morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-05-02
From: Lamberts meadow shelter

To: Troutville
Miles today: 232.0

I decided against staying another day. Just a waste of money. Plus the only decent weather is the 3rd and 4th, then more rain. The outfitter here was good. Replaced my tips and got a few other things I needed. Heavy pack tommorow, 7 days worth of food. Like always I'll eat the heaviest stuff first. No deer to add to the count, but I did see a big fat rabbit. Keeping track of the miles..Later,Raisin
Date: 2005-05-04
To: Cornelius Shelter
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: broken clouds

Forgot to write yesterday. Nothing big happened, but nothing usually does. I saw a snake and alot of cows. One of the nice things about Virginia is the walks are very different from day to day. The section I'm in know, I cross over the Blue Ridge Parkway a bunch of times. Sometimes I'm above the parkway sometimes below. The shelter I'm at tonight I can hear the cars going buy. I saw the nicest shelter I have seen so far, Bryants Ridge. It had skylights a second level, a little more architecture than just being a square. I could would be happy closing off the open wall, bring in a wood stove and start moving my stuff in. But the ATC probably wouldn't like that. I'm staying with the same person as last night(Eveready). A section hiker, like alot of hikers, semi retired and very easy going. Looks like our plans for tommorow are going to match up again. I can't wait till I eat some more of this weight off my back. The other thing thats bothering me is the callus on my right foot. It feels like I have a penny under my big toe, but there isn't one, I checked.
Date: 2005-05-05
From: Cornelius Shelter

To: matts creek shelter
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: broken clouds

I always think of stuff to write while I'm walking but when it is time to write, it's like trying to recall a dream. I have been dreaming my day away lately. Thinking of what I may do when I get done with the trail, or about things that make me happy. I have stange memories that I relate with being happy. Not things that I would have picked out, given a concious choice. The walking has been very easy. Mainly because the trail is smooth, for the most part. Today I started after 9:00 and finished at 16:30. That makes for a nice day. I need to do some reading so I can finish the book I have, and start on the pounder that Raisin sent me.
Date: 2005-05-06
From: matts creek shelter

To: Brown mountain creek shelter
Miles today: 22.0
Weather: overcast clouds

A great day. I got to the shelter by 17:00. I got up earlier than I wanted. Some hikers going south came in at night making alot of noise and did the same in the morning. But it turned out to be a good thing because I got a good ways, and right before I got to the sheltetr I ran into Flash and Hot Flash. We talked for about 15min and they were kind enough to give me 4 tuna fish sandwiches and an ice cold Dr.Pepper. They told me about Mountain Man and Mountain Dew, who are just ahead of me. I have heard alot about this guy and his daughter, even before I came on the trail. They started in Feb. The daughter is thirteen and many people are concerned for her. I will meet them tommorow. I guess the father dosen't come off as being the sharpest knife in the drawer. All the entries I have seen lately for them have a swastika on one side and a the buddhist version on the other side. It looks like a childs writing. I guess the guy has been getting hassled from the get go. Being taken into custody at least once already. I'll get to meet them tommorow. I hope it's just people worrying too much, and he's just different. Ohh and it was Hot Flashes B-day and she left an entire(small)cake at the shelter. I left half for Everyready. I hope he gets here before anyone else does.
Date: 2005-05-07
From: Brown mountain creek shelter

To: Priest
Miles today: 22.7
Weather: clear sky

I knew I would have to pay for having such a nice day yesterday. Today sucked. I could write 4 pages worth of annoying things that happened to me. But I don't have time for that. I will tell you about the Mexican assault on the Appalachians. I stopped to call a B&B I was planning on staying at. With the way things were going today I figured they wouldn't answer and they didn't. Meanwhile Mexicans are slowly coming up a jeep road and turning on to the AT. At least some were. A few tried to go past the AT, but I figured they missed the turn and told them so. After some vigarous pointing and hand gestures they figured it out. So I figure it must just be a large family out for the day. As you can probably guess they weren't up on their trail ediquite, so I had to scurry around them when possible. Once I got to the top I realized it was not a small family but an entire bus full. So if you can't do the math about 100. Either the trail was poorly marked or I didn't see the blaze because of the camotion but I went in the same direction everyone else was going. I'm looking for a blaze while the younger guys are trying to figure out what this stinky white bearded guy is doing. I backtracked a little and found were I had got of track and got out of the madness and headed north. Afetr I hd gone about a mile, I ran into some more Mexicans. I figured this was not a coincidence and asked them if they were part of the other group. It took some time to get the communication sorted out but I got them headed back in the right direction. I don't know who's idea it was to send 100 mexcans into the mountains, but it was a bad one. There was a chance of thunder storms tonight as well. The forest service guys will probably be out looking for some of them tommorow. But I still manged to do 22.7mi. Vio con dios. (P.S. I figure my spanish spelling is just as bad as my english.)
Date: 2005-05-09
From: maupin field shelter

To: Wolfe Shelter
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: clear sky

The walk today was nice. Just walked a leisurely pace. Stopped to cook lunch by the BRP. Watched the Motorcycles go buy and lay in the sun as my food was cooking. Talked to Raisin for a little and asked if she could reserve a room for me. It was a good thing I did because there were only two rooms left. Miscalculated my food, because all I have left was some breakfast stuff. Definetly not enough to keep me happy. The hiker at this shelter smokes so I quenched my hunger with a couple smoky treats. Not going to start with the nicotine again, just a good way to curve the desire for food. At least I'll be out of here quick in the morning and get to the good stuff. I got a list of some trail angels that will come give you a ride into town.
Date: 2005-05-10
From: Wolfe Shelter

To: Waynesboro
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: clear sky

I'm waiting for the P.O. to open so I can get my bounce box. I did my 5mi pretty fast. Its now my second day in Wayensboro. I didn't leave because I have been way to busy watching TV. It's also going to work out better for meeting Raisin in Harpers Ferry. I will take about 6 days to get through the Shenandoahs but I only need to bring about 3 days worth of food because this is powder puff section. It parellels the skyline parkway and there are about three places to stop and get short order and store food. I have been enjoying my day off. I layed out in the park and read my book. Still have to find a ride back to the trail tommorow. Now that it is so nice out, It's not going to be hard to leave town.
Date: 2005-05-12
From: Waynesboro

To: camp ground
Miles today: 22.0

Well thanks to the combanation of Wingnuts book and PATC's lack of signs I walked alot further than intended today(22mi). The walking was very easy just as I had heard, and hoped. I can tell I'm in a park again because all the animals are very unafraid of humans. I gat to add 3 more dear to the count and my first turkey siteing. I also got my first picture of a dear. This one was very tame. I just had some Candians stop buy to use the campground bathroom. I talked with one of them and bummed a smoke. As I said before I don't think smoking is good but it was usefull in masking my smell and keeping the bugs away for a short while, plus I enjoyed it. I did see another thru hiker today(the apalachian snail). The last time I had seen him was when he was apart of "Team Fantastic" before the NOC in NC. I need to make a correction in my milage today. It should now be 22.3. I was busted by the park ranger for camping in the group camping area, reservation only. I guess it didn't matt! er that I was the only person there. I had a feeling that might happen. No biggie, I was set up in my new spot in less than thirty minutes. Plus there are no bugs here and I get to add three more dear to the count. One of the dear was realy braizen. I tried calling here over like a horse and she stopped lifted up her hears and ran over to within 30ft of me. She sniffed a few times, to see if I had anything for her and then caught back up with the other two that walked through the campground. Ohh the park ranger checked to see if I had my registration. After he looked at it he asked me what my name was again to see if I would screw it up. Made me chuckle a little(but not right then).
Date: 2005-05-14
From: camp ground

To: milam gap spring
Miles today: 18.7

I some how managed to do 19mi today. I walked with two people I hadn't met before, and they were flying. We were BSing as we walked and time just flew buy. Got to a camp ground, and more importantly camp store at 13:00. Split a six pack and scarfed as much food as I could and bought more junk for dinner. Was a nice day for NPR and seeing the storm coming got set up just in time to beat the rain. Yesterday was just one of those days were your not happy and you can't realy put your finger on what it is. When I got to the shelter it was a bunch of old hikers that know everything about everything not what I was hopeing for. My spot tonight is pretty nice. An area with sparse trees with grass growing amongst them, next to a spring. I can hear skyline drive, but I don't mind that to much. It near imposible to be somewhere in this park were you couldn't hear a Harley go bye. 2 deer
Date: 2005-05-15
From: milam gap spring

To: past mtn hut
Miles today: 20.5

This park is definatly the place to come if you want to see nature, but without having to actualy go into it. I didn't have to cook anything again today. Had my first ever batch of BUCKWHEAT pancakes for breakfast. Stopped at another lodge for lunch, and also ordered food for diner. It wasn't cheap but it was good. Once again I'm amazed that I managed to do 20mi after all the time I spent eating. I dosen't seem to matter how much I eat. I still can't put any weight on. I still feel good though.
Date: 2005-05-16
From: past mtn hut

To: manassas gap shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Today is the morning of the 18th. The last two days have been late ones, and I didn't write. I saw a bear on both days. On the 17th I made a bad assumption, and went the wrong way out of the shelter. But while I was walking the wrong way I walked to within 50 ft of a Big black bear. I went straight for my camera. I had my fingers on it when he looked up at me. For something that big it can move pretty fast. It broke what sounded like a big branch as it was fleeing. I guess the bear knew who's king of the forest. The next day I saw a smaller bear running away. I told Raisin about the siteings. She didn't sound to happy that there were bears this close to were I would be meating her. It's after nine so I should better get going. Ohh I forgot to mention I saw 2 deer the 15th and 6 deer the 16th. Still no bucks.
Date: 2005-05-18
From: manassas gap shelter

To: sam moore shelter
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: broken clouds

Not much going on today. The terrain started out fairly uneventful but at the end of the day became much more interesting. The section I walked at the end of the day has been dubbed the roller coaster. I wrote in the register that as far as roller coasters go this on sucked. It never went faster than 3mph, and was way to long and boreing. Plus when your done you can't even get a funnel cake. The other thing that sucked was because I was going up and down all day I couldn't get my daily dose of "All Things Considered" on NPR. But tommorow will be the end of another state on my treck to Maine.
Date: 2005-05-19
From: sam moore shelter

To: David Lesser Memorial Shelter
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Entry from Raisin: This was the day I finally got to do a little hiking to meet with Buckwheat on the trail. I left at 5:30 am, drove 7hours, (traffic around the d.c area)finally making it to keys gap to park and start hiking. (the drive home was much quicker since I knew where I was going) So I get out of my car ready to go, and I come to my first decision about 10 feet ahead, do I go left or right? Which way is North? So the pack comes off, couldn't reach the map, grab the compass, put the pack back on and finally after about 10 minutes I take a chance and decide to go right. Now I have to let you know that I don't have much solo or for that matter very little hiking experience so until I arrived at the destination (David lesser memorial shelter) I was walking with a ton of anxiety. (mostly steming from the drive and getting started) I laugh at myself when I'm out there, cause I really enjoy hiking, its such a pieceful and enjoyable feeling, but I just don't care for the buzzing things, the cobwebs, or anything brushing my skin of I didn't see it comming. Go ahead and laugh, I do you would think I'm out there walking on eggshells, the careful path I take, whether to save me from falling or walking into green worms that hang in midair in the middle of the trail. (which by the way almost had one for a snack) Well you get the picture. So I got to the shelter, which is very nice, it is in Boyscout territory. I met some leader that was touring two people around. He said that they were going to make some more tent sites available some time in the summer. Anyway it was very clean and has a nice deck with a long wrap around bench, which was a great napping area I took use of while waiting for Buckwheat. I would have kept walking toward him but I said Nahhhh! After the long drive and my 1.7mph pace I decided to sleep.    Buckwheat comes YEAHHHH! we had fun I got to use all my gear (stove, sleeping bag, etc.) And we pretty much had the place to ourselves. We did get to eat with Cotton, he's also from North Carolina, he seems to be enjoying himself on his thru hike. He didn't stay though, he camped somewhere ahead toward keys gap. I hope he didn't get too wet, cause it rained all night and through morning when we hiked back to my car. Which by the way was a much faster walk considering Buckwheat was now the pace setter. So we made it back to my car and off to Buckwheat's mom we go!!!Raisin
Date: 2005-05-20
From: David Lesser Memorial Shelter

To: keys gap
Miles today: 3.0

Entry from Raisin:   We spent a couple of days in manassas at Buckwheat's mom. We had a very nice time, I love going there, everything is always so cozy. We also went and saw the final episode of star wars as well as the kingdom of heaven. But then it was time to go. So we left for Harper's Ferry and spent a couple of days there. We weren't planning on it but each day came by and Buckwheat and I said "just take another day" I didn't have to get back to work just yet, and we considered this to be Buckwheat's halfway break.And then it was time to part. Buckwheat went on trailing North from harper's ferry and I headed back South by road. A message for Buckwheat's mom: I hope your back is feeling better, twirl those curls , and thank you very much for your thoughtfulness. Buckwheat and I got an A.T. strip map for you and Bobby and I will send it within a couple of days. I'm also going to upload the pictures in a day or two. Hope you have a good memorial weekend and I'll keep things posted. Raisin
Date: 2005-05-25
From: harper's ferry

To: Dahlgren Campground
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: light rain

I'm back in the woods after 5 zero days. They weren't all zero days. I stopped 7mi short of Harpers Ferry when I met Raisin. The plan was to do the seven miles the next day but I kept putting it off, like I kept putting off going back on the trail. I did the seven miles on the third day and Raisin hiked some of them with me. We stopped into the ATC headquarters, they got my picture and I finally became a member of the ATC. We also walked around Harpers Ferry a little. I had a great time. I visited with my Mom and Bobby which I hadn't seen in a long time. It was a pleasant stay as always. My Mom is always such a selfless host. Me and Raisin saw about every movie out(at least the good ones). I actually put on a decent amount of weight this time. I did alot of the gear maintanance and other stuff that needed to be done. My ankle is not doing so good. I had to limp every day I was off the trail. After a 1/2mi it was okay to walk on like always, but the things that give me pain happen alot more often now. It was fractionaly better by the last day. Luckily I'm as my dad says, "harder than woodpecker lips". I did 17mi today, and plan on 18 tommorow. I found out today that someone who was in my platoon in the 82nd is out here thru hiking as well. He is just behind me somewhere and will also be meeting another good friend of mine in PA. It would be really cool to get to walk with both of them. Going to start my new book tonight,"The Island".
Date: 2005-05-26
From: Dahlgren Campground

To: 16.5 past dahlgren
Miles today: 16.5

I only did 16.5mi today. The shelter I planned on has a water suply that is .3mi away from the shelter. I'm way to lazy to walk that far. This section is very populated. There is stuff all around. I walk right next to houses, roads, powerlines and other stuff. You can tell their are people out for walks that probably just left their house. Tommorow I will leave behind two more states, and start into PA. I will be having italian for lunch tommorow. I found another place that will deliver to a park at the PA-MD border. I just talked wth Raisin and she promised to put some pictures on my journal. I was shocked to find out that there were none on there this whole time. BAD RAISIN! 1 Deer today. I guess there are no deer in WV. Unless the deer I saw was from WV and it was just visiting MD. When I left Harpers Ferry I did see a bunch of geese with their babys on the trail. I got pictures but you probably won't see them until another three months. note from Raisin: I finally put up some pictures from the first part of his trip, some more will come soon. I should have the others up within the week. Have a nice day!!!!!!!!!!!!
Date: 2005-05-27
From: 16.5 past dahlgren

To: tumbling run shelter
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I crossed the Mason Dixon line.PA didn't make a very good first impresion. The first road crossing I came to there was trash everywere, and a dead deer on the side of the road. I'm still counting the deer in my total. But it has gotten better.I saw my first owl, it was a big sucker too. I have heard there are lots of snakes in this area and I beleive it. I probably saw about 50 chipmunks today, so I know there is tons for snakes and owls to eat. The chipmunks are funny to watch. They are the most frantic little creatures I have ever seen. They always do something different. Some will instantly dive under the leaves, some run as far as they can, while others stand there ground and chirp until your gone. I only did 16mi today. I strained some muscles in my hip flexors and it was uncomfortable to walk. And strangley my ankle has never felt better, probably because I was going so slow. I'm staying in the campsites near some shelters. Their are two heer. One is for non-snorers. T! hey would still be too close together if my dad was out here. I have heard some loud snorers but nobody with the decibels he has. One of many reasons not to sleep in shelters. I have more time tonight because I don't have to cook thanks to the giant sub I humped out here from Pen-Mar park. The park was very pretty. I talked to some of the guys who were doing maintanance, getting it ready for a wedding and Memorial Day. I'm walkin through another park tommorow. I hope to get some free chow from picknickers. Maybee I'll try the Disabled Vet angle, now that I'm officialy 20% disabled. USA Jobs here I come.
Date: 2005-05-28
From: tumbling run shelter

To: birch run shelter
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: light rain

I Did 19.6mi today. It's was pretty easy walking. I didn't need to stop at the park because I found some trail magic. They had everything packaged for each person. A coke and some goodies. It was raining when I got to the park so there weren't alot picknickers. Tons of campers out. There are about 18 people camping around the shelter I'm at now. 8 of them are highschool kids that brought out tons of stuff including a huge cooler. I wonder what's in it. I'm glad I have ear plugs. Tommorow is icecream day. The half gallon challenge. I heard that you get a wooden spoon when you complete it. I thought it would be something cool, but I found out that it's only one of those crapy flat little wooden spoons like you get in a icecream cup.
Date: 2005-05-29
From: birch run shelter

To: James frye shelter
Miles today: 17.1

The morning was slightly comical. While we were eating breakfast we watched the chipmunks make multiple runs into the highschoolers campsite, bringing out gram crackers and other food they had left out. When I was leaving I could hear them getting up and bottles rolling around as they moved. I met up with snail on the walk into Pine Grove park. We decided to go spliters on the ice cream. We decided to get cookies and cream and peanut butter swirl. I wanted to quite but snail wouldn't let me. We finished it, but the peanut butter swirl turned out to be a bad choice. It was like trying to eat clay. The spoon wasn't totaly lame, they at least had them stamped with "Half Gallon Challenge". I found the room to eat a cheesburger and have a srite. I ordered a sub to go and was on my way. There were tons of people at the park. There was a pretty good vollyball game going and I wanted to play but I still had seven miles to go so I got to it. Good day overall. I did 17mi, the challeng! e, and got my picture at the official halfway point. Only 1062 miles to go.
Date: 2005-05-30
From: James frye shelter

To: boiling springs
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: broken clouds

I only did 13 today because of a 14mi stretch past Boiling Springs were there is no camping. Tommorow I cross 16 roads in 14mi. The B&B in town that allows camping in the back yard wasn't open. There wasn't a chance I was going to walk backwards to the campsite before town so I'm stealth camping, just outside of town. I was walking with snail again most of the day. We were trying to figure out the worlds mysteries. Not to sure if we sorted anything out, but it's fun trying. We walked trough some interesting rock areas. Weaving in and out of huge boulders. You could see the chalk marks were people climb them. Someone had a huge fire going amongst the rocks and just left it. Had a late lunch of my favorite convintstore food and then ate dinner at an italian place for dinner. Snail has to get to the P.O. tommorow and resuplly at the grocerie store so tommorow I'll be walkin alone again.