morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-07-04
From: Calf Mtn Shelter

To: Blackrock Hut
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: clear sky

The Shenandoah is a strange sort of park. Long and narrow, dominated by Skyline drive, the road running through it. It will never, I suspect, feel truly remote or evoke commonly held, romantic notions of wilderness. Additionally, by now some people are understandably beginning to tire of the monotony of the Trail. There is less and less that is truly new, only another mile after another mile of Virginia. Maybe this is why some folks decide to ¢aquablaze¢ the Shenandoahs: forsaking the hike through the park for the novelty of a canoe trip down the river. I can appreciate the attraction. It sounds like a lot of fun but it¢s not for me or at least it¢s not for me as part of the thru hike. Of course the Shenandoah does offer its own rewards to the weary hiker over and above the purists desire to doggedly follow the white blazes. I don¢t think a hiker steps foot in the park without images of potential animal encounters; of close contact with deer and more importantly of closeish but not too close interactions with the park¢s numerous bears. That was certainly my hope but today I was to meet no bears, although I did spot a pileated woodpecker looking for its breakfast early this morning. The day was bright and warm so I dilly dallied taking lots of breaks and working my way through 40 plus pages of my book (Follow the River).The Trail was quiet but after I arrived at the hut I was soon followed by Trapper, The Hiking Poles and Flash; then after I retired to my tent I heard SnP and Strider arriving.An unexceptional day all in all. But that said it was an unexceptional day on the Trail which means, of course, that it wasn¢t bad at all.
Date: 2009-07-05
From: Blackrock Hut

To: Hightop Hut
Miles today: 21.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Yesterday the Poles mentioned that it might rain today. I¢d really rather not know but people insist on telling me. Anyway this given the unwanted knowledge and the fact that I woke to the pitter patter of rain my heart couldn¢t help but sink a notch or two.If I didn¢t ¢know¢ I¢d just get on with it; me against the elements, coping and reacting to whatever comes my way. But knowing leaves me second guessing myself. If somebody knows it¢s going to rain can they also tell me when it will stop? Should I wait it out? Will it get worse? Will it get better? Is it just today or is this it for the week? Suddenly my independence and competence to ¢just to do¢ has been undermined and my contentedness eroded. I hate that.Anyway, I¢m out here to hike, not just hike on good days and over 150 days I guess I can expect to get a little damp from time to time. Today may just prove to be one of those days ¢ it was certainly starting out that way.The first part of the day turned into a relentless plod. It rained steadily and was damp and cool. Not cold, but there was nothing to be gained from taking any breaks. Besides the constant activity helped focus the mind and keep the internal furnace aglow. Originally I had planned to skip Loft Mountain Campground and he allure of its camp store but today after three hours of non-stop forward motion it now offered the perfect opportunity to draw breath, take my pack off and, yes I suppose, to check out the camp store.Although I was glad to be out of the rain the purposeless milling about soon allowed the chill to seep back into my bones and it wasn¢t long before I was off again ¢ this time aiming for Pinefield Hut. This section turned out to be a much more enjoyable affair. The rain eased and I started to dry out. It was still cold and the odd drop of precipitation was unavoidable but, all in all, they were pretty good conditions. Maybe not if you are a shorts and t-shirt hiker but for me with three layers on top, long pants below and a lifelong advantage with cold, damp days they there was much good to be garnered from the day.I sat down by a creek, enjoying not being completely soaked through, the gentle tinkle of the stream, the peace and quiet and long satisfying breaths. Nature can be pretty special on the not so special days too.I continued the walk/rest routing for the remainder of the day. The old still kept the rests short but they were great rests. The mist lifted and thickened. The drizzle started then stopped. At one point I felt suddenly and unexpectedly weak but after another rest and some food it passed and did not return.The shelter turned out to be somewhat bug infested. Not the wildlife extravaganza I had hoped fro, in fact, two and a half days into the Shenandoahs, and despite reading of multiple bear sightings in the registers, I still await my first Shenandoah bear. Even the deer seems to be few and far between. Maybe they didn¢t like the rain. Time will tell.
Date: 2009-07-06
From: Hightop Hut

To: Bearfence Hut
Miles today: 12.4

Today could not have got off to any better start. Hightop Mountain a mere half mile from camp was to be today¢s breakfast table and everything was just perfect. Arriving just after eight the view was fantastic, reminiscent perhaps more of the high peaks of the Himalayas than my expectations of Virginia. Once more I was to benefit from yesterday¢s rain. Beneath me, from my 3,500 foot perch the valleys were seas of cloud interspersed by step sided islands of land where the high ridges o f the surrounding countryside rose above the foam. Up above the clouds, all was brightness and light; down below, I could only guess.A couple of last night¢s fellow campers came and went having clicked the obligatory snapshot but a couple more stayed and we sat for over an hour, soaking up the views, chatting and watching the rising sun burn off the clouds, destroying the beauty we had witnessed. Once the clouds had fully dissolved it was a nice Shenandoah view again.Moving on the park can be a bit of a logistical challenge as the shelters are a little awkwardly spaced. It wasn¢t perfect but in the circumstances I had settled on a short day, long day, short day, long day routine. Sometimes in these circumstances short days can turn out to be too short but not today. After my long breakfast I followed it with a long lunch at one of the nice picnic spots and then sauntered on towards another of the park¢s camp stores.I had some business to take care of at the store as I planned to give Libby a call to finalise the details of my visit to Baltimore. I reckoned I would make Harper¢s Ferry by Sunday (in 6 more days). I planned to take a day in town to see some of the historical sites and then take the commuter train into DC and onto Baltimore. A fine enough plan I thought but I would still need to see if these details suited my host¢s (and ex 2003 AT hiker¢s) busy life out there in the real world. A quick call, a few misunderstandings and repetitions due to my funny foreign accent, a minor modification and all was in place. Now Libby would pick me up in Harper¢s Ferry. All I had to do was get there and learn to speak better English!
Date: 2009-07-09
From: Gravel Springs Hut

To: Jim & Molly Denton Shelter
Miles today: 18.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Oh well I made it out of the park today. Not really sure what to make of it. It seems like a good place for people to go and have a ¢comfortable¢ wilderness experience ¢ woods, animals, views complete with roads, cars, diners, campsites, flush toilets, that sort of thing. Not really what I expect from a National Park and I¢m convinced that there must be many better places to backpack but, that said, as a short section on the AT it¢s OK.In the end I saw a total of 7 bears in the park and they brightened up 3 of the 7 days I was there. But mysteriously deer seemed thin on the ground and I missed the familiar sightings I have become used to.With only four days until Harper¢s Ferry and some time off in Baltimore/DC I skipped the delights of Front Royal. It seems funny to say it but although a bath and some clean clothes might have been nice it wasn¢t a necessity (does that make it a luxury?). I could easily wait it out until Sunday (well I thought I could ¢ nobody else seemed too keen on getting close enough to correct me).I was tired though. When I had made my latest plan I did the usual aiming between 15 and 20 miles per day. Things fell into place pretty well and Sunday seemed like the most natural day to arrive for my rendezvous with Libby. Now though, I could see that although each individual day seemed fine I had rather foolishly overlooked the cumulative effect. I had now spent 6 nights on the Trail since Waynesboro and with 3 more still to go before I could put my feet up it was starting to exact a toll. Those 3 nights actually equated to 4 days of 18,18,19 and 10 miles respectively. Not a killing schedule but definitely one that given my current weariness would make my break all the more welcome. I¢d made my bed though and although I didn¢t necessarily like it I¢d just have to lie on it.All of the above meant that I was even more glad than normal to call if a day today and to arrive at tonight¢s shelter. It was a splendid affair. A lovely calm spot with a porch and a bench, a solar shower (that I could admire without feeling the necessity to get wet), a separate covered cooking area and a fantastic spring with great cold water.Earlier in the trip at Bryant Ridge a similarly nice shelter got page after page of rave reviews in the register. Here all was strangely quiet. I was confused. More fuel to stoke the fires of yesterday¢s tirade, me thinks.
Date: 2009-07-10
From: Jim & Molly Denton Shelter

To: Rod Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 18.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Today began with a quick walk into Linden, another two horse village, but a much appreciated one by this hiker. Here I could add the necessary supplies to the odds and ends still left in my food bag from various Shenandoah campsites. This would hopefully stop my belly grumbling too much during he two and a half days ahead. The store turned out to be nothing special but once again I had my fill of fruit juice, milky way bars and ice cream ¢ not I believe the breakfast of champions but a most enjoyable one nonetheless. Throw in some hamburger buns, some cheeses singles, more chocolate bars and some jerky and I was pretty sure there would be no need to shoot the horses.Then, unsurprisingly, it was another morning of walking. A short stroll to Manassas Shelter (where the register told many frightening stories of resident snakes ¢ I saw none ¢ but then again I didn¢t hang around either ¢ I¢m not totally dim) and a flat, relaxing hike on mostly dirt trails to Dick¢s Dome. The dome is a fairly unique and interesting (if not practical) structure but what I liked most was the gently gurgling of the stream running in front of it. Nature¢s background music: an invitation to breathe deeply and clear your mind, at least that¢s what I did.With big miles and my side trip to town planned I had been moving steadily (maybe even purposefully) but now I was delighted to find I was ahead of schedule. I took the afternoon slower ¢ reading by two streams and at one point enjoying emerging from the trees to an open section with views all around.When I arrived at the shelter I found the Hiking Poles there and I was soon followed in by Flash. It was good to be here with them. I first met them at the second shelter in the Shenandoah. We had all been travelling at much, if not exactly, the same pace since. It wasn¢t going to last though. We were all taking varying amounts of time off at Harper¢s Ferry and as I planned to be the last to get back on I may not see them again, then again¢¦.I went to set up my tent but had to deal with the irritation of designated tent pads. All too often they are either too small for my admittedly fairly large one man tent or too rocky to take a peg. This time the rocks defeated me. I parcelled everything up again, said my goodnights and wandered down to find a spot that was actually suitable for camping.   I know I shouldn¢t complain but this was also a common complaint throughout the Shenandoahs. You want to help and minimise impact but this doesn¢t seem the solution to me.Oh well in the end all was well and as I relaxed I was joined in camp by a deer out for an evening stroll and a bite to eat. It was good to see him. I¢d been missing their reassuring and calming presence.
Date: 2009-07-12
From: Wild camp beyond Blackburn Trail Centre

To: HarperÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Ferry
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Another sabbatical beckons. Ten more miles and the actors would once again shuffle off the stage as the lights go down on Act II of this drama/farce/mystery.But the final scene still had to be played out. Not the gentle, continually graded downhill I had hoped for (or more foolishly expected) but he usual up, down, stop, start, meandering path that mildly infuriates and deceives but that, when all is said and done, does get you where you want to go, just not in the manner you¢d prefer.I knew it would be like this of course and so took breaks and managed both my efforts and expectations accordingly. Four hours later I was looking down into the valley. A quick down, a long (or seemingly long) walk across the bridge under a relentless midday sun, the sting in the tail as the Trail climbed and paralleled the town. Your destination tantalisingly close yet still obscured. A wander through historic Harper¢s Ferry, past fields that were home to encampments for both sides at various times during the Civil War and lo and behold there I was dumping my pack at the ATC building.Act II. 300 miles. 300 miles of what? The Blueridge Parkway, Skyline Drive, The Shenandoahs, Montebello, Waynesboro, Linden. Did I really only shower twice ¢ at Waynesboro and at the Blackburn Trail Centre? Did I really only launder once? 300miles where I was reunited with Pete and then separated again. 300 miles where I reacquainted myself with Arrow, Herb, Sarge, Jade,SnP, Stolider. There must have been more but it¢s all a blur. I¢ll need to read the pages that precede this to find out what I¢ve actually been up to.And then the closing scene. Josh, Jason, Flash and me chewing the fat in the ATC. Laughing about the antics and unbelievability of a fellow hiker we met last night. Last night we each couldn¢t believe our ears or get a word in edgewise. Today we found out we were all on the same page. We laughed and parted.   I checked the internet and found out that Arturo Gatti was dead.
Date: 2009-07-17
From: Washington DC

To: Wild Camp North of Weaverton Cliffs
Miles today: 6.2

The commuter train took me from DC and as it was Friday the genuine commuters were heading home for a weekend of rest and relaxation while, on the other hand, I would be heading back to my ¢day job¢.I¢d done the math in DCP: 1,165 miles of Trail to go and something like 11 weeks and 4 days before I would realistically have to put this adventure to bed. It seems ludicrous to be making plans for he end when I¢m not even half way yet but such is life. I needed to know roughly where I stood, whether I felt I was up against it and had to push some miles or, less likely perhaps, that I was ahead of the game and might need to take it easy. As my rule of thumb is to consider 100 miles per week as ¢par¢ everything was surprisingly hunky dory. I almost felt cheated. I mean I was delighted that there was no obvious impediment to the completion of my hike but I had expected to have to plan things a little more. As it was I¢d just keep that 100 miles per week in my head and check the math once a week.Averages are all very well but today still created its own peculiar problems. The train dropped me back at Harper¢s Ferry around 6.30pm and I still wanted to get back on the Trail to go the seven miles to the first shelter. I had been spoiled in the likes of Georgia and Virginia where camping seemed allowed more or less anywhere. However, in Maryland they ask that you use designated campsites. As it was the seven miles would be a struggled before dark; as even before I started I still had to trudge uphill to the ATC office and retrace last Sunday¢s steps to the Trail. It also looked like it might rain and while I wanted to make the miles I also preferred to stay dry. I didn¢t have much time, as a result, to admire or ponder Jefferson Rock or the other sights before hitting the C&O Canal towpath ¢ a few flat miles that offered most hope of me beating the incoming darkness. I did collect more than my fair share of mosquito bites during the evening dusk as I climbed to the ridgeline where I was surrounded by decent spots to camp. With the light quickly fading, I decided I¢d just circle the wagons and make camp. I¢d leave at daybreak. Nobody would ever know I was here.P.S The missing entries for 28 June to 6 July have now been added ¢ happy reading!
Date: 2009-07-18
From: Wild Camp North of Weaverton Cliffs

To: Dahlgren Campground
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: broken clouds

My good intentions of being up with the lark and vacating my ¢illegal¢ campsite before anybody might notice unfortunately came to naught. The relative excesses of my time bathed in the bright lights of the big cities had taken their toll. Back in the woods I needed to recuperate, regroup, rest and restore myself physically and mentally to this simple existence. There may be other methods of achieving this but for me it pretty much boiled down to sleep. I went to bed in a rush, the get up and go of Baltimore and DC still coursing through me. I awoke to the first light of dawn and birdsong. I needed that decompression chamber of slumber to successfully transition. The day was mine and there was no need to start it until I was ready.Eventually, after a couple of hours of drifting in and out of wakefulness I felt it was the time to make a move. Not time because the big hand says so but tome because the rhythm of life hinted so. It felt right, I felt ready, the batteries were recharged and it was time to ¢bring it on¢.I had enjoyed Maryland in 2003 but it had rained. I remembered easy walking and Civil War History. I planned to make the best of both, to go slow and to soak it up. In anticipation I¢d bought a Civil War book in DC and I made a stat on it during my first break of the morning. Soon after, I found myself at a number of historic sites related to the Battle of South Mountain in 1862. I read the noticeboards, not really understanding but with hope that my future reading would put the locations, the people involved and their significance into some context.At Gathland State Park there was also a memorial to war correspondents who had died covering conflicts. They seemed a group worthy of our respect. We have, unfortunately been ¢consumers¢ of their work fat too much in recent years. In fact, in contemplation it seems the, and their skills, have been in far too great demand. Stopping at a plaque seeing Daniel Pearle¢s name was a sombre and sobering moment.Later I walked past a monument to Jesse Reno, said to have fallen in battle here. I wondered if the surrounding field had seen much bloodshed all those years ago. Looking at the trees surrounding the open field I suddenly took seriously all those Civil War re-enactors (historical educators). It¢s easy to sneer but I would be genuinely interested to get a small glimpse of what unfolded here.My day concluded at Dahlgren campground where a big family group from Baltimore were in residence. I chatted to Reggie and he kindly offered me a beer that I happily accepted. Another couple, Dugout and Dizzybat, arrived. They had just ¢officially¢ called a halt to their thru-hike but still planned to use this opportunity to continue their adventure along the Appalachian Trail corridor, all-be-it with the new found freedom of a car and unconstrained by the pressure to follow one day walking with another. The AT is certainly not for everyone and I found their good humour, company and approach refreshing.
Date: 2009-07-20
From: Ensign Cowall Shelter

To: Antietam Shelter
Miles today: 16.9
Weather: clear sky

One thing I¢ll say for life on the Trail ¢ you sleep well. Or I certainly sleep well. I assume everybody else does, but really I suppose that¢s an issue for them.Last night I slept like the proverbial log. At 6am the first light of day worked its way through the green outer wall of my tent and then yellow inner to bathe my immediate surroundings in the pale light of dawn. All was well. Had the urge taken me I could quite easily have sat up and started to get going but different urge took me.   I was comfortable, relaxed and free of worry or pressure or responsibility. I rolled over and dozed. If I was well slept at 6. I was very well slept by 7.10am but there was still no rush. By 7.30am the urge to move overcame me. It¢s a simple life and a free life ¢ a good life (for those who find themselves suited to it) but as I went through my, by now, very well regimented routing of breaking camp I did have cause to feel a little guilty. What would my doctor friends in Baltimore so for just a fraction of all this wonderful sleep? Head down around 9pm, up around 7am. That¢s ten hours; ten hours almost every night. I felt guilty but what was I going to do about it? I wasn¢t going to deny myself this simplest of pleasure, just wish them well through their trials, tribulations and unfortunately sleeplessness.There were some rocky sections today, and some ups but it wasn¢t bad. It was a relaxed and peaceful farewell to Maryland. I arrived at Denmar County Park that would signal our parting but first I paused, got myself a bottle of Mountain Dew from a vending machine and sat alone in a pavilion looking down the valley. I wrote some journals. There was no hurry but the right time does have a habit of coming round ¢ the right time to get up, the right time to head North, the right amount of time to stay in Maryland, You don¢t and can¢t get it right all the time but today¢¦..Today I felt I was three for three