morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-09-28
From: Glasgow - Ma & Pa's Motel, Room 7

To: Glasgow - Ma & Pa's Motel, Room 7
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: heavy intensity rain

Tues 28th was the storm with 4¢ of rain and local flooding, but we were above the flood stage here in Glasgow. On Tues I went to see the local Doctor, a young man, who agreed with the diagnosis and prescribed Thorazine ¢ still used for hic-cups. Had to get a ride to Beauna Vista to get the prescription filled, and started on the medication that day. The hic-cups finaly stopped on Wed, and what a relief it is. I have never realized just how good it feels to be healthy; a condition for which all who possess it should give daily thanks.   Have repacked and plan on 6-7 nights and 7-8 days to Waynesboro. Spoke with KT every night on the public phone, watched the Presidential Debate on TV, slept, eat, and thought a lot about going on. The storm has passed and the hic-cups are gone, so I am good to go. Took photos of the Dinosaurs that are all over the ¢Town that Time Forgot¢   Ready to head North in the morning.
Date: 2004-10-01
From: Glasgow - Ma & Pa's Motel, Room 7

To: Punch Bowl Shelter
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Thanks to an early start, and after a good breakfast, I was back on the trail in the early hours of the morning. It was a cool and overcast day, with a lot of mist, despite the forecast of good weather.   The trail was a gradual, but persistent, climb. It started out nice along the banks of the Rocky River Run. Then there was a constant and steady climb all day long on a well graded and well maintained trail. Fall has now realy arrived, especially on the upper elevations, with the trees realy turning color and the trail covered with a deep pile of leaves.   The mist and the overcast sky lent a gloomy air to the day, and the sun never did come out. But I felt great ¢ no hic-cups all day long ¢ so it was all great to me. Soon passed by John¢s Hollow shelter and the climb continued. At the top at Fuller¢s Rocks the mist obscured great views in the valley.   Then I met, in succession, three SOBO¢s ¢ Keen Kat, Jack Straw and King David ¢ all young men heading south in fine form. Then it was a ridge walk, still on a good trail.   Before I knew it I was at the Ottie Cline Powell Memorial to a five year old boy whose body was found at that spot after he had wandered away while collecting fire wood at a school seven miles away. It was very touching, with lots of gifts and flowers left by visitors ¢ rather like the Audie Murphy memorial. What a way for a young child to die ¢ and what must his parents and the schoolteacher have gone through?   Before 4PM I was here at the shelter, and a nice one it is too. It is next to a small pond and has a good water source. I have since been joined by Gnome ¢ originally from South Africa ¢ then another hiker ¢ Dougherty ¢ on a five-day outing. There is also another couple that is camping out. Also just arrived is a very interesting person who goes by the name of ¢Soot¢. He has a nasty looking dog with him, that he claims just followed him when he started out on the trail today. Since the dog ¢just followed him¢, he claims that it is not his responsibility to look after it. I think that the dog is going to be a problem; it looks to be some sort of a Rotweiler mix. To my way of thinking if Soot brought the dog with him, then it is up to him to be responsible for, and to look after, it.   I feel realy good now ¢ post dinner. Will try for a cell signal later.   Thought ¢       If you can, it is always best to test things before you have to rely on them.
Date: 2004-10-02
From: Punch Bowl Shelter

To: Cow Camp Gap Shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: light rain

It rained last night ¢ intermittent heavy showers, with enough noise to wake me. Despite my concerns there were no problems with the dog. He spent the night curled up asleep under the shelter near his new master Soot.   Awoke early to a very misty and foggy morning. I was on my way by early mornings light, while the rest of the camp were just waking up. If you walk slowly, as I do, you need to start early. Despite some concerns on my part, the dog showed no inclination to follow me, and stayed behind where the food was.   The trail descended through the mists to the BRP, and there was one glorious moment when the yellow gold of the rising sun cut through the mist and illuminated the trail with a warm golden warming glow.   After crossing the BRP the well-maintained and well-graded trail continues on through Robinsons Gap to Little Irish Creek ¢ a popular campsite. After crossing the creek the trail enters the Pedlar Dam Reservation on a very nice road. A few extra blazes would help here, as the trail veers off through a gate and along a poorly marked trail BELOW the dam, where there is a footbridge that affords a spectacular view of the water streaming over the top of the spillway.   The trail then swings up and around the dam and then parallels the Water Reservoir for Lynchburg, through a series of coves, until it leaves the placid waters of the reservoir and heads over the ridge. Then down Brown Mountain and on over to Brown Mountain Creek shelter for lunch. I was making good time, so, with some trepidation, I decided to push on for Cow Camp.   The trail parallels Brown Mountain Creek ¢ you know I love creeks ¢ and there are historical markers telling of the community of freed slaves who lived there. You can still see the remains of their stone houses and walls.      After leaving the creek the trail begins to ascend and over the next four miles goes through 3500¢ of vertical elevation. It is however well maintained and graded but it was still tough. Half way up it started to rain, as forecast, and the remainder of the climb was hard, wet, and sweaty. Finally a ridge walk lead to the side trail of 0.6 miles on down to the shelter here.   There were already three weekend hikers here ¢ all nice people and I have already had dinner.   I was more than pleased with my performance today. I got 14.7 miles on the trail, with a lot of elevation, and still got here well before dark. Everything was clicking along just fine today, and I feel much more confident now of my ability to do the miles.   Will try for a cell signal later. Rain has stopped now. I feel great. Thought ¢          Isn¢t this just great?
Date: 2004-10-03
From: Cow Camp Gap Shelter

To: Seeley - Woodworth Shelter
Miles today: 10.2

Got a good signal last night by the simple expedient of standing on top of the picnic table outside of the shelter. Spoke with KT ¢ everything is OK with her and at home.   Slept well and arose before dawn. As soon as I started to move about, all three others decided that an early start was a good idea.   Started off in a light mist and was soon back on the AT and heading north. The trail climbs up to Bald Knob ¢ which is not a Bald ¢ and then Cold Mountain ¢ no, not that Cold Mountain ¢ which is a Bald. I love Balds ¢ they remind me of meadows. This was a particularly nice one, since it went on and on, the mist lightened enough that I tried for a few photos.   Then it was down off of Cold Mountain to the road at Hog Camp Gap. One of the hikers caught up with me just before the road where he had parked his vehicle, and offered me a ride to Harpers Ferry! I must admit that I was tempted for a second, but no, it is the white blazed trail for me.   The trail then climbed up to Tar Jacket Ridge ¢ which is another Bald, so I had twice the joy in a single day! There were numerous apple trees with mature fruit on them along the way.   Then a dip down to Greasy Spring Road and then up again to Wolf Rocks. The hikers had told me that this was a great view, but the mist obscured everything.   The fog realy began to thicken at this point and visibility was down to 50-60¢. It also began to get realy cold, and I had to slow down to make some that I stayed on the right trail. Finally crossed the north branch of the Piney River and then the Elk Pond branch, and then on here to the shelter.   I arrived here early at 2.30PM, but I had already decided that if I did not get here by 1.30PM I would not try to go on to the Priest Shelter which is an additional seven miles.   So I am here alone at the moment. I had a late hot lunch of Tompato, and intend to eat dinner later. The fog is still very heavy here and the water is dripping off of the trees with a dull plopping sound.   The water source here is one of the best so far. A large pipe with a ¢gusher¢ of water from its mouth. Easy to fill the Nalgene and the bottle.   Current plan is to try for Harpers Creek shelter in the morning, then a short day with a lot of climbing to Maupin Field, another long day to Paul Wolf shelter, and then out to Waynesboro.   Thought ¢            It is good to know what is ¢sufficient for the day¢
Date: 2004-10-04
From: Seeley - Woodworth Shelter

To: Harpers Creek
Miles today: 14.3

I had company last night. An older gentleman ¢ well, older than I am ¢ arrived. Windy is hiking the entire trail SOBO and has been for the past five years. Like me, he has problems with his knees, particularly the right one and wears a very complex brace.   Slept well, it rained during the night, and when I awoke I though that it had snowed. It took me a moment to realize that it was the moonlight that was converting everything to a pale silver color, making me think that it had snowed. All of the mist had cleared away and the stars were shining with unremembered brilliance. Through the trees I could recognize my old friend Orion, with his sword suspended from his belt.   I left before the sun was up in the cool clear pre-dawn light. Then, as I dipped up and down from crest to hollow, I had no less than four repeats of the same sunrise! All spectacularly displayed for me alone.   After crossing Fish Hatchery road, it was a fairly easy ascent up to Spy Rock and Main Top Mountain. I got a good view from Cash Hollow Rocks with its sentinel pine as described in the Guidebook.   It turned out to be a beautiful day. The chill cold of the dawn gave way to a bright and sunny morning with temps in the 60s and a nice cooling breeze ¢ great hiking weather.   I made excellent time and was on top at the Priest Shelter by late morning. There was a viewpoint at 4000¢ just beyond the shelter, and I got a spectacular view of the Shenandoah Valley. The visibility must have been 50 miles. What a sight! The real summit of the Priest is wooded and without any good views. I think that the Priest was easier than expected because I had approached it from the south and all of the tails that I had heard about it were from SOBO¢s. The descent off the summit is very steep and rocky and I can see how the Priest got its reputation coming south. Half way down there is an overview with great views of the Tye Valley.   There I met a day hiker. He was stripped to the waist, had no pack and no water, and was wearing slip-on shoes. His plan was to climb up to the Priest Shelter and then come back down to the road! To each their own.   Once off the Priest you cross VA 56 and then over the Tye River on an excellent suspension bridge. Just beyond the bridge I met two hikers, a male and a female. She was lamenting that she was tired and has lost all of her ¢Chi¢ for the hike. I reassured her that she would get it all back when she ¢crossed water¢ on the suspension bridge. There is an old Irish belief that bad spirits cannot cross over running water. She seemed to believe me.   The last part of today¢s hike was an ascent of the first part of the Three Ridges. There is a by-pass trail ¢ the Mau-Har ¢ that Windy said that I should take, but I stuck to the white blazes. Two hikers here at the shelter said that they took the Mau-Har and regretted it. It was very steep, tough, and not well maintained,    A great day ¢ 14.3 miles and I feel great. Thought ¢          Rest is on the Heights.
Date: 2004-10-08
From: Waynesboro - Deluxe Budget Motel, Room 42

To: Waynesboro - Deluxe Budget Motel, Room 42
Miles today: 0.0

Slept late. Breakfast at Lynn¢s Pancake House. Then it was a hike down town for laundry, trip to the PO to mail stuff home, the library for internet access, and a hike out to Rockfish Gap Outfitters for a replacement Nalgene Bottle, gloves, hat, and silk underwear for the anticipated cold weather to come. Then trip back. Relaxing day.      Everything is good.
Date: 2004-10-09
From: Waynesboro - Deluxe Budget Motel, Room 42

To: Waynesboro - Deluxe Budget Motel, Room 42
Miles today: 0.0

Got a good idea last night ¢ literally woke up with it! My plan had been to hike from here to Linden, where my next drop box is waiting. I had originally not planned to stop here at Waynesboro. The only things I absolutely need out of my Linden box now, having resupplied here, are the map and the trail guides for Linden to Harpers Ferry, where I plan on ending this section of the hike for this year. Will get the map and the guide from the outfitters here, and then I wont have to stop off at Linden at all.      So I did that today. I also stopped to enjoy the Fall Foliage Festival currently in full swing here. It is held outdoors and is an annual juried art show. The art includes paintings, metalwork, photos, and pottery. There are numerous food concessions, the whole thing in outdoor tents on the main street.   Things are looking good. Weather forecast is for some rain during the week.
Date: 2004-10-10
From: Waynesboro - Deluxe Budget Motel, Room 42

To: Calf Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: clear sky

Slept well and rose early for corned beef hash and scrambled egg at Lynn¢s. Then a promptly arriving Al¢s Taxi whisked me away back to Rockfish Gap Visitors Center and I was soon back on the trail hiking in a cool but clear morning.   Located the trail into the Shenandoah National Park and sure enough 0.5 miles in, there was a self-registration station at the information board. The original sheet is then attached to your pack with a little piece of twisted wire that allows it to blow in the breeze and lets all of the Rangers know that you are legal and good to hike.   I have been looking forward to hiking in the SNP for a long time. This week is the predicted peak for the fall color changes. As I had envisioned the hike, I always used the word ¢Valley¢ after the word ¢Shenandoah¢ I am sure that there is a Shenandoah Valley somewhere, but I know now that the AT follows the crests of the mountains, and not the depths of the valley. So there are still the regular ups and downs, but the profile realy doesn¢t show a lot of big mountains.   The trail starts out up and down over Scott Mountain and then back to SLD at McCormick Gap. It is unexpectedly rocky, but is very well maintained and well blazed. I even saw a sign that said, ¢Stop ¢ you are going the wrong way!¢ on an apparent side trail.   The trail is covered in leaves, and according to two SOBO can become very slippery when wet, especially on the rocky sections.   Leaving McCormick Gap, there is another up and down over Bears Den Mountain ¢ with a radio and TV antenna on the top, and a series of old tractor seats on the summit to encourage hikers to sit down and enjoy the view.   And a great view there is too, with the fall foliage in various colors on the facing slopes of Calf Mountain. There were numerous day hikers on the trail today, all out and enjoying the weather and the fall colors on the trail this Columbus Day weekend.   After crossing SLD again at Beagle Gap, it was an up and a down over Calf Mountain and then I was here at the shelter in ¢two whisks of a lambs tail¢ The water source is a nice piped spring. This is the first shelter where I have stayed that has a bear pole, and I will have to experiment as to how to hang the food bags from it later.   It is a still afternoon now, and there are three hawks circling high overhead. Bright sunny day with the temps in the mid-60's but I suspect that it will be a cold night tonight.Thought ¢    Anticipation is an important part of the experience.
Date: 2004-10-11
From: Calf Mountain Shelter

To: Blackrock Hut
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: clear sky

Columbus Day.Last night I was joined by a SOBO, Flip-Flop, from Effingham Illinois, who has just graduated from SIU nursing school. Two medical professionals from Illinois ¢ a small world indeed! We gathered a lot of wood and made a big fire and sat around it as the sun disappeared and the cold night surrounded us. It was a primordial moment with the sparks of the fire rising into the darkness of the night, the smell of the smoke and the sight of the flames, and overhead the incredibly bright stars glistening and sparkling, with the light of the fire reflecting back into the shelter.   I was off and hiking by dawn, leaving a still sleeping Flip-Flop in the shelter. The trail descends to Jarman Gap, which is the real official southern boundary of the Shenandoah NP. Here they use little concrete pillars as trail markers, with the mileage marked on a little metal band around the top. They also have pillars marking the springs, a great idea in my humble opinion. How else do you find a water source that the trail guide informs you is a ¢spring at 1.7 miles, 200 yards into the forest on the right¢? You cant see that far into the trees, never mind the difficulties of knowing that you have covered 1.7 miles exactly. For those who think that every spring has a well-worn path leading to it, think again. Not all springs have paths and not all paths lead to springs. So I, for one, was thankful for the Potomac AT Club trail signs that confirm that this is indeed a path to a spring. The trail today was a series of ups and downs between the SLD over Turk Mountain to Turk Gap, and then Wildcat Ridge, and finally Blackrock Gap. The fall colors are realy showing up now, and I took a lot of photos, each view was better than the last, and I couldn¢t resist.   Met a lot of hikers ¢ this is a popular time to hike the SNP and to view the fall colors. Coming down to Blackrock Gap, I met Uncle Mike ¢ aka Mike Wallace. He is descended from Scots Presbyterians who came over from Ulster in Northern Ireland in the 1840s and we had a great chat about Irish history, leaning on our hiking poles and surrounded by all of the fall colors.   It has been a gorgeous day, it started out cold enough for the rain top jacket and gloves, but by mid-morning I was back in summer hiking mode, The temp was in the 60s, sunny and bright and crisp and clear.   It has all the promise of another cold night tonight. I may sleep in my new silk underwear tonight and start out as today, tomorrow.   This was a great day ¢ good weather, felt fine, moving right along, beautiful country and I made great time. Every day on the trail should be like this!   Left a message for KT on cell and home phones last evening and will try for a signal again tonight.Thought ¢             Happiness is not just the absence of sadness. Happiness is a positive emotion.
Date: 2004-10-12
From: Blackrock Hut

To: Pinefield Hut
Miles today: 13.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Arose early at 6AM. It is still dark at that time and I cook breakfast in the pitch dark black of the night with the stars bright and sharp overhead. By the time the coffee is made, I sit there sipping on it; warming my hands, and watching the stars wink out slowly, one by one. You can begin to notice that there is more light in the east ¢ ¢lux ex orientalis¢. By the time I have finished breakfast, and the bag is packed and I am dressed foe hiking, it is light enough to see the trail and to set out safely, although the sun is yet to rise over the mountain.   I started off with gloves and rain jacket, but by the time the sun was over the mountain crest, I was able to get back to summer hiking mode. The weather was great ¢ it realy was like hiking in the summer, temps in the70s and gorgeous, just gorgeous, colors. It was like walking thru a yellow golden light under the trees.   The trail yesterday was repeated today with gentle ups and downs between the SLD, in excellent weather and beautiful foliage. I finally arrived at Loft Mountain Campground, and decided to hike the one mile downhill to the Wayside on SLD for bacon cheeseburger and the infamous blackberry shake. These Waysides are located along the SLD for the benefit of the motoring public, but some are close enough to the AT to make the side trip worth the time and effort. The extra two miles was worth it for the food, especially the shake, but it was expensive. National Park prices I suppose.   Lots of people on the trail today, all of whom want to know the story of my hike. This is in distinct contradistinction to the sullen silent hikers in southern Virginia. I spent a long time on the trail today just chatting.   I met Uncle Bob, a young man with dreadlocks at the Loft Mountain Campground, and two other SOBO¢s, Jolly Rancher and Kodiak, shortly after. Some day hikers took my photo on the top of Loft Mountain, and I got a lot of photos from multiple overlooks.   There was a very nice stream and a small waterfall at Ivy Creek, framed by the foliage of autumn. Then it was an easy hike on here to Pinefield Hut, where, guess who? ¢ Soot - minus the dog, was waiting. He said that the dog ¢got sick¢ and that he finally left it at an animal shelter, where they said that they might have to put it down. I wonder if they did, in fact, kill the poor dog and I remembered the strange dream that I had experienced at the Paul C Wolf shelter! Was it the spirit of the dog that came to me in my dream that night?   Also here is Spiraea Virginiana ¢ who is a professional botanist, and a very nice person. Her trail name is that of a plant that she studies. It is a marker for clear stream water. Such interesting people you met on the trail.   I will try to contact KT later and I am looking forward to dinner. I have an extra half-pound of cheese that I got at the campground store at Loft Mountain.   Thought ¢             Familiarity should not breed contempt; it should breed understanding and insight.
Date: 2004-10-13
From: Pinefield Hut

To: Hightop Hut
Miles today: 8.2
Weather: light rain

No cell signal last night, but we did get a SOBO ¢ Mustard ¢ who spent the night. Soot and Virginiana built a big fire but we were all in our bags by 8PM, telling bear stories and chatting.   I awoke to the rain and a dull and overcast sky. Everybody mulled around talking about the weather, but I finally started off in full rain-gear into a wet, cold, and windy day, and an overcast sky. The rain continued all morning, with a break about 10AM, and then stopped at 11AM. The day, however, remained cold, windy and raw and I hiked the whole day in my full rain-gear.   The trail was as yesterday ¢ up and down between the crossings of SLD, over Weaver Mountain and Little Roundtop ¢ maybe with steeper ascents and descents than yesterday, but still well maintained and graded all the way. As I approached the side-trail to the shelter, I met a couple out hiking, who were originally from County Down in Northern Ireland. We had a ¢grand chat¢ and they came down here to see the shelter. They live close to Harpers Ferry, and offered to put me up, when I got there ¢ but I will proberly stay in a motel and try to get a train back to Chicago.   This shelter has been recently painted on the inside. PATC paints the inside of its shelters/huts ¢ this one is grey and the smell of fresh paint still persists. Two more hikers out for the weekend have just arrived ¢ Rob and John.   I have had lunch and am now wearing my new silk underwear because of the cold. 8.2 short miles today. Feeling good, but cold, and I think it is going to be another cold night tonight. All of the gear is dry, thank goodness.Thought ¢             Friendship is not based on shared interests; it is based on shared happiness.