morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-05-20
From: Leroy A. Smith Shelter

To: Church basement, DWG
Miles today: 20.4

Finally done with PA!! TOday we hiked fast into the water gap and covered the 20 miles by 1pm. The last bit of PA was uneventful and rocky (imagine this!) aside from the descent into the water gap. There were some great views, especially of the other side of the river. I am very excited to get over there and out of PA. We've only been here less than two weeks but I would really rather be somewhere else...The water gap is nice, as is the church hostel. A great shower set me up for some great pizza at a restaurant a few blocks from the church. The bakery in town also has some decent food. Nothing like a small pot pie from the bakery and then a calzone and beer to round off a town evening. To NJ tomorrow!!
Date: 2007-05-21
From: Church basement, DWG

To: Brink Road Shelter
Miles today: 24.8
Weather: light rain

Perhaps I've been so mentally excited about NJ, or maybe the state really is much lovlier than PA but I'm diggin' NJ so far. Instead of highways and farms and suburban sprawl, the ridges look out on forest with only occasional breaks for civilization. It is much quieter and relaxing and much appreciated.I saw the first few glacial ponds on the AT. One hiker down south said they were non-events and nothing special but Sunfish Pond was very beautiful, I though. Perhaps it was the early morning light that made it so but I will remember it with something remembering fondness.Torcar is back with us today! He has been doing his own thing for a few days so he could take a couple days off to see his daughters and whatnot. Good to have him back in the fold.Peace, world.
Date: 2007-05-22
From: Brink Road Shelter

To: Jim Murray's Cabin
Miles today: 24.9

While yesterday was a nice hiking day, it sort of dragged a little bit and my pace was slow but today made up for that minor defficiency. I rocked the 25 miler today through the state park containing the highest point in NJ in mere moments. I even indulged in a several hour lunch break/nap, something I don't often do. Not that I don't like naps during the day; I usually have to keep hiking to make sure I'm at my destination by dinner time (if I miss dinner, I'm a grumpy hiker!). But today was easy terrain, and very enjoyable. I wish all hiking days were such.The cabin here is great and thru-hikers owe Mr. Murray a heap of thanks. The donkeys are possessed though...Cheers!
Date: 2007-05-23
From: Jim Murray's Cabin

To: Wawayanda Shelter
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: light rain

Another brilliant leisurely hiking day! Man I could get used to this. We took advantage of the short mileage to make a resupply run into Unionville, NY and am ica cream stop at the Heaven Hill Farm at NJ94. Delicious.The trail was rather interesting and featured road walks, several peaks over 1000' , a mile long raised walkway through a marsh, the most desserted wildlife refuge I've ever seen, and one of the AT's very cool suspension bridges. And, of course, ice cream. To top it all off, we were able to get tap water at a ranger station within "short" "walking distance" of the shelter.All things considered (aside from the lame wildlife refuge and the retarded trail route around it) it was yet another great hiking day in NJ. I would never have associated NJ with beautiful woods and hills before now...
Date: 2007-05-24
From: Wawayanda Shelter

To: NY17/Arden Valley Rd
Miles today: 21.9
Weather: light rain

A new state! We crossed the NY border during the AM hours. Once again, NY surprises with very nice ridge walking around the NJ/NY border. NY, on the other hand, immediately became a pain in the butt!Now this is not because NY is rocky like PA, nor because it is not interesting or otherwise dull/boring. You see, NY is not easy as opposed to the past 300 miles or so which have consisted of reasonably leisurely strolls up 1000' now and again to very flat ridges. NY looks as though it likes to have you climb up a short but very steep hill then back down again and so on and so forth. Perhaps we shall see the return of the PUD? I suppose one we reacquaint ourselves with having to exert while hiking, NY will be very enjoyable.We spent the night in a cabin off the AT at the ETA camp in Harriman State park. My fellow thrus: don't go there! It seemed like a movie set for a horror B-movie. I half expected to see the shadow of an arm with a knife in it's hand advance on me while I showered at the (empty) camp's comunal bathing house. The cabin itself gave off strong vibes that seemed to communicate' "Don't go to sleep for surely you won't live to see the morning!" But we're hikers and can sleep through anything. Turns out, we made it through the night! On to tackle the rest of NY now.Peace, world.
Date: 2007-05-25
From: NY17/Arden Valley Rd

To: Greymoor
Miles today: 24.9

Wow - NY really is trying to bust me back into mountain climbing shape! The ups and downs are steep but the woods are nice, as are the hills we are scrambling up and down. We hoofed it to Bear Mtn so we could mosey our way through the zoo but it ended up being a dissappointment. It was the saddest zoo I've ever seen featuring a fox sleeping next to a pile of it's crap, a coyote that was running back and forth in it's small enclosure trying to get away from the people watching it, and a couple bears playing with a log in a concrete enclosure (i.e. the entire thing, floor and all, was concrete). I usually don't feel bad for zoo animals (they have it pretty good in many zoos, really) but this one made me feel rather bad for it's sorry inhabitants.We saw our first rattlesnake today! A few miles before Bear Mtn, Trocar heard the high pitched rattle as he was about to put his foot down a fraction of a foot from a sunning snake. Cool.Greymoor is quite the nice place. It is much farthur than the .2 miles off the trail that Wingfoot says it is but it is worth the extra bit. The shelter isn't much but it was lights and electricity and running water and a cold shower nearby and one can order pizza before 7pm! So I take that back... the shelter they provide is plenty and a great overnight stop. A friar comes by every night to check on the hikers to make sure no one is hurt and it is a vert nice gesture, something everyone can appreciate. Definately plan your NY hike around stopping at the Friars!
Date: 2007-05-26
From: Greymoor

To: RPH Shelter
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Everything balances out eventually... after quite a few enjoyable days in a row, today kicked my butt like none other. Dehydration became an issue late in the day as the heat and humidity, combined with a fairly dry stretch of trail, took their toll on me. There was a water spigot at the Dennytown Road and a pump at the Shenandoag Mtn Campground and I cameled up at both places but I simply couldn't drink enough water today.Tonight I am drinking as much as I possibly can at the RPH shelter in hopes that tomorrow will be a better day than today was. Here's hoping.
Date: 2007-05-27
From: RPH Shelter

To: Wiley Shelter
Miles today: 25.3
Weather: broken clouds

A long day brought us right up to the CT border. It was another long day and, despite my best efforts at hydrating last night, I felt tired and underpowered yet again.Three events today helped fix this problem. First, we stopped at a house near the Dover Oak that lets hikers use their garden hose. Massive rehydration efforts followed! A few miles later, after we passed the Appalachian Trail train stop, we passed near a hot dog stand set up on NY 22! There is nothing a few hot dogs can't help fix. Especially hot dogs smothered in spicey mustard. Lastly, there was some hard core TRAIL MAGIC!Mac and Cheese left a cooler with bagels, peanut butter, gatorade mix, animal crackers and other goodies for us hot and grumpy hikers as well as a large bucket of cold water. Thank you so much They also left some magic at the shelter including Kraft Deluxe that became part of my supper. Even a couple bad days can end up alright when you mix in the kindness of trail angels!
Date: 2007-05-28
From: Wiley Shelter

To: Stewart Hollow Brook Lean To
Miles today: 19.7

In my home state at last... CT is very lovely with rolling hills and beautiful rivers. I saw the Housatonic early in the morning. I haven't been on that river since I went rafting years and years ago.A quick stop in Bulls Bridge got me resupplied a little bit and on my way. The day ended with a beautiful, long, FLAT riverwalk along the Housatonic. At the shelter, we met Hobbit, a very nice guy hiking with a former high school student. All things considered, it was a lovely hiking day.Cheers!
Date: 2007-05-29
From: Stewart Hollow Brook Lean To

To: Limestone Springs Lean To
Miles today: 22.3

Well today is my last full day on the AT this summer (more on this later...). And it was a good one! Once again, I wonder at the beauty that I really didn't expect my state to have. While CT is nice, it is really a drive-thru state: you gotta drive through it to get to Boston or NY... So I figured it would be a hike-thru state too. Luckily I was wrong and it really is a pretty place and fun to hike through.We tried to stop in Falls Village to get a few beers to bring with us to celebrate (mourn?) Joe's and my last day out here but alas, it is memorial day... we got a sandwich instead and trekked the last few miles past the falls and to the shelter. Remix and Stash spent the last night out there with us (Trocar, of course, was with us too) and it was a good one. A beautiful spring, like the ones in NC, and the best company possible made the last night a happy time rather than a depressing one.Tomorrow, on to Rte 44, a mere 3 miles away. and then it ends.... for now!Cheers
Date: 2007-05-30
From: Limestone Springs Lean To

To: Salisbury, CT
Miles today: 3.3
Weather: clear sky

Well this is it... 3.3 miles and I am done for the year. Almost 1500 miles from GA to CT and my adventure is now on pause for a while. It was greater than words can describe so I will hold off on those words for a while as I detox from this incredible high.Why am I getting off now? For starters I am out of $$. Traveling all over Ireland, kayaking, hiking all combined to cost more than I anticipated... by a lot. So I need to work and try to go to grad school with something resembling financial security. Or at least not go saddled with too much debt! Speak of grad school... the other reason is that there is a wonderful young woman whom I love very much. I am going to be leaving her in a few months to go study 1000 miles away while she finishes her degree and goes on the nursing school and other great things. I owe it to both of us to spend as much time as possible with her before then.So I bid the trail and its wonderful, transitory inhabitants, adieu. I will return soon to finish and then start again... my love affair with the AT has begun and will not likely ever subside.Thanks so much to my companions Trocar and Joe from Iowa, Scoops Moonwalker, Sniper, and all the others I spent so much perfect time with. By 'perfect' I mean that the time I spent out on the AT with those people was literally perfect: not a care in the world other than hiking, sleeping, and eating. I will miss it sorely and cannot wait to return. Keep it company for me!Cheers
From: Mineral Bluff, GA

To: Egremont, MA
Miles today: 0.0

September 15-16, 2016Craig and I left home this morning at 6:50. It was a beautiful day. We made it to Front Royal, VA around 4:30. We checked into a hotel, had dinner and went to bed.Friday morning we had a delicious breakfast at L Dee's. Our friend, River Rock, who we met on our AT hike in 2014, lives in Egremont, MA. We plan to stay with him and his wife, Kimber, and their daughter, Alex.We had a lovely visit with RR.
Date: 2013-05-19
From: Home

To: harpers ferry
Miles today: 0.0

We finished (roughly) packing our packs in preparation for our next section hike - from Lexington, VA, to Harpers Ferry, WV. Lisa and I will leave Tuesday afternoon and drive as far as we can that day. We plan to arrive in Harpers Ferry on Wednesday sometime, drop off our car and meet our shuttle to take us back down to Lexington (long driving day!).We plan to have boots on the trail by early morning Thursday. We are excited, and look forward to this next leg of our great AT adventure.
Date: 2013-05-23
From: Lexington, VA

To: Seeley-Woodworth shelter
Miles today: 14.0

We woke at 5:45, got packed up, ate breakfast@ Best Western. Our driver picked us up at 6:45 and got us to the trailhead by 7:20. We headed up the trail. At mile 807 (5 mi.) we crossed open balds with outstanding views. Storm clouds were already brewing, as a cold front was pushing in. We took about 2 hours and 2,000 ft to get here. The climb was steady and sometimes steep. We ate our first Chik Filet sandwich at Hog Camp Gap, a beautiful spot with a spring.Hiking was moderate and rolling for several miles. When we reached Piney River, the clouds opened up on us. It rained heavy & lightning was active for about 15 minutes. After it passed-and soaked us-the weather began to clear and get cooler.In about two miles, we got to Seely-Woodworth shelter, our home for the night. We met Timber, Ambassador, and Lil Engine at the shelter (napping). There was a rufous sided towhee following us for part of the day.
Date: 2013-05-24
From: Seeley-Woodworth shelter

To: Harpers Creek shelter
Miles today: 14.2

At the shelter last night, there was a nest of phoebe birds.Woke at 6 a.m. The shelter was packed. A couple came in at 7:30 last night, built a fire, and generally made lots of noise. It started raining and lightning too. Ate breakfast and hit the trail at 7:15. The hiking wasn't too bad at first. It was rolling up and down. It was only 47 degrees. The wind was very strong. We walked along peaks for awhile and the views were beautiful! After 6.6 miles, we stopped at Priest shelter and had lunch. The sun had come out and it was slowly warming up, but the wind was still brisk.From the shelter we descended 3,000 ft in 5.3 miles. It was brutal, but we saw pretty waterfalls. At the end of the descent, we crossed over the Tye River on a suspension bridge.From here our climb was moderate uphill for 2.8 miles. We are camping at Harpers Creek shelter, although we are in our tent. It's supposed to be in the 30's tonight. Our tent is right next to a creek.
Date: 2013-05-25
From: Harpers Creek shelter

To: campsite in top of Humpback Mt
Miles today: 15.0

We hit the trail at 7:50. It was a beautiful morning already and it continued to be beautiful all day. Our first hike of the day was the Three Ridge Mt and it was a bear! It went up 2,000 ft over 3.2 miles. It was very strenuous. Took us 2 hours and 20 minutes. About halfway up 3 Ridge, (there were switchbacks which did help some.) I heard something rustling in the brush. I looked up and saw a deer heading full speed down the mountain heading straight for me. I screamed and she veered and missed me. Whew!Stopped at Maupin Field shelter for lunch. We have seen lots of hikers coming in for the weekend. We crossed the Blue Ridge Parkway at Reeds Gap which is where the hikers parked. We counted 30 cars parked.After we crossed the parkway, we got water at a spring and headed up the trail. Just as we turned the corner we found a cooler filled with honey buns. Trail magic! First this trip. Note: we have walked over boulders just about all day. These greatly slow us down. We average 2-2 1/2 miles an hour but with boulders it's more like 1-1 1/2.About 2 miles up, we met a family who had hiked up from the Humpback picnic area. They gave us carrots and raisins. They were so nice. We continued on up Humpback to our campsite for the night. There was no water at the spot we were camping so, fortunately, Quicksilver (Craig's trail name.) found a spring coming out of a rock.Got to the site at 5.30 and it was so awesome! It's at the top of the mountain with an incredible view. We set up camp. Had pancakes and bacon for dinner. It was so good. It was very cold up here. The wind was pretty strong. We crawled in the tent after dinner to warm up.
Date: 2013-05-26
From: campsite in top of Humpback Mt

To: Waynesboro, VA
Miles today: 12.5

We hit the trail at 7:50. The hike today was really great. There was a stretch of 1,000 ft uphill that was pretty rough, but most of today was level and downhill. In fact, our hiking time was awesome! We hit to Rockfish Gap in Waynesboro at 1:00. Our hike was 12.5 miles in 5 1/4 hours. There was another couple we were hiking with who were about our age. Dale and Brenda invited us to go with their shuttle driver into town which was 3 miles. We got to the hotel, showered, ordered pizza, did laundry, and bought groceries. Went our to eat dinner and then crashed!
Date: 2013-05-27
From: Waynesboro, VA

To: Blackrock Mt Hut
Miles today: 21.5

Ate breakfast at the Quality In . Packed up and headed out at 7:45. It was 3 miles from the hotel to the trailhead. So, we started walking with our thumbs out each time a car came by. After about a mile, QS stepped into a taxi co. They wanted $20 for a 2 mile drive. He said no thanks. Walked a little further and stopped at a Hess station for directions. While QS was in the store, Peach, Lisa's trail name, asked a young man who just came out of the store if he would be willing to take us to the trailhead. He said sure. Once he dropped us off, we hit the trail at 8:20. We entered Shenandoah National Park. As we hiked in SNP, there were no views because the vegetation was so thick, so it seemed boring. It was difficult going 8 miles-steep uphill and downhill. At 5 miles, we came to the top of a mountain with lots of communication towers that totally incongruous with the natural settings. We stopped for lunch at Calf Mountain Hut for lunch. (The shelters are called huts in SNP.) For the most part today the hike was great- little up and little down.Twelve miles into the hike we were feeling fresh, so we decided to press on to the next hut which would give us a 21 mile day. The temperature was still mild (the last 4 days have been cool-even cold in the mornings-so it is great hiking weather.) We continued on to Blackrock Mtn Hut. At some point a hiker came past us at a good clip-it was "Don's Brother"-(Mike). He is an interesting man from Columbus, GA, who had a brother (Don) who died from ALS 2 years ago. He is hiking in his brother's memory. We finally got to Blackrock Mt Hut. We watered up, ate, then climbed into the hut. We met "the French Girls" and got reacquainted with "Steady". (He's the guy that started his trip in a kayak from the FL Keys!) Peach woke me during the night and said ,"There is a mouse chewing on something." We never saw it, but it had been chewing on her roll of toilet tissue. Today we saw a chestnut sided warbler, towhees, heard turkeys & meadowlarks, seen rabbits, and a BEAR! A real close bear. So close, in fact, we had to pass right beside it as it seemed to consider coming toward us. He didn't and we hot-footed it down the trail. It's been so cool and breezy that we haven't been bothered by bugs.
Date: 2013-05-28
From: Blackrock Mt Hut

To: Pinefield Hut
Miles today: 14.2

We awoke at 6:50 this morning. Had coffee and a breakfast bar. We got on the trail at 8:05. We ascended sharply up to Blackrock Mountain summit. From there the trail was fairly easy, but it began to climb steadily as we reached Loft Mtn. after 5.2 miles. Several parts of the trail had nice rock outcroppings that gave us nice views to the east & west of the Shenandoah valley.We noticed that the heat and humidity has returned, which makes the hiking more challenging and exhausting. The haze has become more noticeable than the last few days.After cresting Loft Mtn., we looked for the Frazier Discovery Trail which would take us down to the Wayside. As we descended (sharply), Peach suggested we drop our packs so we wouldn't have to carry them back up...great idea! We got to the Wayside (which is a short-order eatery on the Skyline Drive) and ordered a hot dog and cheeseburger, and Pepsi. Awesome!After eating, we delighted in the decision to leave our packs up on the trail...it was tough climb back to the AT.For the next 4.7 miles, there were serious up and down, which was exacerbated by he heat and humidity. We stopped at every viewpoint to enjoy the breeze.We arrived at Pinefield Hut at 4:05. We did 14.2 miles today.We met The French Girls, don's Brother, and a young German brother and sister at the hut. We decided to tent tonight, so we set our tent up on a nice ridge with a breeze. No bugs in the tent! (By the way, the bugs are back!).
Date: 2013-05-29
From: Pinefield Hut

To: Elkton
Miles today: 11.5

We got up early, ate, dressed, packed and hit the trail at 7:05. It's supposed to be in the 90's today. We started the hike going uphill-ruggedly uphill. We had 2 mts to climb that proved challenging. The most difficult one was the 3rd one, Hightop Mt. We went from 2,200 feet to 3,500 feet in3.5 miles. It was brutal. The heat was oppressive. The best part about Hightop were the awesome views of Shenandoah Valley. Then we met our next trail angel-Aaron King. He walked up as we were viewing the Shenandoah Valley below. We struck up a conversation and the next thing we know he is offering a ride into town and the motel! We were planning to hitchhike it. So we hiked down the mountain and we discovered QS and Aaron both share a love of Civil War history. Turns out, Stonewall Jackson operated thru the valley around Elkton which is where the motel is. Many of his soldiers were from this are and all the way down to Lexington , where his home is located. Really cool.....we got to the Country View motel around 1:30, got cleaned up, went into town to shop for groceries, then returned to the gazebo here for r&r. This is living....
Date: 2013-05-30
From: Elkton

To: Lewis Mt Campground
Miles today: 8.5

QS got up at 7 and walked down the street with our new friend, Mike (Don's Brother) to a little restaurant and got sausage biscuits and coffee. Yum! Bob, the owner of Countr View Motel, is so nice. He took us to the grocery store yesterday and waited on us. Last night as we were sitting at the gazebo, he brought us all a HUGE piece of birthday cake. We all enjoyed our breakfast at the gazebo. Beautiful morning! Bob shuttled us up to the trailhead a little before 9. We were on the trail at 9. Today was our shortest mileage day - 8.5 miles, but the trail was almost all uphill, gradual but uphill nonetheless. It was killer. We got to Lewis Mt Campground at 1:15. Got a site, set up and walked to the camp store and did a load of laundry. The sites are $15. There are showers, also, that are $1 for 5 minutes. Around 11 a.m. As we were trudging uphill, we saw a big owl fly across the trail and land in a tree. Really cool. After the laundry, we just read and chilled. It was great! Temp was 78. The gnats are pretty bad here, especially when there is no breeze.