morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2018-05-13
From: Daleville, VA - US Route 220 Mile 729.2

To: Stealth Camp Near Bobblets Gap Shelter
Miles today: 18.5

2189.9 / 3 = 720.97. It¢s official we have hiked 1/3 of the AT! It¢s a significant achievement but daunting to know we have to do that distance two more times. We we up early and were on the trail by 7:10, to try to beat the heat. We knew we needed to make it a short day of only 11-12 miles or go a little longer than usual to Bobblets Gap Shelter because there was a 7-8 mile section with no water source. We knew that No Name and Swimmer would probably be leaving town at the same time. But I falsely assumed that we would beat them to the trail. They were getting water at the first water stop when we came around the corner. We joined them for the rest of the day. They are faster hikers so we had to meet them for lunch and again later at camp. We covered about 10 miles before lunch as planned but the temperatures were rising fast. This section of the trail runs parallel to the Blue Ridge Parkway for about 100 miles as I understand it. Hopefully we will have better cell reception. As we came out of the woods into a parking area for a scenic overview there were about six bikers with full gang patches standing by their bikes. They greeted us and asked about our hike. One guy asked how much wildlife we have seen. (see previous post) I told him not much but lots of signs. He asked about snakes and I had to laugh because a hiker we had lunch with had just shown us a picture of a rattle snake he had just seen so we were on high alert. Around the spot where he said he saw the snake, a small black snake cut right between Papa Dale and me. We about jumped out of our skin! I realized how I just made myself sound whimpy to a biker.He laughed and said, "Yeah, they're not real scary when you see them first are they? It¢s when they get the jump on you." Too funny, even the bikers don¢t like to be startled by snakes.At the other end of the parking lot a family was taking their mom out for a Mother¢s Day picnic. They gave us watermelon and iced tea. (Trail magic!) When the lady asked how long we would be gone from home I responded that it would be 5-6 months. She asked if my wife is with me? I said, "No." I felt like such a chump when I realized how that sounded on Mother¢s Day. I was already feeling guilty being away on Mother¢s Day. I struggled the rest of the day wondering if I should go home. I am in camp with No Name, Swimmer and Papa Dale. All good guys but feeling particularly homesick tonight.
Date: 2018-05-13
From: Daleville, VA - US Route 220 Mile 729.2

To: Stealth Camp Near Bobblets Gap Shelter
Miles today: 18.0

2189.9 /3= 720.97. It¢s official we have hiked 1/3 of the AT! It¢s a significant achievement but daunting to know we have to do that distance two more times. We we up early and were on the trail by 7:10, to try to beat the heat. We knew we needed to make it a short day of only 11-12 miles or go a little longer than usual to Bobblets Gap Shelter because there was a 7-8 mile section with no water source. We knew that No Name and Swimmer would probably be leaving town at the same time. But I falsely assumed that we would beat them to the trail. They were getting water at the first water stop when we came around the corner. We joined them for the rest of the day. They are faster hikers so we had to meet them for lunch and again later at camp. We covered about 10 miles before lunch as planned but the temperatures were rising fast. This section of the trail runs parallel to the Blue Ridge Parkway for about 100 miles as I understand it. Hopefully we will have better cell reception. As we came out of the woods into a parking area for a scenic overview there were about six bikers with full gang patches standing by their bikes. They greeted us and asked about our hike. One guy asked how much wildlife we have seen. (see previous post) I told him not much but lots of signs. He asked about snakes and I had to laugh because a hiker we had lunch with had just shown us a picture of a rattle snake he had just seen so we were on high alert. Around the spot where he said he saw the snake, a small black snake cut right between Papa Dale and me. We about jumped out of our skin! I realized how I just made myself sound whimpy to a biker.He laughed and said, "Yeah, they're not real scary when you see them first are they? It¢s when they get the jump on you." Too funny, even the bikers don¢t like to be startled by snakes.At the other end of the parking lot a family was taking their mom out for a Mother¢s Day picnic. They gave us watermelon and iced tea. (Trail magic!) When the lady asked how long we would be gone from home I responded that it would be 5-6 months. She asked if my wife is with me? I said, "no." I felt like such a chump when I realized how that sounded on Mother¢s Day. I was already feeling guilty being away on Mother¢s Day. I struggled the rest of the day wondering if I should go home. I am in camp with No Name, Swimmer and Papa Dale. All good guys but feeling particularly homesick tonight.
Date: 2018-05-14
From: Stealth Camp Near Bobblets Gap Shelter

To: Stealth campsite
Miles today: 16.0

Three iPhone alarms went off at 5 am. Mine was one of them. I groaned because I didn¢t get much sleep last night but I got up anyway. The fourth guy, No Name, was already up and getting started. We wanted to beat the ninety degree heat. We were all still somewhat drained from the day before but managed about 10 miles by 11 am. We heard that there is a campground near the road crossing that would pick you up for free if you bought lunch with them. We were all in favor of that since any food that is not hiker food is a treat. It was great to get out of the heat for awhile and to have a cold soda with our lunch. By 1:00 we were back on the trial with only six more miles cover. Pretty easy right? Not easy when it is six miles up a constant steep grade with only one water stop on full stomachs in ninety degree temperatures. We were all completely exhausted when we reached our campsite at 5 pm. To compound things the water source was a small spring. It was located 1/10 mile down a steep hill. It started raining as we finished dinner. The rain was not enough to cool things down but just enough to chase us inside our tents. It stopped raining fairly quickly but everyone seems content inside the confines of their tent tonight. The AT covers over 525 miles in Virginia. This is far more than for any other state. The excitement of starting our thru hikes is behind us and the tree canopy is in full glory so the lines of site are restricted. These factors create a mindset known as the "Virginia blues." I think the blues are starting to become more prevalent along the trail. We need to stay diligent on keeping the work/fun equilibrium in balance. This is especially true since we have rain in the forecast for the next seven days.
Date: 2018-05-15
From: Stealth Camp Near Bobblets Gap Shelter

To: Marble Spring
Miles today: 14.0

There were three other hikers in the campsite last night. I felt sorry for them at 5 am when all four of our alarms rang and we started rustling around. No Name hit the trail a few minutes ahead of Papa Dale and I. We never saw him again until we reached camp. Swimmer was still finishing breakfast when we departed but he is a much faster hiker and he caught us without any difficulty. We only planned for 14 miles which sets us up for a short day tomorrow when we go into Glasgow, Virginia for supplies. Our goal is to reach Waynesboro by the 22nd so Swimmer can meet his son and Papa Dale can meet his girlfriend. So we might be able to take a Nero tomorrow. The heat has been a factor and the rest might serve us well. Glasgow has a free shelter that was built by the Boy Scouts and it comes complete with a shower and towel. That sounds pretty good right now.Good thing we arrived early due to the short day. The much anticipated rain reached us just as we finished dinner. We are in our tents at 6:30 listening to the pitter-patter on our tents while we catch up with our friends and family on our phones.
Date: 2018-05-16
From: Marble Spring

To: James River Footbridge
Miles today: 7.0

The rain started as we finished dinner last night. Our timing doesn¢t usually work out that well. We stayed in our tents but heard 3-4 other hikers pour into camp and set up in the rain. We all took off separately early the next morning to get to Glasgow to resupply before the rain started again. No name and I arrived ahead of Swimmer and Papa Dale. We waited under the sign at the trail head to stay dry. We tried to hitch hike the six miles into town but the road was very curvy and there was no place for cars to pull over. After we walked about three miles, a pickup truck stopped in the middle of a curve to pick us up. We were all spread out by then so it was quite a scramble to hop in before any traffic arrived. We made it safely to town hoping to stay in the free local shelter. It wasn¢t what we were hoping for, so we had lunch at Scotto¢s, the local dining establishment and made our way to Stanables Hostel to dry out and clean up. It was good to have a shortened day and be warm, clean and dry.
Date: 2018-05-17
From: James River Footbridge

To: Highway 60
Miles today: 22.0

I really enjoy hiking southbound on occasion because you get to see some of the people you have lost track of on the trail. That certainly held true today when we shuttled out of Glasgow and hiked back to the James River Footbridge. We saw Teacher Tom's sons for the first time since Hot Springs. Apparently Tom is off the trail with a leg infection. We also saw the hiker that I started on Springer Mountain with along with several others that have been floating in and out of our bubble. We hiked 22 miles in about eight hours. Well everyone except Swimmer who realized that he lost his phone. He hiked backward three miles and found Sherlock who had found his phone. So after turning back around he had hiked 28 miles. What makes that more impressive is that he had to make a very long hard climb twice in a row. During the hike we passed the 800 mile mark. It finally feels that we are making headway. When we arrived back at the hostel, we saw Earl Grey and Purple Haze. When we left the hostel there were only five of us staying there. When we returned the hostel was full. Everyone was trying to get in out of the three day long rain storm. I should have mentioned we got soaked by several large pockets of rain which we could see rolling over the mountains in our direction. All in all a good day albeit a wet one. Highlights of the day we passed the 800 mile mark, hiked 22 miles in eight hours in a rain storm.
Date: 2018-05-18
From: Highway 60

To: Seely-Woodworth Shelter
Miles today: 15.0

The clouds were thick and hanging low over the mountains today. The moisture was so dense that when the wind blew, the moisture would condense and rain down on us. We planned an easier hike today after yesterday¢s great adventure but the first three miles were up a 14 % grade. That¢s the equivalent of putting a treadmill on the steepest incline and walking for an hour and a half. Throw in wet packs and roots and things get a little challenging. That on the heel of walking the 22 miles yesterday, my quads were talking. While I¢m making comparisons 22 miles is the equivalent of walking four rounds carrying your golf bag. Oh yeah. Don¢t forget the terrain. I had to throw that one in for my golfing buddies. Today it rained all day and many hikers are back in Damascus for Trail Days which is a huge festival for hikers. So I am trying out my first shelter. I will let you know how that turns out.
Date: 2018-05-19
From: Seely-Woodworth Shelter

To: Harper's Creek Shelter
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: moderate rain

Well as soon as we settled in to go to sleep, I looked up and saw a mouse about two feet from my head! I grabbed my trusty Thermorest ZSeat and thwack! He went flying out of the shelter. That ZSeat is truly one of the most useful items in my pack. A day hiker was trying to sleep in a hammock out in the rain. About an hour later he came running into the shelter for cover and woke me up; so much for a good nights sleep. My first night in the shelter went kind of like I expected. In the morning it started raining again about ten minutes after we left the shelter. We went past several look outs but the clouds and fog were too thick to bother stopping. We stopped at a nice sight for lunch but again no view but at least I got a call through to my wife. I always miss talking to her. Since I was delayed talking to my wife on the phone, I arrived at the road crossing where several white water canoe and kayakers were gathered a little behind my group. Swimmer and Papa Dale were enjoying some trail magic of a beer with kayakers but the kayakers did not offer me one. After loosing cell service with my wife, getting rained on for three straight days and missing out on the trail magic I felt pretty dejected. I had internet service for a few minutes so I opened an email from a friend at home. He is fellow long distance hiking enthusiast, Tom B. I hope he doesn¢t mind me quoting him. He said, ¢When you arrive at Rockfish Gap, some 850+ miles from Springer Mountain, you will have made 25 punishing ascents and descents of 2000 feet or more. You will hike another 720+ miles before you make your NEXT ascent/descent of 2000¢ at Mt. Greylock in western Massachusetts! So, take heart! Find your cadence every day and let your mind wander wherever it will. No worries! The miles will melt away." His message was a very uplifting message at just the right time. This trip can certainly be more of a mental challenge than a physical one at times. I made it to a shelter around four in the afternoon, after two knee deep water crossings. They were fun and semi-dangerous and at the same time, certainly cold. The creek is raging away about 40 yards away. It would normally be peaceful but tonight it is pretty loud. We¢re in another shelter with three young men from Baltimore who are out for a weekend hike. They are nice young guys. We will need to wade across the creek again tomorrow before we even put on our hiking shoes. The creek is very close to the shelter. This is another new experience.
Date: 2018-05-20
From: Harper's Creek Shelter

To: Reed's Gap
Miles today: 7.0

First of all I want to thank everyone who has given me support on the guest book. It really helps to lift my spirits, particularly on a rough day. I really appreciate your words of support.I started my morning commute by wading through a knee deep stream to get back on the trail. We hit a rock scramble with water flowing down it where I dubbed the backup of of group the "morning traffic jam." The trail was much steeper and harder than we have experienced in awhile. I like the technical areas. The are hard, challenging and fun all at the same time. It took us nearly three hours to go the first four miles. I took a photo of a turtle I saw on the trail. I joked that he was moving faster than I was. I took my second fall on the slippery rocks. That certainly diminished my enthusiasm for a long day of hiking. We reached Reeds Gap and hitched a ride from a really cool young couple with their young kids. They were heading out for a day hike. (Thanks again for the ride.) We arrived at Devils Backbone Brewry and Papa Dale and I decided to stay the night. They allow free camping for thru hikers. In addition to fantastic beer, they offer a really good hiker breakfast for $5. This was a much needed break for me. We need to be in Waynesboro, Virginia in two days and we are only 19 miles out. Taking an unplanned day off like this is very uncharacteristic for me. Maybe the trail is changing me a little after all.
Date: 2018-05-21
From: Reed's Gap

To: Paul Wolf Shelter
Miles today: 4.0

I spent yesterday afternoon drying out my gear so it was no surprise when it rained again. Fortunately, I had left everything inside my tent so this time only my tent and the socks I was still trying to dry got wet again. I went to the hiker breakfast at Devils Backbone Brewry. It was fantastic and only $5. Talked to the founder, Steve, he is a hiker and outdoor enthusiast. He is also an Eagle Scout. I have met a lot of Eagle Scouts on the trail. Devils Backbone Brewery gave us all a hat and shuttled us back to the trail. We hiked about six miles and came out onto the Blue Ridge Parkway. A gentleman named Greg was cooking hotdogs and had soda, snack bars, oranges, etc. It¢s been awhile since we have seen this kind of trail magic. I met three nice young guys from Ohio. They were all Eagle Scouts too. We made it to the shelter and started to "cook" dinner when a small group came into the camp. They were employees of Devils Backbone who were out doing volunteer work on the trail. They liked the fact that several of us were still wearing our hats. I enjoyed a nice chat with them. Tomorrow we we will nero in Waynesboro. My wife is sending me new shoes and a summer weight down quilt. With all the trail magic, a lighter sleeping bag and new shoes my spirits are certainly being lifted. Earl Grey is a day behind and we will catch Swimmer in Waynesboro tomorrow. It will be good to see them all again in town. Unfortunately, No Name was also trying to catch us but he hurt his foot and will be getting off the trail for awhile. We will miss hanging out with him.
Date: 2018-05-22
From: Paul Wolf Shelter

To: Rock Fish Gap
Miles today: 5.0

My daughter told me some of the nurses at her work are following my journal as they have an interest in the trail. She also told me they said that thru hikers smell. Hard to argue that one! It¢s interesting though because you kind of get used to it and it doesn¢t bother you all the time. That¢s even true though all your other senses are heightened in the woods. You notice the fragrance of the pine forest and flowering plants before you reach them. You can smell a camp fire or cigarette smoke long before you reach the source. And you can smell the deodorant and dryer sheet smell of day hikers before they approach you. That¢s why we call day hikers "dryer sheets". So here's a big shout out to the dryer sheets in the MICU. Hope to see you out on the trail!Today I received my new shoes and summer weight quilt from home. Thanks to Bryan at RRT and my wife for going the extra mile to make that happen. Heading into the Shenandoah¢s tomorrow. Our first day without rain. Should be fun.
Date: 2018-05-23
From: Rock Fish Gap

To: Stealth Camp
Miles today: 10.0

I was able to talk to my wife twice today. That makes it a pretty good day.  When I was about 12 years old my Boy Scout Troop went hiking in the Shenandoah Mountains on the AT. Being from Indiana, I was used to flat farmlands and not the mountain terrain. As I hiked along the trail I felt at peace in the woods. I loved walking along the mountain streams.  When we reached a Wayside some of the scouts I was with were talking to a backpacker who said he was going from Georgia to Maine with nothing but the pack on his back. I thought, who would be crazy enough to do that? Can it really be done? Well as it turns out it is pretty popular these days thanks to some well known books and movies. And yes, it can be done. It takes a little gear and a little effort and a lot of sacrifice and support from home (for us married guys).  We got a ride back to the trail from a local trail angel named Yellow Truck. A colorful guy who, you guessed it, drove a yellow truck. We entered the Shenandoah National Park and signed our permits and my life long dream felt a little closer. We only hiked 10 miles today which was a little disappointing after the previous two short days. But we were going slower than usual because Papa Dale's girlfriend has joined us for a while. As much as people try it is almost impossible to train enough to keep up with a thu hiker. She brought the first three days of food with her. It¢s a significant upgrade from what we are used to and it is a welcome change.
Date: 2018-05-25
From: Stealth Camp

To: Stealth Camp
Miles today: 15.0

We started from the campground but decided to stop by the general store before departing. Swimmer hiked in earlier than us to meet a shuttle driver who delivered his new rain fly for his tent. As it turns out this was a good decision to pay for the delivery. It is suppose to rain the next few days and his tent will be much drier with the rain fly over it. It was good to see him but he had to wait for his son to catch up so we had to head on down the trail without him. Hopefully he and his son will be able to gear up and catch us again. There are a lot of road crossings in the Shenandoah National Park, so there are a lot of opportunities for trail magic. Purple Haze was the first to emerge from the woods into one of the parking lots. I as I popped out of the woods I yelled, "Bring on the trail magic." Just a few seconds later two young ladies pulled up and jumped out of their car and gave us some wonderful trail magic. They had soft drinks, chips, fruit, and other nice treats. They were hikers named Snapples and Laura from MI. They had to cut their trip short because Snapples pack didn¢t fit her well and was hurting her. Snapple and Laura - Thanks again for the kindness. We hiked until about lunchtime where we made another road crossing. Snap Chat from the 2017 class was there giving out the same type of fantastic goodies. Thanks Snap Chat. Later we came across a day hiker who told us he had left more trail magic at the next crossing. It was a trifecta for trail magic! The holiday weekend was bringing out the best in people. We stealth camped just past ??? Hut. There was a large rock cliff there so we enjoyed a relaxing dinner while we took in the view. A day hiker named Gene was there. He walked over toward the edge. I told him if he gave me his camera I could get a good picture for him. It turned out well so we all took a turn. Mine is the photo of the day.
Date: 2018-05-26
From: Stealth Camp

To: Big Meadow Campsite
Miles today: 20.0

We broke camp at the usual time today. It started out as a nice day so I lagged behind the group so I could walk alone for awhile and enjoy the scenery. The group was making good time so it took me quiet a while to catch up to them. I really enjoyed the walk and the tranquility of the forest. However, in Shenandoah you are never really too far from the Skyline Parkway so you frequently hear the cars down below. We stopped at Lewis Mountain Campground for lunch and walked a bit further and then......the rains returned and the thunder rumbled above the tree tops. We had decided to put in a long day so we could reach Big Mountain Campsite some 20 miles away. The Shenandoah¢s are much closer to civilization than we have become accustomed. Now it is much more common to be in campgrounds where supplies are available. It rained all afternoon and evening which motivated me to look up in the trees for the widow makers. I don¢t want my luck to run out. A few days ago I had stopped to fill up my water bottles along the trail in the rain. Papa Dale arrived just as I was departing. He also refilled his water supply. When he arrived at camp later in the day, he informed me that he had looked up to say something to me, I had just moved up the trail when a large branch dropped right where I had been standing.  That was a close call! The next day as Papa Dale and I were hiking we heard a loud crack, and the sound of wood snapping. A large tree fell in the woods right behind us. Now I am certainly more aware to look up for the hidden dangers above.