morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-04-19
From: Thunder Hill Shelter

To: Brown Mountain Creek Shelter
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: overcast clouds

One of the hikers looked at his map. "Today will be brutal. Almost 2000' uphill in three miles." He was right.   I left camp at 6:45 am. Rain was predicted. I did not feel well and had a headache. I kept hoping that breakfast and hiking would make me feel better but instead I mentally complained all the more. It did not help when the female hiker from the shelter last night, passed me on the trail. Why was I doing this? Maybe I should stop hiking the AT. Then I remembered the next hikes I had planned. One in Shenandoah with my husband and another to Damascus with Tracy. I couldn't let them down, could I?   I came to the view on Big Rocky Row. The hiker that passed me was there enjoying the view. I looked at it and thought there are better views where I live. So why am I doing this?    I realized I was emotionally in a bad place and if I continued my complaining, it would only get worse. I gave myself a good talking to. No more comparing myself to other people. It only leads to self-condemnation. I dedicated my hike to God. It is amazing how much easier the hike got. Of course, I was now through the worst of the uphill.   I got to the Ottie Cline Powell monument. It read "This is the exact spot, little Ottie Cline Powell's body was found April 5, 1891, after straying from Tower Hill School House Nov 9, a distance of 7 miles, age 4 years, 11 months." I felt sad for her parents. It was a beautiful place.   I got to Punchbowl Shelter about noon. I decided to keep hiking. I had lunch at the Blue Ridge Parkway with a trash can. It is a special treat to be able to throw away my trash as soon as I eat the food. I called my husband. He said rain was expected at 1. There was not a cloud in the sky.Sure enough, at 1 the clouds rolled in and there was a light rain. It seems to like to rain when I am on peaks. I was on Rice Mountain when it sprinkled.   I continued hiking. Later in the day, the wind picked up. I saw two dust devils. I stopped at Brown Mountain Creek Shelter. The heavy wind felt like a downpour was imminent. Bruin was in the shelter, on the lee side of the wind. He was a thru hiker from Maine. He started in Springer with new boots and a new pack. The boots hurt his feet and his pack hurt his shoulders. When he got to Neels Gap, he thought they just needed to get worn in. Here he was in Virginia. His feet still hurt and his shoulders still hurt. He was planning to get new boots and pack in Harpers Ferry. He was thinking of doing 30 miles the next day. A light rain came while we were fixing dinner. The downpour came when we were safe in our sleeping bags.
Date: 2015-04-20
From: Brown Mountain Creek Shelter

To: Route 60 Buena Vista VA
Miles today: 1.8

Bruin left early to hike 30 miles that day. I slept in. I took forever to hike the 1.8 miles to my car. I was planning to spend the night with my aunt in Lexington VA. She got back yesterday from Baltimore visiting her daughter. I did not want to get to her house too early.   I got in my car at Route 60 Buena Vista. I had lunch at Subway. I went to the store to buy sunscreen since I had been sun burnt two of the days I was on the trail.   I drove to my aunt's house. I felt like the prodigal child, all dirty and smelly. My aunt welcomed me in. I took a shower and a three hour nap. I was a new person. We had a wonderful dinner of salmon and sweet potatoes.
Date: 2015-04-21
From: Rockfish Gap VA

To: Laurel Springs Gap
Miles today: 14.1

I drove from my aunt's house to Route 60 where the AT crosses 10 miles east of Buena Vista. During the night, there was a down pour for a few hours.   Ooma from Three Springs Hostel shuttled me to Rockfish Gap.Ooma was also shuttling Craig to Front Royal. It was easier to shuttle me to Rockfish Gap and me hike south than to meet me at Rockfish Gap and shuttle to Route 60. Craig hiked all of the AT previously. This time he was hiking for a month.   His daughter is getting married in a month, so he needs to get back for that. As we parted, he explained he hasn't found anything better to do.   I enjoyed watching the scenery pass by. We stopped for gas and continued on. Next thing I knew, we were stopped. Ooma said this was where the trail came to the road. I got out; put my backpack on; and hopped over the guard rail to hike the trail. I sure wish I had paid more attention to where I was.   It was windy when I got out. Once I was in the trees, the wind subsided. I came to the Paul C. Wolfe Shelter and a memorial bench near the shelter. John Donovan was an experienced hiker who died in the snow patches of the Pacific Crest Trail. This memorial haunts me. I enjoy hiking the trail but not enough to die.   The river in front of the shelter was high. I checked out the best way to cross. There were two men, Dennis and Jim, from Old Dominion AT club who were doing trail maintenance, sitting on a log on the other side of the river. They motioned for me to come across. I looked there and upstream. After some time, I decided to cross where they suggested, after taking off my shoes and socks.As I talked with the trail maintainers, I met one of the thru hikers I met a few days earlier, Ridge Rambler. With his pack on, he nimbly walked along a log, across the river and hopped down to another log, then nimbly to the shore. We were impressed.   I met Bruin. He had hiked 30 miles that day but had trouble getting out of bed the next day. 30 miles is his record now.   I stopped for the night at Laurel Springs. I was expecting gushing water from a rock. The water was almost stagnant. I chose not to drink from this spring. I grew up in Florida where 50 people or more swim in a spring. This spring was barely big enough to wash my feet. I'm not in Florida anymore.   I set up my tarp by stringing it to two trees. My Frogg Toggs poncho was my ground cloth. I put my Thermarest on top of the Poncho and my sleeping bag on top of my Thermarest. As I lay in my sleeping bag, I realized the wind blew easily through the tarp, making it chilly. I put my second plastic poncho around one of the strings of the tarp. It helped some.
Date: 2015-04-22
From: Laurel Springs Gap

To: Harpers Creek Shelter
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: broken clouds

I hiked the short 0.3 miles to water at Dripping Rock on the Blue Ridge Parkway. As I was getting water, a car pulled up and Popsicle hopped out with her day pack. She was hiking north to Rockfish Gap.    I saw fields of trillium. I met Mickie and Maude. I had lunch at the Blue Ridge Parkway - Three Ridges Overlook, with a bear trash can. A woman asked me where the AT was. It ran along the Blue Ridge Parkway for a few hundred miles there, along the tree line.    As I was climbing out of Reeds Gap, a couple was coming down the mountain. The woman explained it was starting to rain so they were going back to the car. I said that was best. The woman was amazed I would hike by myself. She continued to be amazed that I had been on the trail for days. The wind blew and the rain spit as I came to the peak. It stopped when I descended.   I passed Maupin Field Shelter. I saw fields of Dutchman's britches.   I met a man on top of Three Ridges Mountain when it was raining. The rain stopped as I descended. On the way down, I met K2. He said it was good I didn't get caught in the rain. I explained I actually did get caught in the rain. I dry out fast.    To get to Harpers Creek Shelter, I had to cross the creek. My toes got wet. It was a great place for water. I stayed alone in the shelter.
Date: 2015-05-11
To: prep for Shenandoah National Park trek
Miles today: 0.0

Today we are driving to my aunt's house in Lexington VA. Tomorrow we will be hiking the trail starting at Rock Fish Gap Waynesboro VA. It should be the easiest part of the AT for me. It will be slackpacking the entire park. I will be spending nights in a tent in a campground with my husband cooking dinner.    The van is packed to the gills with two seven foot Thermarests, two suitcases, camping box, five gallon water jug, blowup queen size mattress and six person tent. We did not pack the fold up picnic bench. I miss the simplicity of one backpack with everything I need.near      As we travel north on I85, I see exits near where I will be hiking with Tracy in June. I see exits of where I have already hiked. Good memories. Meanwhile my husband grumbles about the traffic and the drivers. I on the other hand, am delighted with life. The flowers are prettier than ever. Possibilities for future adventures are around the corner. I am happier than ever.
Date: 2015-05-13
From: Beagle Gap Shenandoah National Park

To: Loft Mountain Campground	
Miles today: 21.3

Mike and I arrived about 8:30 am at Beagle Gap. Neither of us had slept well at Loft Mountain Campground. Our site was at the summit. The wind had been tremendous through the night, stirring up whatever we were allergic to. Both of us had sore throats, a runny nose and a cough. Beagle Gap was windier than the previous day. The man who was giving cold water to thru hikers the previous day was not there.   Mike struggled to the top of Little Calf summit. His symptoms also included lack of energy. I was concerned that he was struggling so much. We parted at the summit with the agreement that Mike would pick me up at Blackrock Gap at 3:30 pm. As I hiked, I got to thinking that stopping at 3:30 pm seemed too soon.   I met a nice man with a well behaved dog Aramis. We hiked together for a while. Just north of Turks Cap Mountain parking area, there were three deer grazing in the clearing. They are so tame here in Shenandoah National Park. There were also many deep purple spider wart flowers.   I got to Blackrock Gap parking area at 3:25 and Mike arrived at 3:30. I explained I wanted to continue hiking another seven miles to our campsite at Loft Mountain Campground. I would be there at 6. Mike had the five gallon water jug in the van, so I filled my Camelbak. The next water source was 0.2 miles off the trail. I was glad I did not have to use that water source. Along the way, I spotted a turkey running down the trail.    I was a bit confused as to which side trail to take to go to my campsite. I followed the signs for the ampitheater and eventually passed the entrance gate to the campground. The ampitheater is set in a very beautiful location, even if it was 0.3 miles out of my way.   When I got to the campsite, the van was gone. Mike was concerned for me and went looking for me. I staked my hiking pole at our site marker and headed for the bathrooms. Mike drove up as I came out of the bathrooms.
Date: 2015-05-14
From: Loft Mountain Campground	

To: Smith Roach Gap
Miles today: 14.1

It dropped to 30 degree Fahrenheit in the night. I was comfy in my new puffy 40 degree bag with very furry black blanket my son Kevin gave me years ago. I love that blanket. Too bad it is too big to use for backpacking. I also was in at least five layers of clothes. Mike on the other hand was cold, sandwiched between two inexpensive sleeping bags on a queen air mattress. I gave Mike my sleeping bag and black blanket and prepared to leave to hike. I kissed him goodbye as he was warming up under two sleeping bags and the blanket. He would pick me up at South River Picnic Area at 3:30 pm.   It was beautiful day. The sun was shining with a light cool breeze. After hiking 30-45 minutes I was warming up, so I removed some of my outer layers. About an hour later, clouds moved in. I was wondering if I was going to get some rain. The temperature dropped some and I put all those clothes back on. An hour later, the sun was out and off the clothes went.   I met a couple from Quebec who were day hiking in Shenandoah. They saw a bear next to the road the day before. They asked me about snakes. They were a little concerned since we were standing on a rock overlook. It might be a nice place for snakes to sun themselves. The only real snake I have seen on the trail was last year, at the GA/NC border.   I met a young couple from Montreal who are hiking with their 9 month old baby girl. She seemed very happy under her canopy, watching the scenery go by.   I met a deer in the trail munching on grass. I took several pictures.    I crossed Powell Gap at 2:30 pm. Powell Gap is 10 miles south on the trail from South River Picnic Area. I knew I could not hike 10 miles in one hour.   I hiked to Smith Roach Gap by 3:15 pm. A kind hiker tried to call my husband on his cell phone but the call was lost. I knew Mike would be worried. I half heartedly tried to hitch hike. I've never hitch hiked by myself and the last time was in high school with my 6' 2" boyfriend. No one stopped. So I decided I would walk along the road. 5 miles by road, 8 miles by trail. On the road, Mike could see me. After walking 5-10 minutes, Brian from New Jersey picked me up. He dropped me off where there were two through hikers napping in the sun. Brian appeared and let me know he saw my husband and let him know where I was. Mike picked my up at 4 pm. We had free showers at the Loft Mountain Campstore and then dinner at camp.
Date: 2015-05-15
From: Smith Roach Gap

To: Bearfence Mountain Parking
Miles today: 14.8

Today we were moving from Loft Mountain Campground to Big Meadows Campground. I was having trouble getting going. While Mike had breakfast, I packed up the sleeping bags, air mattress and blankets. The wind was just a very light breeze. Mike and I were doing much better with our allergies. When Mike finished breakfast, he carried everything to the car. We packed up the tent. I filled my Camelbak. I ate breakfast of mozzarella cheese sticks, barbeque salmon, quinoa and sunflower seeds. I ate as we drove and finished in the Smith Roach Parking lot. I started off at 9 am. I agreed to meet Mike at Bearfence Mountain Parking in 8 hours. He would be there at 4:30 and expect me at 5.   Today was Trillium day. There were many many fields of trillium. They were overwhelmingly beautiful. As I was distracted by the Trilliums and talking to myself, I stepped wrong on a rock. I turned my ankle, heard a crack and felt a pain. I sat down immediately. I thought about taking off my shoe and socks to check out the damage. Then it occured to me that if it swelled, I would not be able to get my shoe back on. I was hiking in my heavier compression socks and that was probably the best I could do for it at the moment. I waited for the pain to pass. I stood on my foot and it seemed OK.   I met Slow Poke coming from the north. As I was using the facilities, I was interrupted by a couple hiking through. My first time in Shenandoah. I had been reluctant to go too far off the trail due to poison ivy, stinging nettles and ticks. At least this time, I was a good distance from the trail. I passed this couple later going down rock steps. I remet the couple from yesterday, who are hiking with their 9 month old. I saw two Yellow Ladies Slippers and pointed them out to the couple. They stopped at the Lewis Campground. I stopped to pull out my glasses to read the Appalachian Trail sign and read my map. Only two more miles to go and I was right on time, 3:30 pm. Unfortunately, stopping cause my twisted ankle to hurt more. The next two miles were rocky, causing my foot to twist in ways that hurt. As I came down the steps to the parking area, Mike took a picture of me. He drove me to the campsite and I iced my foot. Hopefully I can hike tomorrow.
Date: 2015-05-17
From: Big Meadows Campground

To: Meadows Spring Overlook
Miles today: 14.7

At 7:30 am I started hiking from our campsite and left Mike to continue sleeping. It was a very light rain. The rain came and went during the day. For a short time while I was on an exposed ridge, I put on my rain jacket.   My foot seemed fine. Praise God. Today was a bluet day. All through the day, bluets lined the trails. So pretty. Still a fair number of trillium. Many awesome views of the valleys.   About a mile from Big Meadows Campground, I heard some rustling in the leaves behind me. There was about a 50 lb black bear running away from the campground. He ran across the trail behind me and kept running. My first bear sighting on the trail. It was pretty uneventful. It seems that people who do not hike the trail are terrified of meeting a bear. The man last night told me that all a black bear is interested in is food. They are not interested in humans.   I met a couple from Arlington VA out for a day hike.    I originally was going to meet my husband at Pinnacles Picnic Area but decided that was not far enough. I asked him to meet me at the parking lot just before the tunnel at 3 pm. Unfortunately, the trail does not go there. At 2:07 pm I used the pit toilets at Pinnacles Picnic Area. I had 3 miles to go before I was to meet Mike. I stepped up my pace as I went up and over The Pinnacle. I passed Byrds Nest #3 Hut and came to the Meadows Spring Trail with 0.5 miles to Skyline Drive. I was concerned it was 2.5 miles to the next access to the Skyline Drive. So I jogged down the trail and came out at Meadows Spring Overlook. Only 1.5 miles to the tunnel parking lot. I walked the 1.5 miles on top of the rock wall. There were several medium animal scat on top of the wall. I am not sure what animal. Kind of odd.   At the parking lot, I met three guys [Legion was one of them] who through hiked the trail last year. They were coming from Trail Days. Two days was enough for them. Apparently they did not get any sleep at Trail Days. They enjoyed the free gear and the camaraderie of the hiker community. They let me use their cell phone to call Mike. I got voice mail. Shortly after Mike came into the parking lot. He had been waiting on the other side of the tunnel. The trail comes directly to that parking lot. So tomorrow I will start at Meadows Spring Overlook and hike the 0.5 mile uphill to the trail.
Date: 2015-05-18
From: Meadows Spring Overlook

To: Gravel Springs Parking Area
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Last night was the warmest yet. We were continuing to stay at Big Meadows Campground. Our allergies seem to be subsiding. We were on the road before 7:30 am and got to the Meadows Spring Overlook by 8 am. We saw two turkeys on the way. I headed the 0.5 mile up the Meadows Spring Trail to the AT. From there I continued 0.6 mile up to Mary's Rock. Very beautiful views along with some rock climbing. I spotted a clump of about 15 yellow ladies slippers. Soon after I met two older women backpacking, taking a rest. I showed one of them where the yellow ladies slippers were. She was a gardner and wanted to hike back the 50 yards to see them. The other woman was not as interested in flowers. The gardener had on a hat with a screen over her face to keep the gnats away. I usually hiked faster than the gnats. As I continued to hike, when I stopped at the AT posts, the gnats would converge on me. I was bitten twice. After hiking quickly 100 feet away from the posts, the gnats would leave me alone. Every day in Shenandoah I see at least one deer. Today was no exception. Today was the warmest day. It was in the 80's. I was down to shorts and my camisole, with a stream soaked bandanna and was wilting due to the heat and humidity. Fortunately, within an hour it became overcast and the temperature dropped a few degrees. The heat really zaps my energy. Later in the day it sprinkled and then turned to a nice soaking rain. I welcomed it after the heat. I jogged downhill about a mile in the rain. I saw Mike at an earlier parking lot and did not want him to wait long. I met him at Gravel Springs Parking Area at 4:35 pm. On the ride back we saw a 150 lb black bear from the car.   Back at the campground, I took a free shower. There is construction on the showers at both Loft Mountain and Big Meadows Campgrounds. So at both places, there is a free shower trailer. At the shower, I met Scratch and Tailgate. They were named by Yogi and Boo who I met when I was hiking from Waynesboro to Route 60 Buena Vista. Scratch and Tailgate met Mike the day before when he was waiting for me at Thornton Gap. They are hiking from Front Royal through the park.When I took off my socks to take a shower, I noticed I had poison ivy on my ankles and down to the top of my foot. When I was hiking, I never took off my knee high compression socks or my Outdoor Gear anklets or my shoes. I must have come in contact with poison ivy on my compression socks and it wicked the oils to the top of my foot. I treated it with Tecnu Extreme Medicated Poison Ivy Scrub four different times. In two days, it was cured.
Date: 2015-05-19
From: Gravel Springs Parking Area

To: Front Royal VA
Miles today: 13.2

My husband and I drove the hour to Gravel Springs Parking Area. Today was the last day in the park. There were a couple gentle slopes to peaks and a lot of downhill today.   I met Tate stopped at the side of the trail, repacking his pack. He was going to Front Royal today also. I kept hiking. About an hour later, he caught up to me. We hiked together for awhile. I talked about hiking by myself. He said that to him it made was not that different a woman or man hiking the trail by themselves. If we encountered a bear, as a man or woman there was no advantage. With my lighter pack, I was able to keep up with him.  Today I hiked with my light long sleeved Exofficio shirt impregnated with insect repellent. I walked through a couple of swarms of flying insects but they did not bother me. I got warm hiking up the slopes but chose not to take off the shirt.  I saw two snakes. The first one was about two feet. It was black with thin yellow stripes down the length of its body. The second one was about six inches. It was black with an orange ring near its neck. I stepped close to both of them and then noticed them when they slithered away.   Mike and I had agreed he would pick me up at 4 pm at the entrance to Shenandoah National Park Visitor Center. As I hiked, I came across the signs stating I was leaving the park and entering private land. I hiked about an hour along a eight foot chain link fence and came to the kiosk at VA 522. The kiosk was very informative with maps showing "You are here". I was not close to the Visitor Center. The sign across the road said Front Royal to the left, AT North to the right. I decided to wait there. It was 2:30 pm.   Tate came hiking up. I told him my husband would be there at 4. He could have a ride if he was not able to hitch a ride. He tried to hitch a ride. The cars were going very fast. A few minutes later, a vehicle drove up with a woman driver and three men. One of the men told Tate he could have a ride if he bought him a beer. I said what does the driver get. She nodded. She let me use her cell phone to call my husband and let him know where I was. I left a voice message. They offered to drive me but I declined. Two of the guys packed up and headed north on the AT. Tate, one of the men and the woman driver drove off.   I waited in the shade. After they left, I thought maybe I should have gotten a ride to the Visitors Center. Oh well. Too late now. Mike arrived at 3:45 pm. We drove back to Big Meadows Campground. We enjoyed the free showers and had dinner at the lodge. The kitchen was backed up due to a 14 person group. Mike drank beer while we waited for our food. The waiter asked if we would like anything while we waited. I ordered the spinach salad with feta cheese, blueberries, black berries, pecans and raisins. Our food came out with the salad. The salad was a nice breakfast the next day. Our bill came to $89! Definitely higher than we were anticipating. The building and view from our table were delightful. It was a pleasant ending to a nice hike.