morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-04-19
To: Warner Parks
Miles today: 0.0

Apr.19,2009HAPPY "EARTH DAY"!There are many celebrations around the middle TN area today to celebrate EARTH DAY....i decide to RIDE the "FRIENDS OF WARNER PARKS" Ride to celebrate.I leave the house about 7am & drive thru Nashville to the WestSide to Warner Parks.(I arrive just before 8am & am the first non-pre-registered rider to show up).I get my goodie bag...complete with a T-shirt...(Sorry,Donna!)This is an annual event with money raised going to maintain the Parks.My riding pal, Terry Price (aka: "TeePee")arrived shortly after 8am...(he overslept!)...we talk a few minutes & then line up with the crowd....a good crowd maybe 3 or 400 cyclists out today....I even see a few folks I know including former NewsChannel 5 Traffic girl, Kristin CalpinoAs we start its 51 degrees with a slight wind & now overcast....We're OFF!This is a RIDE & not a race...TeePee & I ride together...we head out of the park....on Vaughn Rd...then onto Old Natchez Trace...probably some of the original Native American trail...then onto Old Hillsboro Rd....about 9 miles in...TeePee & I part ways....he is riding the 25 miles route & i take a left & turn down Del Rio Pike for the 50 mile route...ride...ride...ride....cross over Hwy 96....then into the Southall community...i know these roads well...as I've ridden them many times before...we ride thru Leipers Fork....(home to a load of country music stars....)then I stop for a water break just before getting onto the NATCHEZ TRACE PARKWAY....for 21 miles....RIDE....RIDE....RIDE....there are some slow hill climbs on the parkway....but the reward is the other side is a nice, fast downhill...in fact toward the end of the PARKWAY section i hit almost 43 miles an hour....I exit the Parkway & stop @ the World-Famous Loveless Cafe for some water & a couple Peanut Butter & Honey sandwiches...LUNCH!back on the bike....RIDE...RIDE...RIDE...now its the HARD part...a LOOP they've thrown in with a nasty HILL (i'm still working on getting better @ climbing!)Onto McCrory Lane then Heaster Beasley Road then back to Hwy 100....Cautiously riding the white line on the edge of the road here...HWY 100 is a very busy road.....then to finish up the ride...I turn onto HICK ROAD....the worse road of the whole ride....I hit chunks of pavement & laods of gravel....this road shouldnt be on this ride...oh well....ride into the park & into the parking lot....ahhhhhhhhh....FINISHED!Good Ride...& its only 12:18pmI rode 51.64 miles todayApprox. 3 weeks til I hit the Appalachian Trail for 2 weeks w/ my buds: "Jigsaw" & the world famous, "Model-T". 159 miles in 13 days of hiking.We start @ Harpers Ferry,WV on Sat.May 2nd & will end this years hike on May 14 @ Swatara Gap, PA.Follow along here on TrailJournals!
Date: 2009-04-29
To: Last Minute Prep
Miles today: 0.0

Wed.Apr.29thI've continued to ride my bicycle & get in a few DAY-HIKES as my annual 2 weeks of hiking the APPALACHIAN TRAIL approaches... I stopped by Beaman Park (on the edge of Joelton & Ashland City)for a 7.8 mile hike with a fully loaded 30lb pack...Cloudy & a bit windy...& a few rain drops...but no big problems.The hike is just a few days away...this year...hiking with "Jigsaw" & my hiking mentor & friend, "Model-T" (J.R.Tate).We'll be hiking Harpers Ferry, WV to Swatara Gap,PA...159 miles in 13 days.May 2-14.You can follow along here on Trail Journals...Stay Tuned!now...back to packing my BACKPACK!
Date: 2009-05-01
From: home

To: Albany,NY
Miles today: 0.0

Fri.May 1st.GONE HIKIN'!!!!Along w/ "Jigsaw" & "Model-T"...we'll be covering approx.150 miles in 13 days of hiking the Appalachian Trail...After a FULL day on the job (audio engineer @ the NewsChannel 5 Network in Nashville,TN...I head home & load up all my gear (backpack, sleeping bag, food, etc) & my lovely wife, Donna Faye (aka: "D-bird") drives me to the airport: Nashville International & drops me off for my annual 2 weeks of hiking on the A.T.Its RAINing very hard (something I would have to get used to...)we say our "goodbyes" & off on my "ADVENTURE"!My flight up to Albany, NY takes me thru Atlanta.I arrive @ the Albany, NY airport abt 11:30pm...then find the hotel has no reservation for me...so, i grab a shuttle to the Comfort Inn near by...luckily they had a room...I get to my room & call Donna Faye to tell her I have arrived in NY & also call "Jigsaw" to tell him I'm here...(Sorry Helen!...didnt mean to wake you guys up!)"Jigsaw" will pick me up here (only an hour or so from his home in Lee, Mass.) in the morning...& then we drive South to Lebanon,PA (where we will END our hike) & catch a shuttle (Michaels Shuttle Service)to HARPERS FERRY, WV where we begin this years "ADVENTURE". (where we finished last year).I'm Excited....Good Nite!
Date: 2009-05-03
From: Ed Garvey Shelter

To: Dahlgren Campground
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: moderate rain

Sunday May 3, 2009Day #2"..I'm hikin' In the Rain...I Love hikin' in the rain!"-"Model-T"6:30a.m. "Model-T" stirs...I wake up & "Jigsaw" does too...We think 4 thru-hikers came in LATE last night (abt 10pm)...they were quite LOUD just outside the shelter ("Model-T" didnt like this)...The thru-hikers left abt 2 dozen beer cans around the campfire...hopefully they are packing them out when they leave!They were sleeping in when we left the Garvey shelter @ 7:30am....lots of "tenters" around the shelter area too.As soon as we were underway...the rain begins...Not a drizzle or a down-pour..but, just a slow steady RAIN.I hear we are getting lots of RAIN back home (Springfield,TN).I hike out front for a mile or two....we pass thru Brownsville Gap then over Hwy 572 & Gathland State Park...I stop for water here...look @ the placards that tell the historic buildings."Jigsaw" joins me...as we leave..we walk by the War Correspondants Memorial & stop by a picnic shelter & talk with a couple hikers out for the weekend.We hike on...a short while later...we stop by Crampton Gap SHelter for a break & to wait for "Model-T". While here..."Jigsaw" gives me a Birthday present: a SNICKERS bar! wooooo-hoooooo!   Thanks, Jigsaw!I usually am celebrating my Birthday on this hike but, we've moved our hike dates back so that we might enjoy nice weather.We head out after abt 30 mins..."Model-T" has probably passed us by now..(the shelter is off the trail by 3/10 mile)...we hike on past Bear Spring Cabin & White Rock Cliffs & trail...pass by Lambs Knoll (1600' ft elevation)...the RAIN continues..."Jigsaw" hikes on as I slow my pace....I pass by Rocky Run Shelter...&head on up the trail.I saw a coyote cross my path earlier today...another mile...still RAINing...The trail is squishy & getting muddy....I hike upon the DAHLGREN campground...our destination for the day!...WOW!And its only 1:30pm."Jigsaw" is already here.."Model-T" shows up abt 30 mins later....he had stopped @ the last shelter for a short break.No shelter here...just picnic tables...& a bath house...& it continues to RAIN!We all set out our tents...grab showers (to warm up if nothing else)YES!...on teh 2nd day..I get a shower...(can U believe it?)Then we scramble to our tents...as the RAIN picks up intensity.I write in my journal as I listen to the raindrops fall on my tent (Kelty Dart-2..Bivy style tent)...I'll prob take a nap...before I break out my food to cook.4pm...Supper time...Turkey Tettrazini is on the menu tonight...Yummy!Its still RAINING!                                                         10 miles today!
Date: 2009-05-04
From: Dahlgren Campground

To: Free State Hostel
Miles today: 14.0

Monday May 4, 2009 Day #3..."Rainy days & Mondays ALWAYS get me down!"...Paul Williams6:30a.m. It RAINed...NO!...it poured ALL NITE long...About 1a.m. this morning my sleeping bag started to get damp (thats NOT a good thing!) & a short while later I notice a puddle in the corner of my tent.(thats definately NOT GOOD!)I get outta my tent @ daylight...it's still raining...All of my gear is soaked.I run to the bathroom house & find "Model-T" & "Jigsaw" already there (I thought they were still cozy in their respective sleeping bag/tents).I shake my tent off the best I can & pack it up...still very damp (ugggggh!).We now fix breakfast in the bathroom house (the ONLY dry place around!)I have a couple Clif energy bars..."Jigsaw" has some bagels & peanut butter & "Model-T" has some oatmeal.We pack up & move out...its still RAINing!I'm LAST outta camp.We travel up the trail to Turners Gap (1,000ft elevation) near Boonsboro,MD...then over Monument Road & Washington Monument Road & hike up to the monument, itself.This was the first monument erected to honor our First President George Washington. Very Nice!I take a few pics in the fog...Not much to see from the overlook...I hike on..."Model-T" & "Jigsaw" are ahead of me now (they didnt stop to see the monument)& are long gone.I travel over Boonsboro Mtn Rd & I see a herd of 6 white-tail deer here crossing over the trail.I hike on over a foot-bridge that crossed I-70 then a mile or so later I stop by Pine Knob Shelter for a mid-day break...as I go in..."Jigsaw" is coming out....the RAIN continues...a slow steady light rain.The winds have picked up too...& pick up velocity on the tops of the ridges.I was doing some rock-hopping whn a large cloud UN-LOADED on me!This is NOT a FUN day!I hike on...by Annapolis Rocks & Black Rock Cliffs (1800ft elevation)& passed the POGO campsite where I met a SouthBound day-hiker, "Beth" (a fellow WhiteBlaze.net member) we talked for abt 5 mins & then I moved on.The RAIN continues...I'm soaked to the bone...& cold.Have I said I'm NOT having any FUN today????4 more miles to go...the rain is following me...Its coming down hard now as I descend...into Smithsburg, MD & head to the FREE STATE HOSTEL."Jigsaw" is already here...so is "Calling Card" a thru-hiker from Michigan."Model-T" shows up a few minutes later.2 other section hikers showed up around 6pm..."Mountain City"(TN) & "Morning Sun" (CO)We order Pizza & Pepsi from a local pizzaria.Good conversation...I'm very tired.We have 15 miles scheduled for tomorrow w/ more RAIN expected. UGGGGGGGH!Trying to DRY everything out here @ the hostel...wont be easy...Dont know if it'll do any good...since RAIN is expected for the next few days.Seen no THRU-HIKERS yet...all section hikers...Late comers: "Lobstah Legs" (TX) & "Hot Pants" (IL)Good Night!                                                         14 miles today!
Date: 2009-05-05
From: Free State Hostel

To: Deer Lick Shelter(s)
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: mist

Tuesday May 5, 2009Day#4"...I can't stand the rain.."-Ann Peebles6:30am Everybody starts to stir early @ the FREE STATE HOSTEL (Maryland is called "the Free State")run by "BonePack" (A.T.Thru-hiker class of 2006)& his wife Janeel & their kids.This has got to be the nicest hostel on the trail...HANDS DOWN!"Calling Card" leaves out first...7a.m. "Model-T" was right behind & then "Jigsaw" left the hostel @ 7:30am.I left a few minutes later with "Mountain City"(TN) & "Morning Sun"(CO).We walk up the 3/10mile back to the trail & head NORTH!Its overcast & cool...50% chance of showers today....I'm already in my RAIN gear...& my backpack rain cover is on...As soon as I head up the trail...it starts to drizzle rain a bit...but stops a few minutes later...whadya gonna do?....you just HIKE ON!hike past Ensign Cowan Shelter (our Original destination yesterday) then over Foxville Rd (MD Hwy 77) then thru Warner Gap & Raven Rock Hollow then a short climb up to the top of the ridge to the Devil's Racecourse...A shelter is up here on the ridge...so are the rocks....large boulders to fist size rocks in the trail...makes for interesting walking with my Vasque (Velocity) trailrunners...These are the PA rocks...I've been hearing so much abt for the last couple of years...some are gravel size...(driveway gravel)...then they range all the way up to the boulders that we have to hop on top of...This lasts for abt a 1/2mile then back to the normal trail....Pass High Rock Trail & a few miles later into Cascade, MD & hike into PEN-MAR Park. "MOdel-T" & "Jigsaw" & "Calling Card" are here under a picnic shelter taking a short break...I decide this is a good idea...i take my pack off & grab a DIET COKE & eat a Snickers Bar..(needs the sugar energy!).I keep looking back for "Mountain City" & "Morning Sun" to catch me...but, I never see them all day.The others leave...I re-fill my H20 bottles & head out...the Sun is peaking thru the clouds as I head outta the park but its still on the cool side...maybe mid 60s...I hike over Pen-Mar Rd...this is the Maryland-Pennsylvania state line....altho there is no sign here...and then over Old PA hwy 16 then PA 16 & Blue Ridge Summit, PA...this is a 4-lane highway...always FUN (NOT!) with a 30lb pack on your back & dodging traffic...Back into the woods...for a few more miles til I cross over Mentzer Gap & pass a very nice Spring...before coming to DEER LICK SHELTERS...Yes! thats right...there are 2 shelters here...Side-By-Side...along with a nice water source nearby...Everyone is here..."Model-T", "Jigsaw" & "Calling Card".I arrive abt 3:30pm...too early to cook supper...So, I try to get a phone call out to Donna Faye (aka: "D-bird")...no luck!...I'll try again, tomorrow.4:30pm Writing in my journal...everyone else is napping...I'm abt to fire up my stove & cook my Chicken & NOODLES (Mountain House Freeze-dried dinner)& be done for the day...then just crawl into my sleeping bag....I'm very tired.                                                            15 miles today!
Date: 2009-05-06
From: Deer Lick Shelter(s)

To: Quarry Gap Shelter(s)
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Wednesday May 6,2009Day#5..."Who'll Stop the Rain?"...Creedence Clearwater RevivalIt RAINed ALL NIGHT LONG!UP @ the usual time...around 6:30am...looks overcast again today the forecast is again...50% chance of RAIN & highs are to be in the upper 60s.I'm doctoring a heel blister this morning..."Model-T" gives me some duct tape & after a band-aid & some gauge...& the duct tape..I'm set.We all have breakfast...I have a couple energy bars & coffee fer me...I stick a Clif energy bar in my pocket for later."Calling Card" is outta the shelter first...followed shortly by "Jigsaw" & me..."Mountain City" was talking to "Model-T" when I left...as the RAIN began...One thing about all this rain...we dont have to worry about DRIED up streams....FOR SURE!I have my rain gear on...the pack cover on too...we're outta camp @ 7:30am...(seems to be abt our usual time)I hike for abt an hour alone....before "Model-T" passes me...& just as he does...the SUN makes an appearanmce....YEAH!!!!!BUT.....it didnt last long....only 30 mins or so...before the CLOUDS covered up MR SUN again...I hike past ANTIETAM shelter & over Rattlesnake Rd & Old FOrge Rd (1,000ft elevation) then hike by Tumbling Run Shelters (YES, again 2 small shelters built side-by-side...dont know why?)I stop...long enuff...to sign the shelter's hiker register & hike on..."Model-T" again passes me as I make my way up to the Chimney Rocks (1900 ft elevation) UP,Up,UP to the top...where the LARGER ROCKs (BOULDER-size) make their appearance...then down the other side...& over Swamp Rd...& a mile later over PA hwy 233 (1600 ft elevation)near South Mtn,PA...then back for another climb...up past Rocky Mtn SHelters...(this is where "Mountain City & Morning Sun" were headed for the day)...lots of wildflowers & blooming trees...along the trail....very nice!No wildlife today...so far...except for a few birds (Orioles, maybe) & a couple Buzzards...that keep stalking me....(i either need a shower badly or I need to start hiking faster! hehehehehehehe ;0)The gnats & small flying insects (no see-ums) came out today when the Sun broke thru the clouds...Pesky varmints!...I sound like Yosemite Sam...Hike on....over a major road (US hwy 30) & into Caldonia State Park.We were hoping the grill would be open so that we could get a Burger...but, NO LUCK!I re-water & move on....outta the park...& UP, UP, UP...crossing over several more old roads including Quarry Gap Rd before I make it to the shelters...This one is SUPER nice...2 small shelters connected in the middle by a dogtrot area complete with picnic tables & windbreaker/screen on the back...a nice stream just in front of the shelter & a Privy just behind.The last 3 miles or so to the shelter were a struggle for me...my feet are very tired...feeling bruised & swollen...will have to Doctor them later.4pm I'm @ the shelter....very tarrrrrrrred.5pm-ish....we all cook supper...I'm having Chicken & rice tonite (another freeze dried Mountain house entree)                           15.8 miles todayGood Night!
Date: 2009-05-07
From: Quarry Gap Shelter(s)

To: Tom Run Shelter(s)
Miles today: 13.6
Weather: light rain

Thursday May 7, 2009Day#6The #17,#18,#19,& #20 Thru-hikers to sign in @ Harpers Ferry (ATC HQ)WV came in late last night."Spirit Fingers", "Panama Red","Whiz Kid", & "C-Zur" came in after I had already crawled into my sleeping bag last night (after 6:30pm).They talked til abt 9:30pm or so so....all young guys...20-somethings with very small backpacks...UN-REAL!One was talking about his week long feat of 30+ mile days...WOW!Its cloudy as we roll out of the shelter..we're expecting RAIN again today (30% chance)."Calling Card" (section hiker from Detroit) got up & left early...he was getting in a 25+ mile day today...WOW!These young guys with all these fresh legs...We leave out of Quarry Gap Shelters @ abt 7:30am....actually, I stayed a bit longer to tape up & bandage my feet again (band-aids, gauge & duct tape)...Then I'm off!I said "GOODBYE" to the thru-hikers & took their pictures.Out of the shelter it starts to drizzle as we climb up & over Sandy Sod Junction (1980 ft elevation) & over Middle Ridge Rd & Means Hollow Rd a mile later. A couple miles go by & the Sun tries to break thru the clouds....come on, SUN!were rooting fer U!I hike on...Past Milesburn cabin & road & then stop & Birch Run Shelter for a break & an energy bar & some H2O."Jigsaw" & "Model-T" are already here...Plenty O' water along the trail with all the RAIN we've been having...In fact somemtimes the water source is in the MIDDLE of the trail...we head NOBO (northbound) from the shelter...& climb up to Shippensburg Rd (2,040ft elevation)...past Big Flat Fire Tower...as the Sun pops out...& so are the gnats & sweat bees & even a few black flies...I swatted a few black flies...(those suckers leave a nasty whole in your skin & a big plug where they bite!)I hike on & see a load of birds along the trail this afternoon including a Scarlet Tanager, one of the most beautifully marked birds in the U.S.(IMHO)!...Travel past Michener Cabin & then over Woodrow Rd...The last mile of trail is downhill, full of rocks & water flowing out onto the trail.I get to the Tom Run Shelters (Yes, again 2 small shelters built side by side) & "Model-T" & "Jigsaw" are already here drying out some of their wet clothes & gear.I drop my pack & do the same...my tent has been wet since DAHLGREN campground & hasnt had time to dry out...We've decided to stop here for the day & not make it to PINE GROVE today.Our plans now are to hike there in the morning (3.7 miles) before they close for the morning session (9:30am) & get our food drop boxes.We called just to make sure our boxes had arrived...(they had) & asked if they could leave them on the back porch if we were late.The care taker (Ray) said he would...so, we are set.It's only 3:40pm...we got here early today.I dry my tent...wash up a bit...then cook...& head to bed early.                              13.6 miles today
Date: 2009-05-10
From: Boiling Springs,PA

To: "ZERO DAY" Carlisle,PA
Miles today: 0.0

Sunday May 10, 2009Day#9HAPPY MOTHERS' DAY!I ship that one out to ALL Moms reading this journal & especially to my Mom, Lucy Swafford & to my lovely wife, Donna Faye & to my daughter, Jackie Swafford Jackson.We're taking a FULL ZERO DAY today...just relaxing.We water up @ 6:30am knowing we arent hiking today...we didnt have to rush around getting out of this shelter.We spent the night in Bruce & Susans (friends of "Model-T")house (actually the shelter out back)...this morning we were treated toblueberry pancakes, real coffee, & eggs...& a little Bob Dylan & classic BEATLES (the White Album, Thank You!)...this is spoiling me & the rest of the hikers...After breakfast, our host, Bruce drives us back into town & we take photos sitting in front of the A.T.C.regional office."Jigsaw, Calling Card, Mountain City, Morning Sun, & Me with Bruce's son, Riley.After the photo op everyoje hits the trail...but, me & Jigsaw.11am..Jigsaw & I stroll around the park...catching a glimpse of a pile (yes a pile) of snakes on the opposite side of the pond..we think they are rattlesnakes...(but, find out later they are harmless watersnakes...)we head to lunch at an Italian restuarant...ALINI's...in Boiling Springs...just a few blocks walk...we take our packs & park them just inside the door...after lunch we cruise into a fly-fishing outfitter store...they have one panel of hiking gear inside...someone could make a fortune in this town opening up a HIKING OUTFITTER STORE...hint! hint!We call the Red Cardinal B&B...(we had made reservations last night) & they come by & pick us up abt 2pm...The B&B is only a few miles away in Carlisle,PA.Bill was wearing a U.T.cap when he picked us up...(He said he wanted to make us feel welcome...I told him I wuz a Vandy fan...but, good try!)We get to the B&B & got the grand tour...very nice place...we find out later...we are the VERY FIRST GUESTS @ this NEW B&B....WOW!...how COOOL is that!They have a border collie named "MOLLIE".We'll have supper tonight & breakfast in the morning...NO MILES TODAY!the feet need the rest & the drying out time...I take an afternoon nap....All this journaling is making me tired!   hehehehehehehe   ;0)                              0 miles today!If you'dlike to get in touch with Joanne & Bill @ RED CARDINAL B& B(717)245-0823email: redcardinalbandb@aol.comwebsite: redcardinalbedandbreakfast.com