morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-06-18
From: Jennings Creek

To: Glasgow,VA
Miles today: 34.5
Weather: light rain

Oh the rain!! I woke up this morning to rain... Laid in my tent for awhile until the rain let up and then realized that my entire tent was in a huge puddle!! Never a good thing to wake up too! Most if my stuff was slightly damp! Sis, a woman I camped with last night, decided to walk down to the campground that was about a mile away and I decided to go with. We walked down, got some icecream, and ran into Ender who was getting a shuttle into Glasgow. I decided to go with him dince most of my stuff was damp anyways. I'm really glad I made that decision because by the time I got back to my tent the puddle was bigger and my tent had started to leak so my sleeping pad was also pretty wet!! Ugh I hate the rain!!! We got into Glasgow where the town has set up a little shelter right in town, nothing to exciting but somewhere to get out of the rain and hang my stuff up and it's free! Eventually people started showing up and I ran into a lot of hikers I hadn't seen in awhile which is always fun. I actually spent most of my day with Mama Chip, her daughter is trying to become the youngest solo thru hiker. We hung out at the trail head waiting for Chipmunk to get in and also Mama Goose. I was excited to find out that Mama Goose would be coming into town since I didn't think I would catch up to her for a long time!All in all it was a wet but good day. I've decided to hike out from here with Mama Goose and make some miles... As long as I can keep up it should be a good week!
Date: 2013-06-19
From: Glasgow,VA

To: Buena Vista, VA
Miles today: 22.0

Today was a day of big things!! Hit the 800 mile mark, hiked my longest day, and saw my first bear!!! I'm exhausted and my feet hurt!!!! But it was an awesome day.We are at the Blue Dog Art Cafe and Hostel tonight. It's a really great place and the people here are fantastic! They have a wall that hikers sign and I was happy to sign my name next to a couple people from the original Wolf Pack!!! They are al way ahead but it was cool seeing their names on the wall!!!22 miles today!!! Crazy long day but an awesome one! I hiked with Mama Goose, Rambles, Yote, and Miller today. We were all sitting at a gap taking a break when we see a south bounder, I didn't think much of it until he got close to us and who could it be? Bojangles!!! I haven't seen him since just after the NC border nor did I think I would see him. It's crazy what the trail does!! It was also great to see him and catch up! After that random meeting we continued on. Mama Goose and I had a shuttle to catch into town! We hit the 800 mile mark, got our pic taken at tre shelter that marks 800 miles and then hustled to make the shuttle. We were coming around a switchback, Mama Goose was on the top of the switchback I was on the bottom and we look up and there's a bear just leisurely strolling along the mountainside! It was awesome! He stopped, looked at us for a minute and then took off up the hill!! My first Bear!!!! So cool!!So all in all a very good day!!!
Date: 2013-06-20
From: Buena Vista, VA

To: Seely Woodworth Shelter
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: light rain

Today was kind of a long day. We didn't leave town until late and none of us were really feeling the hiking. So we didn't make it as far as we wanted to. Nothing to exciting happened today either. We got some trail magic which is always cool. The guys decided to play frisbee in a meadow and we hiked on. Got into the shelter and decided that we were done for the day, only 6 miles shy of our original goal. We got into the shelter and Alaska was there, haven't seen him since Pearisburg, he had a fire going so we called it a day! My feet are killing me! Tomorrow we will do another 22 mile day and make it into Devils Backbone Brewery!!!
Date: 2013-06-21
From: Seely Woodworth Shelter

To: Reeds Gap/ Devils Backbone Brewery
Miles today: 22.1

Happy Summer Solstice and Hike Naked Day!!! We got up early and headed out so that we could make it into Devils Backbone. There are only a few things that make you hike faster and the thought of having a cold beer at the end of the day is one thing that will do it!But we had a long day of hiking before that was going to happen. Our first obstacle of the day would be going down the Priest, a very rocky and fairly steep mountain. It actually wasn't to bad and we got some pretty good views from the top. We met up with Graylock, a friend of Mama Gooses and a fellow hiker who just finished his thru hike, on the way down the Priest. He was coming up to meet Memphis another guy we've been with the last couple days. After figuring out that Memphis was down at the bottom of the mountain, we headed down. Once we got down to the bottom we met back up with most of the guys we had been hiking with, they jumped into Montebello to pick up a package and then hitched to where we were. After a little discussion it was decided that Graylock and Memphis would slack pack us into the Brewery! My feet were ever so happy!!We took off and headed up the three ridges, an insanely long up hill climb!! I'm pretty sure I never would have made it up if I had my whole pack on! It was a pretty long climb and it was also the last 11 miles of our 22 mile day! But we made it up, and we made it down and we may have gotten naked for a few brief minutes to celebrate hike naked day...When we finally made it into Reeds Gap waiting for us was a guy from the brewery! Memphis and Graylock had gotten us a shuttle too!!!We all piled into the car and off we went. Chad, our driver, took us straight to the brewery where we promptly ordered a beer and some food! This place is amazing! The beer is great, the food is delicious, and the people are so nice!!!! And let's be honest you can't go wrong with a brewery that lets you camp in the yard!! It was a long day but so worth it!!!
Date: 2013-06-22
From: Reeds Gap/ Devils Backbone Brewery

To: Paul C Wolf Shelter
Miles today: 14.1
Weather: clear sky

Holy Breakfast Batman!!! Devils Backbone had hands down the best hiker breakfast that I have had on the trail so far and it was only $5... A huge plate of food, coffee, and a cinnamon roll, it was awesome!!! After Breakfast we hitched back up to the trail, getting a pretty late start, and reluctantly made our way north again. It was a good hiking day. We got a couple of really good views and pretty much hiked in a line of 6 hikers deep. It was fun as we were all talking and having a good time. We were trying to make it into Waynesboro today, a 20 mile hike but due to the late start it just wasn't going to happen. We rolled into the last shelter before Waynesboro and set up camp for the night. Tomorrow we are getting an early start since my friend Justin is picking me up at 930... Good thing it's only a short 5 mile hike.
Date: 2013-06-23
From: Paul C Wolf Shelter

To: Waynesboro, VA
Miles today: 5.2
Weather: light rain

Mama Goose and I got up early yesterday so we could bust out the 5 miles into town. It was an easy hike so we made good time. I said goodbye to her and waited for my friend Justin to pick me up. I've spent the last 2 days with Justin and Kim and it has been fantastic!!! It's a little weird to be around non hikers, this is the first time in 3 months that I haven't been around a single other hiker. It's weird but a nice break!Justin picked me up and we went back to his house so I could shower and start laundry. We then went to breakfast and got me resupplied. After all of my town chores were down we decided to head out to Barren Ridge Vineyards where Kim works. We had ourselves a great wine tasting and then sat on the patio and enjoyed the view of the vineyard. It was great.While Justin and I were trying to figure out plans he mentioned that they had to go to a casual picnic Sunday evening. Well it turns out that this casual picnic was actually the Rotary Club of Staunton. I was a little nervous considering the only cloths I have with me are what I hike in. Justin said it would be fine so off we went to his casual picnic. It turned out to be a pretty good night, Justin got up and introduced me to the entire club, he gave a really nice speech about how we met and what I've done and what I'm currently doing. It was really sweet and if course embarrassed me beyond belief! There is a reason that I stay behind the scenes!! But It was a really sweet thing to do. Today I sat around on the couch while Kim and Justin went to work. It was fantastic!!! Unfortunately my time with the Reiter's had to come to an end, the trail was waiting. I had a really great time with them and I am so thankful that I was able to fiend a couple days with them.Justin and Kim Thank you thank you thank you!!! I'm so grateful to call you guys my friends and look forward to seeing you again!!
Date: 2013-06-25
From: Waynesboro, VA

To: Calf Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.5
Weather: broken clouds

I said good by to Justin and Kim this morning and hit the trail. I have entered my second nation park along the trail. For the next few days I will be making my way north through the Shanandoahs or as I like to call them the Shannys! The hike today killed me, not sure why as it was only 7 miles but it killed me. I think the weather has started to get warmer and the humidity is kicking in and this girl does not do well with humidity. If today killed me I can only imagine what's in store when it gets really hot and humid!I got into the shelter and there was no one else here, it was a little weird. I'm hiking by myself and now I'm at a shelter by myself, this could be interesting! Luckily about an hour after I got here more people started rolling in and even better us that they were hikers that I knew!! I was really happy about that!!! Tomorrow I'm pushing for 20 miles where I will hopefully meet up with Mama Goose!
Date: 2013-06-26
From: Calf Mountain Shelter

To: Loft Mountain Campground
Miles today: 19.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Is it bad when your only 2 days into a new section and you're already bored? Cause that's how I'm feeling right now!! The hiking its self has been pretty good but the scenery is the same, the perpetual green tunnel! I'm over it and just want to get out of this state! And have I mentioned the rain? Yeah it did that today as well!! I was in a shelter for lunch when it started to rain so I missed round one but I didn't luck out on rounds 2 and 3... And it was a good down pour too... So once again I was soaking wet, slogging through the green tunnel. The bright side is that I was warm this time! But again I'm so sick of the rain!!The shannys have these great little places called waysides. Waysides are pretty much a hiker paradise as you can get hamburgers, blackberry milkshakes, and other food through out the park. They are amazing! And the loft mountain wayside was a god send after getting drenched! Plus I ran into Embassador, a thru hiker from last year who I met way back in Erwin. He's hanging with Beeline and Beelines brother who is visiting from Mass. After the wayside I trudged up the road to the campground to find a spot and wait for Mama Goose. I got to the camp store, ran into Fat Man Walking, I met him the last night before Waynesboro and then again at the shelter last night. We decided to share a camp site and then it was just a matter of waiting for Mama Goose. Fat Man and I were sitting at our picnic table when the neighbor kids came over with mountain sandwiches! Score Trail Magic!!!!Mama Goose finally rolled in with Beeline, Embassador, and Hot Wheels. We have a plan for the rest of the week. We are going to hang with the guys and have vehicle support through the shannys... It should be a good week!
Date: 2013-06-27
From: Loft Mountain Campground

To: Lewis Mountain Campground
Miles today: 26.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Longest day yet!!! It really helps that the terrain in pretty easy and that I'm not carrying my whole pack!!First thing out the door today was running into a bear walking down the trail! it was pretty awesome. He was the closest that we have been to one yet and we may have done everything that you aren't suppose to do when faced with a bear...We followed him down the trail, we talked to him, and then we may have turned and ran the other direction when he reared up on his hind legs and false charged us!! I mean what else are you suppose to do, he was a big bear and that was seriously scary! He did finally move off the trail and we pretty much laughed at ourselves for running the entire rest of the day!! It was cool to see one up close but I think that I will just sit back and watch from a distance from now on.The sites are few and far between but we did hit the 900 mile mark today!!! Other then the bear it was a pretty boring day...Lots of miles with the same scenery!
Date: 2013-06-28
From: Lewis Mountain Campground

To: Skyland Resort
Miles today: 16.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Today had some interesting turn of events... The first part of the day was boring just the usual trekking through the forest of the VA green tunnel. Shortly before we got to Big Meadows Wayside we ran into Cindy White, she is a Warrior Hiker supporter and has been trying to find Mama Goose for awhile now! So she finally found us and ended up taking our packs completely into Big Meadows. Once there we grabbed a beer and a blackberry shake and sat out in the sun for a nice little early afternoon break.After awhile some more hikers showed up and plans were discussed and Mama Goose decided to head into Front Royal to try and catch up to the other warrior hikers since she has already hiked the Shannies. This threw my plans into an upheaval once again! I have been making really good miles hiking with her and having a lot of fun. Its crazy how one decision can turn your world upside down. After Mama Goose left, the rest of us regrouped and then headed to a shelter that was only a mile off Skyline drive so that Hot Wheels could see a shelter and experience that part of the trail.The day ended pretty good. We hiked a bunch of food and beer into the shelter and just sat around that fire and had a good time and other hikers that came into the shelter enjoyed it as well as they were handed a beer upon arrival. It was a good night after an upheaval of a day. But I will get myself to Katahdin and keep on hiking the hike north!!
Date: 2013-06-29
From: Skyland Resort

To: Rattle Snake Gap
Miles today: 19.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Today was the ultimate slack pack day!!! We left Skyland resort with nothing but our trekking poles! It was pretty awesome not having a pack at all! There is a huge group of us doing the slack today. Myself, Hawaii,Fat Man Walking, Mooch, Beeline, Vice, Black Squatch, and Wild Willy. Its pretty fun to be in a big group, just enjoying the sites and the sun!We finally had some scenery today!! We hit Stoney Man, the highest peak on the AT in the Shannies, Stoney Man Cliffs where we watched some people rock climb, and then Mary's rock. It was pretty cool. We did the first 10 miles pretty quick and then decided to go for another 10. We did leave some people behind as they all needed to head into Luray to resupply. But we still had a few of us so off we went to finish out 20 mile ultimate slack pack! It was awesome, I left my trekking poles behind this time and only took a bottle of water. I pretty much ran about 7 miles of the last 10 for the day! It felt awesome! I was really surprised that I could actually still run and that I wasn't that winded. I could feel it in my body a little more and I am sure that I am going to be sore tomorrow but my endurance has made some major progress!!I was loving life for the last part of the day, even when it started raining on me!!
Date: 2013-07-01
From: Rattle Snake Gap

To: Front Royal, VA
Miles today: 17.6
Weather: light rain

We made it out of the Shannies!!! WOOHOO!!! I am super excited about that one!!!We got into Front Royal yesterday and I got a call from Mama Goose, she was lonely and had finally experienced some of the VA Blues and decided that she was going to hitch back into town and wanted to make sure we were there! I'm excited that she is back with us.We spent last night celebrating with Mooch, Jumper, Beeline, and Fat Man. We are out of the Shannies and also that we were almost out of VA... It was a lot of fun. We even met some new friends! Reaper and his wife. Reaper did a good portion of the trail last year but had to get off because he got sick from a tick...stupid ticks!!!This morning Mama Goose, myself, and Fat Man decided that we were going to zero here as we only have 54 miles to make it into Harpers Ferry. It is going to be cheaper to stay here then to get into Harpers a day before the 4th. It was a really relaxing day. We went and got food and then I came back to the hotel and sat on my butt and watched TV. I kinda love days like this! no worries and I am still going to make it to my intended destination on time!!Tomorrow we hike out! I can feel Harpers Ferry with in my grasp and I am so looking forward to getting out of VA!!! I might even do a little dance when that time comes!! But for now I am going to enjoy my night and go back to watching some TV
Date: 2013-07-02
From: Front Royal, VA

To: Rod Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 27.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Long Day today. I'm tired and hot! Nothing exciting today, or at least nothing that I can really remember. It's all starting to blur together! But we are so much closer to getting out of this state! I can not wait!! For now I am going to go take some advil and climb into my tent, that is currently set up under the shelter where the picnic table goes oops! at least I wont get wet if it rains!!!,and pass out!!!
Date: 2013-07-04
From: AT Blackburn Center

To: Harpers Ferry, WV
Miles today: 11.9

Happy 4th of July!! I AM IN HARPERS FERRY AND FINALLY OUT OF VA!!!!! I am so excited!!!The hike today was pretty easy, I did however feel like I was losing a little bit of my thru hiker credibility as I walked into the mental halfway point without my pack! Oh well it is what it is and I have still walked all the way here so it works. Thank you Cindy and Bill for the slack pack!! It is so great to be here! The Appalachian Trail Conservancy headquarters marks the mental halfway point for almost all thru hikers. It is the one place, besides Katahdin, that I have been looking forward to! I got my picture taken and I have my official thru hiker number, 939! I feel like if I have made it this far then I can make it to Maine! I've been through some ups and downs but I am feeling amazing and am looking forward the what the second half of the trip has to offer!
Date: 2013-07-06
From: Harpers Ferry, WV

To: Harpers Ferry, WV
Miles today: 0.0

I have fallen into the town suck! But this time I'm ok with it! I had a great 4th of July here and yesterday I spent the day playing tourist in Washington DC. Really I got to hang out with my good friend Pam for a few hours while we walked around all the monuments with Tumbleweed who has never been to DC! It was a whirlwind adventure and I wish that we had more time but we were at the mercy of the train schedule, which was not so great! Once we got back into Harpers we decided to continue our tourist day and took part in the Harpers Ferry Ghost Tour. A little cheesy but fun none the less!Today I had all intentions of getting out of town but that of course didn't happen. Tumbleweed and I got up, headed to the ATC to see if my package from home had finally arrived...YAY I got my awesome peanut butter cookies that my sister in law Season baked for me!!! They are the best thing about getting packages form home!!!! After scarffing down a few cookies we headed to the library to get caught up on journals. Once we were finished with that we walked out into a virtual sauna! It was crazy hot and humid! We both decided that it would probably kill us starting out in that weather so here we are for another night in Harpers Ferry. Tomorrow we will actually leave this town and also cross state #5 off the list!!!!
Date: 2013-07-07
From: Harpers Ferry, WV

To: Crampton Gap Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: few clouds

We have made it out of Harpers Ferry! Of course on our way out of town we had to stop and get ice cream! It's was still pretty hot and humid when we left today but the hiking was pretty easy. We didn't get nearly as far as we wanted as we got stuck under a pavilion waiting out a pretty good rain storm. By the time the rain let up it was getting pretty late do we decided to head to the shelter that was only .4 up the trail. The .4 turned into a little more as the sign for the shelter and what our guide told us was a little misleading so we went past it a little ways only to find Pyress and Comrade coming back down the trail, clearly we all misread the sign! We finally made it into the shelter and now currently have 10 hikers sleeping in a shelter that supposedly only holds 6... Leave it to thru hikers when it's raining to cram as many people as possible into a shelter!!!
Date: 2013-07-08
From: Crampton Gap Shelter

To: Pogo Memorial Campsites
Miles today: 15.7

And once again the rain kills a perfectly good day of hiking! Ok so it didn't ruin it completely but it did give us a 3 hour rain delay which was spent in a bathroom! We got out of the shelter this morning hoping to make 20 miles. We made it into Dahlgren Backpackers Campground, where we were trying to make it yesterday, and were taking a little snack break when it started to rain! We all headed into the bathrooms! It's pretty funny when you have 6 girls piled into a bathroom and at least that many guys piled into the boys room all trying to stay dry! It may have been a rain delay but at least it was a dry one. Once the rain finally stopped we headed back out. The first really cool thing we came across was one of the first Washington Monuments! This area is pretty cool in regards to out nations history. There are all sorts of battlefields around us and small markers that you can stop and read and learn something about the area that we just walked through! After spending a little time there we headed out. Next we came to Annapolis Rocks, they are just a big out cropping of rocks that overlook the valley. We took a little break there, talked to a really nuce ridgerunner and then continued on our way to camp. Hoping tomorrow will take us out of state #6 and hoping that the rain holds off so we can make some miles!!!
Date: 2013-07-09
From: Pogo Memorial Campsites

To: Smithburg, MD/ The Free State Hiker Hostel
Miles today: 4.0

4 miles!!! We made it 4 miles today!!! Ugh stupid rain! I know that by now we should all just suck it up and hike in the rain but when it happens multiple days in a row and its forecasted for the next week it really kills everything inside you that wants to hike! We had decided to head into town to pick up a few things to get us a couple days longer out on the trail and to grab subway for lunch. As we were sitting there eating the skies opened up. So we decided to wait a little bit to see if it would clear up, of course it didn't. Amazon and Nightingale Gale came in and mentioned the hostel that's on our way back to the trail. We all decided that we would head over there. We got a ride from Strings, a former thru hiker that lives in area which was awesome because trying to find hitches in MD has been painful! No one will pick you up.This hostel is really nice and the owners are very friendly. And of course a couple hours after getting here, the rain stops! I'm so over it, it seems like Mother Nature is just toying with us at this point. Everyone says that it's gotta stop at some point but I'm beginning to believe that it never will, so I just need to put on my big girl panties and hike in the rain even if its everyday from now until the day I summit! I know that's easier said then done but something's gotta change or I'm never making it to Katahdin, especially if I only hike 4 miles a day!!!Tomorrow I'm hiking and getting out of Maryland even in the rain!!!