morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2012-05-10
From: Punch Bowl shelter

To: Cow Camp shelter
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: overcast clouds

I packed up my wet tent and started my hike to Cow Camp shelter. If anyone has noticed, packing up a wet tent can be habit forming on the AT. I would say that if hiking in the rain for days on end bothers you then don¢t hike the AT. Soon I crossed a forest service road where someone had left some trail magic. Strawberry Twizzlers! I love them but did not take any because they were not wrapped. I hiked on and stopped at Brown Mtn. shelter for a break and to get water. All of a sudden Mouse appears on the trail SOBO. When she saw us she realized that when she stopped for a break at a bench near the stream she had gotten back on the trail in the wrong direction. All you can do is laugh it off and get back on the trail NOBO. I hike through the historically interesting Brown Mtn. area. I cross over rt. 60 where the trail goes through a small parking lot. I find myself cursing a pickup truck driver who I felt came a little too close to me. Just then he stops, backs up and shouts ¢hey do you want a cold beer?¢ I can not accept his offer because it is in a bottle and I am not going to lug a glass bottle on the trail. He says drink it here and he will pick the empty up on his way back. I still cannot accept because I still have an almost 2000 ft. climb to Bald Knob and one beer would end my hike for the day. I met another hiker called Sit-A-Bit just before taking the side trail to Cow Camp shelter. Mouse and Green Bush were at the shelter. The tenting area was a good distance from the shelter so I got my water and bid Mouse and Green Bush good night.
Date: 2012-05-11
From: Cow Camp shelter

To: Seeley Woodworth shelter
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: few clouds

Mouse and Green Bush were long gone from the shelter by the time I departed the tenting area. My goal today is Seeley Woodward shelter area. The longest climb will be from 3160 ft. to 4022 ft. The rest will just be moderate ups and down varying just a few hundred feet. There was a large group of very young weekend hikers that did not choose to stay at the shelter area. I had run into August on the trail here and there the last two days. For a while it like it might be, just us at the shelter.He had set his tent up in the shelter, but moved it as other hikers arrived. We had a chance to talk about both of our military experiences and not surprisingly had quite a bit in common. He was planning on going to the Dutch Haus hostel the next day too. I had a mail drop there.
Date: 2012-05-12
From: Seeley Woodworth shelter

To: Spy Rock Road
Miles today: 2.3
Weather: clear sky

It was a short hike to Spy Rock Road, but a very long descent down the road to Montebello. I saw Snag, Sprite, and Green Bush walking up the road. Earl and Lois Arnold who run Dutch Haus offer a free lunch to thru-hikers with a shuttle so it is worth the walk down and back up the road. I made it to Dutch Haus and got one of their last beds in the bunkhouse. All of the private rooms were taken. The first thing Earl did was grill me a couple of delicious burgers. I got cleaned up enjoyed a great dinner and made plans to slack pack the next day.
Date: 2012-05-13
From: Reed's Gap

To: Spy Rock Road
Miles today: 19.8

I slack packed from Reed¢s Gap to Spy Rock Road. Reed¢s gap is 2650 ft elevation and the summit of The Priest is 4,063. Even slack packing it is still quite an 18-20 mile hike. When reached Fish Hatchery Road Earl told me there was still another hiker on the trail that he was waiting for. It was a concern because it was getting dark and this hiker had been sick the day before. He was located about two hours later. He had made a wrong turn the trail but was okay.
Date: 2012-05-14
From: Reed's Gap

To: Paul C. Wolfe shelter
Miles today: 14.1
Weather: clear sky

Today I am being dropped off at Reed¢s Gap again but headed to Waynesboro. I want to make it to the last shelter before Waynesboro so the next day I can get into town early. It is about an 18 mile hike and the trail is mostly rocky just like the ridge runner told me it would be, plus it started to rain as soon as I left the trail head. Rocks on the trail, rocks in my head, rain on the trail, rain on my head. Another normal day on the AT and I love it. Between the combination of rain, rocks, mud, and steep slopes I managed to fall down three times today. The third time I bent one of my trekking poles. I made it to Paul C. Wolfe Shelter. There was only one hiker there. At first I was a little concerned about him. He did not have the appearance of a hiker. He wasn¢t dressed like a hiker and most of his equipment was not actual backpacking gear. He sure seemed like a nice guy. I mentioned before about giving people a chance. It turned out he was a very nice guy who sort of on a whim just started hiking. He said started out at a weighing over 300 lbs. and had already lost 50. His name was Scott and we talked a lot about light weight gear for backpacking. I told him how much I like my trekking poles. I ate my evening meal with him at the shelter and pitched my tent.
Date: 2012-05-15
From: Paul C. Wolfe shelter

To: Waynesboro
Miles today: 5.0

I got up at first light, had my coffee, packed up and hit the trail headed for Waynesboro. Once I had the visitor¢s center I called for a ride using the trail angel list. I was picked up within 15 minutes by a very nice gentleman who had thru-hiked the AT and the PCT. On our way into town we saw Scott and picked him up. We stopped at the outfitters and they repaired my trekking pole for free! I had a mail drop there too. After my shuttle gave me a tour of Waynesboro he dropped me off at the hotel and I split a room with MyWay another hiker who I had met at the shelter that morning. I found the local residents to be very friendly and welcoming. When I get to a trail town my priorities are shower, laundry, and cold ale. I accomplished all three very quickly.
Date: 2012-05-16
From: Waynesboro

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

I called the trail angel network for a ride back to the trail head. These people are wonderful. Another hiker that I knew (Dutchman) hopped in and was dropped off at the outfitters. We leave the outfitters and who do we see walking? Scott! So we pick him up. When we arrived at the trail head a bunch of people were doing trail magic. I had to decline their offers because I was still full from breakfast and could not fit anything else into my pack. I was provisioned to hike the 107 miles to Front Royal. A park ranger helped Scott myself fill out our back country permits needed for the hike through Shenandoah. Scott had bought a set of trekking poles at the outfitters. I showed him how to use them. He gave himself the trail name Shrek. Today the weather was clear and it was easy hiking. I did step directly over a rattlesnake on my way to Calf Mtn. shelter.The snake made buzzing sound not a rattling sound. I was told that is how timber rattlers sound. This was my first encounter with a rattlesnake. It did not seem threatened by me and I was not afraid because I am always ready with an anecdote. I ran into several hikers that I knew at the shelter. Dutchman, August, Sticks, Chicken and Flaxseed to name a few.
Date: 2012-05-17
From: Calf Mtn. shelter

To: Loft mtn. campground
Miles today: 20.4

I packed up and said goodbye to some of the southbound section hikers that I has met. I said goodbye to Shrek because I was planning on averaging 20 miles a day in Shenandoah and he said 13 was his max. He told me he was planning on a thru-hike next year. I told him that was great but don¢t expect the terrain in GA to be anything like it is here. Up to this point I had never seen a bear on the AT. Today I encountered two cubs in the middle of the trail that refused to move. I slapped my poles together. I yelled. They just ignored me. Since they would not move and I did not see the mother I chose to take a side trail and wait them out in a parking lot. When I came back down they were in a tree and the mother was making snorting sounds. I never did see the mother. I took pictures of the cubs in the tree and proceeded down the trail. I arrived at Loft Mtn. campground. I ran into a man doing trail magic. He asked my trail name and said that I looked familiar. We had actually met on the AT last year and he knew me by my old trail name Lone Wolf. His trail name was Papa Muskrat. He made me burgers and coffee the next morning. Thank you Papa Muskrat!
Date: 2012-05-18
From: Loft mtn. campground

To: High Top hut
Miles today: 14.0

I need to do 20 mile days to accomplish my goal of finishing Shenandoah in 5 days. I have a map but am guessing about the mileage. I realize that I have miscalculated when talking to some southbound section hikers. Instead of doing the 18 miles that I planned it would only be 13 to High Top Mtn. hut. I had to stop at High Top because the extra 13 to Bearfence shelter was out of the question. One of the section hikers said the climb up High Top would kick my butt anyway. It was quite a climb, but no it did not kick my butt. To put things in perspective. Georgia kicked my butt! Since I only hiked 14 miles I arrived early getting one of the few good tenting sites. The shelter was full and tents were pitched on all flat ground available because it was so crowded.
Date: 2012-05-19
From: High Top hut

To: Rock Spring hut
Miles today: 23.9
Weather: overcast clouds

High Top Mtn. to Rock Spring hut was an interesting day. It had been about two weeks since I left Daleville and three days since my last shower. I was beginning to look and smell the part of a long distance hiker. The trail would cross Skyline Dr. several times where I would frequently come into contact with tourists. I have to say that I really enjoyed their looks of trepidation when they saw and smelled me coming. I got a real kick out of this as I was telling another hiker later, I said ¢I bet back in society that I am cleaner than they are.¢ I stopped at Bearfence hut for a break and water. Then I pushed on to Big Meadows Wayside where I bought a six pack of Bud. I really wanted the IPA but it was in bottles. As I started hiking I noticed it was getting late. The lodge had no vacancies so I pushed on to Rock Spring shelter and pitched my tent. I saw three more bears today.
Date: 2012-05-20
From: Rock Spring hut

To: Pass Mtn. hut
Miles today: 15.3

This was another fun day of hiking Shenandoah and scaring tourists. Something did happen today that was fun and completely unexpected. I came upon a group of Koreans out for a day hike. When I happened upon them they had just stopped for a break. They did not expect to be greeted in formal Korean by this scruffy looking hiker but responded with proper courtesy as I expected but I could not help but notice their surprise. For some reason the three mile descent from Mary¢s Rock to Pass Mtn. shelter took a toll on me. Many hikers know that a prolonged descent can be more tiring than a long climb. Any way I made it to Pass Mtn. shelter where there was a good water source. Green Bush was there with Rainbow Kid who had thru-hiked in 1978. Rainbow Kid offered me some wine which I appreciated and I cooled a beer in the spring that was the result of some trail magic, so things were pretty good. Froot Loop and Phoenix arrived. They were part of a group of very young female thru-hikers who had been hiking on and off together since GA. Phoenix had been recently confronted by a bear while in her hammock tent. She coolly smacked the bear on the nose and ordered it to leave, which it did. No matter how introverted I consider myself to be, I admit hiking the AT is about the wonderful people that you meet along the way.
Date: 2012-05-21
From: Pass Mtn. hut

To: Tom Floyd wayside
Miles today: 23.6
Weather: light rain

I am planning a 24 mile day today to complete my goal of finishing the Shenandoah¢s in 5 days. It rained most of the night. It was raining when I left for the trail. I added close to an extra mile before getting back on the AT by mistaking a fork in the access trail but retraced it and got back to where I had left off. It rained all day. I put my head down and pushed on. I stopped at a wayside and made the decision to dump one of my nalgene bottles of water and fill it full of wine. Another hiker who was enjoying a burger and a bottle of Yingling assured me that I had made the right choice. I pushed on through the rain to Tom Floyd wayside shelter where the tent sites were as hard as concrete. It was still pouring rain so I spent the night in the shelter with a very nice south bound section hiker.
Date: 2012-05-22
From: Tom Floyd wayside

To: Front Royal rt 522
Miles today: 2.9
Weather: light rain

I am looking forward to a short hike to tr. 522. I have reservations at Woodward House B&B. They offer a shuttle to and from the trail. About a mile or two before rt. 522 I met Sweet Tea. Sweet Tea has thru-hiked the AT and since she lives right next to the trail she kindly puts out an igloo full of sweet tea for the hikers to enjoy as they pass. She offered me a ride to Front Royal which I accepted. I called the B&B but my room was not ready   so I dropped my pack off, using the town map they provided I familiarized myself with the town. I was particularly interested in the Confederate War Museum. When I returned my room was ready so I took my shower after removing several ticks. They were bad this year. I ate lunch at Sperlunker¢s and headed for the Confederate War Museum. I entered and was received by two wonderful ladies who explained what the museum had to offer.While I was looking at the exhibits one lady would show me a confederate rifle and explain a little bit about it. She reminded me that I must not touch them. I understood that. But after a while they asked me for help in returning the rifles to the display cases. So I had the honor of putting the gloves on and handling these historical relics after all. I went Wings USA and got an order of their hottest wings and had a few cold ales with them. This evening, it was a pleasure enjoying the company of Bob and Joan and their guests. None of the other guests were hikers but they were very interested in the trail and what is was like to hike it. I really enjoyed their company. I can not compliment Bob and Joan enough for their hospitality. I highly recommend The Woodward House.
Date: 2012-05-23
From: Front Royal rt 522

To: Dick's Dome shelter
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: few clouds

I was shuttled back to 522. I had to back track SOBO for a mile so to the spot where Sweet Tea had picked me up. I am not a purist. I will slack pack, I will flip flop but I will not skip one step of the trail. I made it to the spot and turned around made it back to 522 and picked up my pack and headed toward Harper¢s Ferry. There was a lot of brush and high grass on this section of the trail. Brush an high grass means ticks. I hiked to Dick¢s Dome shelter which well is built in the shape of dome. I had just got my tent up when it began to pour. I was heating up my evening meal at the shelter and considered sleeping there, but hikers kept arriving and it filled up fast. So I returned to my tent.
Date: 2012-05-24
From: Dick's Dome shelter

To: Sam Moore shelter
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: scattered clouds

I am headed for Sam Moore shelter today. I am meeting south bound section hikers who are telling me about how tough the roller coaster is. The roller coaster is a few miles of the trail where you just keep hiking straight up and down the mountainsides. I don¢t underestimate it but these are section hikers who just got on the trail at Harper¢s Ferry and are probably still getting their trail legs. I stopped at Rod Hollow shelter for a break and water before starting the roller coaster. I start the roller coaster. It is what I expected. A whole lot of up and down but not all that bad. I am comparing it to the southern mountain region. I met Frances who was doing trail magic. These people who do this are amazing. She is not a hiker. She just likes helping people along the trail by providing a sandwich, snack and soft drink. It was nice to sit for a few minutes and talk with her. When I arrived at Sam Moore shelter it was full of thru and section hikers. Spidderman was there and pulled a tick out of my neck. Thanks Spidderman. As soon as I had eaten the skies opened up just like the night before sending most of us to our tents.
Date: 2012-05-25
From: Sam Moore shelter

To: David Lesser shelter
Miles today: 17.1

This was a big day for me because today I finish the roller coaster, cross the VA/WVA state line and cross the 1000 mile mark. I make my way to David Lesser shelter. This is the fanciest shelter yet on the AT. It even has a deck. I headed for the tenting sites when a weekender¢s dog tried to attack me. I kept the little maniac at bay with my trekking poles till the owner was able to gain control. Spidderman arrived later that evening.
Date: 2012-05-26
From: David Lesser shelter

To: Harper's Ferry WV
Miles today: 8.6
Weather: overcast clouds

It is only about an 8 mile hike to Harper¢s Ferry. I am wakened by an alarm clock from a scout leader at 5am. The scout leader did not wake up but everyone else did. Spidderman was like ¢Hey dude it is 5am in the middle of the forest, how about turning off the alarm.¢ I was in my tent cracking up. So I got an early start on the trail to finish my section hike to Harper¢s Ferry. Much of this part is down hill but also pretty rocky. A nice fellow was doing trail magic at Keys Gap. He told me that August was about a day ahead of me. I wish I would have ran into him one more time.This guy doing trail magic was another one who didn¢t do much hiking but likes helping the long distance hikers out. He said he didn¢t like hills. Again I have said this before but if you do not like hills, do not hike the AT. Once I got close to Harper¢s Ferry I saw many weekend and day hikers. I could not help but notice how many of these hikers were loaded down with heavy gear and over dressed. It is a serious climb out of Harper¢s Ferry going southbound and these people were really struggling. They appeared to have more gear for two or three days than I would carry going for a week and 100 miles without resupply. I hiked to the ATC headquarters and registered as a section hiker. They took my picture. I got a shower at the hostel down the street and waited for my wife to pick me up. She emphasized that I must be showered before she picked me up. Understand, we have been married for over 32 years, been together since 1976, but she see¢s me as a stranger when I come off of the trail with my beard, loss of weight and hiker smell. Oh well I will do it again this year. ¢Them hills just keep calling me back.¢ Earl V. Shaffer ¢The Crazy One¢ ¢I was out there without a care, yeah, I was out of touch, but it wasn¢t because I didn¢t know enough, I just knew too much, does that make me crazy, possibly?¢Knarles Barkely. Fun stuff.
Date: 2013-03-27
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I started section hiking the Appalachian Trail in 2010. I hiked from Springer Mt. in GA to Erwin TN that year. I hiked from Erwin TN to Daleville VA in 2011. I hiked from Daleville VA to Harper's Ferry WV in 2012. My goal for 1013 is to hike from Harper's Ferry WV to Hoyt Road at the CT state line. I have never once began one of these hikes without someone telling me I could not hike the distance in the amount of time planned. This always came from people who had never hiked any or very little of the trail. Every single person that I met along the way who had thru-hiked it or hiked long distances of it always said "Oh that is very doable" Tomorrow I humbly begin my fourth section of the Appalachian Trail.
Date: 2013-03-28
From: Harper's Ferry WV

To: Ed Garvy Shelter
Miles today: 7.8
Weather: overcast clouds

At 0415 hrs I was dropped of at the AMTRACK station by my tearful wife. I am thinking that we are close to 33 years of marriage and she is still sad to see me go, instead of saying ¢good riddance.¢ This is the first time that I have ridden AMTRACK for this distance and I was very impressed by the staff and their attentiveness along the way. I arrived at Harper¢s Ferry WV and left my pack at the outfitters while I walked SOBO to the ATC headquarters where I left off last year. I went back to the train station and changed into my hiking shorts and tee-shirt. The temperature was in the low 50¢s. I crossed the Potomac and was in Maryland. I met two weekend hikers who were SOBO wearing what looked to be snowmobile suits. They were sweating profusely, breathing heavily and asked how far to the bridge. I told them only about 14 to 12 of a mile. They looked at me strangely because I only had shorts and a tee-shirt? I hiked the 11 or so miles to Ed Garvey shelter. This was Easter weekend so there were a lot of local weekend hikers out. I met some local hikers at the shelter. One hiker ¢Spoons¢ had thru-hiked the AT in 1987. I set up my tent and enjoyed talking with Spoons and the other hikers.
Date: 2013-03-29
From: Ed Garvy Shelter

To: Pine Knob shelter
Miles today: 16.5
Weather: clear sky

I am planning on a 17 mile day from Ed Garvey shelter to Pine Knob shelter. The day was sunny, the terrain mild by AT standards. The temperature was probably in the 50¢s. I am the only one in shorts and tee-shirt. These overly dressed weekenders really appear to be suffering. Along the way I met some trail maintainers who told me the water source at Pine Knob was flowing at a trickle. I met up with a Civil War re-enactor playing the fife near a Civil War battle field. I crossed I-70 on the foot bridge that I have driven under several times. I get to Pine Knob shelter and see several tenting sites before I even glimpse the shelter. I set up on one furthest tent sites away from the shelter, which is occupied by week-end hikers. I get my water from the pipe near the shelter and of course receive hiking advice from the week-end hiker. When I mentioned all of the hikers overly dressed that looked like they were going to have heat stroke he told me, you are supposed to dress in layers. I said yeah, when you stop. He also advised me that I should be hiking south instead of north because it was easier. He never asked one question about my planned hike but knew better than me how to hike it. Keep in mind, he never asked that my goal was the CT state line. I hate to admit it, but many of the weekend hikers grated on my nerves this entire hike. Some one dropped a potato chip bag in the privy.Two very nice young hikers set up their tents in the site next to mine. They had both done quite a bit of hiking and I really enjoyed talking with them. Their names were Eric and Becky. I have to thank Eric for the extra pack of matches that he gave me.