morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-05-04
From: Cornelius Creek Shelter

To: Marble Spring Campsite
Miles today: 12.2

Oh. Monday morning has arrived for me. I slept until 6:30 AM from a long climb on Sunday. I flew through breakfast and started my walk around 8:00 AM. It was another nice sunny day and somewhat warm. And of course a 4.1 mile uphill climb to 4225' where a big round FAA tower loomed big and white like a half ball. It was downhill to Thunder Hill Shelter where I met Man Disciple and a lady named Popcicle. By now it was slightly downhill into some nice flower hills. One area the hillsides were completely covered by Red Trillium flowers. I have never seen so many Trillium together in my life. I will have a story on Trillium later. The distance to the shelter was too great a distance for me. It would have been over 17 miles with big mountains to get over. At the 10-mile mark of the day, I had a 1 mile up that had no switchbacks, just up and left turn then right turn and every turn got steeper. It's like the Savage Mountain Trail Builders were telling you, okay stupid, try this slope! The climb was unusual because it went up and over. It was a 700 some feet gain of elevation. When I hit the top, I dropped my pack and slumped to the side of the trail into the weeds, flowers, sticks and stones completely kaput. I had rested going up about every 100' or less but this was in the 11th mile for the day. I found some courage in about 15 minutes and started walking and it was downhill over a crazy rock path for about 500'. It slowly got to where I could walk half decent again and had another mile to an out-in-nowhere campsite. I lucked out and a Southbounder had stopped there too. He called himself Slap Shot. He was around 40 years old and had been a chef but was kinda burned out so he was hiking to get his head together, so to speak. I set up camp and ate supper and just crashed out.Thought for the day:I saw so much flower beauty today it's hard to describe. Only the Creator knows who planted all the flowers. They were there for me to admire.The Red Trillium story will come later.
Date: 2015-05-07
From: Johns Hollow Shelter

To: Punchbowl Shelter
Miles today: 8.8
Weather: moderate rain

Another day rolled around with The Leopard getting out of his tent to start breakfast. I hit the trail about 7:45 AM and started a 3.1 mile uphill climb to 2992'. It wasn't too bad. I made it in 2 hours. Not bad for an old goat. I saw some new life along the way in flowers, that is. I had some wonderful scenic views but it was a bit hazy so the camera wasn't doing so well. I met a southbounder named Swivel. He had just retired at age 57 and started the AT at Harpers Ferry. He was getting off at the James River trail head and doing something else. I took a rest around noon. But not for long. It looked like rain, but it held off until about a mile and a half from camp. It sprinkled just enough to annoy me but not enough to bring out the umbrella. About 10 minutes to go it stopped and the sun came out. Today I saw Pink Lady Slippers with flowers and Solomon's Zigzag and a couple nice patches of yellow clover-like flowers. I got to Punchbowl Shelter around 2:00 PM because it was only 8.8 miles and not too many rocks. I set up camp and crossed the small creek to the privy and it was an open meadow with apple trees. So I looked for morel mushrooms and found 4 good sized ones. The biggest was about 3" and the rest about 2". I gave one to Monk for supper then cut the other three up and put them into some ramen noodles. OH YUM. There was a lady in camp with a bum knee and was getting off on Friday morning. Her name was the fairytail story Eore and her sister was Tig. There were 5 ladies and 3 men in camp tonight which is just opposite of the usual more men than women. I have pictures of the mushrooms I found and ate so you will see them later. The last 2 nights some army jets took off close by and roared over our campsite just at dark. They almost blasted our ears off.Thought for the day:Finding morel mushrooms on the trail was like having cake with frosting on it. I was delighted by my find.
Date: 2015-05-08
From: Punchbowl Shelter

To: Cow Camp Gap Shelter
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: light rain

I jumped out of my sleeping bag about 6:30 which is late for trail life. I was walking by 7:45 AM and it was downhill for once. I had some 100'-200' rises 1700'-1300' elevation. I snapped photos along the way and met some hikers that were southbound. I came to US 60 about 3:00 PM which was 11.3 miles for the day and I had crossed the 800 mile mark. YAY. At the road crossing there was trail magic by Berry. I had 2 oranges and a real cold cranberry drink. It all hit the spot. The weather was nice all day and so a cold drink was just right. Thank you Berry. And now comes the hard part. I want to get to Cow Creek Camp Shelter, a distance of 3.8 miles and a very steep climb of 2.8 miles. It went from 2065' to 4059'. That took the sap right out of me. I had to rest a lot and at one rest a young lady came by named Monark and said nature sure can kick our butt, can't it? I said it sure can. I finally crested out amongst the stones and boulders and then it was 1.5 miles down to Cow Creek Shelter. It was exactly 7:45 PM when I arrived. A 12-hour hike and 15.1 miles. I set up camp and ate a little and fell asleep. What a workout for me. OH OH OH WOW.Thought for the day:Can a person get more tired than tired? I think I about did it. Good night.
Date: 2015-05-09
From: Cow Camp Gap Shelter

To: Seeley-Woodworth Shelter
Miles today: 10.2
Weather: scattered clouds

I woke up at 6:00 AM still tired but trail life is calling. I ate breakfast and left camp for a 1 mile hike to 4022' and then a downhill trend for a while. I got up on top of Cold Mt. which was almost treeless and the good old sun kept heating things up. Up on top were a couple section hikers from I don't know where. I will call them Yellow Shirt and Ball Cap. We talked a bit then Yellow Shirt asked if he can pray for me. I said sure and he had a short prayer for my safety in my travels. So now I wonder were they ordinary people/my trail guardians/someone else's trail guardians and I happened to be along at that time. I guess I might never know. It sure makes a person feel good. I walked almost all day in very little tree cover and the sun got me good. I came to Hog Camp Gap and took a breather and ate an apple. I called my wife again because I had a phone signal. I hit Tar Jacket Ridge and then on to Salt Log Gap and made a pause in the walking. Next was a road crossing USFS 246 then Greasy Spring Road and on to Piney River north fork. I was tired and creeping along. I had some good walking and some big boulder crossing. I hit Elk Pond Branch then swooned into Seeley-Woodworth Shelter and shut her down. I rested and cooked supper and washed me and my dishes down by the stream which had only running cold water.Thought for the day:What do angels think of us when they meet us? Do we know when we meet them? Keep looking.
Date: 2015-05-10
From: Seeley-Woodworth Shelter

To: VA 826 Crabtree Falls Campground
Miles today: 5.7

I woke up during the night and I thought a squirrel was eating nuts in the tree above me and dropping the shells on my tent but it was only 3:00 AM. I thought it odd and maybe it was a dumb squirrel. At 6:00 AM I looked out and it was real foggy and misty and the noise was water drops off the trees. Duh. I had a kinda short walk today. It was 5.7 miles on the AT to VA 826 then a half mile to Crabtree Falls trail head. Just before I got to the trail head it started to sprinkle. I lucked out because there was a privy there so I waited a bit and the clouds moved on. I rested for a while. I could have taken the Crabtree Falls trail to VA 56 a 2.2 mile hike to Crabtree Falls Campground. In the parking lot were some young girls and they said the trail is real rocky. I couldn't call a shuttle because I had no phone service. My "information bird" was over on the side in the woods yelling at me to do something. I asked a fellow that had just arrived if the road he came in leads to VA 56 and he said yes about 2-3 miles then turn left on VA 56 a short distance. I opted to take the dirt road and it was a good road. I hiked for an hour which should have gotten me at least 3 miles because of the nice terrain but there was no VA 56. A big white pickup truck with a stick shift came up behind me and asked if I'm an AT hiker. I said yes and he said do you know you are off the trail. I said yes and told him the story and he asked where I'm going and I said Crabtree Falls Campground. He said get into my truck because it's a long way there. It turned out the gravel road was 4 miles and at VA 56 it was a right turn of 4 miles. Not a left turn right there. Well, I got to Crabtree Falls Campground at 1:55 PM and they closed at 2:00 PM. So thank you white pickup driver. You were my trail magic today and very much appreciated. I got my campsite worked out and got some food from the store. Yes, I got a can of spam which is all they had. I also got some cranberry juice, canned grape juice, coke and chips. I washed 2 loads of dirty stuff and shaved after 5 days of no-shave. I got my food package which we had mailed there and went through that. I did my writing for the day and called it quits at 11:00 PM. Good night.Thought for the day:When things don't work out, there is always someone there to help and take up the slack. Today, two other cars had passed me and then the white pickup truck stopped. Smile.
Date: 2015-05-11
From: VA 826 Crabtree Falls Campground

To: VA 826 Crabtree Falls Campground
Miles today: 0.0

I woke up at Crabtree Falls Campground and the stream and brook were still babbling and gurgling. This time it was in spanish and german. It was almost better than Pachelbel by the seaside. I was desperate for a good breakfast and the campgrounds doesn't cook. The owner Dave took me to the post office at 9:00 AM and they were closed until 10:00 AM. We went to the store next door and they only had microwave sandwiches. I told the lady I really wanted 3 scrambled eggs, double order of bacon, sausage, ham, potatoes and coffee. Dave said I'm taking you up to Gertie's, a small restaurant out in the country. He could tell I was desperate for food. Well, at Gertie's I got my 3 scrambled eggs, double bacon, sausage, potatoes, toast, 3 tomato slices plus coffee. I took the toast and had a bacon and tomato sandwich. I was satisfied. Dave sat with me and we talked about our families and other things. Dave and his wife go way beyond making a person happy and helped. I give them a thousand thanks and hikers please support Crabtree Falls Campground. I did mail my papers home and Dave took me back to the campgrounds to set up in the same place where I was Sunday night. I'm trying to rest and get some strength again. I ate lunch at the campgrounds - instant red potatoes and some lip-smacking barbeque from Gertie's Restaurant. I have now slept in my tent for 10 straight days. I haven't even seen a bed in that time. I'm headed for Rockfish Gap Outfitters in Waynesboro, VA and won't get there until Friday, May 15. I spent my afternoon resting and labeling my AT photos on the camera. I feel better and am ready for a 4-day hike again. I hit my tent about 6:00 PM and a storm moved in. The thunder and lightning rolled and crashed and the rains came down. I was snug and dry in my tent. I showered but I wasn't very dirty but that's it until Friday night at best. On Tuesday AM Dave the campground owner is taking me to the trail head in his Jeep. I normally would have to walk the steep one-half mile, but he is going out of his way again to help me. It's like dropping me off at the front door. Thank you Dave. You're a good man!Thought for the day:Sometimes the good just won't stop. I'm grateful for everything this AT and the people along the way have brought me.
Date: 2015-05-12
From: VA 826 Crabtree Falls Campground

To: Harpers Creek Shelter
Miles today: 8.5
Weather: clear sky

I woke up around 6:00 AM and the two singing brooks were still singing. It rained a good shower during the evening. The brooks changed their tune a bit. The water got washed in the rainstorm, so it's more slippery - maybe. I made breakfast and packed up to leave the campgrounds at 9:00 AM. Dave the campground owner was taking me straight to the trail head. We stopped to get gas for his trusty Jeep and I got several pre-made breakfast sandwiches to take along. Dave took me up the steep trail which I would have had to walk if he didn't take me. Now mind you, it was no ordinary climb. He shifted to 4-wheel drive and we went up over wash-outs/boulders/roots and the Jeep took it in stride. It got me within 10' of the trail head. Otherwise, I would have had a one-half mile uphill challenging walk. Thank you, Dave. I had another 1.2 mile uphill hike to the Priest Mt summit. Ooh ooh. The morning started hard at 4063'. I crested out and then it was downhill steep for 4.3 miles. Oh yes, it was all the way down to the Tye River at 970'. Now ride that one out. On the way down I met some older men and women who were going up to Priest Mt. About half way down, I met a young man named Milo. We chatted a while and snacked on our snacks. Milo was 27 years old and was going back to school. I came to the Tye River about 2:00 PM and dropped my pack and slept a while. I crossed the Tye River on a suspension bridge maybe 50-70' long and then had an uphill climb to Harpers Creek Shelter. I was exhausted after an 8.5 mile day and supper had to wait while I took a nap to recover. Supper was sweet/sour pork and instant red potatoes with butter and coffee. Now I feel better. I'm sleeping below the shelter at a stealth campsite because I didn't want another .2 mile uphill climb. There is another fellow here called a day hiker. The day was warm but I had a lot of breezy winds blowing. Now off to my sleeping bag. It's 10:00 PM.Thought for the day:Old people and slow people still get to their destination only sooner or later. Take your pick.
Date: 2015-05-13
From: Harpers Creek Shelter

To: Reeds Gap
Miles today: 7.9

It is another day on the AT to behold the beauty of the great outdoors. After breakfast I started my hike up a 4 mile climb of rocks/boulders and whatever else could be thrown at me. The 4 mile climb was beautiful with areas of flowers and scenic views but it was a rough and tumble uphill struggle. I topped out around noon at 3984' and then headed downhill to Reeds Gap at VA 664. It was 2:30 PM when I got there and my plans were to hitch a ride to Devil's Backbone Brewpub for dinner and a campsite. I said to myself if I don't get a ride by 3:00 PM I will call a shuttle. Well at 3:00 PM no ride so I called Rockfish Gap Outfitters for shuttle driver phone #'s and they all said call Devil's Backbone Brewpub so I did. Tony at the pub said he would pick me up and that was at 3:15 PM and at 6:00 PM I called him back and said did you forget? At first the lady said the driver got lost which was a lie. He had a straight 5 mile drive to the parking lot. The lady got Tony on the phone and he said are you still at the parking lot and I said yes. He said he'll have someone right up and yes, 45 minutes later a driver did arrive. By then another hiker was wanting a ride. We got to the Brewpub around 7:00 PM. So me The Leopard and Nothing Yet got busy ordering our meal. I had 1/2 herb/spice chicken which was done by a chef and it was as tough as leather. I had to cut the meat off the bones. A story later on chef meal preparation. After supper we got permission to tent on-site in a hay field with a port-a-potty nearby. The hay was almost knee high and it was hard to set up a tent. It's the ending of another day on the AT.Thought for the day:Getting rides and help isn't always a given on the AT. The trail magic ride from the college girls was the exception.
Date: 2015-05-14
From: Reeds Gap

To: Side Trail
Miles today: 11.4

I awoke to a dewy morning in a hay field and everything was wet. I took up my tent and hung it over a fence to dry. We had the option of a $5.00 breakfast at the Brewpub. They don't serve breakfast to the public but do to the hikers. They are a lunch and dinner restaurant. The owner said to go in the back door of the restaurant at 9:00 AM and they would make us breakfast. Yes, they did make a big breakfast. The photo will be posted later. We each had 3 eggs, 4 pieces of bacon, two 6" sausage links, potatoes, biscuits and a bowl of orange slices. Oh yum.We had to hitchhike to the trail head 5 miles away. We walked about 1/4 mile and were picked up and went 3 miles and the driver had arrived at his destination. The next ride came 5 minutes later and he took us up right to Reeds Gap trail head. I got started hiking about 10:45 AM which was late for me. I wanted to get to the Paul C. Wolfe Shelter which was 15.8 miles away. I hiked to Dripping Rock parking lot and rested and there I met Candy Man. He was a 65-year-old hiker and we hiked together all afternoon. We had some nice discussions on the way. Then we met Regina the ridge runner again. I had met her south of the James River days ago. Candy Man and I were getting tired close to 6:00 PM and still had a couple miles to the shelter so we found a campsite and set up. After a while Half Blind came along who Candy Man knew so he camped with us. What a sight -- The Leopard, Candy Man and Half Blind. Imagine that, if you will.Thought for the day:A mistake is evidence that someone has tried to do something. When the archer misses the center of the target, he seeks for the cause within himself.
Date: 2015-05-15
From: Side Trail

To: US 250 Waynesboro, VA
Miles today: 7.9

I got up at 6:45 and felt sicker than a dog. I couldn't eat my breakfast so I dumped it away. I felt weak, tired and nauseous. It was good that I only had a 7.9 mile hike for today. I packed up my tent and Candy Man said I should start without him. Half Blind had already taken off. I hiked until 12:00 PM and then unpacked and lay down in the leaves for an hour to rest and sleep. I felt better when I woke up. I arrived at Rockfish Gap Outfitters at a parking lot which had a visitor center too. I stepped over the guardrail and a fellow about 300' away yelled to me so I went to see what he wanted. It was Johnny Appleseed and his wife Phenex who had hiked the trail in 2009. They were doing trail magic. They had 6 different pizzas, 3 boxes of rolls/donuts, water, and sodas/beer. While I was snarfing down some food a jeep drove up. The driver said, hey hiker, do you need a ride. I said yes to Rockfish Gap Outfitters to buy stuff and pick up a package. He said I'll take you. He was from Virginia Beach and wants to hike the AT in 2017. He had a lot of questions for me to answer. He dropped me off at the Outfitters and asked if it would take long and I said I am not sure yet but he doesn't have to wait. We talked more trail stuff on the porch of the Outfitters and then he left and I did my shopping. After shopping I sat on the porch and called the motels but they were all filled. I laid down on the porch to rest and figure out my next move. I had almost fallen asleep when someone yelled hey Leopard, do you need a ride. I sat up and jeep man came back to see if I was ready to go to Waynesboro. He took me to the Waynesboro hiker campground for free. What a wonderful trail magic surprise on my part. Thank you, jeep man. I had made a rest stop at the Paul C. Wolfe Shelter earlier in the day when I met 2 women hikers, Map and Moxy. I had carried a coke in my back pack for 4 days and they thought about snatching it away from me. Sorry girls, no dice! I set up my tent at the hikers campground and walked to a chinese restaurant called Ming Gardens. It was the biggest buffet I ever saw. It had 7 or 8 bars plus a sushi bar. I had 4 big plates full of food and felt satisfied so I went back to my tent to hang out. I started the day feeling sick and empty but ended up feeling better and really full. Thought for the day:For we must share if we would keep that blessing from above. Ceasing to give, we cease to have. Such is the law of love.
Date: 2015-05-16
From: US 250 Waynesboro, VA

To: US 250 Waynesboro, VA
Miles today: 0.0

I got up late at 7:15 AM and felt renewed after some rest and a lot of food. I have slept in my tent 16 days straight now. What is a bed? Or what does one look like? I went to the YMCA a few blocks away. They have free showers for hikers if you have ID. They give you a towel and a little bar of soap. Oh yes, after 5 days a shower feels real good. I might embellish this a bit but if you live in the woods, you may wash out leaves/sticks/ants/bumblebees/centipedes/millipedes/pebbles/spiders of your belly button. What do you think? After the shower I went to the post office to mail a letter to my dear wife for our anniversary which I missed. Happy anniversary Dear from the man in the woods. I walked to Weasies Kitchen about a 3/4 mile away for breakfast. I had ham, 3 scrambled eggs, potatoes, toast and coffee. I walked to Kroger and 2 closed barber shops. I went back to camp for my dirty clothes and went to the laundry to wash clothes. I stopped at Ming Gardens for supper and could only down 2 plates of food this time. I had weighed myself at the YMCA and I lost 17 lbs in 15 days. Oops, I look like a shadow man. I wore my tracker today after picking it up at Rockfish Gap Outfitters. Thanks to son Nate and wife Deb. They bought the tracker and paid for a year subscription. When I called my wife at the end of the day, she said my tracker showed me walking all over town and my tent is under a tree in a big grassy area. Wow, she can see where I go and where I camp. She said not far from me is a big parking lot with about 100 cars in it. My tracker gives her a spot every ten minutes. It gives time and GPS location. I must be very careful of where I go! The tracker also identified buildings--post office, Kroger, etc. Well, okay then. At dark I hit the tent. There are no lights here except our headlights.Thought for the day:One cannot find any rule of conduct to excel simplicity and sincerity.
Date: 2015-05-17
From: US 250 Waynesboro, VA

To: US 250 Waynesboro, VA
Miles today: 0.0

I walked to Weasies for breakfast about 8:00 AM. It was raining so I took my umbrella and went anyway. I had a 4 oz ribeye steak, 3 scrambled eggs, potatoes, toast and coffee. I got back to camp around 10:00 AM and worked on my journal. About 1:00 PM I walked a mile to a Long John Silver and had a meal of 2 fish, 1 chicken leg, 3 shrimp with fries and a couple root beers. I returned to my campsite and got my things and went to the YMCA for my free shower. I came back to camp and slept a little and made some phone calls. One was to the lovely Marilyn Faye, my wife the great helper. I went to Kroger to get food for a 3-day hike and for supper. I packed my food and gear as much as possible. Tomorrow is a hiking day again. I will be in town for a bit. I need breakfast and a see the barber and the post office before I hit the trail. It's been raining this afternoon off and on, so I had to use my umbrella on the way home from Kroger. It's 9:00 PM and the rain is coming down on my tent. It's been a long time since I felt a bed under me. Tonight is number 18 in my zipped up cocoon.Thought for the day:Where oh where are the beds tonight. They are all inside buildings tonight my friend and I am not there.