morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2022-06-19
From: Bee Chill Hostel

To: Stealth Campsite
Miles today: 22.3
Weather: clear sky

June 19thMy next resupply destination was to be Glasgow, Virginia at mile marker 787.3. My plan for this day was get to a campsite at mile marker 752.6. All seemed to be going well, although at approximately mile marker 740 my left foot was on the downhill side of the trail, and was maybe too close to the edge of the trail as the ground gave way and I took a fall. By the time I got to mile marker 751 my right ankle had gotten very, very uncomfortable in my new trail boots. I made the campsite and was sure happy to get the boots off (in particular the right one) and my camp shoes on.There ended up being 3 other hikers camping there that night, one of whom was from New York City. I have seen about 5 hikers from New York City. They evidently like to get away from the congestion and skyscrapers and into nature as well!
Date: 2022-06-20
From: Stealth Campsite

To: Jennings Creek and Stanamils Hostel Glasgow
Miles today: 5.9
Weather: clear sky

June 20thI expected to cover about 20 miles this day. I was mistaken. From the very first step in my new trail boots my right ankle rebelled. It was no fault of the boot, rather it was the high ankle swelling that couldn't stand contact with the upper portion of the boot. After 3 miles I took the right boot off and put on my cheap, right rubber camp shoe. I made arrangements for a shuttle service to pick me up at the first road crossing which happened to be at mile marker 758.5 for an unimpressive 5.9 mile day. Cindy (the shuttle driver) dropped me off at the Glasgow Dollar General where I intended to buy a cheap pair of tennis shoes to hike in until the swelling on my right ankle subsided.Dollar General is probably the most popular hiker resupply store on the entire AT so I was sure that I would find what I needed there. Wrong. The store manager said that they had no shoes for sale, only a highly limited selection of flip flops. Since there was no other retail store in Glasgow I was deeply saddened, wondering how I could ever in a short time get footwear that would allow me to continue my hike. There is a saying on the AT that the trail provides. I prefer to think that the Lord provides. I picked up some tuna fish and candy, and got in line to pay behind a young man who was also thru hiking. I noticed that he had a brand new pair of trail runner shoes on the floor next to him and that he had on a pair of old trail runners. I asked him what he was going to do with his old shoes. His response was "I'm going to throw them away." My rejoinder was, "Hey, I'll take them from you!" They fit, and the right shoe didn't hurt my foot in the least. The question would be will they make it to Waynesboro, Virginia where there is a trail outfitter at mile marker 864 on the trail.So I needed to spend a few days in Glasgow not hiking to allow my ankle to recover. The city of Glasgow is hiker friendly. They have a free shelter with bunk beds, a shower, and porta potties for hikers to use. My first night in Glasgow I stayed there. On Monday night the local Episcopal church, with all of 14 members provides a free dinner for hikers. It was a great dinner. All you could eat of salad, lasagna, macaroni and cheese, rolls, cookies, ice cream, and probably something else that I'm forgetting.  For the next two nights I stayed at Stanamil's Hostel in Glasgow. The manager there, Charlie, fixes blueberry pancakes every morning for breakfast, and prepares a great desert at the end of the day.
Date: 2022-06-23
From: Jennings Creek and Stanamils Hostel Glasgow

To: Blue Ridge Parkway
Miles today: 13.7
Weather: scattered clouds

June 23rdy (as well as the next day) Charlie suggested that I perhaps should slackpack. Slackpacking is when you are dropped off at a predetermined location and picked up at a predetermined location that allows you to hike with minimal gear. Though I was still carrying my backpack it mainly had just food and water. I was dropped off where I had been picked up on Monday, which was mile marker 758.5, and hiked to mile marker 772.2 with my new to me quite used trail runner shoes. It was an easy 13.7 miles and didn 't adversely affect my ankle
Date: 2022-06-24
From: Blue Ridge Parkway

To: Virginia Route 812
Miles today: 16.1
Weather: scattered clouds

June 24thContinuing my slackpacking on this Friday I went from mile marker 772.2 to 788.3. I tried putting my new trail boots on prior to leaving the hostel, but it didn't work. My ankle continued to throb with the upper portion of the boot on the upper portion of my right ankle. With the trail runner shoes there was no issue. I did box my new boots up and paid the postage for Charlie to send them back to Kansas. For the day I went 16.1 miles.
Date: 2022-06-25
From: Virginia Route 812

To: US Route 60
Miles today: 20.9
Weather: scattered clouds

June 25thI left Stanimals Hostel in Glasgow at 7:15 a.m. and was dropped off at my starting point at 7:30 a.m. My goal for the day was to stop at mile marker 807.3 at Brown Mountain Creek. I ate dinner there with another gentleman who had also been staying at Stanamil's in Glasgow, but decided to hike on another 2 miles to US Route 60 at mile marker 809.2. That saved me starting a 500 foot uphill in the first 2 miles on the 26th. My used shoes, though well worn were still getting me down the trail. For the day I covered 20.9 miles.At Route 60 there was a really nice flat, mowed grassy area to pitch my tent. The night was warm so I didn't use the rainfly on my tent. There was a bit of traffic and hence vehicle headlights here and there that shone through my tent but by 9 pm I was sound asleep.
Date: 2022-06-26
From: US Route 60

To: Priest Shelter
Miles today: 20.5
Weather: overcast clouds

June 26thSunday rain was in the forecast, and it did begin to rain very steadily in the aftertnoon around 2:30 pm. To start the morning though I did have a long uphill. As I've said before, anytime you start from a road you are guaranteed an immediate uphill. On this morning I was hiking by 6:30 a.m. So in the first 1.8 miles the uphill climb was 2000 feet. At the end of the day, in the last mile the uphill climb was 550 feet.I passed a middle-aged couple in the first mile and a half, and never saw another northbound hiker for the duration of my hiking time. I did see a 60 something lady who was thru hiking in what seemed like a random manner. She had already hiked through Shenandoah National Park and was making up several miles that she had skipped south of Shenandoah. The good news that she gave me is that Shenandoah had well manicured trails without 5 million rocks. I also saw 3 southbound section hikers, but the trail has become kind of a solitary place.From the time that the rain began at 2:30 it didn't stop until after I reached my destination for the night: Priest Shelter. That last uphill was difficult because it was straight up, no switchbacks, and lots of small rocks that made footing difficult because of slippage (of the rocks). When I reached the shelter at 5 p.m. no one else was there, which I appreciated because it gave me the opportunity to take all of my wet clothes off, use my body wipes to give myself a bath of sorts, and to then get dry clothes on. You feel a lot better getting in a sleeping bag when you aren't sweaty and dirty. Anyway after that I ate my gourmet dinner of Knorr's Spanish Rice topped of with 2 small Payday candy bars, inflated my mattress and unrolled my sleeping bag. About then the married couple that I had passed early in the morning arrived and by then the rain had quit so they set up their tent and cooked.Around 9 p.m. 2 younger thru hikers in their twenties arrived, and woke me up from my sleep. One of them had done 32 miles that day, a really high number. After they settled in their sleeping bags in the shelter and went to sleep one of them abruptly woke up and shouted "I just got bit and it hurts!" I told him that there were mice in the shelter, and my guess was that he may have had some food trace on his face. When I woke up in the morning he was no longer in the shelter. He set up his tent I guessed to avoid other mouse confrontations! Beth and I had watched a You Tube Appalachian Trail video where a lady had a mouse chew on her lips that she had applied chapstick. Shelters only work for me if it's raining out!For the day, I covered 20.5 miles.
Date: 2022-06-27
From: Priest Shelter

To: Parking lot at mile marker 850
Miles today: 20.3
Weather: light rain

June 27thMonday the 27th felt like the hardest of any of day since we started. Throughout the hike a consistent prayer of mine was to maintain an even temperament regardless of circumstances. For the previous 350 miles I would probably average one fall for every 4 or 5 hiking days. On this day I didn't fall once, twice, three times, but rather four times and I must confess that by the end of the day I was spent and uttering various profanities at all of the rocks. I don't believe that even in the Smokies I had to navigate through as many rock piles as I did on this day. I started at mile marker 829.7 and finished at mile marker 850.I began the hike at 6:30 a.m. Typically I would cover that distance in just a bit under 10 hours including breaks. On this day I reached my destination at 5:50 p.m. or 11 hours and 20 minutes. Once again there was lots of uphill, but rocks were pervasive throughout the whole day. I probably had no more than 1.5 miles of smooth, rock-free hiking. There were some pretty views, a few pictures of which are attached but I was grateful for the end of this day's hike. My gifted used trail runners (shoes) had multiple fabric tears, and the the left shoe sole had been pierced by one of the thousands of rocks that it had stepped on. I took a shuttle ride to Waynesboro, Virginia to an AirBnb owned by the same individual who owns the hostel in Glasgow, as well as one just across the street from me here in Waynesboro. I actually have 14 miles to make up as Waynesboro is at mile marker 864; but as I told the shuttle driver I pretty intensely disliked this day's hike, and I might wait until next year to make this 14 mile section up. The shuttle driver said that my demeanor for this particular section was not uncommon!
Date: 2022-06-29
From: 864.0

To: 884.2
Miles today: 18.2
Weather: broken clouds

6-29I began the day at Rockfish Gap, the southern entry of Shenandoah National Park. I ended the day at a stealth campsite at mile marker 884.2 for a total of 19.9 miles. The weather was nice, not too hot or humid and the trail itself was in great shape.
Date: 2022-06-30
From: 884.2

To: Stealth Campsite
Miles today: 17.2
Weather: overcast clouds

June 30thMy second day in Shenandoah was another nice day and.productive. This day I continued camping in stealth sites. I began at 884.2 and ended at 901.4. I would liked to have gone further, but Shenandoah has particular rules about where you can camp, and.you have to be cognizant of where your next water source will be. I saw a few southbound day hikers, but again very few.people on the trail.
Date: 2022-07-01
From: Stealth Campsite

To: Bearfence Shelter
Miles today: 18.6
Weather: broken clouds

July 1stToday was a rarity for me. I actually slept in the Bearfence Shelter due to the possibility of rain. The starting point was 901.4, and the shelter was at 919.0 to make 18.6 miles for the day. The rain didn't happen and per usual for me in shelters I didn't sleep particularly well. Since April 23rd, our start date I have now see 0 bears and 0 rattlesnakes. Theoretically the Shenandoahs have plenty of bears but you couldn't prove it by me! I hiked about 1.5 miles with a day hiker who was carrying 30 pounds in anticipation of climbing Mount Katahdin in September. It was nice to have some company and conversation for a bit. He told me stories of some of the bears that he had seen and assured that I was about to enter bear haven. We'll see!
Date: 2022-07-02
From: Bearfence Shelter

To: Byrd's No 3 Shelter
Miles today: 22.2
Weather: scattered clouds

July 2ndToday was a long hike. I started at 919.0 and finished at Bird's No 3 at mile marker 941.2 for 22.2 miles. I was hiking at 6:30 am and finished at 6 pm. Again because of the possibility of rain I slept in the shelter. It seems to be turning into a bad habit! I attached a picture that I took this morning from an overlook that I thought was a picturesque view of northern Virginia.
Date: 2022-07-03
From: Byrd's No 3 Shelter

To: Gravel Springs Gap
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: overcast clouds

July 3rdThe 3rd was Sunday, and I had made arrangements for a shuttle driver to o pick me up at 5:30 pm at Gravel Springs Gap at mile marker 958.9. I needed to go to Mountain Home B&B to pick up my laptop that sent to me there to do work for a business client, to take me to the Front Royal, Virginia Wal-Mart, and finally to get me to the Super 8 for the night.On Monday the owner of Mountain Home picked me up where they had a private room available for me. She and her husband (also an owner) have a beautifully restored circa 1800's house. Lisa and Scott Jenkins are wonderful hosts, and Scott thru hiked the AT as a southbounder in 2012. Scott had a wealth of information to share about hiking the AT; Lisa prepared exquisite breakfast meals each day, so if you ever need a place to stay in Front Royal, Virginia you won't go wrong staying at their historic place. I attached 2 pictures from my stay there. One of Scott and Lisa and one of the front exterior of their house.
Date: 2022-07-05
From: Gravel Springs Gap

To: Mountain Home B&B Front Royal, VA
Miles today: 13.6
Weather: clear sky

July 5thOn the 4th I didn't hike as I was working for a client. On the 5th Scott fr I've me back south to Gravel Springs Gap to do the 13.6 miles back north to their B & B. The trail was smooth, not too rocky although I did hike in thunder showers for an hour and a half, but 5 hours of hiking had me back at their place for the night.
Date: 2022-07-06
From: Mountain Home B&B Front Royal, VA

To: Whiskey Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: broken clouds

July 6thThis day was hot and humid from the very start .I believe that the relative humidity was about 90%. But one important incident happened in my first hour. Finally, finally I saw a bear. Not for very long, but a bear indeed. He or she was off to my left in rhododendrons and quickly went further left. But the only animal that I know of in the Appalachians that's big and black is the black bear. I had no chance to get a picture of it though.Because of the water sources and the complete lack of tent sites I only went 14.8 miles to the Whiskey Hollow Shelter. This was a new, really nice double-decker. There was one gentleman there when I arrived, a southbound section hiker about my age. Given the heat and humidity of the day I was happy to call it a day there. I slept downstairs and for the first time ever got a good nights sleep in a shelter. I think that around 8 pm a young man going north came in but definitely did not interrupt my sleep.
Date: 2022-07-07
From: Whiskey Hollow Shelter

To: Bear's Den Hostel
Miles today: 18.2
Weather: few clouds

July 7thI began the day at mile marker 987.3 and finished at mile marker1005.5! An accountant With the trail name of Ninja Turtle who I met at Mountain Home got to the 1000 mile mark a bit before me and we each took pictures of the other to commemorate the accomplishments. He told me that he was carrying one can of beer in his backpack to celebrate that night at an Appalachian Trail Conservancy hostel that he would share with me. It would undoubtedly have been wrong for me to refuse his generosity so I acquiesed! The hostel was Bears Den. It seems like a lot of places on the AT have 'bear' in their names.This hostel provides beds, showers, laundry, pizza, and ice cream for $35. A satisfying end to what was another hot and humid day. This portion of the hike had most of what is known as the Roller Coaster aka PUDS or pointless ups and downs. They aren't switch backed but are rocky and long; pretty tiring on 67 year old legs. Scott from Mountain Home told me that a good way to get youngsters to never want to backpack was to make the Roller Coaster their first backpacking experience. I believe him!An additional note, the young man who arrived at Whiskey Hollow on the 6th arrived at Bear's Den an hour or two after me. He said that he was tired because he hiked 21.5 miles frm Whiskey Hollow. I hated to tell him but my FarOut app said 18.2 miles. He is a very considerate young man, apologizing if he woke us up the previous night. I assured him that that was not the case.
Date: 2022-07-08
From: Bear's Den Hostel

To: Church Hostel Hillsboro VA
Miles today: 14.3
Weather: light rain

July 8thThis was a day where I planned on getting close to Harper's Ferry, West Virginia. There is a church operated hostel called twelve tribes where I spent the night. They operate their hostel on a donation basis and provided a very nice fresh salmon dinner but their interpretation of the Bible doesn't align with mine. They say that they operate as a book of Acts community. They all live in common housing together and operate a farm, natural foods store, and tree service. They have multiple locations in the US and elsewhere, but God ordained the family and I wouldn't be comfortable with a family in a communal setting. In their sharing time before dinner they spoke of God the Father extensively but never mentioned Jesus. When I spoke at the end I asked why, and they said they did but called him a name something other than Jesus.For the day I finished at Keys Gap, mile marker 1019.8 for a pretty easy 14.3 mile day. For a while I have had real discomfort on my bottom left and right molars. It's perhaps due to eating too many energy bars for breakfasts and snacks, but after dinner the discomfort was sufficiently bad that I am making a quick trip home on Sunday the 10th to see my dentist. With a little luck I hope to be back on my way to the trail on Thursday. After visiting my with Ninja Turtle I am changing my plans up to flip flop the hike. I will drive to Maine and park my car in our garage at our Maine house. I'm going to take Maggie with me as well for some companionship. Hopefully she has 1170 miles in her.As always, I appreciate your thoughts and prayers!
Date: 2022-07-19
From: Off day

To: Off day
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

July 19thSo I will resume hiking tomorrow, Wednesday the 20th. Since I had to go home to see my dentist and recover from fevers I have changed to a flip flop hike. Maggie and I left Kansas early Saturday afternoon. She is at a pet resort tonight. After I summit Mt Katahdin tomorrow and hike out of Baxter State Park my hostel will deliver her to me. Dogs aren't allowed in the park.With a little luck we will do the 100 mile wilderness in 5 days, 6 maximum if Maggie is up to it. I will try to post at Monson, Maine. Until then!
Date: 2022-05-14
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Sitting in a very nice AirBnb in Waynesboro, VA just outside of the southern entrance to Shenandoah National Park relaxing and enjoying the calm after the whirlwind week getting ready to depart. My wife threw a major cog in the works, needing surgery for a broken bone in her hand earlier this week (really). Some people will pull out all the stop to get you from leaving. In all seriousness, she has been amazingly supportive of me (although I'm pretty sure she things I'm nuts) and I wouldn't be sitting hear about to depart without her support and blessing. Unfortunately this means the final shakedown hike was cancelled and I am now violating one of the prime directives - don't depart with gear you haven't used yet. Fortunately they are summer versions (not as warm) of gear that I have already used.I think that I have all the gear dialed in (at least until I am out there for a couple weeks) except for the camp shoes. Still wavering on which ones to bring.Excited, nervous, and ready to start all rolled into one.Just over 12 hours left...
Date: 2022-05-15
From: Rockfish Gap, VA

To: Calf Mountain Shelter 
Miles today: 7.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Started my Appalachian Trail Flip Flop Thru Hike today from Rockfish Gap at the southern end of Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. I¢ll be hiking north to the end at Mt Katadinnin Maine and then getting picked up and driven back to Rockfish Gap where I¢ll hike south to Springer Mt in Georgia. With my wife still recovering from surgery to repair a broken bone in here hand my parents came down too so they could drive her back home. We kicked off the morning at the Waffle House next to the hotel for a send off waffle. Afterwards we headed down to the nondescript Rockfish Gap sign I picked as the starting point. Moderately rolling terrain today with no big climbs. Not many great views but the ones that I had were beautiful albeit hazy. Not too hot but definitely muggy. No listed water sources today from the start to camp although there was the occasional runoff stream from the weather earlier in the weoo. An afternoon Tstorm rolled through just after I got the tent setup. Passed by 5 other Thru Hikers and there are 5 here at the shelter including one that passed me. Beaver Chew had the honor of being the first hiker that passed me. Overall was a good first day and I¢m glad to finally be out here. Feet are doing fine and generally nothing is sore. I did switch to the sandals at the last minute and that was a good choice. Trying to start slow but looks like maybe limited water again tomorrow.  So might need to go to the next shelter about 13 miles away. Steps: 18300
Date: 2022-05-16
From: Calf Mountain Shelter 

To: Blackrock Hut
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Slept OK but it was bright all night with the full moon and the sun rises early when you are in a tent. Got about 5 continuous hours then on and off till I got up. Ate breakfast at the shelter as there was convenient water and was second to last one out at 7:50. Water about mile 2 and then dry to the campsite so was carrying 4l to start which feels significantly heavier. Overcast morning with the occasional brief drizzle which cleared up min day. Not many views today but the flowers were beautiful. Rhododendron and Mt Laurel are just starting to bloom. There weren¢t many yesterday but lots today made up for lack of views. Trail is pretty good with more dirt trails than rocky trails which let¢s you look around more. Ate better today than yesterday. Was actually a bit hungry today although probably still didn¢t eat enough. Body holding up well. Still feeling good despite the heavier pack longer day. Started feeling a hot spot on left heel mid day so now sporting some lukotape. Hiked with Sparkles (both), Whoopie and Buckeye a bunch and leapfrogged a trio of section hikers that started same time as me. Site is packed tonight with at least 15 thru hikers and a dozen section hikers. They got hit with some afternoon downpours which I managed to avoid. All in all a good day. Looks like another 13 tomorrow Steps 27700Weather forecast 76/51