morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-05-30
From: Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP) mile marker 97.0

To: Jennings Creek, VA 614
Miles today: 13.9

Today started very cool and cloudy but by noon it was partly cloudy and extremely humid. Within 100 yards of starting I came to a notice, recently stapled to a tree, warning of high bear activity for the next 10 miles; oh joy! The trail followed a ridge-line most of the day so there were many ups and downs but no big climbs to contend with. The trail was a bit drier and even a little less rocky which made for happy feet and a little less concentration on each step. The last five miles of the day were a gradual descent from 2720 to 950 feet to Jennings Creek where Kathy and the Vanagon waited. We spent the night at a very nice National Forest Service campground had had the place nearly to ourselves. It didn't have hookups so people rarely use it. And again it rained during the night.
Date: 2016-05-31
From: Jennings Creek, VA 614

To: BRP mile 74.9, Hunting Creek Trailhead
Miles today: 15.0

Today was beautiful with clear blue skies and the occasional puffy white cloud. Temperatures were in the upper 70's and humidity was pretty high. The first piece of business was climbing Fork Mountain with it's elevation gain of nearly 1100 feet in a mile and a half. I consider anything between 500 and 1000 feet per mile as moderately steep and anything more than 1000 feet per mile terribly steep. This climb was soon followed by another almost moderately steep climb up to Bryant Ridge, an elevation gain of 850 feet in 2 miles, where I had lunch and chatted with several other hikers at the Bryant Ridge shelter. After lunch I got to climb another 660 feet to the summit of Apple Orchard Mountain; a pretty grass covered bald with a FAA Radar dome perched at the very top. From there it was only a short descent down to the Hunting Creek Trail-head on the BRP where I met Kathy. On the way to the National Forest campground where we would spend the night we stopped at a pullover near a wide spot in a fast flowing stream where I quickly to a bath while Kathy kept lookout. Clean and certainly refreshed (those mountain streams are cold) we headed for the National Forest Service campground where we spent the night.
Date: 2016-06-01
From: BRP mile 74.9, Hunting Creek Trailhead

To: US 501 near the James River Footbridge
Miles today: 13.6

Today was another bright, clear day; not too hot and not too humid. The hike was a little less strenuous than normal with only one big climb, that up 800 feet to Highcock Knob, to deal with. The trail itself was easier today with several miles of soft dirt or pine needle matting, well designed switchback and no over-sized steps to contend with. The day ended with a long, gradual descent of almost 2000 feet over five and a half miles to the James River Foot Bridge; the longest foot use only bridge on the AT. It's interesting (if not bizarre) that the Jamed River Foot Bridge is indeed a foot bridge but is also named after Bill Foot, an AT enthusiast who led the drive to have the bridge erected. After crossing the James River it was only a short way to meet Kathy and we headed to a BRP campground for the night.
Date: 2016-06-02
From: US 501 near the James River Footbridge

To: Pedlar River Bridge
Miles today: 15.0

Today started with a monster climb which ultimately gained nearly 3300 feet in elevation and three mountain summits, Little Rocky Row, Big Rocky Row and Bluff Mountain, over the course of 8.9 miles. The weather did nothing to make this any easier; it was hot and very humid all day. The views, however, were wonderful and the trail conditions very nice with long, albeit uphill, stretched flat even stretched that were easy on the feet. At mid morning I had a close encounter with a very long, very black snake. I was moving along, concentrating on getting to my next target rest stop, when, all of a sudden, it was just there stretched clear across the trail. It was at least 5 feet long and mostly 1 1/2 in in diameter. I say mostly because it was very "lumpy" looking which I, not being a snake expert, attributed to it's having just eaten and in the process of digesting its prey (or maybe it was just a lumpy snake). After reaching the summit Bluff Mountain it was mostly down hill to the Pedlar River where I met Kathy. We camped for the night at a National Forest Service campground where it rained all night.
Date: 2016-06-03
From: Pedlar River Bridge

To: Hog Camp Gap campsite
Miles today: 13.1

This morning Kathy dropped me off at the Pedlar River Bridge and headed back to Maine. This meant I was back to carrying a full pack with tent, sleeping gear and multiple days of food; an increase from 10 to 27 pounds on my back. Oh well. And the hike today was brutal with a long, almost endless, climb up more than 3000 feet in 9.6 miles to the top of Bald Knob (which is not bald at all but very wooded). There was nothing easy about the climb; even the switchbacks were very steep. The weather was hot and humid and it rained on and off, light showers really, most of the day. I had to take lots of rests but I eventually made it to the top. Once there I had to start down again for about a mile before I got to Hog Camp Gap where I planned to tent for the night. Hog Camp Gap is a large, flat, grassy area probably 20 or 30 acres with a few large well spaced out trees. It must have been a grazing area in the not too distant past. It was an ideal tent site except the water was half a mile down a hill and there was no place close by to take a dump in privacy. I had set up my tent, eaten supper and cleaned up (and, yes, found that privacy) when storm clouds rolled in and the thunder and lightning started. It rained hard starting at 7:00 and didn't stop until after I was asleep.
Date: 2016-06-04
From: Hog Camp Gap campsite

To: The Priest Shelter
Miles today: 14.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was a long hike along a high, uneven ridge-line between Bald Knob and The Priest (Mountain). This involved a series of six descents and six climbs; all nearly identical 500 footers. While not exactly the same as a 3000 foot climb and descent, my feet, hips and backs couldn't feel a difference. I eventually made it and found a great tent site and set up my tent. Soon after setting my tent up it started to rain; not a heavy rain but a steady sprinkle. I got to cook and eat in the rain (I never cook or eat in my tent - the food odors attract bears - not a good thing) and clean up in the rain. Just before sunset it stopped but it was still so wet, so humid, that it looked like a mist was rising from the ground. It looked kind of like a rain forest. I propped my head up so I could just watch the mist and fell asleep in that position.
Date: 2016-06-05
From: The Priest Shelter

To: Maupin Field Shelter
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: moderate rain

Today was a day with a huge descent and an equally huge accent. It started with a 3100 foot, 4.3 mile descent from th top of The Priest to the Tye River suspension bridge. This was steep, rocky and very, very muddy. Once down the trail started right back up a nearly identical 3100 feet but, thankfully, at a more gradual rate; taking 6.1 mile to do it. This climb had long gradual switchbacks as well a steep, almost straight up climbs. It was a strange climb in that I just kept putting one foot in front of another (not my usual 50 to 100 steps and a short breather) and, almost in a trance, completed the climb. Once at the top I had to descend 1200 feet to get to the Maupin Field Shelter tenting area. Going downhill was almost a relief after the long climb and I made good time doing it. I set up my tent and relaxed for a few minutes. Even though the sky was dark with clouds, I decided to take advantage of the windy conditions to dry out my seeping bag and the inside of my tent. I put my bag on a line and tied back the flaps on my tend so they could dry while I made and ate supper. I was just about to pour boiling water into the cooking bag of freeze dried food (Mountain House) when the skies opened up and started dumping water. I put down the pan and bag and raced to get my sleeping bag into the tent. Then I grabbed the pan and bag and ran to a nearby bulletin board (one with a small, 4 foot by 6 foot roof) where I stirred the food and sealed the bag. Then I realized that the wind was blowing the rain into my tent. I put the pan and bag on the ground (which was quickly becoming a puddle) and ran to the tent, getting soaked, to button down the tent. That done I went back, retrieved my meal and realized my spoon was 50 feet away with my cooker and cooking gear. I thought "to hell with it" and ate supper with my fingers (mashed potatoes and pieces of chicken). After nearly scalding my fingers on the potatoes and dropping half the chicken the rain let up enough for me to retrieve my spoon, finish eating, pack u my cookware, strip off my wet clothes and climb in the tent. I mopped up the water in the tent with my wash towel and spare (clean) undies and socks, put on my sleeping clothes and went to bed. It was 6:00 so I stared at the roof of my tent until I feel asleep and slept until the birds woke me in the morning.
Date: 2016-06-06
From: Maupin Field Shelter

To: Rockfish Gap, Waynesboro VA
Miles today: 20.8

Today was a bright, spectacular day with blue skies and no clouds. Hiking was very nice as well with one long, 5 mile, uphill to the summit of Humpback Mountain and one long, 6 mile, downhill to Mill Creek. After Mill Creek there was a steep 600 foot climb to an in-named ridge that brought me to Rockfish Gap which is at the intersection of US250 and the Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP). The wildlife provided me with the real excitement of the day. First, I saw two snakes within 5 feet of each other. The first one was long and gray and probably an inch and a half in diameter; it was kind of scary looking. I got a good start and leaped (as best I could with a pack on my back) over it and, holy shit, the second one was right where I was about to land. Somehow I landed on a toe just before it and hopped over it, stumbled a few feet and continued on. Then, a couple hours later, a bear suddenly appeared in the trail only 15 feet in front of me. I think we saw each other at the same time and we both stopped dead in our tracks. He (it might have been a she) turned and looked at me and I slowly backed away trying to calmly explain that I was a human and no threat to him. Once I was about 25 feet from him he slowly left the trail and shuffled up the hill while I equally slowly took out my cell phone and took a picture. He turned a kind of look back at me just as I took it. He disappeared into the brush and I waited several minutes before continuing down the trail. Once. I got to Rockfish Gap I resisted the urge to go to the hot dog truck across the road, stuck out my thumb and quickly caught a ride to Waynesboro. I had a big supper, showered at the local Y (it has been many years since been in a 10 nozzle gang shower), set my tent up in an adjacent town park, introduced myself and chatted with all the through hikers and homeless people already there and went to bed for the night.
Date: 2016-06-07
From: Rockfish Gap, Waynesboro VA

To: Rockfish Gap, Waynesboro VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Today I took a zero day. I had reservations at the Tree Street Inn and a mail drop to pick up there as well. I used the day to go to Kroger to resupply, the library to journal the local coin laundry and three eating places to stuff myself. I went to bed early and tossed and turned all night; I think my body is getting used to my air mattress.
Date: 2016-06-08
From: Rockfish Gap, Waynesboro VA

To: Calf Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 9.7
Weather: clear sky

Today I slept in and had a big breakfasts before heading for the trail at about 10:00. It was very cool and windy and I was glad to have my rain jacket which keeps me nice and warm. Two hundred feet onto the trail I came to a Shenandoah National Park (SNP) self registration board where I "checked into" the park and got a camping permit which I attached to my pack. I was excited to be entering SNP as I had heard that the trails are in better shape and there were resupply places all along the trail. The trail from Rockfish Gap climbed 1300 feet to the top of Calf Mountain which included two really steep places. When I got to Calf Mountain shelter at 4:00 there were only two tent spots left, both on slopes and containing lots of rocks. I took the better of the two and St up my tent ( creatively as I could only get 5 of the 8 stakes more than an inch into the rocky ground.). I cooked and ate my supper, chatted with the other hikers for a while and went to bed.
Date: 2016-06-09
From: Calf Mountain Shelter

To: Loft Mountain Campground
Miles today: 19.1

The wind howled all night long but my tent somehow managed to stay put despite it's jury rigged setup. The morning was cool and windy; great weather for hiking. It wasn't until early afternoon that the temperature and humidity both started to soar. Leaving Calf Mountain Shelter I got to descend over 500 feet before the trail took a 5 mile gradual climb to the top of Wildcat Ridge. After my morning snack break the trail headed down again; this time down nearly 2700 feet Black Rock Gap before starting up Trayfoot Mountain. From Trayfoot Mountain the trail followed a jagged ridge 6 miles to the Loft Mountain campground; a large SNP campground with restaurant, camp store, showers, laundry and real flush toilets. I set up my tent amidst the car tents and campers, showered, ate at the restaurant and went to bed.
Date: 2016-06-10
From: Loft Mountain Campground

To: Hightop Hut
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: clear sky

Last night and this morning were cool and windy but by mid morning the bright sun had warmed the air to the mid 80's. The trail out of Loft Mountain Shelter had many ups and downs but few rocks and lots of pine needles made the walking easy on the legs and feet. I saw 4 more bears today; one very large one was quietly sitting a dozen feet from the trail eating leaves or something and looked like it was daring me to continue down the trail. Well, I didn't dare and just backed up a bit and waited for him to move and finally it wandered away into the woods. The other three were well off the trail and I walked by them like they weren't there. The final limb up to Hightop Hut was a steep 600 foot climb. When I got to the hut it was only 3:30 so I had my pick of the tent spots. I set up my tent and went tithe shelter where a AT Ridge-Runner was just taking out her pack. We talked for an hour or so before any other hikers arrived. It turns out she is a two time through hiker; one a traditional NOBO and one a flip-flop. Her flip-flop was from Springer to Harper's Ferry and then from Katahdin to Harper's Ferry. She told me the flip flop avoided the summer heat of Pennsylvania and the fall cold of New Hampshire and Maine. She said that this year flip flopping would minimize the problem of trail overcrowding and eliminate any chance of not finishing the hike before Katahdin was closed. I will think seriously about this option because, for me, there is the opportunity to spend a couple of days at home in Maine on the way north. More hikers arrived and ended our discussion. I talked to other hikers for a while, ate supper and went to bed.
Date: 2016-06-11
From: Hightop Hut

To: Lewis Mountain Campground
Miles today: 9.6
Weather: clear sky

Today was a really beautiful day; great for hiking. To make it even better it was a short day of hiking as well. The trail started out with a 500 foot climb to the top of Hightop Mountain then a long, gradual descent to Swift Run Gap where I had a nice mid morning snack sitting on a big flat rock on the edge of a gushing stream. After my snack I attacked the 1100 foot climb to the summit of Baldface Mountain and then another descent, this one only 700 feet to Lewis Mountain Campground. I had heard on the trail that, because it was a weekend, this campground, used mostly by car campers, would be full. I decided to walk through it to see if, by chance, there was an available campsite. I was glad I did when I heard someone calling out my trail name. It was 3 hikers I frequently camped near camped on two camp spaces which allowed two tents on each. They asked if I wanted to join them and a happily agreed. I set up my tent, showered and the four of us headed for the campground store where we bought hot dogs, rolls and beer. We made a fire in the fire ring and had grilled hot dogs (4 each) and beers (3 each) for supper. After one more trip to the camp store, this time for ice cream, we settler into our tents for the night.
Date: 2016-06-12
From: Lewis Mountain Campground

To: Big Meadows Campgound
Miles today: 9.2

Today was another nice day with lots of sunshine and only moderately hot weather. The trail was easy as well with no big mountains to climb and only a few 200 to 300 foot hills that were not very steep at all. By mid morning I was at Big Meadows Wayside, a SNP variety store and snack bar intended primarily for car and motorcycle tourists but enjoyed by hikers as well. I got a couple of BLTs and a large Gatorade and ate at a picnic table (thru hikers are usually too stinky to sit inside when the weather is nice outside) with another hiker and two Harley guys. After lunch I continued on the trail for a mile and a half when I came to Big Meadows Campground where I decided to search out the restrooms (flush toilets are rarely bypassed on the AT). On the way I spotted a very nice campsite not yet taken and decided to call it a day; my second short, sub 10 mile day in a row. I took advantage of the sunny, breezy day and hung out my sleeping bag, sleeping bag liner and socks then took a shower (two days in a row!) and simply rested until supper. After supper I invited another thru hiker I had seen before to share my site and we chatted until just past 8:00 when we turned in for the night.
Date: 2016-06-13
From: Big Meadows Campgound

To: Byrds Nest #3 Hut
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: clear sky

Today was another bright, sun-shinny day with plenty of humidity. The trail crossed three mountains today, Hawksbill, Stony Man and The Pinnacle; two 700 footers and a 400 footer. At lunch I stopped at another SNP wayside, Skyline Resort and Restaurant (I could get used to this) where I feasted again on two BLTs and a vanilla milkshake. After hitting the trail again I spotted two bear cubs about 40 feet off the trail with no mamma bear in sight. Not seeing the mamma bear was very disconcerting because I didn't want to be between the mamma and her cubs. I stood very still for several minutes (seemed like hours) searching for mamma and watching the cubs play (they really are cute) and finally took a deep breath and hurried down the trail. When I got to Byrds Nest #3 Hut there was a good sized bear only 50 feet away, on the side trail to the spring, sitting and munching on what looked to me like wild rhubarb. After a few minutes me and another hiker, both of us needing water, scared it off or at least out of sight. This bear, the others I'd seen that afternoon and stories about bears in the hut's log book, convinced me to risk the mice, spiders and snorers and spend the night in the hut rather than my tent. before bed time five other hikers had joined me and we talked until 8:00 before sacking out for the night.
Date: 2016-06-14
From: Byrds Nest #3 Hut

To: Gravel Springs Hut
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Another nice day with blue skies and a few clouds; temperatures were in the 80's most of the day. After about an hour of climbing, the trail descended steeply for 1250 feet over four miles to Thornton's Gap and US 211; the road to Luray, Virginia. I was low on food and had planned to resupply the next day in Front Royal but decided on a whim to hitch to Luray, resupply, hitch back to the trail head and keep hiking. I tried hitching for a half hour without anyone even slowing down so decided to keep hiking and resupply tomorrow as I had originally planned. It was a steep, 900 foot climb out of the gap to the top of Pass Mountain and from there a lot of ups and downs on a ridge until Wayside Gap where I lunch at Elkwallow Wayside. After lunch came a 1120 foot climb over Rattlesnake Point and past a side trail to the summit of Hogback Mountain. On the way I saw 5 more bears; 2 individuals and 2 cubs with their mamma nearby. None of these was very close to the trail so I was able to pass them without even slowing. This night I stayed in the Gravel Springs Hut rather than my tent in deference to the bears. Two other thru hikers were in the hut when I arrived and another joined up afterwards. We ate together and talked about the trail and the bears until we all fell asleep sometime after 7:30.
Date: 2016-06-15
From: Gravel Springs Hut

To: Mountain Home Cabin
Miles today: 13.7

There was good weather on the trail again today. The day started with a climb up South Mountain, along a ridge to North Marshall Mountain (where I saw and avoided my 2nd rattlesnake on the trail) and then down to Jenkins Gap where I crossed Skyline Drive. From there the trail headed up up to Compton Peak and then down a long, 1830 foot, descent to US 522; the road to Front Royal. On the way down I could see many large fields and bunches of long, red roofed building obviously part of some vast estate. When I came near the first field I found it was fenced by a old, vine covered, barb wire topped, chain link fence. I followed this fence for at least a half mile to US 522. As I got to the road a car immediately pulled over and offered me a ride to Front Royal. I took the ride and was dropped off at a local burger joint where I had lunch then headed to a grocery to resupply. Leaving the grocery an older fellow entering asked if I was a thru hiker and if I needed a ride to the trail head. On the way to the trail head we passed several numbered gates that all appeared to be part of the "estate" I had seen hiking in. I asked the driver about them and he told me they were all part of a US Government WWII remount center; a place where horses, thousands of them, were staged and trained before being sent to Europe and the war. He told me it was established in 1913 and was more than 5000 acres. It was still owned and operated by the US Government and used to raise horses for the army and as a equine research center. After he dropped me off I hiked another half mile or so to Mountain Home Cabin; a lovely hostel where I picked up a mail drop and spent the night. There were only 5 of us there for the night and 3 of us were from Maine. I had bought and brought with me a 12 inch sub from the grocery which I ate before going to bed.