morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-06-30
To: Bears Den Hostel
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: light rain

Dick's Dome Shelter to Bears Den Hostel, 18.3 miles.Another through hiker arrived at Dick's Dome around 7 AM. He only hikes at night and rests during the day. I cooked up instant oatmeal and dehydrated bananas for breakfast - yum. I got on the trail at 8 AM. Later, 45 minutes after crossing U.S. 50, I tripped on a rock and quickly fell to the ground, hitting my head on another rock. I didn't see stars or get a headache afterward, but split the skin on the bridge of my nose and I had a nice bump on my forehead. Today was the start of the Roller Coaster, a continuous series of rocky climbs and descents. I stopped for lunch at Rod Hollow Shelter where I met Boone again and his friend Rockerfeller. Also met Man Dog on the trail. I arrived at Bears Den Hostel at 7:40 PM where I met Two-of-a Kind again and Mike. Bears Den Hostel is really nice. I took a shower, had two plates of spaghetti, two cans of soda, and a pint of Ben & Jerry's ice cream. Today it really cooled off, 70 degrees at mid-day.
Date: 2010-07-01
To: Stealth camp at Loudoun Heights
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: light rain

Bears Den Hostel to Stealth camp at Loudoun Heights, 18.0 miles.I got up around 6 AM and made myself some pancakes in the kitchen. No one else was up yet, so I cleaned the dishes I used and sat in the great room to read the paper. I packed up my backpack once others started to get up and I got back on the trail at 8 AM. Three miles into the day, I stopped to rest at the first nice outlook, Crescent Rock, where I talked to a local day hiker from Bluemont, VA.At 1 PM, I came to the side trail to the Blackburn Trail Center, but it was too steep to go 0.3 miles just for water and then back again. Two trail maintainers I met shortly before said to just go on to Keys Gap to get water at the convenience store. I arrived at Keys Gap at 4:40 PM where I talked to a woman with her kids, then walked 0.3 miles along WV Rt. 9 to get water at Torlene's Mini-Mart and ate a big hamburger, fries and two Buds at Torlone's bar & grill. When I walked back to Keys Gap, I met up with Two-of-a-Kind, Mike, and Boone again, having seen them several times during the day. Boone had a scare as his dog was not on a leash and almost got hit by a car on Rt. 9. I then pressed on. The trail was mostly stepping over rocks of various shapes for the next four miles. I camped in the woods two miles short of Harper's Ferry at 7:45 PM. It was a nice 75 degree day today.
Date: 2010-07-02
To: Rocky Run Shelter
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: light rain

Stealth camp at Loudoun Heights to Rocky Run Shelter, 18.0 miles.I got up around 6 AM, skipped breakfast since I was close to Harper's Ferry, packed up the hammock, and still didn't hit the trail until 8:07 AM. It was all downhill to Harper's Ferry. On the way, there was a huge continuous trench that I knew couldn't be a natural formation. In fact, it was a Civil War earthworks, a system of defenses built by the Confederates during the Battle of Harper's Ferry in 1862.I arrived in Harper's Ferry and walked around for about two miles (in addition to the trail miles), visited the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, and had brunch (hamburger and fries) at the Coffee Mill at 10:30 AM. Leaving Harper's Ferry, the AT crosses the Potomac River into Maryland, then follows the C&O Canal tow path for three very flat miles. After the U.S. 340 underpass, I met three local day hikers who asked me about my hike as if I were a through hiker.I stopped for a potty break at 2 PM at the Ed Garvey Shelter, a beautiful two deck shelter with a great view. There I met another local day hiker with two terrier dogs. At 4:15, I arrived at Gathland State Park, site of a Civil War battle and the War Correspondents Memorial, where I had an coke from the soda machine. At 7:40 PM, I arrived at Rocky Run Shelter after a few very rocky run miles. I was the only one at the shelter for the night and cooked up another meal of dehydrated food. It was an 80 degree day today.
Date: 2010-07-03
To: Free State Hiker Hostel
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: light rain

Rocky Run Shelter to Free State Hiker Hostel, 15.5 miles.I left the Rocky Run Shelter at 8:25 AM, seeing that I planned a short mileage day. One mile down the trail was a monument to Union General Jesse Reno, who was killed at this spot on September 14, 1862. Another mile later was the Dahlgren Back Pack Campground, where I took a free shower then put on my smelly clothes back on.After crossing the I-70 footbridge, I stopped at 1 PM at the Pine Knob Shelter to eat lunch and met a ridgerunner named Boots. He recommended I stop at Annapolis Rock and warned me of rattlesnakes on the trail further north. After a 90 minute break there, I came to the side trail to Annapolis Rock at 3:15 and met another ridgerunner. Its a great view from there. Two guys were climbing the vertical face of the rock.At 7:20 PM, I arrived at the Free State Hiker Hostel in Smithsburg, MD, a nice place to shower and do laundry, but food was not included. I ordered a huge stromboli delivered from the local pizza joint. It was so big, I saved half of it for breakfast. I was the only guest there that night.
Date: 2010-07-04
To: Tumbling Run Shelters
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: light rain

Free State Hiker Hostel to Tumbling Run Shelter, 18.3 milesThe Hostel owner gave me a ride back to the trail-head at 8:30 AM. I arrived at High Rock at 12:15, which has an expansive view of the valley below but the rocks are spray painted all over, probably because High Rock is just a few steps off the roadway.At 2:15, I rolled into Pen Mar Park with a beautiful view of the valley below. Lots of people at the park, mostly senior citizens there for the swing music in the pavilion and in the evening to watch the fireworks in Hagarstown several other towns the valley below. At the concession stand, I ordered two chili dogs, huge fries, and two large sodas. Met a few people there, particularly a former hike who advised that Pennsylvania is serious rattlesnake country. I moved on after 75 minutes. Shortly thereafter, I found my first trail magic, a cooler with cans of soda on ice. I drank one and took another with me.At 7:10, I arrived at Old Forge Park for a short break and filled up my water bladder from the spring-house spigot. I met another local there who had a hard time getting his unleashed dog to obey commands. One time when he told the dog to come, the dog came to me instead, probably because I smelled more like a dog. I finally arrived at Tumbling Run Shelters at 8 PM, too tired to fix dinner and I wasn't hungry anyway. I met another guy that was tenting nearby, who said he almost stepped on a rattlesnake on the trail I would be on tomorrow morning.
Date: 2010-07-05
To: Stealth camp beyond Birch Run Shelter
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: light rain

Tumbling Run Shelter to Stealth camp beyond Birch Run Shelter, 18.0 miles.This morning I met Jim, the "innkeeper" of Quarry Gap Shelters. He and another volunteer arrived at the Tumbling Run Shelters to continue construction of a covered picnic pavilion. He told me about the hiker feed today at Caledonia State Park.I hit the trail at 8:30 AM (each day it seems to keep getting later), arriving at Caledonia State Park at 1:30 PM. I was surprised to see Jim there, who jokingly commented "What took you so long!". His family has been doing a hiker feed there for 20 odd years. They took my picture and I filled out a questionnaire for their log book. I had two hamburgers, a hot dog, ice tea, and other snacks. About five other hikers were there during my visit. After two hours of their hospitality, I got ready to move on when Jim offered to give me a lift to Quarry Gap Shelters. I accepted the offer as it saved me two uphill miles, it was 3 PM and I had ten miles still to Birch Run Shelter.I arrived at Birch Run Shelter at 7:35 PM and filled up my water badder. This was my intended destination for the day, but there was a bunch of kids/young adults camping nearby who I realized were going to be noisy into the night. I met Slightly Inappropriate, a thru-hiker from Sandwich, MA, who was hanging out with this crowd. I decided to continue on, finding a place to string up my hammock at 8:15 PM as it was starting to get dark. Again, I skipped dinner as it was late and I was too tired.
Date: 2010-07-06
To: Pine Grove Furnace State Park
Miles today: 8.9
Weather: light rain

Stealth camp beyond Birch Run Shelter to Pine Grove Furnace State Park, 8.9 miles.I woke at 6 AM, packed up without breakfast and hit the trail at 7 AM. I arrived at the general store at Pine Grove Furnace State Park at 11:45 AM and waited about two hours for Pam to arrive. While waiting, I talked with some other through hikers and a retired man from North Carolina who was camping in the Park. I had two ice creams and a soda on the covered porch of the general store while waiting. It was 95 degrees in the shade and I was glad today was a short day. I never did see a rattlesnake the whole trip.
Date: 2011-08-20
To: Harpers Creek Shelter
Miles today: 9.5
Weather: light rain

Dripping Rock Parking Area to Harpers Creek Shelter, 9.5 miles.I started a day later than planned, so my wife dropped me off at the Dripping Rock Parking Area on the Blue Ridge Parkway instead of starting at Rockfish Gap. I'm headed south to Daleville, VA. First stop after 6.5 miles was the Maupin Field Shelter for a lunch break. At this shelter I met four weekend hikers who came up the Mau-Har Trail, which began at the shelter and rejoined the AT three miles south. I decided to take this trail, which descended steeply to about 1800 feet elevation, then diverted to an Orange trail (which is a dead end trail) to the waterfalls. I skipped the waterfalls because I thought I would still have to climb the Three Ridges which peaks at 4000 feet. But I found out that the Mau-Har Trail actually bypasses the Three Ridges.
Date: 2011-08-21
To: Cash Hollow Road
Miles today: 9.1
Weather: broken clouds

Harpers Creek Shelter to Cash Hollow Road, 9.1 miles.I made the mistake of assuming the the Mau-Har Trail rejoined the AT on the north side of the Harpers Creek Shelter when it really rejoined on the south side. As a result, I started hiking north instead of south when I left the shelter. I spent 45 minute climbing Three Ridges before I realized my mistake. Then I doubled back, having wasted 1.5 hours and hiking about two miles unnecessarily, all of it rocky and steep. Headed south again, the AT descended to 970 feet elevation at the Tye River, where a suspension foot bridge crosses the river. I stopped at the river to fix lunch and filter water. Next was a 3093 foot climb to the top of The Priest, which nearly killed me, on a Sunday no less. It was the hardest climb I ever made. I had to stop frequently to catch my breath and rest my legs. But I finally made it to the top for a grand view. As a result of starting the day in the wrong direction and then climbing a massive mountain, at 7:30 PM (an eleven hour day of hiking), I was four miles short of where I had expected to be at the end of the day. I set up my hammock and tarp in the woods. It rained that night.
Date: 2011-08-22
To: Cow Camp Gap Shelter
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: broken clouds

Cash Hollow Road to Cow Camp Gap Shelter, 15.4 miles.Starting the day at 3280 feet elevation, the first climb was up Maintop Mountain, at 4040 feet. Later in the morning, I passed by a grove of wild crabapple trees. An amazing site to see was a tree growing from the top of an 18 foot tall boulder. At Spy Rock, the climb to the top for a view was spectacular. At 7 PM, I reach the peak of Cold Mountain, elevation 4022 feet. This mountain top is mowed by the Forrest Service to preserve the open views and habitat for northern cottontail rabbits, various raptors, turkey and grouse, although I saw no evidence of them. The sun was almost setting and I still needed to go 1.2 miles to Cow Camp Gap Shelter, reaching there about 8:10 PM, where I spent the night.
Date: 2011-08-23
To: Robinson Gap Road
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Cow Camp Gap Shelter to Robinson Gap Road, 14.4 miles.There were four other hikers in the Cow Camp Gap Shelter with me last night, Paul from DC, thru-hikers Green Mile and his sister, along with their brother out for a week. The AT passes thru an interesting historical area, Brown Mountain Creek, which was homesteaded by freed slaves until the government forced them from their homes in the 1920's to create a national forest. After lunch at Brown Mountain Creek Shelter, the AT then circled around Pedlar Lake where there is a dam and a boat house. No one was there that I saw. I stealth camped in the woods that night with my hammock and tarp.
Date: 2011-08-24
To: Matts Creek Shelter
Miles today: 13.4
Weather: few clouds

Robinson Gap Road to Matts Creek Shelter, 13.4 miles.Today was the day that an earthquake occurred on the east coast, the largest in over 100 years. I didn't feel it. I had no idea. Interesting sights were the view from Punchbowl Mountain, the marker for little Ottie Cline Powell, the view from Fullers Rock, and crossing the James River footbridge where four older teenagers were jumping off into the water. Matts Creek Shelter was nice because it is right on the trail, has a new privy, and you can take a dip in the creek.
Date: 2011-08-25
To: Thunder Hill Shelter
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: few clouds

Matts Creek Shelter to Thunder Hill Shelter, 12.4 miles.The new privy at Matts Creek Shelter even had handicap rails, although I've never seen anyone on the AT with a wheelchair. (Just another example of excessive federal government regulations). This is the day that Hurricane Irene hit the east coast, although I had no idea. There were high winds all day, which made hiking nice, but no rain. Just as I arrived at Harrison Ground Spring at 3:30 PM, it started pouring rain for one hour. I set up my tarp and took cover. I collected 16 oz of water off the tarp to drink. I was close to the peak of Thunder Ridge and lightening was nearby. There was one thunder clap that was very close, but I could only sit tight and take my chances, knowing that the probability of being struck by lightening was greater than winning the lottery. No water at Thunder Hill Shelter.
Date: 2011-08-26
To: Jennings Creek
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: broken clouds

Thunder Hill Shelter to Jennings Creek, 14.0 miles.Water has been scarce in this region this time of year and many streams were dry. I filled up at a spring off the Blue Ridge Parkway about three miles south of Thunder Hill Shelter. Interesting sights were The Guillotine, the old radar base on Apple Orchard Mountain, and the two-story, 20-person capacity Bryant Ridge Shelter.In the late afternoon at Jennings Creek, I met three guys from Florida doing a section hike going north. I asked if I could use their cell phone to call Daleville to change my motel reservation from Saturday to Sunday, but there was no cell phone service at that location. The Middle Creek Campground was about 1.5 miles away, off the AT, so I headed there to make that phone call. Fortunately, I got a hitch from a local to get me three-quarters the way there. I made the call from the campground store, changed my reservation and got a Coke and double scoop (really five scoops) of maple walnut ice cream. Then I walked back to Jennings Creek where I set up my hammock next to the creek at about 8 PM.
Date: 2011-08-27
To: Wilson Creek Shelter
Miles today: 16.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Jennings Creek to Wilson Creek Shelter, 16.9 miles.At the stealth campsite next to Jennings Creek, near the no camping sign, I did not use a tarp over the hammock this time and hoped it didn't rain, which it didn't. The campsite was about 30 feet away from Jennings Creek. Besides the crickets, I heard the babbling brook flow all night long. Since I was alone, I took a dip in the creek at night to cool off and another at dawn. I scored two trail magic today. First, three gallons of well water someone left at Bearwallow Gap. I drank about of quart, which tasted great compared to the chemically treated water I have been drinking. The second occurred at Harvey's Knob Overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway where I met three guys sitting in chairs watching for falcons. They offered me water from a gallon jug, of which I drank another quart. Then a bicyclist drops by. He is from Knoxville, TN, who thru-hiked from Georgia to Maine, then is biking back home from Maine.
Date: 2011-08-28
To: Daleville Super 8
Miles today: 11.2

Wilson Creek Shelter to Daleville, 11.2 miles.The AT approaching Daleville passed through a cow pasture, where I had to be careful not to step on moon pies. Overall, I hiked 119.5 miles of the AT during this section hike. This part of southern Virginia was really tough and slow going. The Super 8 in Daleville was just a few hundred feet off the trail as the AT crossed over Route 220. I washed my clothes so I could go to the Mexican restaurant next door where I had a huge meal of fajitas with steak, chicken and shrimp, topped off with flan, and about ten glasses of ice tea. Even still, I lost five pounds of weight.
Date: 2012-07-09
To: Lamberts Meadow Shelter
Miles today: 9.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Daleville to Lamberts Meadow Shelter, 9.4 miles.Drove to Daleville where Pam and I had lunch at the Three Little Pigs BBQ before she dropped me off at the trailhead at 1:30 PM. Later, lightning and heavy rain began just as I reached a rock overhang that I took shelter under for about one hour. Once the rain let up, I moved on, reaching Lamberts Meadow Shelter at 7 PM where I met two thru hikers, two section hikers and two dogs. One of the dogs was adopted along the trail by a thru-hiker, Pudding. This dog loved to snuggle with people and slept with its head across my arm at one point in the night, but it snored like a human.
Date: 2012-07-10
To: Four Pines Hostel
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: broken clouds

Lamberts Meadow Shelter to Four Pines Hostel, 16.3 miles.Today was another foggy, drizzly day. There were no views to be seen from Tinker Cliffs or McAfee Knob. I stopped at Catawba Mountain Shelter at 3 PM for lunch and met three thru hikers from Houston, TX. There is a pipe spring just south of this shelter. While I was filling up, a family on a day hike to McAfee Knob came by and the wife bolted for the pipe spring. The husband yelled to stop her saying they had no water filter. I told her that the water is safe but she replied that she can't go against her husband. I hope the kids didn't suffer as a result.The number of blow downs from the gale force storm in June was incredible. Huge oak trees were felled like toothpicks, creating numerous obstacles on the trail. I finally arrived at the Four Pines Hostel at 8 PM, took a quick shower, and joined other guests in Joe's house for dinner. Joe is a great host who goes out of his way to help others.
Date: 2012-07-11
To: Niday Shelter
Miles today: 16.6
Weather: broken clouds

Four Pines Hostel to Niday Shelter, 16.6 miles.A long day. Left Four Pines at 8 AM but did not reach Niday Shelter until 9 PM. After crossing VA 621 at 8 PM I only had one mile to go to the shelter. But I thought I missed the shelter, backtracked for 10 minutes, then turned around again and continued south. Three camp councilors were playing cards on the picnic table when I arrived. Earlier, I skipped the blue trail to the Dragons Tooth. After that, it was under tree cover all day without any views of anything other than rocks on the trail.
Date: 2012-07-12
To: Laurel Creek Shelter
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Niday Shelter to Laurel Creek Shelter, 12.4 miles.Stayed in bed until 8 AM and didn't get on the trail until 10 AM. Reached the Eastern Continental Divide and had some decent views from the top of Sinking Creek Mountain, from which five mountain ranges could be seen. I skipped the half mile decent to Sarver Hollow Shelter for water and continued on. Just south of Sarver Hollow were 75 mounts of assembled stones. Very strange. Next sight was the 300-year old Keffer Oak tree, where I munched down on ripe black raspberries along the fence line. Arrived at Laurel Creek Shelter at 6:10 PM and was the only one there for the night.
Date: 2012-07-13
To: Bailey Gap Shelter
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: light rain

Laurel Creek Shelter to Bailey Gap Shelter, 14.6 miles.Another drizzly day. Kelly Knob was clouded in. Highlight of the day was finding trail magic after crossing VA 601 at Rocky Gap, a tub of sodas and Little Debbie oatmeal cookies. Another highlight was picking and eating blueberries along the way. The lowlight was picking my way through four miles of rocks between Salt Sulphur Turnpike and Bailey Gap Shelter.
Date: 2012-07-14
To: Rice Field Shelter
Miles today: 16.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Bailey Gap Shelter to Rice Field Shelter, 16.2 miles.Left Bailey Gap Shelter at 8 AM, stopping at Stony Creek to replenish my water supply. Had breakfast at 11 AM at Pine Swamp Branch Shelter, using the blueberries I picked yesterday to make my oatmeal palatable. Replenish my water supply again as there would be no water for the next ten mile. However, I munched on lots of black raspberries again at Symms Gap Meadow. It began raining a mile short of Rice Field Shelter, where I arrived at 7 PM. This shelter has a tin roof but the sound of rain pounding on it didn't keep me awake at night.
Date: 2012-07-15
To: Pearisburg
Miles today: 6.7
Weather: few clouds

Rice Field Shelter to Pearisburg, 6.7 miles.Finally, a clear skies day. Made the decent to Pearisburg in 3.5 hours, although there were a number of climbs in between. The humming of the chemical plant was heard for the couple of miles to town. Pam picked me up at Lane Street precisely at the 11 AM arranged time and we drove into town and had a great lunch at the BBQ joint next to the Holiday Motel. Then the five hour drive back home.
Date: 2013-08-19
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Pam and I drove to Damascus, VA and stayed for two nights at the Lazy Fox Inn, a bed and breakfast in a Victorian house built in 1906 and run by Ginny, 89 years young. For breakfast (for two people), we had scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, cheese grits, biscuits and gravy, five kinds of sliced fruit, baked apples, bread pudding, prunes (didn't eat those), orange juice and coffee. After breakfast, we rented bicycles from Blue Blaze Bikes and took the 11:30 am shuttle to the top of Whitetop Mountain and rode 17 miles downhill and back to Damascus on the Virginia Creeper, an old railroad bed converted to recreational use.
Date: 2013-08-20
To: Atkins to Partnership Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Pam shuttled me up to Atkins, VA on her way home and dropped me off at the trailhead at 9:45 AM. The grass was wet with dew and after a couple hours of hiking, I had to wring out my socks when I arrived at the Settlers' Museum schoolhouse, built in 1884, at 11:00 AM for a 30 minute break. At 12:30 PM, I took a 20 minute break for lunch. Then at 4:30 PM, I arrived at the Partnership Shelter to spend the night. Already there was another section hiker, Gunslinger, who was hiking for two months. Later, two Canadian section hikers showed up, who were hiking for about four months. All three of them smoked cigarettes. I hiked a total of 11.6 miles today.