morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-05-19
From: Thunder Hill Shelter

To: Punchbowl Shelter
Miles today: 25.1
Weather: clear sky

Woke up to a cool morning but the sun soon changed that... making the end of some beautifully sunny AND cool weather. Shenanigans wore just his blue thermals so he looked like a blueberry (a skinny one) and got some strange looks from a sobo. Had a good climb up over a knob and suddenly we were all in California. The trail was flat and very dry; there were even some great views! All the way down to a shelter that was said to have swimming holes (not so much). The trail continued down to the James River, a big muddy one with a really long foot bridge over it. On the other side we met a trail angel giving out sodas. The other guy, who talked a lot, wasn't actually a trail angel. I figured that out after leaving and felt really bad that I hadn't talked more to the real angel. Another good climb where S. left me in his dust. But then we had our end of day amble to the shelter. Looking at flowers we don't know and taking their pictures. This shelter was supposedly haunted by a little boy who died, way back, after wandering away from school... something like that. No one was in the shelter! Because they are all normally tenters, not because of the little boy ghost. Even stranger, when we got there around 7 they all got in their tents! So we ate dinner with Gritty and Grommet.Played cribbage and was destroyed! So now I'm carrying the cards. As we went to bed the frogs at the pond were calling and deer surrounded us. Their eyes glowed in our headlamp light. They started snorting? I've never heard that, it seemed like they were nervous about something. Great night of cowboy camping!
Date: 2009-05-20
From: Punchbowl Shelter

To: N. Fork of Piney Shelter
Miles today: 23.4

Got up after some great sleep. I must have slept through the haunting. The morning hike was very flat and kind of monotonous until a long climb up Bald Knob and then Cold Mountain. Hot and dripping sweat. Yuck. Stopped on Bald Knob after catching up with S. and Gritty who were sitting on the top. Then sat in the sun on the actually bald Cold Mountain with Grommet and S., enjoying the beautiful view. Grommet and Lil' Dipper were all secretive about some potential trail magic. Which was... after a grassy, clear ridge to some road. The trail angel was an older guy named Piney who has been watching for hikers since the '50s and gives out beer. He was FULL of stories! Wow, the one beer made me dizzy, so it was good to just sit and listen to him talk.Right after there was a nice grassy field. It was S.'s turn to get water... haha, 0.3 miles off trail! But apparently, it was a really nice spring. And, AND there was a great tree swing. Gritty and I took turns while others got water. A VERY happy Pace.Stopped for the night at some campsite with an amazing, huge, dead tree that had grown on a boulder- roots down only one side. We had a fire, although everything is so dry it's a little scary. Cooked my pepperoni-cheese burritos so they actually tasted good.Wathced the night's entertainment of Early Bear bear bag hanging. Cowboy camped and saw a shooting star. Great day, ridiculously happy!
Date: 2009-05-21
From: N. Fork of Piney Shelter

To: Harper's Creek Shelter
Miles today: 16.2
Weather: clear sky

Excellent night cowboying it. Had a lazy wake up and S. beat me out of camp (what!?). Lazy morning walk to some Fish Hatchery Rd where "town", Montebello, was 2 miles down a steep, gravelly road. It was a tiny town getting ready for Memorial weekend. TINY P.O. and the "long term" resupply wasn't so great. P.B. and J. for me! We got a ride to the Dutch House where some trail angels fed us a free, huge spaghetti lunch. They were hilarious!Gave us a ride back with very full stomachs. We struggled (I did...) back up to the trail in the heat. Climbed up over Spy Rock for a great view. There were shrinking puddles with tadpoles crowded in. Spent some time terrifying them with shadows. Ups and downs... We debated stopping at the Priest Shelter but continued down the 4 mile descent of Priest Mountain. Back up to our shelter for the night. If S. has 7 days of food while I have 4, I can't keep up! Still nasty and sweaty. We met two sobo's and taught them Euchre with one alteration that would annoy Kazoo (hehe). Time for bed... I'm struggling to keep up with this journal!
Date: 2009-05-22
From: Harper's Creek Shelter

To: Waynesboro
Miles today: 27.0
Weather: broken clouds

Woke up with everyone still sleeping, so I tried to pack quietly. We had the climb up 3 Ridges first thing in the morning. Surprise legs! You aren't away yet but you ARE climbing. It wasn't all that ridgey on top, a little disappointing actually. And it was already hot enough my face was dripping and on fire. Down to a shelter where we met Hammock who convinced us to try for Waynesboro... another 21 miles. But there weren't any big climbs or descents. S. thought maybe he could resolve his boot problems at the outfitters.So off we went. I played this new game of try and keep up with Shenanigans. Passed some trail maintainers. The trail was covered in poison ivy, ugg. Went through some craziness of S. trying to find a cell phone (what!? day hikers everywhere but no cell phone?... shocking) to call the outfitters and maybe speeding ahead to get there. Turns out they don't even carry Asolo anyway. Long hike to Bear Spring where I was promised "flocks of bears". No such luck. Stopped at another shelter before speeding in to town. A long day. Tired legs.This area seems to be infested with gray squirrels! But they aren't your average, fat town squirrels. They make amazing leaps and are crazy acrobats.Walked halfway to town before getting a ride. The back of a pickup truck with Mexican music blasting. They drove so fast (no, it just felt fast). Some generous person made a huge donation to this town's YMCA so AT hikers can camp out back and shower for free. So we're doing that.Walked to some Italian place and split a veggie stromboli and philly cheesestake sandwich. YUM. Very happy stomach. S., still hungry, ate some food other people had left behind. Peach milkshakes on the way back. With all the extra walking today was probably close to a 30. Exhausted, time to sleep and will shower in the morning.
Date: 2009-05-23
From: Waynesboro

To: Blackrock Hut
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: clear sky

Town is loud! Dogs barking, cars, lights, GEESE, etc. Could see the sky but not so many of the stars. Not much sleep and it was all disorienting. Woke up to damp bags, wet from the dew. Took turns showering at the YMCA while the other watched our stuff. Some church donates bags of toiletries, which includes candy. And someone brought in piles of fruit which I could have eaten lots of but there were pancakes somewhere in town.Saw Gritty and Grommet on our way to breakfast and out of town. A trail angel gave us a ride to the trail. We registered for the Shenandoahs! hiking didn't feel very good at all, from yesterday's craziness I think. My legs just felt so slow and my knees and feet hurt. Good thing the Shennies have such gentle grades. If we both don't feel better tomorrow we might not make it to Harper's Ferry. Well, saw LOTS of "soap people" today. Those are day hikers/people with a bubble of "good" smell. Ugg. But it IS Memorial day weekend and the trail does cross the road half a million times. Yuck, the sound of motorcycles and smell of exhaust. What a way to treat our beloved national parks! Anyways, I could go on...Also saw a black snake acting like a rattle snake. It rattled leaves around with the tip of its tail. Also saw a BEAR! Finally! My section hike is almost complete. The bear was NOT scared of us, just trotted off trail, sat down and stared at us. Hmmmm.... wonderful. Then some guy with a white kick-me dog walked by and I day dreamed funny dog-bear interactions. Hiked to the shelter (now called huts) like it was mile 30 of the day. Met many new people, ate, and now going to bed NOT thinking about all the miles we have to do. Just dreaming of ice cream on the trail tomorrow... really, I'm told it's real!Oh, we met some lady in one of the parking lots today with a bunch of flower books. So all our flower questions from the past many miles are answered!!
Date: 2009-05-24
From: Blackrock Hut

To: Hightop Hut
Miles today: 21.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Ohhhh..... what a terrible night. Two section hikers were terrible! They took up so much space in the shelter. The dog even had a sleeping pad and space inside. As we went to bed one had horrible music on loud. The other had a TERRIBLE snore with some bad sleep apnea. So bad that S. got up to cowboy camp in the middle of the night. Then in the morning they started moving around at 5:30 AM! They made the dog stay in the shelter to eat (loud) and started a little fire to burn their trash. I LOVE waking up (I mean getting up... I wasn't asleep) to that awesome smell of nastiness. I'm so sick of people burning their trash! Hikers even leave trash in fire pits for the next person to burn it. So I mentioned to these two that they shouldn't because it smells bad and puts bad stuff in the air. He got all confrontational and said -do you drive a car because that's bad too-. Then he said he wouldn't listen to me unless I had an Environmental Degree. And well, I do, which I pointed out and almost died trying not to laugh. Anyways, not a good morning. Good thing hiking fixes everything, especially with ice cream in 7 miles.S. caught up in time for ice cream and a beer at some campground and I was finally over the morning and in a better mood. Fully enjoyed that moment before moving on to the next shelter for a nap. Played a little cribbage and debated our plans for Harper's Ferry. Decided to bail out and just do 20s to Front Royal and enjoy ourselves. Tried to take a nap and then moved on.At the next road crossing S. decides he still might want to push on the H.F. but maybe we're just tired from no sleep. Putting of the decision until tomorrow. Floated over the hills and across roads wondering why THIS place is a national park. There really isn't anything unique or spectacular that I've noticed. There's a stupid road winding through that ruins any sense of wilderness...Spending the night in tents after last night. More cribbage. Talked with Hi-C and Spaceman a little. We'll see what tomorrow brings.
Date: 2009-05-25
From: Hightop Hut

To: random campsite
Miles today: 31.0

Another not so great night for me- too hot and humid for my 10 degree bag. I headed out just before Shenanigans, so when I stopped to pee I assumed he passed me. So all morning I just kept going, all 11ish miles to some campground with food. It was all green and flattish like the rest of the Shenandoahs. I sat down for a break, almost there, thinking wow- no breaks for S., I haven't caught up! But surprise, that's because I got to the campground first along with Double Vision and Jukebox. Had and incredibly expensive resupply and ice cream while it started to cool down and act like rain.We continued on our 30 mile day (oh yeah, we decided to try for H.F. again). The cool drizzle that turned into rain felt so good! For once, I was soaked in something other than sweat. Big smile on my face!Continued on over typical green Shenny hills to another place of food. this place had a fastfood kind of thing. Ran into Tax Dollar. We got fried chicken and potato wedges... yummy greasiness! Oh, so good. Ate outside in the drizzle and we people watched. One family didn't want to go the short distance from the door to their car because of the drizzle. Another father and daughter were playing catch in the rain (yes!). We hiked on into the dark and FINALLY found a camping spot to set up our tarps. There are so many rules for camping here and so few options it's frustrating! Set up and ate a little, though NOT ENOUGH! Exhausted! I finally went to bed around 11 when the down pour started. Slept with millipedes.Harper's Ferry is still fully possible.
Date: 2009-05-26
From: random campsite

To: Tom Floyd Wayside
Miles today: 32.8
Weather: moderate rain

It was a late morning start in the pouring rain. So hard to get motivated when everything is wet and covered in mud and leaf bits. Yuck. And my legs were stiff! We slowly made it to a picnic area which had water and roofs with dry spots. My knees were so stiff and slow. The next 7 miles to some shelter didn't even loosen them up. We ran into Not-so-Crazy who I'd thought was behind us. He didn't want to get his only clothes wet so he was stuck in the shelter saying- the weather's going to break right? He's hilarious. But we left him for another 7 miles to another food stop. Once again, we're debating the H.F. push.Made it to the deserted (rain) food place where we debated plans... while eating. I can't eat enough and it's all so expensive! Every time we stop hiking and get stiff and cold, S. wants to call off the H.F. push. When we get going again he thinks we should try. I was still completely undecided. I HATE giving up on things like this but my knees are keeping me from really wanting to do it. Just one more day of rest before the 50 would solve everything! Well, we're taking turns making decisions. S. decided to do another 30 today, I get to decide on the 50 tomorrow.Got to some shelter with 4 thru hikers playing cards. We ate and procrastinated the last 10 miles of the day. Felt crazy, but around 8 we left to finish it up with several hours of night hiking. It felt a little epic but we made it! Yay- finally out of the Shenandoahs! Goodbye Skyline drive and tourists! Unfortunately it was still raining and there was no shelter space so we tarped it again. Went to sleep at midnight. Passed Out!
Date: 2009-05-27
From: Tom Floyd Wayside

To: Front Royal
Miles today: 3.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Well, woke up around 8:30 and waited until 9 to pee. My legs did NOT want to do anything! Back to sleep off and on until noonish (yikes!). What? I don't do that. Finally threw everything in my pack and headed back up to the shelter where I found a S. talking with a chestnut tree counter. Apparently the Chestnut tree isn't doing as well as they'd hoped. Apparently told S. that only some people are born with the ability to ID chestnut trees and didn't show him how to. But he drew a picture for me, it wasn't THAT tough and we found a few on our way out.Eventually we left around 2 after deciding that the 50 definitely would NOT happen. It was a relief to have such a clear decision. One more day of rest and I would have done it but 24 hours was not enough. Ambled out the 3ish miles to town. There was a school group on the way that had a million questions for S. on thru hiking. Smart kids had good questions.Got a hitch in with ketchup's brother into Front Royal. Said goodbye to the AT. Wandered around town looking for the outfitters, found their new location and that they were closed early. Found a place to stay, a pay phone, and FOOD. Although these 30s have my stomach feeling starved and sick at the same time. Stayed at some cheep motel and ate at an amazing place. Grecian pasta for me with salad and garlic bread... yum.... Walked around, bought some flip flops for my raw feet, showered, watched some rediculous TV and went to bed happy.
Date: 2009-05-28
From: Front Royal

To: Shenanigan's Home
Miles today: 0.0

Woke up to a hot, humid, awesome thunder cloud building day. If we'd decided to do the 50 we would have about 25-30 done by this time. Cantelope, bagels and cream cheese and lazed around. No more H.F. goal and no hiking today. It's nice to relax but I'm really sad it's the end of the trail for me.Went to the outfitters just across the street. S. finally (300 miles later) contacted Asolo and worked something out for his smelly, broken boots. I waited and was something for the little boy there to run his suitcase-on-wheels into, repeatedly. We bummed around all day. Sat in front of the Kmart, then grocery store in their rocking chairs, the park, some coffee shop, etc. We played cribbage and people watched. S. lost his wallet proving once again something a trail angel said. That on the trail, it takes time for people to prove untrustworthy while in town people need to prove that you can trust them. So sad. We waited some more in the park watching some kids practice dancing with polka music. As S. put it, it was like a REALLY bad dream as it was the same song but started over every couple minutes. Yet we still sat there. He showed me some mathematical proof that girls are evil. Unfortunately, It actually did work. All I can say is good thing I don't equal money spent (I hope).Shenanigan's dad came to pick us up and treated us to Panera sandwiches (yum). So much driving. We passed Harper's Ferry :-( and sped through the 4 state challenge. Spent the night at S. parent's house which was a beautiful old house in town!
Date: 2009-05-29
To: train ride north
Miles today: 0.0

In the morning Shenanigan's sweet mom gave me a ride to the Amtrak station and I headed home to Vermont.The EndWell, I am off the trail and now officially a section hiker as planned. But, but, I change my mind I want to thru hike! I loved watching the forest of sticks change into a lush, green tunnel with new-to-me flowers springing up everywhere. It started out with a little spring snow on the ground and I ended in the humidity of summer with bleached-blond eyelashes. And I met so many good people on the trail. Hiking faster than average meant I got to meet LOTS of hikers and I really enjoyed much of their company. And there is so much trail magic on the trail! I have a hard time feeling like I or any AT hiker deserves all that magic since I'm having a great time hiking as it is. But people are wonderful and make AMAZING omelets on Easter, multi-course meals, pancakes at a shelter and a hot dog-picnic at some randome road. Never failed to put a smile on my face and make me want to do the same. I was SO lucky to meet The Kid and Shenanigans at the Easter Omelet trail magic. The two Californians rumored to be hiking 30 mile days. Finally, two people who were doing similar miles and were familiar faces at the end of the day when meeting the 20 new people in the shelters. Kazoo, who grins and swings his crazy poles when coming into a break, joined us to form a really diverse and fun group. Of course it seemed like half the time, Kid and Kazoo were catching up (which they always did). And we had really good Euchre games.Shenanigans was my fellow "town hater" and nature fool. And I loved the crazy Pearisburg to Harper's Ferry challenge we invented and attempted. We did crazy miles! When we did a 27 for the first time we did another the next day. When the 30 happened we did another the next day. What!? And during this challenge we averaged 24 miles/day including the town stops, even an unnecessary one into Waynesboro. Yet it was still fun and I think we fully enjoyed all the beautiful spots and the food stops in the Shenandoahs. The town stops were the best I had on the trail too. Even though the 50 didn't happen and we didn't make it to Harper's Ferry, I'm completely content and happy with what we managed. Well, back to caretaking for me! Hopefully it keeps the post-hike depression away. I'm excited for all the AT hikers I met to come through my site in NH. Although I know I will be wildly jealous that they are continuing on to Katahdin.
Date: 2009-09-14
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Oh, another conclusion entry. The Shenandoahs gave me a little present of Lyme Disease. So June was good fun... why am I sooo tired? What's wrong with me? But that's long gone now and I had a great summer of caretaking in the White's. I feel like my hike extended into the summer as I sat at Kinsman Pond, watching the thrus hike by. As predicted, I was completely jealous of them. I love caretaking and Kinsman Pond but it still can't compare to hiking somewhere new every day with other thrus. I was overjoyed to see people I'd met down south again. Some even stayed at Kinsman :-)! The Kid and Highlander first, then Hi-C, Bunyan, MoFo, Stats, Bill&Bill, Sailor J, Scout, the Hiking Poles (PCT '07!), etc. Still sad to have missed Shenanigans and what happened to Not-So-Crazy?? What a funny thing to see all these faces familiar from a very different place and time. Provided great memories to day dream about all summer. Bittersweet.
Date: 2009-09-14
To: Summer's Over
Miles today: 0.0

Oh, another conclusion entry. The Shenandoahs gave me a little present of Lyme Disease. So June was good fun... why am I sooo tired? What's wrong with me? But that's long gone now and I had a great summer of caretaking in the White's. I feel like my hike extended into the summer as I sat at Kinsman Pond, watching the thrus hike by. As predicted, I was completely jealous of them. I love caretaking and Kinsman Pond but it still can't compare to hiking somewhere new every day with other thrus. I was overjoyed to see people I'd met down south again. Some even stayed at Kinsman :-)! The Kid and Highlander first, then Hi-C, Bunyan, MoFo, Stats, Bill&Bill, Sailor J, Scout, the Hiking Poles (PCT '07!), etc. Still sad to have missed Shenanigans and what happened to Not-So-Crazy?? What a funny thing to see all these faces familiar from a very different place and time. Provided great memories to day dream about all summer. Bittersweet.
Date: 2009-03-07
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I got the rest of my packing/sorting done today. I made sure I had money in the right bank accounts, paid some bills, went grocery shopping, then looked through my gear one last time. I'm happy with how it fits, and the pack seems to be carrying the weight nicely; I'll have a better idea of all that in a few days.Tomorrow morning my dad and I are leaving to drive down to Georgia. It should be an adventure in it's own right! Tuesday's the day I start walking - I can't wait!
Date: 2009-03-09
To: Dahlonega, GA
Miles today: 0.0

Rumor has it that the third entry makes it official - and it's more official than just an online journal! My dad and I spent the last two days driving from Massachusetts down to Georgia, along most of the trail I've hiked and will hike again very soon (starting tomorrow!). The drive was a pretty big adventure in its own right. We drove most of the way down I-81, parallel to the AT most of the way. In Tennessee, we cut across towards Ashville, NC, then south across the mountains. Unfortunately our directions were a bit flawed, and our map left something to be desired, so we just kind of wandered over hill and dale across northern Georgia. Somehow we ended up at the Walasi-Yi center at Neels Gap so we stopped in and I showed my dad around. From there we wound our way back down the mountain, which was just incredible. The road just switch-backed all over the place with banked curves steep drops down the side of the mountain. It was unlike anything I've driven on east of the Rockies.Eventually we made it to Dahlonega, and then drove over to Amicalola Falls to time the drive and check out the park - it was my dad's first time seeing it. Now we're back at the motel, I've repacked my bag and checked my gear one last time, and I'm rearing to go...I can't wait to hit the trail in the morning!I'll post some updates as I'm able to (or have someone else do the updates for me!), but otherwise I'll see you on the trail!