morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-05-02
From: Laurel Creek Shelter

To: Pickle Branch Shelter
Miles today: 22.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Up @ 6:30, out @ 7:10. Food Lion did make it last night. Just him and I in the shelter. All but about 7-8 miles were pretty good. At the final shelter by 5:30. Washed salt stains off my shirt. Socks got a dipping also. Now hanging up. Was supposed to rain today, but it has held off. Now thunderstorms are forcasted for tonight. The second big up and down for today had the first switchbacks in days. Then I figured it out. Whenever the trail is used by the general public, all of a sudden it is nicely maintained. In this case, both sides led up to the Audie Murphy Memorial. Tomorrow is a 23+ day so I hope the weather holds. Then into the interchange area for a day off. Feet are doing much better. Back is now the issue. I need a chiropractor and soon. Day was good. Nice views, good trail.
Date: 2006-05-03
From: Pickle Branch Shelter

To: Lamberts Meadow Shelter
Miles today: 23.0
Weather: light rain

The young couple that stayed in the shelter last night got up @ 5:30 and out @ 6:30. Their goal is the same as Food Lion and I which is to hit a 23 mile day. I was up @ 6:30 and out by 7:10. As I have said, Virginia has a lot of rocks. Today, the rocks have names Cove Mountain, Dragon's Tooth, Lost Spectacles Gap, Devil's Seat, Viewpoint Rock, Rawies Rest, and last but not least, the single most photographed spot on the AT, McAfee Knob. In short, rocks, rocks, rocks, and more rocks. Dragon's Tooth was the hardest. No trail, just pure rock climbing. So much, that steel grab bars were installed in several areas to scale the rocks. 6 inch ledges where one slip and a 40 foor straight down fall. I caught up with the couple within 2 hours. At VA 624, trail magic from South Paw, one of the trailbounders I met the first day into the Smokies. Great selection as only a thru hiker would give. PB&J sandwich, a Yahoo, and a Gatorade for me. The couple, Food Lion, and I all sat and enjoyed. Got to McAfee Knob. Couple came in shortly there after. Took the pictures and moved on. Very windy but they still did the leg cliff hang, as only the young would do. But the rock climbing was not over. Now we had Snack Bar Rock, Rock Haven, Tinker Cliffs, The Well, Lunch Box Rock, and Scorched Earth Gap. You got it, rocks, rocks, and more rocks. Great views, many pictures, including a 4 foot black snake on the trail again. Cool day, hard day, day was done. Two other hikers at the shelter, 6 in all. Hotel tomorrow, shower, laundry, food. Yeah baby!! No rain but colder and windy. I'll take it. Life is good. 82 hard miles in 4 days.
Date: 2006-05-04
From: Lamberts Meadow Shelter

To: US 220 - Howard Johnson Express
Miles today: 9.4

6 total in shelter, the young couple from yesterday, Food Lion, 2 day hikers in for the night only and myself. With a 22 mile day, I thought we were going to catch up with the group of 4 girls and Bushwacker. Glad we didn't since the shelter was for 8. The day hiker said the girls just left around 2:30-3:00, before we got in. Got up @ 6:30, on trail by 7:15. No breakfast. Only 1 pack of gorp anyway. Town in 10 miles. Morning was nice. Some ups and downs but not bad. Took a few pictures. Virginia is really a beautiful state. Nicest so far. Colors and spring smells are really out and noticeable. Got into interchange (town like) area at 12:30. Got room, laundry, now time to eat. Food Lion moved on. Couple staying at hotel. Saw the 4 girls. They are at the hotel. Food Lion is taking a zero ahead, so I will probably meet up with him in Shenandoah. We have been back and forth since the Smokies. I have a funny story to tell. I was sitting at the gas station next to the hotel, just finished a 32oz Gatorade, when 2 sheriff cars come in and pull straight toward me. They stop, get out and come to me with their hands on their guns. "This ought to be good," I thought. Then they asked me for ID and what I was doing. I told them, one took my ID while the other watched me. Then they asked me how much have I had to drink. To make a long story short, I guess when I was walking down the street, I was limping, "staggering" according to the officer, because of my feet. My pack was in the hotel, so I guess I was a drunk transient, old guy, not shaven, staggering down US 220. The humor was lost on me. Eventually they went away since I am not wanted anywhere on any outstanding warrants. Good job guys. And yes, my feet still hurt, but they really are getting better. Hobbling, not staggering. At 714.3 miles, I am at the 1/3 completed point. Life is good. Last 2 days were hard, but fun. Yes, fun!! Stupid question: I ate at Wendy's, and had a salad with honey mustard dressing. Neither ingredient, honey nor mustard, has fat, so how do 2 packs of dressing contain 52 grams of fat, 80% of your daily need. Also today, bought a new sleeping bag. Even with warmer temps, I am getting condensation build up. Wet & cold, not a safe thing at night. Switched back to down. I hope it is better. Life is good.
Date: 2006-05-05
From: US 220 - Howard Johnson Express

To: Holiday Inn Express
Miles today: 1.5

Strange day all around. Kind of glad it is over. Hiked all of 1.5 miles today. Add 2.2 to get to the hotel, so walking 3.7 miles took me 1/3 of a mile from where I started. Like walking the two long sides of a narrow triangle and the short side is the distance between the hotels. No coin laundry at the hotel so off to the truck stop I go. What an experience. Crossed 7 lanes of traffic for a Subway sandwich. Finally got into the hot tub @ 9:10, done by 9:45. Just a really strange day.
Date: 2006-05-06
From: Holiday Inn Express

To: Bobblets Gap Shelter
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: clear sky

Town syndrome, out late, on trail @ 11:00. Trail was nice. Did the 17 miles in 6 1/2 hours. Was going to go to the next shelter @ 6.4 miles more, but a southbounder said it had bees and no water. That means a 24 mile day tomorrow. Oh well. 7 in for the night, 4 thru's and 3 section. Very pleasant evening. All-in-all a easy day. The only bad thing is one of my mayo bags got crushed and I will need to clean it. Easy day, nice night, feet are much better. Lighter on the vitamin I. Left knee hurts a bit on the downs without it, but it will still work. Rain forcasted for tomorrow, so I want to get out by 7:30. I sleep better out on the trail than the hotel so I am looking forward to nightfall. Life is good!!
Date: 2006-05-07
From: Bobblets Gap Shelter

To: Thunder Hill Shelter
Miles today: 23.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Day started out good, as expected. Out @ 7:45. Day was cool. Knew I had a big milage day. And rain was coming, you could feel it. Got to Bryant Ridge Shelter and it began to rain. Stoppin in for lunch then began the last climb of the day. Mostly up for 9 of the last 10.9 miles. Elevations gain from 950 to 4224. Many vistas but could not see more than 20-30 feet. Hit the top of Apple Orchard Mountain, wind could blow you over. Also getting very cold. Rocky, Bullwinkle, and Trucker made it just after me. I did the 10.9 miles, uphill, in exactly 4 hours. Kick ass for the end of a 24 mile day. Cold and wet all night. Trucker tried to cuddle up with me 4-5 times, got my bag soaking wet, with me and my only dry clothes as well. Not a good thing. My new bag really performed well. Tomorrow would need to be sunny and warm or I would need to go into Glasgow to dry out. 6 miler into a town is a bad thing. Will have to wait and see what to do.
Date: 2006-05-08
From: Bobblets Gap Shelter

To: US 501 / VA 130 - Glasgow
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Woke up as usual 7:00, out by 7:45. I was still colder and wet, and so was I. My bag held up well wet, actually breathed to the point that I made it through the night ok. With a wet bag and everything all muddy from Trucker, made the decision to go to Glasgow, eat a meal and dry out and clean up. Along the way the idea of getting off the trail came into my mind. By the time I hit US 501, my mind was made up to stop hiking. My trip to town was an adventure by itself. It was only 2:00, so I decided to walk down the railway tracks to town. 3 trains later, I made it. Restaurant was closed, but got a room. Stayed w/ Dirt who came later into town. Did my laundry, bought some groceries. The plan was to call Stewart, a local man who shuttles for a fee, and pay him to take me to Waynesboro where I could get to transportation. Tried twice, no ansers. I will call in the morning.
Date: 2006-05-09
From: US 501 / VA 130 - Glasgow

To: View Entry
Miles today: 20.0

Woke up by 7:30. Slow moving. I am acting as if I am going to continue my hike. Pack up, the correct ratio of food, but that cannot be, my hike has ended. Took a shower, found a 2nd tick. This time on my butt (still better than the first one). Dirt was out by 8:30. I kept my calling card out with the number to call for my shuttle. At 9:15 I put on my pack, walked over to the pay phone. Someone was using it so I kept walking to the next station. Yep, they had a phone, walked passed it. I am now walking to get a hitch back to the trail head. This is not going to work. Hiked back on the tracks, 6 miles, no trains, on the trail at 11:15. Did 20 more, in at 6:30. Good hiking day. 26 miles total from Glasgow. 4 already @ shelter plus me is five, plus the four girl group for 9 in a shelter for six. It ends up, Grace, the dog from the other night got skunked and rubbed against one of the girl's bags. We called her Pepe'La Pew. Good group at the shelter, raised up my spirit. Now I am stuck to doing at least one more day. Feeling ok. Still a thru hiker. Life is good, for now.
Date: 2006-05-10
To: Dutch Haus B&B/Fish Hatchery Road/Montebello, VA
Miles today: 18.1

Out by 7:45. A hard, rocky 18 miles, but I was determined to get to Montebello and the B&B. The "town" of Montebello included one store and a post office. The B&B was nice, in for the night.
Date: 2006-05-11
From: Dutch Haus B&B/Fish Hatchery Road/Montebello, VA

To: Blue Ridge Parkway/Mile 13.1/Three Ridges Overlook
Miles today: 20.5

Day started early today, about 4:30am, when the rain started to hit the roof. A nice, soft, gentle rain. It was even more enjoyable because I was in a really nice, warm bunk. Ten Speed and I were the only 2 in the bunkhouse. I set my alarm for 6:30 so we could make the 7:00 breakfast, cuiche', bacon, and hashbrowns, yum. Nice group of people at the table, Dr. Jones and his wife, Ten Speed and 2 section hikers. All real nice people. Dr. Jones and his wife are hiking to Maine to stay. Once there, they are going to find a place and live there. Talked a lot with 10-Speed. A plumber from Seattle, WA., started April 1st. He hiked the PCT in 2001. He finds the AT "domesticated" as he puts it. Everyone but me got a lift to the trailhead off Fish Hatchery Road. I got a lift by Earl who drove me 20 miles up so I could hike back to the B&B. The fog was so thick on the parkway, Earl could only do about 10-15 mph. Rain never stopped. I got dropped off, all alone, somewhere, couldn't tell even where the path was. Found it and away I went. Warm spring-like rain until 12:30 when the temps dropped. Started getting cold. Crossed paths with many of the hikers I have been on and off with. Hike northbound and you never see anyone. Go the other way and over 20 miles, probably 10-12 people, all who you have met. Kind of weird. Got back to the B&B at 6:30. Showered, changed into dry clothes, at dinner. Nice. Chicken tonight. 9 thrus are here, 2 dogs, Uberdude's dog and Gracy, the one that got sprayed by the skunk. Much better now. It is still raining and getting cold. I made the right decision to southbound and stay. Not a true slack pack since I carried my own pack and items. 18 miles into Waynesboro tomorrow. Finally!! After looking at my original schedule, even with all the mishaps and/or adventures, I am actually, officially, 2.3 miles further than where I am supposed to be. Interesting. Yesterday and today were really enjoyable. My feet are working much, much better. 3000 foot elevation today was not much more than just there. Today also had a 1200 foot and 2 800 feet climbs. They say that by now your body has become a virtual hiking machine, and that is very true. Life is good, hiking is better!!
Date: 2006-05-12
From: Blue Ridge Parkway/Mile 13.1/Three Ridges Overlook

To: Rockfish Gap - Waynesboro
Miles today: 18.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Breakfast at 7:00, on the trail at 8:45, an hour earlier than I hoped for. I knew I had a few climbs, the biggest over Humpback Mountain and then town baby, oh yeah, Waynesboro. By hook and crook, I made it. Arrived at the trailhead, and the visitor center had trail angle contacts for rides into town. The contacted "John" who was there in 20 minutes, drove me to the post office, showed me the town and then drove me to the hotel. Great guy, really a big help. Checked in, life is good. Shenandoah National Park on Sunday!!! Yea!!
Date: 2006-05-13
From: Rockfish Gap - Waynesboro

To: Zero Day - Waynesboro
Miles today: 0.0

12:30 and most tasks are complete. Forgot to turn my alarm off so up the first time @ 6:30. For real at 7:30. Started fussing, need to make decisions by 11:30 to get to post office by noon. Pretty much kept the new shoes and everything else went back. My plan is to hit Shenandoah light. No food, no maps, no gear change. My base pack weight has to be down to 12-14 pounds by now and that is what I want to stay with. Will pick up food along the way through the park. Cut my nails, etc., including the hair on my legs. Shenandoah has lots of deer, lots of wildlife and loads of ticks. I am not going to make it easy to latch on since I am tired of pulling them off. I don't carry any bug repellant so I am getting bit more than normal, I think. By noon I have eaten the following: 1 yogurt, 1 english muffin, 1 waffle, 2 eggs, 4 sausage, 4 bacon, 2 hash brown pancakes, 2 pieces of toast, 2 cups of milk, 1 glass of O.J., and 2 cups of coffee, 1 chocolate sundae and 1 large chocolate shake. I can't wait for dinner, yum. I went to the post office, went to the laundry-mat, where I melted my tyver ground sheet and surveyed Waynesboro. Actually a nice community but the downtown is experiencing the Wal-Mart, Home Depot, big store causing the downtown decline syndrome. Many vacant stores. I am back at the hotel resting. I feel good, actually the best I have felt since I started. Errands complete, well fed, rested, journal entry complete, all by 1:00. Nice!! 161 miles to Harpers Ferry, thought of as the half-way point at 1009.8 miles. A bit short of the actual 1/2 way point but a real major trail town, in fact, the ATC Headquarters are there. I plan to spend only 4 nights in the park. It is only 104 miles long, so this is do-able. I should hit Harpers Ferry in 7-8 days from tomorrow. Life is good. Right now,a nap is even better. Thunderstorms expected for tomorrow, then 5 days of rain. Will see if things change in the morning. May wait out the storms in town.
Date: 2006-05-14
From: Zero Day - Waynesboro

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Weather still expected to be bad today so I opted to stay around for one more day. Ate a bit at the hotel then out to Weasies for breakfast. Met Moat and another hiker there. They stayed at the YMCA camp area and are both taking a zero day. Agreed to share a room with Moat. Went to church. A member asked if I needed a ride anywhere so I took him up on it to the local outfitters. I want to buy an umbrella to try out through the park with all the rain that is expected. They must be the only outfitter around that did not sell them. Just my luck. Started hiking to the new hotel for tonight when a truck stopped and offered me a ride to the Gap. I only had about 3/4 of a mile left but since it was all up hill the ride was very welcomed. When I arrived at the inn of Aften, Moat was just getting there as well, so it worked out well. Got a room. Storms rolled in around 5:45. Supposed to be all night. The inn is on the AT so I could get an early start without all the fuss of getting back to the trail. No matter what the weather is tomorrow, I have to leave. For now, dinner. Steak and potato, even my first glass of wine. Plan is to leave by 9:00, do 20 for the day. Hopefully, storms will be less. All is good.
Date: 2006-05-15
To: Loft Mountain Campground
Miles today: 26.4
Weather: light rain

What a day. Went for breakfast since my plan was to carry very little food, less than 1 pound total, into the park. Got to the restaurant, closed. My plan is not off to a good start. Oh well, with a gas station right at the AT trailhead, I will pick up some items there. Out of the hotel @ 8:20. Not bad. The gas station had very little, but grabbed 3 candy bars for the day. I have a wayside stop in 27 miles, so I have enough for today. Plan is to do 20 miles today. Food seven miles into day 2. Off I go. The weather held, very cool, no rain, mostly cloudy, great hiking day. Foot started hurting within 3-4 miles, not good. Got to 19 miles and a sign indicated the water source at the shelter was dry, so fill up at a stream 100 yards away. Finished what I had, filled up, stopped, and took off my shoes for a minute. Instantly, the toes on my left foot began to throb like they were all broken. Not good. When I arrived at the cutoff to the shelter it was only 4:00, much too early to stop. If I humped it, I could make the Loft Mountain campsite by nightfall. In the morning, I would have to wait until the camp store opened at 8:30, but that would still be ok. I made it to the campsite by 7:00, only to find a sign that said, closed, will open on May 18. Not good. I set up my tarp for the first time and stayed in one of the campsites anyway. The campstore was closed but the wayside was only 1.5 miles away so that will work in the morning. No rain. When I took off my left shoe my foot began to throb, so much, I swear I pushed it too hard at 26 plus miles and caused nerve damage. For 30-45 minutes, the pain was so severe, I looked at possible outs for tomorrow. Ranger station in 6 miles, I could hobble to that. It got down to 39 degrees but I stayed warm and slept like a baby. Pain eventually stopped, great night's rest, biggest mileage day. Life is good.
Date: 2006-05-16
From: Loft Mountain Campground

To: Bearfence Mountain Hut
Miles today: 27.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Woke up at 6:45 but stayed tucked in until 7:30. No hurry since the wayside does not open until 9:30. Packed up, on the trail at 8:15 or so. Arrived at the wayside, all locked up so I will wait. By 9:40, I figured out it too is still closed. The vending machine was still plugged in from last year so I was able to purchase 3 candy bars and a bag of pretzels. The freshest thing expired January of 2006. Yum. Soda machine was also working. Only Pepsi left. Good enough, bought two. 1100 calories total. Enough for the day, 2 beef jerky sticks in my pack will do for dinner. For some reason, my left foot reached a certain pain level, which was at least tolerable. At 15 miles, my small toe on my right foot is now in pain, from my new shoes. They say you need 50 miles to break in new shoes. I don't think they meant to do all 50 in two days hiking Shenandoah. Hit the shelter by 2:40. Next shelter in 12.4 miles, so I pushed on. I noticed that I passed the start point of a 3 day section hike two years earlier. In just five hours, on a bad foot, I cleared what I did in two days of the section hike. When hiking alone, you sometimes see shapes of rocks, bushes, or fallen trees that, for a quick moment, look like a bear, a person, or some other animal. One time, I swear I saw a moose, which would be news worthy if it wasn't a fallen tree. Such was the case around seven o'clock. I came around a corner and I saw the usual fallen tree that resembled a bear's head. This time the tree moved. I stopped. 20 feet from me one tiny bear cub and a mama cut to the right and a second bear cub climbed up a tree to the left, splitting the trail with me in the middle. Not good. Never split a mama bear from her cubs. This is bear rule #1. I would normally go for my camera but first thing first. I slowly started walking backward. Faced the mama who stopped without making eye contact, and looked as non aggressive as I could. I gave them another 20-30 feet and then started very slowly for my camera. The cub in the tree got down and all of a sudden, a second larger bear appeared with it and met up with the other two to the right. I barely got a picture as they quickly ran into the thick brush. Perhaps my worst bear picture, but surely, my coolest bear experience ever. 20-30 feet from 4 bears, handled it by the book instantly and all was good - kick ass. When I arrived at the shelter, I hiked 53.8 miles in two days. Moat was already at the shelter, Riverwood arrived at around 9:00. We all talked four days earlier at Weasies in Waynesboro, hiked different mileage, and ended up here at the same night, unplanned. This is how it works sometimes. You just never know. Ate my beef jerky for dinner. I am now completely out of food until Big Meadows tomorrow. I am still not hungry, so all is fine. Short day tomorrow as a result of the two previous big days. Open shelter, cool night, no rain, big mileage, kick ass bear encounter. Life is good!!!!!
Date: 2006-05-17
From: Bearfence Mountain Hut

To: Big Meadows (Lodge)
Miles today: 8.0

Group was up early and I waas out at 7:15. Ended up hiking the third day of my previous section hike in 3 hours. So total, it took me 8 hours to complete the three day section hike, two years earlier. Unfortunately, the severe pain was back in my left foot. Did laundry @ 10:30, lunch at noon after check-in at the lodge. For lunch I had clam chowder soup, cheese quesadillas, rueben with chips, chocholate cookie sundae, root beer, and yes, even coffee. It is 6:45 so off to dinner I go. (Pause) Ok, dinner complete. Earlier I had a snack of a banana, apple, 2 yogurts, O.J., and a chocolate milk. Now, after a salad, chicken with rice and veggies and ice cream (also 1 glass of wicked wine) I am stuffed. Getting late. Lounge entertainment starts at 9:00. Too late for me. Breakfast early and on the trail. 5-6 days to Harpers Ferry. End of month 2 today with 910.2 miles complete. Not bad for a fat old guy (FOG). Stiff, foot hurts but also full, warm and dry. Life is good!
Date: 2006-05-18
From: Big Meadows (Lodge)

To: Pass Mountain Hut
Miles today: 18.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Left Big Meadows late, as expected. On trail at 10:00. Three big meals later, plus snack, gave me good reason to carry less than 1 pound of food. Shelter was full, 16 in all, nine in the shelter. Chicago, J.J. (Doc), Many Smiles, and Freerange were all there. Six section hikers, 2 section hiker, and 3 section hiker were also in for the night. The last group in consisted of a mother and two sons. The mother was having trouble so the sons would carry her pack in addition to their's. At around 9:00 she came to the fire at the shelter with a bladder full of red wine. The thru hikers were already in their bags and as good as the wine sounded, sleep sounded even better. Rained that night, so I was told, but I slept so hard, I never heard it. 18.8 miles, mostly good trail. Life is good.
Date: 2006-05-19
From: Pass Mountain Hut

To: Compton Gap Trailhead - Terrapin Hostel
Miles today: 22.7
Weather: moderate rain

What better reason to do a 23 mile day than to end at a hostel. A garage and lower den made up the hostel part. Very laid-back, comfy. Drive to Front Royal in the morning for a re-supply. The hostel was run by "the happy greenpeace guy", a true blue Grateful Dead, greenpeace type of guy that was still living the dream. He was really a nice guy, still strong in his convictions for a better world. Truely, God bless individuals like him. Shower, clean clothes, fed, Grateful Dead and Bob Dillon tunes, good conversation, life is good. Riverside and Chicago also stayed the night.