morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-05-04
From: Lambert's Meadow Shelter

To: Fullhardt Knob Shelter
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: clear sky

Many meaningless PUDs this morning, but time passed quickly walking with Skyline and Sundance as we told each other riddles on our walk into Daleville, VA for a resupply--a process that I've quickly come to despise having to do.   So, despite having my new sleeping bag shipped to the wrong location and furiously running around town doing errands, it was all made better by a great care package--thanks Lauren! The goodies inside really did remind me of a lot of great dinners at the Waite house.   And yes, folks it's true. I'm at last a statistic. Having started on growing holes in my brand new replacement hiking shoes this week, I sent them up the trail for future repair/replacement and officially joined the Chaco revolution. I'm now thru-hiking in sandals. If you think I'm nuts, I'm not alone, and you can check them out for yourself online sometime. So far, so good in them, having done 5 miles after moving through town and running all my errands.   Treated myself to one of the coveted trail luxuries tonight--lugging yum-yums up from town to the first shelter north on the trail. In my case, that yum-yum was a 4-pack of Guiness that I shared with Skyline and Sundance and Team Champ. Shouldn't every trail day end with Guiness, a campfire, and a full moon? Can't wait to see my mom and dad in just 4 days!!
Date: 2004-05-05
From: Fullhardt Knob Shelter

To: Cove Mt. Shelter
Miles today: 19.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Well, the weather was absolutely perfect hiking weather today and the terrain was easy to boot. Hiked the day with Skyline and Sundance as we passed the first of our many future crossings with the Blue Ridge Parkway.   Mr. Shin Splint decided to rear his ugly head for a dramatic encore performance today, but my feet were really comfortable hiking 20 miles in my new comfy sandals, despite the shin agony. Day ended beautifully with Trail Magic in the form of grape sodas an beer sunk in a stream 3 miles from day's end.
Date: 2004-05-06
From: Cove Mt. Shelter

To: Thunder Hill Shelter
Miles today: 17.2
Weather: clear sky

Getting warmer, getting sweatier, getting oh so smellier. Well, feet survived yesterday's 20-miler with my new hiking sandals and they felt pretty good today. Shin splint was a bit better behaved too, though much of they day was spent doing long stretcheds of ascent and that doesn't seem to aggravate it as much. Not much to see all day except for the incredibly beautiful Bryant Ridge Shelter. No view from it's little forest glen, but absolutely gorgeous construction--my favorite so far. Too bad I'm not staying there tonight. Instead, I'm in my tent next door to Hippie Long Stockings, this nice girl who's always easy to spot given the seemingly precise regularity with which she can be spotted lighting up a joint.   Great night to be tenting out near the Blue Ridge Parkway, especially after last night's drone of termites eating the shelter at Cove Mt. The growing daylight has really made the hiking much more enjoyable--so much more time to sit by a stream, enjoy the views, and take an afternoon nap during the heat of the day. Mental note: After dying of laughter from Sundance's impersonation of Wallace, from the show Wallace & Grommet ("Cheese, Grommet, Cheeeeeeese!"), I must watch it when I get home.
Date: 2004-05-07
From: Thunder Hill Shelter

To: US 501
Miles today: 14.6

Beautiful night to be in a tent last night. No rain coming, so I left the rain fly off to be more comfortable. Every time I woke up, I opened my eyes to see a giant bright moon and a star-filled night sky. It was enough to keep me up a few times just to watch.   Hot day to walk, but the miles were easy and my original plan was to stay at the shelter 2 miles from the road crossing, but I decided to push on to the road and get a ride to nearby Wildwood Campground for some laundry and a shower. Greeted by excellent trail magic at the James River of oranges, cookies, and soda thanks to Foot Slogger! Had lots of time today to enjoy a forest floor covered in blooming white and pink trillium, the first rhododendron blossoms I've seen (finally!) since walking in thickets since Georgia, and the cool water of a nice stream I took a nap next to. Also, saw a little bark-colored lizard that had a neck and belly the color of sapphire blue. Pretty neat. Nice day for walking and another night under the stars at the campground.
Date: 2004-05-08
From: US 501

To: US 501
Miles today: 0.0

My mom and dad are here! Got a hitch from the campground into town this morning and waited at the laundromat for them to arrive. Spent a very short day getting groceries, eating lunch and dinner, running to the outfitter, and getting my mom's pack ready for her week-long adventure with me on the trail. How many moms choose to vacation by hiking the AT for a week, not to mention starting out on Mother's Day? Only those as super cool as my mom, that's for sure! Great to see them both, even though my time with dad was so short and hurried. But, we'll do it all over again next weekend! Too bad every day on the trail can't end with a nice hotel bed.
Date: 2004-05-09
From: US 501

To: Punchbowl Shelter
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: clear sky

Happy Mother's Day to all you moms out there! Said goodbye to dad this morning, and mom and I started off on our week-long hike together. The weather was again quite hot for hiking, especially when my mom's first taste of the trail was a 2200-foot climb over the first 5 miles or so. It was tough, but she did great pulling into the shelter after a long bit of uphill on her first day out. Nice to see Burning Boots and J-Bird with their dog Hershey, as well as Tortoise, as we're all camping together for the night. However, this "Punchbowl" in front of the shelter could be more accurately named "Swampbowl," and the clouds of newly-hatched gnats and a piercing chorus of peepers were enough to merit the use of my earplugs. Mom's adventure is officially underway!
Date: 2004-05-10
From: Punchbowl Shelter

To: Brown Mt. Creek Shelter
Miles today: 9.1
Weather: broken clouds

Well, Mom made it through her first day just fine, so we kept on chugging along today. Started a bit late this morning, but I knew the trail would be a lot easier today--mostly downhill and flat with a couple of gentle climbs mixed in. Stretched the day out with a couple of nice long stops by a few of the stream crossings today, taking our time to relax, have a snack, and soak our feet in the cold water. Another big climb awaits tomorrow morning, so it's time for an early dinner and early bed so Mom can rest up. I can see the newsflash already: "Superstar Mom hikes on!"
Date: 2004-05-11
From: Brown Mt. Creek Shelter

To: North Forks of Piney River
Miles today: 13.9

The second big long climb of Mom's trip, and she really did awesome today. Lots of flowers and green spring growth to see today, including my first sighting of a Jack-in-the-Pulpit. Also learned about Jewelweed today from Dead Man Walking and Love Bug--a plant with dull serrated leaves like a Beech tree leave, whose stem can be used as an antidote for Poison Ivy. Lots of nice serviceberry, trillium, spiderwort, and wild strawberry to see as well.   Wonderful to have a reunion with Nails and Scarf last night and today (both anxious to meet my mom), and also to meet Frito and Spock (a very knowledgeable gear guy and former guide in Big Bend National Park). Mom's toughest and longest day so far--she's doing great even with her plethora of blisters. Spent the night in tents alongside a stream through a great thunderstorm.
Date: 2004-05-12
From: North Forks of Piney River

To: The Priest Shelter
Miles today: 8.8
Weather: few clouds

Decided to take it easy today after yesterday's longer day to ease Mom's blisters while I ducked into Montebello to get our 3-day resupply. Ended up running into Nails and Scarf getting a ride back up to the trail from Lois, owner of the Dutch Haus B&B in town. Lois was king enough to bring me into the general store, bring me back to the Dutch Haus for a free lunch, and then drive me back to the trail to catch up with mom at the shelter.   Got the chance to air out out tents from last night's thunderstorm this afternoon, and I was so happy to see Burning Boots and J-Bird show up, followed shortly after by Footloose, who I haven't seen since Damascus. Awesome to catch up with him and trade some more stories while I made a couple of Pepsi-can stoves. Really nice end to the day.
Date: 2004-05-13
From: The Priest Shelter

To: Maupin Field Shelter
Miles today: 13.6
Weather: broken clouds

The toughest day of Mom's entire week out with me, and she did great--blisters and all. Thanks to some Core-ban and extra Compeed from Burning Boots and J-Bird, Mom was able to pad her heel blisters a lot better for today's 3000' descent, immediately followed by a 3000' ascent.   It's days like this where I'd just like to give a quick shout-out to cloudy days. They really get a bad rap, but without them days of hiking like this would be unbearable. Not much to see along today's walk except for some nice stream crossings and some new wildflowers. In again with Footloose, Burning Boots and J-Bird, who are all in tents at the nice grassy areas around the shelter.
Date: 2004-05-14
From: Maupin Field Shelter

To: Paul C. Wolfe Shelter
Miles today: 16.1
Weather: few clouds

She made it! Mom's last long/tough day today before getting off the trail tomorrow, and she finished it out strong to a round of applause from Burning Boots and J-Bird, who were waiting to greet us at the shelter. Only an easy 5 miles remains on Mom's trek, and even despite her blisters she made it through all of it with flying colors. When it's all done tomorrow, she will have come 77.0 miles, an incredible feat for someone who's never hiked such a continuous stretch. To put it into perspective, she will have come more than 2.5 times as far as 20% of all thru-hikers--that's how many will have dropped out by Neels Gap, GA after just 30.8 miles on the trail. All that over the biggest climbs I've seen in Virginia in several weeks. It's really been a lot of fun to have her with me and to show her a piece of what I love to do everyday. One last night in this beautiful open shelter above a nice cool creek that'll be rocking me to sleep momentarily after another day with the sweet fragrance of blooming azalea in the air. Greasy town food awaits when Dad arrives tomorrow!
Date: 2004-05-15
From: Paul C. Wolfe Shelter

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

Just a last few miles today as the great adventure with my Mom has come to an end. Rolled into Rockfish Gap just a few minutes before Dad showed up to whisk us away to the hotel. Another day cluttered with grocery shopping, laundry, a much-needed haircut, and very little time to relax and chat with Mom and Dad. It's been a great hike with Mom all week. I'm so proud that she came out to join me and enjoyed herself despite the trail's difficulty at times.   The day ended with a fabulous dinner at The Depot Grille in Stuarts Draft--excellent food, dessert, and of course, company. Thanks Mom for keeping me company for a week, and thanks Dad for making not one, but two car trips back and forth to Virginia in just a week! I almost forgot what a nice soft bed feels like to sleep on....almost.
Date: 2004-05-16
From: Rockfish Gap

To: Blackrock Hut
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: light rain

Woke up this morning, had a great breakfast in the hotel, packed up, made myself a new Pepsi-can stove and hopped in the car for Mom and Dad toi drive me back to the trail. Sad to say goodbye to them again after spending such little time together, but happy to be back on the trail for my first day in Shenandoah National Park.   Got a bit of a late start at around 9:30am, but it was just late enough to start hiking in sunshine again after last night's and this morning's heavy rain. Not very interesting trail, just very wide in places, very gentle, and a lot of crossings of Skyline Drive. I've decided that with a few yellow lines painted on the trail here in the park, the AT could more suitably be called the "Shenandoah Speedway." Fast, easy miles. Mom was supposed to come out for this stretch, but I'm glad she didn't. There are a lot more people, and it seems that the AT within the park isn't really indicative of the daily trail experience.   Best part of my day, by far, was meeting this super beautiful girl out hiking the trail wearing a bikini and a Camel-Bak. Now let's see: gorgeous, nice, southern accent, into the outdoors, easy to talk to, and what do I do? Not ask for her number, that's what. Sigh. I'm a moron. I guess I'm stuck with her name as my mantra for falling asleep to pleasant dreams: Adwina. Small consolation that it's just me and one other hiker in this nice stone shelter....I'm still a moron.
Date: 2004-05-17
From: Blackrock Hut

To: Hightop Hut
Miles today: 21.4
Weather: light rain

Did some nice miles today, and avoided the rain yet again despite hearing thunder off and on throughout the late morning and afternoon. Caught up with Footloose, Lovebug, and Dead Man Walking at the shelter, which was a nice was to spend the evening after a day that didn't have any views, new wildflowers, or wildlife other than a couple of deer who were very unafraid of me. Let's check in on "Mountain Man's Shenandoah Speedway Wildlife Scorecard" to see how things are going so far inside the park:         Fabulously attractive hiker girls: 1         Black bears: 0   Those numbers aren't looking too good.
Date: 2004-05-18
From: Hightop Hut

To: Lewis Spring
Miles today: 19.5

What an exciting day! Just when I thought the park was getting kind of boring, I start off my day with a morning sighting of a black bear running across the trail up in front of me! Next came a very cool sighting of the rare Yellow Lady's Slipper flower hiding in a hillside of trillium. That's not all. Footloose and I walked up from Lewis Spring to Big Meadows Wayside for a late lunch and the famous Mountain Blackberry milkshake--yum yum. But, the thunderstorms finally caught up with us today about 1.5-2 miles before getting to the Wayside, so we had to ring out our clothes in the bathroom before going in to eat at the restaurant. Unfortunately, the thunderstorm came on us at about the same time that my shin splint started up with its old tricks. So, with that and the prospect of more thunderstorms, Footloose and I decided to walk another mile off the trail to stay the night at Big Meadows Lodge. We've got a great rustic room, but the power is still off. Can anyone say "Beer in the taproom tonight"? You should. "Mountain Man's Shenandoah Speedway Wildlife Scorecard" now reveals:         Deliciously attractive hiker girls: 1         Black bears: 1   It's all evened up, and things are starting to get interesting. Between you and me, I'm pulling for the ladies.
Date: 2004-05-19
From: Lewis Spring

To: Pass Mt. Hut
Miles today: 19.7

Interesting night last night. A few hours after the thunderstorms passed, the power came back on at Big Meadows Lodge so Footloose and I went down to the taproom to enjoy some always delicious beer while listening to some live bluegrass/folk music. Tons of fun to hear music for a change and sing along with everyone to some familiar songs. Unfortunately for us, the late night got worse when our nice rustic room in the Lodge turned out to be more infested with mice than any shelter I've stayed in so far. We could hear them all night in the walls, ceiling, and crawling over our food that we'd laid out on the floor. So, after watching one mouse try desperately to get out of the waste basket after falling in, we'd had enough of the mouse circus and hung a pseudo-bearbag in the bathroom. All this, yes, inside a lodge, of course.   Well, we survived anyway and after a nice breakfast in the dining room, Footloose and I moved on down the Hamburger Highway (as the trail is often called by thru-hikers in Shenandoah N.P. because of how often you can eat real food) to Skyland for lunch, where we met up with Tortoise. A beer, some chicken, a pork bbq, and some blackberry ice cream later, it was off to put the finishing touches on a long, but very delicious day of hiking and eating.
Date: 2004-05-20
From: Pass Mt. Hut

To: Compton Gap Trail
Miles today: 22.7

My last day in Shenandoah, and it ended with no bear sightings, one last Mountain Blackberry milkshake at Elkwallow, and an entire day of walking in cloud mist. Pushed on to stay the night at Terrapin Station Hostel, which has only been open since last year. Run by Grateful Greenpeace Guy, a great host and hiker friend, it was a nice little place to have a shower and laundry with a clean bunkroom with air mattresses and a common area to watch some tv¢something I haven¢t done in quite awhile. For a change, it was a quiet hostel¢only 5 of us in for the night. Great to end such a long wet day in a place like this¢it always seems more satisfying when you¢ve walked in rain like today. Well, only 50 more miles to get to that 1000-mile mark that we¢ve all been looking forward to and the halfway point that waits not far beyond.        Oh, I almost forgot. For those of you following along, here¢s the final tally of ¢Mountain Man¢s Shenandoah Speedway Wildlife Scorecard¢ as I stop to take one final look back on my time here in Shenandoah National Park:                Fantexcellentasterrificuliciously attractive hiker girls: 1        (that¢s fantastic, fabulous, excellent, terrific, and delicious all rolled into one)                Black bears: 1So, after all that we ended in a deadlock. Those numbers are pretty discouraging. Hoping for improvement in a new state. Hey, ¢Virginia Is For Lovers¢¢¦¢¦I guess
Date: 2004-05-21
From: Compton Gap Trail

To: Jim and Molly Denton Shelter
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Only doing a few miles today to help rest my shin and feet, so I slept in a little bit and resupplied in town before hitting the trail around 1pm. The air mattress in the bunkroom was so comfortable last night. I¢d been having some trouble sleeping at the shelters recently (I think it¢s time for a new Z-rest), and it was nice to finally sleep so well.   A bit of overgrown and boring trail this afternoon, but reunited with Footloose, Tortoise, Lovebug, and Dead Man Walking at this nice shelter that has a big deck and Adirondack bench out front. Cooked some dinner, made use of the simple shower (cold, but nice!) to wash my face and hair, and sat around enjoying Gretchie¢s brownies with the others (thanks Big Sis¢they¢re delicious!). Pickin up the miles again tomorrow, so time for bed.
Date: 2004-05-22
From: Jim and Molly Denton Shelter

To: Rod Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Not much great fun stuff to report today folks. Hot, humid day listening to the seemingly ever-present white-noise droning of the 17-year cicadas all afternoon. Another night in the shelter with the usual suspects. Tomorrow to a hostel, and then to Harpers Ferry and the 1000-mile mark
Date: 2004-05-23
From: Rod Hollow Shelter

To: Blackburn AT Center
Miles today: 17.8
Weather: clear sky

Hot day = tough day. Temps close to 90 today and very humid, just in time for us to tackle the ¢Rollercoaster¢¢a series of about 10 sharp PUDs over a stretch of roughly 14 miles. In short, the Rollercoaster can be described as steep up, steep down, repeat. Nice to have a cold soda from Bear¢s Den Hostel in the middle of the afternoon before pushing on to the hostel here at the Blackburn AT Center. Great spaghetti dinner from the caretaker with blackberry soda and warm brownies. Tortoise has joined Footloose and I here for the night¢a beautiful setting with a great solar shower, a great screened-in porch with a swing (which I¢m currently sitting on), and a lawn that looks east to Washington, DC. On clear days, you can apparently see the Washington Monument some 50 miles away with a pair of binoculars. Perhaps most exciting today was finally crossing into West Virginia, my 5th state, and putting Virginia behind me. All told, it¢s taken me a little over a month to travel the nearly 540 miles of trail that are in Virginia alone¢a full quarter of the entire AT. That said, it¢s no wonder Footloose and I had great big smiles when taking pictures at the state border. Tomorrow, it¢s on to Harper¢s Ferry, the headquarters of the Appalachian Trail Conference and the psychological halfway point of the trail, to cross the 1000-mile mark, and to cross the Potomac River into Maryland!
Date: 2004-05-24
From: Blackburn AT Center

To: Harper's Ferry Hostel
Miles today: 14.2

Little tired this morning after yesterday¢s long hot day through the Rollercoaster, but it feels great to move on to Harper¢s Ferry. For the first time, I really feel as though I¢ve gotten somewhere seeing the big Shenandoah River for the first time and later in the day crossing the Potomac River.        I spent most of the day at the ATC headquarters enjoying the air-conditioning, having my picture taken outside by the staff (I¢m thru-hiker #126 for the year!), and reading through some books. Footloose and I made a quick stop at the outfitter where I replaced my now pancake-flat Z-rest with a new one before moving on for a burger or two. Just a nice stroll down the canal tow path alongside the Potomac to the hostel where I¢m tenting outside on the nice grassy lawn.        It felt great to pass through such a historic trail milestone and to cross the 1000-mile mark on the same day, but it¢s the first time I can actually remember being a bit down. It¢s tough to process somehow that everything you¢ve given so far, over 1000 miles of hiking, doesn¢t even amount to half way. But, it¢s a new state here in Maryland and tomorrow¢s a new day.
Date: 2004-05-25
From: Harper's Ferry Hostel

To: Crampton Gap Shelter
Miles today: 8.9
Weather: broken clouds

Slept in, ate breakfast down the street, and ended up staying with Footloose at the hostel until 1:30 in the afternoon lounging a bit, helping the owners put in some air conditioning units, and trying to gather motivation for the up-coming 2nd half of the trip. Left in the afternoon heat after a nice pint of Ben and Jerry's--our payment for helping out--and headed out for a short day. Stopped at the Weverton Cliffs overlook to wait for Footloos, but found out from another hiker that he had turned back to the hostel because he'd gotten sick again--something he's been fighting since yesterday morning. I hope he feels better soon and that we meet again up the trail--it's been great hiking together off and on for awhile. A nice short day for a change.
Date: 2004-05-26
From: Crampton Gap Shelter

To: Ensign Cowall Shelter
Miles today: 20.7
Weather: overcast clouds

A really nice stretch of trail today got my spirits back up, though my backpack continues to fight me for a comfortable hike, more now with my incredible shrinking waist! I caught a welcome shower on the trail at the Dahlgren backpacker shower facility before heading up the trail to check out the Washington Monument. I chatted awhile ther with Silver, a great guy who finished the Triple Crown last year, and started exploring the idea of changing over to an ultralight pack, dumping a bunch of weight, injecting some energy back into my adventure and making myself a lot more comfortable in this heat. My last full day in Maryland; tomorrow it's on to Pennsylvania!