morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-05-15
From: Reeds Gap

To: Rockfish Gap, Waynesboro, VA
Miles today: 19.1
Weather: clear sky

Today was another sunny beautiful hiking day. As we were hiking, we met Ray who works for Rockfish Gap Outfitters. He hiked the trail last year and was doing trail magic at the road crossing. He left a cooler full of soda and cookies there. MMMMM! I love trail magic. FlyAway didn't want anything because we had just had breakfast...but I NEVER turn down food!!! So I had two cookies and a coke and we were on our way!   Today we are going into Waynesboro to resupply and stay at the Tree Streets Inn. The only shelter along the way is at Mill Creek and that is the Paul C. Wolf shelter, it is about 13 miles out, so we plan to have lunch there.   We climbed Humback Mountain. Humback Mountain is one long, slow uphill and downhill. It is not as steeply graded and rises to 3,600 elevation and then back down into Rockfish Gap.   We saw several deer today, they seem so tame you can almost walk up to them. It makes me laugh because we were trying to take a picture of a deer back in North Carolina, and we were sneaking up on it and I leaned in to get a shot of it with my camera and..."crrreeeak" my pack squeaked and scared it away. And now they just stand there and look at you and wait for food. We had a good laugh about that.   We eventually made it to the shelter for a break. FlyAway began hiking and I was shortly behind him. As I came up to him he was on the trail just standing there looking at something. I came up behind him and there in the middle of the trail was a rattlesnake. WE both stood there, and he tells me, "Before you get too close with that camera...just remember they can strike at a distance twice their body length". Good to know! I got a couple of pictures and the snake slithered off the trail and under a rock just next to the trail. WE RAN BY. Then we wondered how many we had passed that were laying under a rcok and we didn't know they were there. I shudder to think about that.   We eventually made it into Waynesboro and ran into Blowout. We told him his missing cell phone is somewhere near the James River, so he can contact Verizon and deal with it.   They are calling for thunderstorms tomorrow. We are just going to resupply and head out to the first shelter...its only seven miles out, and just outside of the Shenandoah National Park so hopefully we make it before the storms roll in.
Date: 2007-05-16
From: Rockfish Gap, Waynesboro, VA

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

We had a fantastic breakfast at the Tree Streets Inn. What a great place. The house was built in 1913 and Nicki and Bill are wonderful hosts. The house was a summer getaway for a family who lived in Richmond. Nicki told us many people from Richmond would build houses near the mountains as it was much cooler and they would spend their summers there.   Bill shuttled us to the trailhead and we were on our way. We needed to register for a permit into the Shenandoah's, so we took care of that and as we began hiking, I almost ran into the back of FlyAway as he was stopped dead in the trail. Now what? I looked ahead and there was another rattlesnake! And this one was not budging. I pick up a small stick to startle it so it would move off the trail...well it moved alright...coiled right up and started rattling. He was getting in defense mode. (Note to self: never throw anything at a rattlesnake) We had to hike around it carefully as there was poison ivy all around...we gave it plenty of clearance too!   So we are hiking along and I was in front and FlyAway was shortly behind me by a minute or so. I was hiking up a short hill and it curved around and flattened out at the top. Just as I get to the top , about twenty feet from me, a Black bear decides to mosy out onto the trail! He looks down the trail (away from me) and then looks towards me (bears look both ways before crossing- hehe) and we make eye contact. I stop, thinking "ok, now what?" Before I finish that thought...he turns and runs into the woods! THANK-YOU! I was relieved. It was sooo cool. I stood there looking from the trail where he went and FlyAway comes up. We decided to get to the shelter as all this wildlife was getting to be a bit too much.   We made it into the shelter just as it was beginning to rain. At the shelter we met a couple of section hikers: Peen, Pugnose and Mr. Clean. What a great day!
Date: 2007-05-17
From: Calf Mountain Shelter

To: Pinefield Hut
Miles today: 26.2
Weather: overcast clouds

I was up and ready to go and FlyAway wasn't ready yet, so I headed out as I normally do. He usually catches up to me anyway, so I begin hiking first in the mornings. So I am hiking along when all of a sudden I see him hiking toward me...what the??? It turns out I was hiking along, and back at the creek there was a turn off into a campsite. When I realized I took the blue blaze instead of the white blaze, I turned back onto the trail with the white blaze...except I was headed south (unbeknownst to me)! We had a good laugh about that and I told him thats why he hikes first...so I won't get lost! Ha ha!   Today was an off day for me. I felt tired all day. The uphills were especially hard, and I struggled with just getting up them. You have these from time to time. It could be what I ate or lack of the right food (fruits and vegetables). It also could be a bad nights sleep. I have noticed those two rank high for having an off day for me.I have been pushing high mileage and haven't had a zero since Pearisburg. So, all I can do is walk. And that's what I did...one step at a time.   By the end of the day I was dragging. It was starting to cloud over and I could feel the temperature dropping. We were still 2 miles away from the hut when the skies opened up and it began pouring. But thats okay...because I have a poncho! I put it on and began trudging towards the hut. I stayed dry and made it into the hut. But it was getting cold. FlyAway was soaked, but he had dry clothes. I made dinner and and crawled into my sleeping bag. Nice and warm. I fell asleep fast.   Just a note: In the Shenandoahs and in parts of New England...the shelters are referred as "huts". There is no difference in them, they are still 3 sided structures, just different verbage. Shenandoah National Park, has 104 miles of well-graded Appalachian Trail, is memorable for its many vistas and abundant wildlife. Skyline Drive, which we will cross 28 times, has many waysides and concessions and they are known for their blackberry milkshakes .
Date: 2007-05-18
From: Pinefield Hut

To: Pinefield Hut
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

When I awoke, it was still cold and raining. I told Flyaway I was not going to go out into the rain until it let up. I have learned one thing about myself and hiking in the cold rain: I do not enjoy it. Something just tells me that when the animals stay put in their dens...well, its common sense. But then you hear "You won't get to Maine if you don't hike in the rain". Ugh! I'll hike in warm rain, but the cold stuff...forget it, especially if my feet get wet. I guess because I get chilled so easily. It's just the way it is for me.   Anyway, FlyAway was packing up his gear and taking his time doing so. He was waiting for it to let up as well. By ten he was ready and he left at 10:30. I found out later he went 20 miles to the Lewis Mountain Campground and rented a cabin. God bless him.   The rain never let up and the temperature dropped. It got to the point where you could see your breath. That just confirmed for me that I had made the right decision for myself. FlyAway says that he stays warm if he keeps moving...which is true. But I dont ever get that warm, it is just different levels of cold for me.   So I am sitting alone in the shelter, snuggled in my sleeping bag when Amanda and Ben roll in. Then, Rodeo Clown and Trashbag come in too. The were soaked and complaining how cold they were. They changed into dry clothes and made something hot to eat, and crawled into their sleeping bags too.   It was kind of nice taking a zero day in the shelter. I haven't had a zero since Pearisburg, as I am pushing hard to get as far north as I can before coming home. I hope to get to Harpers Ferry or beyond...it depends on the weather and the terrain. We shall see.
Date: 2007-05-19
From: Pinefield Hut

To: Big Meadows Campground
Miles today: 28.6
Weather: clear sky

When everyone awoke this morning it was sunny and we were shocked as the weather forecast called for rain for today with partly sunny tomorrow. I guess we shouldn't be shocked as they tend to get it wrong so often.   The shelters in the Shenandoah National Park tend to be spaced out about every 13 miles or so. You can camp along the way, but you are supposed to use established places and follow the leave no trace rules. Also you aren't allowed to be close to streams or trails, etc. I didn't want to "stealth camp" as the poison ivy is rampant, and I don't want to hike through that just to make camp, so I stuck to the shelters. The thirteen mile distance wasn't very far, but twenty-six seemed too far. I decided that I was going to make it a long day today and go for the twenty six mile distance to make up for the zero I took yesterday. Normally I wouldn't do this, but I am going home and will be off trail for over two weeks, and I don't want the second half of this journey to be rushed (they close Baxter State Park in Maine in October as it gets too snowy and dangerous). I always have the option of flip-flopping...that is, you jump ahead to Katahdin and then head south to finish up where you jumped off. But that seems so anti-climatic, I would prefer not to do that, yet I am not closed to the idea, as that may have to be an option.   Anyway, I made it to Lewis Mountain Campground and asked a ranger to radio ahead to see if any tentsites were available. She made sure they had one for me even though the place was booked solid. I love being a thru-hiker !I had to hustle to cover the eight and a half miles by 7:30 and it was already 3:30 and I still had to resupply at the campstore.   I made it there by 7:30 and was able to do laundry, shower and get dinner at the lodge. While I was there, who should I run into sitting on a rocking chair waiting to be seated in the diner, but FlyAway! It seems he only hiked 10 miles the next day and checked into a cabin.The tent site was right behind the check-in station, and it was too small for anything but a single person tent. Plus, it was right next to the main entrance, so all night long cars would drive by and my tent would light up by their headlights. So much for being in the woods!
Date: 2007-05-20
From: Big Meadows Campground

To: Pass Mountain Hut
Miles today: 18.8
Weather: broken clouds

I went over to Big Meadows Lodge and had a huge breakfast this morning...pancakes, an three egg omlet with cheese and the works, OJ and coffee. It went down easy. I am surely beginning to get tired of trail kibble. Oatmeal, Ramen and tuna, tend to get old tasting after a while, but it is lightweight, and there aren't too many options when you resupply from a grocery store.    We had lunch at Skyland. It was a 19th century mountain summer resort owned by George Freeman Pollack. He pushed to create a national park here. The Shenandoahs can spoil you...especially if you have one of there famous blackberry milkshakes that are made locally just for the park! MMMM-MMMMM! Flyaway bought me lunch today, how nice! Thanks again FlyAway!   We left and headed north on the trail. We passed the horse stables and I asked FlyAway if he wanted to ride. He politely declined...I guess I'll have to wait until I come across another stable. Then we hiked over Stoney Man Summit, the Pinnacle, and Mary's Rock. Very beautiful views.   We arrived at Pass Mountain Hut (known for the "kissing trees" - see pic) and we were the only ones there...I guess most of the people went to trail days. I wanted to go, because I would have the opportunity to work on AT trail maintenance and see alot of the hikers I have hiked with at some point. But, I have to be mindful of the time I will be at home, and how much time I will have left to make it to Maine. So, I will try to attend Trail Days next year.   The weather today was perfect...sunny and cool and no bugs. We saw so many deer today, and they are so tame here you can almost reach out and touch them! We also saw another bear. I tried to get a photo but he ran away so fast, when I took the shot, it just looks like a black blob way in the back of the photo.Well, I hear there are alot of bears in New Jersey, so perhaps I will get a better photo opportunity.
Date: 2007-05-21
From: Pass Mountain Hut

To: Jim & Molly Denton Shelter
Miles today: 31.7
Weather: clear sky

This morning when we woke up, we decided to head to the last Wayside restaurant in the Shenandoah's for our last blackberry milkshake and maybe for brunch. We actually arrived 5 minutes before it opened up and then found out they didn't have pancakes like the other one did, so we had a burger and a shake.      As I was hiking, I realized that FlyAway was going into Front Royal for the night and I was going an additional five more miles to the shelter, so this was the last time we would be hiking together . We have been hiking together for about a month and it has been fun. We left the Shenandoah's and when we arrived at Front Royal, we said our "goodbyes" and "good lucks". Hopefully, he will take a lot of zero's in hotels, and I can catch him...hahaha.   I arrived at the shelter and I was the only one there. This shelter was suppose to have a solar shower, and I was really looking forward to using it, but because of the ice storm that came through this January, the water pipe had broken and I had to settle for cold creek water. It still felt good to get clean. I had been walking through poison ivy and grassy fields full of ticks, so I wanted to make sure I was cleaned off.   Being alone here, I miss FlyAway and the other hikers. I miss my family and can't wait to see them. I have been thinking constantly about them. I think it will be nice to have a short hiatis from the trail and give my feet a rest and eat normal food again for a short while. I guess I am a little homesick.   Tomorrow I pick up my mail drop in Linden, then I get my maps and data information and I will be able to see how far north I can get before Bob picks me up in 5 days. I think I saw a Golden Eagle today. I know they are more common out west, but they have been periodically sighted in the Appalachian Mountains. Today was a good hiking day, the weather was sunny and breezy, and I was full of energy. This is my longest hiking day so far. But the terrain was relatively easier than some other areas, so that helps. I really feel like I have my hiking legs now. I feel strong and am getting in great shape. I love it. Today I hiked in the lead and FlyAway was teasing me that he didn't want to get run over. I love days like today!
Date: 2007-05-22
From: Jim & Molly Denton Shelter

To: Rod Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: clear sky

Today I hiked into Linden as I have a mail drop there with food and my maps. I had to hike in as I didn't want to hitch while I hike alone...it was only a mile in and amile back to the trailhead. I went to the Post Office to see if I needed to supplement my food. I did need to get a few additional items as my calorie intake has increased since I have been out here and I didn't allow for that when I packaged my mail drops. I hiked over to a corner store, but their selection was very limited. I also called Bob to schedule a rendevous point, date and approximate time. I will call him again when I am closer, so I can give him more details.   I finally reached the trailhead at 10:30, so it is a late start and today will be a shorter day. I can't seem to get into the groove of hiking alone...it's kind of weird...and I haven't made that shift yet. The trail is very narrow and poison ivy is creeping in along the trail. The maintaners of the trail ...the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC) are doing a great job of trying to keep the weeds and ivy back, but in two weeks it grows back again. Some of the way I have seen where they have weed wacked the trail for miles and miles...what a job. I did run into a volunteer who was wacking away at the trail, and I did thank him for all of his efforts and let him know how much I appreciated all the club does.   It was around four and I came across some "trail magic"! Yes! No trace and Salamandar left some soda, beer, chips, and fruit...it was awesome. There was only one beer and it wasn't a twist off, but I managed to open it...ahhhh beer by the trailside! How wonderful! Thanks again you guys!   I made it into the shelter and did some ziplock laundry, washed my hair, got cleaned up and ate dinner. Went to bed early and it felt great to be horizontal.
Date: 2007-05-23
From: Rod Hollow Shelter

To: Blackburn Trail Center
Miles today: 17.8
Weather: overcast clouds

I didn't sleep to well last night. For some reason I woke up every hour. So I am a bit tired today. Today of all days...today I have to hike the roller coaster...a 13.5 mile section with ten ascents and descents. The Virginia corridor is narrow here, leaving the trail crews very little choice other than to route the path up and down over these viewless and rocky ridges.   It wasn't too bad, and I did cross the border into West Virginia. Four states down. My feet are sore from taking a beating on these rocks. After a while, the twisting and turning and walking on the hard pointy surfaces really wears on your feet.   I was going to head to the David Lesser Memorial shelter, but decided to cut it short by three miles and stay at the Blackburn Trail Center. The center is has a free bunkhouse with a wood burning stove, picnic bench and solar shower. It was built in 2002 with ALDHA (American Long Distance Hiker Association)donations in memeory of Edward Garvey. I was offered a spaggetti dinner and boy that was a pleasant surprise.   Tomorrow I hope to get into Harpers Ferry and reach over 1000 miles! I want to stop at the outfitters there and check out some packs and summer sleeping bags.   I saw a really cool sign today...Enjoy Today! It won't come again.
Date: 2007-05-24
From: Blackburn Trail Center

To: Ed Garvey Shelter
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: clear sky

I left the Blackburn Trail Center this morning and hiked over the Shenandoah River Bridge and into Harpers Ferry! YES! I have hiked over 1000 miles, and I am in my 5th state! I walked into the Appalachian Trail Conference and said "Yippeee! 1000 miles!" They took my picture and had me sign in as the 105th thru-hiker for 2007.    I had noticed Ranger had just signed in this morning, that meant he was in town, and I wanted to see him before I got off the trail. I went over to the outfitters to check out some gear and he showed up. I bought him a beer and we chatted, but I had to leave if I wanted to get to the shelter before dark.   I crossed over the Potomac foot bridge and hiked along to canal and Potomac River. It reminded me of the canal at home. there were a bunch of people kayaking in the river...it looked like fun. I miss my boat.   Anyway, I hiked into the Ed Garvey shelter...just as I remembered it from my trial run last year. No one was there. Where are all the NOBO thru-hikers? There are some ahead of me by two to three days, but no one is hiking along this stretch it seems. Oh well, maybe I'll catch someone tomorrow.
Date: 2007-05-25
From: Ed Garvey Shelter

To: Ensign Cowall Shelter
Miles today: 24.8
Weather: haze

Got up early as I wanted to get as close as possible to the Pen/Mar border. I also wanted to call Bob and touch base with him so we could make arrangements to meet each other tomorrow.   I took a shower at Dalgren campground...it felt great. I am close to Lost, but I think she may be at the shelter I am heading to tonight. I want to go into Boonsboro so I can call Bob and grab a bite to eat. I had to walk the 2 miles into town and stopped at a deli and asked to use the phone, they said no, so a woman named "Faith" offered to give me a ride further into town to use the pay phone. We found out the phones didn't work and she let me use her phone at home and gave me ice tea. Oh, it tasted sooo good! Then she took me to a diner and offered to take me back to the trailhead around 2:30. How amazing is that? I grabbed a turkey sandwich and she dropped me off and I was on my way. I was so grateful for her generosity. I love how kind people are along the trail.   Going into town cost me some time and I did make it to the shelter, but Lost had moved onto the next shelter. Looks like I just missed her. I have to stay put so I can meet Bob tomorrow at the Blue Ridge Summit. I had forgotten it is Memorial Day weekend and there are alot of hikers out here. Kind of nice. I ran into a ridge runner and his family who maintains a section in Pennslyvania. It was fun talking with them, and they offered to let me slack pack when I come through that section...BONUS!   I will be meeting Bob tomorrow and I cannot wait. It will be so good to see him. We are planning on driving through the Shenandoahs and stay at the Tree Street Inn for our 25th Anniversary. WE may stop by Harpers Ferry and hike a little bit of the trail as well. Then back home to Ohio. I can't wait.
Date: 2007-05-26
From: Ensign Cowall Shelter

To: Blue Ridge Summit, PA
Miles today: 12.4

Boy, today was the longest day to hike. I am supposed to meet Bob at noon and I can hardly wait to see him. I got up at 5:30 so I will have plenty of time and won't be late.   I saw a beautiful sunrise. I won't see these from the woods like this for almost three weeks. I have to admit I am homesick. I feel mixed emotions. There have been days out here where the mosquitos, no-see-ums and gnats are pestering you. Or you walk for days in the rain...all wet and never dry out until the sun breaks through. Or you have stinging nettle or poison ivy to contend with. Then you climb a mountain and see a view as far as your eye can see, with bird soaring effortlessly in the breeze. Or come into a woods filled with a blanket of Spring Beauties or Trillium that stretches out for miles and miles. The woods are so fragrant that you just want to bottle the scent and wear it. Or you are hiking and its a hot sweaty day, but you come across the perfect spring and take a drink of the cold fresh water, and feel it quench your thirst like nothing you have ever had before. It is something that I have never experienced before. It has changed me. It has given me a new perspective. It has humbled me. And I am grateful.   But, I will be going home to see my loved ones. I am missing them soo much. I can hardly wait to see them. I truly miss them and I am anxious to catch up on the past events they have experienced in the past three months.I also have an opportunity to tweak my gear and maildrops for the second leg of my journey as well as give my feet a rest. All of these thoughts are racing through my mind as I hike. I find I am checking my watch every half an hour, and counting down the time until I meet him. Soon. Very Soon.   So, I will not add to this journal for the days I am at home. I will update it when I am back on the trail...which should be around mid-June. I will update the day before I head back and then continue until I am no longer hiking. I do plan to upload more photos and add more details to what I have already written as there are times I could only write the minimal amount of my hike so others could have a turn on-line. So to those that are following this, you may want to check out the pics as I get them loaded, or check some of the entries for more details as to what else happened that day. For now, I have time to spend with my family before finishing up this awesome adventure.