morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-06-15
From: Thunder Hill Shelter

To: Johns Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: light rain

A "practically perfect" hiking day today! Miles of downhills from Thunder Hill to the James River. We started early, 6:45, so we'd reached Petites Gap (4.7 miles) by 9:00. After a short break we continued up and over High Cock Knob after which we walked along miles of trail that ran along the sides of the mountains with gradual ups and downs so we were able to hike along at a good pace. We stopped for a bit at a spot that looked down a valley with surrounding mountains on both sides and in the distance. There was a short trail up to a ridge where we could see into another valley as well. AND there were bunches of blueberries, so we helped ourselves to some of the ripe ones. The area, like others we've passed through in the higher elevations, reminds me of Maine, especially Mount Desert Island, with dry orange-red rocky soil, pinen trees (? white pines) and other vegetation that together smells and looks like Maine. Then we began a LONG descent to a shelter by a stream where we stopped for a long lunch. The only hard part of the day was that it was very hot and humid. Gabby took a dunk in the stream and after I finished lunch I decided to get wet, too. I stepped into the cool stream and lowered myself down into a knee-deep pool. Ah, refreshing! There were small fish swimming about. Then I herard a splash in the water next to me and saw a snake start to swim upstream. I let out a small scream and decided I didn't rerally need to get that wet after all. We continued hiking along fairly level terrain to the John River which we crossed on the AT's longest foot bridge. On the other side of the river there was a trail angel waiting in the parking lot with a cooler of drinks and candy bars! A great end to a long but fulfilling hiking day. The only other bad thing about the day was that Granma Lala decided to get off the trail because her knee continued to be painful. So the trail angel, a retired gentleman named Ken, offered to take her to a campground 5 miles away and shuttle her further if she needed. Sure beats hitchhiking. So we said goodbye to Granma Lala and continued on. The trail ran next to a beautiful stream for quite a while, then climbed uphill to the shelter. It started to rain lightly the last half mile, but it didn't rain hard until I was safely in the shelter with Gabby and Pokey. We chatted as we watched the rain come down, then cooked our suppers in the shelter. We've got a big 'up" first thing tomorrow. I'm getting tired of my knees and feet hurting so much, butr that's just part of the experience.
Date: 2004-06-16
From: Johns Hollow Shelter

To: Brown Mountain Creek Shelter
Miles today: 17.9
Weather: light rain

You can tell it's hot and humid when even the rocks sweat all day. We got a fairly early start so Gabby and I arrived at little Rocky Knob about 9:00 in time to catch a lovely view looking down on clouds suspended over the James River and the surrounding valley and mountins. We continued huffing and puffing up the trail with sweat pouring off us because the humidity was so high the sweat couldn't evaporate. We stopped on top of Bluff Mt. but were up in the clouds so we couldn't see the view. I used Gabby's cell phone to call home and ask that my New Balance 806's be sent to Waynesboro since my toes are banging at the end of my boots. Then down to Punchbowl Shelter for lunch, the "punchbowl" being a small frog pond with very loud frogs. Gabby unfortunately left his ATC baseball cap on top of Bluff Mountain. So the "up" part of the day was over by lunch, thank goodness. It remained overcast most of the day; it could have been a lot hotter if the sun had come out. The hike continued up and then down. We were hot and sweaty so we were pleased to arrive at Little Irish Creek where Gabby and I promptly jumped in. Ahh! Pokey arrived a bit later, calling out "I knew you guys would be in there!" He hopped in as well; the look on his face as he lowered himself into the water was priceless. Relief! Then we continued on around the reservoir and followed the Brown Mtn. Creek to the shelter--a lovely hike although I was getting quite tired by then. Top Knot is here, having arrived back from 5 days off the trail to go to the Bonaroo Concert in TN. I'm "zosted!"
Date: 2004-06-17
From: Brown Mountain Creek Shelter

To: Montebello: Dutch House
Miles today: 18.1

As Gabby and I were huffing and puffing up the first climb of the day, I said "This seems familiar: climbingn up 3000 ft. with sweat dripping off my elbows and nose. Haven't we done this before? Oh, yea, yesterday!" But today the climb was worth it. We stopped at the top of Bald Knob (4059') for a short break then continued on to Cold Mountain (4022'), a bald with spectacular views. So Gabby, Pokey, and I took our lunch hour on top, soaking up the views and the sun and enjoying the breeze that finally dried us out. Gabby phoned the Dutch House with his cell phone and made arrangements for them to pick us up at the bottom of the Fish Hatchery Rd. at 5:00, meaning we were supposed to hike 11 miles in 4.5 hours. I headed out before the others, walking across beautiful hilltop fields with lovely views until the trail finally disapapeared into the woods. I passed a group of backpacking teenage girls who stood on the side of the trail as I passed, asking me if I was hiking to Maine. It was great to finally encounter girls on the trail. But the time pressure was on and I kept hiking. Pokey and Gabby caught up to me on the long side trail to a spring where we refilled our water containers. But I was getting increasingly tired and getting winded on even short uphills. I think it was the accumulation of continuous hiking for two weeks with many long days. I stopped and took a short break to eat a snack and drink some water and decided to focus on the present moment and try to enjoy the fern-filled woods and the relatively easy grade of the trail. Gabby and Pokey had moved ahead; I caught up to them at the Seely-Woodworth Shelter at 5:15. Gabby had phoned and changed our time to 6:30, which gave us just over an hour to hike two miles to the road and one mile down past the two gates to the parking lot. So we were hoofin' it walking as fast as possible down the steep Fish Hatchery Rd. with my sore toes banging against my boots. Ow! They weren't there at the parking lot so we continued on after a short wait. After half a mile or so the truck arrived, filled with bean bag chairs in the back for hiker comfort. A portent of good things to come! We were greeted warmly at the Dutch house, invited to shower and change into terry cloth bathrobes before a delicious supper of salad, pasta, meat loaf, beans, corn on the cob, and cake. Yum, real food! I started to doze off so Lois, who runs the House with her husband, escorted me upstairs to my single room with a huge plush bed. I'm in heaven!
Date: 2004-06-18
From: Montebello: Dutch House

To: Dutch House
Miles today: 0.0

We had made arrangements last night to slack pack 9 miles (up and over the Priest mountain) today, but I tossed and turned with my feet screaming at me during the night and so decided to give them a rest today and miss out on the nine miles. It's a tough decision, but my feet thoroughly agree. After an incredible breakfast of eggs, sausage, pancakes, fruit, and juice the other hikers have gone back to the trail and here I am sitting at the computer transcribing notes. This is the perfect place to zero. My fantasy of having a room of my own (with nobody else snoring)has come true. And I'm clean and my tummy's full. I hope to practice the fine art of taking it easy today and rejoin Pokey and Gabby back on the trail tomorrow.
Date: 2004-06-19
From: Dripping Rock/Blue Ridge Parkway

To: Tye River
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: scattered clouds

I'm in hiker heaven. I just wish it could last forever. Yesterday was a relaxing true zero day, a real blessing. When I have a "zero" in town it's not really relaxing because I spend the day doing chores, but here at the Dutch House I could really relax. I feel a bit sad that I missed the nine mile hike yesterday, but it was well worth the R&R. So today Gabby and I slackpacked fifteen miles from the Dripping Rock parking area on the Blue Ridge Parkway south to the Tye River, where he ended his slack yesterday. Unfortunately there was a miscommunication with Steve, the shuttle driver, and we mistakenly started hiking north instead of south for half an hour before we thankfully encountered a sign that indicated we were hiking in the wrong direction. So we promptly turned around and started a brisk hike to try to make it to the river on time. The day hike was a breeze with only a day pack on and we trapsed along at a good pace most of the day. We kept running into thru-hikers heading north that we know, stopping to chat for a moment then continuing on. Hi Impulse! It was great to see Top Knot hiking with his mom and brother who have come for a visit. And accompanying them was Pokey's mom, Sheila, who arrived in Waynesboro a couple of days ago to spend time with him as well. Pokey had been dropped off at the Tye River and was hiking north, hoping to get into Waynesboro to be with his mom early tomorrow. So Gabby and I were thrilled to meet Sheila, who's taken the trail name Mama Pokey, just perfect! Gabby and I continued on, hiking up and then down the Three Ridges. We enjoyed several wonderful views today. My little digital camera finally said "card full" when I took a photo of the "Priest" mountain. So I had to wait and change cards when I got back to the Dutch House. Unfortunately we were hoofin' it so much that we didn't get to stop and relax today like we usually do, but the hike was good nonetheless. The downhill to the river was, as usual, tiring on my knees and toes, so I hobbled in about 5:30 with Gabby, Burny (who had slacked the other way today) and Lois from the B&B chatting by a hiker suspension bridge over the river. So then it's back to the Dutch House, another wonderful shower and happily anticipating another wonderful meal. I asked Lois if she could shuttle us to Connecticut, but she declined. I could get used to this! We're getting a ride back to Dripping Rock tomorrow morning and will hike into Waynesboro from there. I feel more rested and well fed, which is just what I needed. Life is good!
Date: 2004-06-20
From: Tye River

To: Rockfish Gap/Waynesboro
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: clear sky

The weather today has felt like a perfect Maine summer day -- 60's in the morning, low 70's in the afternoon, clear blue skies with virtually no humidity. In short, perfect hiking weather. Plus the day's hike was mostly gradual ups and a long downhill. It was wonderful to come across a lovely view and see clearly to the horizon with the sun shining brightly in a blue sky. We stopped several times to enjoy the views and soak up the sun. The trail was generally pretty rocky, but passable enough for us to make pretty good time. But no matter how great the hike, it seems inevitable that by 2:00 or 3:00 my feet begin screaming at me and my energy begins to fade. We stopped at a shelter about 4:00 to leave a message for Pokey. I soaked my feet in the stream, which felt great. About 5:00 I encountered a man who said the road was about twenty minutes away and offered to give Gabby and me a ride into town. So we hiked along with him for almost an hour as he told us his life story as a conscientous objector, walking slower and slower. But we finally made it to the road and we were grateful for the ride to the Quality Inn. Pokey and his mother ("Mama Pokey") are two doors down and there are many other hikers. We ate at a Chinese buffet for supper. So I get to sleep in another big comfy bed with sheets and pillows again tonight. Ah, yes.
Date: 2004-06-21
From: Waynesboro

To: Waynesboro
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Happy Solstice and Happy Hike Naked Day! The Goddess is certainly smiling in all her magnificence today! It took Gabby and me until 4:30 to do our town chores, mostly because things are spread out and it's quite a walk to get anywhere. Although it's expensive, I'm so grateful to zero in the hotel (rather than pitching tents behind the YMCA). But when the chores were done I went for a swim in the motel pool, then took a long bath, soaking my poor sore feet. Burny arrived and joined us for supper at a steakhouse with a salad bar/buffet -- perfect for hikers. It again feels good to fill up on town food. Gabby walked Burny back to the Y while I called home. It feels so nice to connect with the homefront.
Date: 2004-06-22
From: Waynesboro

To: Calf Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: broken clouds

Sherri, one of the Waynesboro shuttle people, picked up Gabby and me at 11 a.m. after a leisurely morning. We stopped by the Y's campsite to pick up Burny, who was on her way back from the post office. We stopped at the outfitter for Burny to get a few things, then it was back to Rockfish Gap where we finally set foot on the trail just after noon. It was warm and humid and it was hard to get motivated again since it was afternoon. So we trapsed along slowly but surely, enjoying the hazy views atop a baldish mountain with multiple antennas and cell phone towers on top. The topography is quite different than it was before Rockfish Gap -- smaller, rolling hills with much less elevation gain and loss. Maybe this is going to be the "easy" part of Virginia. It's great to have Burny hiking with us again, but she's tired out and her feet hurt. I hope this "easy" part rejuvenates her. There must be a dozen or more people here tonight at the shelter, but most are tenting. This seems to be "Bring Your Parent to Hike" week: Pokey's mom is here, as is Top Knot's and Banana's, and Impulse's dad is visiting. It's great that families want to be supportive and share in the hiking experience.
Date: 2004-06-23
From: Calf Mountain Shelter

To: Blackrock Hut
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: moderate rain

Gentle. That's the word I'd use to describe Shenandoah National Park. The terrain is gentle, with gradual ups and downs of no more than 1,000 feet. The trails are graded, with long stretches that are smooth and easy to walk on. And even the rain is gentle, falling softly most of the day. We left just after 7 a.m. and hiked till noon because we didn't want to stop in the rain. We finally stopped next to a parking lot and Gabby set up his tarp as a shelter. Two young thru-hikers joined us as well. At least we were not being dripped on while we ate. I began to get chilled after an hour so I set out again, arriving at the shelter at 2:30. There were Pokey and Chef Vegan. Pokey let out his characteristic, "Woo-hoo!" when he saw me. His mom had quit hiking after one day. Like most people, she was overwhelmed by the strenuousness of hiking. I was very glad to get to the shelter and change into dry clothes. Gabby and Burny arrived a while later. The rain stopped later in the afternoon. So we were able to just take it easy, relax and enjoy the afternoon. Then an early supper and chatting with a couple of section hikers. Tomorrow we get to our first Wayside!
Date: 2004-06-24
From: Blackrock Hut

To: Simmons Gap
Miles today: 15.3

I've decided this is "hiker vacation"! Gabby and I left at 7:00 a.m., once again hiking up gently rolling terrain. We stopped at a spot where the AT crossed a parking lot at a scenic overlook and sat on the warm pavement to enjoy the view and dry out our stuff from yesterday's rain. We watched cars come and go for half an hour. Some people drove in, looked at the view from their cars and never got out of their cars. It felt great to sit and soak it all in for half an hour. Then on to Loft Mountain Campground where we indulged in showers and laundry. And, surprise!, Mama Pokey showed up -- she's rented a car and is participating in the trail experience by being a wonderful shuttle trail angel. We had lunch at the Wayside, including their famous blackberry shakes, then slackpacked till supper, enjoying a number of views to both east and west until Mama Pokey met us at Simmons Gap and drove us back to the campground where we cooked our suppers. I walked down to the ampitheater, which has a beautiful view to the west, to watch the sunset. So it looks like we'll be slacking through the park. Like I said, hiker vacation! P.S. We saw a bear next to the road as we were driving back to the campground!
Date: 2004-06-25
From: Simmons Gap

To: Lewis Mountain Campground
Miles today: 17.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Day two of Hiker Vacation! Pokey's mom (aka Mama Pokey) graciously drove us back to Simmons Gap where we resumed our slack packing. What a great "vacation" -- hiking without a pack over such gentle terrain. Today's hike was over the part of the trail I hiked on two years ago when I met Lois ("Grayson", Georgia to Maine '02) who paid me a wonderful surprise visit on Chestnut Knob Memorial Day weekend. So the day was filled with memories of that hike two years ago, gratitude for all the training and preparation I've done in the past two years, and amazement at how strong my body has become that I can fairly easily hike seventeen miles. Mama Pokey went grocery shopping for us while we hiked the first ten miles in the morning and met us for lunch at Swift Run Gap with an incredible feast of salad, chips, strawberries and cookies. Thanks, Mama Pokey! We were hiking at nearly three miles per hour, a fast pace for us. But I began to tire some and slowed down a bit, arriving at Lewis Mountain Campground after 5:00. We drove to Big Meadow Campground to see if we could get a site there tomorrow, but it's full. It was starting to rain so we got supper at the Wayside. Chili and another blackberry shake. Yum! Then a long drive back to the Loft Mountain Campground. I'm in my tent listening to the gentle rain fall. "Kuplink, Kuplank, Kuplunk." (For ten points: that's a quote from what famous book?)
Date: 2004-06-26
From: Lewis Mountain Campground

To: Big Meadow Campground
Miles today: 8.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Well, some days don't just turn out the way you thought they would, but the unexpected changes may be just fine afterall. My legs ached last night so I didn't sleep well. As a result I didn't wake up till 7:30 a.m., quite unusual for me. The rain had stopped, but everything was soaked so we got in the car and drove to Lewis Mountain Campground where we ate a quick breakfast and started hiking just after 9:00. I headed out just before the others, thinking that they would soon overpass me on the way to Milam Gap, where Mama Pokey awaited us for our first break. But I hiked all the way by myself, enjoying the long gradual downhill from Hazeltop. After a brief break I headed onto Big Meadow. We had lunch and then were able to reserve a campsite here, so Gabby, Pokey, and Burny drove back to Loft Mountain Campground to gather up our tents and hammocks and return to Big Meadows, which took till 5:30. In the meantime Mama Pokey and I had an enjoyable afternoon wallking around the meadow, exploring the Visitor's Center, and strolling on the one mile paved trail between the Wayside and the campground. Then showers, laundry, and supper. Gabby, Burny, and I went for an evening hike back to Skyline Drive to pick up the AT and hike on it to the campground. A bit of night hiking with our headlamps. We paused to enjoy a lovely view of the valley and all the bright lights of humanity sprinkled down below. It's 10:30 and Big Meadows is still alive with chattering adults and giggling children -- a much noisier place than Loft Mountain. Just another part of the adventure.
Date: 2004-06-27
From: Big Meadow Campground

To: Thornton Gap
Miles today: 17.6

Seventeen miles are still seventeen miles. The weather was perfect: 60's and low 70's with clear skies. The hills were gentle. We were slacking again. We got an early, 7 a.m., start. There were frequent beautiful views. but the hike still took till 6:30 p.m. and my feet and knees still screamed at me from 3 p.m. on. It just goes to show, seventeen miles are still seventeen miles. We made our first stop at Skyland. While we basked in the sun on the stone patio, I ate my lunch of cheese and crackers. I hiked by myself in the afternoon. The views from Stony Man Mountain and Little Stony Man Mountain were especially wonderful. I caught up to Burny and Gabby at Byrds Nest #3 Picnic Shelter, after which we hiked together, stopping briefly at Marys Rock before starting the knee-banging descent to Thornton Gap. Gabby, Burny, and I treated ourselves to supper in the restaurant at the Big Meadows Lodge, followed by watching a lovely sunset from the deck. I then plugged my camera battery recharger in at the laundry room and sat outside the door talking to Burny while it recharged. A teenage boy with a green cast on his arm was in there for a minute and stole my lithium battery! I reported it to the park police, but I doubt I'll ever see it again. But there could be much worse things, right?A note from Homebody to those of you who sign in Rainbow's Guest Book: if you enter your e-mail address, Rainbow can respond to you. Your e-mail address will appear only in the message forwarded to to her but NOT in the Guest Book entry. She is grateful for your messages and would like to respond to you. Thanks!
Date: 2004-06-28
From: Thornton Gap

To: Gravel Springs Gap
Miles today: 14.5

What a difference from yesterday. Today the terrain was more gently rolling with a couple of one thousand foot ups and downs, but no steep descents like coming down from Mary's Rock. We managed to pick up our stuff and leave Big Meadows campground just after 8:00. Mama Pokey dropped us off at Thornton Gap and we slacked the almost nine miles to Elkwallow Gap. I had an enjoyable, peaceful hike by myself to the gap, arriving at 12:15, just in time for lunch, including my fourth blackberry milkshake. There were maybe a dozen hikers hanging out around the picnic tables, most of them familiar. Katie, whom we'd met at Four Pines Hostel, said she'd been trying to catch up with us. She's joining our little group, so that makes five. Chef Vegan told us that Skywalker named our group the Happy Brigade, apparently because we're so cheerful. (I'm not sure she meant it as a compliment.) When we met Katie she was discouraged and considering leaving the trail, but Gabby tried to encourage her to stay, which meant a lot to her. So here she is.We had a two-hour lunch at Elkwallow Wayside as we chatted with folks, then I headed out at 2:30, arriving at Gravel Springs Gap at 5:15. I listened to NPR for fifteen minutes until Mama Pokey arrived. We waited for Burny and talked for a while, then she took me to Matthews Arm Campground where Gabby and Pokey had dropped off our stuff after lunch. I set up my tent and got supper started when the others arrived. This is a "primitive" campground and therefore very sparsely populated compared to Big Meadows, but I love the quiet and the large trees. We've chatted during supper and now I'm turning in since it is a bit chilly.