morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-05-23
From: Pine Swamp Branch

To: Designated Camp Site at 668.0
Miles today: 13.6

It was a cold night! Everyone started stirring around 6 am but I am not sure what time I left.The first 3 miles or so were flat, crossing a stream several times. I passed The Captain's house, where you can zip line across the stream and camp in the backyard or have a soda on the porch. It was too early for either so I kept going.We knew there'd be a fairly big climb back up to a ridge and it turned out to be pretty steep. But it was still chilly so that helped warm me up. The ridge walk was very rocky and made my feet unhappy again. I had just marveled earlier that even after the long day yesterday, my feet had recovered pretty well and didn't really feel worse than normal. Sigh.We were meeting for lunch at a view eight miles in and Yoda caught me shortly before that. It had taken us forever to hike not even quite eight miles, normally we would be further along at this time of the day!It was a pretty spectacular view and it was nice to have one for lunch for a change. As has been the case for southern Virginia, water dictated our camping options. There was a shelter at 12.5 and camping at 13.6, and then at top of a steep climb there was more camping but you had to carry water for 1.5 miles on said steep climb. We decided to check out the first camping option and see how it looked and then decide. As it turned out, it was a lovely spot next to a stream with lots of tent options and plenty of trees for hammocking. It was only 3 o'clock but we decided to stay. Oh, and there was trail magic in the form of a carton of Cokes. I hope it doesn't keep me up tonight...Shimmy came by and decided to stop as well, so we all hung out and cooked our respective dinners. I had Mac and cheese, btw. Not bad but I made too much. Fortunately there is a trash bag next to the (now finished) Cokes, so I'm going to leave my trash there tomorrow. For tonight, we hung it with the food as we normally do.It is supposed to be cold again, but judging by this evening's temperature I don't think it will be quite as cold as last night. I stayed warm and comfy with two shirts and my warm bag, but Yoda had a cold night. She's taken some corrective measures so hopefully things will be more comfortable tonight.Tomorrow we are planning 17 miles. Let's see if we actually do it!Open map in new windowWant to add a map to your journal?
Date: 2015-05-28
From: Howard Johnson Daleville, VA

To: Zero Day in Daleville, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

Well, I can't say I recommend alka seltzer day and night cold medicine, as I didn't have a very restful night. Yoda was to hike out this morning but wasn't in any great hurry, so we slept in a bit. After breakfast it was time for goodbye and Yoda crossed the busy road to start hiking while I went back to the room to relax. I hope we'll manage to meet up again but time will tell.I had a quiet morning and made my first of three (!) visits to the strip mall mid morning. I went to the coffee shop and had a sandwich and a smoothie while catching up on emails. I really like that coffee shop!Back at the room, I read for a bit and took a nap, then sat outside and chatted with McFly, Dr. Pickles and Mockingbird and then went to resupply. And back to the coffee shop. I also replaced my socks that are (presumably) still in a tree at Tinker Cliffs.It was too early for dinner so I went back to HoJos and killed some more time, then went back a third time for dinner. It really is a bummer there are no sidewalks here. The walk would be so much more pleasant. Vacation time and sidewalks, not part of the American value system. I ran into Queen Bee and BB at the BBQ place, so we had dinner together which was fun! They had been there before also and we had the same server again as yesterday. Poor woman works too much! I discovered that Kroger messed up my prescription, and I called them and have to get it fixed tomorrow first thing. They don't open til 8, so it won't be an early departure. On the bright side, I can swing by the coffee shop one more time! I feel better than I did this morning, so here's to hoping I'm over the worst with this cold thing!Open map in new windowWant to add a map to your journal?
Date: 2015-05-29
From: Zero Day in Daleville, VA

To: Black Horse Gap
Miles today: 13.7

I felt much better today, even though I still didn't sleep very well. Things are definitely clearing up, cold-wise. Since I had to go by Kroger and could not leave early anyway, I decided to sleep in a little (again!) and went to breakfast around 7. The day before, I had seen there was a waffle iron and I had bought a small container of mixed berries to put on the waffle. One of the better breakfasts I've had on the trail! After breakfast I walked over to the strip mall again and sat outside the coffee shop nursing my latte until the pharmacy opened.Once that was taken care of, I went back, packed and finished my book while I waited for the phone to be fully charged (they lived happily ever after. I know you were wondering!).So by the time I finally crossed the busy road to get back on the trail, right in front of HoJos, it was 9:30. One my latest departures yet. But I was going to take it easy today and only hike about 11 miles, so I was in no hurry.For what seemed like a long time, the trail paralleled another busy road, so it wasn't exactly idyllic, but eventually we did go through some pasture and finally into the woods.It was a long uphill to the first shelter 5 miles in, but it was very well graded and not that strenuous. I was surprised to see I had hiked those 5 miles in 2 hours. The oomph has returned! I had lunch at the shelter with Dr Pickles and Mockingbird, stink shirt (I think that's his name) and later Gunner. A couple of miles later there was a nice little creek with perfect sitting rocks, so I had a snack and soaked my feet. The little pool where I sat had at least 7 or 8 little fishies and also one crustacean-type critter! I certainly didn't expect to see that in a woodland stream, but what do I know?The shelter wasn't that much further and when I got there I was still feeling pretty fresh . It was early enough and several others were moving on also, so I decided to go a little bit further. Just to make it a slightly more respectable mileage day. Then of course the trail became steep, which was not at all part of my plan! But I only went a couple more miles and then found a camp site off of an old forest service road. I am camped here with Gunner, Good Enough and Lost and Found, who ends his section tomorrow. We all ate dinner together.I managed to hang my food bag (one throw, thank you very much!). Then it started sprinkling a little and we all got in our tents, but Gunner, Lost and Found and I are still talking through the tent walls. Good Enough is tenting a little ways away and is probably wondering when we'll be quiet!So it was a good day on the trail today. I'd like another one tomorrow please!Open map in new windowWant to add a map to your journal?
Date: 2015-06-02
From: Punchbowl Shelter

To: US 60 at mile 807.4
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: light rain

There was a pretty violent thunderstorm last night but I was dry and cozy in my tent and I had one of the best nights sleep on the trail yet.Getting up when the rain is ticking on your tent roof however is an entirely unappealing prospect so I stayed in a little later than normal. It wasn't actually really raining, so packing up was not too bad and I was on my way by 7:20.The hiking today was quite easy and I made great time. I was kind of planning to go to the second possible pick up point for this hostel, which would make it a 17 mile day. But as I was hiking and mentally planning my week, I realized that today was Tuesday. I had been working under the assumption that it was Wednesday, don't ask me why. So, with more time to get to my rendezvous point with Gary on Friday than I thought, I settled on the original pick up in the end.As we were waiting for our shuttle, I realized I left my dirty water bottle and, more importantly my water filter, at the last shelter where I had stopped for lunch. I briefly contemplated going back (2 miles each way) but then decided it was a good excuse to buy the regular Sawyer filter instead of the mini. But, later at the hostel section hiker Jester told me that another hiker who was there will carry it to the next shelter so hopefully I will be reunited with my filter tomorrow. Jester also ended his section today and has loaned me his filter until I can get to an outfitter, just in case. Onward (who I first met at Woods Hole hostel) gave me a bottle of Gatorade so I at least have another bottle to use for dirty water. The trail provides! The hostel here is a somewhat unusual setup, with a small bunk room with six beds and another loft for two more people. Laundry (with some loaner clothes available), shower, dinner, breakfast and pick up and drop off are all included and there is a nice open living room and kitchen to hang out. It's more homey than most hostels. Dinner was quite good (lots of veggies, yay) and I'm looking forward to breakfast as it apparently involves fresh strawberries. I spoke with Gary today and we have a pretty good tentative plan for the weekend, so things are coming together. If it could please just stop raining tomorrow, everything would be just peachy!Open map in new windowWant to add a map to your journal?
Date: 2015-06-05
From: Maupin Field Shelter

To: Dripping Rock
Miles today: 6.5
Weather: overcast clouds

I had a big big big day today (channeling my inner Effie from the Hunger Games here). I only needed to walk 6.5 miles and then Gary would meet me for some much needed time off.I woke up early and got the bear bag from the pole. The pole that was too high for me to use properly, by the way, so I had hung the bag too low. It was misting but not really raining, exciting!It was too wet to eat anywhere else, so I ate in my tent and then packed up. I excitedly told Gunner that I saw some blue in the sky, and left for my short hike.The first stretch was mildly uphill but smooth, so I made good time. Then came the rocks and things slowed down a bit, but I was still moving at a pretty good clip. The hike was in a cloud again, so no views, but it wasn't raining. I did often get showered on when trees dumped all the excess water from their leaves, but that was a huge improvement.I fell once, bringing my total to three, all in wet conditions. No harm done, but Oscar Mike caught me just before Dripping Rock and said Gunner had taken a nasty spill. Gunner himself hobbled out a bit later and confirmed that he was injured. Shortly after that, Gary arrived and it was great to see him! Two months is really too long. He has been following all sorts of journals and learned a lot about the AT so he had brought a cooler with Cokes and beer, yay! We gave Gunner a ride to his B&B and then went to Devils Backbone Brewery for lunch. The weather had turned really nice so we sat outside for hours and got caught up. It was really really nice. Also, I ate a lot and drank delicious pear cider. We are staying at the Quality Inn which is not the fanciest place ever (ahem), but that has the advantage that you run into hikers. I saw Outro in the lobby and a few other hikers I don't know.I went to the laundromat (yay for no more smelly wet stuff!) and then it was time for our next meal. We went to the Green Leaf Grill and it was quite good. Gunner joined us for drinks (he had already had dinner). He had gone to the medical clinic and gotten a diagnosis of partially torn Achilles. He is off the trail for the time being, but hoping to get back on in a month or two and hike southbound from Maine. It's a real bummer to see a fellow hiker have to leave like that and I hope we'll see him again on his southbound trip. I had fun hanging out with him this past week.Saturday we hike from Dripping Rock to Rockfish Gap, and the weather should be good for views!It was a good day (except for Gunner).Open map in new windowWant to add a map to your journal?
Date: 2015-06-07
From: Rockfish Gap

To: Blackrock Hut
Miles today: 20.6
Weather: overcast clouds

My first 20 mile day, finally!Virginia is most definitely not flat, but Shenandoah NP, so far at least, is easy hiking. The ups and downs are civilized and gentle and generally only a few hundred feet. So even with my late start, a twenty-miler was not impossible.But first there was Starbucks (again, thank you Twilight!) and Weasie's for breakfast (again) and then we packed up and picked up a couple of hikers on the lobby that needed a ride to the trail. Of course we turned the wrong way out of the motel driveway as we have been doing all weekend, but eventually we did manage to find our way back to Rockfish Gap. After goodbyes, I had to find the continuation of the trail, which took me a few minutes, and then less then a mile later I had to fill out the Shenandoah NP (henceforth SNP) backcountry permit, which was confusing and also took a few minutes but finally I was really on my way.The weather was beautiful, the trail was easy and in a week Gary will come to Front Royal and have dinner, so life wasn't too shabby.I passed a couple of gaps and a whole slew of communication towers in short order (those things look sinister, btw. Somebody is watching you!), which made it feel like I was making great progress. In reality, it was my usual 2mph, but I'll take it.For the next few hours, I enjoyed the hike and moved steadily forward, but the number of miles remaining was still quite high. After about 15 miles, my feet were getting quite sore too. Or, I should say, more sore, since they are pretty much always sore these days.I decided to take a 'shoes off' break at the Rip Rap parking lot, which had nothing in particular to recommend it other than a place to sit without poison ivy. I remembered the lot from a hike we did last year with friends.After my break, the miles came more quickly again (or maybe it was because I was killing time trying to remember the lyrics to Joe Jackson's "Real Men". Who can say.) and at last there was the side trail for the shelter. Which was packed with both thru hikers and section hikers. I saw some familiar faces (Outro, McFly and also the hiker who had carried my water filter forward, so I was able to thank him in person but I still don't know his name) and a whole bunch of new ones. I had a hard time finding a tent spot and had to settle for both rocky and slopey. And then after I finally got my tent all taken care of, I discovered another tenting area with level, rockless spots. Doh!Tomorrow is either going to be very short, very long or if I can figure out a place to camp that doesn't break any of the SNP's rules, maybe it will be just right. One thing is certain though: there will be a stop at Loft Mountain Wayside!Open map in new windowWant to add a map to your journal?
Date: 2015-06-10
From: Booten's Gap

To: Stealth Camp Near Crusher Ridge
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: clear sky

Today was the first day of the hike where I managed to not eat anything out of my food bag. And I did not go hungry either!Yoda did make it to Max Factor's last night and I was still awake so we had a fun time catching up. She did some crazy mileage the last few days to catch up, which you can read all about on her blog.This morning Max Factor put on another wonderful spread for breakfast so I filled up on egg casserole with veggies and cheese, bacon, fresh berries of different kinds, yogurt, oj and tea. And then we drove back to the park. It was just shy of nine when I started hiking. My starting point was only 4.5 miles away from the Big Meadows wayside, so that's where we planned to have lunch. Yoda got picked up and therefore dropped off 1.4 miles back but for someone who made up something like 18 miles in three days, that wasn't much of an issue! We got there and they did have milkshakes so I finally had the blackberry milkshake I was cheated out of two days ago. Also a burger and fries and free mayo to use for tuna salad later in the week. Free condiments there for the taking, it doesn't take much to make a hiker happy. The terrain was very easy today but the views were super hazy . We were told this was caused by smoke from fires up in Canada. It really made a big difference, but I also think it helped keep the temperature down which made for excellent hiking weather.After we left the wayside, the next food-not-out-of-the-food bag opportunity was at Skyland resort, nine miles further down the trail. We started with iced lattes which we drank sitting in the sun chatting with Good Enough. After much changing our minds back and forth, we decided to get food from the cafe (not the slightly more fancy dining room) and eat that outside as well. It was just so pleasant to sit there that it was hard to get going again, but eventually we did. We hiked another few miles for an at least somewhat respectable 16 miler and then set up in this great stealth site. Since we didn't have to make dinner, we didn't need as much time for chores, so we hiked later than I usually do. It was really nice and I may do this more often while we have the long days.Of course all this stopping for food meant we did not get as many miles in, and we are now planning to get into Front Royal early-ish on Saturday rather than Friday night. And go home (Yoda will come visit) for the day. I didn't want to go home from there at first for fear of not wanting to go back to do the last few days to Harpers Ferry but if Yoda is there too, I'd have to get her back to the trail anyway. So, she is my insurance policy. Plus it didn't seem to make a whole lot of sense to me to pay 60 or 70 bucks for accomodations for both of us, if we have much nicer accomodations just an hour away. I am happy to report that we will hit another wayside tomorrow afternoon (dinner?), but first their will be Mama Yoda's brownies for breakfast. Woohoo! I promise I will eat something out of the food bag, though I regret nothing about today!Open map in new windowWant to add a map to your journal?
Date: 2015-06-11
From: Stealth Camp Near Crusher Ridge

To: Stealth Camp Near Elkwallow Wayside
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: clear sky

Alas, the park food cornucopia has come to an end. But then the park is almost at an end as well, which means we're almost done with Virginia, at long last.After a very still evening when we set up camp, we had a crazy windy night. But by the time I got the bear bag, all was quiet again. Bizarre.Breakfast consisted of Mama Yoda's brownies and they were delicious. Very different from mrs Cherokee's brownies, with nuts and caramel. I am a fudgy brownie person for sure, and these hit the spot. (Don't ask me which ones were better. It's like Sophie's choice, people!)I don't know what time I left camp, but as always the early morning miles seemed to fly by. There were lots of little landmarks (side trails, Skyline Drive crossings, etc) and that always makes things move along faster. After a little more than three hours we had done 7 miles and were at Thornton Gap, one of the entrances to the park. In fact, this is an entrance we take quite often when we come here, as it is a more convenient entry point than Front Royal for hikes in the central area. And it doesn't hurt that we like to visit the Thornton River Grill in Sperryville for post-hike burgers of course. So I basically feel like I'm in home territory now.I had never been to the customer comfort station at the gap, but it is a nice new building with flush toilets and water fountains. I don't think I have had to filter water in the last four days, as all my water has come from fountains or spigots of some sort. It doesn't taste as good as spring water, but it sure is convenient.We had (first) lunch at the picnic table at the gap, even though it was only 10-ish. We planned to have a late lunch or early dinner at the Elkwallow wayside and kill some time there. Yesterday we were freaking out a bit about making it to Front Royal before dinner on Friday so we changed the plan to Saturday. That now means we have lots of time for the last 19 miles, so we could hang out at the wayside for quite a while. And so we did. I had some snacks, another BLT and blackberry ice cream, while chatting with various other hikers who all descend on the wayside like wasps on a jar of jam.When I was hiking from Thornton Gap to the wayside I was passed by first Tarp man (not seen since Daleville) and then Shimmy and Stinkjacket. I hadn't seen Shimmy since well before Daleville and thought he was way ahead of us. I first met both Tarp Man and Shimmy in the Smokies and they are both much faster hikers than I am. It's a bit of mystery to me how we're still in the same bubble but it is always fun to run into someone you know. We were planning to hike on a bit after the wayside until we found a nice spot and then we found one within a mile. . But Yoda had some blogging to catch up on anyway, so we made it an early night. Tomorrow will be an easy day also, and then a tiny little nero into Front Royal where Gary will pick us up for a night at the house. I can't wait!Open map in new windowWant to add a map to your journal?
Date: 2015-06-12
From: Stealth Camp Near Elkwallow Wayside

To: Tom Floyd Wayside
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: light rain

I could have slept in today but I was awake anyway, and since we were camping pretty close to the trail I thought it would be prudent to move at our usual time. It felt pretty hot and sticky even early in the morning, so I thought we might get a thunderstorm later. It turned out that I was right!Yoda and I met up at an overlook, where she mentioned that we should have gone back to the wayside for breakfast! Lost opportunity! By the time she thought of it, she was too far down the trail to turn around. We got to Gravel Springs Hut around ten and were surprised to find trail magic there. 2012 thru-hiker Jam Session had cooked breakfast and there also was very nice home made banana bread. For entertainment, we watched no fewer than six Park Rangers install a bear proof metal case. Apparently there have been issues with bears and raccoons at that shelter. The only problem is that the case seemed to be people proof too, as fewer than half the people there managed to open it...I did see two bears today, on two different occasions. The first was shortly after I had started and I was by myself. I turned a corner on the trail and fifteen feet down the trail was a bear. He ran off down the trail, it looked almost cartoon-ish.The second bear was not that interested in leaving and only moved a little ways off the trail before stopping to check us out. Fortunately Yoda and I were hiking together at that time or this behavior would have freaked me out a little. We later thought there may have been a cub hidden somewhere. And of course we did take the opportunity to take photos, freaked out or not. The afternoon was a hot, sticky and draggy affair and I had absolutely no mojo. I wasn't too worried since we didn't have far to go, but when it started to get awfully dark at around 4:30, I did try to get a move on. I had just left the northern park boundary and there was a very rocky section before it went back to relatively smooth trail. In a case of perfect timing, I jumped under the overhang of the shelter roof just as the skies opened up. Yoda was already here and we didn't know who was behind us, so we contemplated staying in the shelter. Later three more hikers did show up but since the tent sites here are terrible, I am still in the shelter anyway. First time since the Smokies and only the third time total. I am sharing with Adios, Power House and Frank (a woman).Hammock options were even worse than tent options, so Yoda hiked a bit further and is stealth camping. Tomorrow we nero, woohoo!Open map in new windowWant to add a map to your journal?