morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-05-02
From: Salem, VA

To: Wilson Creek Shelter
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Outfitter at US 220 (714.2) to Wilson Creek Shelter (725.7) 11.5 miles9:30 AM taxi from Salem to outfitter in Daleville $30. Bought Western Mountainering 45 degree down sleeping bag, silk liner & small Platipus water bag then shipped home more gear at UPS down the shopping center. I think I reduced pack weight by another 2 lbs. There is not much left to give up. The standard now is: can I do without it? Left UPS at 10:40 and arrived at Wilson Creek at 4PM. I was tempted to push on 7.3 miles to Bobblets Gap Shelter but decided that was too long a day. Weather was unsettled all day and I did not want to tent in between shelters. Tomorrow, I plan to be up and out early and reach Bryant Ridge Shelter (746.3) 20.6 miles. It 5:40 and it is sunny and windy now and I am the only one at the shelter. If no one else comes, it will be my first time alone at a shelter. My feet feel better today but it was a late start and a short day. I expect to reach Rockfish gap and Waynesboro in about 7 days and do Shenandoah National Park in about 8 days. (13 miles per day) I would like to enjoy the park and eat my way through and the many food stops listed in Wingfoot. Ice Man came in to shelter late & then Bodey & friend.
Date: 2005-05-03
From: Wilson Creek Shelter

To: Cornelius Creek Shelter
Miles today: 25.6
Weather: broken clouds

Wilson Creek shelter (725.7) to Cornelius Creek Shelter (751.3) 25.6 miles Left shelter at 6:25 and reached Bobblets Gap Shelter (733.0) at 9:30, Cove Mt. Shelter (739.4) at noon, Bryant River Shelter (746.3) at 4pm and stopped at Cornelius Creek Shelter (751.3) at 6:30. It was 25.6 miles in 12 hours. Bryant River was a very nice 2 story shelter with a porch. Ice Man & I had a late lunch there and were tempted to stay but decided to move on. Bodey & friend were butts the night before & I wanted to get away from them. Whittee & a Mr Magoo were here already. Mr Magoo is a 62 year old man doing part of the AT. He says he is staying on trail until his wife throws away her job list for him. He is fun, helpful and nice. He is heading to Waynesboro. He has provided a lot of useful information. I am tenting in back of the shelter with a big pile of leaves under the tent.Now that I switched to a 45 degree bag, it was 30 degrees and windy last night. The Hubba tent is drafty compared to the Clip Flashlight. I slept in my clothes in the sleeping bag with the liner. I slept well and warm enough but my feet were cold. It was snowing lightly when I got up. The tent was warmer than the shelter though. Tomorrow I expect to do about an 18 mile day to Matts Creek Shelter.
Date: 2005-05-04
From: Cornelius Creek Shelter

To: VA Route 501
Miles today: 19.9

Cornelius Creek Shelter (751.3) to Va Rt 501 (771.2) 19.9 miles Well, as usual I did more miles than I had planned¢¦passing by Matts Creek Shelter (769.0) and going on to VA Rt 501 (771.2) arriving at 4:15. Whittee caught up to me as I took a break at Thunder Hill Shelter but I did not see him again. Ice Man passed me about 2PM but stayed at Matts Creek Shelter. After I reached VA 501, I hitched a ride to Glasgow, VA. The driver asked when I was going back on trail. I said tomorrow, early in the AM & he offered to pick my up & bring me back to the trail. What a great offer! I am staying at Mom & Pops Motel. It is an interesting place and cheap. The bed is very uncomfortable but the bathroom is clean and they have a small restaurant with a little ayce buffet. I ate dinner before I even went to my room. One of the buffet items was liver (yuk) but I ate some anyway.   I had taken some, not knowing what it was. I need to resupply badly and there is one small market here and a laundromat, pay phone, and ATM. I talked to the laundromat owner for a while. He runs the cleanest, best run laundromat that I have used so far.
Date: 2005-05-05
From: VA Route 501

To: Brown Mountain Creek Shelter
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: broken clouds

VA Rt 501 (771.2) to Brown Mt Creek Shelter (790.8) 19.6 milesHappy Cinco de Mayo. Mexican Independence Day. I forgot to use the ATM & have almost no cash. The trail angel did show up & give me a ride back to the trail and I started at 7:30 and stopped at 5:30. The first climb was 2-3 hours long. Whittee & I are the only hikers here. We keep ending up at the same shelters even though I am not as strong a hiker as he is. I met a 64 year old day hiker (Greg) at a Blue Ridge Parkway crossing & had lunch with him. We were joking about a trail angel showing up with fried chicken, but that did not happen. The views off the parkway were beautiful but traffic was very light. Greg said that everyone uses the freeway instead of the parkway. Speed over beauty.I am planning a short but difficult day tomorrow. Here to Seeley-Woodworth Shelter (806.6). Only 15.8 miles but a 2600 foot climb in the first 4 & 1/3 miles. Oh suck, suck, suck. I do hate those ups.
Date: 2005-05-06
From: Brown Mountain Creek Shelter

To: Crabtree Farm Road
Miles today: 21.8

Brown Mt Creek Shelter (790.8) to Crabtree Farm Rd (812.6) 21.8 milesIt was another cold night¢¦about 30 degrees again. I started out at 6:45. The climb was bad. My feet hurt. The day was cold & windy and there was a little light rain and there was more expected. I arrived at Seeley-Woodworth Shelter (806.6) at 3:15 and had a late lunch and set up to stay in the shelter. Two day hikers came in about 4:15 and said that the rain forecast was cancelled. I packed up and moved on to Crabtree Farm Road (812.6) arriving at 7:15. I tented just off the road hoping that the predicted rain does hold off. Priest Shelter was only .9 miles further but it was all climb and I was already tired and sore. Have I mentioned that my feet hurt? The trail has been more like Georgia lately¢¦up and rocky.Tomorrow will be another climbing day. I hope get to Maupin Field Shelter (827.1) tomorrow then to Paul Wolfe Shelter (843.2) the next day and maybe to Rockfish Gap and Waynesboro if the trail gets easier.I have done 812.6 miles plus 8.8 of approach trail in 62 days. That is 13.3 miles per day. I have taken 9 zero days. Discounting the zero days, I am averaging 15.5 miles per day. Not bad for 62, but I am paying a price. I am tired and sore. My feet hurt and I have lost over 20 lbs. I still do not have the legendary ¢hikers appetite¢. I am also about 19 days ahead of my planned schedule.A southbound hiker just came in and set up his tent. It is nice to be able to talk to someone but I am staying in my tent and talking as it is cold & windy out. Another 30 degree night after I switched to a 45 degree bag. He is Greenhorn and he started the AT in Maine in the fall with Dude who I met at Standing Bear Farm just past the Smokies. They both hiked through the winter stopping only for the worst weather. He is hiking basically from shelter to shelter even if the miles are short. Greenhorn is from Dover-Foxworth, ME. He has had a difficult life and has been on his own since 15. He had a job and worked until last year or so when the company closed and he could not get another job. He dreamed that he would meet ¢the girl¢ on trail. He has equipment that was given to him and so it is not light or high tech but he is doing well enough. He is carrying about 60 lbs and doing 6-12 miles a day and usually tents at shelter sites. He is the trail looking to find a new and better life. I wish him well in his search.
Date: 2005-05-07
From: Crabtree Farm Road

To: Maupin Field Shelter
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: few clouds

Crabtree Farm Rd (812.6) to Maupin Field Shelter (827.1) 14.5 milesStarted at 6:45 and stopped at 3PM. Went over 3 rocky ridges, each one higher and tougher than the last. It was like being in North Carolina again. I am having stove problems¢¦cannot keep it lit¢¦does not seem to hold pressure. I have tried to clean and fix it but have been unsuccessful. There is an outfitter in Waynesboro that is supposed to be good. I guess that is the next step.   That is about 2 days away. Pierette from Quebec is in this shelter too. She stayed at Priest Shelter last night. She is from Montreal and is quite nice. She started about the same time I did and was ¢misplaced¢ once in the Smokies. I remember hearing about her. We have talked a lot and she has offered to stay in the same shelter tomorrow and boil water for my dinner if needed.
Date: 2005-05-08
From: Maupin Field Shelter

To: Paul-Wolf Shelter
Miles today: 16.1
Weather: clear sky

Maupin Field Shelter (827.1) to Paul-Wolfe Shelter (843.20 16.1 milesStarted at 6:45 and stopped at 3PM. Optimus Nova stove still not working. Pierette has allowed me to boil water for my dinner with her stove. Most hikers help each other if possible. She is leaving the trail at the beginning of Shenandoah National Park and going to Washington Dc and New York City and then home to Montreal. She is low on funds & I have promised to call Thatcher who worked in NYC to see if he cane come up with a cheap place for her to stay for a day or two. Have met DEPAW, a section hiker who likes to carve his trail name on picnic tables at the shelters. I have seen his carving several times. Not exactly ¢leave no trace¢.
Date: 2005-05-09
From: Paul-Wolf Shelter

To: Rockfish Gap
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: clear sky

Paul Wolfe Shelter (843.2) to Rockfish Gap (848.2) to Waynesboro 5 milesPlanned a short day today to Rockfish Gap then stop at visitors center for trail angel ride to Waynesboro and a zero day. Trail angel dropped Pierette & myself at Rockfish Gap Outfitters where I dropped my stove off for repair then picked us up later for Waynesboro. We are both staying at the Comfort Inn on Broad St. Pierette is leaving for Washington then New York tomorrow morning. I went to the Krogers supermarket, but my ATM card would not work. I tried a second ATM. NO LUCK!! Then I called my bank who informed me that there was no problem with my card & I should find a ¢newer¢ ATM machine. I went to Wachovia Bank where the card worked fine. We had already done laundry and ate at A & W¢¦double bacon cheeseburger, fries, double scoop root beer float and 2 crab cakes. I also had 12 lb. of cherries and a large piece of strawberry cheesecake. I also stopped in the Graham shoe repair store and replaced my thin stock boot liners with Spenco arch supports. We will see if they help. I noticed that the weather predicts rain & thunderstorms for the next 7 days.
Date: 2005-05-10
From: Rockfish Gap

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

Comfort Inn Waynesboro (zero day)I got a taxi ride to the outfitters to pick up my stove. It works better than it ever did. The pump seal needed replaced and the bottle/pump seal was bad too.   They said that I have been tightening it too hard. No pressure, no fire. Buckwheat came in to the Comfort Inn last night. We had lunch (pizza) together and then dinner too today. He is an excellent hiker. I plan on getting a taxi to Shenandoah National Park tomorrow. Back on trail.
Date: 2005-05-11
From: Rockfish Gap

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

Rockfish Gap (848.2) to Blackrock Hut (868.2) 20 milesStarted hiking at 7AM. Filled out hiking permit registration at park visitors station. No one was there yet. Everyone has said the park is easy. Well not today. There were lots of elevation gains. I hiked for 10 & 12 hours. There were 13 miles with no water sources and it was 85 degrees and about 80% humidity. I was down to about 16 oz of water for the last 8 miles. I got lucky & ran into a day hiker who was getting off trail because of the heat & humidity. He gave my about a quart of water and I was down to nothing when I finally got to a water source. It was a long difficult day. The heat & humidity were very difficult.Loft Mountain Campground is not open. Evidently it is opening late this year. That will be a problem since if was my first planned meal & restocking. I only brought 2-3 days of food. There are 2 southbound section hikers here. Nice guys. I ate a big dinner¢¦2 cinnamon rolls, 2 Ramen noodles, 2 pk. chicken breast. I had gotten water at a stream off trail a mile or so before the shelter. There had been a sign advising that the piped spring at the hut might be dry, but it was fine.
Date: 2005-05-13
From: Hightop Hut

To: Bearface Hut
Miles today: 11.4

Hightop Hut (889.6) to Bearfence Hut (902.0) 11.4 milesLeft at 6:38 AM just like the mornings when Chino was in the same shelters. It is cold this morning. Got to camp store at Lewis Mt Campground (901.3) at 12.00. Bought lunch: root beer, neuc-em burrito, neuc-em Jimmy Dean Bisquit & sausage, neuc-em Jimmy Dean bagel-cheese-egg. Thought about an ice cream bar but the high today is supposed to be about 52 degrees. They had big cans of Hormel chili and I was tempted but they were really big. Also bought 2 dinners and 2 days of non-candy snacks. I got Snickers & Milky Ways a few days ago. Then it got hot. Those candy bars were really nasty when they melted. Messy too. I ate them anyway.There is no bear fence at Bearfence Hut and the spring is dirty and clogged with leaves, mud, branches and other debris. I spent time cleaning up the spring and outflow to make it OK. There is a salamander living in the pool below the spring outlet. I met 2 south bounders today: Grampy from Meriden, CT and Texas Jack. Both are former thru-hikers. Grampy is a caretaker for the Upper Goose Pond Cabin (1534.7) in CT. I should have gotten a picture. Another Duh. I am not taking enough pictures. The Menonites last night were nice people. I hope they don¢t run into nasty weather though. They were dressed by religion, black cotton pants, cotton shirts, suspenders, etc. Not up to bad weather hiker gear. They cooked a big casserole in a big pot over a big fire in the fire pit. It seems to be getting warmer. It might even hit 65. Tomorrow is supposed to hit 80-85 degrees. I am planning a short 12 mile day tomorrow¢¦ lunch at Big Meadows then on to Rock Spring Hut for the night. Same group at shelter tonight as last night. Things a bit looser though. Played Hearts again. Now that it is dark, it is cold again. Time for the sleeping bag.
Date: 2005-05-14
From: Bearface Hut

To: Skyland Lodge
Miles today: 16.1

Bear Fence Hut (902.0) to Skyland Lodge (918.1) 16.1 miles.Left early this AM at 6:10 arriving at Big Meadows Lodge (910.0) at 9:40. It was 8 miles in 3.5 hours. Had a big breakfast at lodge¢¦2 over easy eggs, grits, 2 sausage patties, bisquit & gravy, 2 large OJ¢s and a 20 oz root beer to go. Also made use of the porcelin utilities and hot & cold running water. I decided to do a zero day at Skyland & called to reserve a cabin. Made Skyland (918.1) at 3:15. It was a mostly rocky climbing day about 85 degrees. It was another long hard day. I have little energy for these climbs. A trail angel had left candy by the trail. I took some. Later on, I looked up & saw a small black furry thing coming around a bend. I thought it was a bear cub and momma bear would be following. There was no where to go but backwards. I stopped. Then 2 people walked around the bend. The small black furry thing was their dog. I told them of my bear encounter a couple of days ago & that their dog had me going for a moment. The couple is from Daleville, VA. I met a bunch of day other day hikers & spent a good time chatting with all of them. My cabin at Skyland is large and very clean. It has 2 full beds and a great shower. I am registered for Rock Spring Hut (913.5) but went for a soft bed and shower instead of hard boards and dirt. Tough choice. Also, my feet hurt a lot today. I borrowed scissors at the lodge office to retrim boot liners. They were slightly too long & wide. Dinner was pink lemonade, baked potato, string beans, three onion soup with croutons and cheese, 8 oz prime rib, a small loaf of excellent yeast bread, chopped ham spread with crackers and a blackberry Sunday with blackberry ice cream. IT was an excellent meal. I think that my hiker appetite is finally kicking in now that I have lost 25 lbs. My appetizer was a very large frozen pina colada margarita. It was not even on the bar list or bar computer program but a very nice bar tender made me one anyway. My second dessert was a large white chocolate chip cookie. I am now in the bar with an even larger frozen pina colada margarita. There is live music entertainment starting soon. It looks like a duo of some sort. Tomorrow, I plan on doing a short 10.7 miles to Pass Mt. Hut. I will be leaving on the Passamaquaddy Trail right by my cabin which rejoins the AT about 2 miles north. Breakfast at the lodge first.
Date: 2005-05-17
From: Terapin Station

To: King of Prussa, PA
Miles today: 0.0

May 17 & 18 2005King of Prussia PAThatcher got to the hostel about 6 PM after a 5 hour drive. It took 6 hours to get back to his apartment in King of Prussia PA. Flapjack slept on a futon, I slept on the floor using my Thermarest and sleeping bag. It was luxury compared to a wooden shelter floor. I did however miss a cool breeze and temperature. I thought about sleeping on his balcony but did not. Thatcher went to work in the morning at Flapjack & I walked about 12 mile to a bakery and bough foccacia bread, blueberry pound cake and 2 big loves of bread. We ate most of it for breakfast. While we were at the bakery, we met a back room worker from South Africa. He & I talked about Juluka Scaterlings and Johnny Clegg for a few minutes. He was surprised that I knew of and liked them. Thatcher worked a short day and we all went to a deli for lunch and also bought a pail for soaking my feet. Thatcher had a file in his tool box and I have started filing my calluses and blisters. We dropped Flapjack at Borders at the King of Prussia mall to be picked up by the friend bringing his car. The mall is huge. We went to Frequency Guide where Thatcher works to tour and meet people. I got on his computer to check e-mail and check with Southwest Airlines for flights to Bradley Field in CT. Wednesday AM, we booked flight 870 arriving 5:35 PM on Thursday. It will be nice to be home but I have a strong urge to get back on the AT and finish. We will see. First, I have to have working feet. I know that I have made a number of mistakes: too muck pack weight at the start, boots too light from Hot Springs to Pearisburg, too fast, too many long miles days, too little food, too little water. One other thing was that the shelters have not been much fun for the last 2-3 weeks. People said that the Shenandoahs were easy and that 30 mile days would be common. Wrong!! A lot of trail was rocky and rough. The first 4-5 days were mostly climbing. There was not much ¢easy¢ trail and not all that many nice views on trail. There were views and interesting things on side trails or on Skyline Drive, but most thru-hikers have stopped doing side trails a long time ago. I road walked for part of 2 days because I was bored with rocks and trees. Maybe it was partly the Virginia blahs.
Date: 2005-05-19
From: King of Prussa, PA

To: King of Prussa, PA
Miles today: 0.0

May 19, 2005King of Prussia PAWalked to grocery store a bit over a mile away.   Picked up strawberries and a turkey wrap for lunch. The grocery has an awesome deli, salad bar and food to go section. The other direction would be a great walk too and has a WAWA at the end. A junkfood paradise. I am continuing to soak my feet and file them. When Thatcher got off work, we went to Valley Forge and walked around then stopped for dinner. I had meatloaf, mashed potato, and veggie. I need to watch my charge bill though. As we were leaving, then waitress ran up to the car and said that I had not left a charge slip. I had, but gave her the copy I had so I have none. The charge should be about $32.89. Thatcher only had his sunglasses and it had gotten dark, so I had to drive us back to his apartment. I have not driven since March 3. Now, I had to maneuver in a parking lot and within a minute, drive on a 4 lane super highway. Talk about shock. I managed to reach 60 MPH after a while and stayed in the right lane the whole time. WOW!! Tomorrow will be another walk to the grocery to pick up a giant salad for lunch. We will leave for the airport between 1 and 2.
Date: 2005-05-20
From: King of Prussa, PA

To: Bradley Airport, CT
Miles today: 0.0

King of Prussia PA to Bradley Field CTSince I had a back pack and a one-way flight ticket, and still looked like crap, I got the full search.   Out of line and boots off, arms spread, pack opened and so on. At least it was not a full body cavity search too.   Alma picked me up at the airport. I looked so different that she hardly recognized me. I have missed her. Home again, home again, jiggidy jig. It is so nice and so strange at the same time. This will be a whole new adventure.
Date: 2005-05-29
To: Harrisburg/Duncannon, PA
Miles today: 6.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Harrisburg/Duncannon PAWhile I was on the AT, Alma & I had planned on meeting in Duncannon and she already had a week off so we decided to tour PA and see if I could do some slack packing and get back on trail at the end of the week. The trial run was Duncannon US22/322 (1135.4) to PA325 (1145.7) by way of Victoria Trail which was 1.5 miles for a total of about 11.8 miles. I did fine for the first 5 miles breaking at Clarks Ferry Shelter. Shortly after, I started wheezing at having breathing problems. I had gotten a cold while I was at home and had not totally gotten over it. It got worse and looked like I would slow way down so I called Alma on my new cell phone and arranged to be picked up at the PA 225 (1142.0) trail crossing. I had done 6.6 miles and it was enough at that point.
Date: 2005-06-01
To: Lebanon, PA
Miles today: 8.0

Lebanon PATrying an easy day today. Alma & I hiked PA 645 (1177.9) south to Wm Penn Shelter (1175.7) then back to PA 645 then north to 501 Shelter (1179.8) just past PA 501. It was about 8 miles total. Alma had gotten to see a typical shelter and an very nice shelter and had hiked about 8 miles of AT. I did better than before but decided not to go back on trail at this point.
Date: 2005-06-30
From: Mansfield, CT

To: Mansfield, CT
Miles today: 0.0

June 30 to July 2 2005Storrs CTI picked up Red Rover in Kent CT and did my trail angel thing. I did her laundry & actually made it smell good again. The secret is an Oxyclean soak before washing. We kayaked. The first time for Red Rover and she did very well. We went out to dinner, rested, visited and resupplied. Alma & I put Red Rover back on trail in Kent on the second. Afterwards, we visited a great Amish country furniture store in Kent and ultimately ordered a custom made light oak computer desk and hutch.
Date: 2005-07-10
From: Mansfield, CT

To: Mansfield, CT
Miles today: 0.0

July 10, 2005Storrs CTThe last nasty blister on my right foot finally got to the bottom. There is still one left in the metatarsal area of the left foot. That is the one that gave me the most trouble. I still have numbness, tingling and an occasional twinge of pain.
Date: 2005-08-08
From: Mansfield, CT

To: Mansfield , CT
Miles today: 0.0

August 8, 2005Storrs CTBlackbird now renamed Darwin drove to my home from Elmyra NY where he was visiting his father. The next day, I took him to North Adams MA to put him back on trail.He has been on and off trail several times due to hurt leg/hurt ankle/moving to a new house, and possible giardia. We should have consulted the map in the back of Wingfoots guide. We did not and ended up driving well past the AT road crossing and had to turn around and go back. Still though, we had a good time visiting.