morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-06-07
From: Bearfence Mountain Hut

To: Rock Spring Hut
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: broken clouds

We elected to sleep in; after all, it was short miler. So, 6:15, we started our day. It was actually a great day to hike, sunny, not to hot, not to cold. The Shenandoah are very nice. The grades are made for the general public. There are so many side trails, it's tempting to side track. Then I remember that this trip has one purpose, to get to Maine. But I would highly recommend this place for hiking vacations even if you're not in shape. We were to meet TreeFrog's friend at twelve thirty at the Big Meadow Wayside. I could tell we were making good time; we were going to get there way early. We all sat at a parking area and had a snack. We knew it wouldn't interfere with our appetite. As it is, we got to the Wayside half hour early. Adam and I went to check out the store while TreeFrog uploaded his pocketmail. Scott and his son Brian were already there. We had lunch at the Wayside's grill. I had a vanilla milkshake, fried chicken (2 pieces) mashed potatoes with gravy, boiled greens, cornbread with butter. I was stuffed. What I am always amazed by is that I knew I would be hungry in a couple hours. After lunch, Scott and Brian got their equipment together and their permit from the ranger station and off we went. Four miles, uphill. I got to the hut first and there were a bunch if young folks in the hut. They asked if I was a thruhiker. When I said yes, they all jumped up and moved out. They were a church youth group from Michigan. A few of them asked me all kinds of questions about the hike. In the end, our little group added one speed thruhiker, Rocket, and the Boy Scout troop from the last hut. It was a very crowded site.Namaste'
Date: 2004-06-08
From: Rock Spring Hut

To: Pass Mountain Hut
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: scattered clouds

A review of the day...since I'm writing this a day later. A middling day, 15 or so miles. Adam and I got up before dawn and started getting ready. Our guests were a bit slower, but got moving before the masses. I walked with Adam since we were planning a second breakfast at the Skyland Dining Room, some four miles away. Always better to eat with a friend. We pigged out on the Shenandoah Sampler, 2 eggs, hash browns, 4 bacon strips, biscuits and gravy. Coffee, real brewed coffee and orange juice. It's occurred to me just now, I'm becoming a real thruhiker, I can remember the food but I can't remember much else about the day. The highlight of the day was at the end, I had gotten to the shelter and was talking to some weekend hikers when Adam showed up and told me he saw Paul and the dogs. I had gone by the Panorama. I thought about stopping to get something for dinner but something told me to keep on walking. The weekend hikers told me it was closed on Tuesday. But when Adam went by, Paul and the dogs were there. At first I didn't want to go back to find out if they were still there. Then another thruhiker, SouthernBoy, came by and gave me the message that Paul was going to stay until late. I decided to walk back the mile and half. I'm glad I did. Juliet seemed unsure about me but I was sure about Paul. We made plans to meet at Elkwallow Wayside for lunch the next day. Then I walked back to the hut and went to bed. Writing on the 11th, at the Skyland dining room, after Adam and I finished eating, TreeFrog and his guests showed up. We were ready to go on and TreeFrog told us to not wait. Off we went for the rest of the trial for the day. Part of the trail has been relocated and we got to walk on a blue blaze that is now apart of the AT, Stoney Man Nature Trail. Then the Pinnacle. The trail is built up along the side of the hill. One thing that amazes me about the Shenandoah is the fact that so many man-hours, so many years ago, makes this place the easy, wonderful walk it is. One can see the rocks that have been carefully cut and placed together to make the walkways.   Along the path on The Pinnacle, Purple flowering Raspberries and wild roses sprinkled the trail. The path after, going down to ThortonGap, Fly Poison. I always get a blast over flowers. After all, when most of my day is spent watching my feet, flowers along the trail brightens my day.Namaste'
Date: 2004-06-09
From: Pass Mountain Hut

To: Gravel Springs Hut
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: few clouds

TreeFrog didn't show up last night. I left a note on the shelter post on the trail for him as to our plans. Adam and I started our walk. We had an appointment for lunch at Elkwallow Wayside. The terrain was easy so the time went fast. I stayed ahead of Adam just a short ways. We made good time, then again, Adam and I started out by six. We got to Elkwallow by ten thirty. Paul and the dogs were already there. The question for Adam and I was breakfast or lunch. We optioned for lunch. Bacon Cheese Burger, fries and a blackberry milkshake. Then for dessert, a chocolate sundae. We sat and chitchatted with Paul, hoping to waste time, hoping TreeFrog would show up. By noon thirty, no TreeFrog. Paul offered to slackpack us to the road crossing just past Ravl Spring hut. Adam and I were ready to try slackpacking. We have resisted for this long, we figure we would do it. Oh my, now I understand the attraction for slackpacking. I flew down the next miles. I carried my pack but all I had in there was snack, water and first aide kit. And the required map for the day. It was pure pleasure to walk with what felt like no weight on my back. We got to the agreed parking place where Paul was sitting around with two section hikers and SouthernBoy, who had passed us earlier. Those young, long legged boys are hard to beat even slackpacking.   SouthernBoy told us he had seen TreeFrog as he was leaving Pass Mtn Hut. I took into account all known variables with the information from SouthernBoy and figured TreeFrog would be at GravelSpringHut tonight. Adam decided after we three ran into town, to get dropped off back at the hut at wait for TreeFrog. Meanwhile, we jumped in the truck and went into Front Royal. Paul dropped us off at the outfitters where Adam bought another pair of shoes and I got another pair of sandals and a pair on size small convertible pants. Then off to Jaliscos for cheap, large amounts of food. It came recommended by the folks at the outfitters. After supper, we passed MacDonald¢s and we picked up two Big Macs for TreeFrog. Back into the Shenandoah to drop Adam off at the Gravel Springs parking lot. It felt strange to drop him off knowing I'll be sleeping on a mattress.   I came back to the campground with Paul and immediately took a shower. Boy did that feel good. A big filling supper, slackpacking and a shower. And my little dog came to bed with me. Life is good.Namaste'
Date: 2004-06-12
From: Front Royal, VA - KOA 

To: Ashby Gap - US 50
Miles today: 20.5

Our second day of slackpacking. Big miles so make it to Harpers Ferry in three days. The big event for the day was running into Aussie at the end of the day. The registers had said he had gotten off the trail due to illness. We chitchatted for awhile. He still wasn't feeling great but is determined to hike. He gave me news of BearBehind getting to Harpers Ferry. For now, he'll be southbound to make up the stretch he's behind. Back to the campground for a "home" cooked meal of steaks and potatoes, apple pie and corn on the cob. Namaste'
Date: 2004-06-13
From: Ashby Gap, US 50

To: Snickers Gap
Miles today: 14.1

Slack the first 8 of 10 hills on the Roller Coaster.A couple warm up hills and then up and down the remainder of the day. Interesting signs in the middle of the woods. Western edge of Mosby's confederacy stronghold. Welcome sign to the Roller Coaster by the overseer, Trailboss. Actually got passed by some other north bounders. FireMarshall being one. First batch we've seen in awhile. They were headed for Bear Den Hostel, making it possible to be in Harpers Ferry the tomorrow. There was some concern about the Rollercoaster but it turned out to be just tedious, up and down, tripping over rocks. NowOrNever complained as he went by. I told him I looked at it as warm up for Pennsylvania. He grumbled and walked on. We made decent time and drove out to the Blackburn AT Center. What a pretty drive. It's really set up for being walked in. Paul had to use the four-wheel drive the last mile or so. Cheese was up there. TreeFrog thought he had sent a package there but after a discussion with the caretaker, we concluded it was sent to Harpers Ferry.Off to the KOA in Harpers Ferry for bed. First a detour to a Chinese in Charlestown, where the table next to us was occupied by a local named Perkins. Mr. Perkins was kind enough to give us a quick history lesson of the town. It turned out the restaurant we were eating in was the jail that held John Brown as he waited for his trial. A late night. The guys ended up getting a cabin at the campground for our early start in the morning for the next big miles day tomorrow. Namaste'
Date: 2004-06-16
From: Ed Garvey Shelter

To: Pine Knob Shelter
Miles today: 16.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Sitting at the picnic table at Pine Knob listening to TreeFrog playing his penny whistle. Today we started out early to make up for mileage lost yesterday. TreeFrog was feeling better, which made me feel better. This stretch was interesting. Maryland lets us walk through their parks, historical parks. Our first park was the Gathland State Park with its monument to war correspondents, Civil War Correspondents. It is built at Crampton Gap, which is a site of one of the Civil War battles. The memorial was put up by George Alfred Townsend after the war. Next on our journey was Fox Gap, another site of a Civil War battle. Another memorial, to General Reno of the north was shot at this gap and there is a memorial for him at that location. Then came the best, Washington Monument State Park. This is the first monument to George Washington to be built. An interesting building made of native stone, built originally by villagers from a nearby town. It's an observatory, which was open when I went by, so I climbed to the top and looked out over the valley. Too bad it was hazy. The trail leading to the monument had a mini biography of Washington as you walk up to the monument. Pretty impressive.   But what amused me the most came at the end. We walk out the back of the Washington Monument Park, through the woods, into a neighborhood. We walk between two houses, across a back yard onto a pedestrian bridge over Interstate 70. Then back into the woods to the shelter. I would say, today covered a slice of Americana. Two hundred fifty years of America, compressed into one day. Tonight, we go to bed listening to the birds and the interstate. Bonus today: Wild Cherries. I kept seeing what looked like miniature cherries on the trail. I finally stopped and looked up and sure enough, cherry tree. I found a ripe looking one and ate it. And it tasted like a cherry. Only problem was the pit is the same size as the cherries at the grocery store, so not much cherry. It was good. But I'm short so I couldn't reach for more.The blackberries are getting big. I can't wait to give them a try.Namaste'
Date: 2004-06-17
From: Pine Knob Shelter

To: Devils Racecourse Shelter
Miles today: 12.7

Slept in a tad, it was nice. The morning was dry and looked like the sun would be showing up. Nothing special this stretch. Maybe a warm up for Pennsylvania, rocks, and rocky paths, and rocky hills. The morning stretch was rolling hills with rocks. More then anything, it's what is going on in my head these days. My legs and arms are covered with no-see-um bites. Poison ivy scabs oozing. Heat rash. I wear a bandana to cover my ears so I lessen the noise of mosquitoes flying around my head. I keep a moderate pace to keep from bumping into the gnats flying around the front of my face. A second bandana hangs from my pack to wipe sweat the pours from below the head bandana. Sweat drips off my elbows as I pole up and down the paths. I think about the folks at home. Paul told me the peaches and plums at home are big this year. I'm glad to know. I was afraid I might have pruned them too far back this past winter. One of my girlfriends tells me it's one hundred degrees at home. My left hand is in a near permanent pole clutch. In the evenings, I exercise it to force it to type. I worry about water each day. Did I drink enough? Is there a good source up ahead? We're headed into territory that have posting on streams warning us not to drink the water. We top off as we walk through picnic areas and state parks. I think about seeing Paul and the dogs tomorrow and saying goodbye. I'm afraid I'll bonk somewhere in New Jersey. I wonder if I'm eating well enough not to bonk. Then I walk out onto a pasture, covered with Ox-eyed daisy and clovers and buttercups, growing between the hay. And the threatening thunderstorm never rains. The sun is hot. The under path in the woods muddy. Big ripe blackberries invite a bite. Names are disappearing from the registers at the shelters. I wonder where they are, did they get off or are they just not writing anymore. The shelter is old and shabby; the rains have nearly flooded the grounds. We have company of weekend hikers. They are amazed by thruhikers. A school teacher from Detroit, working his section hike for the year is amused by his heat rash on his chest. The rain finally comes. The shelter roof leaks. We shuffle around. It's time to go to sleep.   Namaste'
Date: 2004-06-19
From: Antietam Shelter, Old Forge Park

To: Quarry Gap Shelter
Miles today: 13.4
Weather: broken clouds

Oh my gosh, I participated in my first yoging... We knew we had an easy day, so we had a slow start. The day was chilly but sunny. I decided to go back to hiking in long pants to keep from getting more poison ivy. The day started in a gentle fairy land woods which progressively got rockier and stonier. I had a bad case of sleepies. The wild blueberries are starting to ripen. I would stop and pick a few and eat them. Yummy. I really should have bagged enough to eat more then three or four at a time. At first lunch we decided to stop off at Caledonia State Park for second lunch. After first lunch, I thought if I walked faster, I could wake up some. So, off I went. TreeFrog wanted us to stop before the park to show us the stone he helped set in when he worked last year on the trail. I stopped right before entering the park and leaned up on a tree for a nap. When the guys came along, we walked to the place where TreeFrog proudly pointed out the rock he placed in the embankment he helped replace. Then off to the park. It's Saturday and the park is full of people. It is a beautiful day for picnicking. We go to the concession stand, order food and drinks. When we get our food, we are amused. Apparently folks in Penn. do things differently; the hamburger was dry and the hot dogs naked. We made rude comments about folks in New England. "What, you want lettuce on that? That will be 15 cents more. What, you want mayo on that? That will be 25 cents more." But it all worked out. As we started back to the trail, we were stopped by people who wanted to ask about thruhiking. Ultimately, we got invited to join one group at their table for dessert. I was embarrassed. But I ate and answered questions. And they asked all sorts of questions; what kinds of food do you carry? How many miles do you do everyday? So, I guess, we got paid in food for entertainment. Still, I was embarrassed. But I'll get over it. Then, off to do the last two miles to the shelter. A relocation apparently happened. But it was well done and I flew to the shelter. And what a surprise. After so may old and run down shelters, this one has been spruced up and cleaned up and remodeled and is really nice. A covered picnic table and skylights in the roof. The stream in front has been rocked in and potted flowers placed around the grounds. Very pleasant. Later, the "Innkeeper" of the shelter came by. He had met TreeFrog when he had worked as year. He comes up and checks out the shelter routinely. We had a nice time talking the politics of the ATC. And now it's bed time. The three of us bunked in one of the duplex in case someone came in later. It's starting to be chilly.   Namaste'
Date: 2004-06-20
From: Quarry Gap Shelter

To: Pine Grove Furnace State Park
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: clear sky

HolyMoly! Woke up in the morning and it was COLD! Sure glad the three of us slept in one shelter. I did not want to get up. Then again, last night, we discussed making it to Pine Grove Furnace S.P., basically the location of physical midpoint of the trail. That meant we had to get up and get moving. Nice thing about being chilly, it makes me walk faster. The idea was to get to the park before it was late. So, we set a fairly brisk pace, every two hours take a 15 minute break, keep moving. The trail cooperated and helped with the brisk pace. It was rolling, occasionally rocky, occasionally sandy, mostly a joyful experience. I do believe the Penn. trail is done this way, hoping to be forgiven for what lays ahead, The Rocks. Ahead is eighty some odd miles of what is rumored to be a path across a huge rock pile. We'll see. Everyone who has had experience with The Rocks, warn us to expect to slow down.   We had thought at the class of 2004 midpoint, someone would have left a mark of some sort, but all we saw was a suspect rock cairn. TreeFrog and I were disappointed. So, off to the park. The tradition for celebrating getting to the midpoint is to eat a half gallon of ice cream in one seating at the store in the park. We had talked about it and decided to buy only one half gallon and we would split it. When we got to the park, we started off to the totem pole that is the Midpoint Marker, for picture taking. As we walked through the park, a gentleman invited us to join their picnic. Easiest yoging ever! After supper, we headed to the general store for the traditional half gallon of ice cream to celebrate making half way. We actually shared the half gallon. While sitting there someone told me FireMarshall was at the store. The four of us ate ice cream while waiting for the hostel to open. FireMarshall informed us of his decision to get off the trail. This is sad news. We talked for awhile then set off for the Iron Master AYH. (American Youth Hostel) The group ending up at the hostel included a lot of people I've met on the trail, MoonStone, LittleBit, and BlueBell. New faces include Achilles and Castro. At the hostel is a woman who is staying just for the heck of it, Mave or Katherine. She was very kind to all of us. She cooked supper and shared, then she made a cake for midnight munchies. LittleBit is a nurse and she looked at my toe and announced athlete's foot. Well, life gets more interesting. She said I was doing all I can for the poison ivy. Meanwhile, I hope I don't get psoriasis (sp?) I am beat and everyone is still up but I am going to bed.Namaste'
Date: 2004-06-21
From: Pje Grove Furnace State Park

To: Alec Kennedy Shelter
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Another chilly morning. I was cuddled in the blanket provided. But when Mother Nature calls and one has a flush toilet available, that is where I like to go. We appeared to be an early bunch, so I stumbled into the kitchen to make coffee, which got the rest of the crew moving. The hostel actually locks us in and the doors aren't opened until 730. Katherine wanted to go out to her car where she had pancake mix. Someone held the only door without an alarm open while she ran out. Then she proceeded to make pancakes for anyone willing to eat. I had already eaten breakfast so I did not participate. We had a late start, 830. FireMaster decided to walk with us. He thinks he'll get off at Duncannon.This is sad news but he seems pretty sure he's had enough of the trail. MoonStone is planning to get off also.It's strange to think about people whom I've become close to disappearing. Today is "hike naked" day. BlueBell strategically covers up and runs out the hostel. After he gets his picture taken, he runs back in and puts his clothes back on. I think we¢re too old for such nonsense. The trail today is mostly easy. Big rolling hills through the forest, occasional big pile of rocks the trail maintainer think we have to crawl over. And the final stretch into the shelter is 150 elevation changes in a tenth of a mile...over rocks. Oh well. FireMarshall and I run into NRChi, only half naked. He's wearing a necktie. Once at the shelter, we have a southbounder show up with a strategically placed bandana only. TreeFrog was willing to take his shirt off for the hike today. Me, I don't need poison ivy anyplace else, so I keep my long pants and long sleeve shirt on and tolerate the ridgerunner heckling me. I've been walking on Benadryl. The poison ivy is still weeping. I'm sleepy most of the day, but something tells me I will get a good night's rest tonight. For the first time in awhile, the shelter is full. We even have tenters. Namaste'
Date: 2004-06-25
From: I woke up at five as I usually do. FireMarshall i

To: Peters Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: overcast clouds

I got up at five and lay in bed until the half hour, listening to the town waking up. Interesting to listen to a town waking up, cars starting, people yelling. A train passes. I get up and go to the convenience store for coffee and sit out on the balcony, watching people moving around, going to work I suppose. I admit, I think I'll be one of those people who, when once off the trail, will feel a depression. I dread the idea of going home and yet I am home sick. How do I explain that? The guys show up and I tell them about the coffee. We sit out on the balcony and have breakfast. The PokeyPuppies come out asking about breakfast places. Hate to give them the bad news, but they take it in stride.And off we go. The trail goes through town. I fall in stride with an older lady out for a morning walk. We chat about things undone. She shares about being in the Navy during the Korean Conflict. These are the situations I will miss once I am home. We split off when I head out of town, across the bridge over Juniata River, then over the Clarks Ferry Bridge over the Susquehanna River. Then a quick run across the highway, a truck toots his horn at us. Finally the woods. And an ascent. The trail is nicely switch backed. I end up walking with John Jr. for a stretch. I had gotten the impression from Treefrog that the last visit was high mileage every day. I find out the mileage each day was less then ten. John Jr. is a runner and not used to measuring his progress in miles per hour. At first break, he tells me he will walk with Adam and TreeFrog. Mouse comes striding through. I end up meeting up with her at the first shelter. She is taking her first break; I head out after signing the register. Later on, I run into trail magic about lunch time. Two southbound slackpacker join me, MinusOne and NoWorries. We talk and then Mouse shows up. The four of us talk some more and then split up. Mouse and I walk together to our final destination. We catch up and what's happened to each of us since we last walked together. This shelter is a two story affair. A covered patio over the cooking area. The water, a spring down the hill. The maintaining club has built a stone staircase to the spring. 285 steps. A good quarter mile down the hill. As the afternoon passes, the remaining escapees from Duncannon show up. Adam, TreeFog and John Jr. Later, Hobbes, ChillOut, the PokiePuppies, SweatyPig. Nearly a full house. We're a quiet bunch. SweatyPig tries to get us going but has no luck. We're tired and headed for bed.Namaste'