morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-06-08
From: Waynesboro

To: Waynesboro
Miles today: 0.0

6.8.13 - day 69Waynesboro, VA Zero dayWe collectively decided to take another zero day here in Waynesboro, VA. It was not an easy decision to make, the natural inclination is to keep on hiking so the miles increase & time is not 'wasted', however sometimes you need to invest in more rest in the hope the following days and longer term you will be more nourished/healed/stronger etc. Morning storm passes, sun comes out. Green Blaze, River Song & some others are also in town. Went to Kroger to pick up food & beers for picnic lunch with PL & RR. had Duck Rabbit brown ale & Foothills Brewery Peoples Porter. Watch sports center, update blog, read book, nap. Dinner at Green Leaf at my insistence since the first visit was excellent. Got the half pound Angus burger with gouda, sweet potato fries, side salad & fried green tomatoes, also Star Hills Grateful Pale Ale, gotta go with the local flavors when I can. Back to hotel, would love to watch Blackhawks Kings game@ the Heritage bar, but need to sleep early so will watch in room. Just want to say thank you to all those following my blog. Whether you are researching for next year, met me on the trail, reliving a past thru hike, learning about the hiking life/culture or for entertainment, I appreciate you stopping by & leaving messages. The purpose of this blog was to document my journey on the trail. If there are any questions you have about any aspect of the trail or want me to write about a certain topic or if there are corrections or further explanations on anything I already wrote, please feel free to leave me a message in my guest book. Alot more people than I expected have read my blog. I appreciate you taking the time to read them & hope you find what you are seeking. So many have helped & supported me along the way already, I hope what I write helps you in some way too. The journey has been very exciting for me so far. Looking forward to Shenandoah, Harpers Ferry, WV, MD, Penn., halfway point and later side trip to Cherry Hill, NJ. I'll do my best to stay safe, healthy, & motivated, hope you can follow our thru hike.
Date: 2013-06-09
From: rockfish gap

To: Blackrock hut
Miles today: 20.5
Weather: light rain

6.9.13 - day 70Rockfish Gap - Blackrock hut20.5 miles - 11 hoursCongrats to the Chicago Blackhawks on making it to Stanley Cup Finals!!! Great win last night, I'm cheering them on from here! -Entered Shenandoah national park, got ride from trail angel Jim Wilson aka Mr. Gizmo-Trail magic left by Bill Gallagher before Skyline drive road crossing, we rest & look @ book just after crossing, Bill & family pull into parking lot & chat a while. Cool local dude, even wearing Waynesboro tshirt.Hike up brand new section of the AT, many years in the making, finally got approval to open, so we are the first year to hike this section. best display of mountain laurels so far. Very vibrant & plentiful, pink & white variety. - ticks everywhere, everyone including me has found or removed at least one. Gotta be vigilant, need to check especially for small ones. Get someone to check your back, especially between shoulders where you cannot reach. Amazing how they can crawl up and attach without you even knowing.- we get rained on again, strong one hour shower, put on rain gear, socks boots get wet. Ironic how in this temperature, rain gear designed to keep you dry will trap in the heat and get you sweaty and wet on the inside anyway. Sun comes out, we rest @ Turk gap parking lot, remove wet gear & lay on hot asphalt or hang on trekking poles. We also lay down shirtless on asphalt like sunbathing @ beach. Pretty humorous / sad sight to see haha. Side show is there along with family & dog we hiked in rain with 3 days ago. day hikers from St Louis stop & chat & give us bananas.- trail magic from Santa's Helper: sodas & all sorts of little Debbie snacks. minivan with goodies in open trunk, blasting Elvis, Johnny cash, & fun oldies tunes on speakers. Old skinny dude with long white beard, glasses & Santa hat, no joke! Also shuttles hikers around Waynesboro & helps@ church hostel.-new species of fern in this area!Cross paths with clean shaven and army haircut Blitz in forest, we hike along & see deer on path eating leaves, we get as close as 15 feet or so while taking pics. It doesn't care about us, keeps on eating, very accustomed to people, no fear. We go past, it moves about 5 feet over, continues eating. Strange behavior to see when you are used to seeing them run away even when far away.- full Blackrock hut, setup@ furthest camping spot, rains after dinner, hope it stops by morning.
Date: 2013-06-10
From: Blackrock hut

To: pine field hut
Miles today: 13.2

6.10.13 - day 71Blackrock hut - Pine field hut13.2 miles - 8 hoursRain, thunder & lightning just before midnight, continues on much of night. Woke up to a lull around 6am, used privy, took down food bag from bear pole then rain started up again heavy. Packed bag & ate pop tart, zone bar in tent waiting for a break, take down & pack wet tent, lots of water in tent bag, pretty heavy. Waited in shelter with RR, PL, Mammoth, Blitz, Side show & Sweet T for rain to slow, only increases. Thomas is there too, he is a section hiker, just started here, he will be going until Delaware Water Gap. Finally @ 10:45am we go as it has slowed significantly only to start up again 30 minutes later. On the trail is a feathered hat, obviously belonging to Sideshow who left 20 minutes earlier. I put it on, will return it when I catch up. Must have gotten knocked off by all the low hanging wet branches we need to duck under. On we go up to summit of boulder piles & past overlooks covered with fog. Rain finally breaks as we approach Loft Mountain Wayside for lunch. Change out of all wet gear and hang tents, clothes, packs etc on porch to dry. Blitz & Sweet T arrive & do the same. A ranger is inside the restaurant teaching kids about importance of hanging bear bags and packing out garbage. Cheeseburger, fries & Dr Pepper, yum! With late start we opt for shorter day to allow gear to dry here for almost 2 hours. Off we go to the shelter, after 20 minutes it starts to rain!! Jeez, dry socks now wet again. Rains until we are half mile from destination. Crossover stream to Pine field hut, Hugs, Shady, Twigs & gang in hut so we set up tents up the hill. mashed potatoes, salmon pack & pepperoni dinner. Trade stories during dinner. Someone said if you smell a lemon and cheddar cheese at the same time, it smells exactly like a papaya, huh, will have to try that. Writing in tent now. Want to write more but 2 streams converge near shelter, the rushing sound of water pulling me to sleep. Goodnight. Hopefully nicer weather & more miles tomorrow.
Date: 2013-06-11
From: pine field hut

To: bear fence shelter
Miles today: 20.6
Weather: broken clouds

6.11.13 - day 72Pine field shelter - Bear fence mountain hut20.6 miles - 11 hours- First full day in park without rain- crossed the 900 mile mark at summit of High Top mountain!!!- Trail magic from Sluggo, grapette soda, thanks- Saw small bear run across path in front-dinner at Lewis mtn store, Condo: a British citizen, fluent in German stops by to chat. Named after big tent shared with girlfriend & dog.- tenting tonight since hut is way full as are most of the tent spots. this area notorious for bears in campsite, rangers dont like unattended coolers of trail magic and will take them away around here. will keep one ear on guard. Hugs and Sideshow arrive, returning from hitching a ride to a McD in town. Shelter log warns of rats climbing bear bag pole and ripping into food bags next to the shelter. I hang mine on a different pole further out. Can hear guitar and singing in the shelter, stops around 9pm, fall asleep shortly after.
Date: 2013-06-12
From: bear fence shelter

To: Byrds nest 3
Miles today: 22.4
Weather: broken clouds

6.12.13 - day 73Bear fence hut - Byrd's nest hut #322.4 miles - 12.5 hoursEarly start, trail magic from last year thru hikers Bismark & Hopper, also Subaru Forester owners, theirs is this years model. They are visiting blue blaze trails this summer & will thru hike again next year, very cool.Fast pace morning, side trail past cemetery to Big Meadow Wayside for sit down breakfast. Condo, Gamaine & Nevis join us. Rocky afternoon, sunny & warm too, some nice view along the way. Visitors on skyline drive above take photos of us hikers as we pass 50 yards below, freak show i guess. Valley below would be much better photo instead. Skyland resort for early dinner, fried chicken, fruit plate & quinoa salad + blackberry ice cream. Plenty of much needed calories, delicious too. Israeli hikers we saw in Waynesboro are at adjacent table. Meal is a bit pricey by hiker standards but quality is worth it, sit by overlook window if that section is open. Up to the pinnacles summit, big rocks to sit on & enjoy the view. if you will pass this area in the afternoon or evening, pack in your favorite beer, wine, etc. to enjoy at top. Nearing dark the town / farm lights switch on. Byrds nest hut is a mile downhill, but carry water in from picnic area since water is far from shelter & steep. There is a bottle & can recycling bin at bathrooms at Thornton gap 3 miles from hut also. Hut faces towards valley, you can see the lights from there too through the trees. Nice breeze through the night, some moonlight too. Retired German couple Wolfgang and Cookie are here. We are surprised that there are not more people at the hut. Wolfgang tells us a storm may be approaching. In anticipation, many people stopped or hitched out at Skyland resort or else hiked on thru to the gap 3 miles down. Sleep now, tomorrow we find out.
Date: 2013-06-13
From: Byrds nest 3

To: Thornton gap
Miles today: 3.2
Weather: light rain

6.13.13 - day 74Byrds nest #3 hut - Thornton gap3.2 miles - 1 hourWe hear that a strong storm is coming, start hiking, sky darkens, winds pickup, rains fall, quick change into rain gear, then fast descent down rock piles, logs, streams. RR passed me as i changed, he is further down out of site, PL is 20 yards in front now, i go same pace & keep distance as it is slippery. As we reach the bottom, rain slows, we decide to go to Luray as not to get caught in storm. As we walk to gap, we pass Side Show in parking lot, he is with parents at their car, dad will hike a section with him. They will continue even in storm. At route 211, we have thumbs up at park entrance. After 20 minutes, a pickup hauling a tank of tar heated visibly by flame & paving equipment pulls over up ahead and goes in reverse. Old man picks us up, strong new England accent detected by PL, as it turns put he is from town neighboring her hometown. As we wind down mountain, rain drops heavy again. Old man is John Stanley of John Stanley's Premium paving. He entertains us with stories, including how we should carry around brandy to combat hypothermia. He canceled paving appointment due to rain, was heading back to Luray when he saw us, he was about to keep going, but then said been there done that & decided to save us from the rain. Cool guy, 33 grandchildren, could retire but works anyway. Best Western, lunch@ Genarros Italian restaurant next door, excellent great quality, huge portions, good value. Laundry then Walmart resupply. We see Green Blaze, Shady, Jabberwocky, Twigs, Star fail, Garden girl & Cat nips @ outfitter. Dinner @ Uncle bucks.Local Shenandoah trout fillet grilled, salad, corn fritters, fried green tomatoes, & southern Mac & cheese with sweet tea. So good. Call big bro. Drink Devils back bone lager while watching tosh.o then switch on spurs vs heat. Congrats to Blackhawks win game 1 triple OT last night!
Date: 2013-06-14
From: Thornton gap

To: gravel springs shelter
Miles today: 14.2

6.14.13 - day 75Thornton gap - gravel springs hut14.2 miles - 7 hours-Casey gives us ride from Luray to Thornton gap trail head. On the way up we see deer eating at side of road, on the street side of the guard rail. He tells us 5 years ago a mother deer and fawn would feed in the same spot. The mother was hit by a car & died. Every year a deer would come back & feed at this spot, the deer we saw was the young fawn from 5 years ago. - nice sunny cool day, pretty fast terrain in the morning. Watching for bears, don't see any today. Lunch at Elkwallow Wayside. Mailed out post card to nieces. Listened to ranger do bear talk. Ice cream! - fast terrain in afternoon also. Good views at overlooks. Passed by peregrine falcon habitat restoration area on a cliff top, fastest bird in the world. We saw a pair zoom back & forth a few times, very cool. No bear sightings, what?? - gravel springs hut & campsites pretty full despite arriving early. many hikers stopped @ gap & entered town due to weather just like us, so now are on similar schedule. During dinner, section hiker with car packed in 6 pack of ice cold Budweiser, set them on the table, said enjoy then left. Awesome!
Date: 2013-06-15
From: gravel springs shelter

To: manasas gap shelter
Miles today: 23.6
Weather: clear sky

6.15.13 - day 76Gravel Springs Hut - Manassas Gap Shelter23.6 miles - 12.5 hoursEarly start, found RR at stealth campsite near beautiful overlook with unmarked spring nearby, he watched sunset while having dinner peace & quiet, nice. -saw bobcat on trail about 30 yards in front, it turned the corner, when i rounded the corner it was still up ahead, heard me, turned around & looked then ran off into woods. up to Compton peak, had 1st lunch there, upon descent a basketball sized bird ran from left to right then back again while making loud sound and with trail feathers erect & spread. Too small to be wild turkey but same behavior i saw when i startled one. No long neck, mostly brown, khaki & white. Maybe partridge? Grouse? No idea. Saw another black snake across path. Exited Shenandoah park, saw much plants,wildlife & views, no bears but I'm not complaining. Good times. Trail magic from She Bear sweet tea & candy before road to Front Royal. More trail magic from Ocelot & Huckleberry: sun chips & cold sodas before a climb. After descent, another trail magic sodas from Rhino class of 2012, right before last big climb of this long day, thanks!- arrive at shelter, i go around back to change into camp clothes & see brown & tan snake with diamond pattern coming out forest and under shelter in front of me. I go to front & warn Back track & others of incoming snake, they climb into shelter to wait and watch. It comes out, I'm told that it is the rare, endangered, & highly venomous copperhead, cool! I take pics & video as it slides away.- I've seen a bear in the Smokies, and now a bobcat and copperhead in Virginia.
Date: 2013-06-16
From: manasas gap shelter

To: bears den hostel
Miles today: 23.0
Weather: overcast clouds

6.16.13 - day 77Manasas gap shelter - Bears den hostel23 miles - 11 hoursManasas gap shelter privy has a plunger in it, when i was in there early in the morning i noticed it but didn't think anything of it until i saw someone wrote on the wall 'why is this here?' with an arrow pointing to it and made me laugh audibly (punchline is toilet has no pipes or plumbing, just a hole under it). Thanks to whoever took the time to think & execute that joke, humor is always welcome here. Funny too think that someone had to hike all day with a plunger on their pack to get it here. Reminds me of a shelter back just after Jacobs ladder where someone screwed in an electrical outlet cover into a post & used a Sharpie to draw in the 2 slots & ground, looks real, fools alot of people, also makes them smile afterwards, mission accomplished.-Roller Coaster: series of about 10 ascent/descent in 13.5 miles, alot is rocky, each hill individually is nothing new, however the frequency of up down collectively is the challenge. Alot of rock hoping across streams also . AWOL guide this year shows shelter @ top of hill, though it is actually about 0.3 miles past summit downhill. Good change of pace, climb before shelter is steeper than we've seen recently but short too. Feet hurting at the end of day, legs really tired also.Arrive at historic Bears den hostel housed in large stone cabin surrounded by tall stone wall. Claus aka Dr. Pepper, Wolfgang, Cookie & Sparky are here. $30 gets you a bunk, shower, Tombstone pizza, sodas, Ben & Jerry pint ice cream + laundry. Nice common area with couches and computer downstairs. Really pleasant here. I recommend this hostel, historic setting, great deal, nice place, hiker friendly.Wow, looking at map, almost out of VA, border crossing soon...
Date: 2013-06-17
From: bears den hostel

To: Harpers Ferry
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: light rain

6.17.13 - day 78Bears den hostel - Harpers Ferry20 miles - 11 hoursShort but great stay at Bears Den hostel. Continue on roller coaster. Crossed 1000 mile mark!! Wow 1000 miles. This year there was a painted wooden board stuck in the ground just before a stream to mark the location. Also some streamers, noisemaker and kazoo was strapped to a nearby tree. Not far from here is where Remember the Titans happened some 50 years ago, hard to imagine those guys practiced and played football in this kind of summer heat wearing a helmet and full pads, amazing. A sign says we are leaving Virginia further up a hill. Enjoyed my time in this state, many fond memories, Damascus, Grayson, Dragons Tooth, McAffee, green tunnel, Shenandoah and on and on. looking forward to moving on as well. We survived the roller coaster. Crossed rather flat & rocky terrain to road crossing. Left is welcome to WV sign, we take photos here, to the right is welcome to VA. I guess the trail is the border around here. After more rocks is welcome to Harpers Ferry national park, we descend steep trail down to bridge and cross the Potomac out of the forest & into town for the night, first night in WV!
Date: 2013-06-18
From: Harpers Ferry

To: Harpers Ferry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

6.18.13 - day 79Harpers ferryZero dayWent to ATC to get documented as a thru hiker, took photo, hiker #561 in album. Picked up resupply box there too. Earth Balance, Sno, Pundit, Acorn, Code Walker, all a couple days ahead, saw there pics in the album. Laundry, bought new hiking shoes @outfitter to replace my leather boots which now have a thousand miles on them. Resupply. Post office to mail home boots & thermal undies. Hiked the short section of the trail which runs through Harpers between bridge & historic area to test out new kicks. Dinner at historic Secret Six Tavern named after 6 abolitionists who aided John Brown in his raid on federal armory here. Had the Miners Daughter Oatmeal Stout and Confederate burger, half pound with West Virginia smoked ham on top (Union burger had bacon instead). Right in middle of historic area on top of hill. Nice evening stroll up the road towards ATC to the hostel. I forgot to do it yesterday so i pecked a West Virginia oak tree on the way back, the tradition continues. Watched the Duncan vs Lebron game, boo stayed up past midnight to see Spurs lose. Gotta message from Smiles, surprised to find he was a ways behind, i remembered he hiked a section with a friend visiting, that must be it, with his speed he'll catch up. Where is Danger Dave? haven't seen since trail days, didn't see photo on album at Harpers.
Date: 2013-06-19
From: Harpers Ferry

To: Dahlgren Back packing camp
Miles today: 19.0

6.19.13 - day 80Harpers ferry - Dahlgren backpack camp19 miles - 9.5 hoursWalked down Shenandoah Street into historic area, met RR there & continued across the bridge where we could see the Shenandoah river join the Potomac river as well as the remnants of the the B&O rail bridge across the river. At the other end of the bridge we have exited West Virginia and entered Maryland, though there is no sign. Another border crossing, another new state!!! The trail follows right next to the Potomac in the same direction for a couple of miles. Along the way i continue the tradition smooch a Maryland maple tree next to the trail. Up a big climb then more flat terrain. After a few miles, rocks appear in the trail. After a while we arrive at campground which is free & has hot showers, running water, bathrooms, tent platforms, electrical outlet, & bear bag pole. Take hot shower then dinner of rice, tuna, nutella naan & herbal tea. Thanks to Joe & Cindy Camo for maintaining this camp, nice visit.
Date: 2013-06-20
From: Dahlgren Back packing camp

To: raven rock shelter
Miles today: 18.8
Weather: overcast clouds

6.20.13 - day 81Dahlgren backpack camp - Raven Rock Shelter18.8 miles - 10 hours- foggy misty morning hike to original Washington monument, cool stone tower, no views from top this morning though.- sunny by noontime, up to Annapolis rocks, excellent view from protruding rocks. Sky is now sunny and clear. Cornelius & Patchouli are taking in the scenery when we arrive.-at lunch we come across a young summer camp group hiking, they find out that RR came all the way from Germany & already hiked a thousand miles and give him a round of applause. big smile from him.-rest at Ensign shelter, Carbon drops in, he gets water & makes tortilla wrap quickly. He is doing 4 state challenge: hike VA, WV, MD, & PA in 24 hours. Started at 3;30am at ridge right before Harpers Ferry. He is now ten miles away from PA, he should be there just after sundown or so. - we arrive@ Raven Rock shelter, Rabbit & Sparky are there. Nice new shelter with 2 floors & glass windows. Complements to PATC volunteers, great job mowing & clearing trails, also caring for shelters & most privies. - dinner of tuna rice dehydrated veggie jalfezi is a bit off, need to tinker with the recipe & improve.Clothes hanging outside on clothesline to dry. Going to wear fresh clothes tomorrow, chaffing on legs getting bad due to heat and sweat.- Stretch out the legs and back then roll out the sleeping bag, warm Maryland night so will sleep on top of it.
Date: 2013-06-21
From: raven rock shelter

To: rocky mountain shelter
Miles today: 19.8

6.21.13 - day 82Raven Rock Shelter - Rocky Mountain Shelters19.8 miles - 10.5 hoursEarly hike to High Rock viewpoint, very nice except all graffiti on concrete platform. We met Strings there, class of '09, carried guitar whole way. Trail magic, he gave us 2 cliff bars, came in handy later, thanks.- Pen Mar park, soda machine, yay! Cool view. Cornelius & Patchouli show up, machine won't accept my $5 bill, cornelius buys me one, won't accept payback, more trail magic thanks! They're going into town then few rest days, may be a while to see them again.- Mason Dixon line! we leave the south and cross into the north officially, also border of MD & PA. Goodbye Maryland, short but sweet visit. Hello Pennsylvania!!! Nice. I lip lock a PA birch tree right after crossing the border & before the road, as my tradition goes. Thank you South for great memories, fabulous views & delectable foods, especially people were awesome too!- today is summer solstice, longest day of year. Coincides with national hike naked day every year. I did not participate, not my style I guess. I dont think it would enhance my fun so I opt out. However, climbing up to Chimney rocks, i hear footsteps behind me, 2 hikers caught up so i let them pass by stepping aside, as they pass i see cheeks & then realize they are hiking naked. One has guitar in his back.- at the shelter Rabbit & Sparky are there. I met Sherwin from nearby DWG in PA. He tells me those naked dudes are from his group. Later hiker Rise comes by invites us to trail magic tomorrow at halfway point, bonus!!- dinner ramen, tuna again. Dessert trader Joe maple cookies mailed by big bro. Try them if you never had them, really good, one of my favs. Sleeping in shelter, mosquitoes all around! Shelter consists of 2 smaller shelters. The hikers in the other one have nets around their heads as they lay down to keep mosquitoes at a distance. I can only cover up inside my bag with a flat bandana over my face.