morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-05-29
From: Quality Inn Waynesboro Va

To: 1.5 miles north of Turkey Gap (tent) 
Miles today: 13.0

Day 74 10am we are escorted to the city limits and asked to leave. Worn out our stay. Actually, we caught a shuttle with Tom (Tail Angel). He¢s just back from Africa where he does that crazy UN stuff. We thank him as he had to come back to get us. A late start on a sunny day. We fill out our backcountry permits, as the rangers like to shake down hikers for them. It¢s Memorial Day weekend and there are entirely too many day hikers on the trail. We hike down to Turkey Gap and there is Trail Magic aplenty. Lumpy who hiked last year was in the parking area with fruit, soda and sandwiches. Red was also there and offers a ride up to Loft Mountain picnic area. He had some friends cooking hamburgers, hotdogs, chicken, and corn on the cob, beer, soda, and water. A feast. Yep we went and so did Lumpy. I¢d like to thank all of them for the ride and food. We get back to the trail 4 hours later around 7pm. Rabbit & I chat with Kitchen Sink. She did 27 miles yesterday and plans 30 tomorrow. I think her feet are going to fall off. We find a happy place to camp off the trail, which I think is legal. It¢s hard to say you have to be 10 yards from stream, 50 yards from a building, 50 yards from someone else camping or a no camping sign posted, 14 mile from a road, boundary, campground, picnic area¢¦etc. I think that leaves about 4 feet of camping area in the Shenandoah National Park. Our food bags broke my bear rope.
Date: 2005-05-30
From: 1.5 miles north of Turkey Gap (tent) 

To: Pinefield Hut (tent) 
Miles today: 20.2
Weather: few clouds

Day 75 Last night we had crazy noises around the tents. Yes I realize that a squirrel in dry leaves sounds very big. I¢m claiming it¢s the rare 3-legged Shenandoah elephant and Rabbit is going with the equally rare 3-legged buck with asthma. It went thud, thump..swosh..swoosh¢¦swoosh. Outside chance it was a bear swinging trying to reach our food bags. Since we weren¢t eaten last night a hiking we will go. Everything in the park as far as the trail goes is graded. So there¢s no death climbs. The trail is generally wide, well maintained, usually no complaints. That was until I reached a closed Loft Mountain store. It¢s Memorial Day for crying out loud! Something about no power. This crushed me and I never did recover. We played leapfrog with Kitchen Sink. Passed quite a bit of day hikers. There were some good views of the valley too be had. It was sunny for most of the day. By late afternoon it was raining. We arrive at Pinefield Shelter, I tent in the rain ieee.. I saw too many deer to count including one at lunch. I was making a bagel and I heard something breathe. I look up and a deer is 12 a foot away. She eventually moves a couple feet away and starts to eat. I also had an owl swoop over my head this morning.
Date: 2005-05-31
From: Pinefield Hut (tent) 

To: Bearfence Mountain Hut (tent) 
Miles today: 20.6
Weather: broken clouds

Day 76 Left camp after 8am. We only hike between 8am & 5pm lately. Lazy I guess. A deer came down and ate breakfast with us. The trail today went up. Our first big obstacle was Hightop Mountain where we¢d have lunch. Took a picture of a funky orange salamander. We saw almost no one on the trail today. At lunch a guy with a camera showed up out of nowhere, took a picture and disappeared. Lunch was a pepperoni, miracle whip and bagel with baby muster cheese, yummie. After lunch we crossed we cross hwy 33 where we see a baby deer and momma deer. As we head up Bald Mountain I saw something that I hadn¢t seen in 10 or so months I¢ve hiked on the A.T. Yep a bear. Rabbit just ahead of me spots it on the side of the trail. Oddly it wasn¢t running anywhere so I took a picture. Quite exciting as it ran off. I asked Rabbit why he didn¢t try to feed it, as he did the deer yesterday. We raced to Lewis Mountain campground store with 2 minutes to spare. I grab a pint of ice cream and am now happy. Chuck, Chubbs & Jake are buying beer and heading to the next shelter less than a mile away. Grey Walrus, Pathfinder, Vision Quest and 2 lady hikers I have yet to meet were staying at the campground. We of course follow the Chuck & Jake show to the shelter. I set up my tent and head over to the Hut. Highway Man a section hiker I keep running into is there. Eventually Chubbs, Chuck, Jake, Motorin, Frazzle, Freeheal, Rabbit, Highway Man and 2 other section hikers show up for a fire. Good times where had by all. Jake entertained everyone with many stories. He also reminded me that I would be celebrating my birthday in NJ/NY whether I liked it or not. Even a Mets game. A ranger had mentioned that there was a rogue bear at this very shelter. How¢d he put it (aggressive!). I hope not to be dragged out of my tent. Spent most of the day kicking stumps and rocks. You have those days where you don¢t lift your feet enough and catch roots and rocks that don¢t move. Much like kicking a wall. Pain wise it falls behind turning my ankle, which I like to do at least a couple times a week. Nothing compares with ripping of my blister on a log. I¢m sure I mentioned it, but it bears repeating. Let¢s you know your alive. Speaking of blisters my legs now look as though aliens left crop circles on them.
Date: 2005-06-01
From: Bearfence Mountain Hut (tent) 

To: Big Meadow Campsite
Miles today: 8.0

Day 77 I was up and about early, though didn¢t leave until 9am. It was a quick 8 miles to Big Meadows Campground and that¢s about as far as we got. It¢s a big campground with lodge, dinning hall & a taproom. We missed the turnoff for the wayside so we have to hoof a mile back. On the way to the wayside we run into Jake & Chuck heading to the campsite. Chubbs was at the wayside sleeping on the front lawn with many tourists looking at him. We have lunch with Pathfinder, Grey Walrus, Piddle & Tiki Tiki. Actually we made the last up. They are from WestPoint NY and her name was Hawaiian sounding. Jake suggested Major Hottie & Capt. Cutey for names. I do laundry and shower before heading to the taproom. Jake, Chuck, Andy & Katelyn are already there. I have dinner in the dinning room with Grey Walrus, Pathfinder, the WestPoint ladies, Vision Quest & Rocket. Back to the taproom after a pretty good prime rib dinner. Jake was amazing to all. The bar had live entertainment at 9pm, but they never showed. So they pull someone out of the kitchen. He does have a guitar, but doesn¢t know any songs after the first verse. This was mildly amusing for a bit. He gets some help, I¢m guessing the bus boy? He tells a pretty seedy joke which goes over not so well with the older crowd. Finally a guy from the audience comes up and plays a few originals and a Jimmy Buffet song. Soon the help is back up on the stage. I can¢t take anymore and head back to camp. You can only watch someone suffer so much. The wind is blowing pretty hard and rains on the way. I hope it waits till I break camp tomorrow. I saw lots of deer but no bears.
Date: 2005-06-02
From: Big Meadow Campsite

To: Big Meadows Campground (in a cloud) ÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂtentÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 78 We picked up camp at 6:45am. I poked my head out at 6:30am and only saw a cloud. This is all Jakes fault! He had snow on April 2nd and May 2nd and now trying for June 2nd. We are the first out of camp and into the lodge for breakfast. The restaurant has great food, but over-priced. Lot¢s of coffee and 2 or 3 meals. This is about as far as we get. Outside the world is in a fog. Inside the fireplace is warm and cozy. In the end we blame the rocking chairs. A formidable opponent. We put up a good fight, though we were no match. Andy & Katelyn the section hikers have a campsite so we set up with them after breakfast. 9:30am I have my book and am rocking happily. Yes this is all I did for the majority of the day. Grey Beard and a pile of thru hikers I don¢t know came walking in looking pretty wet. Around 4pm Patches, Ole Man & Navigator come in. It¢s Old Man¢s birthday today. See I knew there was a reason to hang out. We ate in the tap room then headed up to do dessert with Patches, Oleman, Navigator, Twostep, Angie, Java Man and Tea Sip. We sing happy birthday to Ole Man with the rest of the room. Thanks to Patches for the cheesecake. We return to the taproom to find it pretty full. There was one waitress and one guy behind the bar. I went to the bar, cause that¢s pretty much how every bar in the world works. Not this one, as the waitress tells me to sit and she¢ll get there when she gets there. There are other people in here. Happy No Worries I am not. I was just trying to get my beer from the bar as they were clearly under staffed. There were more people at the front desk than at the bar. Forget the fact we¢d been there 2 days and dropped god knows how much money and that we were their only business from 4pm ¢ 7:30pm. I don¢t think the world revolves around hikers. The impression I got was that we were more of a nuisance here. My money is just as green as Joe Happy tourist and I dare say I probably tip better, but Joe Happy wins every time She was obviously flustered and they have silly rules like not ordering a beer up at the bar. I care not. I be moving on tomorrow rain or shine. Actually, rain is looking promising. The weather out side is miserable bordering depression. A fog (cloud) with wind and rain. I can¢t help but think sending back my gortex shell (raingear) was a bit premature. Luckily the gift shop sells ponchos, as the next 4 days look ugly. Tomorrow breakfast and we hopefully leave. I had planned to pick up a job as it looks as though they need the help. I thought of maybe settling down with a waitress or two? This morning Jake told me that acceptable dating ethics is 12 or age plus seven years. I told him I¢m sure it¢s a sound theory, but he forgot the Canadian exchange rate. Right, anyway¢¦ Folk music was the entertainment tonight I wont even try to explain it. Patches goes back to Detroit tomorrow has to be a work on Monday. Glad to see the group one more time. Nite nite I hope new tent floats.
Date: 2005-06-03
From: Big Meadows Campground (in a cloud) ÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂtentÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ 

To: Skyland Lodge:) (room) 
Miles today: 8.1

Day 79 Welcome to the No Worries & Rabbit lodge to lodge hike thru the Shenandoah¢s. Broke camp down in the rain, crawled through a cloud to the lodge. I have breakfast with Rabbit, Patches, Tea Sip & Java Man. Rabbit and I are extremely happy we took a zero and ran into Patches, Navigator & Ole Man. I¢d like to thank Patches for breakfast as he outwitted me and managed to grab the bill. I think the waitress was in cahoots. Rabbit and I retire to the rocking chairs in the lodge where time starts to slip away. Finally the kids are leaving. They grow up so fast. Patches is heading to Pittsburgh then Detroit. Ole Man & Navigator are going to the shelter before the campground. Jude left to break camp around noon. He was visibly shaken from his folk music experience last night. The mountain is still covered in a cloud and it¢s raining. Rabbit looks as though he is getting to comfortable and Blue eye is getting farther away. So I take charge and we are on a wet trail by 12:30pm. Three miles later we are having lunch at Rock Spring Hut. Rabbit¢s sleeping bag is wet and his pack cover fills with water and he sat his pack down. 5 miles later we are at Skyland Lodge checking in. Drying out gear is 1st order, then dinner. We chat with 3-cats and his cousin I think Bob. Andy & Katelyn were also there. So much for not going into dept on this hike. The room was reasonable almost cheap by National Park standards. When we were checking in there was this girl listening to me rant about not being able to get a beer last night. She had an Asbury Woods sweatshirt on, which is very odd as I think there maybe eight in existence and six are probably still on the shelf. Turns out she¢s from Erie Pa. I tell her I once knew a young lady that worked there, but it was long ago. Always amazed how small our little world is. So that was pretty weird, time for a beer. Nothing else went on the rest of the night.
Date: 2005-06-04
From: Skyland Lodge:) (room) 

To: Pass Mountain Hut (tent) 
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 80 Slept in, beds were comfy. We had breakfast and actually left before noon. 10:30 we are hiking. We break at an empty picnic area then move on to Mary¢s rock. I am quite happy we stayed last night and waited out the cloud. Views today from Mary¢s Rock were amazing. Did a little climbing and took an extended break. Panorama was closed in the gap so no food or shakes budget cuts were here? We were planning 18-19 mile day, but we would pass Elkwallow store and wayside while it was closed. So we stop at 4pm and tent at Pass Mountain Hut. This way we can stop by Elkwallow in the morning and re-supply, thus avoid going into Front Royal. Looking for a 23-mile day tomorrow. Hoping to be in Harpers Ferry by Wednesday 4 days from now since that¢s how many blood pressure pills I have left. Oddly, Rabbit sometimes feels like a dirt bike when he hikes, thought I¢d share that. The hut and tent sites filled up as Mouth, Shylow, Florida, Hot & Sweaty, Muleskin & 3 section hikers showed up. I think they should rename my MSR Hubba tent the MSR Flypaper. It¢s bloody orange! Stylish yes, fly¢s seem to think so. Go check your flypaper it¢s orange. Why? Cause flies like it.
Date: 2005-06-05
From: Pass Mountain Hut (tent) 

To: Hogwallow Spring (tent) 
Miles today: 16.5

Day 81 Out of camp by 7:30am. Pretty early for us as of late. Before we get to far we run into the Bio Crew who we met a couple days ago. Their parents are there as they go back to NJ today. Three out of the four did about 600 miles of the A.T. and the other about 450 miles. They gave us homemade power bars. They looked like little fruitcakes, but were tasty. They also made us a bagel with cream cheese. So thanks for the food and great meeting you all. I forgot to take a picture sorry. We don¢t get to far from there when we run into our 2nd bear. This one is waddling down the trail. So naturally we give chase. When I started this hike I was going to run away from them. Now I¢m running at them. Sadly no pictures, as he refused to cooperate. A 2-hour break at Elkwallow where rabbit has 2 blackberry shakes. I have just one in case anyone is counting. The weather is bloody hot! Perhaps warm with ridiculously high humidity. I might just switch my name to puddle. In an odd moment a rabbit crossed in front of Rabbit. Camp tonight is at Hogwallow Spring about 6 miles short of where we wanted to be. Rabbit¢s feet are bleeding and he elected to go no further. Can¢t very well leave him. So into Front Royal tomorrow for a hotel as the outfitter is closed on Mondays. Hopefully he fines new shoes that work. If he still has problems I may have to head out on my own, I hope not.
Date: 2005-06-06
From: Hogwallow Spring (tent) 

To: Front Royal VA (Quality Inn) 
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: few clouds

Day 82 Out of camp at 7:30am. There is one hill then all down hill to town. Rabbit¢s feet don¢t look good. I¢m thinking of cutting them off and making key chains out of them. We take a break at Tom Floyd Wayside (shelter). I use my cell phone to get a free room at the Quality Inn. Terrible I know, but I have a free room. I think my wilderness experience will be ok. As we leave the shelter we run into Yappy & Dead Animal. Seems like Yappy needed her American Idol fix. We roll into town on our second hitch. After checking in we are off to McDonalds. Are we leaving tomorrow? Hmm¢¦ I just watched Empire Falls part1 and part2 is on tomorrow night. Still have to go to the post office, laundry and outfitters.
Date: 2005-06-07
From: Front Royal VA (Quality Inn) 

To: Front Royal VA (Super 8 Motel)
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 83 What¢s one more day? Today we blame no one. We pack up and look for the outfitter. It¢s a small store, but they are in the process of moving. I get a new pair of Leki trekking poles because it¢s the only piece of gear that I haven¢t replaced. That and if I don¢t hurry and spend all my money I may have to finish this hike. My old trekking poles were of the locking pin idea. Only the hole the pin goes into gets bigger over time. This causes unbelievable noise as I hop down the trail. Much like a bear bell. The 2 schools of thought: one it scares the bear or two it¢s a dinner bell. We are really here so Rabbit can get a pair of Chaco¢s. The outfitter only has a couple pair, none in his size. He pushes some other brand I never heard of, but equally expensive. I think they were called bite sandals. They were leather with Velcro and had a Velcro pad insole. He claimed hikers love them. Me with eyebrow raised only mutter that¢s no Chaco. The tag says most comfortable shoe in golf. I have to say no more as Rabbit chooses to wait. In the end I know not what to think of the whole thing. They carry some quality gear and appear helpful, still there¢s something? We did laundry, which happens to be right next door. We checked in to the Super 8. Our original idea for staying is we were watching Empire Falls on HBO and it actually said continued tomorrow. The Supper 8 does not have HBO, but it does have a computer with Internet and clean rooms. I call a taxi, as I¢m not about to walk a mile in this heat to the post office. After which we eat at McDonalds again and then to the Tasty Freeze for a cone. On the way back we run into Box Of Fun & Anj who head back out to the trail at 8pm. They seemed crushed that there were no frosty¢s they did have custard. Where we had lunch (Spelunker¢s) one of the best burgers in town or on the trail for that matter. Spelunker¢s looked just like a Culver¢s for those of you confused. I ate at Spelunker¢s for lunch and McDonalds for dinner. So the girls head out to the trail and we head back to the hotel. Front Royal is a pretty big town with lots of restaurants and motels. A good mix of southern folks, hicks and wanna-be¢s. The kid¢s all wear they¢re hats sideways, black tank-tops (wife beaters) and long shorts driving their cars with spinning hubs and booming stereo¢s. As good of a reason as I can think of to re-instate the draft. When we get back I tell Rabbit to take a long look. Cause when and if we leave we¢ll be riding the Worries train to NJ. PA in 12 days. I hope Rabbits feet stay healthy.
Date: 2005-06-08
From: Front Royal VA (Super 8 Motel)

To: Jim & Molly Denton Shelter (tent)
Miles today: 5.2
Weather: few clouds

Dat 84 Wake up call was at 6am so why at noon are we standing in a parking lot singing ¢should I stay or should I go?¢ Is it because we are vocally blessed? We would like to think so. Let¢s go into the way back machine¢¦Alarm 6am, answer then back to sleepy land. 7am we are eating breakfast across the street at the Fox Diner. 9am we are singing hollaback girl with Gwen. 10am waiting for outfitter to open. 11am still waiting for outfitter to open. Visit the Sprint store for giggles. Back to the outfitter who had finally opened. Then the debate at least for an hour. Should we leave, as it¢s bloody warm out. It¢s like asking my ex-girlfriend what she wants to do. Do you want to leave? Hum¢¦we should. Do you want to sit by the pool? Humm¢¦yes maybe but we should go. I blame Rabbit for not leaving town and take the blame for going into town. A dangerous combination and is partly to blame for Blue eye being a week ahead Though Draggin¢ is 12 a day behind While we argue like a bunch of children, a mini-van pulls over and offers a ride to the trail. We must go, as you don¢t screw with karma. If we say no, we¢ll be hitching all day tomorrow. Back into the woods and for the better. The trail is flat at times with pretty tall trees. Did I mention the heat? How about the humidity? Someone should explain to the folks in Virginia that you just don¢t go from god awful cold & wet to bloody hot! You need a transition¢¦ like spring. The Jim & Molly Denton shelter is home tonight, though was originally just for a break. It comes complete with pavilion Adirondack chairs and cold shower. Tonight we even have the Jazz therapist in house playing the mandolin. He sometimes goes by Mike and lives 4 miles away. He trots up for the captive audience which today is Clockwork Orange, Naked Sun, Rabbit, One thing & myself. He plays for about an hour highly entertaining. A brave few shake a leg along with the music. Clockwork Orange sings the state and capitol song. I¢m impressed. Jazz therapist is headed to DC tonight a tempting offer, but we already have camp set up. Only Rabbit & One thing are with me tonight. Only 5 miles today but we pat ourselves on the back just the same. We left town and that¢s what counts. One thing who thru hiked last year had dinner with us and swapped stories until dark. Shelter is empty as we all are tenting. Big Daddy would also like me to make a public apology to him as I often call him the lodge-to-lodge hiker. So I guess I¢m sorry and I learned from the best. Ohh¢¦ and Big Daddy you can¢t fall off the mountain when you¢re on the Approach Trail. While I am king of the hill it¢s nothing to be proud of. Now one final thing. The question has been passed in a journal ¢If a turtle were to ride a bicycle would he eat toast? I¢ll leave you to ponder.
Date: 2005-06-09
From: Jim & Molly Denton Shelter (tent)

To: Rod Hollow Shelter (tent) 
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 85 On the trail by 7:30am. I have either the beginnings of poison ivy or I¢m the only one bugs are biting. Most of the day I¢m tippy-toeing thru the poison ivy as it¢s everywhere. It¢s really warm and the humidity is unbearable. So we break often. Rabbit¢s feet seem to be doing better through he seems a little under the weather. We cross US 50. About a mile up the trail I find Rabbit sprawled out on the trail. Break time it is. It¢s official I¢m covered in poison ivy. Not particularly happy I call home and ask about the steroids I have for just an occasion. Mom tells me start popping them. She inquires about Rabbit¢s feet. Which for the first time in weeks are doing fine. He on the other hand looks like death warmed up. I¢m thinkin¢ maybe a bad carrot? I call home and they want to know how Rabbit is doing.. Where¢s the love? Rabbit does get up and in a torrential downpour we reach Rod Hollow Shelter. Ole man, One thing, Shilow, Java man, tea sip & 2 section hikers heading south are here. Rabbit goes right to sleep. Shilow wonders what¢s wrong. He say¢s Rabbit doesn¢t look like Rabbit, he looks like a wet dog. The rain stops Rabbit and I set up our tents. Rabbit goes back to sleep. Shilow is king when it comes to food bag hanging he should have his own seminar. It was good chatting with Ole man & Shilow again.