morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-04-08
From: Matt's Creek Shelter

To: Brown Mtn Creek Shelter
Miles today: 22.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Weather very cool start and should hit around 55Woke up eat breakfast and packed up. Then waited for Otis's son and friend to get packed up so that we could get to his car to use his phone. We hiked along Matt's creek which dumped into the James River which was very wide, deep, and flowing fast. We missed our turn (I was following Otis's son) and had to back track to hit the foot bridge that went over the river and came down to a parking lot where his car was. We tried the phones and there wasn't any coverage so they drove me to Glascow VA because they had coverage there. Sure enough we got coverage and I called Johnna. Turns out that Liquid and TransFat were a couple days behind me and on the trail and Liquid had passed something that TransFat(TF) had found. TF had found my maroon phone amongst some red leaves. To this day Liquid has no idea how TF saw that phone. I do, thank you Jesus. They said the phone had been in the rain for a couple days and it booted up so they mailed it to Wayensboro VA. Back at Glascow, since I was already in town I did a little food shopping and the boys then proceeded to drive me back to the trail head. All this only took 45 minutes tops. Trail magic you got to love it. Thanks again guys. Wayensboro VA has an Alltel store so if I have any issues with the phone I can get them resolved. Otis mentioned that the Visitor center has a list of people that you can call to get a ride. Hope I hit that while they are open since the phone is at the PO. Otis also mentioned that I should stay at the Bear's Den Hostel, but it doesn't look like my schedule will allow me to stay there. 2:12 I hit the Punchbowl Shelter and then Brown Mtn Creek at 5:45Ran into a day hiker that was out checking out his hunting area and was pushed onto the AT because the fog didn't allow him to see where he was going. He thought he had better get on the AT and not get lost. I had a nice chat with him and he showed me some sheds (deer antlers) that he had found on his hike today. Hiked across a cool suspension bridge today that I took some pics of today. Later on in the day the clouds moved out and the sun came out. I started enjoying the hike today, which is great news. You don't want days that you don't like to hike out here. You have to keep your motivation up and keep those goals in mind. Tip for those that might want to hike the AT in the future. Focus on little goals such as maybe your next town stop or maybe as small a where you are headed for the day. Don't think about Mt K.Headed into Brown Mtn Creek you cross a bridge and that bridge was just built this year. I know this because you could still smell the newness of the fresh cut wood. When I got into the Shelter I found 2 food bags hanging there. I immediately dug into them and found some danishes, little debbies, and some other items. Game plan is to do two 20+ mile days and then a 10 mile day to Wayensboro
Date: 2008-04-09
From: Brown Mtn Creek Shelter

To: The Priest Shelter
Miles today: 22.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Wednesday got going at 7:05 The day started with a climb and finally got one of my wishes today and that was to get above the clouds and be able to see the other mountain tops in the distance. I was unable to get a pic because where I saw this there wasn't any place to get a pic without trees in the way. When I finally got to a place the clouds were gone. Made it to bald Knob at 4,059 and headed down to Cow Camp Gap Shelter at 3,160 feet. Met a couple that were out on a week long trip and I took pics of them and they took pics of me. We talked about shoes as they both have some severe foot issues as bad as mine. He likes his Merrell shoes and won't be caught in anything else. We were on a nice bald on a sunny day. Ran into a couple day hikers. One of the guys might of been taken water samples of the streams on the AT. Priest Shelter was in sight around 6pm. I am here with Eric, Babbling Brook, Compass (Rob). Boy did Compass remind me of myself and I definitely missed the family today because his kids are the exact ages of mine. Except his daughter is the oldest. I pulled into the shelter with a shin splint. It started hurting about a mile out form the shelter. While at the shelter I started talking to Compass about the Osprey Atmos pack. It seems that everyone as of late has had the Osprey Atmos pack. You see my Granite Gear has some tears and I need to get a new pack if I plan on finishing this trail. I don't want to have my pack rip out somewhere and then have to deal with the issues that Spence is dealt with in Damascus.
Date: 2008-04-10
From: The Priest Shelter

To: Humpback Mtn
Miles today: 22.0

Mid 70's today and sunnyShin splint didn't go away this morning. The good news is that the shin only hurts on the down hill. More good news is that I have to climb the Priest this morning to 4,063 but then I go down to 970 then back up and down the rest of the day. Passed some homes by Cripple Creek. Then heard some noises that I wasn't familiar with. As I hiked I found that 2 tractors were pumping some pesticides into the air next to the trail. I had to race the tractor up the mountain and of course his road went straight but the trail curved around. I had passed the Harpers Creek Shelter and climb ed up to Chimney Rocks. Which offered some beautiful views. The food situation is getting scary. I had planned on doing a 30 mile day and because of the shin issue I will be spending more time out on the trail than originally thought. Up on Three Summits I had a deer about 20 feet from me when he spotted me and just lifted its head and mossied on up the side of the mountain so that it was about 50 feet away.Shin is doing OK meaning there is a little discomfort as I walk down the mountain. Maid it to Maupin Field Shelter at 2:33 which is about 8 hours since I started and Maupin was 13.6 miles from The Priest Shelter which equates to 1.7 miles an hour and normally I do 2.5 to 3 miles an hour. I had a snack at VA 664 at 3:33. Reached Humpback Mtn (7:23) where you could see a ski/golf resort across the valley. The resort blended very well into the side of the mountain that you could hardly recognize there were building over there. I decided that it was a good place to hammock up. I sat and watched some eagles soar and ate my dinner then picked out a place to hang the hammock. I got into the hammock and started reading for awhile. Then my hip started hurting and the wind really picked up. I decided that I should pack my things up a little better outside and when I sat up to get out of the hammock I realized that the hammock was too close to a rock and it hit my hip. I must of just be tapping my hip against the rock ever so lightly that I didn't even know it was hitting but the hip knew it. While I was out getting my gear together I put the hammock up another foot.Not having the cell has definitely made life more lonely out here. I can't wait to get to Wayensboro VA to pick up the cell. Today I looked back at what I have gained from the AT and one thing I mentioned was how determined one has to bee out here to make it to Maine. You have to stay focused on the prize or the goal. I forgot to mention that yesterday I walked over 800 miles. By the end of the day the shin was on fire and I couldn't possibly push on. I need to take it easy on this thing or I could do some serious damage and it could pull me off the trail. I messed up a couple times today. I could have probably gotten an easy ride down to the visitor center today and from there gotten a ride into Waynesboro but I didn't.
Date: 2008-04-11
From: Humpback Mtn

To: Trail Hump Back Rocks
Miles today: 8.0

Hiked a big 8(ish) miles today. I got up early and packed up and just couldn't move much at all. I had started hiking and ran into a south bound section hiker and he told me I had about 6 miles or so to get to the visitor center and we chatted about this and that for a while. After leaving him I saw a blue blaze leading to a parking lot so I took the blue blaze. There I saw a gentleman standing next to a Porche so I asked if he had a phone that I could use to call down to the visitor center. He didn't but he was waiting for some friend to arrive and one of them should have a phone. We waited about 5 minutes and his friends went to the parking lot so he had me stay put and he drove up and brought a phone back down to me. I was able to get someone on the phone from the visitor center and they said they would be right up to pick me up. I had a nice 80 yr old man give me a lift down to the center and when we pulled in another person was pulling into the center as well. That other person turned out to be Tom Brown a trail angel that will give rides to town. I didn't know how lucky I was to get Tom to give me a ride that day. You see Tom took me to the PO where I picked up my phone and it worked. Then he took me to the Dr's office where we sat for 4 hours. The Dr said I had pulled a shin muscle and I should rest for 3 to 4 days minimum. Tom took me to Walmart to put in my prescriptions. The pharmacist said it would be 30 minutes before it was ready so we went to lunch. AT the AYCE steak place and then Tom took me to the Quality Inn then back to Walmart to pick up the prescriptions then back to the hotel. While at the hotel I got the phone charged up, got a big bucket of ice and a few pillows and put the ice on the shin. Now I'm watching TV and relaxing.
Date: 2008-04-12
From: Waynesboro VA

To: Waynesboro VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Got up and had breakfast at the hotel. Did some laundry which meant that I needed to walk down the street 2/3 of a mile. I just took my time walking to the laundry mat. Walked back to the hotel emptied my pack and took it to the grocery store. After shopping there was an AYCE chinese. Then I went back to the hotel and iced up the shin, called the family, and watched TV. I saw the Nascar races so I guess I can say I enjoyed that part of hanging around the hotel. Otherwise I'm going stir crazy. Think that Jordan and Felton should be catching up. I'll keep icing and heating up the ankle.
Date: 2008-04-13
From: Waynesboro VA

To: Visitor Center Waynesboro Center
Miles today: 6.5

Got up and had breakfast then went over to the Methodist church for my first church service on the trail. I just happened to be in town on a Sunday for the first time. After church I decided to get out of town so I called for a ride and Greg said he would pick me up at the front desk so I decided I should charge my cell one last time. I waited for a little while and when Greg picked me up I grabbed my pack and I said hello and we chatted as he drove me to the mountain. He drove me to the Humpback trail where I left off. As I was getting out of the truck I realized I had left the phone at the hotel. Greg was kind enough to run me back to town and pick up the phone to drive me back to the Humpback trail. I started hiking thinking I had like 5 miles to get to the Paul C Wolfe Shelter. Well I was there by 1:30 so I decided that I would just hammock somewhere so I headed on down the trail. When I reached I-64 I looked over to the welcome center to see Tom Brown's truck there. I dropped my pack and poles by the road (hidden) and then walked over to the welcome center. Tom and I talked for awhile and I told him thanks again for the umpteenth time. During our conversation Tom asked how my shin was doing and we both looked down to see my ankle the size of a grapefruit. I took Tom up on his offer of taking me back to the hotel where I stayed yet another night.
Date: 2008-04-14
From: Visitor Center Waynesboro Center

To: Calf Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: light rain

Finally got out of Waynesboro!! It wasn't easy though. I called for a ride and it turned out to be a pastor that gave me a ride and I told him I wanted to head to the outfitter. He drove right over and picked me up and we drove from the hotel to the outfitter and according to the companion they open at 9. When we got there at a little after 9 the sign said they open at 10. We went to McD's for breakfast and chatted for an hr. then he took me back to the outfitter. So shopped at the outfitter for awhile and tried on the Atmos pack and shopped around when I saw the Big Agnis air mattress. I purchased that air mattress and then got a ride up to the welcome center. Passed the SNP kiosk where I was to get a permit for the park but I screwed up. I reached Cald Mtn Shelter at 3:30 when I met Foot machine. Later on Donkey Legs showed up and he decided to sleep in his tarp tent because the register says there are RATS in the shelter. Donk didn't want any part of rats so he bailed on us.
Date: 2008-04-15
From: Calf Mtn Shelter

To: Pinefield Hut
Miles today: 26.2
Weather: clear sky

weather started 32 got up to maybe 50Have to say that the shelter did not have any RAT issues!! The shin is doing well. The muscle relaxers are helping out a lot. While I was at the outfitter yesterday I was going to purchase some shoes but they didn't have my size. Boy do I wish they had the correct size because the shoes are hurting today. Saw a couple deer next to the road where I took some pic and the deer were across the road on the other side of a stone wall. Sometimes the deer would duck as I took a pic and it looked as if I took a pic of the stone wall or that the deer were playing peekaboo with them.Talked to Liquid today well I talked to his voicemail anyway.We had a guy from NH and his son and his son's friends with us today at the shelter. They had been out getting a 70 mile boy scout badge. So they are repairing the fire pits and piling up wood next to the fire pits. That is where the wood came from at Calf Mtn Shelter last night.
Date: 2008-04-16
From: Pinefield Hut

To: Bearfence Hut
Miles today: 20.6

weather started at 30ish and went to around 65ishI had to make a new game plan to meet the family. I will not be hiking into Harpers Ferry to see the family like I originally thought. Instead Johnna and the kids will meet me at Linden VA 55. Left camp at 7:15 for the last two days. Donk got a new pair of Vasque shoes in Waynesboro that are causing him issues (more to come on this shoe)This morning we woke up and one of the boys had a wet air mattress and I started giving him a hard time about wetting his pants. While I was in the privy the 3 guys got their stuff packed up and I went up to the bunk above and started packing up my stuff when I noticed that my water bladder sprung a leak. Yup you guessed it it ran away from me (thank god) and it ran to the back of the shelter where it ran down the wall and when it hit the platform below the water went underneath the kids mattress. So the wet mattress was my fault. I apologized for giving him such a hard time.I have a funny story to tell. Today Donk and I rolled into the Pinefield Hut when we noticed the shelter was occupied by 2 section hikers. These two hikers turned out to be brothers who are out for a couple weeks. One brother is a loud snorer so he setup his tent off in the distance and the other was setup in the shelter. As Donk and I were getting ready for bed we were talking to the one brother that was in the shelter when all of a sudden a mouse ran within a foot of his face. I haven't heard a grown man screech like a girl and fly out of his bag so fast. He grabbed his bag and ran to his brother and told him to move over. The brother didn't let him in the tent at first but finally gave in. The brother that was in the shelter left all his stuff in the shelter until morning. Trail is pretty smooth today with very few rocks.
Date: 2008-04-17
From: Bearfence Hut

To: Pass Mtn Hut
Miles today: 26.2
Weather: clear sky

On trail at 6:10 with Donkweather sunny upper 70'sHad a deer within 5 feet of Donkey Legs this morning. Mid day we stopped at the Blue Ridge Diner where we saw a group of bikers getting refilled with energy so that they could peddle some more of the parkway. We sat down for lunch at a window and enjoyed the view of the valley below us. I had a BBQ pulled pork sandwich with fries and a coke. Then for desert I had a big bowl of black berry cobbler ala mode. I paid one dollar for one scoop of ice cream. It was good though. I could have gotten a bowl of ice cream for $1.75.Johnna was pretty happy today when I talked to her since April 15th is over. Speaking of Johnna she will be here in 1 1/2 days. I image the kids won't wait for the car to stop before they come running up to me. Sure wish that I could have met her in Harpers Ferry. We passed the Pinnacle today. The Pinnacle is one of the trails most notorious rock structures. Decided to stop the muscle relaxers tomorrow. I want to see how much my shin is hurting without me knowing. I like to know what kind of pain my body is in at all times so that I don't over due the workout. i am suppose to be taking 4 pills a day and I have moved that down to 3 so that they will last longer. I don't need any at night to sleep. Not sure I'd stop if I was overdoing it though. I have a goal of accomplishing this trail as quickly as possible. Donk and I were getting started from the Byrds Nest #3 picnic area when we came up on a deer standing on the trail and the deer ran ahead of us and stopped on the trail. We walked up to the deer again and it ran ahead once again and stopped on the trail once again. As we got closer it just walked about 8 feet off the trail into some thick saplings. We walked right on by. The deer was very visible to us but he probably thought he was well hidden.7:45 we made it to Pass Mtn Hut. Just in time for the sunset. I like taking a break mid day during the hottest part of the day and getting into the shelter a little later. (Should have kept this going later on up the trail. It might of kept us from getting depressed or down on the trail)If I had to describe today's trail then I would use the word rocky.
Date: 2008-04-18
From: Pass Mtn Hut

To: Tom Floyd Wayside
Miles today: 23.6
Weather: clear sky

Friday Woke up at 5:30 and on trail by 6:1011 deer todayWeather was Hot and sunny in the 80's today.Had lunch at Gravel Springs Hut. While we were having lunch a raccoon came by. When I went to get the camera the raccoon walked away. About 5 minutes later I believe it was another raccoon appeared. This raccoon had an injured left front foot. The raccoon played around by the water where there was an 8" pipe. I walked toward the coon and took a few pics. They turned out really well. Donk decided he wanted a really close up shot. When I saw him getting pretty close I told him to stop but he kept going. Well he got too close and the coon started hissing and he finally backed off. Not sure if he got the pic or not. Took a break at the Jenkins Gap parking lot to avoid the hottest part of the day. I had a hard time finding any signal to call Johnna. After our break we started hiking for about a mile and Donk was in the lead for some reason. Then I got in front of him and just as I got in front I noticed movement at eye level in a tree. As I focused on the black stop it started to climb down the tree. It was a bear cub. Donk and I stopped mid step and watched. There was a large ravine between us so we didn't feel threatened. We waited to see where mom was and we waited and waited. Finally she came from our left with another cub. Had we kept walking we would have gone around the corner and possibly ran right into momma and the other cub. We watched the 2 cubs and momma from a distance for awhile and then they ran off. Unfortunately my pics didn't turn out as they were too far away. Made it to the Tom Floyd Wayside. There was a married couple that slept in a tent in the tenting area as Donk and I took the shelter for ourselves. We completed the SNP today. Only 11.1 miles to see the family.
Date: 2008-04-19
From: Tom Floyd Wayside

To: Linden VA55/Quality Inn
Miles today: 11.1

Rolled out of the shelter at 7 but was suppose to be 8Weather upper 70'sTrail started off rocky then smoothed out once we got closer to a town. Walked by a zoology area that hasn't been used in quite some time. We didn't see any animals in the fenced in area other than a few buzzards flying around. Once we got closer to the road we came across a really grassy field and saw 4 deer about 500 yards away. Then we walked by a lake on the right side of the trail. It sure looked inviting but it was fence in. We walked up to the road, a busy one I might add, and there was a deer next to the road. We ended up spooking the dump thing and it ran across the road in front of a couple cars. It didn't get hit but it one of the drivers game me and Donk a look. We walked down the road a little ways and then cut up along the zoology fence line on the other side of the road. There were many homes that we passed in this section of the trail. It was quite boring actually. We also across a few bogs today. Donk and I reached the VA55 and we said our goodbyes and I sat down by VA55. Where I put my trekking poles in the ground and wrapped my bandanna around them to signal the family where I was. The family spotted me and pulled over and the Cassidy was the first to run over to me and give me a huge hug. Then Zman gave me a big squeeze and Johnna gave me a big kiss. I put my stuff in the trunk and I got behind the wheel of the Lumina and dove to Front Royal. Where we went to a K-Mart for some sunglasses. As it was a very sunny day and I had been wanting a pair. While I was there we shopped a little and Johnna commented on how fast I walked. I didn't even realize I was walking fast. Then we decided to go to the SNP parkway and visit Liquid and his parents. The cell reception in the SNP isn't that great. If you get someone on the phone it doesn't mean you can hear them or talk to them for a long period of time. I called Liquid the first time and got VM, voicemail, then we drove a little farther and I tried again and got him. I told him I was on my way up to the resort and then lost him. Called again and he told me he was in Luray down US211 so we headed for Luray and found him and his family at one of the outfitters. Johnna and the kids got to say hi and meet Liquid. Then we drove off to Waynesboro VA where we stayed in the hotel that I was at for 4 days. Animals today7 deerl1 rabbit1 racoonmany squirrels