morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-07-18
From: Big Meadows Campground

To: Luray, VA.
Miles today: 17.6

Today was one of the best days on the AT!!!!Stops a Lot, Vertical Eddie, and I got up early in the Big Meadows campground. Packing up with little conversation around 6:30 AM while other campers around us still slept.We started hiking the AT, which was about 30 yards from our campsite, around 7:40AM. It was a great morning with early sunshine and a predicted daytime temperature of about 95.As we hiked we were greeted with one after another of great vista views. Spectacular views of the Shenandoah Valley from all angles. We could easily see the mountain parts we just hiked as the trail circled the valley.We came upon a stretch of AT path that ran along a multitude of blueberry and raspberry patches near Skyline Drive. There was a heavy concentration of bear poop on the trail. Just as we made a turn in the path Stops was heard to say BEAR ahead. I quickly grabbed for the camera and snapped a picture of a good size sow. Just as I prepared for a second shot a huge male weighing al least over 400 lbs crossed the path in front of the sow and they both disappeared into the brush never to be seen again. Wow, what a huge black bear!!!!!We continued our 18 mile day with more great vistas and we finally met Skyline who was nice enough to shuttle us into Luray, VA., for the night. Thanks Jim!We decided we would zero in Luray tomorrow. A hot shower was so welcome and a good night's sleep in a bed even more so.NedHamara@pocketmail.comNed Hamarawww.TrailJournals.com/NedHamara
Date: 2005-07-19
From: Luray, VA.

To: Luray, VA.
Miles today: 0.0

Today is a zero day meaning no hiking. Resting the dogs. I have less than 100 miles to complete the Virginia leg minus a short make-up.The plan now is to make it to Harpers Ferry probably by Monday. I have flight reservations from Washington, D.C. to Portland, Maine a week from tomorrow. I will travel from Portland, Maine to Monson, Maine and hike the 100 mile wilderness to Baxter State Park. I'll then shuttle back to Monson and start hiking south completing the rest of Maine during the month of August.That's the plan today, but all could change.NedHamara@pocketmail.comNed Hamarawww.TrailJournals.com/NedHamara
Date: 2005-07-20
From: Thornton Gap.

To: Gravel Springs Hut
Miles today: 14.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Got up around 6 AM in Luray, VA., after a zero day. Nice stay in a little tourist town. Got a lot of little things accomplished.Had breakfast at Uncle Bucks which was great and found a young local gal that agreed to shuttle us to the trail head for 20 bucks.Nice morning as we incurred a major climb from the start. About 1000 feet over two miles. 1000 feet is like climbing a 100 story hi-rise apartment building if you were wondering!Another day when Skyline provided us with the opportunity to have lunch at a wayside restaurant along the drive.After a leisurely lunch we headed up another steep climb as we would cross Skyline Drive 5 more times this afternoon. Weather was holding out as no afternoon thunderstorms appeared to be developing.We arrived at Gravel Spring Hut around 5 PM to find an old friend Plus One who apparently was held up recently with a leg injury, but was now back tracking to make up missed AT miles. He told me he had spoken to Phoenix a few times in the last several weeks who apparently reported to him I was off the trail for good. Again, another instance of misinformation purported by Phoenix along the trail! Obviously, I'm alive and well and closing in on the 500 mile hike club.Were off to Front Royal for re-supply tomorrow and should be in Harpers Ferry by Monday.We then fly to Maine to begin the 100 mile wilderness next Friday!Will have a few down days in HF to reorganize for the transition to Maine.Thought Shannon McDaniel might join me on the AT for a day or two, but no word from her at the FBI Academy.NedHamara@pocketmail.comNed Hamarawww.TrailJournals.com/NedHamara
Date: 2005-07-21
From: Gravel Springs Hut

To: Front Royal, VA
Miles today: 13.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Early start today as I packed up the tent and gear and started off before everyone else. Another hiker, Plus One, was in the shelter last night. We had met several times before and he was making up a short segment of the SNF because he too had to rest a few days because of a leg injury. The AT excuses no one from foot pain and possible leg injuries along the way!! Sooner or later severe pain will jump up and bite you when you least expect it.Today we would finish the 100 mile or so SNF and spend the night in Front Royal, VA., where our re-supply boxes had been sent earlier. All of us did not need anything from our boxes so we sent them head to Harpers Ferry where we would arrive on Monday.The exit down the mountain out of the SNF was rocky and difficult and unlike the rest of the park which was pretty easy going for the most part. We had seen bears, rattlesnakes, an abundance of whitetail deer, and numerous species of birds and small reptiles. A nice trek through the SNF indeed!We arrived in Front Royal, Virginia around 2:30PM just before the thunderstorms. About three days left to Harpers Ferry, re-organize our gear for a few days then the big jump to Maine and the 100 mile wilderness. I talk more about the 100 mile wilderness in the next week.NedHamara@pocketmail.comNed Hamarawww.TrailJournals.com/NedHamara
Date: 2005-07-22
From: Front Royal, VA

To: Manassas Gap Shelter
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: few clouds

We were still messing around with our box boxes this morning so we got a late start. It was really hot in town so we wanted to get hiking and get under the canopy where it would be cooler.Not much happened as we reached camp around dinner time and set up camp. One of the hiker books said this shelter was home to a family of copperhead snakes that lived in the rocks directly in front of the shelter. There was all kinds of entries in the shelter journal about hikers seeing snakes at night.We kept a vigilant eye and prepared a nice camp fire that was directly between the rocks and the shelter. We did find a recent snake molt that led credibility to the snake reports. In-any-event, no copperheads were spotted during our stay as the night in the shelter passed without incident.NedHamara@pocketmail.comNed Hamarawww.TrailJournals.com/NedHamara
Date: 2005-07-23
From: Manassas Gap Shelter

To: Rod Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 13.4
Weather: few clouds

Stops a Lot and myself were out of the shelter early as Vertical Eddie was on the cell phone making arrangements for his brief home visit when we reach Harpers Ferry.It was a beautiful cool morning unlike the day before and we enjoyed the hike towards Rod Hollow Shelter.Somehow we missed Vertical Eddie while we were resting at the next shelter and he apparently cruised on by without stopping in.We crossed a highway that had a BBQ place down the way a bit so we walked the mile and had lunch. Just so so and not worth the walk.Stops a Lot and I checked into the Rod Hollow Shelter while Vertical Eddie moved on another 7 miles to the next shelter. He wanted to get into Hapers Ferry a day ahead of us to visit with family.When we got to the shelter which was about .2 miles off the trail there three young youths in fatigues cooking dinner. I learned they were from Norfolk, Virginia which happens to be one of my old stomping grounds.One of my old college baseball team mates at Old Dominion University just happened to be their Dean of Students at their high school. I provided them with enough ammunition about Jack Baker to make sure they would graduate on time.Good luck Andrew, Charlie and Tommy!NedHamara@pocketmail.com Ned Hamarawww.TrailJournals.com/NedHamara
Date: 2005-07-24
From: Rod Hollow Shelter

To: Bears Den Hostel
Miles today: 9.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Today we started the famous AT Roller Coaster. A series of 10 ups and downs (PUDS) one after another and strewn with large rocks.We got a decent start about 8 AM saying lluego to the Norfolk boys. After completing several mountain tops on the Roller Coaster we knew we were in for a long day.After ten miles of the coaster we hurt in places that never gave us problems before. I could feel the stress and strain on my knees and ankles, something I've never really encountered until now. I hoped it was only temporary because of our run in with the Roller Coaster.The Roller Coaster spans for 13.5 miles. When we hit the 10 mile mark we stopped at the Bear Den Hostel. A beautiful multi-room stone dwelling built in about 1931. It was a hiker heaven and after downing a 1200 container of Ben & Jerry's ice cream we opted to stay the rest of the day.After a hot shower and doing laundry we settled in for a peaceful evening having the hiker room all to ourselves.Tomorrow will be a 20 mile hike to Harpers Ferry or we'll stop short and arrive in H.F. early Tuesday morning and begin preparation for the jump to Maine.While in H.F. I hope to provide a few comments on insects, weight loss, other AT hikers, mental battles and the everyday PAIN of hiking the trail.NedHamara@pocketmail.com Ned Hamarawww.TrailJournals.com/NedHamara
Date: 2005-07-25
From: Bears Den Hostel

To: Harpers Ferry, WVA.
Miles today: 11.1
Weather: haze

It's 5:00 AM and were having a thunderstorm so it going to be somewhat treacherous finishing the Roller Coaster today. As Simon & Garfunkul once sang Slip Sliding in the Wind!We started out with the forest dripping its early morning thunder shower on us. The path continued to be rocky and was now very slippery because of the rain. Some days you just have to gear back and stay on the side of safety.The Roller Coaster seemed to never end as we continued to go up and down mountain after rocky mountain. We made it to Cresent Rock which provided us with a great view of the valley not far from D.C. An instructor was giving a group of kids a lesson in rock climbing. They all screamed "yes" as the instructor asked "are you ready to do some climbing."We passed Devils Racecourse which was a rock field with a stream running beneath it. We also stopped at the Blackburn AT Center which was on .3 mile steep descent from the AT. Another unofficial half mile on the AT that doesn't count. Aside from hiking the AT I probably logged another 100 miles going into and out of towns and side trips.The Blackburn AT Center offers a free bunk house for hikers and a free dinner if you stay though they don't tell you about it until dinner time. We needed to move on so up the .3 mile side trail we went in efforts to reach the next shelter before dark.We arrived at the David Lesser Memorial shelter which is the finest shelter I've seen on the trail yet. If the water source just had not been so far away it would have been heaven.The afternoon day hiker with two dogs came by and left; however, the dogs came back and not the hiker. They have been here for several hours now. Hope the owner returns or we'll have two guard dogs for the night at the shelter.Off tomorrow for Harpers Ferry with a short layover before we fly to Maine on Thursday 28th!!!!!!!NedHamara@pocketmail.comNed Hamarawww.TrailJournals.com/NedHamara
Date: 2005-07-26
From: Davis Lesser Memorial Shelter

To: Harpers Ferry
Miles today: 9.4
Weather: few clouds

The ending of the dog caper was that we finally had to call the owner, which was a gal who said he boyfriend had lost the dogs in the woods. He returned several hours later to retrieve the around 10PM in pitch black conditions.Leaving this beautiful shelter behind we headed toward Harpers Ferry with the usual frenzy that accompanies a walk into town with the anticipated thought of food and cold beer! On days when were headed into a town the pace changes. It's hard to explain, but the thoughts of a hot shower and the usual comforts of home seem to put a hop and skip into our hike.As usual, the trail is unrelenting and the path of rocks continued all the way the H.F. We descended from the mountain and crossed the Shenandoah River entering the majestic little. We checked into the Hilltop House Hotel, but were told our hotel rooms would not be ready until 3PM. So we dropped our packs in the cloak room and headed to find a tavern for a bunch of cold beers. For some reason the beer always taste like extra special when coming in off the trail!NedHamara@pocketmail.comNed Hamarawww.TrailJournals.com/NedHamara
Date: 2005-07-27
From: Harpers Ferry

To: Harpers Ferry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Rats! 1.8 miles short of the 500 mile club. Virginia, the longest leg on the AT is about 559 miles; however, I missed about 15 north and south of Damascus where I started and about 39 miles before RockFish Gap when I hurt my leg thus leaving me just shy of 500 miles of hiking in 50 days with about 10 days off. So I averaged about 12.5 miles per actual hiking day. Not bad I contend.A word on insects, I was amazed that the insects in Virginia were essentially almost non-existent. Sure there were plenty of insects flying around your head and on the ground, but I actually received very few bites. However, I think that's about to change as we head north to Maine. I anticipate insects will be a major issue to deal with.As I write this were descending into Portland, Maine. This is my firstever visit to Maine and I'm really looking forward to this Maine adventure and my continued hike on the AT.More later on the second half of my AT endeavor.NedHamara@pocketmail.comNed Hamarawww.TrailJournals.com/NedHamara
Date: 2005-07-28
From: Harpers Ferry

To: Portland, ME
Miles today: 0.0

Departed Harpers Ferry around 8AM after dropping bounce box off at post office and forwarding to Monson, Maine. We drove to the Dulles Airport via a ride from a friend of Vertical Eddie's. We got to Dulles around 11AM and survived the airport screening process.We departed Dulles a little late and arrived Portland, Maine about one hour later. As we waited for a backpacks to arrive in the baggage area I noticed a baggage handler pulling on something near the area where the bags appear from behind the airport wall. The next think I saw was unbelievable! Stops A Lot's backpack was shredded to pieces. The entire backpack and its contents came out in pieces!After taking stock and assessing the damaged it was determined that Stops would need a new backpack and tent. The rest of his gear was intact. It took a number of phone calls but an outfitter was located in the Portland area that had in stock the gear Stops needed, but he would have to wait until the next day to acquire it.We had a great stay with Tom & Lynn Pike in Oxford, ME. Tom is a good friend of Stops and a former Alaskan pipeline worker as well. Tom was gracious enough to agree to shuttle us to Monson and then pick us up when we completed the 100 Mile Wilderness and take us back to Monson from Baxter State Park where we would continue hiking south through Maine.Thanks for your kind hospitality Lynn and Tom.NedHamara@pocketmail.comNed Hamarawww.TrailJournals.com/NedHamara
Date: 2005-07-29
From: Oxford, ME.

To: Oxford, ME.
Miles today: 0.0

Spent a great zero day on a lake drinking a few beers, enjoying good company,the scenery and boating on the water.Doesn't get any better than this.Life is good!!!NedHamara@pocketmail.comNed Hamarawww.TrailJournals.com/NedHamara
Date: 2005-07-30
From: Oxford, ME.

To: Monson, ME.
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

As I write this Tom Pike is driving us the three hours to Monson, ME. It's a beautiful cool Saturday morning with the temperature around 62. Forecast for the week is daytime temps around mid 70's and night time temps in the mid 50's. Should be a nice relief from the hot weather we were incurring in Virginia.This is my first visit Maine and I'm excited to start hiking again!NedHamara@pocketmail.comNed Hamarawww.TrailJournals.com/NedHamara
Date: 2005-07-31
From: Monson, ME.

To: Vaughn Stream Waterfall
Miles today: 13.5

We stayed the night at Shaw's Boarding House, a well known hiker stop over in Monson. Keith Shaw, Jr., fed us the normal extravaganza hiker breakfast and then shuttled us to the beginning of the 100 Mile Wilderness. After four days of non-hiking our legs were strong and we were ready to roll.The hike started off causal enough but before long we could tell hiking in Maine would be a whole new experience!The 100 Mile Wilderness consists of many bogs, overgrown slippery roots and rocks. Rocks you don't step over, but have to climb hand over foot. This would be the beginning of my hiking/mountain climbing adventure.The first day was long and the miles came slow and were definitely EARNED! We attempted to hike a reasonable 15 miles; however, the terrain would not let us accomplish our mission. We opted to stay at a picturesque stream and waterfall, one of the many we had seen this day.We set up camp, had a nice fire and turned in early wondering what the next day in The Wilderness would cast upon us.It was a good first day in Maine wilderness and we knew hiking here would be a new challenge and different from the south.Change is always good!NedHamara@pocketmail.comNed Hamara
Date: 2005-08-01
From: Vaughn Stream Waterfall

To: Third Mountain Cliff
Miles today: 8.3

As the early morning approached our tents began being pelted by large drops of rain. It appeared the beautiful day we encountered the day before would not be repeated.We cooked up some coffee and waited for the rain to subside, but it did not. Stops A Lot and I packed up our tents, put on our rain gear on and headed north. Vertical Eddie stayed behind in his hammock and said he would catch up with us.It seemed forever for us to reached Cloud Pond Lean-to just after hiking four miles. Vertical Eddie said he would follow, but failed to show at Cloud Pond so we moved on wanting to make Chairback Lean-to before dark. We left Eddie a note in the shelter register as to are course of action.The mileage in The Thru-hiker hand book said it was 6.9 miles from Cloud Pond to Chairback Gap Lean-to; however, this turned out to be totally inaccurate. We hiked for over four hours and seemed to get no closer to Chairback. Thunderstorms were rumbling from a distance and we grew somewhat concerned.The hiking turned into mountain climbing with each footstep having to be placed in the right spot to avoid suffering a major fall. The roots and rocks were extremely slippery which accentuated the difficulty.We suffered through one thunderstorm after going over Fourth Mountain, a very hard and scary climb that I was not to comfortable with. We were about to tackle Third Mountain when the next thunderstorm hit us. We were about to scale a waterfall of boulders up a steep mountain bank and we decided to stop and make camp immediately in the pouring rain as visibility would make climbing even more treacherous. Lightning bolts were crashing around us and we were carrying two lightning rods in the form of hiking poles in our hands.We set up out tents and dove in, but everything was drenched. Nothing in my backpack except clothes and sleeping were dry. We were also out of water, chilled to the bone, so we both settled in for the night and both fell asleep from exhaustion. Toughest day for me hiking since the first day I hiked up Mt. Whitetop in Virginia. Least I had a friend this time who was helpful.NedHamara@pocketmail.comNed Hamarawww.TrailJournals.com/NedHamara
Date: 2005-08-02
From: Third Mountain Cliff

To: Chairback Gap Lean-to
Miles today: 4.0
Weather: few clouds

I awoke early around 5:00 AM warm in my sleeping bag, but everything around me was still dripping wet. I had on dry clothes, but that was about it. I extracted myself from my wet tent shelter and began to assess the situation. The trees were still pelting us with cold droplets of rain and we began to wring out all our hiking clothes and gear. The sun appeared through the trees and it seemed we might have an opportunity to dry out are gear at some point later that morning.We packed up all are wet gear, making are packs about five pounds heavier, and began hiking toward Chairback Gap Lean-to arriving there after conquering another mountain. The sun was out and the wind blowing nicely. We quickly strung lines to hang every piece of our gear. It took several hours, but all of the gear dried reasonably quickly and we were set to start hiking again.After talking to several incoming hikers we learned that Vertical Eddie was still on the trail and hiking toward us so we decided to wait awhile to see if he would arrive.Good move because as we were attempting to hike out after he did not show up another thunderstorm quickly developed and erupted; however, we were in the shelter and stayed dry. Not long after the thunderstorm had subsided and the sun was shinning again did Vertical Eddie arrive. It was late that afternoon so we decided to stay at Chairback Gap and head out in the morning.Hiking the 100 Mile Wilderness is tough and again the miles come slow and are earned. The technical placement of feet coming down and going up the rocks eats up a lot of time and it doesn't appear that senario will change anytime soon.Some of the people we met at the shelter were Tom Ferguson and his daughter, Batman, Spiderman and Breaktime.We hoped for better weather tomorrow.NedHamara@pocketmail,comNed Hamara
Date: 2005-08-03
From: Chairback Gap Lean-to

To: Sidney Tappan Springs Campsite
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Early light in Maine begins around 5:00 AM long before the sun appears. I could hear the wind blowing strongly through the high tree tops and it seemed rather on the cold side as I stayed tightly wrapped in my sleeping bag.I could see the sun start to make an appearance through the tent walls and thought perhaps it would be one of those prestine Maine days with plenty of blue sky and sunshine. I was not disappointed as it was a glorious day with a crisp cool breeze and volumes of sunlight.We departed camp after filling and purifying are water that filled are bottles and hydration bags that travelled in are backpacks. We made are way up Chairback Mountain and was greeted with a spectacular 360 view of Maine's beautiful northern wilderness. We could not see Mt. Katahdin, but we could easily see Whitecap Mountain, the next major bump in the road we had to cross at about 3700 feet in elevation. Climbing 3700 feet may not seem like much, but consider that a hi-rise building is about 10 feet per story. So how would you like to climb 370 flights of stairs to your next meeting. Just something to dwell upon.We had to ford the West Branch of the Pleasant River. This required removing shoes and socks, putting on some river shoes and crossing a fast moving slippery stream with all gear. Somewhat of a pain, but nice and refreshing on tired and sore feet! Just don't slip and get all your ger wet.On our approach to Gulf Hagas Mountain we spotted are first bull moose. A big old black colored beast in the middle of a small pond. It paid us little attention as we manuvered closer to take a few photos.After scaling Gulf Hagas Mountain we caught a glimse of Mt. Katahdin on the distant horizon. The monster we would attempt to assault at the end of The 100 Mile Wilderness.We arrived at the Sidney Tippan Campsite to find it full of a group of campers from Quebec, Canada. A group we had encountered several days earlier. We found a spot to tent along the trail, had a hot dinner and turned in around 8:00PM. It was clear and the wind gusting so we knew we were in for a chilly night. It's cold so I'm crawling in my bag for the night.Life is good. Tomorrow we climb Whitecap Mountain.NedHamara@pocketmail.comNed Hamara