morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-03-12
From: Gooch Mountain Shelter

To: Lance Creek Camp Ground
Miles today: 8.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Roubaix has been hiking with a group others. Their trail names are Hot Sauce, Ice Cream, Truman, Darwin and his wife Jess (whose trail name has not yet been decided) Cowboy, Apple Cider. Truman decided that he needed to be home more than he needed to be on the trail. **I have more to tell about this a little later on. (Truman emailed some pictures he had taken so I will post those soon)The remaining group has tried to continue still as a ¢group¢. They hike alone at times or what have you, but they all try to look out for one another which is good **It makes me feel better knowing that they are kind of looking out for each other and have support if they needed it = less stress on ME!! They had another wet and cool day. They ended up staying at Lance Creek Camp ground. They weren¢t allowed to continue or stay at the shelter passed that UNLESS they had a ¢Bear Canister¢, due to the bear activity. **GREAT****UPDATE Jess has a new trail name... Snuggles Thanks All, Vand
Date: 2015-03-13
From: Lance Creek Camp Ground

To: Mountain Crossing Hostel
Miles today: 7.4
Weather: light rain

Got a text picture at 8:30 this am. It was a picture of Roubaix layered up standing in the entrance of the Blood Mountain Shelter. He said later that a group of them had gotten up and headed out at 5:00am with the intent of seeing the sunrise but they missed it. Got a phone call from him around 12:30pm to let me know that he and a group of others (Ice Cream, Hot Sauce, and Darwin & Snuggles) had hitched a ride down to a gas station in Booger Hollow and were waiting on pizza to be delivered! (Must be rough being so far from home!!!) Several of them had tried to get a cabin in Neel¢s Gap but they were full by 12:00. Luckily there were able to get a spot at Mountain Crossing hostel.   Mountain Crossing provided a shower, laundry and a wooden bunk spot; for $17.00 per person what a bargain!**Evidently no cell service at the hostel so tomorrow I get to find out how the group got back to the hostel from the gas station with several pizzas and enough beer to go around. I¢m sure there is a funny story there, not to mention once they all got back together!UPDATE****They got a ride back up the mountain by tipping the pizza guy extra ¢¦ no funny stories!! A Church group brought ¢trail magic¢ in the form of a full on meal; spaghetti, macaroni and cheese, salad, bread, the works.   Roubaix and the others went to bed with very full belly and much appreciation for others.Thanks all, V and
Date: 2015-03-14
From: Mountain Crossing Hostel

To: Low Gap Shelter
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: light rain

**So here and for the next couple of days gets a little confusing. Roubaix had a hard time getting a signal or we got to talk but the whole conversation was where you would hear a word or two and then silence and then a part of a word, etc. So I got what I could but didn't get much to tell about. This is also the time that I was having problems with the computer and was busy with house things....In other words, there are not a whole lot of descriptions. I will try to fill in these gaps but it may be a while before that happens. ALSO...I have pictures to add as well so I'll see what I can do about getting those added and will try to indicate what updates I've made, etc.Today the only thing that I really got was that today was a LONG day of hiking. Still muddy, misty, cold, etc.Thanks all, Vand
Date: 2015-03-16
From: Blue Moutain Shelter

To: Tray Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 8.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Roubaix is slowly but surely having his name changed on the trail. In fact, no one has ever really called him Roubaix. 1. Because no one can say or spell it. 2. No one knows what the Paris Roubaix is, unless you are a cyclist. 3. No one really cares what it is when he starts to explain it. From this point on he is being called Roub. (Which everyone is saying as either Robe or Rub).The rest of todays conversation was regarding our anniversary; which is today. **He thought enough about our anniversary and about his not being here on it, that he went to the florist a week prior to leaving Blue Ridge and ordered flowers to be delivered to me. WASN'T EXPECTING THAT AND REALLY WASN'T EXPECTING THE CARD TO BE IN HIS HANDWRITING. Sorry no updates but thanks for the well wishes or anniversary blessings.Thanks all, Vand
Date: 2015-03-24
From: Wayah Bald Shelter

To: A Rufus Morgan Shelter
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Wayah Bald Shelter to the OUTDOOR 76¢¦home of the foot gurus. Roubaix spent close to 2 12 hours there talking to them and getting new boots. **Bye-bye feet issues?!!! I hope at least! Then onto the Nantahala Outdoor Center area where they update and resupply
Date: 2015-05-27
From: The Priest Shelter

To: Loft Mountain
Miles today: 57.0
Weather: overcast clouds

It's been HOT; but doesn't it make you appreciate a breeze even more than you would at any other time? Roub has made it to the Skyline Drive and should be past 900 miles tomorrow. (Truly amazing to thing of that distance being done with all those pounds on ones back...and SO many others doing -or attempting to do - the same.) Have to give a huge shout out to the Devils Backbone Brewery. They were kind enough to shuttle hikers, allowing them to camp on the brewery property, fed them breakfast and shuttled them back to the trail. Super nice folks!! (picture in photo page). Looking forward to Harpers Ferry WV and the 1/2 way point. It's so hard to believe that not so long ago Roub was looking forward to the start of his journey. Not to much longer now.
Date: 2015-06-08
From: Loft Mountain

To: Harpers Ferry
Miles today: 138.5
Weather: light rain

Roub made it to the unofficial 1/2 point. I was there to see him for a couple of days. I swear after he went to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and after his photo done, I got to see a mini Mount Kahtadin moment. There was so much optimism and excitement of being there at that moment, and making it to that milestone that it appeared Roub almost forgot that there was still hiking to be done. It obviously was short lived but I definitely noticed that he and the other hikers milling around there where all experiencing a great sense of relief. It was nice to see...V
Date: 2015-06-28
From: MD Boarder thru PA

To: NJ Boarder
Miles today: 229.4

Then the rocky terrain started... PA was no joke. Walking on rock is bad. Walking on rocks that move, is terrible. Walking on rocks that move while it's raining, that is dangerous. Roub reported falling down daily. Luckily the worse injury that came out of it were cuts to his forearm and elbow and a big bruise to follow. The terrain made it seem like you walked farther than you had (which in your mind you knew you really hadn't) and zapped every ounce of energy out of your body. The climbs started increasing. There seemed to be a bit of a pattern. Roub said they started off the day in a cornfield, come to rocks... walk thru them for miles, climb up and over rocks and usually get to camp to have it rain. Luckily the views started to mirror the amount of effort it took to see them. The towns people were off the charts nice.
Date: 2015-07-04
From: NJ Boarder

To: NJ crisscrossing NY to Bear Mountain NY
Miles today: 109.0

What Roub is just now completing has been the hardest part of the trail to date in both physical and mental strength. Pictures show climbing straight up (not exaggerating at all!!) You had to watch where you stepped or put your hand so as not to get snake bit. AND once again there was a lot of rain.He didn't do much staying in town. It seemed like there were only a select few (like 2) places to stay and they didn't care if you stayed or not. (It sounded like they competed with each other; saying they were full for now check back at 12, changing the room rates when you did get a room and the room would be NASTY...a 1 star establishment at best). As bad as it was, it was out of the rain. That appeared to be the one and only saving grace. There have been monumental views but again they didn't come easy.   The plan is to celebrate the 4th of July in NY. I'm sure that weather permitting, they will be beautiful from atop Bear Mountain...
Date: 2015-07-06
From: NJ crisscrossing NY to Bear Mountain NY

To: Mount Moosilauke
Miles today: 393.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Isn't it amazing what our beautiful Country has? Hiking this trail has been like growing from a child to an adult. As a child you see beauty in everything after the humdrum of life, with all the changings that take place both the good and the bad, an adults eyesight becomes faded or unclear. Yes, if asked we can recall a wonderful moment in time in great detail...but with everything else going on we describe it differently.As an example, living in Virginia we are blessed to have Mountains in every direction you look. Each of those mountains is different but are very similar. Climbing Star Mountain is vastly different from climbing McAfees knob. At the summit of Star Mountain there is usually a buzz of activity and people. There are two main focal points of the view. From the bottom looking up you see a mountain in Roanoke with a giant metal star that is lite up nightly. There have been lookout points all constructed of decking constructed by people so as to see the "best of the views" and looking down from the mountain you see a breath taking view, the busy city with smaller areas that are also busy and beyond that green lush valleys below till the next mountain. From McAfees Knob however you see a similar but different view. Because it's a known tourist area the bottom looking up is busy, usually year round, at any given time...folks night hiking to see the sunrise etc. The top of mountain is vastly different. Here looking down looking down from the mountain you see breath taking views, the busy city with smaller areas that are also busy and beyond that green lush valleys below till the next mountain. Atop this one, you won't find "decking" constructed be people but by nature pointing out the "best of views".   As I've been hiking I've seen many mountain tops but if asked I feel I will no longer just describe the mountain's. Maybe it's because with the time that it's taken me to get this point ... I've seen life without the day to day distractions that have cluttered my view. Or maybe my vision has been cleared because I've recalled the wonderment of seeing things differently...as a child once again. Either way... I won't be seeing things the same. I've got less than 400 miles to go to see the "best of the view" from this journey.
Date: 2015-08-12
From: Mount Moosilauke

To: The White Mountains
Miles today: 94.9
Weather: few clouds

If anyone ever tries to tell you that the White Mountains are easy...They are lying. The "Whites" have been the hardest miles that have been hiked so far. Yes you read right! I would gladly cross the largest cornfield or field of flowers. Here you have fields of rocks. Falling is a natural occurrence, especially if while hiking here the weather is anything other than sunny and dry. Falling isn't good anywhere but here if you fall...you land hard. Did I mention there are ROCKS? Rocks do not make a good landing zone. If by some miracle your feet and knees haven't hurt before them, you will HURT by the time you've crossed through here. Your feet will feel like they have been hit with a baseball bat. Your legs, knees, feet will "scream" at you constantly. One word will keep coming up in conversation: Brutal!There area few rewards. Like most things in life once you've endured the bad, the good can make things tolerable. The views are beyond incredible. That isn't an accurate description but it's I can give right now. Picture walking through the clouds and fog, when you reach the top of the summit they dissipate, I imagine it must be like looking from a window in heaven. Another huge reward, or at least in my opinion is knowing that it's almost done. 1890.9 miles have been hiked at this point; but once you think of that then a whole other set of things crowd your mind. What will the rest of the hike be like? What am I going to eat? What do I need to do to finish this? More importantly, I need to do to everything I can to take care of this weary hiker to finish this? I'm tired! What am I going to eat after summiting Mount Katahdin? With less than 300 miles to go...stopping isn't an option. The only option is crawl if you have to, enjoy all that you've worked so hard to see, because Katahdin here we come!
Date: 2009-08-23
To: Bear Den Mountain
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: light rain

Rockfish Gap to Bear Den Mountain, 5 miles.I took this week off to hike the Appalachian Trail the length of Shenandoah National Park, a distance of 107 miles. This is the first section hike and first time out for more than two days. Got a late start from home, so I did not arrive at the trail head until 4 PM. Only had time by 7 PM to hike to Bear Den Mountain where I stealth camped near the microwave towers.
Date: 2009-08-24
To: Blackrock Hut
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Bear Den Mountain to Blackrock Hut, 15.0 miles.I woke up around 7 AM after waking several times during the night. I found out during the week that hikers seldom sleep through the night. I had also strung the hammock too low on the trees. Although not bottomed on the ground, my side was against a large rock all night. After two miles, I came to the pipe spring near Calf Mountain Shelter where I refilled my water bladder, ate snacks, and drank two 16-oz refills of water with G2 electrolyte powder packs. Shortly after leaving this spring, I met a guy with the trail name of Fish, two years older than me, who became my hiking buddy during the week as we had the same goal of hiking the length of Shenandoah National Park.Unfortunately, there were no water sources for the next 13 miles until Blackrock Hut. With only a 2 liter water bladder in my pack plus one 16-oz plastic bottle, I began rationing myself in the afternoon, taking small sips from the bladder. I started feeling dehydrated, which is scary and really slowed me down. I finally got to Blackrock Hut, where there were 13 people, some going north and others going south. I was going to sleep in the hammock again, but a big black bear came down and walked along the perimeter of the campsite. I chickened out and slept uncomfortably on the wood floor of the hut.
Date: 2009-08-25
To: Pinefield Hut
Miles today: 13.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Blackrock Hut to Pinefield Hut, 13.2 miles.After breakfast of granola bars and dried fruit, I hit the trail at 8:30 AM for the big climb to the top of Blackrock Mountain. After passing Browns Gap, I saw another black bear on the trail ahead of me. Bears hear and smell you before see them, and the bear scurried away as I continued to walk forward. At 11:30 AM, I made it to Loft Mountain Campground, where I stopped and chatted with a man from San Antonio, TX. Then I went to the campstore and bought an orange juice, a G2 drink, and a blueberry muffin. During this stop I met a 70-year old woman who was taking 10 days at 10 miles per day to hike the length of Shenandoah National Park from north to south. I arrived at Pinefield Hut at 4:25 PM where I set up my hammock. At this hut tonight was Fish, three college guys that were also at Blackrock Hut last night, and another guy who was hiking locally.
Date: 2009-08-26
To: South River Picnic Grounds
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: broken clouds

Pinefield Hut to South River Picnic Grounds, 14.6 miles.This morning, I hit the trail at 9:15 AM. There are numerous deer in the Park who are unafraid of humans because they there is no hunting in the Park. You can usually get within 10 to 15 feet of a deer before they run away. I also saw one of the weirdest people on the trail, a young man with safety goggles over this glasses and a school backpack instead of a hikers backpack.At 1:20 PM, we reached Hightop Hut to resupply with water from the nearby spring, change socks, and take a short rest before moving on. It was here that I first noticed that the soles of my boots were starting to de-laminate.By 6 PM, we made it to South River Picnic Grounds, where there was a restroom with flushing toilets and running water. These are luxuries on the trail. There was also a soap dispenser in the bathroom, so I washed my hair in the sink. After making dinner on a picnic table, we made camp a hundred feet or so down the side trail from the Picnic Grounds so that the Park Police didn't see us. I strung up my hammock and Fish cowboy camped on a ground sheet.
Date: 2009-08-27
To: Stealth camp north of Big Meadows
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: overcast clouds

South River Picnic Grounds to stealth camp north of Big Meadows, 16.0 miles.I got up out of the hammock at 6:30 AM but didn't hit the trail until 8:20 AM. With the picnic grounds nearly, it was nice to have a restroom to go to and water from a spicket that I didn't need to filter. I resupplied at the campstore at Lewis Mountain Campground. I also bought an ice cream sandwich and a can of Dinty Moore stew, which I ate out of the can at the campground. I also bought duct tape to wrap around my boots to keep the soles on. Lewis Mountain Campground had a rest room with hot water and a blow dryer for your hands. So I washed my hair in the sink and blow dried it. Fortunately, no other campers came in to wonder what I was doing.I reached Big Meadows lodge at 4:40 PM and called the wife who was at the beach. Fish got there 45 minutes later. I ordered a bowl of potato soup, a nice hamburger with sauteed onions and fries, and three beers. Such food is delicious when you're hungry and tired of trail food. About 6:30 PM, I left there to hike another two miles and hammocked in the woods.
Date: 2009-08-28
To: Pass Mountain Hut
Miles today: 16.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Stealth camp north of Big Meadows to Pass Mountain Hut, 16.2 miles.I hit the trail this morning at 8:00 AM. It was drizzling on and off during the day, so I got out the red poncho and hung it on a strap of my backpack in case I needed it quickly. At 12:00 noon, I reached the peak of Stony Man. Visibility was poor, as it was drizzling on and off. I laid out the poncho to sit on as there were lots of ants around, and broke out the alcohol stove to make lunch. The mist clouds were rolling down Stony Man. I thought I was in an isolated location when I heard voices. There is an overlook nearby where tourists park off Skyline Drive and hike a much short trail than the one I took to see the view at the top of Stony Man. I likely missed a great view today. At 3:15 PM, it started raining hard. I threw the poncho over myself and my pack and kept on hiking. My brimmed hat was really useful now, keeping the rain off my head and glasses. At 3:35 PM, I reached Byrds Nest #3 Shelter, where I took cover from the rain. A young couple were in the shelter already. They started hiking the Appalachian Trail in May in Georgia and are going through to Pennsylvania. Fish arrived about 30 minutes after I did. At 4:30 PM, the rain subsided and we all moved on to Pass Mountain Hut. Before arriving at 6 PM at Pass Mountain Hut, there was a very a long descent down an extremely rocky trail.
Date: 2009-08-29
To: Gravel Springs Hut
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: broken clouds

Pass Mountain Hut to Gravel Springs Hut, 13.1 miles.One of the highlights of the day was a stop at the Elkwallow Gap Wayside, where I arrived at 12:20 and Fish arrived almost an hour later. I had the famous black raspberry shake, which came in a 16-oz cup and cost $4.00. Expensive but delicious. Back on the AT, a Park policewoman walked up to me and checked my backcountry permit. She asked if I had seen Goblin, the guy with the safety goggles. He was weird enough that even the Park police was watching out for him. She also asked if I'd seen anyone in camouflage. Apparently, such types are illegally harvesting Ginseng plants in the Park.Around 4:15 PM, I arrived at Gravel Springs Hut and met some day hikers who were eating dinner and gave me the left overs. My first yogi. Fish arrived an hour later and said he saw a big timber rattlesnake on a log next to the decent trail to the hut. Either I didn't see it or it came out after I had passed that point. Other campers were in tents nearby. After dinner and conversation, I passed out almost immediately after hitting the sleeping bag at 10 PM and started snoring, so I'm told. I slept in the hut instead of the hammock. Still I woke up a couple times during the night, as usual.
Date: 2009-08-30
To: Front Royal
Miles today: 13.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Gravel Springs Hut to Front Royal, 13.4 miles.The last day on the trail was a beautiful day. The whole week was between 70 and 80 degrees F during the day, and getting down to about 60 degrees at night. There was a steep rocky descent leading to the Tom Floyd Wayside, a shelter about three miles from the terminus of our journey, which I arrived at around 2:45 PM. While I waited for Fish to arrive, a 70-year old man arrived to spend the night. He had had partial knee replacement surgery on both knees, had a 45 pound backpack, and was headed south through the Shenandoah National Park and beyond.Fish and I left the Tom Floyd Wayside around 3:45 PM and finished the last three miles together. During the week, we hiked our own hike and met up during the evening and sometimes at mid-day. During this stretch, my left boot had a total separation failure of the sole from the boot, where I had to stop twice and wrap additional duct tape around the boot. These boots would not have made it another day. We arrived at our terminus shortly after 5 PM, where my wife was waiting with food and a beer. Total trail miles was 107.1 miles, plus side trails and detours taken. I had pain in my right knee on some descents, but the worst was the chigger bites which are itchy and stayed with me for a week later. The hardest day was the first full day. But after that my hiking legs developed and I was able to climb the ascents without too much difficultly. Actually, downhill is harder on the knees and a slower pace than uphill. After one week of not taking a shower and sleeping in the woods, I'm ready to do it again (next year). Having a hiking buddy like Fish made it much more enjoyable than doing it alone. But you always run into people, whether they be through-hikers, section-hikers like us, or day hikers on the trail, and there are always multiple people in a shelter.
Date: 2010-06-29
To: Dick's Dome Shelter
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: light rain

Front Royal to Dick's Dome Shelter, 15.1 miles.This is the start of this year's section hike. Pam dropped me off at the trailhead on Rt 522 at 9:25 AM. My backpack weighted 29.5 lbs including food and 2.5 liters of water. Had lunch at 11:45 at a spring near a dilapidated shelter, which turned out to be just before the Jim & Molly Denton Shelter. I saw one bear today (really just a black dot moving through the woods). I met Two-of-a-Kind (a through hiking couple) during a rest stop at the Manassas Gap Shelter. I made it to Dick's Dome Shelter by 5:50 PM where I met four through hikers who pressed on at 6:30 to the next shelter 8 miles further. I cooked up the best meal of the week, a Lipton Scampi Side with my dehydrated ham and green onions. I thought I'd be the only one at the shelter tonight when another through hiker, Boone and his Siberian Husky, Stella, arrived around 8:30 PM. It was an 85 degree day today. I got a tick bite during the night, but no adverse affects.