morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2019-06-21
From: Inn at Long Trail

To: Glendon Shelter
Miles today: 17.0

June 21, 2019Mancherster, VTInn at Long Trail to Clarendon Shelter17 miles.     This morning I left the Inn at Long Trail and hiked over Killington Peak in a light foggy mist. It slowly started clearing a short time later and the afternoon was beautiful as I hiked over Mendon Peak and Shrewsbury Peak to Clarendon Shelter.  The trail had a bunch of short sections that were mud ruts with no place to go but to walk straight through them. No Big Deal. I saw about 20 northbound hikers today and a few at the shelter. They are a mix of AT thru-hikers, Long Trail hikers, and a few weekend hikers.I cooked my dinner at the shelter and then set my tent up on a nice spot in the trees away from the shelter.    More Soon,Shilohhttp://www.facebook.com/wes.ri...See my AT 2019 Photos at:https://photos.app.goo.gl/qUmy...
Date: 2019-06-22
From: Glendon Shelter

To: Big Branch Shelter
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: few clouds

June 22, 2019Clarendon Shelter to Big Branch Shelter.17 miles    I slept like a rock last night. I made breakfast and got on the trail about 7:00 am. There is a road crossing about a 1.5 miles up the trail where the very popular Loretta's Good Food Deli is just .9 down the road.I got to the road crossing and walked to Lorretta's with visions of hot coffee and breakfast sandwich, and a meat ball sandwich to take with me for dinner. I got there at 8:00 am only to discover she doesn't open until 10:00am on Saturdays.Bummer !!!I hitched a ride back to the trailhead with a nice older couple of hikers.As I got out of the car they gave me trail mix bars and boxes of little jelly beans.Not exactly what I had hoped for this morning, but it was good Trail Magic anyways.I hiked through Clarendon Gorge, then up past Airport Lookout, Domed Ledge, White Rocks, and the Rock Garden.The Rock Garden is actually a couple of spots along the trail where over the years locals have piled dozens of the sandy colored stones into interesting cairn type figures.The trail down the mountain from White Rocks to Little Rock Pond is especially muddy. From there it is a short hike to the aptly named Big Brook River and the Big Shelter.I ate dinner at the shelter with four nobo section hikers then set my tent up a ways away down by the river.More Soon,Shilohhttp://www.facebook.com/wes.ri...See my AT 2019 Photos at:https://photos.app.goo.gl/qUmy...
Date: 2019-06-23
From: Big Branch Shelter

To: Manchester, VT
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: clear sky

. June 23, 2019Big Branch Shelter to VT Rt 11/30 Manchester, VT16 miles   I got up at 4:30 am, had a quick breakfast and got on the trail before 6:00 am in hopes of getting to Manchester by dinner time.I hiked up and over Baker Peak, down along Griffiths Lake, then up and over Peru Peak, Styles Peak, down and across Mad Tom Road, then up and over Bromley Mountain to the Rt 11/30 trailhead to Manchester.Again I passed about about 18 nobo hikers.On top of Baker Peak this morning I met hiker FLYBY who also hiked the PCT in 2016, and she did the CDT last year. I did not met her on either trail, but we have many mutual hiker friends from both trails. FLYBY told me one of my German friends from both trails FLOWERMAN is on the AT this year.She didn't know exactly where he is behind her, but she has his text number and sent him a message to keep and eye out for me coming his way. FLOWERMAN and I started the PCT on the same day and saw each other many times along the trail. I ran into him on the CDT last year as I was hiking south of the Chinese Wall in Montana.Chances are we will meet again on this trail sometime soon.Today several nobo hikers told me some people had set up Trail Magic Beef Stew, fruit, and baked goods at Mad Tom Road.D'hooo. The Trail Magic was over and gone by the time I got there late this afternoon.Double Bummer !!!Not to worry. I got to Rt 11/30 about 4:30pm, quickly got a hitch to the Manchester Econolodge, showered and changed, and had an Awesome Prime Rib dinner and beer at the Ravens Den Steakhouse and Tap Room. YUM.Tomorrow I will go into town to do laundry, get food at the Price Chopper, and relax by the motel pool.Tueday morning I will get back on trail for the 55 mile trek to Willistown/North Adams, Massachusetts. I should be there on Friday.More Soon,Shilohhttp://www.facebook.com/wes.ri...See my AT 2019 Photos at:https://photos.app.goo.gl/qUmy...
Date: 2019-07-11
From: Great Barrington, MA

To: Bear Mountain, NY
Miles today: 118.0
Weather: few clouds

July 11, 2019This week I hiked from Great Barrington, MA to Fort Montgomery/Bear Mountain, NY. 118 Miles(See Photos link below)      Yesterday I hiked across the Bear Mountain Bridge over the Hudson River in New York still feeling great both physically and mentally. My original plan was to do a fast paced 723 mile hike between Hanover, NH and Harpers Ferry West Virginia in six weeks, finishing about August 1st.Since I am not on a serious quest to complete a "thru-hike" this time, I switched mental gears from doing a fast paced 20+ miles per day trek to a northern or southern terminus, to a more relaxed 15 (+/-) miles per day pleasure cruise.I still plan to hike into Harpers Ferry, WV about August 1st, so yesterday I got an Uber to take me about 100 miles down the trail to Delaware Water Gap, PA.This will give me about 21 days to hike another 260 comfortable miles to Harpers Ferry.Doing 600 miles on the AT this year is not the same as completing the last 1,400 miles of the CDT for my Triple Crown. This past week I did have serious thoughts about going back out to Colorado or Wyoming to at least get a few hundred more miles of the CDT completed:But - I have happily come to fully accept that the East Coast is where I need to be this summer, and the 200 miles I did in Wyoming, plus these 600 AT miles will satisfy my inner long distance yearnings for this year.This past week is been a long, mostly hot and humid trek from Great Barrinton, MA to Bear Mountain, NY.I am still running into a steady flow of northbound thru-hikers, including four hikers I know from other trails. A few nights ago I camped at Wiley Shelter with Mama Lion and her 12 y/o son Boone, who I met on the PCT in Oregon and Washington, and Flowerman from Germany who I know from both the PCT and the CDT. The next morning I passed Lonesome Larry who I first met on the CDT in Montana last year.Right now I am in a motel in Stroudsburg, PA getting ready to get back on trail tomorrow morning. Today I walked to Walmart to get food and some small stuff I need for the next section of this hike, and I did some much needed repairs to my backpack.It looks like my next resupply stop will be in Hamburg, PA about 75 miles down trail.I should be there about next Tuesday.More Soon,Shilohhttp://www.facebook.com/wes.ri...See my AT 2019 Photos at:https://photos.app.goo.gl/qUmy...
Date: 2019-07-18
From: Delaware Water Gap, PA

To: Pine Grove, PA
Miles today: 102.0
Weather: overcast clouds

. July 18, 2019   Pine Grove, PA102 miles.    (See PHOTOS link below)I hiked to the Pine Grove trailhead yesterday afternoon hot, tired, and stanky and quickly got a ride to the cool air conditioned Comfort Inn.I guess much of the East is in the middle of a major heat wave, so this past week has been Very Hot and Humid. Fortunately hiking in the shade of the Long Green Tunnel was a bit cooler, but still the humidity zaps your energy, especially on the steep up hills, and I and my clothes were continually hot, damp and sticky. I guess it will be more of the same this coming week or so.Pennsylvania is known as "Rocksylvania" by hikers for good reason. The entire AT is somewhat rocky, but here there are long sections of trail that are nothing but rocky ankle twisting walk ways and sections of huge hand over hand boulder piles.I am not in a big hurry so the rocks aren't as annoying to me as they are to those trying to make big miles. To be fair PA also has many long sections of gently rolling less rocky trail.I am still passing some northbound thru hikers but not as many as before. I have yet to see any bears or even hear about bear sightings from other hikers. When I hiked through here 11 years ago I saw several bears in PA and would regularly hear them near my tent at night.I am getting back on trail this morning all fresh and showered with freshly washed clothes, but I am sure within a few minutes of hiking in the heat and humidity I will quickly revert back to a damp sticky hiking mode.The next trail town is Duncannon, PA about 45 miles down the trail. The trail goes straight through town so I will probably just stop and get a good meal then hike on.With the heat and rocks I am in no hurry so I should be there about Saturday. Shilohhttp://www.facebook.com/wes.ri...See my AT 2019 Photos at:https://photos.app.goo.gl/qUmy...
Date: 2019-07-20
From: Pine Grove, PA

To: Duncannon, PA
Miles today: 43.0

. July 20, 2019Duncannon, PA42 miles.        I hiked into the the mill town of Duncannon, PA Very Hot and Stanky.This past week or so has been hot and humid, but its clear today and tomorrow are going to be the worst of the current major east coast Heat Wave.As I said before, hiking in the shade of the Long Green Tunnel is a bit cooler, but still the humidity zaps your energy and it gets noticibly harder to breath when you pass through the occasional spots where the air is dead still.There were a few streams where I was able to rinse out my shirt, rinse some of the sweat off my body, and start hiking wearing the cool damp shirt, but everything soon just gets hot, damp and stanky again.The trail is getting much less rocky with long sections of mostly straight, gently rolling ridge running. There will always be some steep dips down to river valleys and low mountain passes and up the other side, but these are not as difficult as those up in the Northeast.I am a bit suprised at the large number of northbound thru-hikers I am passing on the trail and those here in Duncannon.They all know that they are at the end of the window to reasonably do a compete nobo thru-hike to Katahdin, so it's interesting how they now seem to be falling into distinct two categories:1.) Those that are clearly determined to push 18-20 plus miles per day to get there before the end of September.2.) Those who talk vaguely about "trying" to get there by mid-October, and mention they have been taking a lot of Zero Mile Days.We all have to Hike Are Own Hike. I wish them all Good Luck and a Safe Journey.Regarding my hike, I am really enjoying my Pleasure Cruise to Harpers Ferry. By going at a slower more comfortable pace I am feeling physically and mentally stronger and healthier than I ever have.I am only about 123 miles from Harpers Ferry which means I only need to average an easy 12 miles per day.With the current Heat Wave (95+ temp / 110+ heat index) and not being on a tight deadline I booked a nice air conditioned motel room just outside Duncannon for tonight and tomorrow night. The temperature is expected to drop back down to the mid-80's on Monday so I will get back on trail then.For this last section I will be passing near and through a number of towns and campgrounds (convenience stores, supermarkets, resturants, diners, etc.) which means I won't need to carry much food weight.Right now I am not planning any extended town stops before Harpers Ferry, but I will try to do one more update before I get there.Best,Shilohhttp://www.facebook.com/wes.ri...See my AT 2019 Photos at:https://photos.app.goo.gl/qUmy...
Date: 2019-07-29
From: Duncannon, PA

To: Harpers Ferry, WV
Miles today: 123.0

July 29, 2019Harpers Ferry, WV123.5 miles      Hiking on to Front Royal, VA   I hiked into the beautiful historic village of Harpers Ferry after a very enjoyable seven and a half day hike from Duncannon.The weather was mostly hot, but the PA rocks weren't as bad as farther north, there weren't as many difficult ups and downs, and I met a few very nice hikers along the way.I tried to do just 10-12 miles a day for the first few days but the trail is so much easier now I couldn't hold back any longer. The past few days I did 18's to 20's per day. Yesterday I did 24 miles.My plan was to arrive here in HF on August 1st so I guess I should have just jumped 50 miles and not a hundred miles from Bear Mountain, NY (Oooops)No Worries. Tomorrow morning I am getting back on trail for the 45 mile, three day hike on down to Front Royal, VA and end this trek there.Recap of this past week.From Duncannon I hiked past Carlisle, PA where I made a quick side trip .4 miles off trail to a diner for breakfast.I hiked through Boiling Springs, PA where I got a shower at the community pool.I hiked through Pine Grove Furnace where I got another shower at the lakeside comfort station, stopped at the Appalachian Trail Museum, and got lunch and a to go sandwich for dinner at the Pine Grove Furnace Store.I hiked through Caledonia State Park and tented by a stream just past Old Forge Park.I crossed into Maryland at Pen Mar State Park, hiked a few miles to the Smithsburg, MD trailhead where I got an Uber to take me to the local Dollar General to resupply my food bag. I bought a roast beef sandwich to go at the market next door and another Uber took me right back to the trail.Yesterday I hiked past the Maryland Washington Monument, past Dalgren Campground and Gathland State Park and tented near a shelter about six miles from Harpers Ferry.This morning I hiked into the village and got a great breakfast sandwich and coffee in the village.I then stopped in to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy Headquarters here in town.I hung out there with some other hikers for a while and had my photo taken in front of the building as every short and long distance hiker does when they pass through town.The photos go into albums that the ATC puts together every year and keeps them in the Hiker Lounge for all to see. My photo from my 2008 thru-hike is in the Class of 2008 photo album there in the lounge. I am staying at the Quality Inn tonight to clean up and do laundry, then back on trail first thing in the morning.I know this section very well, so it will be like hiking home.I will post my final entry and photos when I get there.Best,Shilohhttp://www.facebook.com/wes.ri...See my AT 2019 Photos at:https://photos.app.goo.gl/qUmy...
Date: 2019-08-01
From: Harpers Ferry, WV

To: Front Royal, VA
Miles today: 45.0

August 1, 2019Front Royal, VA45 miles   Hanover, NH to Front Royal, VA Hike Completed    I finished the fairly easy 45 miles from Harpers Ferry to the Rt 55 Linden/Front Royal trail head this morning feeling Great physically, and a little sad that this is the end of my long distance hiking treks for this year.As I said in an earlier post it's not the same as completing the Continental Divide Trail, but I am very happy with the 839 total CDT and AT miles I hiked over the past few months.I hope to finish the CDT for my Triple Crown next year, but I am not going to make any final plans until late May or early June to see how much snow the San Juans of Colorado and Winds Mountains of Wyoming get.If they get a much above average snow then I guess I will look at some other long trail such as the 1,175 mile Mountains to the Sea Trail in North Carolina.In the meantime I plan to do a lot of short hiking and backpacking trips, plus many cycling and kayaking adventures.Best,Shilohhttp://www.facebook.com/wes.ri...See my AT 2019 Photos at:https://photos.app.goo.gl/qUmy...
Date: 2019-03-28
To: Roanoke VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

I¢m back in Roanoke to pick up where I came off in 2015. I¢m looking to do another few month stretch before Emily gets done teaching for the year. The past 4 years have been fun, but more and more I wanted to be back out to give it another try. Being in Roanoke is a bit surreal. I checked a bag on the plane, the same one I bought 4 years ago to carry my stuff home. It will be donated to the hotel tomorrow. I needed to buy stove fuel; there is an outdoor shop nearby that I didn¢t need before. In Walmart buying groceries instead of the duffel bag. I bought way too much food; about half will be left behind; no sense in carrying 12,000 calories for 3 easy days. The hotel room gear explosion is all too familiar. My pack base weight at 25 lbs is almost exactly where I started 4 years ago. New tent, sleeping quilt, and sleeping pad. More bulky but less weight so my pack seems over full. Not sure where I¢m adding the weight other than a larger battery pack. I suspect I will shed a few pounds over the next few weeks, not including body fat. I¢m excited and apprehensive at the same time. I know there will be figurative highs and lows and I know how low the lows can be. This stretch I want to focus less on the towns. I¢m not going to pass up an opportunity to get clean and fed but don¢t want to always be searching for the next stop. I also want to enjoy the social aspect a bit more. If I can slow down or speed up to spend time with other hikers I am going to do so. Since I¢m coming off around Memorial Day I also don¢t want to focus too much on the miles. I¢m going to try to avoid thinking of how far I get but rather that I have about 60 days to make the most of. Tomorrow I go back to near Trents Grocery and begin a 3 day 27 mile stretch. I¢ll take 3 days to ease back into it and also to get 2 nights out for a gear shakedown.
Date: 2019-03-29
From: TrentÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Grocery (ish)

To: Ridgeline Stealth Campsite
Miles today: 10.6

I was up in Roanoke early this morning with my usual hiker impatience. I got packed up and called for an Uber at around 8am. About 9:30 he dropped me off at the road crossing near Trents Grocery. A few pack adjustments and I¢m off. A little bit of steeper uphill and then the trail was mostly easy uphill. I could feel the weight of my pack but overall felt pretty good. A mile or so in I took the side trail to see Dismal Falls. It would have been a nice place to camp or have lunch but not 30 min into my day. After another 6-7 miles I came to Wapiti Shelter and stopped for lunch. The first hiker I met was a southbounder from Boulder. He had picked up the trail in Pearisburg and was on his second day back. We talked a lot about mountains; he had done Aconcagua as well. We talked of easing back into miles but his easy was about 12 miles and I was figuring 8-9. That would give me 3 similar days to Pearisburg. As he walked on I looked at my watch. 2 pm is an early time to quit and I didn¢t particularly want a big uphill to start day two. Shouldering my pack I walked up the steeper trail. About a mile into it I stopped at a spring and filled and carried water the rest of the way to the dry ridgeline. Heavy end to day 1. I set up camp on the ridgeline, ate some food and still had about 3-4 hrs until dark. Overnight I slept warm. I hope my quilt isn¢t too warm for the trip. Other than that, all is well.
Date: 2019-03-30
From: Ridgeline Stealth Campsite

To: Stealth Campsite
Miles today: 12.8

As mentioned, I slept pretty well on my first night out. A few raindrops but the tent was dry when I packed up. I was probably walking by about 8 am. Not surprisingly the trail on the ridge was pretty rocky and I couldn¢t get a good pace going.About 5 miles into my day I met my first northbounder Flash. He had started 35 days ago so was putting in big days. He was headed to Woods Hole Hostel and I pressed on. Around lunchtime I arrived at Docs Knob Shelter, my original stopping point for the day. Only seven miles in though so this would only be a lunch stop. At the shelter were Sharpie and Whip. They maintain the section of trail that included this fabulous shelter. It was a shame I wasn¢t staying. Benches, chairs on a deck. They even gave me a Mtn Dew as my first bit of trail magic. After lunch and conversation I moved on. Steady down and steady up for then next 5-6 miles. I passed a popular overlook and saw quite a few day hikers out. Just beyond there I set up camp next to a spring. Shortly the Honeymoon Hikers showed up. We chatted over dinner about all the trails they have done; at the end of this hike she should have the record for most AT thru hikes for a woman. Overnight it rained and got damp and cold. I was still plenty if not too warm in my bag.
Date: 2019-03-31
From: Stealth Campsite

To: Pearisburg- Narrows Road
Miles today: 3.5

Town days are usually interesting. You want to get clean, do laundry, resupply, eat, rest. Sometimes that is easy And sometimes you think you are working harder than the trail. So if possible, I prefer an easy day (short miles) into town. Given where I camped last night, today would be an easy day. It rained pretty hard last night so I lounged in my tent until about 8am. Packed up the wet tent, ate a Snickers and took off. A bit of easy uphill then down to town on a great trail. I got to Cross St and took a right to the motel after about 0.7 miles of downhill road walking that don¢t count as AT miles. I¢m staying at the same motel as I did 4 years ago. They do your laundry and the store is right across the street so easy town chores. Tomorrow starts a stretch where I need to be diligent about my progress. I started to think about the uphill walk back to the trail, so grabbed a bottle of water and walked back to the trail, went another mile or so along the AT to Narrows Road and then back uphill to the motel. A 3 mile round trip to save 1 trail mile tomorrow and to walk downhill back to the trail instead of uphill. With a full pack loaded with 5 days of food, hopefully that will let me push a bit farther tomorrow which will help with my next stretch, a 68 mile section I hope to do in 5 days. I have to climb about 2,000¢ tomorrow am. I hope my stroll today makes that a bit easier.
Date: 2019-04-01
From: Pearisburg- Narrows Road

To: Pine Swamp Branch Shelter
Miles today: 19.3
Weather: clear sky

Note:  I¢m writing this a bit ahead. I¢m in Daleville with a sprained ankle. Resting up to see if I can continue. I know that the folks who started in GA have had it worse but it was chilly starting out this morning. Probably in the upper 20s. I was glad for the easy downhill start as I could warm up without sweating which would ultimately make me colder. After a bit through the woods I walked across a bridge and past a chemical plant and then began a fairly long uphill stretch gaining about 1500¢. The trail was gentle and steady which I like and I popped out at the Rice Field Shelter for an early lunch. Soon after the Honeymoon Hikers showed up and joined me. After the snack we walked along a ridge which forms part of the VA/WV border for about 10 miles. Great cool weather and great views to both sides  I had intended to camp on the ridge but the HH encouraged me to walk down to the next shelter and camp with them. So what was to be a 15 mile day turned into a 19 mile day. Not counting the mile back to the trail  We arrived at the Shelter and I set up my tent next to the HH. Had oatmeal for dinner and then went to sleep quick. Coming down from the ridge could have been when I sprained my ankle although it didn¢t start hurting till the next day.