morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-06-01
From: Campbell Shelter

To: Daleville, VA
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: few clouds

Hottest day yet! It's dry this morning, but humid. The first thing this morning, Montreal came over to the shelter to say "Rabbit Rabbit" Wow! I can't believe he remembered me telling him about that last month on May Day! I myself had forgotten. He made me laugh again! You know if he didn't already have a girl friend, well, forget it. I ate breakfast and was first out of camp. I found a smiley face on a log slice and left my last two yellow jellybeans. It looked like an alter where lots of strange items had accumulated. I figured Montreal would be right behind me and he would eat them. I moved on. Soon afterwards, Kenny and Julia, then spitball, then the mud boggers, sleep walker, and Rock Chock. Montreal didn't catch up till Tinker Cliffs. So what happened to the jellybeans? Everyone saw them, and left them! Well almost everyone. When the Mud Boggers got there, they knew there was just one person left behind them, so they were gonna split one jelly bean. They share everything anyways, but then they decided to eat the other one too! After hanging out on Tinker Cliffs, Montreal decided to get going and I hiked out with him. We talked a lot about the differences across the border. Mainly, it's a different economy, and language of course. Hoofed it in to Daleville before the Thunderstorms. Shared a room with Spitball and Montreal and went to the Post office, got my mail. Bought new shoes, shirt, socks, shorts at the outfitters. So, basically, I have a whole new outfit! Laundry and shower. Spitball sprung for beer. Then had a wonderful dinner at the Mexican Restaraunt. Mulligan too! I had two 23 oz margaritas and was feeling the buzz. Julia reportedly had to help me across the street and I almost left my camera bag. So anyways, it was an interesting night. Spitball ended up on the floor!
Date: 2006-06-02
From: Daleville, VA

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

We had free breakfast, so I got up but then, Montreal was writing letters to Josee, Spitball was on the phone, so I went back to bed! Eventually left town after one last ice cream sandwich, but it's another hot day. Ate lunch with Montreal at a shelter. Soaked my feet in a stream with Spitball, then got to Wilson creek in time to get a space in the shelter. It's nice to have new clothes! Dirt Diva and Compass rose are there. They have a bug net up and so I set up next to them making it "The girls' side. Bare Bear, and a couple other guys had the other side staked out. Most everyone else set up tents or hammocks, but Spitball really wanted a shelter spot, He tried to squeeze in the guys side, but they really didn't seem to want to get that cozy. The girls and I voted and since he didn't snore last night, we let him in, Once again, we slept like toothpicks, I didn't dare move let alone roll over. I don't know how we can cram in to so small of a space with people we hardly know and still get sleep. But, it beats packing up a wet tent! The evening was quite entertaining. I already like Dirt Diva and Compass Rose. The Mud Boggers apparently had been hiking with them off and on and the girls thought they were out of reach, but no, And it wasn't long before they made their way over to the girls' side to do their juggling act. I had seen it at traildays, Hard Core but this was what they did! And they do it well. Mud bogger Sr., mostly. I might be wrong, but I'm thinking they use the juggling to cover a basic shyness. Then Kenny and Julia, the newlyweds came into camp late and set up their camp directly in front of us. For our amusement, we think! It was Kenny going for water, Julia setting up the tent, Kenny telling Julia a better way of doing it or something! Anyways, Out came the pink custom two piece love quilt and then all was well again! There was quite a crowd tonight. Others not mentioned were Preacher John, Dick Tracy, Charlie, Outlaw. Lucky dime and her brother and uncle. I think they moved on a few more miles.
Date: 2006-06-03
From: Wilson Creek Shelter

To: Jennings Creek Bridge
Miles today: 16.8

Up super early. On trail by 6:00. Saw a baby deer, then the doe! It was so cute. It was bleating at me. I think it may have just been born. I thought maybe it was thinking I was it's mother or something. I moved on before it became attatched. Montreal and I hitched into buchannon "Buck annon" as it's pronounced locally! Found internet, Ate at Burger King, and while we were there a guy asked us about the trail. I still find it hard to believe that strangers can tell that I'm hiking. Other than that I'm wearing polyester and I stink to high heavens. Anyways, I got another days supply of food and eventually got a hitch out of town. I got to Jenning's creek and it was a hiker fest. Lots of hikers hanging out in the sunshine, a few had gone swimming. I wasted no time. I dropped my pack and walked right into the swimming hole. It felt awesome. Warm water and large enough hole for real swimming. Bare Bear jumped in with me and Montreal started a water fight. Spitball was trying to push Julia in! Kenny, #2, The Mud Boggers, Dick Tracy, Preacher John, Charlie, Outlaw, Lucky Dime, her brother and her uncle. There were others too, It was fun and I didn't want to leave. Dick Tracy got a hitch to get fuel and I sent my fuel bottle. I had one more meal's worth, but thought I'd take advantage of the opportunity. It turned out, Bare Bear held my fuel hostage. While most of my trail family moved on to the next shelter, I was still waiting on fuel that never did arrive. I hung out at the camp by the creek with Bare Bear and Dick Tracy and had a beer. I ended up hanging my hammock in the poison ivy. It was dark by the time I figured out Bare Bear had poured all his remaining fuel into my bottle and had sent his in for the refill. We cooked dinner and there was about 2 oz. left in my bottle, but now it was too late to catch up with Montreal, Kenny, Julia and Spitball. I'd been shenghied. Note to self! Get your own fuel! Well, so anyways, I met a few new hikers and enjoyed a campfire.
Date: 2006-06-04
From: Jennings Creek Bridge

To: Matts Creek Shelter
Miles today: 26.5
Weather: scattered clouds

I was up early and worked hard to catch up with Montreal, Kenny, Julia and Spitball. I met a French teacher at the first shelter. She said they were worried about me last night. Montreal left a note saying they'd be at Matt's Creek. I hadn't realized they would be worried. It wasn't like I stayed with complete strangers. They were just thru-hikers. Anyways, I passed Grits, sitting by the side of the trail, eating breakfast. He was the smart one to camp on the ridge. I guess the mosquitos were horrible at the shelter. I left Bare Bear a note at Cornelius Creek Shelter. "Thanks for the beer bare bear!" I thought it sounded good and I was over being ticked at the fuel bottle hostage situation. So I seen where Dirt Diva and Compass Rose had left one of their Top Ten lists. This time it was the strange things carried, like juggling balls. The mud boggers made a comment like "At least we made the list". I'm telling you, It's like watching "Days of our lives" or more like living it! My journal doesn't reflect hardly any of the trail, mostly just the hikers! I figure, the trail has been detailed in numerous accounts, just buy the $200 set of maps and guides and they have every turn, hill, type of tree, wildflowers, and what all! To me, it is the people that make it interesting! I passed a photographer and then Mulligan. I slowed down a bit to hear him tell of the upcoming trail that he and his son had helped to build the stone steps near Apple Orchard. Mulligan is amazing. He's 63 and moves slower down the trail, but he has been doing the miles every day, keeping up with the rest of us. He's been helping to maintain the trail and knows lots of stuff too! He's just cool. I passed the big soccer ball. I heard you can see it from I-81, so if I go back to driving truck, I'll have to look for it about mile marker 175!
Date: 2006-06-06
From: Irish Creek Footbridge

To: Seely Woodworth Shelter
Miles today: 20.9
Weather: broken clouds

It was chilly last night. I'm missing my fleece already. My broken tooth is sharp and now the filling has fallen out. The fireflys were kind of cool last night though. I hiked out to the road to Buena but couldn't get a hitch. Montreal was right behind me and we both cried over the lost chance to get town food. Burgers, that's what we really wanted! Kenny, Julia and Spitball caught up and I tried to stay with them on a really ugly steep hill. They are animals. It felt good to push myself, but when they took a break at the top. I continued on at my regular pace. I got phone service, but it was really patchy. Anyways, I heard from my Driver trainer and he was on his way up I-81. He was wondering how catch up to me and maybe take me to dinner. Everyone passed me as I listened to all my messages. Anyways, I hiked with Sleep walker. He used my knife to change his radio battery. He had heard it would work since Montreal had changed his yesterday. Caught up to Montreal near Seely Woodsworth shelter and made a fool of myself. He told me Spitball had gone on to the next road and was gonna stay at the B&B and left a message for me to catch up. I was exhausted though just to get to the shelter. My ego wants to push on, just because someone thinks I can do it, but I decided if there was space in the shelter, I was gonna settle there for the night. Montreal was tired too, but he ran into willow and they got to yakking. Maybe if I wasn't so tired, I would have noticed, but instead I rudely interupted them to alert Montreal to the last remaing shelter spot. He is way too sophisticated to try and look out for #1. He politely thanked me and continued his conversation. I seen him later set up his tent. He never did come to the shelter. I keep forgeting, we're not hiking together. He's on a solo journey. Why I don't get that through my thick German head? So, I cooked my ramen and hung out at the fire with Dirt Diva, Compass Rose, Lush, Blind Monkey, and Sticks.
Date: 2006-06-07
From: Seely Woodworth Shelter

To: Reed's Gap
Miles today: 22.2

I slept in! Yeah, that's right! I don't know why, but I was tired, I just didn't want to get going. But, I did. Almost everyone else was gone. That's quite unusual for me. Hiked out with Blind Monkey. He's faster than me and took off, but I found his pack at the trail to Spy Rock. I debated for a moment. I felt like I was behind schedule. Yes, I know, I'm supposed to be enjoying the trail and I really don't have an itinerary. But somewhere in the back of my mind, I know winter's coming, and I've vowed to myself, I'm not going home until I reach Katahdin! It keeps me moving north! But I did take the side trail. I'm a sucker for rock outcroppings and I was in no way dissappointed. It was outstanding. The climb up it alone was like bouldering. I walked right up it though, the tread on these Montrails is awesome, and found Blind Monkey and a couple day hikers enjoying the sunshine. All these days in the woods makes you really appreciate a good sun break! Especially when you can sit on a tick free rock and enjoy the view! I stopped at the next shelter for a snack and finally caught up to Montreal, Kenny and Julia at Tye River. They had been eating lunch and went swimming. Well, I couldn't pass up a chance to swim, though it was more like wading. Spitball was trying to push Julia in the river. I pumped water and dripped a little bit on Montreal. He sounded like he might try and push me in the river, but he restrained himself. We hiked leap frog fashion up the trail. I'm not sure if I can make it to the road or not, but if I do, there's supposed to be a big red truck waiting to take me to dinner. I paused for a moment on a view to regroup my strength. Montreal passed me and thought I was looking kind of lost in thought. He went on by, but left me a butterscotch candy in the trail. It just gave me that boost to push on. I practically ran down the last hill to the shelter where I was planning to spend the night. Confusing Julia all to heck, when she showed up and I was already there! I wrote a poem in the register. My one attempt at creativity in the logs and hiked out to the road! The poem went like this: I was here, but now I'm gone, I left this note to carry on. I've said too much, now I must go. I just wanted you to know. Sleep well Jeremiah. Sure enough Doug showed up and we bobtailed down to White's truck stop where I got a shower and a wonderful steak dinner and milkshake. I should have done laundry and charged my phone, but I was anxious to get back on the trail. It was good to see Doug again.
Date: 2006-06-08
From: Reed's Gap

To: Paul C. Wolfe Shelter
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Caught up with the gang in no time. Saw a doe with 2 fawns drinking. Lots of overlooks. Enjoyed hump rocks, very cool. Stopped at the shelter at 2:15 to catch up my journal. It's a short hike to Waynesboro, but I stuck around. There was a nice creek. I gathered firewood, but we never made a fire. Dirt Diva, Compass Rose, Mulligan and Montreal all showed up and spent the night. Mulligan, always there! A couple nice section hikers too!
Date: 2006-06-09
From: Paul C. Wolfe Shelter

To: Rockfish Gap/ Waynesboro
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: broken clouds

Made it to Waynesboro. I hiked in with Montreal, but I already knew he and Mulligan had agreed to share a room, so when he told me he was going to get breakfast, I went down to the gas station, washed up and got a ride at the Rockfish Gap Visitor Center by trail angel Bill Gallagher. Apparently Montreal ate breakfast alone and was waiting for me. Anyways, I showered at the YMCA. Picked up my maildrop. Laundry. Got a free buzz cut from Larry's Barbershop. Got fuel at Ace Hardware, no charge. This town loves hikers! Stopped for icecream and soda at CVS and now at the library! I found a book to learn French and copied the whole thing. Montreal showed up and was confused. He wondered why I never showed up for breakfast. I guess I missunderstood, but the way he said made me think he was going there by himself and didn't really invite me. So we agreed to use the word "Let's" when we speak of our plans. That might be crossing the line though. So this solo hiking on the same itinerarys is confusing. But anyways, I'm having a great hike. Almost no aches or pains and the weather has been pretty good too. It's getting warmer though. I did chip a tooth a few days ago. No pain, but it's got really rough edges. I'll have to find a dentist somewhere along the way. Anyways, the miles are clicking along and I should be done before October! I joined Spitball at the park where he was soaking his shins. It might be shin splints. Hope they go away soon! Called Bill for a shuttle to the outfitter and bought a long sleve shirt. I'm short a layer with my fleece gone. Got fuel for Kenny and Julia, boy was that expensive. then got a room at the Quality Inn. Turns out that's were Mulligan and Montreal ended up too. Walked to the YMCA to drop off Julia's fuel and stopped by the hostel to pick up Grits for dinner. He changed his mind but Julia and I got a hug from Bare Bear. He's staying at a really neat church hostel with a bunch of other hikers. Stopped at Kroger's and got a vegetable tray for the feast tomorrow and went to dinner at Weasie's. It wasn't the best of dinners, but it was good company. There's a carnival in town and Julia and I kept trying to get the guys to go on the rides with us, but they're all chicken! Went to Pizza Hut and had a beer and called it a night.
Date: 2006-06-10
From: Rockfish Gap/ Waynesboro

To: Browns Gap
Miles today: 23.1

I met Doug for breakfast and got a shuttle with Bill again back to the trail. Mulligan and Montreal in the same shuttle. It's a windy day, and cool, great to hike in, but the packs heavy and I got a huge vegetable tray to boot. Montreal sat in a tractor seat on one of the hilltops. Got to the shelter way too early. We sat at the trail juction an munched on veggies. Well, I had to convince him that it was OK first. It ends up he would only eat some if he could pay for half! Then it was OK. They were delicious. And so worth carrying up the mountain. The thing is, we ate the whole thing. So, now Kenny and Julia would be bringing up pizza and we'd have nothing to offer! So Montreal was planning to hike on, I asked if I could join him. We left a note for Kenny and Julia and hiked on. There are no easy stealth camps in the Shenandoahs. We found a great group camp, but it said by reservation only. It probably would have worked, but we pushed on. Finally we found a road crossing with a side road and what looked like a soft flat spot for montreal, but as I tied up my hammock, he came down into the brush to dig a very small not very flat space next to a big tree. It was a pathetic campsite. Montreal told me to tell him he picked a great campsite. So I did, I told him he picked out a great campsite, it was back a couple miles, however, and now we were here! I cooked my ramen and then worked on my French workbook. When we hung our bear bags, the first limb broke. It was my fault, I should have hung my own. So what was an adventure for me was becoming a pain in the but for Montreal. Oh, and I had hung my hammock between two saplings. It kinda sagged during the night! My butt was on the ground!
Date: 2006-06-11
From: Browns Gap

To: High Top Hut
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: overcast clouds

I'm in the Shenandoah National Park now. I've packed only a day's worth of food for five days. I carefully mapped out the eating places along the way and I am looking forward to lots of good food. Anyways, I hiked out early to get to the camp store at Loft Mt. Too early it seems, the store wasn't open yet. So I waited till 9:00 with Blind Monkey and Montreal. I got breakfast and some trail snacks, then hiked to the next wayside. Added Sticks to the group and ate eggs, bacon, and hashbrowns. Sticks stuck around for the lunch menu. The guy was a real jerk, he wouldn't serve him a hamburger till exactly 11:00. Anyways, met up with Dirt Diva and Compass Rose, and Kenny and Julia on the way back up the blue blaze trail. Spent the rest of the day in a deep discussion with Montreal on personal space. I was completely taken aback. I've always been the one to need my own space. So, of course I understood, but I was hurt. I had to take a good look back and see just what was it that was so annoying that I had to be asked not to hike on the same itinerary. Am I really such a loser? Of course, I've heard of lots of people on the trail running away from hikers or ditching them by taking a zero day, but to come right out and say it, I am a thick headed german! I didn't get the hint! He had to painfully spell it out for me. I'll give him this, he is nothing if he isn't straight forward. Somehow in my mind, I had thought we would hike together to Harper's Ferry, catch up with Burner and Yankee and all summit together! I had already pictured us on Mt. Washington. I was going to go introduce myself to all the French Canadians and talk to them fluently in French. Then on Mt. Katahdin, the four of us would be breaking out the champaign and toasting our victory together over our great accomplishment. My dreams were not just fading here, they were dying! It was all I could do to just keep putting one foot in front of the other. And to think I scoffed at others who left the trail because a hiking partner had to get off trail. It's worse than physical pain. And just so it's very clear. He was never like a boyfriend, just we had been good friends and had gone through a lot of tough trail together. I hung back a while to sort out my emotions and finally rolled into the shelter. He was there, but I avoided him, I chatted with a new hiker "Flat Bread". She had the most interesting trail name story I had yet heard. The shelter filled up and there were a lot of tents. Dirt diva and Compass Rose entertained us with their squirrel bag hanging techniques and I sulked in my French lesson. Mulligan arrived! It rained during the night. A hard rain. It was good to lie there and think about rain instead of the days events. I thought about all the songs about rain.
Date: 2006-06-12
From: High Top Hut

To: Rock Springs Hut
Miles today: 23.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Hiked out in the rain early with Mulligan. We talked about sharing a cabin at Big Meadows if the rain didn't quit. It would be expensive, but I'm not much for hanging my hammock in the rain. Besides, it would be good to get a shower. I spoke briefly to Montreal and hiked out. We passed a 900 written in the trail with bark. It was cool, another milestone. The endorphines of hiking were doing their job. It's hard to have a bad day when you're hiking. Caught up to Montreal at the camp store. I'm still a bit sore and refused an offer to spit a spam and loaf of bread. I ate a couple packages of turkey instead. Ate a pint of ice cream followed by a hot cocoa to warm up. It was chilly. I had to put my packa back on for warmth. Blind Monkey's last day as a NOBO. He'll take a few days off at home then start from Katahdin and hike south. Plugger and no-lines told me they just heard the most awesome bear story from Johnny Appleseed. Of course, He told me the whole thing himself. Something like, He saw a bear, it was ahead of him on the trail. It stared at him but continued north. If he got to close it would turn around and stare him down. He back off but kept up his stalking with the camera stuck way out in front to get the closest shot. I guess it lasted for about a half an hour. I was impressed! Good job, David. So anyways, I called to check on my dog, somehow I thought about him with all this bear talk going on. At Big Meadows Lodge, I ran into the school teachers, Dirt Diva and Compass rose. We shared a table and Compass Rose bought a nacho dish for us. I had a margarita. I could have sat with Sticks and Montreal, but I didn't. I gave him his space. When Montreal hiked out, Sticks joined us, then Johnny Appleseed. We waited for dinner and joined Kenny and Julia. Apparently Spitball is behind on account of his shin splints. The burger was awesome, lemonade, bread, and blackberry ice cream. Yup, the shennys are great! I went back downstairs for a last margarita to go and I threw the cup in the trash outside the next campground! We busted out the last 3.5 miles to the hut at the Kenny and Julia pace with the school teachers and Johnny Appleseed. It was a really cool sunset hike past the car campers. At the hut we found the caretaker had left watermellon for us! Great! There are deer running around the site and a mouse running back and forth across the front of the shelter right under our noses. I've found a new trail family! Tomorrow, we go horseback riding!