the killer tree tape sectioning off a widow maker. Think of the yellow police tape, this is an orange tape with the words killer tree and a skull and cross bones on it. For those who don't know a widow maker is either a tree or a branch that can fall and land on a tent killing someone. Bugs have been super terrible again today and everyone s getting eaten up. Most section hikers are cutting trips early and even campers are in the park. Us thrus just have to live through it. I had a view today, a small rock out cropping, I climbed up and got a fifty yard view of a bunch of tree tops. Shenandoahs definitely are not a highlight of views on the trail. I think tomorrow I am going to do some bigger miles and try to be able to make it to Front Royal to resupply instead of Luray. Also there will be a wayside I will probably stop at for lunch and then another campstore if i go far enough. Not sure where I am going to take my next zero but definitely in Front Royal or Harpers Ferry. I don't want to do the multiple weeks again with no rest, I learned my lesson on that one. Getting real close to finally being halfway and that is exciting and will also be getting out of Virginia. Talking with other hikers its is crazy to hear how many people have left the trail recently. It seems to me that it took a long time this year before the trail really started to thin out from what I read about previous years. When I get to the next town I will be getting a bottle of 100% deet spray or maybe even switching back to my tarp tent. Bug net is ok but just cramped and the tent would be much roomier to sit around in at night. The phone actually attracts bugs to me each night as I write my journal. Going to sleep to make up for the early morning.
Date: 2011-06-11
From: Bearfence Mountain Hut

To: Rock Spring Hut
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: clear sky

Back to the left leg!!!So this morning Jay stumbled out of bed and woke me up around 5. I really had to go to the restroom pretty bad so got up myself and went. Went back to sleep or shall I say I tried and was eaten alive by bugs by 5:15. Decided just to get up and was on the trail at 6. Due to the water issue I only had about a third a liter of water that I wanted to drink and had about six miles to more. Started off and made good time to the water. I sat down and drank a liter and carried another although it was only about two more miles to the wayside. About a quarter mile before the wayside I saw another bear. He was coming off he side of the trail and walking north. I guess he heard or smelled me and turned and looked, realized what I was and took off in a sprint. He was pretty big too. I then made it to the wayside and had breakfast about 9. Bisquits/gravy and homefries and a dr pepper. I then hung out in the lawn for about two hours. I decided to go ahead and just stay at the next shelter about four miles away because yes today the left leg is now getting the shin splint. twinge again. Arrgh this is getting annoying. Had signal all day today so talked to my mom this morning and had her send my tent to Harpers Ferry and also to look for some braces and send them if she can. Just before the shelter I passed a lady carrying a cooler down the trail heading to the cabin right by the shelter. It was around 1 and I was the only one here. The lady then made two more trips carrying gear. Apparently she lost a bet and had to carry all of the gear including the other persons. Later on she actually came by and gave me two Guiness beers, had them for dinner. Oh back track a minute, I passed a rabbit on the trail this morning that was not afraid of me in the least. I took some pictures from about three feet away. Back to where I was, around five I thought I might be the only one here when all of the sudden about 10-12 people showed up. Also right after I arrived it started downpouring and thought that might keep people where they were. Guess not. Tomorrow I am going to the Skyland lodge where I was told they have AYCE on Sunday according to a southbounder I passed yesterday. The guide doesn't say there is but we shall see. Also will be passing or going to Loray depending on how much food I have left and how my legs do tomorrow. Well time to go to the restroom and read, to bad it is raining again.
Date: 2011-06-12
From: Rock Spring Hut

To: Pass Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 15.3

Was going to do a bigger day today and felt good but ended up just doing what was planned due to weather and the lack of camping spots and restrictions in the park.Got up and on the trail around 6:30 with 4 miles to the potential buffet. Made it there and checked out the place and didn't see no buffet tables. Asked them if they had Sunday buffet and they said they did just not this Sunday for some reason. I had mentioned it to all the others at the shelter last night and it became a joke with everyone saying Muffin Man said its there. Well I didn't get killed but it was pretty disappointing. Had breakfast sampler anyways and it was pretty big but after eating it I realized I could of had another. Jumped back on the trail and stopped at a few overlooks on the way to the next shelter and relaxed at them. Have to say the first half of Shenandoah isn't all that exciting but the second half is way better. The trail opens up a little and also skirts a ridge line a lot. Didn't see any bears but pretty sure I heard one running from me in the brush. Around 1 or so I made it to Marys Rock overlook. Stayed up there a bit and there were quite a few day hikers and also Towns was there. After that I walked with him till the next shelter. Had some lunch and planned to do about four more miles but as I was going to leave a storm started rolling in and I decided to stay put. About fifteen minutes later it started raining. I am now going to do a long day tomorrow and get to the Front Royal hostel, so I decided to eat a bunch of food from my bag. Hopefully it will be much lighter by morning. Looks like I can make it to Harpers Ferry in four days with a few bigger days. Can't wait to get there and get the tent back and get away from the bugs.On the shin front, I didn't have any problems today and felt good.
Date: 2011-06-13
From: Pass Mountain Shelter

To: Terrapin Station Shelter
Miles today: 22.7

Today was a great day, perfect weather and good miles, also exited SNP.Woke up this morning to cold weather and had to wear my down jacket getting ready. Started hiking around 7 with a 22 mile day planned to get to Terrapin Station hostel right outside the park. Today actually had a few climbs with the first being early on with a one thousand foot climb. After that though was the last wayside in the park. Had a chocolate milk and took a break before heading out. My next break would be at mile 13 at a shelter. Heading into the shelter I though someone had left trash in the spring but it turned out to be cokes and gatorade left for hikers. Had me a mountain dew with lunch. After an hour break I headed out for the last ten miles. The last four or so miles my feet were feeling it and I was ready to get to the hostel. Made it here and checked in and checked out the place. The hostel is ran by an old dead head in his basement. Its actually pretty nice with a comfortable air mattress for beds. The guide lists pizza for food and other stuff. Its pretty limited but there are sodas and small pizzas and ice cream. I had three of the pizzas and sodas for dinner. I did my laundry and took a shower and have all clean clothes now. When we first arrived the owner was sleeping as he got back home at three last night after driving back from a Phish show in Maryland last night. Tomorrow we resupply and I might get an extra night and just hike out to the next shelter and take a very short day, not sure what I will do till then. The weather is supposed to be nice again for the next couple days so should really take advantage of it. We will see what tomorrow brings.
Date: 2011-06-15
From: Manassas Gap Shelter

To: Sam Moore Shelter
Miles today: 19.8
Weather: clear sky

Not anything exciting today unless you consider riding a roller coaster exciting. HahaSo got up and got going as normal at 7. Did the first 13 miles quickly to get setup to do the roller coaster early as possible. The roller coaster as the sign says is "13.5 miles of tightly packed ascents and descents." Sounds fun huh, the profile looks like an ekg graph. Luckily I was only doing half today but all at the end of a twenty mile day. The first two climbs were tough but then it got easier. I eventually made it to camp with a bunch of breaks in there. Was actually one of only three people staying here and the only one in the shelter. Tomorrow will be exciting with finishing the roller coaster, entering West Virginia, and passing 1000 miles. Then into Harpers Ferry the next day.
Date: 2011-06-17
From: Blackburn AT Center

To: Ed Garvey Shelter
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: few clouds

Well today marks three months on the trail and I passed through Harpers Ferry, the honorary half way point. Still have about 70 miles to the official point. Passed into Maryland as well, so visited three states today walking. Got up and left the hostel early to get into Harpers Ferry to take care of everything and get out. Left about 6:15 and booked it to the first road crossing where I went the .3 to a store for a chocolate milk and a dp. Then booked it into Harpers Ferry. Visited the AT Conservancy and had my picture taken and was number 469 to pass through on a thru hike. I then went to the post office down the street and picked up my two boxes. Got my tent back for more room away from the bugs and my shin splint braces. Also received my glasses which Shepherd mailed here for me. I forgot what it was like to see, but now I have to deal with the sweat on the glasses again. Went back to the AT office and Three Hats mom was there to pick her up and take her to Katadin for her flip flop. Her mom brought tons of snack foods for everyone and we sat there and ate for a while. At one two ridge runners where doing a questions and answers presentation and explaining what they do. The jobs are available every year so maybe next year I will apply for one After that I hiked on to the outfitter in the historical district which is a pretty cool area. The outfitter was actually built with the bottom floor directly on the rock and a stream of water going through it. Unfortunately they didn't have my spoon, just got a fuel canister and left. I then went across the street and got a burger and fries. With food in my stomach I hiked on out of town down the C&O Canal and Towpath which the trail follows for a couple of miles. Halfway down that I realized I had passed into Maryland and hadn't noticed any signs. After a few more miles I then realized I had forgotten to get water so I had to do about 7 miles with half a liter of water. Luckily I passed Peaches who was slackpacking south and gave me some water. In my rush to get out of town i wasnt paying to much attention apparently. Finally made it to the shelter and then had to make the .4 mile trip downhill to get water. Once down there I treated some water and waited then cleaned my shirt and bandanas and myself and found a tick on my shoulder. That has been the fourth one so far. Hopefully I can avoid Lymes, had enough problems already. Trip back up I sweated so it was only a partially successful cleaning.It has definitely been good and uplifting to get through Virginia and Harpers Ferry. Couple more days and I will be halfway and the second half of the journey will begin. States will begin flying by much quicker for a while. Virginia is just about one quarter of the trail.