morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2016-05-02
From: Waynesboro VA

To: Calf Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: scattered clouds

US 250 Waynesboro VA to Calf Mountain Shelter 7.7+.3 to shelter=8 milesAfter a great breakfast at the Tree Streets Inn B&B, with other guests, Margaret & Bob, we were headed out. We said thanks & bye to Miss Vicky and then Bill took us back to Rockfish Gap @ US250. We hit the trail at 10:30 am. We went at a slow pace since we were going short distance and getting our trail legs back. Nice walk, sunny Butterfly Day!! We even stopped at Beagle Gap and Big Cypress took a nap. We arrived at the shelter at about 4, after loading our water .1 before the shelter, so we wouldn't have to walk back to it. We found a nice tent spot, they have spots framed out already. Then about 4:30-5; we started to hear thunder. I checked our weather, 70% chance. So I went online, barely service....but got a better update, possible hail also!! We took tent down, headed to the shelter!! Dinner was Refried Bean Taco Rice.Food bags hung on the bear pole provided. Fire was going, now it's out, as it's raining and kinda stormy @ 6:40 pm and we were pleasantly surprised to have the company of Crash. Rabbit and Leopard aren't too far behind!! Nice to see old friends!!Critters: Lots of millipeds, a big toad, a frog (once it started raining), grey squirrel, and a bright green pencil skinny snake. It was sunning itself on trail.
Date: 2016-05-03
From: Calf Mountain Shelter

To: Blackrock Hut
Miles today: 13.2
Weather: light rain

Calf Mountain Shelter to Blackrock Hut for 13.2Happy Birthday to our oldest son, Patrick!!We woke early as usual and hit the trail about 7:30-ish.We heard some crazy owl sounds this morning, they we close and loud. Not hooting, but making amazing crazy sounds.The Shenandoah trail has been pleasant. More rolling ups and downs, not the steep crazy ups. We debated going on to the Loft Mountain Campground, but we called and they aren't open until tomorrow. So....We arrived at Blackrock at about 3 pm. Unfortunately, the skies opened up on us with only 1/2 mile to go. We were greeted by Zen Master and Pants the Pirate. Rained only about a half hour to hour, then the sun came out. Sharing the shelter tonight was, North Star, Crash, Rabbit, Leopard and a SOBO section hiker. We were asleep by 7:30 pm. Critters: Doe ran across the trail. Salamander on trail this morning.
Date: 2016-05-04
From: Blackrock Hut

To: Pinefield Hut
Miles today: 13.2
Weather: light rain

Blackrock Hut to Pinefield Hut for 13.2Slept great in the shelter last night. Until the Whipperwill decided we all should get up at 4:30 am. At one point it was so loud, it sounded like it was IN the shelter with us. Moonbeam is now nursing right shin splint! Oh I thought I had shin splints before.....oh no, those were just sore shins....this feels like broken bones, it hurts so bad!! We hit the trail at 7:20 am. Headed for Loft Mountain Campground To go to the camp store. We arrived there at about 10:30, found a spot to plug in Big Cypress phone. Airplane mode overnight, sent it down to 24%. We have Gut Hook App now to use on the trail and need phone to be charged!! Waited until Noon for the store to open, got some snacks, Pay Days, snack cakes, ice cream and fuel for cooking. Prices were High!! So...We limited our spending!! Today was cloudy most of the day! Rained at about 1:30-2 pm, not heavy, more sprinklie. We arrived at 3 pm, greeted by (no trail names yet) Matt from VA and Brittany also from VA. Brittany is out on her very first night in the woods/trail. Testing out hiking. One going North, one going south. Both section hiking. We enjoyed Pleasant conversation this afternoon!! Stream running right next to the shelter is very calming. Big Cypress built a lil camp fire tonight. Wood was wet and difficult. Oh and The sun came out again, same as yesterday, only a hour after it was thundering!!Oh, yes, speaking of fire. We did see some of the charred remains of the Shenandoah Wildfire. Only walked through it for about a mile or so. Critters: Doe eating from the bushes right off the trail, not afraid of us!! Lots of Indigo Buntings, so blue and beautiful!!
Date: 2016-05-05
From: Pinefield Hut

To: Hightop Hut
Miles today: 8.3
Weather: light rain

Pinefield Hut to Hightop Hut for 8.3 milesWe woke early, to a salamander day, Sprinkling and overcast! Had a wonderful breakfast of Quaker Oatmeal. We got some at the grocery to mix it up a little, because a change of meals was needed!! (for morale)   Headed out at 7:15 am. Oh and Matt started calling Brittany "ring toss", because she was saying the bear pole was like ring toss. We said our see ya layers and headed out. Crash, Rabbit and Leopard were still sleeping when we left. We stopped once for a mini break at about a hour in. My shin started hurting a bit yesterday and was doing ok early this morning. I stretched it a lot last night. But, by 10-10:30 today, I was struggling to walk sometimes. The pain was like my shin bone was broken!! Big Cypress had shin issues a couple weeks ago, but it subsided. Speaking of Big Cypress, the rain continued and it is chilly temps. He decided not to wear rain gear, until it was almost too late. He was frozen and couldn't use his fingers very well. We arrived at the hut at about 11-11:30. I was crying and frustrated from the shin not cooperating!! We got out of our wet clothes, put on our sleep dry clothes. Pulled out cooking stuff and also the laser pen and tens unit to work on my shin. Dehydrated shrimp ramen for lunch and snickers. Then, Matt showed up!! Then, pleasantly surprised to see Leopard, then Rabbit shortly behind her and Then......Crash also!! Besides Matt, all our plans were to stop here to eat, then move on. But.....the cold and wet, kinda set us all in the "let's stop and rest and get warm" frame of mind!! So....here we sit, 2:20 pm all eating and treating ailments and staying dry & warm. For the day/night. Critters: the weather is a salamander day, but Matt was the only one to see one. Only birds singing and flitting about, too wet for other critters!!
Date: 2016-05-06
From: Hightop Hut

To: Bearfence Hut
Miles today: 12.6

Hightop Hut to Bearfence Mountain Hut for 12.6 milesOk, so last night a group of hikers arrived later in the afternoon/evening at Hightop Hut. So, along with Big Cypress, me, Matt, Rabbit, Leopard and Crash we added; One Feather, Statler, Waldorf, Zateran, Tarp, P.Stout, Seriority Steve, and Big Chewy. Yes....except for One Feather and Big Chewy we were ALL (12) in the shelter made to hold 6 hikers. We managed and all stayed warm and dry. Raining a lot lately!! Statler helped me KT Tape for my shin. That seemed to help today! Arrived at the hut at about 3:30-4 pm.In the hut with us tonight was Stewart from Louisville KY and Limbo & Trip Wire from Oregon. Trip Wire and Limbo sent home winter gear and Trip Wire my rain pants, as her's were wet thru. They hunkered down in their Ultra Light emergency type blankets. Critters: Red Breasted Grossbeak, a Black and Orange bird (orange wing band, chest & rump), and I believe a Scarlet Tananger. Then a small black with lots of white markings bird. Need to Google them next town visit, to ID them.
Date: 2016-05-07
From: Bearfence Hut

To: Rock Spring Hut
Miles today: 11.9
Weather: light rain

Bearfence Hut to Rock Spring Hut for 11.9 milesStewart asked if we wanted a President Truman Derby Breakfast?! Which was a shot of booze. We declined!! It was still rainy this morning when we headed out. Walking in a cloud and or foggy mist. We decided to have a pit stop for our lunch, .4 off the trail (one way) to Big Meadows Wayside Restaurant. Had a huge Chicken dinner. Was joined by Jack & Jill from Maryland. I wasn't sure about going at first, since my shin is still a problem!! Big Problem!! But....it was totally worth it. We sat with the big group, One Feather, Big Chewy and ALL of them. (we lost Rabbit, Crash & Leopard-they went to Lewis Campground and haven't seen them since). I sat next to One Feather, he asked a lot of ?'s about my shin. Come to find out, he had same issue....from tying shoes too tight!! And since I'm in New Keen shoes, day one was ok, then I tied different and Bam, EVER since ....Pain in the shin so severe it's debilitating!! So....praying this information helps!! Arrived at Rock Spring at 4 pm, nobody there yet. Except Deb & Matt. They were day hiking and we were very thirsty and our water wasn't ready to drink so....trail magic!! Deb shared a bottle of water with us!! Great and thankful!! The weather cleared and the Sun came out finally!! Hung a clothes line, built a campfire, unpacked our gear in the hut, cuz campsites too far for our taste. Then, we got hut mates, Kevin from VA, Mike from Maine, Robert from VA and Magoo from Ohio. Yes.....a Buckeye!! Blah.....I told him, before he told me, "I won't hold it against you" we both chuckled!! There is a National Park Cabin at this shelter spot also! Pretty cool. FYI we've been missing out on Bear Boxes ...the Shenandoah Huts all have a bear safe food storage box AND bear poles!! So much easier to use the box!! L o v e I t !! Big Cypress surprised me with WINE !! He picked up two small box wines (at Big Meadows) and we enjoyed them by the fire tonight!! AWESOME and Very Thoughtful of him!!!!I've been doing laser pen therapy and teins unit therapy on my shin, along with the KT Tape - still praying it heals!!Critters: A bear off in the distance from a rock outcropping view point and 3 deer just feet away from the shelter tonight. So unafraid!!
Date: 2016-05-08
From: Rock Spring Hut

To: Pass Mpuntain Hut
Miles today: 15.5

Rock Spring Hut to Pass Mountain Hut for 15.5 miles Happy Mothers DayLeft the hut at 8 this morning. Had a hot lunch, taco rice with some tortilla chips, we packed out from Waynesboro. Mike stopped by while we ate to rest his feet!! Robert also stopped to say hi and press on to Pass Mountain Hut. We continued hiking at about 1:30 and it was a very very rocky hike day all together!! Tough on the shin and tough on Big Cypress feet and knees!! We passed up the Byrd's Nest #3 hut, as water was .4 away (too far) and we wanted to go more miles. We were happy to arrive at 5 pm. Greeted by Mike, Robert was gonna press on a few miles and was just leaving! Patchy is here, he's from Germany and we haven't seen him since 4 Pines Hostel. And then a couple other section hikers, Sam and Russ. We slept in our tent, we almost forgot what is was like!! Nice to have privacy and our own space!! Critters: Lots of squirrels and chipmunks. A bazillion millipeds!! A little bunny rabbit. I believe we keep seeing a Rufus Sided Towhee. (need to Google it) lots of Cardinals and Robins and little birds that I can't make out!!
Date: 2016-05-09
From: Pass Mountain Hut

To: Gravel Spring Hut
Miles today: 13.3
Weather: clear sky

Pass Mountain Hut to Gravel Spring Hut for 13.3 milesWe got a early start and headed to Elkwallow Wayside. It wasn't raining when we started, but sprinkled, then started to rain!! Pretty good rain at that!! By 11:30, when we arrived at the wayside to eat lunch we were drenched!! We should have put our rain pants on, that kept water out of my shoes, since my new Keens are waterproof. (i didn't want waterproof, but didn't realize it till day 2 of having them on the trail) so....I had puddles in the shoes, waterproof means water can't escape either!! Rang out my socks at wayside, dumped water from shoes and got hot food, cheese burgers, fries and cinnamon rolls. Plus, candy bars, pop tarts, pickled sausage and salt & vinegar chips! Oh....and lil black box of wine!! Headed out again, with rain pants on, better late than never, at 1:25.We arrived at Gravel Spring at above 3:30. Patchy was there. Spaceman from Allentown PA and Stealth, he's from Terra Haute IN. Then....Butter from Washington, Dreamer, Mike from Maine, Hannah Solo from Colorado, Grits and Tesla from NJ & MD, Shao from Scotland and Big O from NJ. We have heard about Big O from Fiber....so it was nice to finally meet him!! He was excited, thinking Fiber was with us!! Now, he hopes to catch Fiber, since he knows that Fiber is solo and up ahead a couple days!! ( yes we miss Fiber ) ( but also glad we aren't holding him back, due to Moonbeam's shin splint and healing toe ) Full Shelter and rainy!! Lots and lots of tents also, from late arriving hikers!! As late as 11 pm tonight.Big O had gotten off trail for 5 days due to shin splints....gave us lots of information about them, as he went to hospital with his and the Dr filled his brain with lots of info. One tid bit, don't stretch it. That's counterintuitive!! Critters: Squirrels, did I mention squirrels.....lots of them!! A Doe 10 feet off trail, she wondered what I was.....just stared us down. My poncho over me & my pack, I look like Big Bird!! ? What animal poops on a rock, purposefully? We think coyote, but not sure. Looks like dog poop, but we see this almost every day and wonderful. Let us know, if ya know!!
Date: 2016-05-10
From: Gravel Spring Hut

To: Front Royal Terrapin Hostel
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: light rain

Gravel Spring Hut to Front Royal Terrapin Hostel for 10.3 miles (miles including .2 out of shelter and .5 off trail to hostel)Big Cypress heard a big tree fall in the middle of the night!! Frightening!! I thought a feather was floating down towards my face last night, while there was still light in the sky, I could only make out something like that. Well....I blew on it so it wouldn't tickled my face!! And it went UP and kept going not really "floating" like a feather should; Headlamp on......it's a spider!!!! Small, but still a spider!! Eww!!! Big Cypress saved his "little miss muffet"We left in overcast chilly weather at 7 am. Skipped a hot breakfast, did our morning Fiber style....ate bars along the way!! (miss ya Fiber)We had a good walk/hike/tiny rock scramble this morning. Arrived at Mike's hostel at 11-11:30 am. Under weather looking like rain, but not rain. Thankfully!! Shower, laundry, bunks picked (Big Cypress & I are in bunks that are head to head on the same level) and resupply boxes went through. We are here with Hannah Solo and Stealth. Mike took the 4 of us to town, dropping us off at the grocery and then we walked to KFC. The Terrapin Hostel is nice and Mike is great!! Comfortable and accommodating!! No private rooms for couples, but its ok once in a while.Tomorrow will be our last day in the Shenandoah National Park. It's been a nice, very nice hike here!! Thank you Jesus, cuz we could enjoy the hike and nurse achy body parts!!! So....we will be off the journals for 3 sleeps and 4 days.Critters: One Orange Salamander, lots of millipeds, "tons" of birds and grey squirrels!!
Date: 2016-05-11
From: Front Royal Terrapin Hostel

To: Dicks Dome Shelter
Miles today: 19.7
Weather: broken clouds

Front Royal Terrapin Station Hostel to Dicks Dome Shelter for 19.7 milesPrayers needed for my sister Aimee, please!We left the warmth and dryness of the indoors at about 7:30, after walking the half mile back to the trail, we only had a quarter mile left of the Shenandoah National Park. We really enjoyed this portion of the hike.So....it was a salamander day all day today. Fog, mist, sprinkles!!We snacked all day, no formal hot lunch as we wanted to push a few extra miles to make it to Dicks Dome. That shelter only sleeps 4. We made good time, arriving at about 5ish. We were greeted by the Swiss Couple(Pinky Toe & Bowler). They were excited to see us as we had chatted with them a bit today, while on the trail. The shelter is a dome and very small. The 4 of us slept close. We could have fit one more if needed, but everyone else tented. Big Chewy, Mike, Steve, Mustard Seed with his 2 companions for few days. Critters: A very big doe and the biggest lil orange salamander we've seen yet. Rufus Sided Towhee and Blue Jays, Cardinals and little yellow birds (not sure what they are) and lots and lots of Millipeds.
Date: 2016-05-12
From: Dicks Dome Shelter

To: Bears Den Hostel
Miles today: 18.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Dicks Dome Shelter to Bears Den Hostel for 18.7 milesHit the 1000 mile mark todayWe woke early to a salamander morning, not a rain but fog & mist!! Heading out at a little after 7:30 am. The trail was beautiful and terrain was pleasant. We took some pictures and enjoyed the cool weather. The weather cleared later today and it was nice to see the sun and butterflies again!! We entered The Roller Coaster ( 13.5 miles of ascents & descents ) We were told horror stories, but that was due to rain, mud and slippery rocks. We met Huff n Puff from Pompano FL today, chatted for 20 minutes. He had a rough go on the rollercoaster. We averaged about 2 mph, which is our normal speed. Slower on the ups with rocks, but able to pick up time & speed on the downs. We arrived at Bears Den at 5:30 pm. It's a castle like stone lodge and boy oh boy do we love it!! For $30pp we get a bunk, shower, laundry with soap, sheets and blankets, pizza, soda and pint of fancy ice cream or gelato AND pancakes in the morning!! AND the accommodations are CLEAN!! Even the shower!! We are in hiker heaven!! To top it all off, they love us as much as we love them and this place!!Critters: big black snake, squirrels, bunnies, butterflies and tons of millipeds.
Date: 2016-05-13
From: Bears Den Hostel

To: ATC & The Light Horse Inn
Miles today: 20.3
Weather: heavy intensity rain

Bears Den Hostel to Harpers Ferry ATC & The Light Horse Inn For - 20.3 milesWe had an awesome night sleep at the Bears Den Hostel, the castle in the woods!! Woke at about 6 am and it's make your own pancakes, Big Cypress made ours, I had 5, he had too many to count!! We headed out at about 7 am, on the trail at 7:15 since the hostel is off trail a little bit. We finished the last 3 to 4 miles of the Roller Coaster in salamander weather, not too bad. Then the trail was very pleasant. We talked about pressing on to Harpers Ferry, if we made good time and could arrive before 5 pm, when the ATC (Appalachian Trail Conservancy) closes. To be determined as the day went on. Salamander weather turned to butterfly skies. We only stopped a couple times all day, one was to remove rain gear. Topic of day....Mud, running water down the trail and slippery very slippery trail & rocks! Big Cypress had 3 falls today, although he said only 2; since one his rear was close to a rock anyway and when he lost footing, he just "sat down". One spill was a fall into a good tree, causing elbow & forearm scrape! The other fall was on a slick rock, serious enough that it could have been hike ending!! After evaluating body parts were all ok, he was insistent that we press on and not make a big deal over it. Basically....walk it off!! We did it.....We arrived at the ATC at 4:30. Hannah Solo was there and the Swiss Couple. We got our picture taken and logged in as Thru Hikers 159 & 160. At Spinger GA we were 64 & 65. We struggled to find a place to sleep for the night, since all our plans got mixed up and Sista Michelle couldn't get over here to pick us up until Saturday morning as originally planned!! We landed at The Light Horse Inn B & B, a bit more $ than we'd like, but close to ATC and very very nice!! Plus, great Italian restaurant & liquor store (for wine)on the way, in the two blocks walk from ATC & The Inn. Great food & wine, shower & soak in the jet tub and relaxing sore feet from very unpleasant rocks on the trail.Critters: Squirrels and lots of birds
Date: 2016-05-14
From:  The Light Horse Inn

To: Sista Michelle's -Hamilton VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

We woke at sunrise, but didn't really get up and out of bed until about 7:30-8 am. We had a wonderful gourmet breakfast that Megan prepared for us at the Light Horse Inn B & B(mini ham quiche, roasted red pepper hash browns, bacon, sausage, blue berry muffins, blueberries and orange slices) Then, we rested in our room until almost 11, then headed downstairs to wait for Sista Michelle & Bradley to pick us up. About 11:30 I got to hug da sista, haven't been able to do that for few years!! And TOO long that is!! We ran errands, Wal-Mart, Bradley to practice, watered the pigs (2 of them Bradley raises to show and sell at the local fair). Sista had things to do later in the day, so we hung out and rested and ate our Chipotle dinner and multitude of naughty snacks. We need to eat high calorie foods on our breaks, so we don't drop too much weight in the next 3 months, like we have the first 3 months. We are both down about 35 to 40 pounds, depending on the day. Yep, today is our 3 months trail anniversary of hiking. Halfway-ish to go.Michelle's mom, Joyce, came over to sleep for the night, after they attended a graduation party. She's heading back home tomorrow, but boy oh boy, it was nice to see mom too!! Tomorrow we get to visit with lil sista, Brice, she'll be in from college for a few days. I spoke with my sister Aimee today. She's doing a little better, but prayers are still appreciated!!
Date: 2016-05-15
From: Sista Michelle's -Hamilton VA

To: Sista Michelle's -Hamilton VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Yesterday evening we were thankful that we weren't on the trail, as the weather was a little nasty! High winds, heavy rains and just plain yucky!!Woke this morning at about 630-7 am. Bradley had a meeting this morning at 8:30 for his steer that he is raising, also for the fair. So...We visited with mom a little bit before she headed home and we just rested and watched some CBS Sunday Morning program. Around 10, the 4 of us headed to the closest REI store, only about 30 miles away. Big Cypress was having toe pain from the past 200 miles, in his Vasque Breeze. I also had some issues with my Keen Logan Low's. I was wearing the Merrell Ventilator and they did well for 800+ miles, just wore out in some places on the inside cushion. I decided to try Keen, for the wider toe box. They feel more like a firm boot and my ball of my feet really hurt more in the Keen, due to less cushioning. So....I switched back to Merrell got the Moab Waterproof. I did like the Waterproofness of the Keen, so still have that. The Merrell just feel like a tennis shoe comfort, but a hiking shoe!! Big Cypress switched to the Solomon Quest 4D 2 GTX and went with 11.5 size from 11 in Vasque. Hopefully the toe pain will subside!! Tomorrow we head out to the trail again. Praying our new foot gear cut the mustard!! Sista is going to drop us where we got off the trail in Harpers Ferry to go to ATC. She's even going to be a little late to work! Thank you so much sista and co-workers for the support. Tonight we will be having dinner with Brice & Bradley both Mike & Michelle's kids. So glad Brice came home today from college, even if it's a brief visit! Sorry we missed a visit with Brudda Mike!! Hope he & Carly are doing well. We kinda arrived like a gust of wind, hard to plan ahead on the trail, lots of variables.Critter: Mom & Dad Canada Geese, with 3 little ones sandwiched between them, walking thru the back yard, going from one pond to the other.
Date: 2016-05-16
From: ATC Headquarters Harpers Ferry WV

To: Dahlgren Bsckpackers Campground
Miles today: 17.2
Weather: clear sky

Harpers Ferry WV to Dahlgren Backpack Campground for 17.2 milesSista went in late to work this morning so she could drop us off at the spot we exited the woods near the ATC. We are so thankful for sista's generosity and love!! You are such a dear friend sista and I surely miss spending time with you!! We hugged and said our see you soons, and headed into the "woods" at about 7-ish. Only to pop out in the old town part of Harpers Ferry. The whole are is so Historical!!! We can't wait to come back, in a vehicle!! We walked a couple miles along the Potomac River and later had lunch at Gathland State Park. We met Two Step there and chatted a while. Pressed on to the campground, after a nice hiking day. Found a nice tent pad and visited with Johnny Walker and Trip Wire and Limbo. After a warm shower and dinner next to a camp fire. We met them before, and yes they have warmer sleeping bags. Took a play from our book, got bags that zip together!!Critters: Field mouse, Moonbeam scared up from a log on the trail. Big Cypress saw a rattle snake in brush right off the trail.