morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-07-29
From: Mosby Campsite

To: Front Royal, VA
Miles today: 3.2
Weather: moderate rain

Short day, went into Front Royal for resupply & rest. When I got to the parking lot to hitch into town, there was a hiker there in his MiniCooper going that way. Didn't even have to stick my thumb out and got a ride to the Quality Inn Motel in town. He had just completed three days with a friend and was driving back to Damascus, where he works. The friend is continuing his hike to - you guessed it - Damascus. From what I gather, he's a much faster hiker than I, so I'm not likely to catch him. The town stay was pretty good - I got the hiker rate at the motel, resupplied at the grocery store a couple blocks away and then went to the movies and saw Harry Potter & the Half Blood Prince. I'm guessing anyone who hasn't read the book is going to be really confused.
Date: 2009-07-30
From: Front Royal, VA

To: Gravel Springs Hut
Miles today: 13.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Nice day today. The trail was really good, with only a short rock pile to contend with going up to the Shenandoah Park. Saw a small bear just before getting into the park. He was, I guess, trying to get bugs out of a tree stump when he saw me. He then ran up a tree. He wasn't very big, so I'm sure there was a momma somewhere, but I didn't see her. Also saw a few deer, one appeared to be a mother, but I couldn't find the fawn. Got to the shelter about 7:00 pm, it was a long day. Seemed to be all up hill. There were a couple people in the shelter, which is fine, I'd rather set up the hammock anyway. They were having problems with their "waterproof matches", so I offered mine. They got things going. Later, one of them brought me a beer and invited me to their fire. I accepted the beer, but declined the fire. I'm really tired, have another long day tommorrow and just want to go to bed.
Date: 2009-07-31
From: Gravel Springs Hut

To: Pass Mtn Hut
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Long day and faily lousy weather. Oversleep a bit, so got a late start. It was cloudy and drizzlely when I started and stayed that way all morning. The trail was wet, but no big puddles to worry about. About a mile before I got to Elkwallow Wayside I saw a large bobcat. I didn't know they could get that big. He was about three quarters the size of a mountain lion. He ducked off into the woods as soon as he saw me. I was a little worried about going by him, not sure if he kept on going or was just in striking distance as I walked by. Fortunately, nothing happened. I stopped at the Elkwallow Wayside and had a big lunch. While eating, the rain really started coming down. I met "Smiles" at the wayside, who did a thru hike in '07. He is now riding a bicycle on the Appalacean Bicycle trail. The rain didn't let up much for an hour, so I put on my poncho and hike the rest of the way here. About two hours before I got here the rain stopped. Found a tent site with the right trees and set up my hammock. I'm a little bit freaked out - when I came down the trail to the hut, they had a big, new sign about recent bear activity. It even advised to throw sticks & stones at them if they get too close. None of the other huts had this sort of sign. So, if you don't hear from me again, it might be because I got eaten by a bear!
Date: 2009-08-01
From: Pass Mtn Hut

To: Rock Spring Hut
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: light rain

Really long day, I'm just not cut out to do fifteen miles right now. I would have done less, but the 1st shelter was only 4.7 miles and this is the next one. They allow you to camp almost anywhere here, but there's the rub - "almost".   The list of places you can't camp is rather extensive and just a little incomprehensible, so we're pretty much stuck with the shelters. The trail was nice, but uphill most of the day. The weather was also nice. People every where, including one couple with a doberman who didn't like my hiking sticks. Lots of deer, many of them will come right up to you, most don't even bat an eye as you walk by them. Sometimes they can be a little irritating, but I suspect they might be an early warning system in case of bear. Speaking of which, I saw a mother bear and her cub near the riding stables near the Skyland Lodge. She struck me as being really small for her to have a cub. Neither mom or baby seemed to notice me. I was very careful not to get between them. After that, I arrived at the shelter and was again almost attacked by another sweet cuddly dog that wouldn't hurt a fly. I'm getting real tired of all these dogs trying to attack me. I then went over to the tent sites and set up my hammock. Was helped by several friendly deer. There were quite a few people here. But, I was overly tired, ate some dinner and went to bed.
Date: 2009-08-02
From: Rock Spring Hut

To: Big Meadows Lodge
Miles today: 3.5

Short day today. Woke up to cloudy skys, which turned into rain before I got everything into the pack. It rained all the way here. Decided to get a room at the Big Meadows Lodge. I'm going to take a zero day tommorrow since my back is hurting a little. Need to figure out how to lighten my pack by about ten pounds.
Date: 2009-08-04
From: Big Meadows Lodge

To: Bearfence Hut
Miles today: 8.0

After a nice day of rest and resupply, decided to go hiking again. Left a little late, mostly because they don't start serving breakfast here until 7:30 am. Plus, didn't have that far to go. Trail was very good, weather also very good. Came across a cemetary and saw the biggest butterfly I've ever seen next to one of the headstones. I turned on my camera/phone and was very careful not to scare it away before I got a picture of it. Turns out it was a solar powered toy, the power used to move it's wings up and down. About half way here came across a sign telling us to beware of coyotes. So, not only do I have to worry about being eaten by a bear, I also have to worry about the coyotes. What ever happpened to being on top of the food chain around here? Anyway, I haven't heard any coyotes since I got here, so not sure there are many around. Didn't see as many deer today, only a couple and none, so far, here at the camp. I got here around 3:00 pm and thought about going on after tanking up on water, but my back still isn't up to par and I don't think I can get too far with enough water to handle a stealth camp, plus the five days of food I'm carrying. The other option was to stop at the commercial Lewis Camp Ground about a mile up the road, but they don't usually allow hammocks. Tommorrow I have a twelve and half mile day to the next shelter, should be interesting.
Date: 2009-08-05
From: Bearfence Hut

To: Hightop Hut
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Got up a little earlier than usual. The deer, which were missing last night, were all over the place this morning, including two fawns. While friendly, they are a little more skidish than the ones up north of here. I did learn that fawns make a sound similar to a baby goat or sheep bleating, but a lot quieter. The trail today was good, but maybe not quite as good as what the park has up north. The herd path is just a tad norrower and the plants are a bit closer in. The weather was threatining, but only sprinkled a little around noon. I had lunch at the South River Picnic Grounds. Nice to be able to sit at a table for a change. Later on saw another pilliated woodpecker. For as brightly colored as they are, they can be hard to spot. When I got to the hut, there were eighteen kids from a Quaker summer camp. Fortunately, there were two separate camping areas and I was able to set up at the "quiet" one. They only hiked three miles today, so I'm guessing the rest of us will be listening to them most of the night. Another family, a grandfather and three teen aged kids, joined me. The grandfather is in a hammock like myself. Tommorrow I either go eight miles to the next hut or twelve miles to Loft Mnt Campground. Just got an email from Paul Cummings that the Tropical Trekers plan to spend Oct 9th - 15th at the Loft Mnt Campground. Should I wait for them?
Date: 2009-08-06
From: Hightop Hut

To: Ivy Creek Spring
Miles today: 11.0

Day started lousy, but then got better. It was raining when I started, but it stopped around 12:30 pm and the sun came out. Trail was good, but not as good as the trail in the north half of the park. One of the issues we have since Hightop Hut are the numerous thorn bushes all over the place. Had a hard time setting up the hammock last night because of them. Got to the Pinefield Hut about 1:00 pm, had lunch and decided to push on to Loft Mtn CG. Met a north bounder who said G165 was the ideal campsite for a hammock hanger. Along the way came across a small skunk. He was all black except for a white patch on his head and shoulders. Guess he was too old to have spots, but too young to have his strips yet. I backed up a little to give him plenty of room to get away from me. When I first spotted him his rear end was pointed toward me and his tail was straight up. Anyway, after that I came to a juncture that said six tenths of a mile to the wayside and three miles to the campground. I decided to go eat at the wayside. After eating, it was starting to get late, so took the short cut to the campsites. G165 was taken, so spent an hour looking for one with the trees just right so I could hang my hammock. Found one, but then it was too late to take a shower or do laundry, they close the doors at 7:00 pm. I'll probably stay here a second night. Not only do I want to take a shower and do laundry, but I need to make up the two or three miles of trail I missed taking the short cut.
Date: 2009-08-07
From: Ivy Creek Spring

To: Loft Mtn CG 
Miles today: 3.0

Made up for the trail I missed yesterday. The trail was good, if maybe a little steep at places. I left on the east side of the campground and went down to where I got off the trail yesterday. Then went over to the wayside for lunch and then back to the campground via a trail next to the road. Tomorrow I have to decide if six miles is enough. That's where Blockrock Hut is. One of the problems with Blackrock is they have a resident racoon who can climb up the bear poles. This means there is no safe place to put your food. The trail maintainers have apparently known about this for years, but have done nothing to remedy the situation (like maybe place a metal bear box next to the shelter, like everyone else does). The next hut is fourteen miles from Blackrock, making it a twenty mile day, which I don't think I'm capable of at this time. Will most likely have to steath camp somewhere, but that means carrying a lot of water for four or five miles. Hope my back can survive it.
Date: 2009-08-08
From: Loft Mtn CG 

To: Calf Mtn Hut
Miles today: 20.4

Made good time today. Weather was cool and cloudy, so it never got too hot to hike. Trail was good, mostly downhill. Started off this morning with my usual coffee, but also had a Pepsi with breakfast. Got up early, just before 5:00 am and started hiking about 7:00 am. There were three very pretty deer with nine point antlers on them. Tried to take a picture with my camera/phone, but they wouldn't let me near enough, so gave up and turned the phone off. Packed up everything, put the pack on, turned around to leave and there was one of the deer no more than ten feet away staring at me. Unfortunately, he wouldn't wait for my phone to reboot. The first three hours of the hike went by very quickly. Was going over two and a half miles per hour. Got to the Blackrock Hut by 10:00 am. There were still a couple hikers sleeping - looked like they had a pretty good party last night. I ate a candy bar, tanked up on some water and left. Continued to go pretty fast for another four hours or so. Then ran out of energy at about four or five pm. I think it took over an hour to do the last mile here. But I made it and I didn't die. Pretty good for my first twenty mile day. Saw another momma bear and her cub. Met Jaberwalky at the hut. She's a student at Wisconsin U and is atempting a thru hike, but didn't get started until June 19th. In a couple days her aunt is going to pick her up and she's going to jump up to Conn or Mass in hopes of meeting up with other thru hikers. Tommorrow I go into Waynesboro for resupply.
Date: 2009-08-09
From: Calf Mtn Hut

To: Rockfish Gap
Miles today: 6.9
Weather: few clouds

As usual, I have to pay for a twenty mile day. Today, my body felt like I was wearing a lead suit. Trail was pretty, if not quite up to the standards of the rest of the park. Both rockyer and steeper ups & downs. Took me about four and a half hours to hike seven miles. The weather was clear and warm, but there was a twenty to twentyfive knot wind blowing the whole time, so I never felt too hot. When I got to Rockfish Gap, the employee there said he'd give me a ride into town when he got off in a half hour. He drove me to the Quality Inn in downtown Waynesboro and I wil do a zero day tommorrow and get back on the trail on Tuesday.
Date: 2009-08-11
From: Rockfish Gap

To: Steath camp on Humpback Mtn
Miles today: 12.0

Got a ride back to the trail from trail angles Mr & Mrs Radney at 8:00 am from the motel. It took about five min to get there and another ten min for me to get everything in their right pockets. Saw a couple deer and heard what I think was a bear behind me. The trail goes through an old settlement, supposedly haunted. Didn't see any ghost, but did see the remains if a old stone fire place. Or did the trail maintainers build it there to make us think it was an old settlement? Both the trail and the weather were great ... Sort of. About 4:00 pm it started lightly raining. I was getting tired anyway, so I found a nice campsite on top of Humpback mountain. There's a ski resort just across the valley, which may explain why I have such good cell signal here. Tommorow plan to do about fifteen miles, it'll be interesting to see if I can.   I need to get to Montebello by the day after tommorrow for resupply. I'll run out of food and starve to death if I don't.
Date: 2009-08-12
From: Steath camp on Humpback Mtn

To: Maupin Field Shelter
Miles today: 8.8
Weather: light rain

Got up to a cloudy day, which turned into rain about ten am. Fortunately, it stopped an hour later and nothing really got wet. The trail wasn't so great, very rocky and therefore slow going. Got to the Maupin Field Shelter around 1:30 pm and sar down to eat lunch. A guy came by and left some really large cucombers. After he left, I noticed the sole of my right shoe was separating from the rest of the shoe. I only had five hundred eighty five point eight miles on those shoes! I used some duck tape to wrap it up a bit. Thanks to all those ducks who donated their skin to help me repair my shoe. Wasn't too confident it would hold for the two days to my next stop, so hike a mile or so to the Blue Ridge Parkway. There wasn't any cell service, so tried hitch hiking, but no one would stop. So decided to start hiking north until I could get cell service. Was able to call a trail angle to get a ride back to Waynesboro and now have a brand new pair of shoes. I'm now back at the same motel I was at two nights ago. I've got a ride lined up tommorrow morning and should be back on the trail with only a few hours lost. New shoes $100, motel $50, the ride back $30, a hike on the AT - priceless?
Date: 2009-08-13
From: Maupin Field Shelter

To: About a mile south of Cripple Creek
Miles today: 11.0

Not the best days hike I've had. It started pretty good, nice weather and all. Got a ride from Lyle Kyle from the motel down to Love's Gap where I got on the Blue Ridge yesterday. Hiked the mile or so to the trail and then started up the Three Ridges. Trail was steep, rocky and slow going. When I got to the top I had lunch. Then started down tge mountain. This is where everything startec going bad. The trail was, at times, hard to follow as it was so over grown. Plus quite a few of those plants were things I was allergic to, including quite a bit of ragweed. My arms and legs were beet red from all the allergies and my eyes were started to swell up. I stopped to take some Claritin, but I set the pack down wrong and it proceeded to roll down the hill. It stopped about fifty yards down hill and there wasn't much to do but bush wack my way to it. When I got to it I noticed it stopped on a trail. Lucky for me, it was a switch back of the trail I was on. Was able to use the trail to go back and fetch my hiking poles. Finally got the pills out, it took about an hour for them to take effect. My eyes are still a little swollen, but I'm sure they'll be OK by morning. Later crossed the Tye River and then got water at Cripple Creek. About a mile later found a place to hang my hammock. Saw a skunk just before stopping. This one looked full grown, but only had the white mane like the baby skunk I saw last week. He also had white at the end of his tail, the rest of him was all black.
Date: 2009-08-14
From: About a mile south of Cripple Creek

To: Dutch Haus, Montebello, VA
Miles today: 7.3

Pretty good day. Got up about six am. Eyes are still a little itchy from the allergy problems. The Claritin helps, but doesn't fully resolve everything. The lable says only one a day, wonder what would happen if I took two a day, one in the morning and one at night? For now I'll do what the lable says, but if my eyes keep itchying may have to end my hike early. Anyway, as usual, the trail pretty much went up most of the day. Stopped by the Spy Rock to call the Dutch Haus and got something entirely different. Apparently, Lois talked to the guide people and now the guide has the wrong number. But, luckily, they had plenty of room for me. Was able to do a little resupply at the store, but had to get some items from Lois & Earl. Also noticed Aneba's picture on the wall. She had borrowed one of Dutch Haus's robes, carried it to the top of Mt Katadin and had her picture taken. Lois didn't remember me from 04 (I only stopped to take a shower and do laundry), but did remember LWOP, Nails and Dances with Scarf.
Date: 2009-08-15
From: Dutch Haus, Montebello, VA

To: Hog Camp Gap
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: light rain

Had a wonderful dinner last night of stuffed peppers. This mornings breakfast was good to. Just before Earl drove me back to the kiost, Lori gave me about a dozen cherry tomatoes from thier garden. Such nice people. By the way, the phone number in the guide is wrong. The correct number for the Dutch Haus is 540-377-2119. They no longer have an 800 number. After Earl dropped me off, I still had the mile or so uphill walk to do. It took me about 35 min to get back to the trail. About 11:00 am put up my hammock for an early nap and lunch. After I got going again, stopped for water and shortly thereafter it rained. It lasted about an hour, I kept fairly dry with my poncho. Trail was pretty good today, aside from all the water while it rained. At the end of todays hike, was going to go up Cold Mtn, but Hog Camp Gap was so pretty, decided to stay. Mistake - it's along side a road. About an hour after I set up, about five college aged kids showed up with drums and really loud voices. Not too sure I'm going to get much sleep tonight. Had my dinner and then ate the cherry tomatoes for desert. Those were the best cherry tomatoes I've ever had.
Date: 2009-08-16
From: Hog Camp Gap

To: near Rice Mtn
Miles today: 13.5

Well, last night wasn't so bad. The guys made a lot of noise, but they quieted down around 9:30 pm. Except at 1:15 am little drummer boy decided to play with his thing just long enough to wake me up. Not much I could do about it. Anyway, woke up about 6:30 and left camp around 8:00. Only took about a half hour to get to the top of Cold Mtn. Much prettier than Tar Jacket Ridge, which I passed late yesterday. Lots of day and weekend hikers out, plus one other long section hiker going north. Trail was great except when coming down Bald Knob, it's a little overgrown there. Had lunch at US60 and more at Brown Mtn Creek Shelter. Rest of day was pretty good trailwise, but my body is running down. I've hiked over 850 miles on this trip and still get exhausted going more than ten miles in a day. I thing the allergies are getting to me. The pills help most of the symtoms, but don't help with the lack of energy.
Date: 2009-08-17
From: near Rice Mtn

To: Punchbowl Shelter
Miles today: 4.1
Weather: scattered clouds

Got up around 6:30. Didn't sleep well, the tree frogs were making a lot of noise all night long. Plus, not sure if I should get off the trail or not. I'm hot, exhausted and my allergies aren't helping much. Hiked to the Punchbowl Shelter, which was about four miles. According to the guidebook, there isn't any water for the next ten miles. Normally not a problem, but it's hot and I get so tired after ten miles, which means I'll be dragging about four miles short of the next shelter and water. Plus, I'd have to carry more water weight than I'm use to. Decided to try and call someone for a ride out of here. Was able to call Ken Wallace and he came right over and picked me up on the Blue Ridge Parkway and took me over to the Budget Inn in Buena Vista, VA. Tommorrow he'll take me to Lynchburg so I can catch a train or bus back to Florida.I feel bad about quiting, but it's hot and there's a general lack of water around here. The reason I moved to Florida in the 1st place was to get away from the ragweed. I'd hoped it didn't bother me anymore. Guess I was wrong - which seems to happen a lot lately.
Date: 2009-08-18
From: Home

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I'm at home now. Plan to get back on the trail Oct 8th at mile marker 51.7 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Then I'll take about a month - month & a half going to Damascus, VA. I'm going to drive to Amicalola, pick up Happy Feet and take her north to her car. Then we'll drive to Damascus and I'll leave my truck there. Happy feet will pick me up and then drive me north and drop me off. She's going to Loft Mtn CG to day hike with friends. Hoping the ragweeed will have cleared out by then.
Date: 2009-10-11
From: Punchbowl Shelter

To: Fullers Rocks
Miles today: 6.7

Back on the trail again. Got a late start, about 11:30 am. Got a ride from Happy Feet from Loft Mtn CG via Waynesboro for breakfast, a couple subs and diesel fuel for my truck. Happy Feet and Nails are going to drive my truck to Damascus and leave it for me to hike to. Today's hike was glorious. Temperatures were in the mid 60s, so I never got hot. Met two runners and one day hiker. The trail was pretty good, but I fell once due to the slippery nature of too many dry leaves. I was planning to go to the next shelter, but found this pretty campsite on top of Fullers Rocks and just couldn't pass it up. My feet are sore, by body is hurting, but it's been a really good day.
Date: 2009-10-12
From: Fullers Rocks

To: Marble Springs CS
Miles today: 11.5

Got a pretty good sleep last night in my new Warbonnet Traveler hammock and JRB 10X11 winter tarp. Cool day, temps about mid-fiftys all day. Met lots of day and section hikers. One of them was the father of Grass, a girl I met during my 04 thru hike! What are the chances? Rest of day was OK. Was going to camp on top of High Cock Knob, but decided it was going to be too cold up there and stopped here instead. Three SOBO thru hikers are here as well. Not sure if I'm on track to get to Daleville by Friday or not, but it looks doable. Looks like theres going to be a lot of climbing tomarrow.
Date: 2009-10-13
From: Marble Springs CS

To: Apple Orchard Falls Trail
Miles today: 9.6

Good nights sleep. Got down to 45 acording to my camp mates. I saw 52 on my guage, but it was inside my hammock & tarp. Got a later than I'd like start, about 8:45 am. Long hard day and didn't get as far as I'd like. Was hoping to make Cornelius Creek Shelter, but it was getting too dark when I got to the Apple Orchard Falls Trail juncture. Doesn't look like I can get to Daleville by Friday. It's forty miles from here and I can't do much more than ten what with all the uphills I have to do. Just not in shape yet. Saw lots of hikers today, including three day hikers I met yesterday and three more SOBO thru hikers. Funny how SOBOs seem to travel inthrees instead of pairs, like NOBOs do.