morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-06-24
From: Roanoke, VA

To: Captains Place
Miles today: 0.0

--21.7 milesStacy felt better and was ready to get out of town. It was a perfect day with a big breakfast and sun and then Stacy rolled her ankle in the first mile. The terrain today was very easy though and the views opened up again of the top of the climbs. We hiked with the gereatrics crew today and they were great company as well as Landrover and Frenchie from Canada. It feels good to be on the trail again and not just sitting in a town wasting money. This morning we said goodbye to Matt from D.C. He is getting off to go home where he lives in Virginia. He was a good guy and very fun to be around on the trail and in town. He said we could crash with him in a few hundred miles so hopefully we will see him again. Tonight we are at Captains Place. This guy opens up his yard to camp in and use of his bathroom. To get to his house you take a "horizontal" dum-waiter across the river. you sit in a little seat and pull the rope to get you from one side to the other. Its a lot of fun and kind of scary. A guy we met in town, www.fromacrossthetracks.com, he wants updates on how we are doing.
Date: 2009-06-25
From: Captains Place

To: Warspur Shelter
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: broken clouds

--Traveled 11.2 milesWe both slept in late today, I guess we needed it even after two zero days. The morning started well even with the milage being off like this whole state is. Don't trust signs or the handbook in Virginia, just tack two extra miles onto everything. After our first break Stacy felt sick again and her ankle was still sore. We ended up stopping every few miles to rest and drink plenty. It felt like a day off the trail or like we were on a day hike with the amount we stopped. After lunch I layed down for a nap while Stacy hiked ahead to the next shelter. I was asleep for about an hour when I heard a crunch. I looked up to hear something run off behind me. I unrolled myself out of the tyvek and hit the trail. About 200 yards later there was the noise in plain sight. Two small cubs and their mother to my left. the mother ran towards the trail and stopped. I walked around the corner and snapped a picture as she ran to my right. She stopped and started to walk towards the trail as I started to walk again. We both stopped even and I looked to my left only to see the two cubs no more than ten feet from their mother with me standing in between them. I said not the place to be and started to bolt. Within a few bounds I was even with the mother and she walked closer to the trail, slamming her front paws down and huffing at me. I looked back to see her step onto the trail and take a few steps at me as I was running away from her. I whizzed past a sign, 1.9 miles away. I looked at the time, 5:06. There was no way I was sticking around long enought to find out anything. I ran downhill to the shelter to meet Stacy. I arrived at 5:17 covered to share the story with her and Memo.
Date: 2009-06-26
From: Warspur Shelter

To: Niday Shelter
Miles today: 18.2
Weather: few clouds

Daily Miles not entering--went 18.2 milesToday I slept in till about 10:30 and Stacy left out a few hours before me. She still wasn't feeling well so we decided to take it easy again. We both have pretty much lost all motivation to keep hiking north. The trail here seems pointless and isn't very exciting. I met up with Stacy around noon in a cow pasture. It was nice to see her face even though it was only about four hours. We walked to the next road where we met Longhorn, a local hiker who gave us a ride into town. We stopped at Mickie's 7th, an all organic and local foods diner that has excellent food. the trail sucks here so bad but Virginia is making up for itself with the good food. We hit the local general store for some fruit and Gatorade and then went back to the trail. About a mile in we stopped for a nap. An hour later we were hiking to Keffer Oak, the second largest tree in the East measuring eighteen feet in diameter, it was amazing to see a tree this large and yet very sad that there aren't more like it. Stacy spent the rest of the afternoon picking wild black and blue berries. We filled a small baggie to take to Memo that night. A few hours later we were at the shelter and still still pissed off at the trail through this section. We are both ready to be done with this state, or just leave the trail all together.
Date: 2009-06-27
From: Niday Shelter

To: Campbell Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Daily Miles not entering--went 27.1 MilesToday was a complete 360 from yesterday. We both woke up early and ready to hike, and both ready to put some miles away. the morning started with a climb up Brush Mountain and then onto the Dragons Tooth. A very technical ridge that ends in a 45 foot "tooth" of a rock that everyone must see once in their life. It felt nice to be in some mountainess terrain today and out of the pointless Virginia. We went down into Catawba for dinner. We ate at the Home Place which is a family style all you can eat restaurant. Fried Chicken and Roast Beef with Mashed Potatoes, gravy, corn, pinto beans, green beans, cole slaws, biscuts, and as much cherry cobbler as you can eat. It felt like a real foster family dinner, minus the meats and made me feel good about walking again. We left town around 6:30 to make it to VA's best view, McAfee Knob where we caught the sunset. I think today was good for the both of us and sitting there watching the sunset made us both realize why we were out here and that we wanted to stay out here and complete our walk from Georgia to Maine. We crossed 700 miles today and even though its not another state line its still a huge chunk and getting us closer to Maine.
Date: 2009-06-28
From: Campbell Shelter

To: Daleville, Virginia
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: few clouds

15.4 miles--The shelter was completely empty minus one boyscout who wanted to sleep with the thru hikers. they had a fire going and the ring had a small grill. I stoked the fire and grilled our last tortilla and a little cheese that we had in a block. Quesadillas after the sunset on McAfee Knob were the perfect end to the night. We woke up early to catch the sunset from just beyond the shelter. Mid afternoon we walked along Tinker Cliffs with exposed rocks and knobs looking back to McAfee Knob. today we walked with Woobler and met back up with Landrover and Frenchie. Today was hot! There was limited water all day and the temps were in the high eighties with exposed trail most of the day. In a small claring we were distracted by blooming blueberry bushes and ate several handfulls and filled a baggie full with almost half a pound of berries. We finally pulled into the I-81 interchange littered with hotels and restaurants. We are at the Howard Johnson with a few other hikers where we enjoyed some more mexican. we just got into town with a TV in about five days and have just found out that Michael Jackson has died. the TV is littered with news and tributes to his death. Two days prior a group of thru hikers were discussing whos death would be greater, Bob Dylan or Michael Jackson. They had no idea he was dead but it felt different when they were talking about it.
Date: 2009-06-29
From: Daleville, Virginia

To: Zero Day
Miles today: 0.0

We hit the gear store in the morning and ran into memo on the way back. today we are taking a zero with father/son and memo. our plan is to slackpack tomorrow to the swimming hole. most of the day was spent watching tv and trips to bojangles, wendy's, taco bell, and mcDonalds. For supper we all went to pizza hut and ate almost six pounds between the five of us. I'm getting behind on my journals and its getting hard to catch up.
Date: 2009-06-30
From: Daleville, Virginia

To: Jennings Creek
Miles today: 28.1

28.1 miles--we all woke up early and were on the trail by eight am. son and i passed everyone early but stacy stayed on our tail most of the day. our plan was to see how fast we could do a marathon with no packs. the terrain was easy today and we ran most of the day. we covered the 28 miles by five pm where we picked our packs up. stacy showed up by six followed by memo and father at eight. the shuttle brought us some sodas and beer to enjoy at the local swimming hole. everyone was in high spirits at the end of the day even after the big miles.
Date: 2009-07-01
From: Jennings Creek

To: Thunder Hill
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

14 Miles--Stacy and I slept in today and I could have slept a few more hours. today was a struggle uphill all day climbing our biggest mountains that we have done since north carolina. It felt hard today but we kept moving. It rained today for about five minutes. that is the most rain we have had in over a week. I can't complain about the rain but I can complain about the trail in this state and the ratio of climbing to views. I'm ready to get out of this state.
Date: 2009-07-02
From: Thunder Hill

To: Punchbowl Shelter
Miles today: 25.1
Weather: light rain

25.1 Miles--I've been slacking off in my journals and we haven't hit a post office lately. I journalled a few months before I came our here but its harder out here. It's easy at home when you have a desk and a few extra hours but out here its hard to find a place to write, or the time at night. I'm going to start writing during the day to help out a little. It's hard to remember most of the things at night and on missed days. Last night was our second fire in a row. Memo and Father carried up smores for us since we got them beers the night before. The morning started early. Stacy was up and ready before six so we proceeded 13 miles miles downhill to the James River. There we crossed the longest bridge on the AT. Son, Hot Chocolate, and myself only saw it fit to jump off the bridge, about 30 feet for an afternoon swim. After a few jumps we headed into Big Island, Virginia for burgers and fried chicken. We have been rsting most afternoons to let the heat die down. 80 plus temps and no water makes for terrible afternoons, but it gives us a chance to relax to take a nice nap in the shade. The afternoon was spent climbing but we actually had some views today unlike the rest of VA. We hiked with son most of the afternoon and to the next shelter. It is supposedly haunted by a four year old boy who got last collecting fire wood. I hiked a half pound burger and some fried chicken up for dinner and it was worth it. Joe Foster is meeting us tomorrow so it should be a nice break for Stacy and I. Stacy blew through a pair of shoes and is on her second pair of the trip.
Date: 2009-07-03
From: Punchbowl Shelter

To: Cow Camp Gap Shelter
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: overcast clouds

15.1 Miles--We both slept in today we just had to be up at the road by 12 to meet Joe and Kelli. We took our time and the terrain was pretty easy for a change. Today we crossed our largest suspention bride and followed the edge of Pedlar Lake to an old slave settlement. After a small break at the shelter, we ran into Joe and Kelli hiking South on the trail. We all hided back to the van where we went into town for lunch and groceries. A short drive later we were at the trail head and on our way. Ahead was a 2,000 foot climb to the top of Bald Knob Mountain. They didn't have any problem with the climb and we covered 4.5 miles in a little under two hours. They moved as fast as some through hikers and Kelli beat us all to the top. Our destination was Cow Camp. I figured there would be no one there and I was right. We had the entire shelter to ourselves where we started a fire and ate dinner. Everyone is tired from all the travel and we went to bed early.
Date: 2009-07-04
From: Cow Camp Gap Shelter

To: Fish Hatchery Rd.
Miles today: 0.0

Today I woke up to my first morning fire on the AT. Kelli and Joe got pretty cold last night so they started a fire to keep warm. Two drifters came into the shelter last night but besides that we had it all to ourselves. The morning started out good. Within a few miles Stacy and I crossed our 800 mile mark on the trail. The terrain wasn't to tough and there were plenty of nice views and a few grassy balds. Joe and Kelli lucked out because we haven't had any views for about a week now. We figured we would slow down today but we put in 10 miles before lunch with Kelli in the lead. At lunch, Joe was missing Sheri and wanted to go see her! We continued 2 more miles to Fish Hatchery Rd. where we went into Monta Bella to the general store where Joe called for a shuttle. There we met up with Father and Son and Memo. We all stayed at the Dutch Haus Bed and Breakfast. The owners ended up being from Evansville, IN and I knew their son, small world again. We had a nice bar-g-que for the fourth of July. Everyone skipped the fireworks because we knew rain was on the way. As soon as we heard them go off the rain started. We enjoyed a movie marathon where we watched--Good Fellow, Forest Gump, and Shawshank.
Date: 2009-07-05
From: Tye River

To: Fish Hatchery Rd.
Miles today: 0.0

 Today I hiked SOHO.I wanted to climb the Preist, our last 4,000 ft. peak untill New Hampshire. Stacy wasn't feeling well so she stayed behind while I hiked. Earl dropped me off around 10 and I was off. The climb wasn't to bad and halfway I met up with Son who was headed North. I summitted the Preist, 3000ft. over 2 miles in under an hour. A short break and some water and only five miles to go. It felt good to run without a pack and no one behind me. It was very calming and quiet even though it was pouring rain. I reached Fish Hatchery Rd. in 2 hours and 10 miles. A short run down the road and into Monta Bello and I was back to the B@B for a hot shower and Stacy. We enjoyed a few more movies and the South Carolina Boys showed up. A few games of cornhole, a beanbag tossing game and it was time for bed. The weather looks good for the next few days and everyone hopes the rain holds off. Today was the first day it has rained in a week.
Date: 2009-07-06
From: Tye River.

To: Waynesboro, VA
Miles today: 29.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Today Earl dropped us off early and it was a beautiful day. We took the Mair-Har trail today. It is harder than the AT and follows a river with waterfalls. The trail was steep and very rocky. It was a nice change of pace and we both enjoyed it. At the shelter we ran into a trail crew who were putting a new roof on the shelter and some trail work. We were both excited to get to Waynesboro so the day went very fast. There was more wondering around the woods on the Va trails. It seems the trail maintaners don't know which way is North and we spend more time walking South and West. Today we even walked uphill down a mountain if that makes any sense. It can get tough when you are just walking around with no real direction and it seems you aren't getting anywhere. At the last shelter my dad called and said Joe had gotten us a room in Waynesboro. Instead of staying there we ran into town to a hot shower and a comfy bed. There we enjoyed some of the best Italian we had on the trail.
Date: 2009-07-07
From: Waynesboro, VA

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

We were going to hike out today but we decided to stay and slackpack. We headed to the YMCA where you can sleep in their lawn and use the Y. There we met up with everyone. For lunch we hit up the China Buffet with ZenDog and Frenchie where we all ate our fill of Chinese food. Finally, they told us we had been there to long and we were going to have to pay again. So we left. For dinner I cooked up fajitus for Stacy and myself over a hot fire. In all it was a nice zero day and we are ready to head into the Shenandoah's tomorrow.
Date: 2009-07-08
From: Waynesboro, VA

To: Hightop Hut
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Everyone woke up at 5am for breakfast but we slept in. Our shuttle picked us up at 7:30 but he was late, very late. A short drive later and we were at the trailhead and on our way. We were stopped soon by the Shenandoah's self registration kiosk where we ran into even more rules. I thought the AT was a "wilderness" trail but I guess not. Stacy, Son, and I were off and overs the first 2 climbs in minutes. The trail here is like a highway with very little roots and rocks, one thing there are a lot of people. All the shelters are far off the trail so water is hard to come by and its been dry. Most of the day was spend walking only to stop at a few of the road crossings. In 101 miles we cross Skyline Dr. 47 times, I have never had to look out for traffic more times in one day. This is startibg to become really boring.
Date: 2009-07-10
From: Pass Mt.

To: Front Royal, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Today we walked through fog all day and it rained for most of the day. We shared the shelter last night with 3 weekenders. Please get me out of this state park and out of this state. I am ready to get into PA and get through these "rocks" everyone keeps talking about. The only thing keeps me going is knowing what's ahead in VT, NH, and ME. Days here are just spent walking. There are no mountains that need to be set up for, just really for apart shelters and no water.
Date: 2009-07-11
From: Front Royal, VA

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

We were going to Nero out of town but Son showed up so we hung out for the rest of the day. We spent most of the day eating and laying around the hotel room. I am going to try and not walk as much on the zero days.   For dinner, a huge plate of pasta, some of the best lasgna I've had on the trip. There are 6 of us in the room tonight and we are all watching Eagle Eye. A quick Epsom soak and both of us were out by 10:00.
Date: 2009-07-12
From: Front Royal, VA

To: Mile 984
Miles today: 26.4

I slept really well even though there were 6 people in one tiny hotel room last night. Son, Stacy, and I walked to McDonald's for breakfast along with the whole town of Front Royal. I guess no one fixes Sunday breakfast anymore in Virginia. A quick stop by the grocery store and we were on our way, sorta. It took nearly an hour to get a hitch the 4 miles to the trail.   I refuse to road walk anymore. It kills my knees and feet and they are just sore all day after that. The hiking this morning wa easy and it made me glad we out of SNP. Our main goal today was to get halfway through the roller coaster A13 mile section with 10 climbs and decents. They are all short, about 200-300 feet but more annoying than anything. At dinner we met our first SOHO. He started from Katahdin Iron Works May 3rd. It was nice to share stories of New England with him, I just spilled gatorade all over my journal--I am going to bed.
Date: 2009-07-13
From: Mile 984

To: Mile 1000
Miles today: 0.0

We both slept in today to about 9:30 which wasn't good. We planned to make it to the Blackburn Center for dinner but waking up in the middle of the Roller Coaster was a lot easier than walking into it. If you are stuck in the "shit" there is only one way out. It wasn't as bad as we thought and we made it to Bear's Den Hostel before 11:00. A quick shower and some Mt. Dew and then a trip into town for a real lunch. We are both feeling very lazy today and extremly tired for some reason. A burger and a salad for lunch and we were on to Cresent Rock and the VA, ME, and WV state line. I didn't tell Stacy about the line and she was so excited to be out of VA, along with myself. For the next 18 miles we will be on the state line back and forth. We made it into Blackburn for dinner and no one was there. No dinner, no hikers. We were going to hike out but we decided to stay, this is the first shelter that we have had to ourselves on the entire trail. After leaving VA today, I feel accomplished. The state was very long and very boring state. At this point I feel I could go home and not feel like I have failed.
Date: 2009-07-14
From: Blackburn

To: Harper's Ferry, WV
Miles today: 0.0

We slept so good last night with the whole shelter to ourselves. A short hike to the ridge and it was easy hiking into Harper's Ferry. We covered the 15 miles before noon and we spent the rest of the day at the ATC. Where you get your picture take, as well as, the historic city of Harper's Ferry. That afternoon we met up with a local Bonzo who let us crash at his place for the night. This was better than hiking out after seeing the sights all day. We both are feeling much better now. For a while we were down and struggling to get through the days. The past two days have been good and we both feel a lot more confident about staying and completing the trail. Tomorrow we enter Maryland which we should only be in for about a day. Bring on the rocks!
Date: 2009-07-15
From: Harper's Ferry, WV

To: Dahlgreen Camp
Miles today: 0.0

Today was a walk through American History. You leave Harper's Ferry and walk down the C&O trail and then into Maryland. Maryland is one giant state park littered with monuments and old civil war battle sights. The terrain has gotten a lot better and we are both glad to be moving forward now and seeing state lines even faster. We stopped at the War Correspondents monument for lunch where we met up with Kareoke. We met him in Franklin, NC on our 5th day out. He skipped ahead so he can finish the trail this year. Maryland is very enjoyable. Ever few miles there is a sign to read with info about area and what part it played in American history. My pen died in the middle of writing. I didn't have another so I had to wait two days before I could get a new one.   Hiking from Harper's Ferry to PA would be a nice hike for anyone. The terrain is forgiving with nice camping and all the history. Tonight we stopped just short of the first Washington Moument at a campground with showers. We both starting to wear holes in our soles with no outfitter in site. Bring on the duct tape for the next few days!
Date: 2009-07-16
From: Dahlgreen Camp

To: Pen Mar Park
Miles today: 0.0

We were walking north by 6:30 and reached the first Washington Monument by 7:00am. Today we are finishing up our little history tour and trying to make it into PA. Early on we passed a women and her daughter, when she turned to speak to us her voice hit me. I took a few steps and turned around to see Anna. We had met her last year in Maine guiding a group of girls from a summer camp. They were hiking from Katahdin to Gorham, NH almost 300 miles. We didn't think they would ever make it but she informed us that all the girls made it through last year. It was very hot today. We went into a shelter around 1:00 for lunch and I ended up napping untill 4:30 pm. We had to push hard due to the nap but we made it to Pen Mar State Park before dark!Hot Chocolate's friend gave us a ride to the store for sodas and some snacks. A quick ride back up the mountain and we and cowboy camped at the park under a pavilion, sleeping only a few feet from the original site of the Mason Dixie Line that seperates the north from the south!
Date: 2009-07-17
From: Pen Mar Park

To: Calendonia State Park
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

We were up 5:30 and on the trail to avoid being caught by the ranger. By 7:00 were were at the highway where we hitched in for breakfast at a local diner. We sat next to a local who gave us a ride back to the trail. We ran into a few SOBO section hikers who told us about trail magic at the state park. RAIN, that is the word of the day. It rained all morning and all day which made it cool all day and was a nice change from the 90 degree heat. We made it into Caledonia State Park at 3:00pm. A quick stop at the trail magic cooler for a Mt. Dew and we headed up to the camp. It was a small tarp, tent city ran by a mission group from Indianapolis. Head of the group was a guy named Scott and his son, Moose, who have been going to the park cooking dinner and giving hot showers to hikers for 9 years. The hot showers was a must today after the cold rain. At the camp tonight are Bearbait and Buiningman a few more northbounders that we ran into last night and hiked with today. Tomorrow it is on to the halfway point of the trail!