morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2011-06-07
From: Hightop Hut

To: Bearfence Hut
Miles today: 12.0

I had to go into Elkton for a dropbox pick-up after about three miles today. It took forever to get a hitch. I was just around the bend from Swift Gap entrance station. It took about 40 minutes, but a nice retired D.C. firefighter finally got me. He had two black dogs, one older and bigger, the other Hervy, about 20 pounds. As soon as we got moving, Hervy climbed right into my lap. The guy never said a thing about it. I hit the post office, organized my food, sat down at Pizza Hut for lunch, and got Subway and some snacks for dinner.I got a ride back practically right on the ramp. Very nice guy who works for PATC. The nine miles here weren¢t bad. Oh, I asked at the entrance if this shelter was back open. A week or two ago, a bear flattened a thru-hiker¢s tent and there have been signs that it¢s closed while they try to catch it. I was glad to hear it was back open. I stopped at a picnic area on the way in for a break. They had water fountains with faucets, so I washed up with my bandana, which was nice.I made good time here. I arrived about 8:00 and ate before setting up. There were four people at the shelter: Spring, the German girl out for three months; Bebop from last night; a retired Marine who thru-hiked in 2008; and a Swiss woman going from Harpers Ferry to Springer Mountain with her three kids who are 8, 10, and 11.We talked till dark, then I went up the hill and set up. I¢m going to try 22 miles tomorrow to the shelter after next. If that¢s too far, Corbin Cabin is a few miles closer. I¢ve camped near there a couple times in the past and there¢s a stream. I hope I can make it, though. It would be my biggest day. Just have to get up early . . . .
Date: 2011-06-08
From: Bearfence Hut

To: ByrdÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Nest Hut
Miles today: 22.0
Weather: few clouds

Biggest day so far. I got up at 6:30 and on trail at 8:00, which was nice. I made good enough time early to stop at the wayside. This one was a little nicer. No veggie burger, but great chili and a portabella sandwich. Hoop and Socks came in later and sat with who I¢d find out later were Half Man, Sparky, and Brazil Nut.I saw my first bear later, finally. He was on the right side of the trail and didn¢t care that I was there at all, which I didn¢t like. He crossed over and spent some time trying to get into a fallen log. I got a bunch of pictures and some video.Right after, I was sitting at a trail juncture and he came running full speed out of the woods across the trail to my left. He was followed immediately by a big deer. Two seconds later, they came flying out on the other trail. I can¢t think how this was anything other than the deer chasing the bear. About an hour after that, I was hustling to beat the dark and came around the corner to another bear, this one bigger. It was a mother with one cub, who ran up a tree right next to the trail. She sat next to it on the trail and watched me. I got some pictures then realized I wouldn¢t be able to get by. The trail was going across a very steep hill with rocks up to the left and everything overgrown to the right. I hollered and banged my poles, but that got her up and making noise at me. I went back up the trail for a bit, but they didn¢t move off. I finally decided to climb up and around on the rocks. When I was parallel with them, I slipped and fell on my butt and started sliding down toward her. She perked up, but that was it. I was able to stop and get past them finally, but the whole thing cost me about 20 minutes.I saw one more just before the shelter, but just running away. I got here right before dark. Spring was very upset to hear about my four bears. As we were talking about it, we heard clapping over by the tent site and figured they¢d seen a bear. We ran over and sure enough, they¢d just scared one off. Spring was bummed to have just missed it. I¢m not thrilled to have one nosing around camp. Oh, I also stopped for lunch at Rock Spring Hut. It was more time than I should have taken, but I couldn¢t pass it up. It looked exactly the same and was nice to see.
Date: 2011-06-09
From: ByrdÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Nest Hut

To: Gravel Spring Hut
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Saw another bear today. This one was up in a tree and half fell, half ran down it and then away through the woods. I never would have seen him if he¢d just sat in the tree. I hit the last wayside for a late lunch. It looked like a big storm was coming right as I got there, but it went around. I got a veggie burger, portabella sandwich, and fries. I sat with a thru-hiker whose name I can¢t remember and his girlfriend, who was out for the week. They were really nice. At the other table was Half-Man, Sparky, Catfish, and Brazil Nut, who was comically attacked by a bird. I got going at 6:00 and got walloped by another storm. It¢s the first time I¢ve hit rain warm enough not to need rain gear. It would have been fine except that I was way up on an exposed ridge forever and there was plenty of lightning. I didn¢t like that and practically ran that three miles or so.I got here about 8:30 to find Spring and two other German section hikers, Thomas and Iris. We had a nice dinner and they shared some Jim Beam. It was a good time and I hit the hay late.
Date: 2011-06-10
From: Gravel Spring Hut

To: Front Royal
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: broken clouds

Got on trail at 9:30, just before Thomas and Iris. I felt pretty crappy today. That 22-mile day plus yesterday¢s storm sprint left my feet and shins pretty beat. Just before the park boundary, two more bears came crashing out of the trees, one on each side of the trail. Crazy. I got passed by Thomas and Iris a bit after, the first time a non-thru-hiker has done that, I think. They stayed at Tom Floyd and I sat there for a long break. The last bit to 522 seemed to take forever. I saw another bear a bit before, just walking through the woods. That makes eight in the last three days. I caught a hitch pretty quick. The guy was really nice. He took me to the post office and waited then took me back to the middle of town.I¢m in the laundry now. Washing my clothes, pack, and top quilt and going through my mail drop. Erica will be here later, and we¢ll head to Katie and Andy¢s house in Sperryville for tonight and tomorrow. I¢m really looking forward to it. [Ed. note: It was really fun! Their place is fantastic.]
Date: 2011-06-13
From: Front Royal

To: DickÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Dome Shelter
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Back in the saddle. I had a great time off this weekend. I got to see Katie and Andy¢s incredible place and finally saw my mom. We also opted for one more zero yesterday to watch what turned out to be the final game of the NBA Finals. Incredible. Oh, and I finally saw Torch. He was checking in to the hotel last night as we were coming back from shopping. I haven¢t seen him in about 850 miles. Hopefully we¢ll synch up in the next couple of days. The motel had a 10:30 AM shuttle, which was just me and one other guy, a section hiker. Getting back on a trail felt weird, and my feet were bugging me, but I kept it slow and easy. I stopped for lunch at the Jim and Molly Denton Shelter, which was beautiful. I saw Shadow, Country Mouse, and Flute Walker in the [shelter] journal, so I hoped to see them at Manassas Gap Shelter. I got there early, but there were just section hikers there, so I pushed onto here and made it about 7:30. Thomas and Iris were at the shelter along with some others. Shadow and them were up at the campsites and were pleasantly surprised to see me. We talked a bit and exchanged numbers. They¢re getting off for 9 days in Harpers Ferry unfortunately. They crashed just before dark, so I set up then ate alone. The next few days into Harpers Ferry look to be pretty easy, just a couple more 15-ish-mile days then in by lunch hopefully.
Date: 2011-06-14
From: DickÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Dome Shelter

To: Sam Moore Shelter
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Very nice, cool weather last night made getting up tough today. I wound up leaving with the Germans, who were only doing like 8 [miles]. I had lunch with them at Rod Hollow Shelter, then hit the beginning of the ¢roller coaster,¢ which is 13 miles of steep, short ups and downs. So far, not that big of a deal. Ups and downs and tons of rocks aren¢t exactly a novelty by now.Shadow and them are here, but were in bed at 7:45 when I got here, the bums. This shelter is another with a cooking pavilion. I had a big dinner and took my time, which was nice. Shorter day tomorrow and hopefully some snacks at Bear¢s Den. I sure miss the SNP [(Shenandoah National Park)] waysides.
Date: 2011-06-15
From: Sam Moore Shelter

To: David Lesser Shelter
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: clear sky

Got up and had a leisurely breakfast today. I hiked an hour or so to Bear¢s Den and got two sodas. I sat there close to an hour relaxing by a fire ring. About 30 minutes into the trail, I crossed route 7, which I recognized from my trip in ¢98. Karim and I went to the restaurant just down there, Horseshoe Curve, and only had a bit of cash. When we realized they didn¢t take plastic, we just got two sodas and fries to split. When the owner heard we were hiking, she brought us two huge burger platters with fries. We had to tell her we were both vegetarians, but ate everything but the patties. When I walked up this time, there was an older lady outside, who I asked to take my picture. Turns out she¢s the owner¢s mom. I asked her if that would be the same owner from 1998. She said yes, Tracee, and that it had been in their family since 1946.Inside, it was the same woman. There were also two big dogs who barked like crazy, but were very nice. I got a soda and my first fried mushrooms of the trip. I sat there about an hour, then paid and told Tracee my story. She wouldn¢t accept money for the burgers from ¢98, so I left it in the tip. I told her that the experience in ¢98 was my first with the trail magic and how nice people could be and that I thought about it all the time. Back on the trail, we left Virginia, which I screwed up. There was a sign, but I thought there¢d be another because we go back and forth on the border.Right after that, I was surprised to see Jessica from Kincora [ed. note: the hostel I picked him up from in Tennessee at the end of April] at a spring. Turns out she hurt her leg so was off a bit. She was with her friend, Jason, who was out for about a week. So I took another long break to talk to them. Just after getting back on, I passed the 1,000 mile mark. I took a break past it and Jessica and Jason caught up, along with Chevy and Sparks, who I hadn¢t met before. They were going to the hostel, Jessica and Jason were going to a campsite just beyond, and I was coming here, just past that. It was getting late so I worried I might have to stay at the campsite, too, but I made good time here. And I never saw the site anyway. As I was setting up, Jessica and Jason came by. They¢d seen the site, but the spring was dry. They were looking for a fire ring and I about jumped for joy to find out they both liked to stay up late. We had a nice fire and sat up till 1:00 AM. It was a really good time.So, 14 miles in 11 hours. With Bear¢s Den, Horseshoe Curve, finishing VA, hitting 1,000, and staying up late around the fire, this was easily my best day on trail yet. Plus I¢m super excited for Harpers Ferry tomorrow.
Date: 2011-06-18
From: David Lesser Shelter

To: Ed Gervey Shelter
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I wound up taking a zero in town yesterday so I could get some new shoes. I went back to the Merrells. I liked everything about the Salomons, but my feet were destroyed. I think they were both too narrow for me and too flexy in the forefoot. I really hope the Merrells get me back to where I was because my feet are in rough shape.Bozidar came out to visit on Thursday, which was awesome. Everything in town closes around 6:00, but we found a spot that let us sit there till later.I went to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy Thursday and today and saw a lot of people I haven¢t seen in a long time. I also got my picture taken for the book. I¢m north-bound thru-hiker #493. One of the guys there said they expected about 800 this year, which is high. I think that¢s around a third of everyone who started. I also found Katie and Andy¢s picture in one of the 2001 books, which was neat. I got out of town a little after 5:00 after walking all the way to the bridge before realizing I hadn¢t gotten fuel. Close to half the trip here was along the C&O Canal, which was something. I used to walk on that down by Riley¢s Lock all the time after work. I went very slow and easy here. My feet were killing me. Hopefully that improves in the next few days. Now that all the visits and stuff are done, I hope to start moving a little better. I got the second half of my [trail guide] book, and things are looking pretty flat until about Vermont. Oh, I got terrible news. Greenstone, Thimbleberry, and Pigeon are all out. I¢ve been seeing them since the beginning of the Smokies and I really liked them.
Date: 2011-06-19
From: Ed Gervey Shelter

To: Pinefield Shelter
Miles today: 16.0

Tale of two days today [ed note: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times?]. I started alone and didn¢t see anyone but section hikers. I stopped at Gathland at the War Correspondents Arch, which I remember well from ¢98. I got a Coke there and had a long break. I saw Ranger Bob slacking and talked to him for a while.I went slow and easy after that. My feet were bothering me a lot. Not as acute as with the other shoes, but nowhere near where I¢d like them. I was debating where to have lunch and decided to push for the road to see what was there. Right then, Ruffles and Lumiere came up from behind. Turns out they were actually at the shelter last night. I hadn¢t seen them since Daleville, so I was very excited.They were going for Subway, so we hiked to the road and got a hitch. We ate, then I walked with them to the ice cream shop. I was sitting next to her bag and saw there was a huge black widow with a small web going. That¢s the first of those I¢ve ever seen. She freaked out, and Lumiere and I took pictures. We got a hitch back from a young couple with an old Jeep that was already pretty loaded up. They¢d gotten a hitch the other day and were excited to pay it forward.Where we¢d gotten off [of the trail earlier] was right at the church where Pete and Rachel got married, so that was neat. We walked to Washington Monument and got pictures and then walked over Route 70 to here. Rusty Bumper¢s people had made him an encouraging sign and left it on the bridge along with trail magic, but that was gone.Torch and Jessica were both here. She¢s sleeping in the shelter, but came down to where we were set up. Lumiere made a fire, so we sat around for a few hours. I have no doubt we were up the latest of anyone on the whole 2,100+. It¢s too bad they¢re all a lot faster than me.
Date: 2011-06-20
From: Pinefield Shelter

To: Rock Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: light rain

Got up late today because of morning rain, but so did everyone else. Not too much to report. My feet were really bothering me. I saw Ruffles and Lumiere again when I stopped for a very late lunch, but they¢re pushing for PA tonight so I probably won¢t see them again for a while. I did the last mile or so with Torch, which was nice. He¢d visited with his wife who had left trail magic. There are a ton of over-nighters here, but I¢m off to the side and got my own picnic table. Torch came over and talked while I was setting up. He gave me an apple and said he should have given it to me at the bottom of the climb right before. Oh, another shelter with a steep half-mile hike for water. And this one was marked as 0.1 miles in the book.
Date: 2011-06-21
From: Rock Mountain Shelter

To: Deer Lick Shelters
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: clear sky

Pretty miserable start to the day. Rainy again and crazy super rocky in the beginning. That was really, really slow going. I got to Pen-Mar Park in the afternoon and met up with Tramp. We got a ride to town from a guy for $12 who also drove us back. I hit Food Lion for a three-day resupply. I really lived up to the hiker trash label and sorted it all on the sidewalk right out front.Tramp and I sat at Pen-Mar for a while eating, then hiked out. We both wanted to go farther, but it looked like a bad storm, so we stopped here at 7:00. We ended up sitting and talking forever. We actually left Springer [Mountain, GA] on the same day and have been within a day of each other a bunch of times since then, but never met until now. Short miles lately. I have to go for a grown-up day tomorrow if my feet can take it.
Date: 2011-06-22
From: Deer Lick Shelters

To: Whereabouts Unknown
Miles today: 0.0

Another rainy morning, another fight to get out of bed. I finally got up at 9:00 and out by 10:30. I hit the Tumbling Run Shelters pretty quick. They were absurdly nice, which is funny because it¢s where we wanted to go last night. There were a few people in the register talking about a pool, so I got out my book to investigate. Sure enough, Caledonia State Park has a pool open until 7:00, and it was an even ten miles away. I hammered and made it in four and a half hours including a 30-minute break. It was incredible. Huge and I could see the water slide from quite a ways off. Tramp was there, but he was just getting food, not swimming. Crazy. I left my bag with him and headed over without my little towel or Crocs or anything. It was $4 to get in. I couldn¢t get my stuff out my pockets quick enough and jumped in in my hiking shorts. Unbelievable. I was in the really big deep section, which I had almost to myself. I swam some laps and goofed around then headed for the slide. There were about ten of us in line: me and all eight- or nine-year-olds. It was a really good one with several turns, and I hit it way faster than those little kids. I swam a bit more, then headed for the snack bar. Tramp and I headed out at about 7:00 with two miles to here. Right on the way out, we hit really good trail magic. A guy who¢d hiked last year, King Krawler, brought his family out for a long weekend. They were camping in the park and grilling every day. He¢d been right there a year ago today. We sat with them about an hour and got soda, black bean burgers, chips, fruit, and even seaweed. This one guy had bought a case of them at Costco. It was all incredibly nice, definitely one of the best yet. We managed to make it here before dark to find Torch, Rick, Ruffles, and Lumiere. We all wound up sitting around talking for a really long time. They all crashed in the shelter and I set up on a tent pad super late and had a quick, cold dinner. Definitely one of my best days out.
Date: 2011-06-23
From: Whereabouts Unknown

To: Off trail at 1096
Miles today: 20.0

Got up early today and ate with everyone. Ruffles got up right after me and she said she heard my voice and figured she had to get up to avoid the shame of being later than me. We all took our time, but I still got on trail before 9:00. Which is when tragedy struck. I took my hat off and clipped it to my hip belt compression strap. It was more than two miles later that I realized the strap had ripped out of my pack and my hat was gone. I agonized about going back, but I had hopes of someone recognizing it. About seven miles in, I saw everyone at a shelter, so I stopped for a break. There was a woman there who turned out to be the famous Miss Janet. I also met Coyote and Lady Sherpa, who came in after me. They¢d seen my hat, but hadn¢t picked it up. Miss Janet was going south and said she¢d try to get it and drive it up to me.When I left, I forgot to get water, so I had to walk way down this side trail a bit later. I left my pack on the AT and realized I¢d lost my bandana, which I keep tied to my shoulder strap. Luckily, when I got back, it was sitting on my pack. Tramp had found it and seen my pack.I stopped for another break at Tom¢s Run Shelters where Torch and Rick were staying. Right after that was the official half-way point, 1,090.5 miles. It was really something. I took a lot of pictures and thought about being half-way for a long time. After that was Pine Grove and the Half-Gallon Challenge. I very rarely feel bad about being vegan, but this was one time I really did. Coyote, Lumiere, and Tramp had just finished and were laying on the ground looking ruined. A couple others were just finishing, and Lady Sherpa and Ruffles had made it about halfway. I really wish I could have done it. I had hoped to hitch for four pints of Soy Delicious, but there wasn¢t anything around. I sat around with them for about an hour, which was fun. That guy Coyote is hysterical.They were all camping there, but I headed out of the park about two miles. I think this is the first time I¢ve camped alone and not at a shelter or something since before Shenandoah. They plan was Boiling Springs early Saturday, but it¢s only 17 from here so I might go in tomorrow and get a room. I would love a shower.
Date: 2011-06-24
From: Off trail at 1096

To: Boiling Springs Campground
Miles today: 17.0

Got going at a reasonable time today. I had an early lunch at Green Mountain Grocery.I pulled a great move today. There¢s this campsite (just a field, really) less than halfway out of town. All day I was going back and forth over whether to camp or hit town. It wasn¢t until I was talking to Squeaky at the end of the day that I realized I could camp and then walk the 0.3 into town. I have no idea why that didn¢t occur to me because it¢s exactly what I did outside that store after Dragon¢s Tooth.Anyway, that got me super excited, so I really hauled to get there. I got it in my head that I would take everyone to dinner at the Italian place, so I was excited to see who was around. They only person at camp was Muffin Man, and he¢d already eaten, but when I got back from setting up, Ruffles¢ and Lumiere¢s packs were there. I found them in town so we got a really good meal with the world¢s best waitress. After that, we sat on the corner smoking cigars for a couple hours then back to the field for a while longer to have a couple beers. It would up being a really great night, actually.
Date: 2011-06-25
From: Boiling Springs Campground

To: Off trail at 1130
Miles today: 17.0

Managed to get up and about at a reasonable time today. The tents were gone at 8:30 when I looked, so I figured I was still the last one out. The trail was completely flat all day, mostly through fields.I saw Coyote, Lady Sherpa, Snake Farm, GPS, and Trump at the farm, then got a text from Ruffles and Lumiere that they were just leaving town at 1:00 but were still going to beat me to 17 miles.I got here at about 8:15 and thought I¢d make it an early night. But at 10:30 I thought I saw lights and heard voices. It was those guys yelling my name and saying they had a present for me. Turns out it was my hat! Miss Janet had seen it on another hiker¢s belt and evidently recognized it from my description. Ruffles and Lumiere had seen her scouting for trail magic. I¢m super excited to get her back.
Date: 2011-06-26
From: Off trail at 1130

To: Duncannon, PA
Miles today: 8.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Got into town early and hit the Doyle. The plan was to check in, then hit the outfitter. I would up leaving my pack in the lobby and having a few drinks with everyone. I got a chance at a ride to the outfitter, so I had to get up in a hurry. Which led to getting a picture text at the outfitter of everyone eating the fries I¢d ordered at the bar before I left.The bar closed at 8:00, so we got drinks for later, then hit the pizza pub until they closed, then back to the Doyle balcony after that.I¢ll spare the reputations of those involved, but it was a really fun night. We¢ll see what time everyone rolls out tomorrow.