morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-05-25
From: Pearisville ( Rendevous Inn )

To: Baily Gap shelter
Miles today: 23.0
Weather: broken clouds

I took a zero yesterday to rest from the 22 + days I did. So what do I do out of the shoot? 23 miles. But I can stop and break anytime I want so thats what I did today. Feet tired. Took a nap. Hungery. Eat. I dont feel so tired as my prior long days. I saw some red eft salamanders this morning. I thought I might go the whole trail without seeing one as they are more southern in nature. Also another box turtle. I think box turtles are the original Punk Rockers with the orange or yellow highlights. During the day I played leap frog with a family out section hiking. They had the whole group from about three to 12 or 13. There was only one section with some views but it is so muggy and hazy that you really cant see much. They flies are getting bad along with the humidity. Just another element to get used to. Tomorrow I'll probably get to see the keiffer oak, a 300 year old tree about 18 feet around. I'll get some pictures.
Date: 2007-05-26
From: Baily Gap shelter

To: Laurel Creek Shelter
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: few clouds

The woodpeckers and thrushs lulled me to sleep and woke me up. They are up with the sun so I was up early this morning and out the door. Jack, a sectionhiker was already up and cooking his breakfast. The going was rough early, like some one raked all the stones into a serpentine line across the mountain and then they laid the trail over it. Later on was nice trail. Sometimes, though the downhills are hard, especially on your toes. While eating lunch at the warspur shelter some chipmonks were carrying on chasing each other and acting like fools. They are really funny to watch. I didnt make my planned destination today, because of the slow start and long uphill I had, but thats fine, there is a trail feed tomorrow. If I had gone on I would have missed it. They are giving breakfast, lunch and dinner. I am going to get a good breakfast. I think I can make some big days next couple, the terrain is all downhill. There are a lot of campers out this weekend, Memorial Day. I passed an area called wind rock that had a few campers and there are more than normal hikers on the trail. There is a cold stream next to camp today so I took a bath. It really doesnt help, I stink so bad. The bugs are out and mosquitos in some low areas. That means tent camping during warm days. My tent will keep the bugs out. Im starting to miss my family alot now, its tough being away. I'll have to find other things to keep me occupied.
Date: 2007-05-28
From: Laurel Creek Shelter

To: Niday Shelter
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: broken clouds

Food and lots of it. I mde it down to the trail feed at 8:30. They had every thing. I finally left at 10;30 and started to hike again. I passed the Keffer Oak a 300 year old tree. Most of the way was old road so the going was great. Not a bad day
Date: 2007-05-29
From: Niday Shelter

To: Johns Spring Shelter
Miles today: 22.5
Weather: light rain

Bugs bugs bugs. Last night aftergoing to sleep the bugs and mosquitos got bad. After a 747 tried to fly up nose, I got up and set up my tent. No bugs now. Before everyone went to sleep a whiporwill started singing out. Loudy. He must have been near the shelter. Everyone was "whats that?" "Is it going to do that all night?" After about 5 minuites it stopped and all tried to sleep. The trail started nice but got to be a series of long switchbacks. It took three hours to get to thetop of the mountain. About halfway was the Audie Murphy Memorial. Great first half. Then the hard mountain came. Great switchbacks but the rocks came. Dragons tooth, so and sos razor. It was brutal. This is supposedly the hardest part of the trail in Virginia. The Dragons tooth was a great view, but I paid for it. The way down was on 4 inch ledge and broken out rock. Some drops were 4 feet or better. There were even hand bars mounted in the rock. Should have been a warning sign "Do not attempt with backpack." Most of us stopped at a gas station for water and gatorade, where Bloodynose had some friends nearby. We all were able to get a ride, a spagetti dinner, a hot shower, and a bug free place to sleep. A great day. McAfee Knob tomorrow.
Date: 2007-05-30
From: Johns Spring Shelter

To: Daleville
Miles today: 20.2
Weather: light rain

The most beautiful views were today. After paying the price yesterday, we were treated to some terrific valley and mountain views of the area. We were dropped off where we skipped out to the store yesetrday, and had a stroll thru some pastureland. One could see the Dragons Tooth that we did from the fields. After a while we were on top of McAfee Knob. Most of us got the obligatory standing and sitting on the edge shots and then we just hung around awhile. We could see Tinker Cliffs in the distance, our next destination. After a while the thunder came in and the dark clouds started overhead, so I moved down to the shelter to wait out the storm. The others followed soon behind. The rain never developed and we were all off to the cliffs and the shelter beyond. What a great choice. The view was better thab the knob. I just sat there and soaked it all in. It was absolutely gorgeous. Today I crossed the 700 mile mark, almost 1/3 done. It being another long day, dinner was at 8:30 and sleep came soon.
Date: 2007-06-01
From: Daleville

To: Sharp Mountain Overlook
Miles today: 19.5
Weather: broken clouds

AP (Dalevile) New wrinkle formula found. A full face spiderweb mask reduces wrinkles by 50%. Blech. I was the first one out today so I got to break all the webs that get drawn across the trail at night. So lets see; critter count this morning, 1 toad, 1 frog, 1 lizard, a couple dozen cows, 3 deer, 1 rabbit and 13,748,603 spider webs. yech. Chuck Norris arranged a slack pack out of Daleville to the Blue Ridge Parkway. His family was having a get together at the Peaks of Otter lodge and his brother picked us up on the parkway after picking up our packs at the motel. He had said 4 oclock so I was at the Sharp mountain overlook at 3:45. By 4:15 no show so I thought something was wrong. I started back and found our ride had just showed up where ther rest of the group was. I had just walked 4 bonus miles. Not fun. The best part of the day was about halfway through, I stopped at a creek to soak my feet. I dont know if I told you already but, if you soak your hot, tired, swollen feet in water so cold it makes your head hurt, the pain in your feet goes away. So as I was soaking my feet, the minnows were nibbleing away tickling my feet. There was a crawdad in the water making his rounds, and the brook was babbling as it always does. It was a really peacefull moment. I have a couple pictures of the area and the crawdad, although these digital cameras wont focus through water you can make him out. After our hiking was done, we all got a shower at the lodge and Chuck Norris treated all to dinner. A true luxury while on the trail.
Date: 2007-06-02
From: Sharp Mountain Overlook

To: Cornelius Creek Shelter
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Food call Part 99. After a great dinner, I thought it wouldnt get better. Ha. All you can eat breakfast. I had three plates. Chucks family, Aprilshowers and montreal went to the lake I went hiking. It was a nice day, but after a slack packing day, My pack felt like it weighed a ton. Part way through was a newer shelter, Bryant Ridge. It was built post and beam style. Kind of large, it could hole over thirty people. When I got to the last shelter there were around 20 teenage girls around. I found that they were in some semi correctional deal to do outdoors stuff, camping, what not. They had stiff guidelines, lights out cleanup duty water duty and all. I hope its good for them. Tomorrow is a long day so Im off to sleep
Date: 2007-06-03
From: Cornelius Creek Shelter

To: Glascow
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: light rain

Rain, rain, rain. The rain started early, like a drizzle, then occationally would pick up a full downpour. In the mountains the rain is hard to predict. Sometimes your above it, sometimes your in it. When your in it the cloud is all around you and becomes fog. It can be so thick one can not see 10 to 20 feet. The rain makes the trail slippery too. The mud is slick, the rocks get slick, all uphill and downhill. The girls left at 8 and I followed shortly thereafter. They had flocked around the shelter and the table and I couldnt get breakfast made or set up my pack. I soon passed them, but there wasnothing to see. Most of the day was up in the clouds. Even the view of the guillotine, a rock formation you could barely see. It was anawful day. Eventually, I made it to the bridge across theJames River and started to hitch to Glascow. I needed to resupply and get out of the rain. A couple on vacation picked me up and took me all the wa to the Tired Feet motel. Guess where they were from? About 40 miles south of home. South county Maryland. Its a small world. Well I need to get a shower and dinner so more later
Date: 2007-06-04
From: Glascow

To: Brown Creek Shelter
Miles today: 20.1
Weather: overcast clouds

The rain cleared some of the humidity out but it still felt like 100% when hiking. I got breakfast at the motel, a Mountain Man, 2 of everything. Definately filling. Ken, that does shuttles for gas money was at the diner and gave me and three others a ride back to he trail so we could continue. The James River had turned mud brown from all the rain. I had two ups one was 2000 feet and the rest was just regular PUDS. Along the way is Lynchburg resevoir and dam. The trail was set back just far enough that you could see the water thru the trees. It was nice to see somethiing different than more trees. At one point was a nice vista about 2500 feet above the forest floor. Vultures were flying right up with us but you could see red hawks down just above the trees. I always see vultures around, I think thru hikers smell so bad that the vultures think we are dead and something they can eat. Tomorrow I hit the 800 mile mark. Ii know it was just a couple of days ago I crossed the 700 mile mark. The miles are flying now. Dinners done now and I took a bath in the river. The cold water feels good after a hot day. And I got to soak my feet again. Now its time for a little radio and bed.
Date: 2007-06-05
From: Brown Creek Shelter

To: Dutch Haus B&B
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Rain again? I had set up camp next to the river and the ripple of the water made it easy to fall asleep. I almost missed the sprinkle during the middle of the night. The area the shelter was in has some historiacal signifigance. It was a community of freed slaves that had maintained a town until 1920 when they sold to the forest service. There were some old stone foundations left but not much else. The trail was pretty smooth all day except about 2 miles from the start. I had taken off my pack at a roadside picnic table for a snack and saw large grey clouds off to the west. The wind was brisk and the air was cool. I thought I was in for another rainy day. I put my pack cover on and took off up the mountain. It was a 2500 foot gain over 3 miles. Not bad except it was straight up. No switchbacks. That hurts. The next mountain over was cold mountain. It was a bald and you could see 360 for miles. There were indigo buntings playing and other bird all around that you couldnt see normally in the woods. Like yesterday, I found that some thing other than trees is a delite to see. Today I crossed the 800 mile mark. Once again no fanfare and no parade. Just a nondescript step along the trail. I wanted another hot shower and some real food so I have stopped at the Dutch Haus B&B for the night. It is about 1 and a half miles of the trail. The owner Lois hands you a basket and a robe so she can do the laundry. Definately cool. My robe was a little small so I preferred my lavalava to wear while laundry was being done. Now I hear the dinner bell.....
Date: 2007-06-06
From: Dutch Haus B&B

To: Laurel Springs Gap
Miles today: 24.1
Weather: broken clouds

If you hike the AT you have to stop at the Dutch Haus for a night. You get laundry, shuttle to the trail, dinner, breakfast, a shower and a place to sleep. Dinner was a chicken leg with pasta and white sauce and veggies. Of course there was a salad before the main course. Breakfast was an egg omlet with sausage over the top, pancakes, coffee, and orange juice and fruit. Just what was needed for a refuel. The hike was great too. The trail went over a mountain called the Priest. About a 3000 foot climb. But I was ready today. Gorgeous views and fresh air. At the bottom was a suspension bridge for hikers over the Tye river. On the other side I stopped for lunch and waded in the river. Great way to relax and good for the feet. Further on was a cascading style water fall that I followed for about 1 1/2 miles. Falls and pools all the way. A long boring section came up next that was behind and below the Blue Ridge Parkway. I came over a road crossing and on the other side was a fawn about 16 inches high, locked in position hoping his color would camoflauge him. You could see him turn his head ever so slightly watching me. Poor guy, I hope his mom was around. I'm sure she was. Not ten steps away was a fledgling titmouse on the trail. poping around trying to stay away from me. I took some pictures of both. Camp was in the woods away from roads and houses. Barely ready by dark I made dinner and ate in my tent. A long day today, I was tired at the end. Waiting for Waynesboro for a break.
Date: 2007-06-07
From: Laurel Springs Gap

To: Waynesboro
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: clear sky

By 6 camp was down. No breakfast, but that will be on the way. tThere were a couple of great overlooks this morning, however one was very dissappointing. As I climbed out on the rocks overhanging the mountain, I saw a ski resort with McMansions on the other facing mountain. Disgusting. I had breakfast at Humpback Mountain Parking area where a lady gave me some water. Great views from here and a info placard that discussed how they removed trees in the early day when settlers came into the area. The rest of my hike today was pretty flat. It was below the BRP and out of sight of most people. I passed an area that my data book said was an old cemetary. There were stones piled up in 3 by 8 mounds all around with no type of head stone. If it was a cemetary it was either poor people or an old indian burial site. As I was walking down the hill towards the David Wolfe shelter I thought I had spooked another deer. I thought that I had seen a black object move, but it was dark in the valley. The switchbacks came back towards the area and I started scanning the woods for the animal I had spooked. I had almost missed it. About 200 feet away up the hill looking down at me was a junior black bear. He was about 250 lbs and 3 1/2 feet high. I was thinking of getting my camera or is that a good thing to do - should I start running. He nonchalantly turns around and hauls ass up the hill like a bolt of lightning. Needless to say I didnt stay in the area to long but I left an entry in the shelter register. My day ended at the Quality Inn in Waynesboro where I am going to take a day off. I need to resupply and a day of rest to heal these tired dogs.
Date: 2007-06-09
From: Waynesboro

To: Blackrock Hut
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: broken clouds

Out of town and into the Shenendoahs. The terrain is fairly level, the animals are to friendly. At one of the gaps I met a guy and his son dropping out of a boy scout hike and there was a doe just walking around with no care. As I walked down the trail it just walked up and sniffed the air. Later I got a picture of a turkey. Once a doe met me head on around a bend, it looking at me like " what are you doing hogging the trail?" I saw a junior bear run across the trail. I got a few pictures but was worried about mother bear. Four more days Shenandoah is done, cant wait to get home.
Date: 2007-06-10
From: Blackrock Hut

To: Hightop Hut
Miles today: 21.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Virginia is getting boring. I dont know what it is, I mentioned before to see something other than trees is exciting. Maybe because I havent changed states in a while. Maybe cause I want to see my family for a bit. I am going to take a week to go home and then back on the trail at Harpers Ferry. Maybe I am ancy about that. I saw a rattle snake today, a Timber Rattler. Got a good picture. That makes deer, two bears, and a rattler in the last three days. Not bad I guess. Three more days and I am out of the Shenandoahs and I should cross the 900 mile mark tomorrow. I cross the 1000 mark just before Harpers Ferry. I am in bed early today, dinner is done as I have a 24 mile day to do. The heat saps your strength and I want to get in some miles before it heats up. It is still cool at night 58 - 60 degrees, so that makes the morning the best time to get some miles. I have lost about 45 pounds so far. It is really hard to carry enough to eat. The Cliff bars and peanut butter are really heavy when you have to carry them 20 miles a day. I have concocted a new recipie for dinner. A box of Stove top stuffing, six envelopes of instant mashed potatoes and some lipton sides or ramon noodles with tuna fish. I can barely finish it. I hope it staves of the weight loss. Well its sleep time gotta go...
Date: 2007-06-11
From: Hightop Hut

To: Rock Spring Hut
Miles today: 23.9
Weather: overcast clouds

900 miles down 1200 some to go. Dropping like flys. Today was pretty flat and the 24 miles were easy except for the feet. Along the way I saw a gaggle of turkeys Mom with about 12 of her chicks, a flock of 5 goldfinchs, a mother bear and her cub and a separate cub further down the trail. Stopping for lunch at Bearfence shelter, several days hikers stopped in asking about thru hiking. The thunder was rolling in the south, I thought I might get wet. But you know if I put my pack cover on it wont rain. I stopped at Big Meadows and ate a cheeseburger with fries. Early dinner. I picked up two beers and a pack of marshmellows for the shelter. Later the guy renting the cabin brought two ears of corn. I think the night went fine.
Date: 2007-06-12
From: Rock Spring Hut

To: Gravel Spring Hut
Miles today: 27.4
Weather: light rain

I started the day with a screech owl for an alarm clock. Pretty nasty but that is nature. I was close to Skyland so decided to get breakfast there as it was going to be a long day. pancakes, eggs, biscuit and hash browns with coffee and oj. It wasnt level but I wanted to do 28 miles today. The worst was comming down Marys rock. I got a blister on my blister and my feet really hurt. I took some advil and continued on. I met Lakewood at Elkwallow camp store and had another cheeseburger and fries with a blackberry milk shake. mmm good. After an hour it was time to roll as the clouds were comming in. 5 more miles to the shelter and a 1000 foot climb. About three hours I was on top and could see the black clouds forming to the north. I started running for the shelter and still got caught in the rain. Soaked to the bone I made the shelter about 8 minuites after the heavy rain started. Oh well, got to take some bad with the good. I changed into my lavalava and a t-shirt to let my hike clothes dry out and went to bed pretty tired.
Date: 2007-06-13
From: Gravel Spring Hut

To: Front Royal
Miles today: 13.4
Weather: light rain

A day with the Birdman. I hiked most of the day with a thru hiker that is studying ornithology - "birds". He is really good at identification of calls and the bird itself. I was quizzed several times however he said it took him three years to learn what he knows. Several of us decided to go into Front Royal for the night. I needed a shower and laundry myself. Its a good thing because a big storm blew thru. I split a room with two other hikers but that will never happen again. One of the others brought two other hikers. None offered a share of the room. Its not a free ride you know. I plan to get up early so ....later....
Date: 2007-06-14
From: Front Royal

To: Rod Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 23.5
Weather: broken clouds

I started early today because the air was cool. The weather report was rain showers this morning. By 8:30 the rain started and did not let up until 1 oclock. If I kept walking it was OK to get soaked other wise I would get cold. The pack cover I use is useless in rain, it lets the top of my pack get wet. I keep everything in the main part of my pack in a trash compactor bag and the top cover of my pack in a one gallon ziplock baggie. Everything stays reasonably dry. I dont have my camera available during the rain so no pictures today. One spot was pretty, even with the rain, it was foggy because of the elevation and there was fox grape over everything. About 28 milesto HF and then home for a week. WooHoo.
Date: 2007-06-15
From: Rod Hollow Shelter

To: Bears Den Hostel
Miles today: 9.9

I was up late and moving slow. In no hurry I was headed to Bears Den Hostel run by the PATC. The route was over what is called the roller coaster, a series of hills with about 500 feet of elevation just up and down. 20 miles to HF will be done in a day
Date: 2007-06-16
From: Bears Den Hostel

To: Harpers Ferry
Miles today: 20.5

Well it was a nice stay at the Bears Den. They give you a pizza, soda, Pint of ice cream, shower, laundry and place to sleep for 25 bucks. I made full use of the facilities. I also found that now I have lost a total of 50 pounds. I just cant eat enough. I left early at around 5:00 am headed for Harpers Ferry. After the last of the roller coaster, the ride was flat. I could do about 3 mph most of the way. I also stopped at the Blackburn Center for breakfast. I am in Harpers Ferry right now as I type this. I am the 313th thru-hiker this year to come thru the ATC office. I probably will stay at the Hilltop Hotel to check it out and wait for Teri to pick me up tomorrow. A week break comming up, Hurray.
Date: 2007-07-15
From: Harpers Ferry

To: Rocky Run Shelter
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Teri dropped me off at Harpers Ferry where I got off the trail, and we said out good-byes for two months. The day was warm but hikable. I had to remind myself to slow down alot. I didnt seem to loose to much of my arobic ability that I had gained hiking the trail, but I had to admit that the end was tough. The first part was the C&O towpath that was flat and level, lined with red raspberries for snacking, but after that was the climb up to Weaver Cliffs and then rocky trail. A thunder storm theatened several times and was ready to put up my tent. I stayed at Rocky Run shelter for the night. The shelter was torn apart for repairs, the 80 year old Chestnut logs were rotting out. They were attempting to restore it as the shelter is on the list of historic places. I overdid my hike, I got chaffed in the unmentionables, so I took it easy for the rest of the evening cooking dinner. I miss my family already
Date: 2007-07-16
From: Rocky Run Shelter

To: Cowall Shelter
Miles today: 15.7
Weather: few clouds

Well I did overdo it yesterday. I was chaffed pretty bad. It was 5 miles to the Dhalgren Campground where there was a free shower, so I gently made my way. After a shower and drying, I used some Body Glide for the chaffing and continued on.I have hiked this section before with Teri and it is very nice. The original Washington Monument is located here, built by the residents of Boonesboro. I stopped early today because of the chaffing problem to give it time to heal. I didnt even do dinner.
Date: 2007-07-17
From: Cowall Shelter

To: Anteitum Shelter
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: broken clouds

I was off early, it was nice and cool. The trail was smooth at first then it got rocky. The spring at the shelter was an enclosed concrete structure, probably for an earlier building.Along the way I stopped at Penmar park for lunch. It has a great view of the valley and a nice breeze to take a break.More red raspberries were found for snacking all along the way. I even found some black raspberries.I finally made Pa, another state down.