morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-06-07
From: Wolfeboro, NH

To: Wolfeboro, NH
Miles today: 0.0

My Mother's funeral was at the First Parish Church, UCC in Dover, NH at 10 am. Mother had bookmarked in her Bible scripture passages and hymns that were her favorites. The congregation sang some of those hymns while the soloist sang others.The two ministers read the Bible verses. I welcomed the guests, on behalf of the family and spoke about memories of Mother, interjecting several examples that were humorous. We then went to the cemetery for the burial where she joins her parents. About 50 family and friends went to my sister, Bonnie's, for lunch, to continue sharing memories of my Mother. It was wonderful for the 7 cousins, age 24-39, and their spouses to spend time catching up with one another, as well as for my siblings and our Peterman and Newton cousins. The celebration of her life continued with a cookout at my brother, Pete's, home in Wolfeboro for 12 of us. We all had a wonderful day, strange as it may seem, because we all love each other so much. Mother was definately smiling from heaven. We said good by to brother John's family, who now moves to Michigan from NH.
Date: 2007-06-08
From: Wolfeboro, NH

To: Wolfeboro, NH
Miles today: 0.0

After saying good by to cousins Hank and Shari, who were flying back to Delaware, I took a 4 mile walk with my Wolfeboro hiking buddy, Asta. It was great to talk about the trail and catch up on community news. Next, I returned to Crescent Lake School, where I taught PE before retiring in 2006. I met with Mrs. Corson's 5th graders who have been following my website and e-mailing me regularly. I gave them an update and answered their questions. It was fun to see them again, and other staff, too. The woman who replaced me, Deb Skelley, is a good friend. We had our picture taken in front of the bulletin board I made in the lobby about the Appalachian Trail. My next stop was Cornerstone Christian Academy to speak with their third-sixth graders in the cafeteria at lunch. Again, I provided them with an update and answered more questions. They have a map and notebook in the lobby tracking my journey. We joined family for a boat ride on Lake Winnipesaukee to eat our picnic lunch and go to Bailey's Bubble, (owned by PE teacher Deb Skelley)for an ice cream cone. I'm now going to the Senior Banquet at Kingswood Regional High School with Richard, who is their class advisor. Later tonight I will write some thank you notes and assemble my hiking gear to prepare for the 10 hour drive back to Virginia tomorrow morning at 6 am.
Date: 2007-06-09
From: Wolfeboro, NH

To: Fairfax Station, VA
Miles today: 0.0

Amicalola State Park has had about 1400 registered as Thru Hikers this year. Harper's Ferry has had 219 come through, which is about the mid-way point. I thought these statistics were interesting. Today Skiman's family and I will be driving back to his house to prepare to return to the AT to start hiking around noon on Sunday. On the way home we need to return his brand new tarp tent to Campmor and I will return the down booties I didn't take with me in March. At his home, we need to select our food for the week from our stash and pack up. On the way to the Trail we need to stop at Bears Den Hostel in Bluemont to pick up my Waypoint 1 tent which has been repaired. We'll see how this all works out. My goal is to have my fully loaded pack weigh 28 lbs or less. Happy 30th Birthday to my son, Robert!!
Date: 2007-06-10
From: Riprock Paking area

To: Loft Mt. Campground
Miles today: 10.9

Skiman and I completed our maildrops for his wife, Debra to mail, and we packed our backpacks. We left his home in Fairfax Station around 9:15 and talked about the busy week we had experienced, grieving as a family and celebrating my Mother's life. We cried together, then I slept for an hour while he drove. When I awoke, we were in beautiful horse country with lovely homes set way back from the road with big fenced in pastures in their front yards. We drove into the Shenandoah National Park and Skiman got his Backcountry Hiking Permit. We decided to park the car at the Loft Mt. Campground, where we would spend tonight tenting. We parked, then hitched a ride back about 15 miles to the Riprock Parking lot, where we left off last Tuesday on the AT. The hitch was easy because we got a ride with a campground worker who was in the parking lot where we were. Our hike started around 1:15. 501 left a note for us that he was on the trail, having returned from his week at home in MA. He was 20 minutes ahead of us. We maintained a 3 mph pace on the relatively flat, well graded trail. There were several scenic overlooks and the view was clear, so we asked a dayhiker to take our picture. We saw 501's pack on the trail, where he left it to go get water on a blue blaze trail. We left a note for him to meet us at the campground. We arrived at the campground at 5 pm and selected our campsite. Skiman moved the car to E-92, after we had an ice cream. We decided to move the car tonight to a parking lot beyond Hightop Shelter. While Skiman was moving the car, I stayed behind watching for 501, who arrived at 6 pm. He hiked 20 miles today. I told him about the statistics of 1400 Thru Hikers who have started at Springer and 219 who have come through Harper's Ferry. He said TK Express and Bonafide are two days ahead of us now. He talked about more of our Thru Hiking friends who are leaving the trail to go home for good. He learned this information from trailjournals and reading the shelter journal entries. 501 took a walk to get a soda from a machine, and guess what he saw? Yup, a bear! The Ranger said it was a yearling. Skiman lucked out. When he parked the car tonight beyond the Hightop Hut, a car was heading southbound and offered him a ride back to the campground. He pitched the tent and I made chicken stew. We are in the tent looking out the mosquito netting, being entertained by a deer who is following a big rabbit, and a little boy, probably around 6 years old, who is following the deer! It's great to be back on the trail, but we still need to catch up on sleep and debrief from our busy week at home. Richard has left with the High School seniors on their class trip to Williamsburg! Personally, I'm glad I'm on the Appalachian Trail! It's wonderful to be back at my wilderness home.
Date: 2007-06-14
From: Thorton Gap

To: US522
Miles today: 27.5

Last night Skiman and I commented on how the next two days would be easy: a 14 and a 13 miler to get to Front Royal. (Yeah, right!) This morning we packed up Skiman's tent in the rain and picked up 501 at the Big Meadows Lodge at 6:30am. Skiman dropped 501 and I off at Thornton Gap to start our 14 mile hike north at 7:30. We passed two doe with fawns on the Blue Ridge Parkway...so precious! Skiman had planned to park at Hogwallow Gap to start his hike south. He would give us the keys to his car when we passed on the AT and we would drive south to pick him up. It poured all morning, but the forest colors were crisp and beautiful. We was the 5 strong women hikers from MI. The Wayside Snackbar was full of soaking wet Thru Hikers at 11:30. (Most of us choose to hike in shorts and t-shirts, with pack covers to protect out backpacks.) After 45 minutes, the rain was not letting up and our bellies were full of barbecue sandwiches and french fries, so we returned to the trail. Just then Skiman emerged from the woods from his southbound hike, to pass on the car keys. He had parked 4 miles beyond what we had planned. So, it was going to be an 18 mile day. No problem! Skiman had passed TK Express and JimE Crickett who are leaving the AT at Harper's Ferry to return home. As 501 and I continued north, we talked about the remaining 9 miles into Front Royal for tomorrow. After much debate, we decided that when we reached Skiman's car at mile 18, I would just continue hiking north toward US522, the additional 9 miles. 501 would drive south to pickup Skiman then drive to US522 to hike south, again exchanging car keys. So, I started my "last leg" (no pun intended), excited that it was like a marathon day. The trail was ofter so flat that I jogged a little with my 10 lb pack. I saw 2 rabbits and 4 doe, each about 5-10 ft away. I saw my first bobcat on a stone wall next to the road. What a thrill! I had predicted what time I would see Skiman and 501 on their southbound hike. Right on schedule, there was 501. Where was Skiman? 501 said he was behind me, hiking north, trying to "catch up" to me. I knew I had about 45 minutes of hiking time left and I would get chilled if I just waited for him, so I continued on. A half hour later, Skiman caught up to me and we finished the last 15 minutes together, celebrating our 3mph pace for our unplanned 27 mile day with a Backpacker's Pantry Oriental Chicken, Rice and Vegetables cooked in the parking lot, waiting for 501. He arrived at 8 pm. We dropped 501 off at a motel in Front Royal. Skiman and I are driving an hour to his home in Fairfax Station, where we will take a zero day tomorrow. We will do laundry, dry out the tent, send pictures home, resupply with food and celebrate an early Father's Day with his family.
Date: 2007-06-15
From: Fairfax Station

To: Fairfax Station
Miles today: 0.0

We started the day going out to breakfast in Skiman's 1971 convertible Corvette. Now, that's the reward for a 27 miler! We could actually both walk fine...no problems! After two loads of laundry, we patched the holes in his stuff sacks caused by, we think, a raccoon. His Thermarest is holding air well with the ductape patch job. Our hiking sneakers are drying out and we are trying to get organized for tomorrow's drop off back in Front Royal. Skiman got a crewcut! I am really excited about this week because we will leave VA, hike through West Virginia, Maryland (1/2 way point on the AT) and Thursday we will be in PA! A little AT Trivia from the Thru-hiker's Handbook: On a hike from GA to ME a thru-hiker will climb and descend a total of about ninety-one miles, the equivalent of going from sea level to the summit of Mt. Everest and back more than 16 times!
Date: 2007-06-16
From: US522

To: Dome Shelter
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: broken clouds

Today Skiman and I weighed our packs before we left his home at 9 am. His weighed 33 and mine weighed 28, with 2 liters of water and food for 4 days. Skiman left his stove and fuel behind and we will just use mine. My repaired tent will be at the Hostel on Sunday, so that will add a pound for me. It is great to have my pack weigh under 30 lbs and I hope I can reduce it more. It is great to have a pack pillow now. I sleep better with it instead of the nylon stuffsack of clothes. We started the hike today by dropping off our packs behind a woodpile on the AT at the 8 mile mark. Skiman's wife, Debra, dropped us off at US522 and we said our good bys and thanks for our two nights in Skiman's home. We slacked for 8 miles, put on our packs with a groan, and hiked the remaining 7 to the shelter. After an hour, we didn't even feel like we were carrying anything on our backs. The Trail was wide and well graded with a few ups and downs but something was missing...the animals! No bears, deer, grouse, turkeys or bobcat. We missed the wildlife. We saw Lynx and her husband, TK Express, Gus and Step and a Half, and April Showers and Montreal. Most everyone also took a zero day yesterday, so it is nice to be together with old friends. This shelter is dome shaped, and really sleeps 4, but there are 5 of us sharing the space. There is a brook in front and a privy on the hill behind. The temperature tomorrow is supposed to be in the 90's, so most of us intend to be up and on the trail very early for our 18 mile hike to the Hostel. Skiman was feeling a litle discomfort in his shin and took some "Vitamin I". We'll see how he feels tomorrow! I wasn't quite organized when everyone went to bed and I never got out my headlamp. When I got up to "P" the fireflies, once again, marked the woods boundary but there were so many it was like a beautiful ballet of lights. I thought of my Mother again, who loved the ballet so much.
Date: 2007-06-17
From: Dome Shelter

To: Bears Den Hostel
Miles today: 18.1
Weather: clear sky

I started the day by wishing Skiman Happy Father's Day! Today was a day of obstacles that resulted in great opportunity. We started the 18 mile hike at 6 am, in an attempt to beat the heat. We stopped at the shelter after a few miles to get water from the spring and for Skiman to soak his swollen ankle, I thought,"Oh, no. Not again." I hated to think of him having to leave the Trail again. However, this time it was the other leg, and it really is his ankle not his shin. We continued to the road where we were fortunate to meet Wingnut, who was providing Trail Magic beverages at the crossing. We probably drank a qt of lemonade each in the 85' heat. I asked Wingnut if he was, by any chance, going home via the Bears Den Hostel. He said he wasn't planning to, but he could. He got the gist, and offered to slack for us and we gratefully accepted. In addition, we told him April Showers and Montreal would be coming, and that she had a bad knee. This was a huge benefit to Skiman's swollen ankle because the last 13.5 miles was called the Rollar Coaster Trail for good reason. We ascended and descended 10 times. Phew! We even stopped to sit in a stream and soaked our clothes to lower our body temperature. We were welcomed to the Hostel by Queen Diva and Snackbreak and pd $25 for the Hiker Special, which included a bunk, pizza, soda, pt of Ben and Jerry's ice cream and a load of laundry. The Hostel is a beautiful old stone building furnished as nicely as a home. It has a garden where hiker's have picked vegetables and made a salad to go with the pizza. There are about 15 of us here tonight. It is a place that would be wonderful to take a zero day. This is a ministry for Queen Diva who is a friend of Cicuit Rider, the Methodist minister. Skiman is icing his ankle in preparation for a 20 mile slack tomorrow into Harper's Ferry.
Date: 2007-06-21
From: Wolfsville Rd. Maryland 17

To: Rocky Mt. Shelters
Miles today: 24.9

Today is the summer solstice, celebrated on the AT by Hike Naked Day. Despite my weight loss and "new figure" I am not participating. I joked with 501 that he was waiting for me at this Hostel so we could Hike Naked together, but we are in agreement, we will Hike Naked "in spirit" under our clothes! We left the hostel at 7:15 in Maryland and had arrived in PA before noon. I think I will be hiking in PA for about two weeks. The Mason Dixon sign had been vandalized, so I was glad we had our photo taken at the Pen-Mar sign, which was a welcome shady rest stop. A cooler of soda appeared shortly thereafter as trail magic near a road crossing. The temp was close to 80 degrees and most of the hike was in the shade. However, the terrain varied from a well graded pathway covered with dead leaves to a boulder field which required concentartion for each step. Today there were three shelters within four miles, which is quite unusual. We decided to press on for five more miles to stay twin Rocky Mt. Shelters. We have met recent college graduates from PA who are thru-hiking together, named Dash, J Beard, and Mangove. We also met a new middle age couple, Yellow Jacket and Runner, who started in Harpers Ferry and are headed to Maine. 501 and I got caught in the rain at 4:40, but it was refreshing. I got to the shelter later than I liked, around 6pm. I look forward to seeing my husband tomorrow.
Date: 2007-06-22
From: Rocky Mt. Shelters

To: Pine Grove Furnace
Miles today: 22.9
Weather: broken clouds

I slept alone in a shelter for the first time last night, but in the shelter just next door slept 501 and Dash. Dash, J Beard, and Mangrove were either students or recent graduates from a Mennonite College in PA. I enjoyed learning about their family, faith and way of life. I slept really well after yesterday's 25 miler. Today, I left the shelter alone at 7 am, anxiously anticipating meeting Richard late afternoon. The hiking weather was great: 75' with a constant breeze. I met Zero, from TX and Shovel, from NJ who is a student at U of MD, and a section hiker. Zero's start date was January 14th, so you can guess how he got his name! The twin shelters where we met had a roof connecting them with a picnic table underneath. The dark brown log buildings had white cement in between the logs. There were hanging red geranium plants with big blossoms. Too bad I wasn't staying here overnight! The three of us hiked a little ways together, and I appreciated their compliments that I was strong and fast. I did my best to stay with them and found it comfortable for a short ways, but I couldn't have kept it up all day. Today was my last day of food, so my pack was very light and frankly, too low on food. When I passed under the powerlines on the trail, I was so excited to see that the blueberries were ripening. I stood there 15 minutes carefully picking the darkest berries, and grateful I got them before the birds. The black rasberries were also ripe, so I enjoyed them,too. There was no sign at the mid-point of the AT indicating this miletone, but we all knew from our handbooks where it was... a stream crossing. As I got within a 1/2 mile of the Ironmaster's Mansion Hiker Hostel, Richard was hiking in to meet me on the AT. It was great to see him and I was glad he had arrived safely after his 8 hr drive from NH. We went to the campstore where I bought a half gallon of chocolate ice cream and the clock started to time my half gallon challenge. Rodney Dangertrail, 501, Spirit, Pearls, and Starvin Marvin observed that I was fail ing, and indeed I gave up after eating half the box in a half hour. Pearls and Starvin Marvin are flip floppers whom I met the second week of May. They have now completed the southern part of the AT and have "flipped" and are hiking north. It is nice to see them again! 501 plans to go home for a few days for appointments, so I will miss him on the trail. Tomorrow Spirit plans to slackpack with me. She is a woman from TN, age 59, who I just met today. Richard and I checked into a motel for 2 nights in Holly Springs. We unloaded the car and I was surprised to get a wonderful care package from Isabel Manson, my dear friend from church. Inside was peanut butter crackers, M & M cookies, homemade peanut brittle, Twizzlers, chocolate bars, homemade granola and more. Wow! It couldn't have come at a better time or been more perfect! I will enjoy many of the treats tomorrow as I hike 20 miles to Boiling Springs!
Date: 2007-06-23
From: Pine Grove Furnace

To: Boiling Springs
Miles today: 19.4
Weather: few clouds

Richard and I met Spirit at the Ironmaster's Mansion Hostel at 7 am where she unloaded her pack in our car for our slack today, just carrying water and snacks. Richard walked with us to the half way sign which is a permanent structure and therefore is not an accurate indication of the milestone, since it varies every year. We ascended from 820'elevation to 1300', but for the most part, PA has been easy to log long miles. There were the big rock boulders, corn and wheat fields, a ridge walk and nice level paths. One unusal thing we observed today was hundreds of caterpillars nestled in the crevices of live tree trunks and hundreds of white moths hatching. I suggested to Spirit that we should not talk and hike with our mouths closed! There were so many moths and I did to want to choke on one! We saw a beautiful scarlet taninger close up and blue butterflies on the thistle, sweet pea and day lilies. Richard met us mid morning, where he started a slack for Rodney Dangertrail. He also met us at a road crossing with Subway sandwiches around noon. At the end of the day Richard met us on a bluff to hike the last 3 miles together into Boiling Springs. He said to be sure to tell you he hiked 8 miles today, and I am proud him! Our hike ended around 4 pm, and I think we both could have hiked farther! Spirit is sharing our motel room with us tonight, and again tomorrow night. I enjoyed hiking with her today.
Date: 2007-06-24
From: Boiling Springs

To: Duncannon
Miles today: 25.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Today Spirit and I slackpacked south from the Doyle Hotel in Duncannon to Boiling Springs, PA. We chose to hike south because we wanted to do the climb of 800' first, to get it over with, while we were fresh in the morning, then end the day with the flat paths through the farmland. Our hiking pace was 2 mph, which made it a long day from 6:15 am-6:30 pm, including 4 breaks and visiting with about 15 Thru Hikers. We saw many friends who are a day ahead of us or are on our schedule, such as Zero, Shovel, Snowplow,the Mainiacs (father and son from Orono, ME), and Radar (from Lisbon, ME whom I hadn't seen since the blizzard in the Smokies in April). The views we had today reminded me of a typical farm landscape jigsaw puzzle. This included barns, silos, patchwork quilt shaded crop plantings, roads and pastures for cows. As usual, we encountered rocks of all shapes and sizes, two climbs, but then 10 miles of flat terrain through wheat, corn, and hayfields. We climbed over five or more stiles. Much of the time we were in the hot sun of the 85' day. The wooded areas were not very attractive, full of the caterpillars and moths and just weedy looking. We heard many gunshots as were were getting closer to our destination, which concerned us. We figured out they were skeet shooting, from the two shots in a row and the pauses in between. I also thought I heard someone yell "Pull". We saw no animals other than chipmunks and squirrels. The pink thistle and purple vetch were pretty in the fields. Spirit ate some berries she picked. We crossed at least 8 roads today. We soaked our feet in the stream, as soon as we got to Richard's car to get our Crocks. He hiked 7 miles today! We appreciated the fresh fruit he brought for us at our picnic lunch.I know it seems crazy that I have hiked 113.3 miles in 5 days averaging 22.6 miles, but I feel no muscle soreness or fatigue in my feet or legs. You would think I would sleep like a baby, so exhausted. In fact, today I bought some Tylenol PM to help me get a good nights sleep! I continue to thank God for my strong body and ability to keep up this pace.The next two days are projected to be a little shorter, around 17 miles and 90'. We are moving from a motel to a campground with a swimming pool for the next 3 days. Yeah!