morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-06-05
From: Wilson Creek Shelter

To: Cove Mtn. Shelter
Miles today: 13.7
Weather: light rain

Trail Day 75 - Parkway crossingsI put up my wet muddy tent without too much trouble and headed out. The day was cloudy but it had stopped raining. The AT crossed the Blue Ridge Parkway at five overlooks but there were no views at the first four, just clouds. There was a misty view at the last overlook. There were few cars on the road. I had to carry 3 quarts of water to Cove Mtn. shelter because there is no water source there. The shelter was empty, but later a young couple hiked in for the night: Puka and Eagle Eye. Puka means tomboy in Korean. Eagle Eye gathered wood for a fire. Then Marzipan and County, another young couple that they knew came in. There was a reunion because Puka and Eagle Eye had been off the trail and just returned from 8 days in a condo at Virginia Beach. They had hitched to Roanoke and rented a car to make the trip. The beach trip was to celebrate completing 1/3 of the trail. Tomorrow I would witness a dramatic turn in their plans.
Date: 2004-06-06
From: Cove Mtn. Shelter

To: Thunder Hill Shelter
Miles today: 17.2
Weather: light rain

Trail Day 76 - Leaving the trail.Puka and Eagle Eye left the shelter early and I followed shortly after. They were sitting on a rock by the Parkway when I caught up with them. Eagle Eye said he did not know why he was doing this hike anymore. He asked why I was thruhiking and I told him I had dreamed of doing this for 30 years. As I walked on, I thought about my reasons. This is a chance to do something that few people can do as it requires unusual stamina and determination. I enjoy hiking in the woods and don't mind the solitude. If I can finish, it will be a journey I can always cherish with this journal.I stopped for lunch at Bryant Ridge shelter. Eagle Eye came in looking really dejected. His head was hanging. They were talking about routes to get off the trail. I suggested hitching back to Peaks of Otter. Puka said hitching is not allowed on the Parkway and I replied they could just say they were having a mental breakdown. Eagle Eye said that was not far from the truth. There was a 2200 ft. climb to the next shelter. I felt strong so I pushed all the way without a rest. When they arrived, Puka said that they had decided to get off the trail and go on a road trip to Alaska. In a few hours, their motivation to thruhike the trail was gone. I wished them luck, but left for the next shelter feeling shocked. How quickly plans can change! But they are young and can come back another year to finish their hike. At almost 60 years old, I am running out of time.   When other thruhikers leave the trail, it can bring one to question one's own resolve. I think it helped me to reaffirm my commitment.
Date: 2004-06-07
From: Thunder Hill Shelter

To: Wildwood Campground
Miles today: 14.4

Trail Day 77 - Wildwood CampgroundI slept in the shelter with only one other hiker; the other hikers all set up tents. Today would be all downhill to the James River, so I took my time getting out. I planned to stay at the next shelter, but it was only 3:30 when I got there so I decided to go on across the river to the highway and hitch a ride to Wildwood Campground, about 5 miles up the road. I crossed the pedestrian bridge across the James River, just built in 2000 for AT hikers at a cost of 5 million dollars. Someone told me that before this was completed, hikers crossed on the road bridge and dodged log trucks on a very narrow walkway. One hiker jumped off into the river to avoid being hit. As usual, I could not get a ride hitching, so I walked over to the trail to talk with a maintainer who was doing some weedwacking. He offered to take me to the campground if I was still hitching when he was done. After another 45 minutes of unsuccessful hitching, he picked me up.Wildwood Campground was great! A small store to resupply with food and alcohol, and a deli that served hamburgers and milkshakes. I set up my tent, showered and bought food. I met hikers World Bridger and his wife, Havin' Fun. His name derives from his Mayan sign. He is the only person I have ever met who knows his Mayan sign. This is like an astrological sign, but by the Mayan calendar. There were also 14 campers from Michigan who were on motorcycles. One told me he saw a deer give birth beside the road that day.The campground was beside a pond with ducks swimming around and the loudest frog orchestra I have ever heard. There were peepers with high tones and bullfrogs providing the bass. I loved listening to their musical interplay as I fell asleep.
Date: 2004-06-08
From: Wildwood Campground

To: Little Irish Creek
Miles today: 15.9

Trail Day 78 - Renegade and Tomboy.I had breakfast this morning at Lovada's Deli & Grocery, across the highway from the campground: a large homemade biscuit with egg and sausage. There is one card table set up in the store for diners. Lovada brought out some of her babies to show me: a small owl she calls Hootie, who flew up to a high shelf and bobbed his head around. She also showed off her baby racoon and baby flying squirrel. People find them and give them to her. I took photos of all. Ken with the campground drove me to the trail at 9 am. Enigma, Speed and Breathless were hitching to resupply in Glasgow. I hiked along a large stream to the next shelter, Johns Hollow, only 1.7 miles away, and stopped to read the register. The next mountain, Bluff Mt., requires a 2350 ft. climb, so I was not anxious to begin. It turned out to be not so bad as the trail was nicely switchbacked. At the top is a stone plaque memorial for a little boy, Ottie Powell, whose body was found there after he wandered away from a school 7 miles away in November, 1890. He was not found until April 1891, when a deer hunter happened upon him. There are tiny toys and coins people have left on the memorial.I stopped at Punchbowl shelter at 3:30 but it was empty. After waiting an hour, I decided to hike down another 4 miles to Little Irish Creek. A couple of section hikers going south had told me there would be trail magic there. I like camping where there are other people around as I enjoy meeting people. I knew there would also be cold drinks and food there, so the decision was easy. I did the 4 miles in 1-1/2 hours but got a heel blister from walking fast.I found a couple at Irish Creek with a complete kitchen set up waiting to feed hikers. They were Renegade and Tomboy from Radford, Virginia. They have been feeding hikers for one week there every year for the past 20 years. They are a wonderful couple and much appreciated by hikers. This location is close to Punchbowl shelter where they honeymooned. They served us cold sodas and grilled smoked sausage that night and a great breakfast of pancakes and eggs and cereal in the morning. There were 5 other hikers there. They said that the number of hikers this year was way down from past years.      I set up my tent and slept soundly next to a rushing stream that I enjoyed as background music all night.
Date: 2004-06-09
From: Little Irish Creek

To: Hog Camp Gap
Miles today: 12.8
Weather: few clouds

Trail Day 79 - A swinging campAfter a delicious breakfast, I hiked about 5 miles to Brown Mt. Creek shelter. The trail was along a stream, so there was not a lot of climbing. I was assaulted by kamikaze buzzing flies, that flew around my head most persistently. Usually I can swing a bandana around my head and the flies go away, but not this time. I had to actually swat them in flight with my hand before they would depart. I stopped to read an exhibit about a black community that existed along the creek in the early 1900's but the flies chased me away. From the shelter there is a 600 ft. climb to a highway, then another 600 ft. climb to a forest road, and then a 1400 ft. climb to Bald Knob: a total ascent of 2600 ft. This trail was very steep and not switchbacked. Sundown and Augie, two young women, hiked on ahead of me. I passed them on top as they sunbathed on rocks. There were no views or balds on top, so I hiked on to the next mountain, Cold Mt., which was reached after a 700 ft. descent to a shelter and then a 700 ft. ascent. The summit of Cold Mt. was a spacious bald with great views all around. "No camping" signs were posted, so I hiked into the woods down to a forest road and a pasture on the other side. A campsite held a fire ring and two wooden swings hanging from trees. I tried out the swings, which made me laugh with joy. I walked down to the spring and found a cistern with the clearest water I have ever seen. Augie, Sundown, Shepherd and Enigma also camped there. I told everyone they would have to swing high enough to touch the tree limb with a foot, so they all did and laughed with the thrill of swinging just as I did.
Date: 2004-06-10
From: Hog Camp Gap

To: Dutch Haus B&B
Miles today: 10.0

Trail Day 80 - Dutch Haus B&BShepherd was up at 5:30, so I got up at 6:00 and was out on the trail at 7:15. We all wanted to do the 10 miles to Fish Hatchery Road by 11:30 so we could get picked up by Dutch Haus B&B for lunch. There is another mile to walk off the trail down a steep gravel road to get to the pick up point. I hiked all the way without resting. Fortunately the trail was content to course along the mountainside instead of the usual up and over routine. It was a good thing because I felt tired and it was all could handle this morning. Augie and Sundown were still waiting for a ride at the parking lot when I arrived. Earl picked us up and brought us to the B&B for lunch. The Dutch Haus is an immaculate 2-story log house on a hill just outside Montebello. We smelly, dirty hikers paused inside the beautifully furnished back porch dining room hesitant to touch anything. Lois quickly made us feel at home, served lemonade and showed us the bathrooms and bedrooms. We eagerly gobbled down a delicious lunch of chicken salad sandwiches, tacos and burritos. Shepherd was already there in a plush terry bathrobe waiting for his clothes to be washed. I was assigned a bedroom and bathroom to myself for the moment but would have to share it with another male hiker if one showed. Fortunately for me nobody else came in. I spent the rest of the day relaxing, conversing and catching up on my journal. I love staying in lodging away from town where all of a hiker's needs are provided and one can spend the day relaxing in a comfortable home in the country instead of having to run around town getting things done. That is the case with Dutch Haus. I was to have a delightful visit here in congenial company.
Date: 2004-06-11
From: Dutch Haus B&B

To: Dutch Haus B&B
Miles today: 0.0

Trail Day 81 - Zero at Dutch Haus B&BAfter a delicious breakfast, everyone was shuttled back to the trail. I stayed to enjoy a perfect rest at the B&B. I worked on my journal, resupplied at the nearby camp store, and finished reading Edward Abbey's book, Beyond the Wall. I loved reading the Abbey book. I feel he is a kindred spirit with his love of hiking and exploring the land. He presents a very convincing argument for wilderness preservation when he describes Glen Canyon as it existed before and after the dam was built that created Lake Powell. The plants and animals and their habitat were destroyed; recreation was reduced to boating in a dead, bathtub reservoir. Now the colored rock walls look pretty, but nothing can live there. When rivers are drowned and canyons die, or when we do not go outside to look at the stars or listen to the wind, we lose our connection with the earth and with God, who lives and breathes in nature. God speaks with us in the beauty and power and variety of creation, but one cannot feel that when one is isolated in a car or house. We are more comfortable inside our boxes, but we forget who we are; and we don't even have time to think about that with all the busy and noisy distractions of modern life.I now have a poncho/tarp combo that my wife mailed me. The tarp could be useful as a shelter if I am caught in a storm, or I may use it as a poncho. I sent my rain pants home as I was only using them for warmth on cold windy days, now gone with the advent of summer.New hikers came in from the trail: A-dog, Chef Ra, Roadrunner and Sarge. I have mentioned Sarge before now. He is not a thruhiker. He comes out every year to hike sections, shuttle hikers, and socialize with the trail community. He told me he plans to rent a house in Bedford, VA and this would be his last year traveling to the AT from Texas or New Orleans. In his 60's now, it is time for this old wanderer to settle down in the place that he loves.
Date: 2004-06-12
From: Dutch Haus B&B

To: Rusty's Hard Times Hollow
Miles today: 18.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Trail Day 82 - A hard day's hike.daily miles 18.2 on AT + 2.5 on dirt road and parkway.Got a ride close to the trail after another great breakfast. The truck spooked a big hoot owl in the woods by the road. As we jumped out of the truck, Publix walked down the gravel road to catch a ride to the B&B - talk about good timing! The trail was enveloped in cloud, so I did not take the side trail to Spy Rock. I passed many viewpoints but it was too cloudy for views. The trail climbed 600 ft. to Main Top Mt., descended 700 ft. to a forest road and then climbed 700 ft. to the Priest summit. I bypassed the Priest shelter as I wanted to do a lot of miles to make up for my zero day at the B&B. I felt pretty strong. A line of 15 teenage boys passed me hiking south. They were from the Discovery School in Virginia. I told the boy in front that he looked half dead and encouraged him by saying he could make it. He asked how far to the top. I replied as I walked on, "You don't need to know that. Just keep walking and you'll get there." Another boy remarked, "Right answer". Apparently the leaders were putting the slowest boy in front, a good practice for teamwork, but trying on the patience of those behind. Finally as I descended to the Tye River there was a partial view. I stopped at the Tye River bridge for lunch. I was facing a 3000 ft. climb to Three Rivers summit before Maupin Field shelter where I planned to stay the night. The climb was very slow and tough with a lot of rocks to negotiate. I tired before the top and stopped to enjoy a view before reaching Chimney Rocks. The last 1000 ft. took it all out of me and I had to rest frequently. Gladly I descended on an easier trail to the shelter. I found a dark, buggy and dirty little shelter that was empty at 6:30 pm. I was not inspired to stay. Hiker comments in the register said: Get off your butt and go another 2.5 miles to Rusty's Hard Time Hollow. No reasons were given other than Rusty needs the support from hikers. I had to find out what led these hikers to be so supportive of Rusty, so even though it was late and I had already hiked a hard day, I walked down the dirt road to find Rusty's Hard Time Hollow, another hour away. I would not regret it.
Date: 2004-06-14
From: Rusty's Hard Times Hollow

To: Paul Wolfe Shelter
Miles today: 16.1
Weather: light rain

Trail Day 84 - Purist or flip-flop?daily miles 16.1 on AT, 1.3 on dirt road.Rusty drove me back to the dirt access road to the shelter. Sundown and Augie were going to slackpack south from Rockfish Gap to Rusty's, so we would pass each other during the day. I did meet them about halfway at Humpback Mt. I met only a few day and section hikers along the way. I was tired today and walked slowly. Fortunately the longest climb was only 750 ft. But there was a difficult section where the trail was very rocky for at least 2 miles. There were some excellent views of the valley and adjacent ridges. For the first time I could look north to the Shenandoahs. They look a lot tamer than anything we have traversed since Mt. Springer. Thank goodness, I am ready for tame hills at this point.Rounding a switchback, I saw a deer in the trail and froze while it tried to figure out what I was. After eyeing me for a full minute, it jumped away into the woods. Not much else to note. I did not start out until 11 am, so got to the shelter at 6:30. Publix was there reading his heavy Don Quixote book. He said he was halfway through it. He was used to the romantic language phrasing by now. His parents would meet him tomorrow at the Gap and he would go to Maine with them on vacation. Then he would flip-flop south from Mt. Katahdin and end his hike at Waynesboro, closer to his home in Florida. He would also be able to meet all of the northbounders still on the trail. On the minus side, he will have to endure the terrible blackfly season in Maine. Three hikers from New England (C.B., Fly and Froggy Pete) were giving him advice.I am so far a purist but will consider a flip-flop myself if I am too slow to get to Katahdin by mid-September. My definition of purist is walking with backpack all the way in one direction. I doubt that I will slackpack, but things can change. A flip-flop might be more interesting to me since I am not walking with a group anyway. Another advantage is that it avoids the logistical problem of being in a crowd waiting to summit at the end. Undoubtedly, there is an emotional high with a Katahdin ending that one would not have with, for example, a Waynesboro ending. But it is still a thruhike and Katahdin is still climbed. I can probably do fine without the drama. It would be nice to meet all of the northbounders. We'll see how it goes. I will hike three weeks with my son, Michael, in June and July before deciding whether to flip to Katahdin.
Date: 2004-06-15
From: Paul Wolfe Shelter

To: Quality Inn, Waynesboro
Miles today: 5.0

Trail Day 85 - The Waynesboro trudge.daily miles 5.0 on AT.I woke up this morning in the shelter to the flute-like sound of a bird singing. This sound is so pure and plaintive, it could be from a Mozart symphony. I asked, Does anybody know what bird is making that call? C.B. answered, A wood thrush - we had them all around a summer camp in Maine. I think you have to get out into the woods to hear this remarkable bird. I have never heard it before. I am glad someone could identify it for me.Still tired this morning, I hiked the 5 miles to Rockfish Gap. Somehow it seemed all uphill even though there is a loss of elevation of 800 ft. I don't know how the AT does this, but it always seems to go uphill more than down. The woods were humid and dark and smelled of decay. Or maybe that was just my own smell, hard to tell. My glasses fog constantly in this weather, so I have to repeatedly wipe them with a hankerchief. It's a bother and scratches them up. I burst out into the sunlight of the highway at the gap and found the Visitor's Center. A car pulled up to pick up the 3 New Englanders and I hopped in. Good timing. To the Quality Inn, Walter!It is always good to get to a motel and soak in a hot bath. I do confess I brunched on the motel's continental breakfast before doing so. Smell be damned, I'm hungry! After clean-up and post office pick-up comes laundromat and lunch: a countryfied meal of meat loaf and gravy at Weasie's Kitchen with blackberry cobbler and softserve ice cream for dessert. You would think I might gain a few pounds with all this eating, but no, I'm still a slight 165 lbs. Froggy Pete said that he had to quit the trail in 2002 in New York because he lost too much weight and got so weak he could not lift his pack. I'm trying to avoid that. Last year he did the whole trail. This year he is back because he had such a good time with other hikers last year. He says he has been lonely since his wife died 3 years ago. What a price to pay for companionship! There are many stories in the naked city and along the AT too!I watched the NBA championship game in the evening in my room, but it was no fun - too lopsided. I failed to work on my journal or read my new book (The Killer Angels) so I would have to stay another day. I was already 3 days behind in journaling. This writing takes a lot of time, folks! Please email your feedback to hitrailer@pocketmail.com! Thank you.
Date: 2004-06-16
From: Quality Inn, Waynesboro

To: Quality Inn, Waynesboro
Miles today: 0.0

Trail Day 86- Zero day in Waynesborodaily miles 0.0 on ATI intended to go back on the trail today but decided to stay at the motel to catch up on my journal (3 days behind) and rest. I worked on the journal all morning and took a break at lunch to eat at a Chinese buffet restaurant (cheap and excellent). I was glad I stayed. My energy was recharged and homework was done. I saw ATK and Ms. Daisy, Sunshine, Whiskey, and Flatbed (formerly No Name). He is Flatbed because his Thermarest has gone flat 3 times. Sunshine is now hiking with his sister.
Date: 2004-06-17
From: Quality Inn, Waynesboro

To: Campsite 1 mile N of Turk's Gap
Miles today: 12.4

Trail Day 87 - Into the Shenandoahsdaily miles 12.4 on ATGot a ride to the trail with Skirt's mom, who was hiking for a few days with her daughter and Dingle. Dingle made my day by telling me that his mom really enjoys reading my journal. I lingered in the Visitor's Center at Rockfish Gap and picked up a brochure on Shenandoah Valley Civil War battles. I am not a Civil War buff, but I borrowed a book on the battle of Gettysburg from Rusty's and the AT goes right by Gettysburg so I may go take a look at it as I pass by there. Am also considering going to the July 4th celebration in D.C. My son will be hiking with me then.The day was so hot and humid that I felt I was back in Florida. Though the terrain was not difficult, I sweat buckets. The heat finally gave way to a thunderstorm. I did not stop at the first shelter because it was only 7 miles from the Gap, but it was 13 miles farther to the next shelter - too far for one day. I looked for a campsite, but nothing looked promising. Open fires are not allowed in the Shenandoahs and campsites are hard to find. Water is also not available as the trail follows a ridge. I hiked 12 miles from Rockfish Gap without seeing a single campsite, very unusual along the AT. Eventually I did find a good one on top of a hill with a grassy area that was big enough for one tent. A mature deer stopped to look at me as I made camp. This would be my 2nd night tenting alone on a mountain on the AT. No fire this time, but the night was breezy and clear. I slept well.