morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-06-03
From: Trout Creek, VA 620

To: VA 624, Newport, VA
Miles today: 8.0

Packed up a wet tent. Wet tent means more weight in the pack. And so today was another tough one. And it was the scariest one! I was thinking about meeting up with my hiking group from home who were coming from Raleigh to meet me on Sunday, when all of a sudden my hike came to a halt. Ahead of me was a bunch of rock faces with a ladder to climb down. Ok, I got this. But how? Legs too short. I¢ve got these new big size 9 shoes that will never fit onto those tiny ledges. And do I go down front facing ore backwards?? I didn't sign up for this! I just want to hike, not rock climb. So I let my poles down over the side. Then I took off my pack and dropped it over the side and watched it roll down the trail a few times and come to a safe stop. I got myself down and put my pack back on thinking that was over, but no, there was more. Oh joy! I wanted to cry but then I was having enough trouble seeing through wet glasses that that wouldn't help! Oh, yeah, add a light rain to my fear of the rocks! A couple of hikers came up behind me and I let them go by. They were moving just as slow as me and I watched them and was able to get down the second ladder with my pack on. I was so glad that was over. When I came to the side trail to Dragons Tooth there was no way I wanted or cared to see it so I hiked on and the trail got better. Although I worried there would be more! I wished I had taken pictures after I was down the trail but had just wanted to get off that rock face. Glad I did it, don't want to again, is how I felt. And I wondered how Nash's dog, Bandit, was ever going to do it. Hiked on to VA 624 where a van came over the hill blowing his horn, alerting hikers he had arrived to take hikers to Four Pines Hostel. I asked if he would take me to the convenient store just up the road a ways. He said sure, that he was on his way to pick up two hikers there. When we got there, there was Mudder and Advil who had been waiting about two hours for me. Thankfully they hadn't eaten all the food there. I was starving. I ate a hamburger and bought a pizza, pint of ice cream, large bag of potato chips, coconut water, Gatorade, and of course a Coke. When I got in the van, I learned that there would be a spaghetti dinner at the hostel tonight. I was in heaven though I slept in their barn! There was one shower for about 30 hikers and my laundry was done for me for $6. Charge for staying and dinner was a donation. The dinner was wonderful. And I hit the 700 mile mark today. Full tummy and the knowledge that I would get to slack pack tomorrow made me a very happy hicker. (Not a misspelling. 2015 hikers know what I mean.)
Date: 2015-06-04
From: VA 624, Newport, VA

To: US 220, Daleville, VA
Miles today: 25.7

Slack pack, oh happy day! Views at McAfee Knob were socked in with fog. But it was pretty cool there and we got pretty nice views from Tinker Cliffs. I had a great day and Four Pines Hostel delivered our bags to the hotel in Daleville. Looking forward to a dry night. Check out all the photos.
Date: 2015-06-06
From: US 11, Troutville, VA

To: US 11, Troutville, VA
Miles today: 0.0

Early morning got really sick, throwing up, couldn¢t stop. Advil took me to Roanoke, VA, hospital ER in a taxi. ER gave me meds and IV. Mike arrived early morning at hospital and took me back to Daleville. I slept the whole day, except when Mike would get me to take a few sips of Pedialyte and some bites of graham crackers. Someone else on the trail is also sick with the same crud.
Date: 2015-06-20
From: Powell Gap, Shenandoah National Park

To: Bearfence Mtn Trail, Shenandoah National Park
Miles today: 16.4

I am back on the trail. Mike and I picked up Mudder and Advil on Skyline Dr in the Shenandoahs on Friday night. We had dinner in Luray, VA, then this morning Mike dropped Advil and me back on the trail. We were going to do 20 miles but I'm glad we stopped earlier because my legs were getting a bit wobbly. After being off the trail for a while, I guess I better give myself a few days to get back up to speed. It was a very easy hike today, birds were really singing, and we even got trail magic! Ice cold Pepsi, Oreos, and an orange. Such good people out here. Thank you, Foxfire! Advil says the Shennies have been boring...I say bring on the boring! But there aren't many views and very few flowers. The understory is very thick. I saw the handiwork of bears who overturn rocks looking for grubs. At first I thought it was trail maintainers but talking with others, this was a bear's doings. I was off the trail for two weeks. I got sick and recuperated at home. Thank you, Nancy, for taking me shopping to get some clothes that fit. I lost a bit too much weight. I also went to the Quad Cities to celebrate the retirement of a very dear friend. Congratulations, Carla! Thank you, Kevin and Lucinda for your hospitality, it's always good to spend time with you. I also got to see my friends Donna, Dennis, and Carol on the Iowa side of the river in my old hometown. When I got back to Cary I got to hike in the early morning heat with my hiking group and I spent an evening out with my girlfriends on Wed. After talking with my brother I told Mike I wanted to get back on the trail. Mike is so encouraging and supportive. I couldn't do this without him and he is the love of my life. He checked his work schedule and said he could take me Friday. I had lunch with Sara on Thursday and she also was glad I was getting back to finish my hike. Rachel, it doesn't look like I will be in Florida for a while longer, so you can rent out that spare bedroom if you want! Can't say when your Dad and I will get down there. So here I am. Thank you to the hikers who have wished me well. Thank you to those who have signed my trail journals and sent me emails, and for your thoughts and prayers that mean so much to me. Rhonda J., you are just going to have to meet me on the trail! One sad thing is this: Mudder is doing a flip flop and I will say goodbye tomorrow as he heads north in a few days to hike south from Katahdin, ME. I will really miss his company. And that ain't no joke. He puts the fun into this hike and makes me laugh, ¢til I cry, which is just the ticket sometimes. I look forward to meeting up again with him as I head north and he walks south. And I especially want to thank God for walking each step with me on this journey on the AT. "Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or imagine." Ephesians 3:20
Date: 2015-06-21
From: Bearfence Mtn Trail, Shenandoah National Park

To: Skyland Resort, Shenandoah National Park
Miles today: 14.7

Today was Hike Naked Day and we were not disappointed. Had a nice lunch break at Big Meadow Wayside and visited with the Orr family. Hiked to Skyland Resort where we saw Dixie and Riga and company. Always good to see those girls! I met them my first night on the trail. Advil and I sat on the deck for a couple hours at the lodge and enjoyed a couple beers. There was a beautiful sunset that my camera just couldn't capture. Later we listened to a father on drums and son on guitar/vocals music act that sang tunes from the late 50's and 60's. Remember Secret Agent Man?? Who sings that anymore? And he sang Elvis tunes very well. The son was 16 and had an awesome deep voice, reminded me of Scotty McCreery. I had a huge breakfast and big lunch so I just had a cup of hot tea for dinner while listening to them then went to our cabin and went right to sleep. This place is so cool, established in 1935. So retro. No phones, no TV. And a screen door at the back of the cabin that bangs shut as you step out onto a deck with a view. If these walls could talk you could just hear all the mothers command the kids, ¢don't let that screen door slam!¢ (Check out the photos)
Date: 2015-06-22
From: Skyland Resort, Shenandoah National Park

To: Stealth campsite, Shenandoah Natl Park
Miles today: 13.0

Left Skyland Resort this morning. It was a beautiful day. Saw a big black snake slither across the trail and Advil had a stare down with a deer until it finally decided to get off the trail. We stopped at Pinnacles picnic area and parking for lunch. It had modern restrooms with hot and cold water. It was great to cool off with the water. I took my boots off and had a great lunch. A few miles later we came to the Byrds Nest #3 hut, so we took a short break here. I met a ridge runner here and we talked a few minutes. She's going south so she gets to meet some NOBOs. She was from the Potomac area and was on the trail for five days then off two. She told us to be sure and take a short side trail to see Mary's Rock because it had a great view. I don't usually take side trails but I took this one because it was a clear day. Well, the view was nice but the chance to sit on some awesome rocks would even be better, but I had miles to do so took a picture and moved on. Next stop was at the Panorama parking area. More modern bathrooms and running water, another place to fill up the water bottles. If only there was a Coke machine. Oh, yeah, I left my water filter and platypus in my daypack that Mike took back home on Sunday after slack packing us on Sat. He will be sending it to me in Harpers Ferry. In the meantime, Advil will filter water for me if I need it. There was a car in the parking lot with license plate "blisful" and a lot of AT & hiking stickers on it. Oh cool! I had just met another author of one of the books I read before I started the trail. She was the ridge runner! She wrote ¢Mountains, Madness, & Miracles: 4,000 Miles Along the Appalachian Trail¢ if you want to read it. Blissful is her trail name. The next stop was a parking lot off Skyline Dr at Beahms Gap. I had the best Mountain House meal yet. It was chicken fajita filling and I ate it with four tortillas. My phone rang, which was very strange because I usually have it on airplane mode. It was nice to talk to my brother. A car pulled up and a hiker got out with his pack and put it in another car that had been sitting there empty. He was shuttling himself. He let us fill up our water bottles from a gallon jug he had. We hiked a little farther after cooking dinner and found a nice camp spot. Advil is getting good at hanging the bear bags. (Check out all the photos)
Date: 2015-06-23
From: Stealth campsite, Shenandoah Natl Park

To: Hogwallow Gap, Shenandoah Natl Park
Miles today: 15.0

Started hiking at 8 this morning. Hiked to the Elkwallow Wayside. We spent two hours sitting at a picnic table in the shade. Visited with the Orrs, and other hikers. They have a grill and camp store at the wayside. I ate eggs, bacon, hash browns, toast, two Cokes, a Gatorade, bag of chips, and got lunch meat, pizza combos, and a Rice Krispies bar for lunch. And of course filled my water bottles. I am going to miss these daily stops! I also charged my cell phone in the wonderful modern bathroom. I washed up multiple times! Warm day and today¢s views are from the cliffs. We didn't stay there long because thunderstorms were on the way. We got stopped in time and I was in my tent just before the rain came. It's raining now but the thunder and lightning has moved off. Another good day and only saw one black snake.
Date: 2015-06-24
From: Hogwallow Gap, Shenandoah Natl Park

To: Compton Gap Trail, Shenandoah Natl Park
Miles today: 5.6

Ended at Front Royal Terrapin Station Hostel in Front Royal, VA. Short day so we could get laundry done. Nice hostel includes 2 sodas, a pizza, a pint of ice cream, bunk with air mattress, shower with soap, shampoo AND a towel! The last hostel didn't provide a towel so I dried off with toilet paper. Clothes line out back, too. Owner, Mike, has done the AT and the PCT.
Date: 2015-06-25
From: Compton Gap Trail, Shenandoah Natl Park

To: Manassas Gap, VA 55
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Easy hike today. Stayed at Terrapin Hostel again. Highlight today was the Jim & Molly Denton Shelter. Saw Dixie, Riga, Zip, The Honeymooners (who are actually on their honeymoon), and the Orr family there. The shelter sits on a beautifully maintained piece of property with a huge deck with seating all the way around, a big Adirondack bench, picnic shelter, privy, and a solar shower. Definitely the nicest shelter I have seen on the AT so far. It even had flowers planted. Took a short break here. Mike, the owner of the hostel, took us to town for dinner last night where I had a tossed salad, bacon cheeseburger, and a Sam Adams. He also stopped at a grocery store this morning before dropping us back on the trail. So I had a cheese danish, a bagel with cream cheese, coconut water, and a Coke on the way to the trail. For lunch I had a chicken salad sandwich, an apple, pizza combos, a Reese¢s PB cup and a Gatorade. He took the rest of my groceries back to the hostel so for dinner tonight I had a chicken Caesar salad, pasta marinara, banana split ice cream with fresh strawberries and blueberries, and a root beer. Plus I bought more tortillas for my food bag. I list all this food so my family can all see I am increasing my calorie intake! I put my food bag on the scale here at the hostel and it weighs 6 lbs. Yikes! One of the guys at the hostel is carrying the same food bag as mine except it is twice the size. I lost count of how many times I saw him eat a meal yesterday while at the hostel. Hiked past the The Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute. It's a unit of the Smithsonian Institution located on a 3,200-acre campus located just outside the town of Front Royal, VA. It's an extension of the National Zoo in Washington, DC and has played a leading role in the fields of veterinary medicine, reproductive physiology, and conservation biology since its founding in 1974. The trail runs alongside it, separated by a high chain link fence with barbed wire on top. I saw horseshoe hoof-prints on the trail today, too, which I haven't seen since the Smokies. Temp was so nice today I didn't even break a sweat. Passed the 800 mile mark!
Date: 2015-06-27
From: Rod Hollow Shelter

To: Snickers Gap, VA 7 
Miles today: 10.5

Started raining at 2am and rained all day. Today¢s hike was the first 10 miles of a 13-mile section called The Roller Coaster. It's continually up over rocks, down over rocks, cross a swollen stream, then repeat. All. Day. Long. The worst stream was about knee high. Where the AT crossing was didn't look so good and the water was moving very fast. So I walked down stream and found two logs that I thought I could sit on and shimmy across on. But first I thought I would throw my poles across the water to the other side rather than taking my pack off and attaching them to my pack. Well, the first pole barely made it across...then I watched my second hiking pole hit some tree branches and fall in the water and move swiftly downstream and disappear. Dang! I KNOW I can't throw, but I always try! Dumb idea. Then I figured scooting across a log two feet above the water was probably a dumb idea too. So I just plunged into the water and held onto the log while crossing. Upside was my gaiters and pants got the mud washed off them. I actually like hiking in the rain. It's cooler and there aren't cobwebs and bugs out. I didn't take many pictures today because of the rain. We got to Snickers Gap and my friend Karen's parents picked Advil and me up. They made us a fantastic dinner. Thank you Jim & Betty! You are awesome for letting muddy hikers into your home.
Date: 2015-06-28
From: Snickers Gap, VA 7 

To: Keys Gap, WV 9
Miles today: 13.6

What an awesome day. Breakfast at Jim and Betty Wiley¢s home. Cleaned our muddy tents from the Sat. rains and got to dry them out. Betty took us back to the trail and we hiked to Keys Gap. I ran the last mile because I got a call from my friends Ron & Wanda who were passing through the area. It was such a great joy to see them coming up the trail to meet me. Thank you for tracking me down on your way to Baltimore! We got to have dinner with them and Jim and Betty at IJ Canns, which used to be a barn. Check out all the photos.
Date: 2015-06-29
From: Keys Gap, WV 9

To: Harpers Ferry, WV
Miles today: 6.3

Harpers Ferry Outfitter had only had one brand of hiking poles, Komperdell, cork or plastic handles. I got cork. They had one pole in the hiker box but it was broke. They tried to fix it for me. I left my REI pole in the hiker box. I did not like hiking with one pole. We walked around Harpers Ferry after visiting the ATC HQ, ate lunch, then found the Teahorse Hostel. The owner came and picked us up even though we were already walking there. It was about two miles from where we called to see if they had a bunk available. Advil and I were the 969th and 970th thru-hikers to register at the ATC this year. Crossed the Potomac River today. Stood on the bridge and watched the kayakers and rafters. Check out all the photos. (Cause me to hear thy loving kindness in the morning, for in thee do I trust¢¦Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk, for I lift up my soul unto thee. - Psalm 143:8, Thanks, Nancy)
Date: 2015-06-30
From: Harpers Ferry, WV

To: Dahlgren Backpack Campground
Miles today: 17.2
Weather: broken clouds

Waffles included at the Teahorse Hostel, and shower, soap, and a towel. It was also the cleanest hostel we stayed at. Really nice! Left Harpers Ferry. Walked by the C&O canal and crossed into MD via the bridge over the Potomac River. Went by the War Correspondents Arch, a National historic monument dedicated to the memory of Civil War correspondents. So far, Maryland is rocks and mud. Check out all the photos. (Oxymorons: twelve-ounce pound cake, plastic glasses. Thanks, Nancy)
Date: 2015-07-01
From: Dahlgren Backpack Campground

To: Ensign Cowall Shelter
Miles today: 13.9
Weather: broken clouds

Big rainstorm came through last night. Thunder and lightning was so loud and seemed to be right above my tent. The rain came down so hard and fast that under my tent it felt like a waterbed, but no water got in my tent. I was on a tent pad that was mostly gravel. At one point I thought my shoes might start floating. I keep them in the vestibule of my tent, but they were fine in the morning. Late start this morning so I could get my tent dry before packing it up. Hiked through Washington Monument State Park. Stopped at Pine Knob Shelter for lunch. Walked to the spring to get water and slipped on the slippery trail and went down on my right side. The spring was piped so there was a good flow of water to wash myself off. Then hiked on to our first good view in MD atop Black Rock Cliffs. Sat on the rocks and enjoyed the wonderful breeze and watched buzzards flying around. The rest of the day was just more rocks and mud, but an easy hike. We came to a road .2 miles from where the shelter for the night was. The road led to a Smithburg, MD, just 1.5 miles away. Too far to walk for a Coke. So I sat down at the road and ordered a large supreme pizza, a 2-liter bottle of Diet Coke and a large cup of ice. They delivered it to me 20 minutes later and Advil and I sat right there two feet from the road and had dinner. Wings came out of the woods and was going to hitch to town. I offered her some pizza and she had some. She said she'd have some of that Coke, too. I didn't offer that! Advil told her I don't share my Cokes, but I told her if she had a glass she could have just a little. She got a ride to town pretty quick and took our empty pizza box to dispose of in town so we wouldn't have to carry it out. When we got to the shelter I explained to hikers there why I was carrying a big bottle of Coke. They decided to order a pizza then, too, and when they left the shelter to meet the driver at the road, they took my empty soda bottle and gave it back to the pizza driver. Score! I didn't have to carry any trash out except my cup; couldn't have worked out any better! Sleeping in the shelter tonight. This will be the first night in a shelter without my sleeping bag, just using two liners. Talked to Bee Man this morning. I had hiked with him to Fontana Dam. It was good to hear from him and I know he misses the trail. Hope to see him when I pass through New York.
Date: 2015-07-02
From: Ensign Cowall Shelter

To: Pen Mar Rd
Miles today: 9.9

Words to describe MD: muddy, rocky, and done. The loudest lightning and thunderstorm on the trail. I stayed dry but under my ground cover it was like a water bed. Now in PA. Crossed the Mason-Dixon Line. 8 states left. Looking forward to seeing Mike and enjoying the holiday weekend with him. I am staying in Waynesboro, PA, and who knows where we will go for fireworks. Maybe stay right here and enjoy small town 4th of July.
Date: 2015-07-03
From: Pen Mar Rd

To: Pen Mar Rd
Miles today: 0.0

Mike came to meet me in Waynesboro, PA. He found me in Walmart, where I was getting my hair highlighted. He said I was gorgeous - I¢ll take his word for it. Had lunch at the Subway in Walmart. Downloaded all my photos from my phone to DVDs at Walmart, so I can delete them from my phone to make more room. We spent a lot of time in Walmart today!
Date: 2015-07-04
From: Pen Mar Rd

To: Pen Mar Rd
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

We headed to¢¦you guessed it¢¦Walmart to resupply. Drove with Mike to Harpers Ferry, visited the ATC offices and downtown, walked part of the AT, had lunch in a rail car. Saw the fireworks show in Waynesboro.
Date: 2015-07-06
From: Old Forge Road Picnic Area

To: Caledonia State Park
Miles today: 11.1
Weather: light rain

Heard from a hiker going SoBo that Warren Doyle's expedition he leads was ahead and parked outside Caledonia State Park and he was giving a talk at Pine Grove Furnace State Park tonight. We hiked to Caledonia and got our packs that Mike had dropped at the park office this morning so that we could slack pack to the park. We were going to hike on from there with our packs. Tabasco was with us and the three of us decided to see if we could get a ride with Warren to hear his talk and ask to join his group. Advil stayed with our packs and I walked down to where his van was parked and waited until he came off the trail. After checking with his group he decided he had room for us and would pick us up at the park office in about 45 min. I hightailed it back to Caledonia where Advil had gotten the three of us a campsite. We tossed our packs on a picnic table and got back to the park office with about two minutes to spare. I rode up front with Warren and asked what I had to do to join his group. He explained the rules and said we could slack with them for a few days and see how we like it and then decide. So, we'll see how it goes. We got to Pine Grove Furnace State Park and Wings was there at the hostel. The Orr family was also there and Dixie. Dixie and Ice King were eating their half gallon of ice cream to mark the half way point on the trail. It's a tradition to do the ice cream challenge here, even though it's not quite the halfway point. We will actually hike there tomorrow, but I will probably get a smoothie instead of ice cream!