morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-06-30
From: Montebello

To: Maupin Field
Miles today: 18.2
Weather: scattered clouds

After a scrumptious breakfast this morning at the Dutch Haus, I caught a ride back to the trail. The Dutch Haus folks took us as far as the gated road, and then a local guy offered to take us the rest of the way in his pickup. I'll tell ya, the folks down here are some of the nicest people I have ever met. This is probably one of my biggest discoveries on this trip. Just plain country folk who will do anything to help another person in need. For example, the fella who gave us a lift up the gated road to the trail had just gotten off the graveyard shift, and he was driving up and over the mountain to help three seniors who are in their upper 70s and lower 80s. They needed someone to plant their tomato plants and this guy was going way up in the mountains to help them. Their 600 acres of land is adjacent to the trail and has been in their family for generations. Apparently the locals have been trying for some time to get them to move into town, but they refuse to budge. Anyhow, most folks are just plain nice to be around down here if you give them a chance. A big rainstorm came through last night and cooled everything off. So the weather today was quite pleasant. We had a couple of scattered showers during the day but not much to speak of. I made good time and got my camp set up and dinner eaten just before another rainstorm blew through. Seems like a daily pattern. Now I just have, at the most, a 15 miler tomorrow before the short stroll into Rockfish Gap on Wednesday. Really looking forward to seeing Marie there. She has been so supportive about me doing this hike, but it has been hard on both of us to be apart for so long. It will be great to spend the week together hiking through Shenandoah National Park.
Date: 2008-07-01
From: Maupin Field

To: Mill Creek
Miles today: 15.8

As of today I have been on the trail for two whole months. I am approaching the 850 mile mark with thoughts that I can complete the hike in another 10 days. Tomorrow is the big transition day where I meet up with Marie and start slackpacking the 100 miles in Shenandoah National Park. Then I will only have another 60 miles to Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. Who knows, without carrying a heavy pack I may be able to knock out several 20 mile days and get home sooner. We shall see... I spoke to Marie tonight on the phone in preparation for tomorrow and she tells me that she is bringing me for an Italian Hoagie from DiVella's for lunch. I wish she had not told me that. Now I will be dreaming about that hoagie all night long. Talk about motivation! Anyhow, the hike was easy today and the weather was nice and cool. Saw tons of deer and talked to a bunch of day hikers. It always blows them away when I answer their question..." So, where did you start your hike?" I never get tired telling them and then seeing their reaction. Pretty funny. Most folks can't even imagine walking that far. Fact is, either could I before now.
Date: 2008-07-02
From: Mill Creek

To: Rockfish Gap
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: clear sky

The walk in this morning to Rockfish Gap took just a couple of hours. Usually when I hike into these Gaps you end up dropping way down in elevation, which is a pain since you then have to climb out again with a fully loaded pack. But Rockfish Gap is at 1900 feet, so the walk in was pretty much level. I was only there waiting for about 20 minutes before Marie arrived from home. It was great to see her again. She had prepared some "Trail Magic" so we left a cooler of sodas and homemade brownies and cookies at the trailhead. I left a note on the cooler indicating that it was compliments of "Mrs. Rewind." We then drove down into Waynesboro and checked into the Days Inn. We lunched on DeVellas hoagies and then lounged around the pool. A nice relaxing afternoon then dinner at the Cracker Barrell. Tomorrow we will do some slackpacking in the Park. That should make the next 100 miles a lot easier. Sounds good to me.
Date: 2008-07-03
From: Rockfish Gap

To: Blackrock Gap
Miles today: 19.3

We drove back into Shenandoah National Park and Marie dropped me off at the trailhead. While I started to head north on the trail, Marie went to check on the cooler we left yesterday and found that many folks had stopped by and sampled the treats. They left her a number of thank you notes. She then re-stocked the cooler and drove up to Blackrock Gap. She stretched and then started to hike south down the trail. Our thought was that we would meet up and then walk together back to the car. Marie met me about 14 miles into my hike (6 miles into her hike). She then turned around and retraced her steps with me back to the car. Marie saw a bear which was up a tree. She said that when she walked up, the bear quickly came down the tree and ran off. A deer also tried to get some food from her during one of her rest stops. Pretty funny. She comes out for one day and sees a bunch of wildlife and I saw nothing all day. After the hike, we started to drive back to Waynesboro when we noticed Cornelius, Dr. Z, and Hippo hanging out at an overlook. It was good to see them again. Hippo's parents and his sister have joined him for his hike of the Park. Later, we met up with my nephew Chris and and his son Gerald who were also visiting the Park. We had dinner together and then Gerald went for a swim in the hotel pool. Always nice to see them. Unfortunately, they had to head back home because his grandfather broke his hip and was in surgery. Hope everything turns out well there. Tomorrow we slackpack some more. Probably won't go as far though. Got to make sure we keep this fun all the way to the end.
Date: 2008-07-04
From: Blackrock Gap

To: Simmons Gap
Miles today: 16.0

Happy Birthday America! Marie was dropping me off at Blackrock Gap this morning and Teg came down the trail with his Mum. Teg, short for "The English Guy", joked that they would not be celebrating this holiday with a lot of enthusiasm. I responded that he should celebrate America's Independence since as an English colony we were more trouble than we were worth. His mother came over to join him in hiking the section of the trail in the Park. Seems like they are having a wonderful time. Well, today was my turn to see the bears. Not more than a mile into the hike, I came across a big fella off to my left. He started to run off as I approached, then he cut across in front of me onto the trail, ran straight away from me down the trail path, and then cut off to my right down the side of the mountain. They are so fast. Forget about ever trying to outrun a bear. Then about an hour later I walked right up to a smaller bear that seemed as startled as me. He made a kind of snort/growl at me and bolted into the brush. Scared the heck out of me. Not surprisingly, I walked pretty fast from that point on. The weather was nice and the trail very flat. Marie and I met up at Ivy Creek and then hiked the rest of the way together to Simmons Gap. We had a short rain storm on the way which was nice since it cooled everything off and settled the bugs down. Then during the last hour of our hike it really poured. Yeah, we got pretty wet but we were laughing and enjoying every minute of it. Makes a big difference when you are wet heading to the car than to the next shelter. We rewarded ourselves with some ice cream at Big Meadows. I had the trail famous Blackberry Milkshake, made by a local dairy with locally grown blackberries. So good that I refuse to leave the Park until I can have another one. We have checked into Skyland Lodge in the Park and will be staying here for the next four nights. I am really enjoying the comforts of civilization after roughing it the last two months. Our room has a balcony and a view of the Shenandoah River valley to the west, and we had hoped to see some fireworks this evening but it has started to rain again and the valley is clouded over. Oh well. Tomorrow is a lot of climbing, so again I will limit my miles to something reasonable. Hopefully the rain will clear.
Date: 2008-07-05
From: Simmons Gap

To: Pocosin Cabin
Miles today: 15.9

Last night the skies suddenly cleared and we got a chance to watch the fireworks from our balcony. It was so cool. Several communities to the west of us and way down in the valley had fireworks displays and we could see them all. Today we got a slow start because it rained mostly through the night. By morning it was so foggy you could not see more than 10 yards in front of you. We weren't sure what to do. So we stumbled through the fog to the Dining Hall for breakfast. By the time we were done eating, it started to clear up so we headed out for the day's hike. Since we got a late start I got on the trail ASAP at Pocosin Cabin and slackpacked southbound on the A.T. I really felt good today. I only stopped once all day to eat a sandwich. Other than that I just walked really fast and did the entire hike in about 6 hours. In fact, the 1200 foot climb of Hightop Mountain felt easy without the pack. As Joe Foulk, my elementary school physical education teacher, used to say..."Like taking candy from a baby." So, on the way down I decided to put my trail running shoes to the test and run down the mountain, which I managed to do without crashing. I stopped after a half hour or so because another rainstorm hit and made the trail very slippery. It was a lot of fun though while it lasted. Got some real funny looks from this couple who were huffing and puffing their way up to the top of the mountain. We checked into a new room at Skyland Lodge. It is a lot nicer than the room we had last night and the view is primo. This will be our home for the next three nights.
Date: 2008-07-06
From: Pocosin Cabin

To: Skyland
Miles today: 17.9

The hike this morning was tough because my legs, and my head, were not in the game. I did about 10 miles up to Big Meadows and met Marie there for lunch. I was tired and pretty wet from another rainstorm and thought I might be done for the day. But we came back to Skyland for a break and I took a nap in our room. Afterward I got my second wind and hiked back to Big Meadows from Skyland (and yes, I did get rained on again). There we met up with the Dr., Cornelius, Hippo, and The Mule and we all got some dinner at Wayside. Tomorrow I will head north from Skyland and complete the Central Section of the Park. I haven't been in the Northern Section in years so I have no idea what to expect. We will stay here for one more night tomorrow and then Marie needs to get home on Tuesday. This last part sure has been a lot easier with her help. For example, right now it is raining really hard outside while I write this from the comfort of my room. By now, after several days of rain, all of my gear would be wet if I was camping out. But staying in a room allows me to dry out my stuff each night. Hopefully the rain will clear out soon.
Date: 2008-07-07
From: Skyland

To: Elkwallw Gap
Miles today: 18.9

The weather finally broke in our favor today. The sun came out and made the hike quite enjoyable. Of course it did rain, but not until Marie and I had completed our hike and were getting into the car at Elkwallow Gap. Today it was Marie's turn again to see lots of wildlife. She saw a skunk, a pileated woodpecker, a couple of fawns, and a mama bear and her cub. The bear had climbed up an old rotted tree and was tearing it apart trying to get to some ants or something inside. Bark was flying and the bear's head was inside the tree. The bear was so preoccupied with getting a meal that she had no idea Marie was there watching. Meanwhile the cub was at the base of the tree keeping an eye on Marie. It occurred to me at some point today that I had not seen a snake since entering the Park. Then as we approached the parking lot at Elkwallow Gap a snake of some type was sitting right in the middle of the trail. Caught us both by surprise. He slithered off once he knew we were not going to step on him. Took some pictures of him in hopes that I can figure out later what kind of snake it was. Also saw a very fat ground hog today as I descended from Mary's Rock to Thornton Gap. He dove down a hole between two huge boulders as I approached. Tomorrow is my last slackpack day. Marie will drive home and I will head off to the next shelter fully loaded up with my gear. I expect to reach Harpers Ferry this coming Friday. It will be an emotional day when I get there.
Date: 2008-07-08
From: Elkwallw Gap

To: Front Royal
Miles today: 19.1
Weather: few clouds

Marie has decided to stay on and help me finish this hike, so I will continue to slack pack all the way into Harpers Ferry. I couldn't be more delighted. It is so nice having her around and providing the support I need to see this thing through to the end. We are staying in Front Royal tonight which is a bit further north than I had originally planned. This morning I had two more bear encounters. They seem to be very active early in the morning. Both times the bears were walking around on tree branches way up high in a cherry tree. They are loaded right now with bright red cherries and the bears seem to love them. The first one was an adult, and he was so busy eating those cherries that he had no idea I was there, just like Marie's bear sighting yesterday. So I started talking to him and he was like..."Oh darn, it's one of them humans.." He then quickly slid down the trunk of the tree like it was a fire pole and ran off into the woods. The second bear saw me right away as I approached and slid down the tree and ran off. The technique used by the bears to slide down the trunk of a tree is kind of like a controlled fall. They drag their claws into the bark as they descend to control their speed. Pretty impressive to watch considering how fast they get down and run off. I almost stepped on another box turtle today who was sitting right smack in the middle of the trail. I did not realize there were so many of them out here. Their only reaction to my presence is to bury their heads into their shells. One of these days I am going to trip on one of them and go crashing into the ground. I also flushed out of the brush a grouse family. And, of course, I saw hundreds of squirrels and chipmunks scurrying about (like every day). Tommorrow it is suppose to cool off some so that will be nice. I figure on three more long hiking days and I will be crossing the finish line in Harpers Ferry. Yes!!!
Date: 2008-07-09
From: Front Royal

To: Ashby Gap
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: broken clouds

I have been thinking about how I got to this point of the hike. At the outset, the thought of hiking over 1000 miles and being out here on the trail for over two months was way too much for me to grasp, so I focused on just what I needed to do that day. I set short term goals each day and focused all of my energy and attention on successfully accomplishing them. For example, I would decide to hike to a certain shelter or hike a certain number of miles by day's end. Or, I would focus on getting to a town in say five days. All of these short term goals kept me on track to get to Harpers Ferry. If I had focused from the beginning on the ultimate goal of hiking the A.T. to Harpers Ferry, I would have found the task overwhelming and would have likely left the trail by now. But what happened was that each time I accomplished one of those short term goals, I got closer to my ultimate goal without the enormity of that goal bringing me down. In short, it was one day at a time and one step at a time. Having said that, I accomplished today's goal of hiking to Ashby Gap. It was kind of an uneventful day. The skies were grey but it did not rain. Most of the day was walking through a thickly wooded wildlife refuge and state park. Fortunately the trail maintaining club had recently cut back the brush from the trail. I was basically walking through a tunnel of vegetation. The legs are tired, but I am so close now I can taste it. A 14 mile day tomorrow and another 19 on Friday and I am walking into Harpers Ferry. Tonight I relax in anticipation of the next two days.
Date: 2008-07-10
From: Ashby Gap

To: Snickers Gap
Miles today: 14.1

I cut the mileage down today but the terrain was tougher. The last 10 miles passed through a section of the trail known as the "Roller Coaster." Yes, it was one steep climb followed by one steep descent, over and over again. The folks at the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, who are responsible for maintaining this part of the trail, apparently have a sense of humor because they put up a special sign on the trail about it. The sign read..."Hiker Notice. Warning!! You are about to enter The Roller Coaster!! Built and maintained by the Trailboss and his merry crew of volunteers. Have a great ride and we will see you at the Blackburn Trail Center (if you survive)." I am tempted to stop by the Blackburn Trail Center tomorrow and ask to speak with the evil and sadistic person responsible, but that would require me to leave the A.T. and delay my arrival in Harpers Ferry. Sorry, but I will not give them the satisfaction. Tomorrow is all about hiking the last 19 miles and walking into the Appalachian Trail Conservancy Headquarters building and announcing my arrival (to whoever will listen). Then I will sign their register to make it official and jump into the car for the drive home. Wow, it seems like I have been away for more than just a few months. Quite an adventure, but I am ready to go home and visit friends and family.
Date: 2009-05-10
From: Harpers Ferry

To: Ed Garvey Shelter
Miles today: 6.3
Weather: scattered clouds

   Well, one year later and I am back out on the trail trying to complete my dream of hiking the entire length of the Appalachian Trail. Last year I started this hike on May 1st at the southernmost terminus of the trail at Springer Mountain, Georgia. Two and half months later I walked into Harpers Ferry, West Virginia with 1013 miles completed. Today I picked up where I left off. I walked out of Harpers Ferry with the goal of reaching the northernmost point and end of the trail on the top of Mt. Katahdin in Baxter State Park, Maine. That will require me to hike another 1164 miles. Whew! Can't think about that. Like last year, I need to take it one day at a time. Hopefully the body will hold up. Particularly my foot, since I battled plantar faciitis over the winter.   The hike out of Harpers Ferry was quite nice. I certainly had a day of nice weather (I feel for those who were out on the trail last week with all the rain we had). I left town by walking over a railroad bridge and onto the C. & O. Canal Towpath, which runs between what's left of the canal on one side and the Potomac River on the other. Lots of families were out today on Mother's Day walking and biking on the towpath. The towpath is also known as the Potomac Heritage Trail and runs from Washington D.C. to Cumberland, MD. It is a wide and very smooth dirt and gravel trail. Around 2 miles in,the A.T. left the towpath and turned north up into the mountains. After a short climb I came to Weverton Cliffs which afforded great views of the Potomac below. Two miles after that I cruised into my first campsite of the trek. Tonight I spend my first night in my new Six Moon Designs tent.
Date: 2009-05-11
From: Ed Garvey Shelter

To: Rocky Run Shelter
Miles today: 9.1
Weather: overcast clouds

First off, a couple more things about yesterday. With all the nervous excitement about finally getting back on the trail, I forgot to mention that after the 3 hour drive from home, Marie and I stopped in at the Appalachian Trail Conservancy Headquarters building. This is where I ended my hike last year. And like last year they took my picture and put it in one of these three ring binders of all the hikers who pass through Harpers Ferry. Knowing I finished on July 11th, I pulled down last summer's binder and found my picture. Marie and I were like "Wow, look how skinny I was." In addition, it turns out I am wearing the exact same clothes (though the shirt is a little tighter fitting around the belly). But what was really cool is that I got to see when all of my trail friends got to Harpers Ferry, such as The Mule, Hippo, Dr. Z, and Cornelius. The ones ahead of me I knew about because their pictures were already in the binders when I got there (Tri-Force, Homeward Bound, Smiley). But there were several others I had no idea what happened to them. Once you get ahead of someone on the trail you have no way of knowing if they are still on the trail, unless by chance someone passes you and remembers or knows that person. Those ahead of you can easily be tracked by reading the shelter logs, which is the main form of communication on the trail. Anyway, I learned that Old Goat (yes, a goat style beard) and his wife, Rock, made it to Harpers Ferry. I hadn't seen them since the southern part of Virginia. They had the same plan as me...do half in 2008 and the rest in 2009. And it looks like they are not on the trail yet this year. I really hope to see them again. Despite what you have heard about hiking the A.T., it really is about the people you meet. Today was nice and cool, and I managed to get to this shelter early and before the rain started. So, I am just gonna hang in this dry, brand new shelter and listen to the rain pitter patter on the roof. Really nice. It has a covered porch with chairs. About as good as it gets. Also wanted to mention that helicopters are cruising the skies around here spraying for gypsy moth. A forest ranger asked me about my hiking plans and said I could go ahead without any worries. Hopefully I don't get sprayed.
Date: 2009-05-12
From: Rocky Run Shelter

To: Annapolis Rock
Miles today: 9.1
Weather: scattered clouds

Yesterday's decision to stay at the shelter was a good one since it rained off and on throughout the evening. This morning I woke up to sunshine and news that the weather should be clear until a late afternoon thunderstorm comes in on Thursday. So the hiking today was really pleasant, cool and sunny. Only an hour in I came to a state park and they had free showers right by the trail, so I took full advantage of that opportunity. Then later on I came to the original Washington Monument erected in 1827 to honor his service to our country. Not nearly as tall as the one in Washington D.C., but still pretty impressive for something built in 1827. I went to the top on these old hand laid stone stairs and was rewarded with 360 degree views of the surrounding countryside. By the way, this whole area is thick with history. I went through a number of Civil War battlefields. Apparently the north and the south had a number of skirmishes around here before they really banged heads at Antietam. Really interesting reading the markers and information posted by the different historical societies. Tonight I am camped right by a wonderful overlook recommended to me by a local fella I met the first night out. Rare spot in that there is water here near a view, which makes camping here very convenient. I hope to get some photos of the sun setting this evening and to also saunder out tonight after dark to check out the stars.