morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-05-21
From: Campsite

To: Ivy Creek Spring Maintenance Hut
Miles today: 15.8

Campsite to Ivy Creek Spring Maintenance Hut"Best Trail Magic Yet"The day started out routine enough, if you consider waking up, packing up your bed and home and hiking fifteen miles north to your next home for the night routine.  The day was beautiful for which I was especially grateful after the rain yesterday.  Since the shelters are spaced for ~12-13 mile days or 20+ mile days we are finding ourselves having to camp in random spots rather than at the huts.  This is also necessitated by a more aggressive schedule to get us to Harpers Ferry on the 30th to meet my (Danger's) mom who's coming up to visit us.  This is the first time in our hike that we have had a hard deadline/schedule to adhere to.  Although it is a bit more of a push than we are used to, it will be more than worth it to visit with mom for a couple of days.Today's plan put us getting water from the spring at Ivy Spring Hut then moving on to find camping.  When we reached the side trail to the hut there were 2 gentlemen doing trail maintenance.  We started talking with them, and they showed us where the spring was.  We filled our water bottles and sat down at the picnic table to chat some more before moving on.  We found out that the 2 are a father and son pair of hut overseers and trail maintainers belonging to the PATC.  Todd, the son, is the third generation in their family to be an active PATC member and maintainer.  It was inspiring to see the father and son team work together.  We learned that the 2 have done extensive work throughout the Virginia AT and even helped build the Sarver Hollow Shelter, south of Catawba.We were enjoying the break and conversation when Todd asked if we would like a hamburger.  They'd already offered us soda and cold beer, which we graciously accepted.  The hamburger offer was quite a welcome surprise, and that we gratefully accepted too.  But the good will and generosity didn't stop there.  After dinner the 2 invited us to stay in the hut with them for the evening.  We slept like logs in the cozy rustic cabin, and in the morning they even shared a breakfast of hash browns and bacon with us.  I felt almost guilty accepting such abundance of generosity.  It was an experience that I will never forget.  We learned that Todd has a dream of thru hiking the entire trail one day.  For all his trail work and kindness towards hikers I truly hope that day comes, for there are few I can think of who deserve more to have such a dream fulfilled.  Certainly meeting these 2 men has enriched our adventure greatly.Danger
Date: 2005-05-22
From: Ivy Creek Spring Maintenance Hut

To: Campsite
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: clear sky

Ivy Creek Maintenance Hut to campsite past South River Falls TrailLong day today.  Though the trail magic breakfast was wonderful, I felt tired and slow all day.  We did catch up with Throw and Fetch during the day.  It was good to see them and meet a few other hikers for the first time.  Wild Turkey and River Otter.It was the first long day planned for the stretch, and each stint seemed to go slow with each break going way to fast.  By the time we reached the South River Falls picnic area where we planned to cook dinner, I was beat.  I was grateful for the picnic table and water spigot for their convenience.  As we ate dinner the sky darkened with clouds.  Unfortunately camping at the picnic and public day use areas in the park is forbidden.  So, we still had to find a place to call home for the night.  Back down the trail we set, tired but at least full.  The forest floor sloped up to the left.  Not promising for tenting.  Then it started to rain.  Gravity went ahead while I put on my rain jacket.  It felt like forever that I was chasing behind trying to catch up, looking for a site he might have missed as I hobbled up the trail.  The trail straightened out and I caught sight of him clamoring up the side of the mountain shouting back "I've got something here!"I caught up and yelled up at him "Have you really found something that will work?" in my hopeful but cautious voice.  When he replied in the affirmative I followed suit through the short bushwhack up the mountain side to find myself on a logging/fire road.  Now, you're really not supposed to camp within sight of any road and specifically, at least a quarter of a mile from a road according to park rules.  It was almost 8 when we saw a nice level green spot on a shoulder where the fire road curved.  Gravity and I looked at each other "I won't tell if you don't."Shortly after we had the tent and sleeping bags set up and we were cozy inside the rain came down harder.  I tell you that was the coziest most welcome road shoulder I could have asked for.Danger
Date: 2005-05-23
From: Campsite

To: Big Meadow's Lodge
Miles today: 13.4

Big Meadows LodgeWow, food, food, food!  The Shenandoah's are good for that.  This morning we hit the Lewis Mtn Campground store and ate a burger and a few other snacks.  That was the best microwaved burger ever!  It powered us all the way here (9 miles) to wait 3 hours for the dining room to open at Big Meadows.  The hiking through the park has been largely nice although yesterdays 19 mile day was a bit tough.  Today has been pretty nice sailing though.  So far we have both been feeling good and enjoying the food.  Crystal's mom is going to be meeting us in Harper's Ferry on Monday the 30th and she will be putting us up in a B&B for 2 nights, which is really nice.  We are both VERY excited for HF!Later...  Our master plan was ruined by some pretty nasty rain and saved by the very generous Throw (who is hiking with his service dog Fetch).  After waiting three rain free hours for dinner, as we ate the rain moved in but good.  It was pouring and we had 3.5 miles to go.  The rooms were very much on the expensive end, so we asked Throw if he would split one with us.  He had a room already, insisted we take the bed while he slept on the floor, then wouldn't take any money for the room!  He wouldn't let us buy him his birthday breakfast either.  What an amazing, generous person with quite a story (he's a cancer survivor who has done two other big adventures - canoeing the length of the Mississippi and hiking across America).Gravity
Date: 2005-05-24
From: Big Meadow's Lodge

To: Pass Mountain Hut
Miles today: 18.8
Weather: moderate rain

Pass Mountain HutAfter breakfast at Big Meadows in hope that the rain would stop, we trudged off in the deluge.  No views today.  The fog was so thick we couldn't see Skyland Lodge from about 30 feet away and walked right past it and had to turn around.  Had a good lunch at Skyland Dining Room and forced ourselves back out in the rain for the last 10 miles of the day.Hiking in the rain is a pretty miserable experience.  Everything is wet, your feet are sloshing around in your shoes, your callouses get soft and develop blisters, you are so cold you can't stop for a break and the normal rewards just aren't there but the call of Maine still pushes you forward.  Luckily the lodges here in the park gave us a warm starting point and mid-day break.  When we arrived at the end point we are greeted by a group of other hikers and start our chores while we chat about our day and exchange trail and town info with the south bounders.  Then it's off the bed to listen to the rain on the rood in hopes it will clear up tomorrow.Gravity
Date: 2005-05-26
From: Terrapin Station Hostel

To: Jim & Molly Denton Shelter
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: clear sky

Compton Gap Trail to Jim & Molly Denton ShelterNice short day today thanks to the epic yesterday.  Woke up to clear blue skies, validating Gravity's promise that it will not in fact rain all the way to Maine.  We had a leisurely morning and Mike graciously drove us into Front Royal to go to the PO, resupply and go to the outfitter.  He even took us to the Fox diner and enjoyed breakfast with us.  We were on the trail around 1pm.  I was happy to be leaving the Shenandoah Park, but a little sad that we'd missed all the nice vistas for the crummy weather.  At least we did get one last view that we actually enjoyed in today's blue sky before we dropped down off the ridge.We were both pretty tired today, but the miles and weather were merciful.  I am once again happy to be on the trail.  The shelter for the night is one of the loveliest yet with a deck and Adirondack style bench/chair.  Good company too with the Colonel, Chairman, Captain Crunch and a section hiker (forgot name!).It is getting dark though and I really do need to get to bed and catch up on some needed sleep.Danger
Date: 2005-05-27
From: Jim & Molly Denton Shelter

To: Rod Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: broken clouds

Jim & Molly Denton Shelter to Rod Hollow Shelter"There is not, in fact, always camping near a water source and a road"I was happy to wake up to what appeared to be another clear beautiful day.  Although it was a great group at the shelter last night, unfortunately, my previous assessments were reconfirmed and I just didn't sleep well in there.  Everyone was as quiet as possible, but I still woke up to every little noise.  It is a conundrum though because I enjoy the social aspect of the shelters, just not actually sleeping in them.  Tonight we seem to have found a good solution camping at a tent site near a shelter.  Seem to get the best of both this way.Anyway, back to the day.  I was rejoicing in the sunny morning when a grey cloud moved over and began to spit some rain at us.  I was instantly worried we were facing another crummy day.  Fortunately as fast as it came the cloud moved on and it stayed fair and warm all day.  We've had some of the best trail yet today, and it made hiking feel like a walk in the park.  While we were enjoying a mid morning break at Manassas Gap Shelter I noticed while looking through the pages that there is a BBQ restaurant shortly before where we planned to camp for the night.  Since it is only .8 miles off the trail we decided it would be worth it to get "Q for dinner and not have to cook."  No camping was listed where we were aiming to stop, but we figured there was sure to be something since the area had a water source and was near a road.  We planned for this particular spot because the next shelter would make it about a 19 mile day.  Neither of us was up for such a long day again.We managed to get a hitch down to the BBQ restaurant where we enjoyed pulled pork sandwiches, baked beans and slaw.  We figured we'd just walk back to the trailhead but as we were leaving a truck pulled up and asked us how far we'd come.  We told him from Georgia and talked a little about what we were doing.  The generous fellow agreed to give us a ride back to the trailhead, so we didn't even have to walk.  The whole trip took about an hour.So up the hill we walked, with very full stomachs.  We came to where we thought we could camp but there was nothing.  There was no reasonable camping to be found all the way to the shelter.  Sigh.  Another long day.  It wasn't too bad in the end though, and I was happy for the socializing at the end of the day.  Tomorrow will be shorter though.Danger
Date: 2005-06-01
From: Harper's Ferry 

To: Bear's Spring Cabin
Miles today: 13.1

Harper's Ferry to Bear Spring CabinIt's absolutely amazing how you can pass good campsite after good campsite but yet when it comes to actually find one for the night you are suddenly in a boulder field for the next 5 miles.  At least that's what it seemed like this evening.Well, after the excitement at Harper's Ferry (we were 150 and 151), see some old faces (Steady Step, Shadow & Sassy), a few new faces (Pacha & Chillout) and fondling all the things AT we managed to escape the ATC headquarters and make our way back to the trail.  We walked our way to Jefferson Rock where I made Danger play cover girl (man, can she photograph).  Then on through the historic streets of Harper's Ferry.  It was quite mind blowing to be walking down the same street John Brown came down to occupy the armour and essentially start the Civil War while we were just headed to Maine.  Of course with the tourists that were staring at us came the tourist food.  We could not resist two kraut dogs and a set of custard sundaes to wash them down.  Finally we rolled ourselves back to the AT and across the Potomac River.  We meet a group of school children that treated us like rock stars and just thought this was the best thing they EVER heard of.The next 2.8 miles follows the perfectly flat C&O canal town path.  Sounds nice in theory, but man it hurt the feet.  Then we were off and out in the woods.  As soon as each of us hit the real woods path that we felt so comfortable and familiar with the tension of town and family and the complications of that life fell from our shoulders, we let out a sigh, and we were off to the world we knew best.Toward evening we hit Gathland State Park which has the only memorial monument to war correspondents in the country.  It also has a soda machine.  We cooked dinner and drank our Fanta.  Then we moved on past a few amazing tent sites and found our own personal hell in the boulder field for the evening.  I promised Danger that I would set up the tent such that there would be no rocks under her, which I succeeded in doing.  Unfortunately my side didn't turn out so well...Gravity
Date: 2005-06-02
From: Bear's Spring Cabin

To: Ensign Cowall Memorial Shelter
Miles today: 18.1
Weather: haze

Ensign Cowall Memorial ShelterIf there is one thing we've learned, the memorial shelters seem to be some of the best shelters and this one is not an exception.  Unfortunately that is not true of memorial campsites which is what we were originally heading to.  We wanted to stay at Pogo Memorial Campsite but as someone else said "I don't think they liked Pogo very much."  Doesn't it make sense to pick a camping area that at least has the suggestion of flat ground?Shortly after leaving our "craftmatic unadjustable rock bed"  this morning we arrived shortly at, get this, a campsite with free hot showers and a restaurant just a short distance away.  Sigh... Dahlgren Backpack Campground, courtesy of the State of Maryland.  Amazing.  Unfortunately we had just showered the day before and felt we were to clean to need a shower (although I would imagine anyone that smelled us would beg to differ).  Next we arrived at Washington Monument State Park which has a 30 ft tall bottle shaped monument, the first of it's kind dedicated to President Washington.  And a soda machine.  Both were amazing sights to behold, although only one quenched our thirst.  Then it was off to Annapolis Rocks which had a commanding view of western Maryland but no soda machine.  The view made up for it.  We made our way from there to poor Pogo's Memorial, where we realized we might be more comfortable at Ensign Cowall's Shelter 5 miles farther along.Gravity
Date: 2005-06-03
From: Ensign Cowall Memorial Shelter

To: Deer Lick Shelter
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: light rain

Ensign Cowall Shelter to Deer Lick ShelterIt started to rain sometime after falling asleep last night, and hasn't really stopped yet.  Although we were awake at 6, the sound of rain on the shelter's tin roof lulled us back to sleep for another hour or so.  Fortunately it is just a steady mist and not a heavy down pour.  Also, warmer than it has been.  I am grateful to have my "spare" rain jacket now, but Gravity is still stuck with the thin wind jacket that quickly soaks through.We pushed straight through 9.5 miles to Pen mar Park, where we stopped for a long break.  It was an eerie feeling in the park, all deserted, foggy and rainy.  The park has sprawling grounds with beautiful pavilions for picnics and one with a stage for a band surrounded by a polished concrete dance floor.  I could tell it was a popular place so without anyone there it just felt spooky.There was one redeeming quality to out timing though,  We were there are lunchtime and a local pizza joint would deliver to the park.  So we huddled in the Ranger's Office/Visitor Center out of the rain and indulged in a hot, cheesy, tomato pie.  Yum!Feeling tired and feet sore, we decided to do a shorter day and stop at Deer Lick Shelter.  I am happy now to be dry out of the rain, watching it continue to fall.  We're here with Red, and twelve teenagers, part of a school group or something, just showed up.  Red is a nice guy and good company.  I think that the kids are tenting a little away from the shelter.  Hopefully they'll be on good behavior.We're very excited to have crossed the Mason Dixon Line today which not only means that we are now officially in the north but also that we've completed 6 whole states.  Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland!  Hard to believe how far we've come, but I am happy that we still have half way more to go... One thing I have definitely learned:  no matter what anyone tells you, there are NO flat states!Danger
Date: 2005-06-04
From: Deer Lick Shelter

To: Quarry Gap Shelter
Miles today: 16.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Deer Lick Shelter to Quarry Gap Shelter"I love the Wadels!"What a day today!  My kind of hiking.  Although it was overcast when we woke up, it didn't rain on us.  We took a long break enjoying the view from Chimney Rocks.  PA is very green!  So far, PA has actually been quite good to us, a surprise considering all the gloom and doom we've been hearing about the PA rocks. I imagine we'll learn what that's about soon enough, but so far it has been wonderful here.  The trail has been mostly lovely and very well graded taking hikers through several state parks.  Although it is much more populous and developed, I am enjoying the change as well as the opportunities to meet (non-hikers) people.From the rocks we headed for Caledonia State Park that has a pool, showers and picnic pavilion.  We decided to grab lunch at an Italian place down the road from the park.  After lunch we meandered to the park where we found a lovely piece of grass to settle ourselves on for a long relaxing break.  We watched little kids swim in the pool, teenagers play Frisbee and families walk dogs and have picnics.  We dozed and read, feeling the sunshine, filtered through the leaves, on our faces.  Since we'd already done almost 15 miles by the time we reached the park and only had 2 more to do for the day, we were in no hurry at all and truly able to enjoy the lazy afternoon.Contented but lethargic, we decided that it was finally time to pack up and head up the mountain to our home for the night.  We were getting towards the edge of the park when we passed a large group barbecueing and having fun.  It looked like such a nice scene, everyone smiling and laughing and the hot dogs smelled pretty good too.  We were just about by, feeling a little dejected for being only the 2 of us facing a dinner of Lipton noodles, when a gentlewoman approached us and asked if we were hikers.  We confirmed and she said "would you like a hot dog?"  Would we ever?!??  Before we could blink we were whisked into the heart of the Wadel family reunion.  They fed us grilled hot dogs, homemade baked beans, deserts, lemonade, even roasted us marshmallows.  The family enthusiastically plied us with questions which we joyfully answered around bites of food.  It was amazing how warm and friendly everyone was to us.  We talked and ate and as my stomach was full my heart was even fuller.  They sent us off with homemade treats, chocolate and confections from a cousins candy company (Wolfgang).  When we finally were ready to head off, the trail angel who'd nabbed us blessed us with the most beautiful prayer I have ever experienced.  I truly felt with her words God's Light would shine upon us.  And off into the sunset the wonderful Wadels sent us with full tummies, chocolate and blessed path before us.Danger
Date: 2005-06-05
From: Quarry Gap Shelter

To: Pine Grove State Park
Miles today: 17.3
Weather: few clouds

Quarry Gap Shelter to Pine Grove State Park"Psychological Half-Way Point is for Pansies"Once again, toady I am compelled to exclaim "What a day!"  Not only has the PA terrain continued to treat us kindly, the weather has taken a turn for the better but today we passed the real halfway point!  Reaching Harper's Ferry was a fantastic feeling, but to know that as of today there are fewer miles before us to reach Katahdin than what we have traveled from Georgia is amazing.I find myself coming up short finding new adjectives to describe this experience. Each day seems to offer new magic.  We find ourselves able to push a little farther, a little harder.  Our strides have become fluid and efficient. And our hungers have grown too, although unlike some other hikers we've been able to find satisfaction.  Summer seems to have arrived and the hiking is feeling a little more like fun and less like work.We met some new hikers today; Cola, Dr. Chickadee, Awol, and Hike-U.  All were very excited today and not only for the half way point, but the traditional challenge associated with reaching this point; the "half gallon challenge."  The idea of the challenge is this; any hiker having walked to this point from GA or Maine, who is able to consume an entire half gallon of ice cream on his own within a twenty-four hour period will be inducted into the "Half Gallon Club" and awarded with a commemorative wooden spoon.The afore mentioned group arrived to the park's general store before us, and we found them all in various stages of consumption.  Hellboy and his brother arrived before any of us and had just completed the challenge. Neither were particularly talkative and both looked a little groggy as if drunken on lactose.  Dr. Chickadee had to throw in the towel after getting down about half the half gallon.  Awol was the first of that group to be victorious.  Cola, though he found victory in the end, questioned whether the moose tracks was the best way to go.  Hike-U showed the mint-chip who's boss.  And Gravity, who wasn't going to take the challenge, couldn't resist after all and found defeat over the Cherry Jubilee.  Unsure if he should feel proud or ashamed, we tool solace knowing that is was a once in a lifetime challenge that though difficult was thoroughly conquered.Tonight we roast 'dogs and play car camper at the Pine Grove Campground.  Sharing a site with Hellboy and brother.  Enjoying the warm evening and easy living on the trail.Danger
Date: 2005-06-07
From: Boiling Springs

To: Cove Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 21.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Boiling Springs to Cove Mtn Shelter"Wanna do 4 more miles?"Today started off with a nice breakfast in Boiling Springs which foiled our attempt to get an early start. We had 14 miles across Cumberland Valley which includes a lot of open field walking with temperatures predicted in the upper 80's.  Unfortunately the soft bed, hot coffee and a bagel forced us to delay our departure until 8:30 am.  Luckily the walk across the valley had decent shade in a lot of places and a stop with a water spigot at Scott Farm, owned by the ATC.  It was very strange to be walking for hours without seeing any mountainous terrain.  It felt like the mountains had finally given up - we had won!  But, we hadn't and they started in earnest again with an 800 ft climb - small by Georgia standards, but hard in the heat and humidity.  I have no idea what the heat index really was, but if I was to guess based on the stickiness of my arms it was 10,000 degrees!We made it to Darlington Shelter, which was still under construction after chatting with "Lights Out" for a little while we decided to push on to the next shelter, which seemed a fine idea at the time.  As we went along, our energy got lower as our stickiness and stinkiness increased.  I just really wanted to be clean in an air conditioned room but the 4 miles added to an already long day was not going to happen and we headed down to Cove Mtn Shelter for dinner and to become dinner for a battalion of mosquitoes.  We also got to chat some more with Buck and Swan, a brother and sister team we really liked.  Unfortunately they are moving much too fast for us to keep up with.Gravity