morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-04-04
From: Nashville, TN.

To: 60 miles N of Roanoke, VA.
Miles today: 0.0

On the road again. Nashville at rush hour. Hurry, stop, hurry, stop. I'm glad to get to Virginia. The Hwy. Dept. plants 5 or 6 kinds of daffodils and red japonica. I see the yellow's of Asian Jasmine and the towering stark white of the wild magnolias. Finally, I call Stump for directions to her place. I get lost at least twice before I get there. "The old farmhouse behind the yellow Volkswagon" was the last part. The VW fairly glows in the dark as I arrive, finally. They don't know me and I've never really met her, but we are friends of friends. I started north a few weeks before she and her son did in '01. She finished while I had "flipped" to Katahdin to come south, and finally crashed and burned at Shaw's Boarding House in Me. We both knew lots of the same hikers tho, and she showed me her slide show of her hike. It was a GREAT show, but to tell the truth, it scared me. I got to see her pics of everything I haven't done yet, and I thought "No way, Jose!!" I've been worried about this left knee (even with the heavy duty brace) and I thought "you need to go back to TX. old man! All of your friends and family were RIGHT. There's no way you can handle that!" To tell the truth, I went to sleep thinking that I should go home.
Date: 2003-04-05
From: 60 miles N of Roanoke, VA.

To: Cow Camp Gap Shelter
Miles today: 3.8
Weather: light rain

I cry. I cry when I'm happy, I cry when I'm sad. I cry when I speak from the heart. I don't know why, and I wish I didn't, but I always have, so I guess I always will. It would be fair to say that I spilled my guts out, sitting on the front porch with Jake that Sat. a.m. and I told him the same thing I've just told you, that I was scared silly, and not at all sure that I shouldn't get my fat, out of shape, rear back to TX.Well, Jake's not a preacher, but he can sure act like one when the spirit moves him! He grabbed a'hold of me like I was fixin' to get baptized, and started praying to Jesus that I would find my way out of these fears that the Devil was putting on me. So we wuz standing on the porch there, me crying and him praying, and the strangest thing happened. I got to feeling better! Darned if I didn't! Then we went in and had a breakfast that couldn't be beat and pretty soon he was leaving me alongside the road in a rain storm so I could go hiking and face my fears, and learn whatever lessons the Lord had to teach me this day. And that's a fact!Lesson #1 was that it still hurts like hell! Nothing's changed! So by the time I humped it up the Mtn. 4 miles to Cow Camp Gap Shelter, I was ready to lay down and die, a lonely old man. Well, there were at least 35 Boy Scouts and Scoutmasters spread out in the shelter, so I knew the Lord still had a sense of humor about such as this. I pitched my tent and crawled inside, exhausted.
Date: 2003-04-06
From: Cow Camp Gap Shelter

To: Seeley-Woodworth Shelter
Miles today: 10.2
Weather: scattered clouds

I knew I was still alive when I had to go to the bathroom. Darn my legs hurt too much for it to be a dream. So I packed up and popped a Snickers (big one) and headed out to learn some more. Lesson #2...10 miles is still a bunch. I got to Seeley-Woodworth Shelter about 4:30 and the clouds were getting dark. I had the place all to myself, so I spread out to organize and to see what I had forgotten. Alas, curses, fie, fie, a pox upon it! I forgot to bring along a lighter that worked! No matches! Rats! I had 2 days worth of bagels and cheese, but everything else needed to be cooked! And no way to lite the stove! But wait! My trusty "fire of last resort", my magnesium lighter stick was still hooked on the pack frame from when I used it on Wyah Bald in '01. It's too heavy, too bulky, too everything. But when you shave magnesium dust off one side, and scrape sparks from the other, it will lite a fire even in the rain. It's too darn heavy, but I carry it as a last resort! Thank you Lord! It's starting to get windy and cold.
Date: 2003-04-07
From: Seeley-Woodworth Shelter

To: Seeley-Woodworth Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: snow

Took a picture today. It's of the shelter and trees covered with ice. Had an ice storm during the nite, but I was dry and warm. Except for going to get water, I stayed in the shelter all day as chunks of ice and branches fell out of the trees. Maybe I'll be able to hike tomorrow. I hope it's warming up, I hope, I hope...had a good meal, hot coffee and played my harmonica (harp). Looking forward to the next lesson. It's too early for bears and snakes, but the mice were sure glad to see me.
Date: 2003-04-08
From: Seeley-Woodworth Shelter

To: Tye River, VA. Hwy. 56
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Guess it warmed up some, as during the nite a rainstorm knocked all of the ice down. I listened to it hit the shelter all nite...the constant racket kept the mice away! Was hiking by 7:30 a.m. Saw some deer and listened to the crunch, crunch of all the ice beneath my feet. Made good time and arrived at The Priest Shelter about noon. Always wondered why they named the wilderness area and the Mtn. The Priest. Well, up at the top were HUGE boulders naturally in the shape of an altar! Good Karma! Found an arrowhead within a few feet of the shelter! Looked around and found flint chips that I recognized as the by-products of Indian arrowhead making, right there beside the spring! Very tired. Took 2 hrs. for lunch and rested. Started down at 2:00 p.m. Down, down, down 5 miles to Tye River, VA. Hwy. 56. It was starting to rain, so I put up the tent. Too tired to get water, so put out the cooking pot and collected enough to feel OK. The tent held up well. In '01 when it rained, the seam across the foot ventilation panel leaked a bunch. After I sealed it this year, it worked great! Hope it doesn't ice again as I am camped beneath trees. Too tired to cook, ate the last of the bagels and cheese with some peanut butter. Feel OK.
Date: 2003-04-09
From: Tye River, VA. Hwy. 56

To: Harper's Creek Shelter
Miles today: 2.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Still raining and cold. Stay in the tent until noon when the rain stops. Push myself to get going. Promise myself a good hot meal at Harper's Creek Shelter. Finally make it about 3 p.m. Too far to the next shelter, so cook a good dinner, wash clothes to get the sweat out. Take a bath and feel great, all in that little 2 liter pot! Started raining again, but I am snug and warm and CLEAN! Ready to fight mice again. Fell down once, but gently. Got to be careful!
Date: 2003-04-10
From: Harper's Creek Shelter

To: Maupin Field Shelter
Miles today: 6.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Fog and wind, wind and light rain. Wonder whether to stay or go on. "Can't stay here and can't go back" becomes the mantra that begins to drive me. I have "Three Ridges" ahead. I opt to go over the top, rather than take the easier blue blaze bypass around. Hiking north, the 1st ridge is way healthy and another front begins to blow thru. Meet 4 southbound hikers who tell me that the worst is yet to come. Ridge #2 is three times the size of ridge #1 with the top of the mountain still covered in ice that hasn't melted from 2 days ago and a fresh storm front tries to knock me down as I struggle on. Fog, wind, gusts of sleet, and ice covered branches littering the trail. Very slippery. Finally, I see the summit sign that tells me I am over 1/2 way to Maupin Field Shelter. Thank you Lord. I am cold and wet and have been climbing up, up for about 4 hours now, but the worst is over and I avoid almost all the patches of ice on the down slope. The wind lets up and I am warmer. The 3rd ridge is nothing but a hiccup compared to the first 2, but the weather has been so bad I have not taken a rest break since I began climbing 5 1/2 hrs. ago. My legs ache, but get me to the shelter. To celebrate, I have 2 packages of noodles mixed with a can of tuna. Hot tea and me in a warm sleeping bag and I watch the fog roll in again. The wind picks up, but I am safe again and somewhat proud that I went "over the top". I fall asleep with a smile!
Date: 2003-04-11
From: Maupin Field Shelter

To: Paul C. Wolfe Memorial Shelter
Miles today: 16.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Rats! It's sleeting, foggy and occasional snow pellets at dawn. I'm not geared for this weather. Doesn't the sun ever shine in this part of Virginia? I'm not going anywhere until ice quits falling out of the sky. 10:00 a.m., the wind dies, weather warming. Ice in the trees, but no more falling. I finally get going and wonder if I can do the 16 miles to the next shelter. My legs are feeling stronger, but still, 16 miles is a long way. Am not sure, but figure they wouldn't put the shelters that far apart if there were any major peaks to be climbed, I hope! The 1st ridge is ice-covered apple trees, an old orchard deeded back to the Forest Service, but then I hit the Blue-Ridge Parkway and know the trail parallels the Pkwy. with only minor ups and downs. 4 hours of hiking later and the trail has taken me thru every rattlesnake den and gushing creek they could find. No major ups or downs, but rocks, rocks, rocks! Got to watch your step, not for snakes (too cold yet), but to keep from falling on slippery rocks! Legs are doing OK. About 2 to 2 1/2 mph. on these gentle grades. Finally, ford a healthy mill stream and haul into Paul C. Wolfe Memorial Shelter about 6 p.m. Surprise! There is another hiker spending the nite. Later, one more shows up. Both of them southbound, but it's good to have company. "Vocal" is from Maine and knows Happyfeet and Tumbleweed, sort of. I treat myself to the last 2 pkgs. of noodles and am glad I'll be in Waynesboro tomorrow. Vocal can't seem to shut up and myself and the quiet other guy are happy to let him ramble on and on. The Paul C. Wolfe shelter is the nicest one I've been in yet, (a double-decker). It's nice to have someone else around and the weather seems to be getting better. It's been a good day! Thank you for letting us all be here one more time Lord!
Date: 2003-04-12
From: Paul C. Wolfe Memorial Shelter

To: Waynesboro, VA.
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: clear sky

Wonderful day! Sun shines, warm spring weather and all I have to do is an easy 5 miles, (mostly downhill) into Rockfish Gap, aka Waynesboro, VA. I wish the 2 southbounders good hiking and I head for town and re-supply. (Also, to let everyone know I'm OK, as the weather has been rough). A spot of trail magic along the way! Some "Trail Angel" has left candy bars, fresh fruit, and Mountain Dew in a cold spring along the way. I take a bit and leave the rest for some other hikers. I love this! Catch a ride into town almost right away and he drops me off in front of the Quality Inn, $35.00 a nite with free continental breakfast. Can't beat the price! I'm in the shower immediately, then use up the rest of a Wal-Mart phone card, calling Stump, Grampie, Carol, & Mother to let them know all is well. The in-room coffee maker is merrily perking along when there's a knock on the door! Gnome has already heard thru the grapevine that I'm in Waynesboro and has correctly guessed what motel I'm in. I'm impressed! It's good to see a friendly face from the "no-class of 2001". Even better to have a ride to the Shoney's buffet, which is where I'm going right now! More as it happens...
Date: 2003-04-13
From: Waynesboro, VA.

To: Waynesboro, VA.
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Must have my appetite. Shony's Buffet with Gnome was great! We talked hiker talk until 10 p.m. I'm gonna hang out around here on Sun. and re-supply. Also, have to get new bear-bag line, as I left the last one at Cow Camp (lst shelter). As soon as I could walk, I was trying to escape the Boy Scouts and forgot it there (heh, heh). Walked to Kroger and went to Chinese Buffet with German hikers from the next room with Gnome. Beautiful day to smell the roses in Virginia.
Date: 2003-04-14
From: Waynesboro, VA.

To: Calf Mtn. Shelter
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: clear sky

Checked out of this great motel, modestly priced! Can't beat that! Gnome will take me to the trailhead at 9:00 a.m. and I'll register for Shennandoah. Picked up a runner name of Crockett when we went by post office. He hitched into town, picked up his mail drop and by 9:30 a.m. we are taking goodby pics of me and Gnome. Thanks buddy! Had a great time! Crockett passes me like a flash to catch up to his hiking buddies. They all started from Springer Mtn. back in Feb. Except Bono. He started in Dec. '02. Trail Journals put a snow pic of him and Butterfinger (I think) on the Journals home page. There are about 5 of them hiking as the Scooter Pimp Possee. God knows how they came up with that! (More about this bunch later). Crockett is long gone and I enjoy the hike to Calf Mtn. Shelter, seven miles and fairly easy. More rattlesnake dens, but no snakes! There is a day hiker at the hut when I arrive and I enjoy telling the story of how Texas Jack came to be here today. One day in the future this wannabe A.T. hiker will make the commitment...but today I plant the "want to" in his mind (smile). Later, 2 older, out-of-shape guys struggle in, looking beat, and still later, 3 sisters and a husband arrive. Everyone is glad for the hut and wondering about bears (of which there are none). The 3 sisters negotiate every little point and the husband is ready to scream before he gets fed. Two of them get real quiet while the 3rd handles the male animal, and then they all go back to negotiating again. He stalks off with his crunchy noodles in a huff, and I don't see him until the next day when the negotiating team is negotiating how to make oatmeal.
Date: 2003-04-15
From: Calf Mtn. Shelter

To: Blackrock Hut
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: clear sky

I feel it is my civic duty to point out to the girls and the husband that they are about to be in Waynesboro that evening, and they still have about 4 days worth of food that they are carrying. I offer to carry whatever they don't want, in the other direction (I being northbound, they south). This little trick is commonly referred to as "Yogi-ing" (after Yogi Bear and Boo Boo), the originators and perfectors of the practice. It worked like a charm! The husband and primary "Beast of Burden" could see the advantage to not having to carry more stuff than they needed down the mountain. (heh, heh, heh!) I am smiling as I head out to Blackrock Hut. Turk Mtn. takes the smile off my face. Nobody said anything about this and it has a top like the Matterhorn! But it's a nice day and I finally make it to the hut where I meet Bono and Butterfinger both talking trash about Crockett. Bono's claim to fame is that he's in love with "Rhonda", a minus 20 degree Mt. Everest down sleeping bag in bright red. He looks like cigarette, sticking out of Rhonda's big red lips! The 2 out-of-shape guys are out of whiskey, so they give us all their food (oh goody!) and hike out to go to the nearest bar. I have a big meal that nite, and watch deer come down to the spring on the other side of the ravine. Thank you for letting me be here Lord!
Date: 2003-04-16
From: Blackrock Hut

To: Loft Mtn. Campground
Miles today: 7.4

Wake up to the sounds of Butterfinger getting ready to go. I am out hiking by 9:30 and the world famous Bono is still asleep in Rhonda. He has allowed himself 10 months to do the Trail and hikes very fast for a week or two and then just vegges out for a few days. I need to do some miles, but I take a couple pics of the rocky summit of Blackrock Gap at 3,100'. The weather is still great, but there's no water to be found until I get to Loft Mtn. Campground. It's too far to the next hut, so I walk around looking for water for at least an hour. Finally, I give up and start to leave. Then I find the spring. I pump 6 liters and go back to pitch the tent and make dinner. Just before dark, I go walking around the campsites looking for deer, which seem to be everywhere. They don't even run away and several times I am within 20 feet of 4 or 5 of them. I take pics. It's a good nite, but I think another front is coming in. The wind starts to blow.
Date: 2003-04-17
From: Loft Mtn. Campground

To: Pinefield Hut
Miles today: 5.8
Weather: broken clouds

Colder, wind and fog. Have breakfast and then hiking. Get cold. Stop early at Pinefield Hut, have dinner and by 4:00 p.m. am in my sleeping bag. Not bad, just warmer in the bag. Later, a solo guy shows up. Doesn't say anything, but pitches his tent in back of the hut. OK by me.
Date: 2003-04-18
From: Pinefield Hut

To: Pinefield Hut
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light snow

By the morning, it's foggy, cold, drizzling, and windy. So sue me! I take another zero day. I don't have good foul-weather gear and this constant drizzle wets and chills me. Got to get some decent rain gear somewhere. Big Meadow is coming up. Maybe I'll call Stump to bring me my truck? Maybe I'll hitch back into Waynesboro to find some "Frog-Togs" rain gear (made of paper, and very lite). Meanwhile, I just cook up some of this extra food, stay warm and catch up on the journals. One other thing. Bono and Butterfinger both were talking about ticks getting on them and I said "no way, it's too early." (I'm trying to avoid ticks). Well, I guess it's because of all the deer, but I found a tick crawling on my sox...UGH!! Now I find myself checking every little tickle. Maybe this cold, wet will chase 'em back to somewhere else...I hope! It's about 1:00 p.m. when I find out (by reading the Data Book) that High Top Hut is only 8 miles away. Should have hiked today. Oh well, will have less to carry in the a.m. Two guys came in before dark. Young guys talking college racing shells (rowing). Both wondering what they'd like to be when they grow up. Wonder that myself sometimes...grinz!
Date: 2003-04-19
From: Pinefield Hut

To: Hightop Hut
Miles today: 8.2
Weather: overcast clouds

I go over the top like a hiker and resist the urge to roadwalk down. I roll up the miles in 4 and 1/2 hours. Not too bad! The earlier hiker guys are here, too. I am fixing breakfast/dinner while they are off exploring somewhere. Guess it's the bag for me after a cup of tea. I can do either 12 or 13 miles tomorrow, we shall see. Update! Update! the durndest thing. I had been kind of bemoaning the fact that these 2 guys hadn't brought a bag of cheeseburgers to give away to needy thru-hikers that they meet at the shelter/huts along the way (namely ME) 'cause I've been practicing my "Yogi-ing" techniques. Well, danged if these two fellas (who were finished with their section hike) hadn't hiked down the Mtn. from Hightop Hut, got in their car and stopped by a burger joint and brought me one back to the hut. You could have knocked me over with a feather. I bet my jaw hit the ground when I saw that sack of burgers. Man, thanks guys!! It was totally unexpected. Trail Magic at its best! I wish I could remember yer names (but they didn't have trail names). You know who you are. Thank you! Thank you! I'll pay it back one day!
Date: 2003-04-20
From: Hightop Hut

To: Bearfence Hut
Miles today: 12.4

On my way about 8:30 a.m. It's Easter morning! Thank you Lord for letting me be here this day. It's 12 miles, all up hill! Killer. Why do I do this? This hurts. I'm out of gas by 3:00 p.m. and not there yet. Finally, finally, and Bearfence Hut is overrun with section hikers. I don't care. I tent off to the side and they don't hear a peep from me the rest of the nite.
Date: 2003-04-21
From: Bearfence Hut

To: Big Meadow Lodge
Miles today: 8.0

Morning comes and the section hikers are all gone. I'm still creaky from yesterday, but am only going to Big Meadow Lodge. I need a shower, laundry and some groceries. A new front brings warm showers, but I hike thru it anyway. Just pleased to be here. The miles are a bit easier and not so many of 'em. Will probably set a record for being the slowest hiker to do the Shenandoahs. Am taking too many zero days already. Got to do something different. Am completely bushed after only 5 hours steady hiking. No way I can do north of Harpers Ferry like this. Need more G.O.R.P. Legs are better than 2 weeks ago, but rubbery too soon. Need more miles...slowly. Big Meadow Lodge is a bit pricy and upscale. Lots of BMWs and Lexus in the parking lot, but they let me in anyway. Dinner at 5:30. Did laundry in the shower stall while I was washing the sweat off. Nice place. Still have to get groceries and stove alcohol. Hope they have it at the camp store. The Lodge doesn't carry that type sundries...only lodgings, restaurant and bar. What the heck, you can't have everything. I'm off to the bar. Later.
Date: 2003-04-22
From: Big Meadow Lodge

To: Skyland Cabins
Miles today: 8.1

Nice day for hiking! The Big Meadows Camp Store has everything I need to resupply, including alcohol, even tho' I had to look for it. The Trail winds along the mountains, usually just below Skyline Drive. I pass Skyland and finally stop about 3:30 for a break. Skyland Cabins are only a mile behind me and I decide to go back. A restaurant meal and another bed would be just fine. They aren't renting cabins this early in the season, but after some negotiations, they rented me one anyway. I stopped in the bar later and got a chicken breast sandwich with fries while we watched a local "clog dancing" group demonstrate their steps. Sorta like "Riverdance meets Prairie View A&M". I had no idea there were so many intricate combinations of tapping rythms.
Date: 2003-04-23
From: Skyland Cabins

To: Pass Mountain Hut
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: clear sky

Breakfast at Skyland...what a view of the Shenandoah Valley from the restaurant, then I'm hiking again. Start at 10:00 a.m., crisp and cold but nice. Pinnacles Picnic Ground was quiet and deserted except for some deer. I fall into a rythm while coming upslope to see "Mary's Rock", a one billion yr. old geological point of interest. Slam! Ouch! What the hell was that? I had just run my head into a deadfall tree across the trail that I hadn't even seen! (Others have since admitted doing the same thing.) Slammed my head good! There's a lesson here, "don't do that again!" Got a pic of the tree after I got around it. Also, got a pic of an old chimney somewhere around there. Lots of abandoned apple and cherry orchards gone wild since the '20s. Finally make it to Pass Mountain Hut, with very convenient water supply. The hut is situated in a little patch of pine forrest so it smells like air feshener all the time. I meet "See Blue", and a guy hiking southbound. He fills our heads with visions of cheeseburgers and fries with a blackberry shake at Elk Wallow Gap. See Blue is fun to be around and is in love with "Roxy" and looking to see her again. He talks me into doing 7 miles to Elk Wallow tomorrow before noon.
Date: 2003-04-24
From: Pass Mountain Hut

To: Gravel Springs Hut
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: overcast clouds

We're hiking by 8:15. By noon I am spooning blackberry shake into my mouth. 7 miles before noon...See Blue just smiles. He's blind for Roxy. I take off first and make it to Gravel Springs Hut. See Blue pulls in later. He talked to Roxy at Elk Wallow and thinks he needs to go see her. We spend the nite at the hut wondering about Roxy.
Date: 2003-04-25
From: Gravel Springs Hut

To: Tom Floyd Wayside
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: overcast clouds

I do almost 11 miles by 5:00 p.m. See Blue leaves me a note in the register. He's off the trail to see Roxy. In the days to come, many of his hiking buddies would be sad to hear that. But right now, I'm in for the nite. Tom Floyd hut is nice and the 1st I've seen with a small deck. Later, the Ridge Runner I had met coming out of Gravel Springs hut comes in for the nite. He doesn't have a trail name yet. He is still in the military, trying to be a father to 2 sons and he dreams of hiking the A.T. He seems impressed that, at even 7 to 8 miles a day, I am out here fulfilling my dream. The water source is farther away from the shelter than any other that I can remember. The fog and drizzle makes footing unsure. I'm glad when I finally return thru the mist to make supper.