morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-05-25
From: Daleville, VA

To: Daleville
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

May 25Dalville, VA0 miles,Ahhhh! A day off. A day of eatting doing a few errands, and a whole lot ofnothing. But I felt a 1000 times better than yesterday. If I felt half again as good tomorrow than I knew I would be fine.
Date: 2004-05-26
From: Niday Shelter

To: Bobbletts Gap Shelter
Miles today: 18.5
Weather: overcast clouds

May 26Bobbletts Gap Shelter18.5 miles, mile #732.4Well it is nice to feel good about hiking again. I got a late and lazy startbut the weather and terrain were kind to me. It stayed cloudy most of the day,which kept the temperature down, but the rain hed off until just before I got to the shelter. I feel like we are travelling in a more and more narrow corridor of wilderness as we pass more roads. At the same time I hear from other hikers more reports of encounters with wildlife, snakes and bears. I imagine that their habbitat is getting squeezed also. One very nice thing is that the trail is getting flatter and smoother which makes an 18 mile day feel not so bad and the word is that this trend continues for the rest of Virginia.
Date: 2004-05-27
From: Bobbletts Gap Shelter

To: Cornelius Creek Shelter
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: overcast clouds

May 27Cornelius Creek Shelter18.3 miles, mile#750.7 on ATWell the first day in a really long time with perfect weather. The clouds burned off in the just an hour or so and the rest of the day was crystal clear without humidity and nice temp. A prefect day to come across a stream with a swimming hole, and there it was. People were fishing in the swimming hole but I got in up stream and just laid out in the shallows, and thwan had a nice long lunch on the bank, drying off in the sun. The terain is making it easier although there was one big long climb 2,300 ft up to this shelter but even that seemed better than the climbs of last week. It seems hard to believe that I was ready to quit a few days ago. Making it is definitly dependent on keeping a good attitude, keeping your sprits up and staying healthy. All those things now seem to be back on track.Oh I forgot to point out that yesterday I went over the 1/3 of the trip done. In theory the half-way point is within 3 weeks away.
Date: 2004-05-28
From: Cornelius Creek Shelter

To: John's Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

May 28John's Hollow Shelter22.1 miles mile #772.8 on AtWell yesterday was perfect and today was less than perfect. There was not acloud in the sky when I went to bed, but sometime in the middle of the night itstarted raining. It rained and it rained. With the goal of a long day therewas no real waiting for it to clear. That is one of the differences betwen this trip and a short weekend or week trip. On a short trip you think about going home or at least just staying in a shelter if it's raining, but on this hike you just go right into it. Because of the rain I missed the views from yet another mountin top. Instead, I had my usual view of fog obscuring everything beyond 20 feet of me. Eventually, the rain stopped and towards the end of the day the sun even came out and there was a nice view of the James River as it cuts through the mountains. Got in here kind of late but I decided I needed a campfire. They are good at keeping the bugs away and very comforting. Well the fire has burned out and the bugs are starting to!swirl around my headlamp so time to say good night.
Date: 2004-05-29
From: Hightop Hut

To: Brown Mountain Creek Shelter
Miles today: 17.9
Weather: broken clouds

May 29Brown Mountain Creek Shelter17.9 miles, mile 790.4 on ATThis was the most beautiful day we have had perhaps so far. It was cool butsunny without a cloud in the sky all day. When we first got up it was a bitconcerning as a fireman came up to the shelter asking us whether we had seen ayoung girl. Apparently, a 17yo had goten separated from the group she was hikigwith last nigt and folks had been searching for her all night. But by the timeI headed out on the trail I ran into the same fireman and he said she had beenfound and all was OK. She had ended up just sleeping on the trail when sherealized she was lost. We had a big climb up a mountain again for starters. Atthe top of the mountain there was a beautiful almsot 360 degree view. Inaddition, there was a small memorial to a little boy who got lost in the woodsand whose body was found up here over 100 yrs ago. There were little trinketsand change that was left beside the small comemoration plaque. Towards the endof the day we passed by a large dam which looked ! beautiful with the water cascading down the spillway. The last mile wefollowed the picturesque stream. If had been warmer and I had not ben so tiredI would have layed out in one of its many inviting pools. Just before theshelter there was a historical marker. Aparently, 100 yrears ago this narrowlittle valley a small settlement of free slaves eeked out an existance here. You could still se some of the stone fences and terraces and a few foundationsof houses.   lost girldamviewfirehistory and creek.
Date: 2004-05-30
From: Big Meadows Lodge

To: Dutch House B&B, MONTEBELLO, VA
Miles today: 18.1

May 30Dutch House B&B, MONTEBELLO, VA18.1 miles, mile # 808.3 on ATWell it was hard to get started because it was so nice down by that stream. Inaddition it was overcast but right away it started off well. About a mile downthe trail I see two people walking down the tral. I say hi, and they ask me ifI am a thru-hiker and they ask to take my picture. The guy explain that theyare part of one of these "Day in the life" projects. That they havephotographers out covering 98% of the the trail taking pictures. If I'm luckymaybe I will be in some coffee table book "A Day In the Life of the AT". Fromthere it was all up hill, but one of the few good things about a cloudy day isthat it keeps it cool so it made a 3,000 ft climb seem a little bit better. Ofcourse, you climb all the way up and when you get to the top you look out andsee nothing but clouds because you are standing right in the middle of them.It's the holiday weekend so all these day hikers are telling how beautiful theview is on a nice day. There were lots of people out ! on the trail just for the day and buy early afternoon we realized we were running behind schedule because of all the talking. We did come across a bit of trail magic a bag of sodas with some ice. The only problem was that when we got there the only type left were diet caffine free cokes. As a thru-hiker sugar andcaffine are the two most important ingredients but at least it was luqid. It was more and more looking like rain so we decided we would try to push to thisbed&breakfast place, but we wrre going to have to push. I was moving rightalong when I alost got run over buy this guy, I stop and realize that it isMountain Dew. I had not seen him snce Trail Days in Damascus. I first met himwhen he zoomed passed me doing a 40 mile day. I was shocked that I had gottenahead of him but I guess he stayed in Damascus for awhile. Mountain Dew wasalso going to the B&B so he hiked behind me and I never walked so fast in mylife with him niping at my heels. Well Mountain Dew, Mushroom, and I all made it to the cut off and we caught a ride into town. We pulled into a little store and I inhaled the following; 1 large bottle of gatoraide, 2 large bowles of chili, 2 icecream bars, 1 20oz pepsi, and a snickers bar. Then we called the B&B and they picked us up. The place was great, very hiker friendly and fillled with other thru-hikers. You show up and they give you a robe and a laundry basket. They do your laundry for you so most of us are walking around this cozy little home in bath robes while waiting for clean clothes. Doris the woman that runs the place said that she has evdn driven people back into town in bathrobes so they could shop and everyone in town is just used to it. It started raining after we got in and I decided that I was going to stay for the free hiker lunch if it was still raning in the morning.   big climblots of peoplefog and baldsmountain dewB&B bathrobes
Date: 2004-05-31
To: Harpers Creek Shelter
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: light rain

May 31Harpers Creek Shelter12.0 miles, mile #820.3 on ATI woke in the middle of the night and there was a spectacular thunderstorm. Thebooming of the thunder echoed off the mountains and it seemed at there were newburts of thunder between the echos. I had just been thinking the other dayabout the fact that I was not rememberig any dreams and I figure it was becauseI am just so tired and sleep so soundly. But with the thunderstorm which keptwaking me for what semed like hours, I had a jumble of dreams that I okeremembering. Even better than remembering dreams, I woke to breakfast. A hothomemade breakfast served at a table and that I did not have to cook. I haddecided that it was raining when I woke up than I was going to stay for the freelunch. I have to say part of me just wanted to participate in breaking with theold adege "There is no such thing as a free lunch". I am not sure how Lois andEarl, the owners, do it but they offer a free lunch to all hikers that show upat noon. Chris and Elly showed up for lunch! and after lunch Lois drove us all back up the mountain to the trailhead. Wedid not hit the trail till one and so I did not expext to do muxh miles. Mountain Dew dissapeared withinin seconds and I was told latter that he did 20miles before dark. In spite of it being a short day there was a big up and bigdown to do. But the rain had cleared out before we even statted and so it was anice afternoon for hiking there was a couple of great views one lookingsouthover the ridge that we had travelled ysterday and than another looking outover the flat land to the east with its expanse of farms and foothills. ChrisElly, Early Riser and I pulled into the shelter late and I was suprized to findMushroom there. He had let the Duth House after breakfast and talked aboutdoing big miles but I guess he ran into M and Risinf Sun and talked for a longtime and so decided to stop. Right in front of the shelter a beautiful streamwas running downhill it was almost as nice as Brown ! Mountain Creek. There was a group of women at the shelter who were just out for a week but one of themwas an expert on the local wildflowers so I gotto ask a bunch of questions in particular I found out the the most interestingflower I had been seeing was a columbine.spy rockshelter
Date: 2004-06-01
From: Harpers Creek Shelter

To: Paul C. Wolfe Shelter
Miles today: 22.3
Weather: scattered clouds

June 1Paul C. Wolfe Shelter        22.3 miles, mile #842.6 on ATWell a big mile day but it would put us close to town tomorrow. It was abeautifully sunny but crisp day. It almost felt like fall. I got an early start just behind Mushroom who always beats me out on the trail. The first thing we had to do was climb Three Ridges which I had been told was a very tough climb. I think the cool air helped as before I knew it I was up the 2,000 ft. The rest of the day was pretty flat but I still had to push myself pretty hard to make the distance. I hit the shelter and there was a big crowd there. Sox, Treefrog and Adam were new faces and as well as several familiar ones. We all were shooting to get an early start tomorrow to make Breakfast in Waynesboro.
Date: 2004-06-02
From: Paul C. Wolfe Shelter

To: Waynesboro, VA
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: few clouds

June 2Waynesboro, VA5 miles, mile 847.6 on ATWell a quick short morning to get to town. Did the five miles in under twohours. We hit a visitors center where the trail hits the road and a trail angle was called and brought us into town. It was aanother frantic town day. Check in shower, get packages at the post office, do laundry, shop for food eat, eat some more, eat again, make a bunch of phone calls. Never as much time to just veg out as I would like but sitting in front of the TV never seems a good enough excuse to stay another day. I was happy that I got a nice long coversation with Kerry to congradulate her on the success of her photography exhibit and on completing her MFA.
Date: 2004-06-03
From: Waynesboro, VA

To: Blackrock Hut
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

June 3Blackrock Hut20 miles, mile#867.6Well I did not sleep well last night but at least it was because I was up latetaling to folks on the phone. As always I was tempted to stay in town althoughI could not come up with a conviencing enough arguement to myself. We hitShenendoah National Park today which everyone always says is the easiest part of the whole hike. The way people have talked about it you would think that the trail was one of the human movers, like in airports. Well it is not, but it was flatter than most of what we have hiked.You can really tell that the animals know they are in a protected park. Several times I ran into deer and walked up to within 10ft of them. One when Iapproached casually walked away. In addition twice I ran into bears. The firsttime all I saw was a cub that was in the bush. I got one look befor it tookoff. The second time, right in the middle of the trail was this good sizeadult. We looked at each other for about five minutes, I heard some rustling in the bush, probably the cubs and then the adult slowly moved to the side of the trail. She was probably only 15 ft of the trail as I walked by and she watched me closely. The other big wildlife viewing of today was again butterflies. It seemed like they were all out sunning themselves in the middle of the trail at each turn there was another one. Back when I was a boy scout I knew the names of the different things, plants, birds, butterflies. I am going to have to do some studying when I get home.The other big event of today was that it was the first day with my with my MP3player/FM radio, a gift of my brother Dave. I listened through the wholeplaylist which I think kept me going in spite of my fatigue. It was also greatto catch a bit of NPR as I am a news junkie and have been missing not knowingwhat is happening in the world. I will have to be sparing with it as one iteats batteries and I don't want to cary a lot of thme. But also when yourlistening to the headphones you really miss out on a lot of what is going on. You don't hear the scurrying of small animals and snakes in the underbrush orthe calls of birds. At least now I have the option and it it great to listen tothe music. Dave has given me a wonderfully eclectic collection.
Date: 2004-06-04
From: Blackrock Hut

To: Hightop Hut
Miles today: 21.4
Weather: light rain

June 4 Hightop Hut21.4 miles, mile#889.0 on the ATWell at least I slept well. Almost as soon as I got out of bed it startedraining, and it rained and rained. It rained all day. Luckily I got the lastdry spot in the shelter. Hiking in the rain is not so bad it keeps you fromgetting hot. Because of the sound of the rain it is like walking around withthe headphones on. So it was strange when in the middle of the day I heard abird call and trned to my left, and there, 6 feet away from my face was a deerstaring at me. I stopped for a minute we staired at each other and than itturned one way and I turned the other.
Date: 2004-06-05
From: Hightop Hut

To: Big Meadows Lodge
Miles today: 20.4

June 5Big Meadows Lodge20.4 miles, mile# 909.4 on ATWell it rained all night and it rained all day. Not much to do but walk andwith the right incentives you can do it pretty fast in these parts. I had gottethe last place in the crowded shelter and Mushroom had to tent it. Here in thepark there are all these luxuries. There are drive in campgrounds, with littlestores and things like this lodge. So Mushroom woke with his tent soaked and he convinced me that we should split the cost at the lodge. Now I was thinking of getting to the lodge for food but then tenting since my tent was dry, but it did not take to much convincing to sell me on the idea of staying in a warm dry bed. Even better was the fact that there was a campground with a store. So Icrunched out 11 miles to get a hot cup od coffee. I drank down a coffee and alarge pepsi. When you have not been drinking coffee it is amazing what a joltit gives you. I polished off the last nine miles in three hours and tenminutes, with a pack soaking wet filled with food and wet clothes that is pretty much flying. Hopefully tomorow some sunshine, as being cold wet and tired gets old very quickly.
Date: 2004-06-06
From: Big Meadows Lodge

To: Pass Mountain Hut
Miles today: 18.8
Weather: light rain

June 6 Pass Mountain Hut18.8 miles, mile 928.2 on ATWell finally a little sunshine. Although the fog kept blowing in and out. Wehad to wait for the laundry to open to do clothes, which allowed time for aliesurely breakfast at the lodge. We did not get out on the trail till 10:30 so I knew I was going to have to make some miles. I am going to try to do 100miles in the next five days so I can posible hook up with Jan & Cathy while they are in DC. Mushroom is meeting his brother ahead but is ahead of schedule. So we said our goodbyes alough we will likely run into each other up the trail. He caught me again when I stopped for lunch at another lodge 10 miles do1wn the trail and tried to convience me to stop but I need to cover some ground so with a big lunch more hot and cold caffine I was off. It was a good day for small wildlife. In the morning I turned a corner and a doe and a very small fawn were standing in the middle of the trail. The fawn looked to be at most a few days old, still a bit unsteady on it's feet and perhaps 18 inches at the shoulder. I was going to take a picture but somthin comming from the otherside of the trail spooked them, it ended up being some day hikers with two dogs. Than in the afternoon for the first time I started seeing rabbits. This evening I was sitting next to my tent, as the shelter was full, I had my headlamp on and was taking my shoes off and this rabbit starts slowly hopping twards me. My light is shining right on it and it stops than hops a little closer and than a bit closer. I was not being particularly still but it gets to within six inches of me and I shift my leg and suddenly it realizes I there and takes off. The other litle creature was a salamander hanging out beside my tent.The other thing today was another medical consultation. This is the problemwith the trailname Doc, you get asked questions. This has been going on sincethe start. Mostly it is little questions like what do you think of this orthat, or do you think my anckle is broken. I general I am fine helping anybodyout. When Iwas at traildays I ran into a older physician who had hiked the trail in the past and he told me what the standard consultation fee on the trail was...a Snickers Bar. A Snickers Bar is as good as gold on the trail. It has chocolate and nuts, so lots of calories. So I have succeeded in collecting a few so far on the trail. Well time to go to bed, need to do at least 22 miles tomorrow
Date: 2004-06-07
From: Pass Mountain Hut

To: Tom Floy Wayside
Miles today: 23.6

june 7 Tom Floy Wayside23.6 miles, mile 951.8 on ATWell I woke in a bit of fog but it burned off quickly. I was aiming a a bigmilage day and so I was up early and one of the first folks out of camp. I wasfolowed close behind by Cezane. she was out section hiking with some friends,we talked for a bit as we walked. She is an artist, a teacher and an avidkayaker. I realy enjoy the diversity of people out here. There was one moreshop with food just off the trail and it was like thru-hiker central. I gotthere just after 10:00 so I ordered breakfast from their grill and when Ifinished that I ordered lunch. Basically, it was an hour and a half break which involved continuous eatting. The rest of the day was just crunching out miles. I got it into my head that I might be able to do 27 miles today, but it was notmeant to be. I just ran out of steam. Maybe all these 20+ mile days are taking their toll. Three more days and I will make Harpers Ferry and can take a day or two off.The only big excitment was when I just missed stepping on a rattle snake. I waswalking along and somthing scurried into the under growth. Probably a chipmonk, the prey. Well I keep walking but try to see what it was. When out of the corner of my eye I catch some movement right next to my right foot. It takes a step or two to stop and turn, there is a pointy little tail rattling. I follow it up it's lenght with my eyes and there reared up in the grass les than a foot of the trail is the head of the snake mouth open raised on it's coil. My camera was out of batery power so luckily I was not tempted to snap a picture but continued down the trail a bit more mindful of where I stepped.
Date: 2004-06-09
To: Bears Den Hostel
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: few clouds

June 9Bears Den Hostel18.9 miles, mile #988.7 on ATThe heat definitly slowed me down today. I got an early start but when I hitthe first road I just had to stop. The book said that there was a bar-b-queplace that served breakfast just less than a mile down the road. What sold me onstopping was that it was called Doc's Bar-b-Que. I ate a big breakfast andended up talking to an older woman who has been section hiking the trail. Shegave me a rde back up the hill to the trail and evev ofered me her lunch. Upthe trail there was a sign anouncing that you were entering the "RollerCoaster", a long section of up and down on the tail. The heat addedsubstaintially to the pain of the roller coaster. By the time I draged mself upthe hil to the hosel I was beat. Luckily the hostel was a great place an oldhouse they had laundry, phone, internet, and a kitchen to use. It was great.
Date: 2004-06-10
From: Bears Den Hostel

To: Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
Miles today: 19.9
Weather: light rain

June 10Harpers Ferry, West Virginia19.9 miles, mile 1008.6 on ATIt cooled off a bit and I just about ran to town. I covered the distance innine hours but really beat myself up. It was great to finally say goodbye toVirginia, which had taken five weeks to get through and it felt even better tohit 1,000 miles. I stoped in for lunch at a shelter and saw in the registarthat Tank and Diesel were only hours ahead of me. I pushed hard but by the timeI hit town my feet were as sore as at anytime and my legs were aching. The ATC{Appalachian Trail Conference} Headquarters are here and when you stop in theytake your picture and assign you a number. I am #279 to have made it this far. I got to the motel looking forward to taking a day off.
Date: 2004-06-11
From: Harpers Ferry, West Virginia

To: Harpers Ferry, WV
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

June 11Harpers Ferry, WV0 milesAs always I did not sleep well in the motel but it was great to have a day offespically a day where it rained all day. I caught the tain into DC and met upwith Cathy and Jan. It was great to see them and talk about the world outsidethe trail. It was also great to also be in a real city although it was a bitoverwhelming. I picked up some glue and glued my shoes back together and withany luck can squeze another 100 miles out of them.
Date: 2004-06-12
From: Harpers Ferry, WV

To: Edward B. Garvey Memorial Shelter
Miles today: 7.0

June 12Edward B. Garvey Memorial Shelter7 miles, mile #1015.6 on ATWell not mush to say slept in, had a long lunch in town and did not even getmoving out of town till 2:00 PM. The trail led through the historic part oftown and than along the old C&O Cannal whic has been turned into a 184 milebike/walking path. The shelter is crowded with Boy Scouts and weekend camperswhich definitly creates a very diferent atmosphere than I am used to.