morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-05-29
From: Cornelius Creek Shelter

To: tent near the James River
Miles today: 18.5

I slept great again in the tent. Hairball also heard the animal outside the tents last night. Fortunately, morning came without incident, although I am still anxious to see a bear. Several have been seen in the last week or two. Once again we got a late start out of camp, 9:45, our latest yet. Fresh Legs talked to Dell and he is meeting us tomorrow with a new ceramic cartridge for my filter. It was a warm hiking day, around 80 degrees. More big climbs today. Virginia isn't as flat as I've been told, although Shenandoah National Park, which is coming up, shouldn't be too bad according to the elevations in my AT book. I'll find out soon enough. We were planning to tent at Matts Creek Shelter, but it was crowded with weekend hikers so we pushed on about another mile to this campsite. This might be the loudest site yet. There are crickets, frogs and whipperwills all singing along with sounds from cars and trains from the other side of the river. Koko.
Date: 2005-05-30
From: tent near the James River

To: Punchbowl Shelter
Miles today: 11.9
Weather: scattered clouds

It was less than two miles this morning out to the road crossing where Fresh Legs and I were meeting Dell. We got to the road around 10, but weren't meeting him until 11:30. I hitched a ride into town from a local couple with Hairball and Snowbunny while Fresh Legs stayed with the gear and read. After my customary burger in town, I bought all the fixin's for an All American Memorial Day cookout on the trail: hotdogs and buns, mustard, potato chips, soda and three cans of beer. I was about to thumb a ride back to the trail, when guess who showed up, Dell. He was just dropping someone off in town, so he drove me back to the trail. Dell was able to find a filter replacement and even got a deal on it. He is a local guy who shuttles around many of the hikers for a reasonable fee. He knows where all the trail crossings are and has contacts with several other hiker friendly folks in this area of the trail. When we got back to the trail, Ken, another of the trail angels had dropped off a cooler full of sodas and candy bars. A Mountain Dew and Reese's and I was ready to hit the trail. The pack was heavy with the cookout food, but it was worth it. It is Fresh Legs last night on the trail and a good night to celebrate. It's been great having him out here for two weeks. He is planning to meet up with me again once I'm in New England, hopefully blister free this time. It was a nice weather day, sunny and about 80. Today's hike was tough with climbs of 2200 and 800 feet. We arrived at the shelter around five, I think our earliest camp yet. The setting here is very nice. There is a pond, a grassy clearing and some wooded tent sites all near the shelter. We found out tonight that this shelter is supposedly haunted by the ghost of Ottie Cline Powell, a young boy who got lost in these mountains and died over 100 years ago. We met some new folks tonight, Chuckles and Gotta Go, an older couple from the Gatlinburg area who are thru hiking. The hotdogs were great tonight. There were about eight of us celebrating the holiday by the fire until the rain started. This is the first time I have tented in the rain in quite some time. It's not coming down too bad. I can hear crickets and bullfrogs down by the pond. I also heard an owl earlier and it sounds like there might be a large mammal not too far away in the woods breaking timber. It's got to be a bear. No rush tomorrow, only 10 miles by four. Koko.
Date: 2005-05-31
From: Punchbowl Shelter

To: Cold Mountain
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: overcast clouds

It rained pretty hard during the night, but I stayed dry in the tent. Everyone survived the night with no signs of the ghost. Fresh Legs heard the same large animal overnight that I did. We weren't on the trail until after ten, but only had about ten miles to the road crossing where Fresh Legs was finishing. Hopefully, I didn't scare him away from coming back up north. We got to the road around three. It was a nice place to wait with picnic tables and garbage cans to throw out our trash. It's amazing how little it takes to make a hiker happy. We set up our tents to dry them out from last night's rain. Dell picked us up around five and drove me to town for a quick food resupply and the now customary Hardee's stop. I was back up to the trail around six. Fresh Legs and I had one last picture taken next to the AT white blaze and he was off to Roanoke to catch his flight tomorrow. I was back on the trail around 7:30pm planning to continue to the next shelter about four miles north. The shelter was .6 off the trail so I decided to push on until I found a campsite right off the trail. I found a nice flat area at the top of Cold Mountain around 10:00 where I set up camp for the night. It was a grassy bald with nice views both east and west. I am planning for about 23 miles tomorrow. Koko.
Date: 2005-06-01
From: Cold Mountain

To: Harpers Creek Shelter
Miles today: 23.3
Weather: overcast clouds

After five consecutive nights in the tent, I am sleeping in the tent for two reasons. I want to get an early start and it's supposed to rain tonight. It was nice sleeping on Cold Mountain last night. It wasn't as cold as the name suggested, but I did have quite a bit of condensation on the inside of the tent. I even had to set it up at lunch to dry it out. The weather today was cool for June 1. I had to put my jacket on when I took breaks. The terrain wasn't bad today with the exception of a 3000 foot decent to Tye River. However, the trail magic received there more than made up for it. Two folks from the local Sierra Club chapter were cooking burgers and had soda, chips, fruit and snacks. It was a great treat and nice surprise late in the hiking day with a big climb ahead. I had two burgers and relaxed for about an hour. I me two new hikers: Nomad from WI and Red Blaze from VT. They are both at the shelter tonight. I am planning on 22 miles tomorrow to the last shelter before Waynesboro, which will leave an easy five miles to town on Friday morning. Koko.
Date: 2005-06-02
From: Harpers Creek Shelter

To: Maupin Field Shelter
Miles today: 6.2
Weather: light rain

Today was a tough day. First of all, there was a 2000 foot climb to start the day and secondly, it was cold and raining. I managed only 6.2 miles from the last shelter to here. My intent when I got here was to just stop for a snack and then move on, but I was cold and wet. I decided to change into warm clothes and jump in the sleeping bag for awhile. That was at about 11am. I probably should have hiked on about 2.5 miles off the trail to Rusty's Hard Time Hollow. It's one of the original hiker hostel's on the trail that will be closing this year when the place is sold. I slept most of the afternoon and watched several people come and go. The next shelter is 16 miles and the rain showed no signs of letting up, so I decided to stay at this shelter tonight. I guess it's going to rain again tomorrow, but hopefully not all day like today. It's about 21 miles to Waynesboro and civilization tomorrow. I can't wait to take a hot shower, it's been nine days since I last took one. My radio isn't working either. I think it got too wet today. It probably just needs to dry out. The shelter is full tonight with Hareball, Clockwork Orange, Train and Raindrop, Snowman and Sparkplug and yours truly. Koko.
Date: 2005-06-03
From: Maupin Field Shelter

To: Grace Lutheran Church - Waynesboro, VA
Miles today: 21.1
Weather: light rain

I couldn't wait to get on the trail this morning. I kept waking up during the night to check on the rain and every time it was still coming down. By 6:15 when I got up, it had finally stopped after raining for about 30 straight hours. I was packed up and on the trail by 7:30 after spending 21 hours in the shelter. Today's hike wasn't bad with one climb in the middle of the day over Humpback Mountain. There was so much water falling off the trees, that it felt like it was raining, until finally it started again. I just kept my head down and hiked about as fast as I have hiked yet, even running down some of the decents. It took me less than seven hours. I am staying at a church hostel in town. This is the first year they have offered this service to hikers. It's a great setup and the shower was fantastic. I'm taking a zero tomorrow and hitting the trail again on Sunday evening. I'll be hiking through Shenandoah National Park next week. Koko.
Date: 2005-06-04
From: Grace Lutheran Church - Waynesboro, VA

To: Quality Inn - Waynesboro
Miles today: 0.0

This entry will be for both today and tomorrow. I took zeros both days. It was nice to relax over the weekend. Tamara met me in Waynesboro on Saturday night on her way back from work in TX. I ran errands and we shuttled some hikers around town, since she had a car. There was a small hiker fest on Saturday afternoon, which was nice. It was good to catch up with some hikers who were behind me: Patch, LB, South Shore, Peanut, Ribeye, Hopeful and Redwing. I'm looking forward to entering Shenandoah National Park on Monday. Koko.
Date: 2005-06-06
From: Quality Inn - Waynesboro

To: Blackrock Hut
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: clear sky

Mile 868.2Tamara dropped me off at the trail around 12 after a stop at the outfitter for campsoap and bug repellent and one last taste of civilization. A Freezee from Tastee Freeze. I haven't had the need for bug spray yet, but it's only a matter of time. It was good to get moving north again. I like taking zeros, but knowing I still have so many miles to go, i'm glad to be back at it. After a short stop at the first shelter about seven miles north, I hiked straight through the remaining 13 miles and arrived here in the dark. The AT crosses over Skyline several times as it makes it's way north through Shenandoah NP. It runs north-south through the park and is basically an extension of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Interesting fact of the day: the BRP was built to connect Shenandoah NP with the Great Smoky Mountains NP. I was beat when I got to the shelter and didn't get into my bag until almost 11. Another big day tomorrow, 21 miles. I saw seven deer today. They aren't quite as skiddish as I thought they would be. Most run away and then stop and stare at you. One actually stopped and then walked back toward me. At one point, I was moving down the trail fast and all of a sudden I looked up and one was about 15 feet ahead of me. It would have been a great picture, but it was pouring. It's so warm now, I don't even put the jacket on. Today was the hottest day yet on the trail. It was supposed to be over 90 in the valley, probably mid to high 80's. Koko.
Date: 2005-06-07
From: Blackrock Hut

To: Hightop Hut
Miles today: 21.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Mile 889.6Today completes ten weeks on the trail. I'm still feeling strong and enjoying the journey. I slept well and was on the trail at around 8:30. Today was warmer than yesterday. It might have just felt that way, because I hiked through the heat of the day today unlike yesterday. It makes even the smallest climbs much more difficult. I drank almost a gallon of fluids today. I saw another four deer today, including a mother and fawn. We stopped at the first camp store in the park today. I was with Snowman, Sparkplug, Hopeful and Redwing. I had all sorts of snacks. It was great. We will be passing a camp store or restaurant every day we are in the park. It's definately something to look forward to, especially in this heat. Tomorrow's stop is at Big Meadows, a lodge with a restaurant and taproom. The shelter residents tonight are Bluey, Chuckles and Gotta Go, Nick, Dave, Hopeful, Redwing and Snowman and Sparkplug. Another 20+ miler tomorrow. Koko.
Date: 2005-06-08
From: Hightop Hut

To: Rock Spring Hut
Miles today: 23.9
Weather: clear sky

Mile 913.5Bear! I finally saw not one, but two. I got off to my earliest start yet, about 7:15. In the shelter register, there were several reports of bear activity including someone having their tent site ransacked while they were getting water at the spring. Early in the day, I met two women section hikers who had just seen one north of me. I quietly hiked up the trail with my trekking poles up and camera ready. No bear. A little later, I ran into Bluey who had seen the same bear and actually stayed on the trail with it for about 20 minutes. I stopped in at the Lewis Mountain Campground for a snack break. Hopeful and Redwing showed up and told me they had seen a mother bear and two cubs this morning. I knew it was just a matter of time, but I was getting anxious. When I hit the trail again, I was constantly scanning the woods on both sides of the trail. No luck. I made my second food stop of the day around four at the Big Meadow Wayside. I had my first taste of the blackberry ice cream that SNP is known for. It was delicious and I will be having it again before I leave the park. Within five minutes back on the trail, it happened. I saw a family up ahead taking pictures, so I slowly approached and there it was, a black bear cub. It was about 40 or 50 feet off the trail in full view. The cub just stared at me with curiosity. I was able to get several good pictures. I did wonder where momma bear was. I was hoping to get her picture too. It was great. This evening, I stopped at the lodge for dinner and a couple of celebratory drinks and then hiked on to Rock Spring Hut. I left the lodge around 8 and didn't get to the trail until around 9:30 in the dark. This is when I saw the second bear, another cub off the trail. It was too dark to get a picture. I decided for the remainder of tonight's hike that I would whistle and bang my trekking poles together, so not to startle a mother bear and provoke it. That must have been a funny site. At the shelter tonight are Hopeful, Redwing, Red Blaze, Bluey and Clay, a section hiker from Florida. There is a deer hanging around the shelter. Apparently it is not afraid of humans and has shown an affinity for urine and came right up to me during the act. Very interesting. I great day. I am wiped out. Koko.
Date: 2005-06-09
From: Rock Spring Hut

To: Pass Mountain Hut
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Mile 928.8I didn't sleep well in the shelter. I need to start using my tent again. I have a short sleeping pad, so my feet aren't cushioned when I sleep and they get sore on the wood floors. Also, the bugs and flies are starting to become a factor. I was on the trail around 8:30 for a 6+ mile hike to Skyland Wayside, where I had a waffle and eggs with coffee. Fantastic. It was a nice break from the Pop-Tarts and peanut butter that I have most mornings. I could really get used to having all these food stops every day. The SNP is referred to by hikers as the Shenandoah 100 Mile Vacation, because the terrain is flatter and there are all these camp stores and restaurants to stop at. It's a nice luxury, even if only for a few days. After breakfast, I dozed in the easy chair in the lobby while reading the USA Today. Another luxury. Snowman and Sparkplug showed up and I decided to stay and have lunch with them. Another good choice. The steak and cheese sub was perfect plus I had another blackberry sundae. I finally got back on the trail after a four and a half hour break. The afternoon hike was relatively easy and I got here to the shelter just after six. I am staying in the tent tonight to avoid the bugs and get a better sleep. The hut's caretaker, Skyline, was here and brought us some great trail magic, fresh fruit cup. He's from the local town of Luray and comes up here about once a week to clean up the shelter area. Some locals had left a kiddie pool and beach ball here, which Skyline had to pack out. Tonight's residents are Break a Leg, Nick, Dave, Snowman, Sparkplug and Clay. Another big day tomorrow to a hostel. It will be nice to shower and do laundry after a hot week. Koko.
Date: 2005-06-10
From: Pass Mountain Hut

To: Terrapin Station Hostel
Miles today: 22.7

It's been almost three weeks since I last updated trail journals. I finally have some time and an internet connection, so I'll add as many entries as I can. Some of you have expressed interest in meeting me when I get to New England. Well, believe it or not, I'll be there soon. I will be reaching the CT border around July 10 and MA around July 13. Send me an email or voicemail at 413-218-4398 and let me know when you would like to hike. On to the journal...Day 73Mile 951.5I slept great in the tent. It rained hard during the night, but once again no water inside. It was warm and muggy and I spent most of the night sleeping in just my bag liner. I was on the trail at 7:40 this morning for my last day in Shenandoah National Park. The wildlife and food stops have been great, although there have not been many vistas until today. I made my last food stop at Elkwallow Gap. A breakfast sandwich and steak and cheese sub hit the spot. I was hoping to have one last dish of the blackberry ice cream, but they were out. An unfortunate situation. I met Web Breaker while I was there. He is a past thru hiker(class of 2000) who is retired and now works as a ridge runner for the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club covering SNP. It sounds like a great job. He works five days a week and basically sets his schedule. His main responsibility is to serve as a trail ambassador through his section. He answers questions, reports problems and does minor trail maintenance. He got his trail name because his is an early riser and literally breaks many spider webs crossing the trail that are spun each night. I know the feeling. The webs get stuck in my beard and on my face all the time. The skies were foggy and they rumbled, but no rain today. I hiked this afternoon with Clay. We got here to the hostel just after five. It's a nice setup run by a past thru hiker named Mike. For $17, you get a bunk, shower, laundry and a free shuttle to and from Front Royal. The hostel is in the basement of his split level house with food and drinks for sale. I will do a resupply in the morning to get me three days to Harpers Ferry, about 60 miles away. I have met some new hikers here at the hostel: Rocky, Swampfox, Mule, Nomad 6 and English Bob. We gave Clay his trail name tonight. We gave him a choice between Fatigue(he is wearing camouflage pants) or Gator(he goes to the Univ. of Florida). He chose Fatigue. Koko.
Date: 2005-06-11
From: Terrapin Station Hostel

To: Dick's Dome Shelter
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: broken clouds

Another good night sleep. The air mattress was comfortable. I was up around eight. Mike shuttled a group of us into Front Royal this morning to grocery shop and stop at the outfitter. On our way into town, we passed a Dunkin' Donuts. It was the first one I have since starting the trip. Mike stopped so I could get an ice coffee and some donuts. A nice start to the day. We were back to the hostel by noon. I packed up my gear and was on the trail by 1:45. It was a nice weather day, warm and sunny. I stopped at the Jim and Molly Denton Shelter for a late lunch/early dinner. It's one of the nicest shelters I have seen yet with a deck on the front and a separate pavilion with a picnic table and a solar shower. If it wasn't so early in my hiking day, I would have stayed. I had my big meal of the day, a bag of Lipton Dirty Rice and a tuna sandwich. I think I will do this more often. It gave me more energy later in the day. Additionally, a cold meal at night is quicker and easier, especially if I continue to night hike. After the shelter, I encountered trail magic at Manassas Gap, a cooler with bottles of coke courtesy of a past thru hiker. It gave me a good boost for the climb back out of the gap. I reached Manassas Gap Shelter just before eight, filtered water from the spring and decided to night hike to the next shelter another 4+ miles up the trail. The night sky was bright and I only used my headlamp to avoid rocks. I reached the shelter around 9:30.   It's very unique, having more than four sides and a domed roof. Another 18+ tomorrow to Bears Den Hostel. Koko.
Date: 2005-06-12
From: Dick's Dome Shelter

To: Bears Den Hostel
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 75Mile 989.3Once again, I didn't sleep great in the shelter. I kept hearing a large animal outside and because I didn't hang my food bag, I was continually shining my headlamp to scare it off. I woke up later than usual, around 7:30. That's the beauty of having a shelter all to yourself, no one to wake you up. I was on the trail just after nine. Today was a hot and humid one. The trail went through a few fields of shoulder height grass today. I kept checking myself for ticks. None yet, knock on wood. I made great time this morning to Ashby Gap, where I encountered the best trail magic cooler yet. It was full of ice cold soda, candy bars and fruit. I met two brothers who were out for a week heading south from Harpers Ferry to Front Royal. It was a trial run for them. They are enjoying the hike and have decided to continue for two months. I kept a good pace after the trail magic to the next shelter where I had lunch. From there, I entered the infamous "Roller Coaster", a 13.5 mile stretch north with ten ascents and decents of about 500 feet each. The trail corridor is narrow here due to minimal land ownership, so the AT doesn't switch back as much and has to go over the top of all these peaks. I completed about nine miles of the coaster today. The pitch of the climbs has been more aggressive than most. This combined with the heat made for a difficult afternoon. However, the Bears Den Hostel has made up for it. Hopeful and Redwing recommended it to me awhile back. It is run by Laurie(Queen Diva), a friend of theirs. It's a nice place housed in a stone building with a couple dozen bunks. The upstairs has a large lounging area with lots of windows, sofas, big chairs, books and a piano. There is also a full kitchen and dining area with a large table where about twelve of us ate a big pasta dinner prepared by Queen Diva. It was delicious. The thru hikers here tonight are Freeze Dried, Lobster, Dark Helmet, Rocky and Swampfox. I also met Cyclehiker's sister who is here to surpise him in the next couple of days. She brought us cookies for dessert. I'm glad I stopped here. Tomorrow, I will reach Harpers Ferry, go over the 1,000 mile mark and enter West Virginia, three big milestones. Koko.