morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-05-04
From: manassas Gap Shelter

To: Dick's Dome 
Miles today: 0.0

Started raining at 130am..stopped at 7am..Mama Bird and us laid around til 8. she finally flew away..we left at 915am..and what a day..absolutely great section of the trail so made 5 miles in 3 hrs. Only one word for 3 1/2 miles of the trail..Trillians, Trilliams along side of trail and as far as you could see on both sides. Beautiful awesome, wonderful birds singing, sun out..about 60. Met about 30 of 40 hikers from the Wanderbirds hiking club.. Some were doing a 9 miler and some where doing a 12 miler. They were checking out the Trilliams and also got some morels..One 73 yr old man was from West Chester, pa..His name was James Matlack..He said Matlack street was named for his family. This is the town where we graduated high school.. He was moving along pretty good for a 73 yr old. shelter is a 12 ft geodesic- dome..structure built in 1989 by the George family on private land. It is along side Whiskey Hollow Creek. sounds so good. met 1 thru hiker from Ohio, a couple of others flew by..
Date: 2003-05-05
From: Dick's Dome 

To: Rod Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: light rain

yucky, yucky day..9 miles of rain. We left at 730am..got to shelter 315pm..Trail pretty good..some bad places. that need some work on it. A nice trail Angel left a cooler of coke and some nutter butter cookies at the US 50 road crossing. The coke tasted so good...no animals..saw some white violets, pink lady slippers and some red columbine. Still lots of dogwood..look so pretty their white in all the green. Saw an earthworm slittering along almost picked it up and ate it..cuz it took my title of the slowest thing on the trail...but decided to just share the title with it. Shelter full tonite..states represented..Maine, Vermont, NC, Miami, FL, Mo and New Zealand...passed 2 guys from England hiking south. Gotta add this as I said this was a yucky day. Ray went on ahead of me to get out space in the shelter as we knew there were several others coming our way.. I was alone out there and I got to a huge tree across the trail..picture this now..there is no way I can step over it..so I laid down on it..struggled to get one leg over..and here I am strattling this damn tree..my feet do not touch the ground..they are about 1 ft off the fround..so I just sat there crying..yeh..finally I cussed myself out and grabbed hold a vine wrapped around the tree and pulled myself over..Now if that wasnt enough..along comes another downed tree..but this one my feet could touch so I just sat on it and swung my feet over .. My heart and admiration goes out to all who hike alone..especially women..I dont know what I would do without Ray...( note from Linda...well we sure know you would be dragging me out there)....
Date: 2003-05-06
From: Rod Hollow Shelter

To: Bears Den Hostel
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Horrible day..we left at 8am..got to hostel 7pm..we did 9.9 miles of the 12.1 section called the "roller coaster" with 10 ascents and descents..very steep most with rocks..What a Godsend this place is. Pizza, coke, laundry, showers and nice bed..36.00 for the 2 of us..Not bad huh??? Saw some thousand legger worms, 3 frogs in a spring, couple of butterflies having fun in the forest..if you know what I mean!!! Some kind of bug or spider..very tiny but effervesent red, the only way he could hide from his enemys would be to pretend he was an ornament on a tree. Also a little itsy bitsy teeny weeny snail..so he can have my title since he was so cute. Heard an owl early in the morning..very humid day..45 when we left..got up to about 75. I was totally whipped when I got to the hostel. This was built as a residence in 1930's later purchased by PATC and became a youth hostel. The original owner was a doctor and his wife was an opera singer.
Date: 2003-05-07
From: Bears Den Hostel

To: Blackburn ATC Center
Miles today: 7.9
Weather: overcast clouds

we left at 830am got to Blackburn at 4pm. did a slack pack today..since I was so whipped yesterday the care takers offered to take my pack to Blackburn so I could do the last 4 miles of the roller coaster. I agreed whole hardly. Such nice people at a beautiful hostel. Trail was good after got over the roller coaster. Had some real good viewing spots. Saw a box turtle on the way. Sara and Bill are caretakers here at Blackburn. They have a 16 mo. old girl named Kai..we got a wonderful vegetarian dinner. Real nice hiker cabin with a wood stove..bunks for 8 people.
Date: 2003-05-08
From: Blackburn ATC Center

To: Blackburn center
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Bill and Sara asked if we would like to do a work day and rest my knees..so we agreeded..they will also take our packs to Harpers Ferry tomorrow so we will slack pack our last 12 miles to our van. I did windows , screens and cleaned out some flower beds..(note from Linda..hey..you can be here doing that.)..Ray helped Bill make a compost thing as well as some other stuff. They are from NH.but are caretaking this hostel thru Nov. They hope to build their home in NH within 2 yrs. Supposely from the front proch you can see the top of the Washington Monument on a clear day..it hasnt been clear for a couple of days..but still a great view. There is a solar shower here. nothing like taking a shower outside.. I told them they weree going to spoil me..slack packing two times..It'll be hard going from 1st class to coach again..!!!
Date: 2003-05-09
From: Blackburn center

To: Keys Gap
Miles today: 6.2

sleeping..cabin at centerwell we are hoping to slackpack all the way to Harpers Ferry but when we got to a shelter 3 miles out it started raining but nothing bad but the further we went it became a thunder and lightening and hard rain storm (note from Linda..and she says this is fun?????) Bill is a marathon runner and he got to us and told us if it was still this bad to call when we got to keys Gap and he would come get us and take us back to the center and then take us back to keys gap in the morning so that is what we did. We really didnt care for the lightening..I know we are wimps.. At Keys Gap when you cross the road you are in no mans land..you look right there is a sign that says welcome to Va you look left another sign saying welcome to W Va so thee you are stuck in the middle..
Date: 2003-05-10
From: Keys Gap

To: Harpers Ferry 
Miles today: 5.9
Weather: few clouds

Thanks to Bill and Sara for lift to Keys Gap..It was raining again but not bad. We had some thunder but didnt see any lightening..It stopped when we got 1.9 miles away from Harpers Ferry..Good Good trail..Bill left us off at 845am..we got to our car at 100pm. Saw an box turtle and lots of river rafters on the Shenandoah River as we walked across the bridge. There are not enough words to express how glad we are to have such caring trail Angels as Bill and Sara..Caretakers at Blackburn Trail Center. they went out of their way to help us. They do a great job at the center. Be sure to make this one of your stops when you are hiking....
Date: 2003-05-12
From: Big Meadows

To: Rock Spring Hut
Miles today: 3.3
Weather: broken clouds

Drove to Big Meadows Visitor center and got our backcountry hiking permits. Parked van at campgrounds..where we started our hike.. This will be aboout 3 weeks in the Shenandoah Nat. Park. We left at 11am temp about 56...strong breeze..got to shelter about 115pm.. finally saw some deer. 3 at the shelter werent a bit afraid of you. Trail good to here. blazes need some work and no sign for shelter so just guessed blue blaze meant shelter. Shared shelter with "Mr coffee" from WVa., Diva- Va, Strider- England another young man from Austria. This place has a swing also..but the seat was slanted to the back too deep for my short legs..so I didnt swing...
Date: 2003-05-13
From: Rock Spring Hut

To: sky land lodge
Miles today: 0.0

well. we turned into wimps..we left rock spring at 730am..temp about 43 winds about 30 mph..gusting to about 45...making it quite cold and since we had packed away all winter stuff..it was very cold..so when we got to Skyland we decided to spnd the nite ..otherwise it would have been a 15.3 mile hike and I just didt think I could hack it. I had 3 layers of clothes and my jacket but I was still very cold...any way I needed to be where I could be reached by phone as I am to be great grandma of a little boy sometime today.. Hey that is good an excuse as any dont ya think?? Trail to here was good some rocks but what do you expect in the mountains. Saw more deer..they just stand and look at you..most dont even run. Saw a clogging group from Luray Va at the lodge..pretty good. Got a great grandson..Gino Michael DeRosa was born May 13,03 at 237pm..18 1/2 " long...7lbs 1 oz...
Date: 2003-05-14
From: Skyland Lodge

To: Pass Mtn Hut
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

very long..rough rocky trail today..shared shelter with 2 sisters from Iowa and Tim from Oh..lots of others in tents.. Saw deer, squirrel and chipmunks..Awesome views along the way from rocky cliffs.left skyland at 8am..got to pass Mtm at 6pm..Sun out all day..tiny breeze every once in awhile..temp about 65..strail tough very narrow and steep drops offs..so really had to watch your step.at this hut are 2 trees..that have grown together they are called the "kissin trees" pretty neat..
Date: 2003-05-15
From: Pass Mtn. Hut

To: Gravel Springs Hut
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

left at 7am got to shelter at 5pm..last 4 miles was in rain..shared shelter with Tim from Ohio, one from New Orleans,La and a young couple from Va.   This kinda shows you the difference between good trail and crappy trail..we did 13.3 miles in the same time it took us to do only 11 miles the day before..Saw deer, squirrels, chipmunks, rain almost all night...Hut was built by CCC in 1940 of stone.
Date: 2003-05-16
From: Gravel Springs Hut

To: Terrapin Station Hostel
Miles today: 10.0

Fairly good trail steep ups some rocky..all in the rain all day..left Gravel at 8..got to hostel at 3. this is a nice place..owner has basement converted into nice sitting area, shower, washer, dryer, food (you buy)..and bunkbeds for hikers. $13.00 per person per night. Felt good to get out of rain..I was getting very cold. Shared hostel with Tim from Ohio..Diva- Va and Strider from England. Today is Striders last day..he has to go home to England. Saw some snails and a bunny when we got to hostel. Weighed myself..lost 8 lbs..Mike the owner, has lots of music, cassettes, tapes, records of the Grateful Dead, Dylan, Joplin, nice to listen to. It was nice to see Diva and Strider again. we last saw them on May 12th. Mike has coke for sale here..yea..yipppeee..I am in heaven..I erally miss my coke on the trail...
Date: 2003-05-17
From: stayed there

To: Terrapin Station Hostel
Miles today: 0.0

decided to take a 0 day..Mike took Ray,Tim and Strider into town to get mail and grocerys. Rain again today so glad we are here nice and warm, giving knees a rest. Tim also took an extra day..Diva left..she only has 5 more days to go then she has to go back to work.she will have completed all of Va. Mike took Strider to town to catch bus to DC (I think) to get plane home to England. Mikes' daughter is getting married today so we probably wont see him til real late..real nice guy!!!! Here is a thought from Bill Bryson's book "A walk in the Woods" Every 20 minutes on the AT we walk further than the average American walks in a week! For 93 % of all trips outside the home for whatever distance or whatever purpose. Americans now get in a car..on average the total walking of an average American these days..thats walking of all types from car to office. from office to car, around the supermarket and shopping malls..adds up to 1.4 miles..a week..barely 350 yards a day!!! So I guess all my bitching when I get so tired walking needs to quit..I find that fact unbelievable. Shared hostel with Tim-Ohio, 2 ladies from Ptittsburgh Pa and "Old Corpous" from Texas. Thinking about Diva tonight..she must feel so alone..she has hiked all of Va with Strider and he has gone home to England. Wonder if any kind of "love" was formed? Many have met on the trail and went on to be married..wouldnt that be way cool.
Date: 2003-05-18
From: Terrapin Station Hostel

To: Va 522
Miles today: 5.0

Left hostel at 740am..after helping clean up a flooded sitting room...the toilet wouldnt shut off. Thank goodness. "Old Corpous" woke up and had to go to potty. Another day in the rain..trail good..some rocky places but basically easy to maneuver..saw no animals..guess they had places to hide out of the rain. Lots of slippery sucky mud, but still a nice day..rain not hard just steady..and not cold. Dont care for SNP's way of using signs..a cement pole stuckin the ground then a strip of metal wrapped around it with name and miles stamped onto it..very hard to read..
Date: 2003-05-20
From: Rock Fish Gap

To: Calf Mountain Hut
Miles today: 8.1

Parked car at gap, left at 8am..got hiking permit and off we went. temp about 46..got up to 68 or so. Sun out..Trail mostly good, some rocks and very steep downs..Got to hut at 2pm. This hut was built in 1985 of chestnut timbers by the Potomac AT Mountain Club. Saw lots of buttercup flowers and a purple one that we have in FL. It is a weed as far as we are concerned as it grows wild in the orange groves. I want to say bloodroot but really dont think that is it. Also as we came to a mountain top there were many micowave, radio, TV, phone commucication towers. near the towers were several tractor seats on a spring so you sit a spell and rest after the climb up. Saw 2 huge rabbits up there..also wonder if the "waves" make them grow big?? Hut was full 6 on the bottom 2 on top level..lots of campers in tents also. 2 from NH, and one from Ft Lauderdale,FL.
Date: 2003-05-21
From: Calf Mountain Hut

To: Black Rock Hut
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: moderate rain

10 miles of it in the rain..not fun..I must stop the miles over 10..they just do me in..I am totally exhausted when I get to a hut..all I want to do is sleep.. You can tell trail days is over in Damascas as the North bounders are passing you by. We had another hut full..plus campers in tents or hammocks..It was fun watching them put up their hammocks. I like sharing hut with the young people..they try to out bullshit each other..they have either done it themselves , seen it done in person or on TV or video or has a friend that has done it..whatever skateboard, snowboard, ski, wake board, one kid from FL tired to convience Maine kid that our lobsters and blue crabs are the best...COME ON!!!! Saw 2 deer.
Date: 2003-05-22
From: Black Rock Hut

To: Loft Mtn Campground
Miles today: 7.5
Weather: overcast clouds

left hut at 830am..got to campgrounds at 145pm..wet..cold..pitched tent. High only up to 55..rest of this week..with rain and heavy fog..sure getting tired of rain . Today's walk was in heavy fog..making it hard to see the white blazes when you had to cross the skyline Drive. Scary too..you had to listen for the cars as you could not see much beyond 15 feet. Stopped at a picnic table for a snack..and dump trash..in trash bin and decided I needed to pee..so off to the woods I went with my handy dandy trowel. I found a place where a deer or other animal had been digging so I made it a little bigger ..did my business and when I turned around there was a deer just standing there watching me pee! Can you imagine what she told her friends over afternoon tea.. Some thing like this. You just cant imagine what happened to me today..I dug up a flower bed in my front yard and when I came back to plant my flowers there was this human with the fattest white ass squatting over my flower bed peeing in it..well, I never..then she had the nerve to say "well Hi pretty lady" when she saw me..she and her male friend didnt even offer me a thank you treat..well..I just flicked her off with my tail..and left. Saw 5 more deer and 2 bunny rabbits. Ran out of vitamins so have no idea what day it is.. I heard that is a sign of old age..when you have to look at your pill box to see what day it is.. Am I getting old??? NAW...so little time left so many more places to go see. My sisters hubby said we should come home and act like old people... Sorry no ..nadda. no way..
Date: 2003-05-23
From: Loft Mtn Campground

To: motel
Miles today: 0.0

Ray hitched a ride back to our car..and we went and got the van.. We are trying to decide what to do next...looks like rain all the way south for at least a week..still have to finish from Loft Mtn to Big meadows about 6 days...worth of hiking or skip and do another section..then come back..Dont know We've been to the tourist things..so that is not an option..guess it is just hike in the rain. This is for David and Elwanda..the person that gave Ray a ride. to our car looked so much like Marlin..it was scary..do angels come down to help you when you are in neeed??? It is very possible...
Date: 2003-05-25
From: Dripping Rock Parking Lot

To: Paul Wolfe Memorial Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Can you hear the rushing water from MillCreek? They call it a creek but it sounds like a river. Lots of fun getting across it. Neither one of us fell in..just got shoes a little wet. We parked van at Rock Fish Gap parked car at Dripping Rock..Left at 820am..got here at 340pm..First 1 1/2 hrs was in the rain then came fog then finally the sun. The first 4 miles was steep rocky, rocky up and downs..then the last 5.6 to the shelter was switch back gradual downs. We must have crossed 10 little springs coming out of the side of the mountain. They are what makes the Mill creek so rushing..I guess. Saw a turkey by the road before we parked. Saw a squirrel on the trail..thats it except some day hikers. Beautiful view from Humpback Rocks..scary walking across them. Tomorrow when we leave here the trail passes thru an old settlement, including home sites..Terraced gardens and a cenetary..all reputedly haunted ..will let you know if we see anything..or one...
Date: 2003-05-26
From: Paul Wolfe Memorial Shelter

To: Rock Fish Gap
Miles today: 5.2
Weather: light rain

slept in van.. Left shelter at 9am..sun out got to van at 12. Drove van to get car..then took car to Loft Mtn. left it there...drove van to Big Meadows.. We will hike south to car..finishing up the SNP..It poured rain most of the night..4 other men in shelter..no one snored.. They were from Al.., Va, Ill. Passed by the settlement or I think it was...saw only one evidence of a home..just the chimney..no cemetary..no gardens, and NO GHOSTS. Trail was realy good..crossed lots of streams..sure different than last year when we couldnt find water. Hope my picutres turn out of the waterfalls. Saw chipmunks, orange salamander, and black snake. Also saw a poor man trying to get his remote control airplane out of tree.. He was sitting at an overlook..flying it and it started to dive..and he couldnt bring it out..He probably will need some climbing gear to get it...as it was way way up in that tree. It had a beeper on it so thats how he found it..as the overlook was about 2 miles up the top of the mountain.. You just never know what you will see on the AT. Lots of day hikers out for the holiday.
Date: 2003-05-27
From: Big Meadows

To: Bear Fence Mtn..Hut
Miles today: 8.1

sleeping..hutGot our permit and started at 815am..temp 50..sun out..good trail..met 18 NOBO (nothbounders...sobo is southbounders)..saw 5 deer, crossed 3 streams. The last 4 miles was in rain and fog..got to hut at 2pm..wet and cold. Bearfence Hut was built by the CCC in 1940..takes it name from Bearfence Mtn..the likely origin is a pasture that was fenced to keep out the bears..which we have not seen yet. Lots of beautiful fern along the trail..and as far as the eye could see on either side.. Full hut tonite..2 women ..10 men..2 others in tent.
Date: 2003-05-28
From: Bear Fence Mtn..Hut

To: High Top Mt Hut
Miles today: 12.6

Left at 730am..in the rain..got to Hightop at 330pm..Rain most of the day..last 3 miles in sun and cool breeze (note from sister Linda...Willie..tell me again why the heck are you doing this...rain almost everyday..you are cold..wet....geeezee..get your butts home).. Beautiful view from Hightop..saw 6 deer, 4 NOBO hikers passed us. Trail was good last 2.2 miles was very long long up..when I do over 10 miles and get tired I feel like I am not walking in my body..When I stop to take a breath..I could go to sleep standing up...anyone else ever get that way???? One of the NOBO saw 2 bear..He must have scared them away..cuz we never saw them ..Hut full again..10 men and just me..several more in tents..Lots of blackberries blooming so will be eating berries soon.
Date: 2003-05-29
From: High Top Mt Hut

To: Pinefield hut
Miles today: 8.2
Weather: moderate rain

Started out at 8am..got to hut at 130pm..last 3 miles was in rain..AGAIN..no wonder SNP is so beautful..it rains so everything grows quickly..and it rains, and it rains..Passed 14 NOBO, saw 6 deer, 1 grouse and 1 dead bear. One of the people in hut graduated from West Chester High in 1965..(hey..note from Linda...I graduated in 1966)..he is principal at coatesville High..His name is dennis Giancola. There were 9 in hut..and 2 camping in tent..The ridge runner stopped by and told us that if we got up during night to be sure to put on shoes..and use a light..because there are copperhead snakes living in the fire pit.(note from Linda....yepp..this sure is fun.)...we never did see them.. 2 deer came close by..If you had to go potty..you should be sure to before dark..not just because of the snakies..but you had to make your way across a stream on rocks..oh the fun never ends out here..
Date: 2003-05-30
From: Pinefield hut

To: left Mtn campground
Miles today: 5.8

All 9 of us in the hut woke up very happy..no rain..sun was out..birds were happy..also..trail good but rather steep in sections..You or rather I get very winded on the ups but the the good Lord rewards us with a good view or pretty pretty flowers along the way..I think they are called mountain snow. Saw 3 deer..one was a young buck..It amazes me how tame they are..you cant touch them but they will let you get 3 feet away then they just step off the trail..and watch you walk by. We picked up the car then got the van and now are in a motel..getting cleaned up..and making a decision as to where to go next ..now that we have completed the 107.1 miles of the SNP. Pinefield Hut was built in 1940 by CCC and named for the area dense pine woods. Ok..PATC..what is the significance of the pieces of pipe nailed to the rafter in the huts in SNP???
Date: 2003-06-01
From: US 60 parking lot

To: Cow Camp Gap Shelter
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: scattered clouds

got both cars parked..started 10am..got to shelter 1:45pm..very very long sometimes steep climb to shelter..wind blowing about 35 mph..sometimes more..sun out..not much for overlooks..Saw no animals..except a gazillion little grasshoppers along the trail. shelter built in 1986 by the AT conference's Konnarock crew. In 19th century cattle were taken to Denuded mountains in the higher elevations. then herded into the gap for winter pasture or to the market. Only Ray and I in shelter. A hiking group of 10 pitched their tents nearby.
Date: 2003-06-02
From: Cow Camp Gap Shelter

To: Seeley-Woodsworth shelter
Miles today: 10.2
Weather: clear sky

2nd day without rain..Hooray...left shelter at 730am temp 38..got to shelter 4pm..temp 58. Long day..trail of many colors..long ups and downs..all kinds of rocks, walk thru farming meadows..and awesome awesome views..from cold mtn..balds, 360 views 5 in shelter..2 girls from Naples, Fl, Apollo and Bonfire. Saw no animals .. A boy scout group from Kansas passed going south..6 others going north..rushed past. Gosh wish I could go faster. A young man from Va trail name Snuggles, picked dandilion greens..so had a few with my dinner...He was hiking with Apolo & Bonfire. The greens gave me the runs..