morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-05-17
From: Knot Maul Branch shelter

To: Campsite (572.4 mile mark)
Miles today: 0.0

I did get a bit chilly in the hammock last night. My back would occasionally get cold and send a chill through my body. The problem with hammocks is that there isn't any insultion below them. Even in a sleeping bag, the bottom of the bag is compressed and offers very little warmth. Otherwise it was very compfortable and will work well in warmer weather or for breaks during the day. It weighs about 12 oz. so I sent my silk liner home and will use the hammock as my liner if need be.---------------------The first and second half of the day contrasted one another greatly. Mileage-wise, the contrast didn't occur half way through, but I didn't take lunch until I had already walked about 17.5 miles. I made the mistake of assuming that the shelter at about 10 miles was going to hav water. I started the day carrying only 20 oz of water. Carrying this ammount of water has surprisingly done me fine from Georgia up to this point. I never had to plan water stops ahead of time because there was plenty of possibilities, and all the shelters had water. Unfortunately, the shelter where I was going to stop for lunch was dry and is that way year round. I had passed up water along the way thinking I will just refill at the shelter. Big mistake. I ended up having to walk another seven and a half miles to get to water. I was stumbling dehydrated and near delerious in the hot VA sun. I would have passed right by the nearest source had Patch (who was in the same condition) not shouted over to me to stop. It was a rough day, but I am no stranger to such conditions thanks to my days as a wrestler, and I actually made good time ;-)
Date: 2005-05-18
From: Campsite (572.4 mile mark)

To: Jenny Knob Shelter
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: broken clouds

I met another graduate from the ranger/forestry school at syracus (Professor Nutbag & Crazy Legs Crim being the other two) by the name of Patch. I planned to hitch into Bland to resupply so I wouldn't have to carry much food. He also needed to go int town to pick up a mail drop. It was seven miles to the road crossing which was no problem. We had heard this may be a hard hitch and in retrospect I probably shouldnt have planned it this way, but we ended up catching a ride after walking only half a mile down the road. The town was 2.5 miles off the trail and we were picked up by a lovely girl by the name of Colleen (not sure on the spelling). I was able to fill my belly and grab more food. About the time we were going to hitch back, we were offered a ride by a felow hiker, which made life easier. We headed back to the trail head feeling awesome, and it was only 1:00pm.---------------------Made it to the shelter no problem. I mailed back my rain jacket (used once on whole trip) and my cook pot and stove (stove startd leaking & I decided to go cold food anyway). According to the post office scale, that stuff weighed a surprising two pounds including the box it was shipped in.-----------------At the shelter tonight, we (Stats, Mud Pumpkin, Curly, Patch, and I) had a discussion on how much Subway we could eat in a day. We all pretty much agreed that we could eat an eight foot sub (each) during the coiurse of a day. Tonight for dinner I had a peanut butter barrito with raisons and assorted nuts mixed in. It was yummy. I am getting tired of cooking and having to wait for my food to cool down. I am also tired of cleaning my pot out here, and I am also tired of carrying the cook pot, stove, and fuel. With the warmer weather here, I am going to eat cold food here on out. Plus my stove started leaking out the bottom. I could get a new one, but I took it as a sign.
Date: 2005-05-19
From: Jenny Knob Shelter

To: Woodshole hostel
Miles today: 20.4
Weather: overcast clouds

I have started to see small snakes along the way over the past couple of weeks. Several weeks ago Crazy Legs and Proffesor saw a water mocasin, and I have talked to two people who have seen rattle snakes. Today I saw two box turtles within a mile of one another (probably more rare to see than a rattler); one was very small/young. Patch saw a rattlesnake this mourning, and he was only about a 1/4 mile behind me at the msot. He said it was a smaller one that crossed the trail abou 20 yards in front of him. I keep my music low so that I can hear whats in front of me; although with the one rattlesnake encounter I had last summer, the snake didn't rattle until I had already passed it. I am glad I have music to listen to while I am out hiking, and very fortunate to have my good friend Karl mail drop me more. Patch doesn't have anything to listen to, so he passed the time yesterday memorizing the states in alphabetical order. He said it took him about an hour and a half, but he was able to chime them off in order no problem at the shelter last night. It was very funny. Today he tried the state capitols, but couldn't remember enough of them.-----------------I decided to stay at the Woodshole hostel, whch is half a mile off the trail. It is pretty nice to have the hostel up at over 3300 feet. It is a fairly remote place run by Tillie Wood. Her husband discovered it back in the 1940s while he was conducting a study of elk. I believe the farm house was built in the 1880's and much the original chestnut logs were still within the homestead. Tillie runs the hostel from May to June along with the help from volunteer/caretaker/friend High Pocket (normally she resides in Florida). It is a nice old place, and the cost of stay was to pull some weeds on the premise. Originally, the cost of stay for each hike was t stack a slate on a fairly long stone wall bordering their property. I was able to sleep on a mattress avoiding the rain at night. We didn't escape the mice though, which were running around on the roof and inside the converted barn loft we were staying in. In the mourning, those who signed up for breakfast (all of us) went inside Tillie's house and ate with Tillie and High Pocket. We had nice biscuits and sausage, but the best part was hearing stories that Tillie had to tell. The lumber in her house was still of original chestnut that once filled the forest. It was a nice great stay, and I had a good time.
Date: 2005-05-21
From: Pearisburg, VA

To: Hang-overburg
Miles today: 0.0

At about 8pm last night I was feeling really tired and could have gone to sleep, but no, I was walking to a bar with fellow hiker by the name of Jersey Fresh (I can't imagine where he's from). We met other hikers who were already there totally about 15 of us in the sports bar on main street. It was in fact karyokee night and people were singing. It was an extremely fun time. Basically a local would get up and sing and then a hiker and then a local and then a hiker and so on and so forth. The funny part was that the locals would get up and sing a country song, then a hiker would get up and rap. There was a local there who actually had a really nice voice. He was a small guy appropriately nick-named peewee, but he had a nice deep voice. He had dark hair and a moustach, and wore a camo coyboy hat with matching shirt. He was the second person I saw sing. Then Free Radical(or maybe Ox,I cant totaly remember now) and Epic got up and sang "getting jiggy with it", which was really funny. I got up about an hour or so into and sang "Baby got back" by Sir Mix-alot. Apparently I did a good job because I got quite a number of compliments from even the locals. I got people dancing too. Other songs hikers did included: my dingaling, gangsta's paradise, living on a prayer, and more. I also sang Madonna's "Like a virgin", "7 Rooms of Gloom" by the Four Tops, "Whole lotta love" by Led Zep, and also sang "I'm too sexy" with Patch. It was a great time, the local people were fun and most of them friendly. Needless to say, I woke up this mourning not feeling so well. We ended up staying until the bar closed at 2am.--------------Fortunately my other two packages were at the post office. They actually were there yesterday, just hidden under a box for a Ben Johnson; go figure. The new boots fit great and they are actually the newer version of my old ones. We'll still have to see how they fit on the trail ofcourse.-----------------I spent a lot of today eating and laying around. I set up my hammock on the hostel grounds and layed in the shade for a while. I watched hundreds of small gnats fly in the sunlight like glowing, golden snow flakes dancing, forever swirling in mid-air. It was great to lay there with a gentle breeze and the birds chirping (or is it churping or cherping; I can't tell, I am such a horrible speller).---------I was able to get around town on an old bike that was at the hostel. Tragically, it had no breaks, and I had a tough time stopping. I nearly had a heart attack a few times cruising through the hilly mountain town. I had to use my boots to slow down from a break-neck pace to a just-badly-hurt-myself pace. Sometimes I stood up and put my foot down on the rear fender, which seemed to help. I was able to fix the breaks once I got to a gas station with a wrench.
Date: 2005-05-27
From: Daleville, VA

To: Wilson Creek Shelter
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: overcast clouds

**Something happened with my last few entries, so I wont be able to post them until I have the mileage data, etc. in front of me, which wont happen for quite some time. I ended up staying in town last night. A bunch of others were amnd I was able to split a room four ways and stay at the Howard Johnson Express for $12. I split the room with Ribeye, South Shore, Peanut, and Clockwork Orange. It was worth it for the shower. I actually went swimming in their outdoor pool briefly at night. It was really cold which is porbably why I was the only one who jumped in. I had a nice stay. I ate mexican we ordered form accross the street, and drank a few Natty Ice's, which I dont usually drink.-------------I decided to lay up at the shelter only 12 miles from town because my right hip started hurting. The ball and socket joint itself was hurting. Hopefully a good nights rest will cure it.
Date: 2005-05-28
From: Wilson Creek Shelter

To: Jennings Creek/VA 614
Miles today: 16.9

There must have been about 15 hikers at the shelter tonight. I haven't seen this many at a shelter since Partnership shelter. I was one of the first to arrive so I got a spot inside the shelter. I had picked up a woopy cushion while I was in Pearisburg. When everyone was getting ready to go sleep, I would let one rip. It was extremly funny as no one new it was a fake fart. I would blast a fart from the woopy cushion evey once and a while. Everyone was amazed at my farting abilities, not knowing they were fakes. Eventually I revealed my secret to a few of them. Although I was in the shelter, I moved out to my hammock and fell asleep there. It worked out well and I wasn't that cold over the course of the night. The woopy cushion is definately worth the weight.---------------My hip felt fine today and I made it to a nice camping area by a creek alongside VA 614. There is a nice swiming hole here and plenty of camping spots. Looks like another night in the hammock. Hopefully it wont start raining over night because I don't have a tarp yet. I can always set up my tent in a pinch, but that would be a hastle.
Date: 2005-06-01
From: Jennings Creek/VA 614

To: thunder hill shelter
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: overcast clouds

After a great three days of not hiking, I got off to a late start today around 2:30pm. I was still able to push 14 miles up and over a 3000+ foot climb with daylight to spare. I saw numerous deer; one was only five feet away. I am glad I was able to push the miles I did. I really shouldn't say "push" because it was fairly easy. I hope for a big day tomorrow. I want to try to catch up to some fellow hikers seeing that the ones behind me didn't catch up after my several days off. It is pretty chilly and damp tonight at almost 4000 feet in elevation. The trail doesn't reach the elevation I did today again until New Hampshire.
Date: 2005-06-02
From: thunder hill shelter

To: johns hollow shelter
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: moderate rain

woke up this mourning to rain. I ended up sleeping late and didn't start hiking until 10 am. I made great time, as usual, hiking in the rain. I arrived at the shelter and the rain had stopped. The next shelter was almost 9 miles away with a three thousand foot climb. It was still very cloudy/rainy when I was at this shelter so it was tough to talk myself into moving on. I feared the night being cold at the elevation of the next shelter (around 4000'). I just enough time to get there before dark, but I could have showed up soaking wet if it started to rain. That would have made for a cold and miserable time eating and preparing to sleep. My sleeping bag isn't terribly warm, so I decided to stay here and try to sleep early rather than chance shivering and night sleeping at the next shelter. It was about 4:30 pm when I arrived here. I tied one end of my hammock to the back shelter wall and made seat that I could lean into. It ended up not raining much here (almost! 1000'), but that could have been a different story up in the mountains. I want to start getting on an earlier schedule now so I might as well force myself to get up early tomorow rather than force myself up the damn mountain in the rain. It is not as if I did a terribly short day, but I felt as if I could have walked more. I am going to try not to beat myself up for not going further, but I will try to make up the miles another day. Starting tommorow, if I maintain a 23 mile/day average, I will reach harper's ferry by the 12th. Both parental units one and two are going to meet me there. I am excited to see them, and they will also be flipping me ahead to pine grove furnace (skipping a section I already did).--------------Its a very cold gloomy day, but I will not let it get my spirits down at all. Since I decided to stay at this shelter, I am just relaxing soaking in thre sounds of the breeze and nearby stream. It is nice to just relaxe out in the woods without walking constantly. I don't think I allow myself enough time to stop and soak everything in. Ofcourse as I say this, I am planning to start doing my biggest miles yet. I am going to try to go as far as I can while there is daylight over the next week or two as long as I don't hurt myself. I feel pretty good and my pack is lighter so i am confident. Its just a matter of sleeping well and getting up early. I find I sleep the best from early mourning on. It is hard for me to fall asleep right away for some reason, and I am sleeping on a 3" air mattress. The fourth hiker I've met from Japan (he looks like he is in his 20s, and speaks some English) is sleeping an extremely thin blue foam pad next to me. I dont know how a lot of ! hikers are able to sleep on the little pads they use. I have tried to and it is not worth it to me. The mattress I use is only 18 oz (from exped) and is filled with down for warmth. It is a little more expensive, but well worth it. And on that note, I am going to sleep.
Date: 2005-06-03
From: johns hollow shelter

To: cow camp gap shelter
Miles today: 23.5
Weather: light rain

Today was a pretty decent mileage day. I was off to a fairly early start at 8 am; earlier than usual atleast. I cruised the first 18 miles or so no problem. I felt great the whole way. I didn't even use my headphones. I saw a few deer and a box turtle along the way. I reached brown mountain creek shelter (about 18 miles) around 4:30pm. I felt so good that I started psyching myself up for a 30 mile day. I still had a big climb ahead. About 3000 feet in over 4-5 miles. I felt great, but 18 miles already is still 18 miles. The terrain I already went over was not easy either. So I put my headphones on, took my shirt off, and started up the mountain. I put myself in a trance and powered up the mountain. I actually made it up to the top in pretty decent time, but I decided to hold off on the 30 mile day and went to the shelter I am at right now. It didn't look like there was going to be any good camping past this shelter and a 40% chance of rain.    There is a youth/school group here with me. There are four teenagers and their group leader. They go to an all-boys prep school that has a very good outdoor program from what I gather. They are all around the fire telling stories. One story the group leader is telling is pretty funny dealing with horses, but I'd have to tell you about it in person. I set my hammock up inside the shelter since there was plenty of room, and now it is time for sleep.
Date: 2005-06-04
From: cow camp gap shelter

To: Hog camp gap
Miles today: 2.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was a big day. A whopping 2.5 miles downhill into the gap. The day started out very foggy and rainy as it has been for the past two days. Having set my hammock up inside the shelter, I was very compfortable and didn't start hiking until about 10 am. As soon as I reached the bottom into the gap, the clouds opened up and I could see a field with tents. Among the tents was a giant orange semi-sphere. The glowing orange orb beaconed from the distance as I aproached. There were four '99 thru-hikers set up for trail magic. The giant orange tent was a $4000 expedition tent; the kind used on everest expeditions. One of the AT alumni, Redneck, works at an outfitter in Ohio and was able to use/borrow the massive mobile structure. I knew I wasn't going to make it far today, especially when one of the first things I was asked was "Is it too early for a beer?" I ofcourse said its never too early and sat down. Along with Redneck were Pop, Arrowhead, Angus, and friends. I ate to awesome breakfast burritos filled with eggs and cheese and potatos. Over the course of the day I ate salmon steak, roast pork, burgers and dogs, apples, bannanas, apple pie, cucumbers. I was even able to catch a ride into town to resupply, which saved me from walking 4 miles round trip into Montebello as I originally planned.My right shin wasn't feeling well so I decided to stay the night in the gap (the beer I consumed also had some influence in that decision). There were other hikers staying as well. Maybe about 12-15 hikers. Almost nobody left once they got there. One hiker said I really can't stay as he inched closer to the food, but even he ended up staying. It was definately a magical end to two very foggy/gloomy days.
Date: 2005-06-08
From: Waynesboro, VA

To:  Camping @ mile 861
Miles today: 12.8

I entered Shenandoah National Park today. The first five miles or so were not very pleasant. Lots of tall grass and red ants is all I remmeber, but that didn't last long. The grade of the whole park is really flat and easy. The miles just go by without much effort at all. The park is like a petting zoo with all the deer I've been seeing. They seem almost tame after years of conditioning within the park boundaries.--------I didnT hit the trail until about 2:30. I was up and ready to go much earlier, but I went over to Weasie's kitchen in Waynesboro and had the all you can eat pancakes. I stuffed myself beyond capacity. I was so full I couldn't seem to move under my own power. I waddled outside and layed in the shade of a tree for over two hours before I got up and made way for the trail. It was well worth it, and I didn't have to eat anything for the rest of the day until dinner time. I didn't even eat that many for thru-hiker standards. I had about six with a side order of homefries. The record is 24 apparently, and these pancakes are big! Perhaps at a different time I could have tried for the record, but not today it seems.
Date: 2005-06-09
From:  Camping @ mile 861

To: pinefeild hut
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: scattered clouds

I feel pretty good today. I actually got bith slapped by the trail last night and earlier today. I was foolish and made a mistake of not carrying enough water towards the end of the day yesterday. I went to sleep thirsty, but slept surprisingly well. I didn't get out of my hammock until 9. I slept on and off for almost 12 hours. It was great. I love the hammock that I got. I can't wait to hike more so I can get to my destination and sleep.-------------There is actually quite a number of hikers here today at the shelter. About a doazen or so. This one guy Buttah is carrying a large kickball of sorts so we had a rousing game of four squares. The squares were draw in the dirt on a not so level ground, but it was entertaining for a while.---------------My feet have been killing me the past two days. I had bought new cushioned-insoles for my boots and my feet are adjusting to them. I think I might have to switch back to the old footbeds because I can barely walk a mile at a time withthe new ones right now.
Date: 2005-06-10
From: pinefeild hut

To: bearfence mtn hut
Miles today: 20.6
Weather: overcast clouds

So far the Shenandoah's are extrememly easy, but somewhat boring. The deer don't seem to care about my presence and I think they startle me more more than the otherway around. I am still getting off to late starts, its hard getting out of the hammock. I was the last to leave the shelter area around 10:30am. I have yet to see a bear, but apparently there are quite a number of them around, and I've heard of many recent sightings. I have had many toursit sightings, being that this is a highly visited park. I have passed by many day hikers smelly of clean clothes. There are pay campsites all over the place here, which is nice. It is possible to go length of the park carrying no more than a day and a half of food with all the campstores and restaraunt/bars around.
Date: 2005-06-11
From: bearfence mtn hut

To: rock spring hut
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Not a very big day today. I ended up spending a lot more time than planned at thebig meadows wayside. I had a burger and fries, a blackberry shake, multiple sodas, and was able to resupply. I even had a few beers. I was also able to take a shower and do launrdy which was nice. The park seems to be very crouded and the wayside looks like it does pretty good business. There are lots of campers and visiters in the picnic areas and campgrounds along the way so far. The trail parrallels skyand drive and crosses it 28 times oer the course of the park. At this point it seems like I crossed it 100 times
Date: 2005-06-12
From: rock spring hut

To: gravel springs hut
Miles today: 28.4
Weather: broken clouds

I am almost out of shenandoah National Park, and I have nothing great to say about the park other than it being very easy hiking (on the AT atleast). It is possible to go through the entire park carrying no more than a day and a half worth of food. There are absolutely no big or steep climbs in the whole park. I ended up walking through the whole park in a lot of pain. I had a lot of foot pain from the new insoles I bought, and it kinda continued when I switched back to the old ones. I am also having problems with the tendon in the front bottom of my right shin. The tendon that is used to lift the foot upward. There is a creaking when I move my foot; not good. I will have to take it easy or not hike at all to get this one better unfortunately.   I went through the whole park without seeing a single bear. I have been close to them or just missed some, but never actually saw them. I saw plenty of dear that didn't care at all about my presence. I think they spooked me more than the otherway around. Everyone I talk to says "You didn't see a bear!?" surprisingly. I think I am bear proof, which isn't a bad thing. I have talked to two people who said they saw bobcats. Ironically both sightings were at a road crossing where the large cat ran accross at dusk. They are very hard to see, I believe they are mostly nocturnal and not very abundant in population. That would be a great sight to see though.