morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-05-29
From: Cornelius Creek Shelter

To: Campsite
Miles today: 20.1
Weather: clear sky

This morning I got to hike with Wolfsong, Foto, and Zing of the Garland 5. We hung out at some grassy bald with what looked like a huge golf ball. (really an FAA tower) Then we pased under the Guillotine and lost them at lunch time. We go up, we go down, repeat. Wingfoot has failed me. There are beautiful campsites that he never mentions so I don't know to stay there. But he lists a small slope of moss barely big enough for one tent with half a fire ring. I was tired before I hit the campsite but wasn't going to stay there. On to the shelter. Being Memorial Day the shelter was packed. And not with thrus. There were tents everywhere. They were nice enough to give us their leftover food and promise us a ride into town the next morning but on we went. The next camping spots were filled with the thrus. On still. Then the sign "No Camping for the next mile" pops up. This day will never end. Oddly enough I stayed at the campsite .2 on the other side of the James River. The same spot I stayed at driving south for Trail Days. Finally the day ends.
Date: 2005-05-30
From: Campsite

To: Punchbowl Shelter
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: scattered clouds

At 7:40 I was heading into Big Island. Pretty impresive for my non-morning self. Breakfast and resupply. Then I climbed up. The climb from the river is brutal.It was made even more brutal by the bad news I got in town. For the first time,someone that I considered a friend has left the trail. Nurse Nick/Tunes hasdecided to get off the AT. A few days ago someone asked me who was the bestperson I'd met on the trail so far. Tunes was the answer. He is a good personthat knows who he is and how to have a great time. Laying in a sunny field withPixie and Pine Dragon, dancing on top of the hill, riding an alligator down theriver in Damscus, and vowing to never leave town without beer again. Tonight Idrink my beer in honor of you Tunes, one of the finest people I have met, mayyour adventures continue and know that you have friends thinking of you.The day was made even better when Wingfoot listed a water source that wasimpossible to find. Bushwacking was necessary. The day was finally hot and Iwas out of water. The day was becoming very frustrating. Luckily I found thecure: 3 Vitamin I, a brand new radio station, and some downhill.Punchbowl shelter is a nice area. We all of course tented, no one really sleepsin the shelters unless their tent sucks or it looks like lots of rain. There isa great fire ring for our oddly pink 'southern style' hot dogs and of all thingsa pond. Here with our new friends Snowman and Sparkplug, Bean Town, and others.
Date: 2005-05-31
From: Punchbowl Shelter

To: Cow Camp Shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: broken clouds

It poured last night, like always. VA is quickly starting to loose its luster. The only good thing is that it has always been sunny enough during the day to dry my soaking wet tent. I went into Buena Vista as part of my promise to not carry more food than I have to. Just as I was done grocery shopping Del the trail angel from Daleville shows up. I really wanted to call the boy. I miss him and need the cheering up, but couldn't pass up the ride out of town. Looks like one more time I won't get to talk to him. The best part is that I left my fuel bottle somewhere in the last town and none of the resupply places sold anything I could burn. Cold food it is. Plus the shelter is .6 off the trail. There is no way I'm doing that. I slept just off the AT.
Date: 2005-06-01
From: Cow Camp Shelter

To: Tye River Campsite
Miles today: 21.9
Weather: overcast clouds

The theme for this part of the trip: Misled by Wingfoot. Just 2 miles past my not so hot spot by the trail was a large open meadow with fire rings, benches, and even SWINGS. How do you not list such a place as a campsite? I would have gladly pushed on another hour to stay at Hog Camp Gap. The swing however, was fun no matter what. I think my K92 obsession has to come to an end. Besides the fact that they play the same awful pop songs over and over, I'm starting to lose reception. Seriously, I just need to stop.I pushed on an extra 5 miles at the end of the day so I can make Waynesboro on Friday afternoon. Once again doing the post office race. Plus my mom is coming on Saturday to see me.
Date: 2005-06-02
From: Tye River Campsite

To: Rusty's Hardtime Hollow
Miles today: 8.8
Weather: moderate rain

It started to rain last night as I was getting into bed and hasn't stopped yet. I tried to wait out the rain but everything in my tent just kept getting wetter. Now my sleeping bag, sleeping pad, and food bags are wet and it's one o'clock. Those extra 5 miles I pushed myself to do last night were wasted. My tent will weigh a million pounds and soak everything else. This is the closest I have come to not wanting to hike. (I was fine once I was out of the tent and hiking.) Why is it so cold and rainy in June? The whole time going up the mountain today I debated what to do. Do I bail and go to a hostel or do I stick it out on the trail tonight and prove that I belong here? When I got to the shelter I found out that Rusty's hostel was open for sure (there had been some debate this year). There was a glowing review of Rusty from my friend Proteus in the register. (His group stayed here the max, one WEEK) I took the easy way and set off even though it was late. No heat! and no hot shower but I'm out of the rain and fed with pancakes.Once again I missed being able to talk with the boy by a few hours. This has been a really rough week and I know that he will be able to understand and make me feel happy. The only trick is to have us both near a phone at the same time. Hopefully he knows that I think about him even though we haven't talked in a few weeks.
Date: 2005-06-03
From: Rusty's Hardtime Hollow

To: Rusty's Hardtime Hollow
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Me : "I love your sleeping pad."Wiggi: "It's like a god damn placemat."Today we took the time to rest our feet, write in our journals (because most everyone is always behind), and cut some weight. All of us that were here last night decided to zero because guess what, it was still raining this morning. Rawhide, Wiggi, Nomad, Dave, Nick, and I are all here for the day. Though Nomad, Dave and Nick all decided to hike a few miles on their day off. Just for the fun of it. We all pack-exploded and are trying to cut weight. Except Wiggi, who we have all agreed will die if he does. Mom will have to find me here at Rusty's. Still no hope for my tent to dry.
Date: 2005-06-06
To: Mamma Toes
Miles today: 0.0

Bubble Toes reached Waynesboro today. I had picked up Rawhide and her at Rusty's on Saturday and took them into Waynesboro to the post office. I had driven over four hours that morning to get there and in the end we were 5 minutes late to the Post Office. The clerks just laughed at Bubble Toes and refused to open the door. So they would have to make the trek back into Waynesboro on Monday. Boy, did I feel bad about that. Did the usual chauffering while they did town chores. On Sunday, I let them slack pack for a few miles before my return home.
Date: 2005-06-21
From: Harper's Ferry

To: 1 mile before Ed Garvey Shelter
Miles today: 6.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Time to revisit the one part of the trail that I¢ve actually already done. Somehow the climb out of Harper¢s Ferry was not nearly as steep as I had remembered. We stopped to hang out at Weaverton Cliffs on the way up.   Today is the summer solstice, aka Hike Naked Day. As a thru hiker I feel it is my obligation to take part in this tradition. But there is no way I¢m actually going to let anyone see me with only a pack. So I have devised a plan¢stay at Weaverton Cliffs until the sun is set, pull out the headlamp and hike...but stop before I actually get to the shelter where there are people. Misson accomplished, one mile of nudity with no witnesses!!!I met a great couple at the cliffs while waiting for dark. She likes to come out and hike with her friend and their dogs, but her husband works outside all day and feels no need to be outside for fun. To get him up the trail to the cliffs she bribed him with wine, beer and fried chicken. They were more than willing to share. The only thing better than trail magic is trail magic where you don¢t have to carry out your trash.I still did not get to swim in the Potomac River. Last year I swore I was going to do it on my hike. When I got to town I was going to be in a car riding home, so no getting wet. And today it wasn¢t hot, plus it was kind of late in the day. Darn. One day, I promise, I will get in that river (preferably floating down it in a tube). It is now on my life to-do list.
Date: 2005-06-22
From: 1 mile before Ed Garvey Shelter

To: Annapolis Rock
Miles today: 19.2
Weather: haze

This morning we stopped at the Ed Garvey Shelter for breakfast. After seeing half of the AT, I still believe that this is one of the better shelters. The only hiker left when I got there was a short section hiker on his last day. It was Just Jim¢s first time out and I was happy to hear that he was having fun. It was exciting to talk to someone with that still new feeling. On the way out we ran into Brownie and Soulman who I hadn¢t seen since Trail Days.At lunch we stopped to crunch the numbers for meeting my mom. She is coming to hike with me in PA at the end of June. Turns out, to hike with her from Swatara Gap to Port Clinton we would have hike 18 miles everyday till then. Yuck, and I wasted a whole day doing just a few miles out of Harpers Ferry. So I¢m going to try to suck it up and do the miles everyday. Maryland is one of the easiest states right??? And I¢ve already done it so no need to go slow right???On the way up to Annapolis Rock (the part that I¢ve done the most on the AT) I swung by the Pine Knob Shelter (which still sucks, I have never liked this place). I showed up at Annapolis Rock just as it got dark and picked out a campsite. This place is one of the most used on the trail but seemed completely empty. It was cool to see a familiar view at night. It looked completely different.
Date: 2005-06-27
From: Gettysburg

To: Gettysburg
Miles today: 0.0

Okay, I know I'm slacking badly on the journal thing. Blame it on the Virginia Blues and some big mile days. Still alive, heading north, and making lots of new friends. I'm about to hit Boiling Springs where I will make a resolution to be much, much better about my journal. The days are flying by.
Date: 2005-07-19
From: Campsite

To: Blue Mtn Lakes Rd/YMCA Camp
Miles today: 9.3

Mamma Toes here....Bubble Toes called. She and Rawhide were almost struck by lightning today. It was the second storm of the day. They left the ridge they were on and hiked down a little ways to wait out the storm. The rain stopped, the sun came out; so they put their packs back on and resumed hiking. A bolt of lightning hit about 3 feet from Rawhide, about 10 feet from BT. She says that she could feel the electricity running through her body. RH couldn't let go of his hiking pole. He had a few welts on his hand. BT said that the lightning made a furrow across the trail. She assured me that there was plenty of screaming to go along with this event.Not wanting to be outside that evening, they hiked to the YMCA hostel.
Date: 2005-08-15
To: Mamma Toes
Miles today: 0.0

Mamma Toes here.....BT just called. She and Rawhide are finally on their way back to the trail. They took last week off to come to Myrtle Beach with me. They flew back to Albany yesterday morning, then began the arduous process of getting back to Great Barrington. After a $30+ taxi ride to the train station, they were at the mercy of Amtrak. Their train was 20 minutes late leaving the station, then it sat on the tracks for an even longer time, making them miss their bus connection in Pittsfield that would have allowed them to get to the Great Barrington post office in time to pick up gear that they had mailed to themselves because they couldn't carry it on the plane. Eventually they made it to Great Barrington and now are on their way to the Big K.
Date: 2005-08-15
From: Home

To: Great Barrington
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

12 hours of travel--one car, one plane, one way too expensive taxi, one 2 12 hour late train, plus the last bus out later and I have come back to the trail. Or at least back to the town where I left the trail. One more night in town since I missed the PO by 2 hours. Darn train, and I thought the $7 ticket was going to be such a deal. Almost missed the last bus to Great Barrington but luckily they have a special express bus as the last run. Tried the Lantern something motel, a better bathroom, breakfast and cheaper than the Monument Mtn Motel. Plus it's on the right side for Friendly's and Price Chopper. Seriously, that's just a too funny name for a grocery store.
Date: 2005-08-16
From: Great Barrington

To: Tom Leonard Lean-To
Miles today: 6.4

I finally sucked myself out town around 3 pm. There was tuna and tortillas to be bought and a trip to the PO to pick up the stuff I couldn't take on the plane. And of course an old Quantum Leap on TV this morning. Got a ride back to the trail from a last year thru. She swung by the good outfitter in town but it was closed - on a Tuesday afternoon. The register in the shelter implies that it is closed a lot. Very glad to stop after just 6 miles. Thankfully this seems to be an easy section to work back into 'big' miles.I saw the oddest thing on the trail today. About a mile from a road there was a snakebite kit (still in plastic with the cardboard attached) sitting on a rock. A few feet later there was a regular backpack sitting along side the trail with its contents spilled out--a pair of pants, shirt, 2 pair of socks, the cardboard from 3 bottles of potable aqua and the trash from another snakebite kit. Down the hill on the other side of the AT was a full unopened roll of Scott TP. Debris had fallen from the trees onto the stuff, so it had been sitting there for at least that day. Hadn't passed anyone on the trail since town. And what was with the 2 snakebite kits? (one being the only thing taken from the pack?)   Met MoonPie today. She started on March 19!!! I have found someone that is just as much of a slacker as I am!! I think the best way to do the AT is in two trips, each one about 4 months long. Then you could stop at all of the cool places and not worry about time. The goal right now is to be finished by the first of October.
Date: 2005-08-17
From: Tom Lenord Lean-To

To: Shaker Campsite
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Stupid mice. This is why I no longer sleep in the dirty shelters. My food was on a mouse hanger and still something ate a hole towards the BOTTOM of my food bag! Well, the bag wasn't really waterproof anyways. The only thing that is bad about going to the beach, is that the last person I know came through on the 9th. We are now very far behind our friends.Stopped at a beautiful lake and actually had time to hang out (and journal!). Oh how I love low mileage days! It would have been really nice to stay at the Upper Goose Pond Lean-To, but of course it just didn't fit with the mileage. It would have been a 20 mile day to go there. I don't think I can do that on my second day back, so the campsite at the ruins of a Shaker village it is. Tonight I will dream of a hard frost that will kill all of the mosquitos. DEET is now everyone's best friend.
Date: 2005-08-18
From: Shaker Campsite

To: Becket Mtn 
Miles today: 12.8

Upper Goose Pond was beautiful. I didn't get to see the cabin since it was .5 off trail, but the AT went right by the pond. It was very clear and only a tiny bit cold. Surprisingly there were many nonhiker types out on the water. 6 paddlers, 2 fisherman, and a large motorboat. Rawhide stepped in muck up to his ankle. I could only hide my laughter for so long as he slunk over to the creek to step in that.Stealth camping tonight on top of the mountain. But at least there are no "No Camping" signs here. Okay, it's not really stealth since the tent is about 10 feet from the trail, but the ground sucked in all of the more subtle spots. We stopped early since it is still our first days back and R does not feel well. I beat him UPHILL this afternoon, so you know something is wrong.I was very surprised that it gets dark at 8 pm! And it was actually chilly last night. Getting my warmer summer sleeping bag was the perfect move. Only 12 days off and so much has changed. More and more people are writing about how there is no more catching up anymore. We are so close to the end that we are where we are.
Date: 2005-08-19
From: Becket Mtn 

To: Pittsfield Rd
Miles today: 8.1

Moose Charmer has been one of the nicest southbounders I've met so far. She happily gave R cold medicine and the phone number for Rob in Dalton. We made it to the Cookie Lady's and R did not want to go on. (Editor's note: They did not even eat any cookies, so you know RH was sick!) Rob was wonderful enough to pick us up there and put us up in a real bed. Several Advil Cold & Sinus and a buffet later he felt much better. We are going to try to slack the last 10 miles into Dalton tomorrow and stay here again. Rob has been mothering Rawhide since we got here, hopefully just what he needs.
Date: 2005-08-20
From: Pittsfield Rd

To: Dalton
Miles today: 9.6
Weather: light rain

Now I am officially in Dalton. I rode up to Mt Greylock, which was in a cloud. Tucker and Hopeful Hiker disappeared within 10 steps. Supposedly there is a tower up there somewhere. Then we swung by Willamstown to return Dandy's camera. Back through Dalton and finally to the Cookie Lady¢s.   A quick and mostly painless slack.
Date: 2005-08-21
From: Mt. Greylock

To: Dalton
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: haze

Today I'm hiking south... without a pack. This is another specialty of Rob's (besides incredible hospitality). I got a ride to the top of Mt Greylock so I could walk downhill back to Dalton and a soft bed. No view from the top again, one more chance tomorrow morning. We all met a southbounder and brought him back with us. It's a full house again here tonight. It's also going to be a huge group leaving the top of Greylock in the morning. I like having so many fun people to hike with. It all feels very much like the beginning. It is a good feeling.
Date: 2005-08-22
From: Dalton/Mt Greylock

To: Campsite
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: clear sky

The Birdcage hostel is great, but last night it felt more like trying to sleep in a frat house. Rob plays the guitar in a band, and he had a show last night. Six of us stayed back, the rest went. They came home at 11:30 in various states of intoxication. Since I was sleeping on the pullout couch in the living room, I went to bed when the last person did. Rob headed up at 1 a.m. I gave the obnoxious people in the kitchen till 1:30 before I politely told them to shut up and go to sleep. They looked at me like I was crazy. Two a.m. I finally fall asleep. Rob's alarm went off starting at 5:20 am. He does NOT hear his alarm right away. 7 a.m. the dryer buzzes and I give up on sleep.Despite the overwhelming tiredness and a still sick hiking partner, it was a great day. I finally got to see Mt Greylock on a clear day. Both the tower and the view are beautiful. I got to climb an actual mountain today. Going up is still hard, but at the top I actually felt like I had accomplished something. I remembered why hiking the AT is such an amazing thing to do. And then ... I crossed into VERMONT!! Only 3 states left with amazing views ahead. Right after the state line we found a water source and a campsite. And I was not going a step farther. It is very cool to have friends camped here with us tonight. I am having a great time hiking with MoonPie and Van Beers (who JUST got his trail name in Dalton)!
Date: 2005-08-23
From: Campsite

To: Melville Nauhiem Shelter
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Choose Your Own Adventure - The ATYou get out of camp at 10:30 because you are lazyHike for an hourBreak for 1/2 an hour and eat almost all of your snacks for the day because Special K breakfast bars taste good and are light but burn off instantlyHike a little bit moreEat lunch for an hourStill have 10 miles to do after 2:45 pmEventually bust your butt up a big hill and make it to camp right before it gets darkEat uncooked tortellini because your pot and stove are too heavy to carry. (It actually isn't too bad.)Watch a mouse run around the shelter by headlamp then retreat to the safety of your tent far from the mouse at the shelterTake 2 ibuprofen, journal, then sleepTo do two big mile days to stay on schedule - turn to page 38.To be lazy and get into town late because you have extra food to hold you over - turn to tomorrow's journal I'm guessing.
Date: 2005-08-24
From: Melville Nauhiem Shelter

To: Story Spring Shelter
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: light rain

There was an amazing 360 view of Vermont from the Glastenbury Mtn fire tower. I made it about 10 feet from the top (slowly and without looking down) and then the wind really kicked up. I froze clinging to the very next step. I could still see everything and decided that was high enough. Safely at the bottom I notice that the roof was on crooked. It was being held on with a ratchet strap. At least that matched the zip ties that held up the protective fencing on the sides.I am still hiking with Moon Pie and Van Beers, and we picked up Minnie and Grenade Boy who we knew from Dalton. I can't even remember the last time I saw people for several days. Great fire because it is COLD all of the time and the same food as always for dinner. But at least we did some miles today!
Date: 2005-08-25
From: Story Spring Shelter

To: Spruce Peak Shelter 
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Another beautiful 360 view from the Stratton Mtn fire tower. Fewer of us made it to the top of this one. I climbed to the second landing, where I could see the ski runs of Killington Mtn and the gondola for the ski part of Stratton. There were some lakes and lots of mountains. I feel really bad for the south bounders (sobos). They are leaving these views for the mostly very unimpressive and viewless middle states and all of the really cool stuff is just starting for us.Things I like about Vermont - amazing stars (I got to see the Milky Way tonight!), traveling with awesome people, actual mountains, 360 views, not overly hard climbs, this shelter is great, and its only 1 state away from Maine!!!Things I don't like - the constant mucky spots, it got really cold almost overnight, it smells musty or like mildew sometimes, and its still one freakin state away from Maine!!