morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-04-29
From: War Spur Shelter

To: Niday Shelter
Miles today: 18.6
Weather: broken clouds

Thunder Storms near by but we only got rain. Woke up to snow pellets and cold weather. The temperature really dropped fast. The sun came out about noon and that really helped. We needed to put in a long day because we had cut yesterday short. We rolled in to Niday Shelter about about 1900 for an 18.6 mile day. Tomorrow will be a short day the next shelter is 10.4 miles. We are tenting tonight so we can sleep in and be a little warmer. It's forcasted to be in the low 30's tonight.Today I dropped our map and my water bottle. We have enough bottles and we are almost off the map so it's not a big deal but I still wasn't pleased with myself. It was near the end of our day and we were very tired. That's the time you must be extra careful because, if it can go wrong it will.We are enjoying beautiful Va. and it's many, many steep mountains. Spring has a sprung finally. The trees are leafing and are providing much needed shade. We can hear owls tonight. Not much on the wild life yet, a few snakes some deer and a rabbit or two. Lots of song birds and very quiet. We see one or two people a day. All in all very nice. Lots of time to think.Right now I think it's bedtime. Good night folks.Cheers,Castiron & 6 Iron
Date: 2008-04-30
From: Niday Shelter

To: Pickle Branch Shelter
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: broken clouds

We were sleeping in this morning when we heard someone call our trail names. Ti was Capt. Jack he had found the map I dropped and brought it to the shelter. We have been leap frogging with him and a few others. One of the others is Chief Daddy, he found my water bottle and carried until he caught up with us. The thru hikers really look out for each other. A quick story. While we were in Damascus one of the younger thru hikers had his pack stolen from in front of a pizza place. All the thru hikers pitched in and got him all the equipment he needed.  nake ha° a pack he had at home shipped overnight for the kid. Makes you feel good to know there are some great people out here.Well tomorrow is only a 13 mile day and we pick up another mail drop.I have not had access to a phone that would transmit all of our journals,nor could we receive any of your emails. Please don't think we forgot you folks. You are all always on our minds. From Ga to Mi. to Mass. to Fl.to Oregon to Ohio we think about all of you. Good night.Cheers,Castiron & 6 IRON
Date: 2008-05-01
From: Pickle Branch Shelter

To: Catawba
Miles today: 14.1
Weather: few clouds

Arrived in Catawba (wide spot in the road)about 1500. We had to be there before the Post Office closed to pick up our mail drop. Our next mail drop is well over 140 miles away so, this was a big drop. We have realized that we must get rid of some more weight. We need more food. There is an outfitter at US 220 interchange which we have to walk right past. Plus a HO JO's which we have decided to zero at while we get some new equipment. Our present load with 8 days of food weighs in at about 40 lbs. That's way to high for us.After a great AYCE (all you can eat) in Catawba we got a ride back to the trail head and headed for the second shelter about 3.4 miles north on the trail. Nice quiet night for us we were the only ones there.
Date: 2008-05-02
From: Catawba

To: 220 Interchange
Miles today: 18.4

It turned into a long day but a great hike with great views.It was quite a shock to walk out of the quiet and green woods straight into a 4 lane highway full of cars moving at 60 miles an hour. Talk about overloading your senses.Good Mexican food right across the highway. Had dinner with Shakedown, Furniture, Night Train, Free Hugs. HO JO's is the place most thru hikers stay. Cheap and 50 yards from the AT.
Date: 2008-05-03
From: 220 Interchange

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

After a big breakfast we headed for the outfitters to spend some more money. They had just the packs we were looking for Golite Pinnacles'. Martha decided to buy the mens pack, the womens was to short for her. I got some Super Feet insoles. Mart has had hers for several hundred miles and really likes them. We looked at tarp tents, but decided we would wait a while. Martha decided to send her 4 lb boots home and get some trail runners at less than half the weight. We also sent our jet boil stove home and will switch to alcohol. I have to build a stove out of two Fosters Beer cans. I wonder who I can get to drink all that beer? We shipped 19 lbs home. The 2 packs combined weighed 11.5 lbs. This should keep us down to about 35 lbs, with 2.5 ltrs of water and the 8 days of food we need to get Waynesboro with out a re-supply (133 miles).
Date: 2008-05-04
From: 220 Interchange

To: Wilson Creek Shelter
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: clear sky

05/04/08 Got the stove made last night. Finished up around 2300 after a test it worked OK, but decided to make a side burning stove and bought cat food to use the cans. No one wanted the cat food! We now have two alcohol stoves, however the cat food stove works the best. We checked out of HO JO's around 1100 crossed the highway and started up the trail. It's always up.
Date: 2008-05-05
From: Wilson Creek Shelter

To: VA. 614
Miles today: 16.9

Very strange night in the shelter. There was a weekend hiker already in the shelter who was very,very over weight with very little equipment. He talked and talked. After we ate and were in our bags he lay down on a thin blanket on the floor and went to sleep and started to snore loudly. Martha said "I'm out of here" and we went outside and set up the tent for her. I stayed in the shelter and slept with my bad ear up. No problem. The guy slept in all his clothes and on that blanket. When I woke up around 0600 he was gone. We don't think he played wtih a full deck. Anyway, we got on the trail for a long day at about 0830 headed for VA. 614 (744.8) and arrived there around 1800 and found a camp site very close to the river and tented. Very quiet night.
Date: 2008-05-06
From: VA. 614

To: Thunder Hill Shelter
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: few clouds

Perfect weather,lots of blooming flowers and a temp around 75* with cloudless skies. Several good climbs ad we crossed the Blue Ridge Parkway a few times. We even found a trash can to get rid of 4 days of trash. It's bad when your trash bag weighs more than your food bag.
Date: 2008-05-07
From: Thunder Hill Shelter

To: Johns Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 24.9
Weather: clear sky

05/07/08 Thunder Hill Shelter to Johns Hollow Shelter(775.1) Once again perfect weather nice breeze and clear skies. Our new packs seem to be working out. Martha's new trail runners are fine. She is happy with her "light feet". The new stoves are working we just have to get used to the different way of cooking.After a very long descent we crossed the James River and started back up to the Johns Hollow Shelter. Mangy Mo,LT,Dirty Harry,Gray Ghost and Shelby were our shelter mates. This morning brought some rain in the wee hours but it had stopped by the time we left the shelter at 0740. About 2 hours later things went south for me. The trail in some areas has heavy leaf coverage and the edge is not well defined. When I put my pole down it went through the leaves and into thin air so did my leg. Down the hill I went. I heard a loud crack and thought the worst. There was a tree about 6 ft down that stopped me. The loud crack was my pole snapping in half. I handed my pack up to Martha and she helped pull me up with my good pole. We dug around in the leaves and found the broken put it back together with, you guessed it Duct Tape. I did twist my ankle some so we went 3.1 miles to the next shelter and called it a day. I have soaked it in a cold Mt. stream several times plus we carried an ace bandage so it's wrapped. We will see how it is tomorrow and if it's not good enough to walk on we will call a thru hiker we know in this area and he will pick us up on the Blue Ridge Parkway, about a half a mile from the shelter. I'm not going to put the hike at risk. If it's not ready to hike with a pack we'll wait. That' for my daughters that always think the worst.It's started to rain, the frogs are very loud and its 2030 time for bed.Nite all,cheers,Castiron & 6IronThunder Hill Shelter(758.8) Johns Hollow Shelter (775.1) The game plan was to do 18.7
Date: 2008-05-09
From: Punchbowl Shelter 

To: Montebello,Va
Miles today: 27.2

Punchbowl Shelter (783.9) to Cow Camp Gap Shelter (799) to Montebello,Va (811.5)My ankle was a little tender but not too swollen in the morning so we wrapped on the outside of my sock and hiked out slowly. The more I walked on it the better it felt. Level and up hill were OK, but down hill had to be very slow. As luck would have it, it was mostly up hill, so we were able to make a good day out of it.When we arrived at Cow Camp Gap Shelter it was full so we walked a short distance to a camp site and pitched our Hubba Hubba (great tent).That night we had thunder storms pass by with a lot of rain. No storms hit us just rain. By 0630 the rain had stopped and we broke camp after a hot breakfast of Beef Stroganoff and coffee. The things you eat on the trail!, We are running low on breakfast and lunch items,so we cooked a dinner with a lot calories and save the breakfast foods for second breakfast and snacks. We must eat every two hours or we crash. The next days weather was forcaste for thunder storms associated with a fast moving cold front and that is never a good thing. We decided to stop at a B&B in Montebello called The Dutch House. We called them from the top of Cold Mountain to let them know we are coming. It is a big hiker stop.When we arrive at Fish Hatchery Road and tried to call them as advised to do, no cell service! Thanks again at&t. We had walked about 1.5 miles toward town when a family of three stopped and offered us a ride, take us to there home and feed us. How cool is that? We had to decline since we were going to zero because of the weather. They dropped us at the front door of the B&B. Thank you folks who ever you were. We had a great meal and our first shower in 7 days. Life is good!It is hard for me to believe we have hiked over 800 miles. The time has flown by. This has become a way of life. Eat, plan the next day, go to sleep, get up, eat and walk the plan.We are now walking with Spring and it is beautiful and very different every day. When we leave the B&B on the 12th we have about three days to Waynesboro for our next mail drop and my new phone. I hope.Looks like it will be cold after the front passes. It is what is. Cheers,Castiron & 6 Iron
Date: 2008-05-12
From: Montebello,Va

To: Harpers Creek Shelter
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: overcast clouds

05/12/08 1900hrsMontebello,Va. (811.5) to Harpers Creek Shelter (823.5)After a huge breakfast at the Dutch House B&B we were shuttled to the post office where we sent home about 5 lbs of clothes and Martha's book, Pillars of the Earth which had to weigh at least 2 lbs. Next we were shutteled to the trail head and dismounted to fight on foot. The temp. was 42* and the wind was gusting to about 40 mph. There was a wind advisory in affect calling for winds in excess of 50 mph on the ridges. I don't think we saw that today but it was close. Harper Creek Shelter is right on a fast running creek so we can't hear the wind. Tomorrow is supposed to be sunny but not much warmer. We need to do about 22 miles tomorrow to put us in range of Waynesboro, where we have our next food drop. That will give us a nero (near zero) and we will have enough time to take care of a mail drop, hit the Kroger and get to the out fitters to try and replace the pole I broke, do some laundry and get a big meal. We need to provision for Harper's Ferry 160 miles away.There will be some places in the Shenandoah's as we cross the parkway that we can supplement our food supplies so our load won't to be to heavy out of Waynesboro. Our new packs are working out well just not enough pockets for all the little junk you carry.It feels like it will be cold tonight. We are glad that we still have our Mont-bell down jackets and pants to to wear in our 40* sleeping bags if the temps. drops into the 30's. Which it might do tonight.Time to get some sleep.Cheers,Castiron & 6 Iron
Date: 2008-05-13
From: Harpers Creek Shelter

To: Paul C Wolfe Shelter
Miles today: 22.0
Weather: clear sky

05/13/08 Harpers Creek Shelter (823.5) to Paul C Wolfe Sheter (845.5)Rocks, rocks and more rocks! Where are the smooth pathways that Va. is famous for.After a very early start this morning we were ticking off the miles headed for Paul C. Wolfe Shelter(845.5) about 22 miles away. The sky was clear and it was cold, about 37* when we woke up at 0600.Right after second breakfast we got into the rocks. Going up, going down or straight and level the rocks were there. There was one section that was a class III climb of about 50 feet followed by a class III descent. We were hiking less than 2 miles an hour. Our average is about 2.3 miles and hour. It turned into a much longer day than we had expected. We got to the shelter at 1845 cooked our last two meals and climbed into our sleepings bags. There were 5 other hikers in the shelter with us and every one was in bed and quiet. It was a long day for everyone.Cheers,Castiron & 6 Iron
Date: 2008-05-14
From: Paul C Wolfe Shelter

To: Waynesboro, Va.
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: overcast clouds

04/14/08 Paul Wolfe Shelter (845.5) to Waynesboro, Va. (850.5)We got up early for the 5.5 mile hike to Waynesboro for our nero day. The AT cross the parkway right at a visitors center and they have a list of people that will pick you up at the center and take you to town about 4.5 miles away. A retired IRS agent picked us up around 1000 and took us to the Tree Streets B&B. We dropped off our packs and he then took us to the best breakfast place in town. I tried to give him some money for gas but, he said " no, do something nice for someone else". The AT can be such a neat place.Our B&B was built in 1914 and is beautiful place. There must be 6 bedrooms on three floors. We have our own bath on the third floor. They had our mail drop and a letter from our good buds, the Robisons'. Bye the way Roy, Bob the bear did get a food bag from one of the shelters a couple of days ago. The hiker must not have hung it in a tree which is SOP for the AT. Anyway, the owner of the B&B let us use his car to go to the outfitters for fuel and then to dinner. We went to T Bone Jack's for steak. Martha had been craving for a hamburger. It was all good!05/15/08 Tree Street B&B to Calf Mt Shelter 857.5) 0745 ( Waiting for the call to breakfast)Our plan is a big breakfast and then only 7 miles to the next shelter for the day. Rain is in the forcaste for the PM. Maybe we can beat it to the shelter. Our packs are heavy with food for the 160 miles to Harper's Ferry at 1010.9 mile. Did you get that Roy? Thats an inside joke that only the people in The Peachtree City Running Club will under stand. Speaking of the running club. Martha and I miss you guys. Thanks for all of your notes of encouragement. Say a few and drink a few for us.Time for breakfast. There's the bell.Cheers,Castiron & 6 Iron
Date: 2008-05-16
From: 2100 Calf Mtn. Shelter

To: Bearfence Hut
Miles today: 46.1

05/16/08 2100 Calf Mt. Shelter(857.5) to Loft Mt. Campgrounds(877.9)"It was a dark and stormy night", as snoopy would say, and it was. Rain fell all night long and our shelter was full. I'm glad that we got to the shelter early. Any later and we would have had to find a camp site. We were up at 0600 in the morning and on the road by 0800 for a 20 miler. Fog obscured most of the views until a little later and after we climbed about 500 ft. We broke out on top. Makes me think of being back in the cockpit! It was pretty with the Mtns' poking thru the clouds. Lots of wind all day but the terrain was moderate to easy at times. We have crossed the Shenandoah parkway (Skyline Drive) about 5 times so far, only 23 more to go.We got to the camp grounds about 1800 and signed at the ranger station and was assigned a camp site. The Loft Mt Camp Grounds are great, showers, hot and cold running water and all that modern stuff. I got to wash my hands in hot water! We are easily pleased these days.Tomorrow should be an easy 14 miler. Cheers,Castiron & 6 Iron05/17/08 2100 Loft Mt. Campgrounds to Hightop Hut (891.9)Got up early for a quick dash to the camp store and breakfast. Breakfast was a mile away so we bagged that. The store didn't open until eight so we waited in the laundry room. It was cold and windy, 39*. When the store did open we had some muffins and coffee and got on our way. Arrived here about 1600 and called it a day. The hut, as they are now called is full with weekenders and section hikers and one homeless hiker that hitch hikes from shelter shelter and bums anything he can get. We do believe he took some of our food at Gooch Mtn. in Ga. He is watched by everyone.It's bed time, 20 miles tomorrow and a motel room, we hope. Good night all.05/18/08 2015 Bearfence Mt. Hut (903.6) Chance of rain turned into a sure thing. We had stopped at a campground to pick some snacks and have lunch around 1230 and it started to rain hard. Our early morning start for a 20 mile day and a night in a lodge was pretty much shot. We had 9 miles to go and we were soaking wet with the temp about 58*. Not a good thing when you are up on top in windy conditions. This hut coming up in a mile so we stopped for the night. It seems everyone else had the same idea. This hut is full and so are the camp sites. Our plans are very fluid. We go with the flow. Tomorrow should be a good clear day.We passed 900 miles today! Pay attention Roy! Inside joke with my bud Roy. I must say time has flown by.We did have a bear sighting today. Mom and three cubs. She was feeding right on the trail and didn't see us. I banged my poles a few times to let her know we were there, she heard us and so did the cubs. They took off running. Mom just slowly moved off the side of the tail and continued eating. We also continued on our way after a few pictures. Four bear sightings so far.So our day was interesting even if it was cut short. The Appalachian Trail never stops suprising you.Cheers,Castiron & 6 Iron
Date: 2008-05-17
From: Bearfence Hut

To: Skyland Lodge
Miles today: 16.1

05/20/08 0815 Bearfence Hut (904.3) to Skyland Lodge (920.4)Yesterday was a very cold day but a good day for hiking. We stopped at the Wayside Restaurant, about .5 miles off the AT, for a second breakfast and then on to Skyland Lodge for the night. The forcaste is for heavy rain until late morning today. We have a great view of the sunset and and the Mtns.from our room. It started to rain about 0100 and is still raining. The Wx channel shows the backside of the system is just to the west of us. Hopefully we should start to see some clearing soon.Time to start packing up all the "stuff" we carry. The motel room looks like a bomb went off in an outfitters store. It always amazes me that this "stuff" always fits in our packs with 8 days of food.Mart just said she could see the Mtns. so time to hit the trail. Breakfast first! Take care folks.Cheers;Castiron & 6 Iron
Date: 2008-05-18
From: Skyland Lodge

To: Pass Mtn. Hut
Miles today: 10.6

05/20/08 2000 Skyland (920.4) to Pass Mtn. Hut (931.1)We finished a late breakfast, while waiting for the rain to stop and it did at about 1030. After a quick repack and putting are warmies away we left Skyland at 1100. Very thick fog/clouds obscured everything, even Martha at 50 yards. The wind was gusting to about 30 mph. All in all, a very cold morning. The first 2 miles were very exposed on the west side of the ridge line with the wind out of the NW. We were glad when we went back into the woods.The CCC built stone shelters in the 1930s' Those same shelter are still there with all of the original wood only the shingles on the roof have been replaced. They are built like forts. Anyway, we stopped at one of those shelters, named the Birds Nest, and took a long lunch break while waiting for some very nasty clouds to pass. They did with out a drop of rain, so off we went to Pass Mt. Hut. When we arrived at the hut Capt. Jack, the guy who found my map, was there with a young couple that had been hiking with him. We hadn't seen him in awhile, so we got to catch up on some trail news. The later it got the more hikers showed up. We wound up with 11 in the hut and about 8 tents. That will probably be the norm now that school is out. Lots of young folks out here and it is quite refreshing to talk to them and listen to their career plans.Tomorrows Game plan is about 13.5 to Gravel Springs Hut. The day after that will be to Front Royal and a B&B with a mail drop.Thats all the news from the AT for this evening folks. That's a wrap.Cheers,Castiron & 6 Iron
Date: 2008-05-21
From: Pass Mtn. Hut

To: Gravel Springs Hut
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: scattered clouds

05/21/08 Pass Mtn. Hut (931.1) to Gravel Springs Hut (944.2)Todays only a 13.5 mile day so we did not get up as early as we normally do. Everyone had left the hut by the time we did at 0900. It was a very easy hike to the next hut. Our lunch came from the Elkwallow Wayside Grill on the Skyline Drive Parkway and was a hamburger, fries and a blackberry milkshake for $23! They sure are proud of their food.When we arrived at the hut there were 6 section hikers already there. We are the only thru hikers so the questions began. Nice folks from all over the US. It is their last night of a month long outing and they are ready to get off the trail. Thank goodness they are going to bed early and we are too.Cheers,Castiron & 6 Iron
Date: 2008-05-22
From: Gravel Springs Hut

To: Front Royal, Va.
Miles today: 13.4
Weather: overcast clouds

05/22/08 Gravel Springs to Front Royal, Va.(957.6)We needed a shower and some real food so we headed for a B&B in Front Royal called the Woodward House. After an early start, we covered the 13.4 miles in 6 hours including a lunch break. Just as we came out of the woods there was a group of thru hikers with a rental truck dropping off a couple of hikers that were going back out on the trail. What luck! We didn't have to try to hitch into town or call the B&B for a ride.We had a mail drop, my new phone and glasses, at the PO and these folks gladly took us there. They dropped us off at a 7/11 and we called the B&B and Joan, the owner, picked us up. The Woodward House is a great place to stay and serves a huge breakfast. Every thing in town is within walking distance which makes it an easy place to resupply. We highly recommend a visit to Front Royal and the Woodward House.Back out tomorrow morning for a short day.Cheers,Castiron & 6 Iron
Date: 2008-05-23
From: Front Royal, Va.

To: Dicks Dome
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: scattered clouds

05/23/08 Front Royal to Dicks Dome (972.7)Today was very uneventful, just walk. I had my new phone and no bars.We arrived at Dicks Dome shelter around 1600 after crossing two foot bridges and a very wide and fast running stream. We are getting quite good at walking on rocks to cross the streams where there is no bridge,touch wood!Tomorrow it's on to the Bears Den Hostel at 18.3 miles.Cheers,Castiron & 6 Iron
Date: 2008-05-24
From: Dicks Dome

To: Bears Den Hostel
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: broken clouds

Dicks Dome to Bears Den Hostel (991)Up early and made it across the streams with out getting wet and on our to the Bears Den Hostel. Fairly easy hiking and good weather.We had some really cool vistas and great trails to walk on.The Bears Den is a great old house. Built of solid stone in 1933,the walls are 18 inches thick. For $25 you get a pizza, a pint of Ben and Jerry's, a bed, a shower, a load of laundry, a coke and use of the kitchen. What a deal!Tomorrow on to Harpers Ferry and a zero at the Comfort Inn. We have reservations thanks to our Bud Roy.We need a day off and some real food.Cheers,Castiro & 6 Iron