morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-04-25
From: Davis Farm campsite

To: Helvey's Mill shelter
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: broken clouds

I began hiking again before dawn but broke the day in two with a quick stop in Bland, Va., for more stove fuel that I forgot to get in Marion. Make a list, Jerry, make a list! As I was walking the 3 miles to Bland a SUV rolled along side and the driver asked me if I wanted a ride into town. "You betcha." Sharon often picks up hikers, says the kids learn a lot from us. Crowded in the SUV where two infants and one of Sharon's older sons lodged in between them in the back seat. He had given up the front seat for me. The rear was packed with recyclables.Sharon has 23 children. Yes, twenty-three. She and her husband own the Rosebriar farm and besides all those kids have 20 horses (down from 36), a small herd of cows, a half dozen llamas, a few donkeys, dogs, geese and chickens. The llamas and donkeys, she reports, are very agressive towards the coyotes and keep them away from the foals and calves. Many of the horses and dogs and other animals are 'rescues', abandoned or no longer wanted by their owners. The same is true of the children. Nine are from Russia (or its former satellites). Most were adopted by well-intentioned Americans, and later abandoned because of their huge needs. Most have attachment syndrome (no adult bonding while orphaned), some are fetal alcohol babies, all are now loved unconditionally.Until recently, Sharon homeschooled them all. Many are young adults now and are giving her a new set of problems. Her 20 year old 'son' just eloped with her 18 year old 'daughter', for example. All I have to worry about is what's for dinner.Sharon, this one's for you.
Date: 2008-04-26
From: Helvey's Mill shelter

To: Trent's Groceries, Va 606
Miles today: 17.8

Today's hike included a ten-mile stretch without any water available along the trail, and it was HOT. The temperature rose to 85 degrees and with few leaves on the trees yet there was little shade.About midday along the trail I spotted a Morel mushroom, one of the tastiest. I have collected Morels in Oregon and Michigan during the Spring. I looked for more but found none. One will have to do.For $5 I hung my hammock behind Trent's grocery store along side a pleasant creek. The $5 included a hot shower and free laundry. The real lure, however, was hot pizza and cold beer. I had the camp to myself.The store was interesting. They carried 10 different kinds of turkey call gadgets including the "horny hen" and the "greedy gobbler". Evidently, wild turkies have quite a vocabulary.
Date: 2008-04-27
From: Trent's Groceries, Va 606

To: Pearisburg, VA
Miles today: 24.3
Weather: overcast clouds

The town of Pearisburg, Va, is the tradional place where hikers send home their heavy winter gear. The mountains north of here are not as tall as those to the south and Winter storms are giving way to Spring showers.For a long time we will be hiking the ridges that run parallel to the Blue Ridge Parkway and eventually hike on the Skyline Drive itself.With a town in sight and the promise of a warm bed, hot shower, and town atmosphere, I high stepped it early and often. About two O'clock and 8 miles from town "Cricket" and I again bumped into one another. We've been leap-frogging each other since Georgia.We decided to share a motel room together for the company. Afterburners ignited we flew the last few miles. The last 1.7 miles was a 2000 foot descent off of Angel's Rest, a granite overlook high above Pearisburg. When we got to Angel's Rest the Thunderclouds dumped a week's worth of rain on us. We slid, and slipped, and shivered along the steep muddy trail into town. I wouldn't have rented us a motel room. We looked that bad. But it's a hiker's town.
Date: 2008-04-29
From: Pearisburg, VA

To: Unknown campsite
Miles today: 16.8

Cold air followed the weather front and its thundershowers into Pearisburg. Cricket and I headed north into a brisk cold wind. Yesterday the storms spawned three tornadoes east of here and tonight a freeze warning is in effect. Pick the weather you want.We left town with a typical hiker's breakfast in our bellies. The picture is Cricket's breakfast: Two biscuits with sausage gravy, french toast, bacon, eggs over easy, and hot coffee. I absorb additional calories watching him eat. Our next goal is Catawba, 75 miles away, and the hiker-famous Homeplace restaurant. Eat, eat, eat.
Date: 2008-04-30
From: Unknown campsite

To: campsite near Warspur shelter
Miles today: 16.5

The cold, cold air poured into the mountains. I hope it's the last real cold spell of the year. A little snow is expected overnight.I crossed paths with two section hikers, Tom and Buck. Each year they hike north on the trail for about 40 days. For that reason Buck is sometimes called Noah. I hope it don't rain. Tom and Buck are from the Upper OPeninsula of Michigan, my birth state. Their regional accent is pure Canadian, ehhhh, hoser? Both are very funny guys.I found out it is opening day of trout season here in Virginia and every decent-sized stream is crowded with anglers of all ages. In particular, Stony Creek near Cherokee Flats was just stocked with hatchery trout, easy pickins'. After I had eaten an early dinner several local fisherman gave me two of their catch. They even filleted them to fit in my small skillet. Now that's good eating.
Date: 2008-05-01
From: campsite near Warspur shelter

To: Cabin Branch campsite
Miles today: 21.2

A cool and very pleasant day to be out hiking. This time of year the air warms up quickly after a cool morning.I stopped and talked a while with five southbound thruhikers. Four women and a dog, Tigger, roo, rabbit, and owl. If you hike south from Katahdin in Maine, then I wouldn't expect to see you this far south until late summer but they're doing it smart.They started at the halfway point near Harper's Ferry in March (not too cold) and will hike to Springer mountain, Georgia. Around mid June they fly north to Maine and hike from Mount Katahdin back to Harper's Ferry. This way they avoid the biting black flies in Maine and spend the hottest months in the high mountains of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. Smart ladies.I'm thinking of doing something like that when the heat arrives.Met Cricket again and we shared a nice fire at a remote campsite.
Date: 2008-05-02
From: Cabin Branch campsite

To: Lost Spectacles Gap
Miles today: 17.1

The mountains of Appalachia are not isolated cones like a volcano but are long ridges often very narrow at the top. These ridges can be tens of miles long and run predominately north-to-south. Today the trail headed east across one ridge, down to a valley and up another ridge. I went from Sinking creek valley to Craig creek valley to Trout creek valley. Along the way I passed the Keffer oak tree, the largest oak along the southern part of the trail. It's 300 years old and 18 feet in circumference. It's acorns are the usual size.In 1971 Audie Murphy crashed his plane here so they built a monument for him on the trail.My destination, Lost Spectacles creek, is so named because the trailblazer lost his glasses here.
Date: 2008-05-03
From: Lost Spectacles Gap

To: Catawba, Virginia
Miles today: 9.2

A relatively short hike over the ragged and often steep Dragon's Tooth brought me to the promise land, Catawba, Va. It is here that you find the trail-famous Homeplace restaurant. It did not disappoint. Ham, chicken, roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy, biscuits and apple butter, green beans and baked beans, cole slaw, corn, peas, sweet tea and lemonade, blueberry cobbler and icecream...Spent the night with a small crowd behind the general store. Everybody but me slept in an old exercise room behing the store. I hung my hammock from the rafters holding up the tractor shed. No rain fell on any of us.I shared the space with some new northbound speed hikers trying to finish by August 1. They all have schools to go back to. There was LT, T-Bird, DirtyHarry, and LightFoot. That's them in the picture burning off some extra energy with a game of Hackysack. I'm layin' down.
Date: 2008-05-04
From: Catawba, Virginia

To: Lambert's meadow campsite
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: clear sky

I hiked most of the day alone except for a brief visit with LT. Evidently, he drank some bad water from a small creek that ran through a cow pasture. He doesn't treat his water and now he's paying the price, a body numbing diarhia.The good news is I had someone to take my picture at McAfee's Knob, the most photographed landmark on the trail (next to the finish at Katahdin, of course). From the knob you can see a hundred miles to the west, north, and east. I can read the writing on the runways at Roanoke airport and see many high peaks to the north that I'll probably have to climb, sigh.I saw a pretty lake/reservoir to the east and decided to bushwack down from the ridge and go its way for a change. There were wonderfully cool and quiet pine forests down below and many fast running streams. I slept beside one of them and slept well 'til a Whipperwill pestered me. The noise they make is not at all gentle and birdlike.
Date: 2008-05-05
From: Lambert's meadow campsite

To: Daleville, Va
Miles today: 9.1
Weather: scattered clouds

A short hike brought me to the intersection of Interstate 81, highway 220, and 11. There really isn't a town here but there is a shopping mall, many motels, truck stops and restaurants. It is hiker-resupply heaven.I'm at the Howard Johnson Motel for the night. There is no hurry to do my shopping, the Krogers is open 24 hours. Hikers like to go up and down the isles slowly, dreaming.Many familiar faces are here including Cricket, the UPers Tom and Buck, the fast kids, LT, T-bird, LightFoot, knuckles and some I don't know.I bought a new compass and a trail map at the outfitters in the mall. I enjoyed my bushwack the other day so much that I'm going to do some more. It adds a small element of adventure, the unknown, to an otherwise routine hike. Maybe I'll even get lost.
Date: 2008-05-06
From: Daleville, Va

To: Song bird refuge
Miles today: 9.7

I left the cozy Howard Johnson's motel a little before noon, the weather was delightful. I hiked out of "town" for a bit on "route 76", the transcontinental Centenial bicycle trail that traverses the country from Virginia to Oregon. Then back to the A.T.Since the "town" is in a valley, the trail crosses many farm pastures as it winds its way up to the high ridge. The pasture crossings require the hiker to climb up and down many stiles, a rickety ladder-like device for getting over the many barb-wire fences. The first one is easy, the seventh one is a thousand feet high.Around 4PM I got a text message from my brother Byron that he is now a granddaddy, oh my! His son Max now has a son, Sam Hai Max Rieper. Everbody say "Hi Sam, welcome."I stealth camped in a song bird sanctuary that had hundreds of bird feeders scattered about to attract the birds. Their evening songs were much more pleasant than that whipoorwill the other night.Tonight, while making dinner, I set my pocket knife and spoon on fire. Don't ask. My dilemna was which to save first? I went for the spoon. I can still fend off bears with my fingernail clippers if I have to. I hope you never have to make this decision.
Date: 2008-05-07
From: Song bird refuge

To: Wattstull motel, Buchanan, Va.
Miles today: 22.3

A long hike today as I'm racing some impending storms arriving ahead of a cold front. It is Spring.I'm currently very weary and lonesome out on the trail. I seldom see any of my hiking "family" anymore as attrition and differing paces thin out the crowd. Staying at a motel in town improves my morale considerably. Particularly if there is a library and tavern in town. I don't know which is more important. Unfortunately, tonight's motel is near neither.I had to cross the James river today on a long and very old suspension foot bridge. I almost swam instead.
Date: 2008-05-08
From: Wattstull motel, Buchanan, Va.

To: Glasgow, Va.
Miles today: 20.9
Weather: overcast clouds

The serious storms have been rescheduled for tonight although we had light rain last night as an appetizer. I didn't care, I was indoors.The trail often crosses forest and country roads. Today, as the trail crossed a blacktop road busy enough to warrant the hard surface, I noticed a curious migration. On the south side of the road were hundreds of Gypsy caterpillars inching their way across. On the north side were an equal quantity of snails sliming their way to the south side. There was carnage in the middle as neither species was very successful against the traffic. Life is so strange.From the picture you can see that I need a new pair of plastic shoes. I bought a new pair of imitation Crocs at the Dollar General store for $6. In summary, my first pair of Crocs cost $25 and lasted 500 miles, the second pair of knockoffs cost $12 and lasted 250 miles. If the $6 pair last 125 miles, then we have a definite linear relationship between price and mileage. I can't let the math go.
Date: 2008-05-09
From: Glasgow, Va.

To: Hog Camp gap
Miles today: 19.1
Weather: broken clouds

I didn't mention it at the time in order to avoid any unnecessary concern but several days ago on the trail there were several attempted murders. Twenty years ago a man killed two thruhikers on the A.T. just outside of Pearisburg, Va. He buried the bodies in a shallow grave but was eventually caught and spent 15 years in prison.Two days ago the same man shot several fishermen (remember opening trout season). The victims, in critical care, were camped near the trail close to the Trent Grocery store where I had spent the night by myself. This occurred several days after I hiked through.The state police declared 25 miles of the trail as a crime scene and closed it for several days. I'm glad I was already through the area but it means my hiking family behind me will be even further behind. None of the hikers I've talked to about the shootings are too concerned. It's a long trail.Two wannabe thruhikers gave me a ride back to the trailhead. That's them in the picture, TwoPack and SlackPack. Guess who carries whose pack from time to time.It rained tonight from 6 to 7 PM, paused while I made dinner, and came back with a vengeance around midnight. A strong gust of wind dislodged my hammock tarp and my sleeping bag got wet during the reconstruction. STOP RAINING! At least it did stop by morning. Tomorrow I'm going to spend the night at the Dutch Haus B&B and let everything dry out.
Date: 2008-05-10
From: Hog Camp gap

To: Dutch Haus, Montebello, Va.
Miles today: 16.7

Lois picked me up at the trailhead and drove me back to the Dutch Haus owned by her and Earl. If you don't have Verizon as your wireless carrier then evidently you have to walk these two miles. I have Verizon.The Dutch Haus is in the middle of nowhere but it is wonderful. My favorite stay so far. It is a huge modern log cabin with some additional log out buildings. For $30 you get a room and a delicious home-cooked breakfast. I tossed 'em another $12 for dinner. Good eatin'.A sign in the large living area claims that us northbounders have passed 21106 white blazes painted on trees and rocks since Springer mountain, but who's counting?Among the guests were 6-iron and CastIron. 6-iron has won six ironwoman triathlons in her age group (fiftyish). Hiking is easy for her. Also present were Don and Ed, a 75 year old section hiker.
Date: 2008-05-11
From: Dutch Haus, Montebello, Va.

To: Waynesboro, Va.
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

It was very wet and windy again this morning and predicted to remain so for several days. I made the decision to catch a ride with Don and Ed to the southern gateway of Shenadoah Park and the Skyline drive. There I can hike north along the trail and later this week attend the graduation ceremony in D.C.Can't wait.On the way out the door at 9AM, in came DarkHorse and TearGas, soaking went. We stepped off Springer mountain together more than two months ago.
Date: 2008-05-12
From: Waynesboro, Va.

To: Calf mountain shelter
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I spent the night at the Quality Inn in Waynesboro, Va.Had breakfast with MeltDown, L'il Mac and Popeye. Popeye really looks like Popeye! I last met MeltDown in Damascus when he, I and ViewFinder were the only hikers in town.On Sunday MeltDown and six others are going to canoe the Shenadoah river to the Potomac for three or four days. They tried to talk me into it (they're one paddler short). But I'll be in Washington D.C. on Sunday staying dry.The weather is supposed to improve this evening so after this stop at the library I'll begin the Shenadoah Park and head for the first shelter only 7 miles up the trail.The wind is currently gusting to 40mph, hmmmmmmm.........
Date: 2008-05-16
From: Calf mountain shelter

To: Front Royal, Va
Miles today: 71.1
Weather: light rain

I finished off the Shenedoah Park rapidly in anticipation of some time off the trail. I took a long bus ride home to New Jersey to get some quality R&R.One of the first things I did when I got home was weigh myself. Gasp, I only weighed 145 pounds. I weighed more than that in the eighth grade. I look like Mick Jagger without all the hair. Anyway, I'm going to spend some more time at home gaining weight and strength.On Saturday I drove back south to Washington D.C. for my niece's graduation from law school. Congrats Julie. There were 500 other graduates that day too. Julie reports that one out of fourteen residents of D.C. is a lawyer. D.C. is a very dangerous place indeed.
Date: 2008-05-24
From: Front Royal, Va

To: Linden, Va.
Miles today: 8.0

I made my way back to Virgina to get back on the trail. I'm a few pounds heavier and well rested. It's Memorial Day weekend, the weather is beautiful, and we saw many day hikers on the trail today. We also ran into Captain Jack of New Jersey who I last saw in Waynesboro a week ago. He does resemble Captain Jack Sparrow.I'm packing only my summer gear now, a 1-pound summer weight sleeping bag, one pair of hiking shorts, one pair of sleeping shorts, two shirts, and two pairs of biker's socks. Lots of food. The pack with 5 days of food weighs 26 pounds. I can carry that.
Date: 2008-05-25
From: Linden, Va.

To: Rod Hollow shelter
Miles today: 17.2
Weather: clear sky

I began the last of Virginia. It is a very long haul through this state, over 500 miles, and is mentally taxing. Ahead lies quick passage through parts of West Virginia, Maryland and then Pennsylvania.I walked a bit with many day hikers enjoying the Memorial Day weekend and nice weather. Some convinced me to sidetrack to the Sky Meadow State Park and enjoy the Strawberry Festival underway. I bellied up to some chili dogs and funnel cake with live country music being played.Spent the night near the Rod Hollow shelter with a couple of A.T. officionados FishinFred and Gatoraid. They've been on and off the trail for years. Fred makes many A.T. crafts and dodads he sells to make a modest living.
Date: 2008-05-26
From: Snickers Gap, Bears Den hostel

To: Snickers Gap, Bears den hostel
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: clear sky

The photo at left describes todays hike. The Potomac A.T. club which maintains this section of trail actually apologized for the route but it is the only way they say. Uhuh. Up down up down up down...Fortunatley the hostel at the end of the day was first class. It is the old stone mansion of some long gone rich Washingtonians spendidly restored. It has 30 bunks but only six of us spent the night including my old friends Tom and Buck. They share that wonderful Canadian accent that folks from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan also acquire; Ehhhh hoser?Also there were Jukebox, Pusher, Shutterbug and Jack Frost. The hostel caretaker, RedWing, is also a Michigan guy so he, I, Tom and Buck talked about my old home state a lot.It rained all night like it is suppose to when you are in a hostel so tomorrow looks great.
Date: 2008-05-27
From: Snickers Gap, Bears den hostel

To: Shenandoah river near Keys Gap
Miles today: 16.4

I said goodbye to Tom and Buck, that's them in the photo. They section hike the A.T. for 40 days each year and this is near the end of their time on the trail. See you next year.Around 5-ish I left the A.T. at Keys Gap and hiked down to the Shenandoah River. I found a public access boat launch, hiked the fisherman's trail a bit and found a nice place to stealth camp near some rapids. The sound helps me to sleep at night. Talked to some local fisherman and watched them fish until dark. It's mesmerizing like the fishin' channel on TV.I had some tuna in red Panang curry sauce (spicy hot) on couscous for dinner and watched a blue heron feeding while I did the same.
Date: 2008-05-28
From: Shenandoah river near Keys Gap

To: Harpers Ferry hostel
Miles today: 11.1
Weather: clear sky

A storm about midnight woke me up with high winds, cooler air and some showers. I dreamt later that the river was rising beneath my hammock all night.About noon I reached the spiritual halfway point of the journey. The headquarters of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy is here in Harpers Ferry. That's me in the photo in front of their building. The staff bends over backwards for you and they're all volunteers.I paid $20 for a tourist burger and a beer so I avoided most of the historical sites that this small town has to offer and headed across the Potomac to Maryland. I'm in the North now! Maine lies somewhere here.
Date: 2008-05-29
From: Harpers Ferry hostel

To: Dahlgren backpacker campground
Miles today: 21.1
Weather: scattered clouds

The backpacker's campground is a hiker oasis, picnic tables on gravel pads, a ribbon of grass for tents, trees for hammocks and shade, fire rings and the best: hot showers and flush toilets.Present were me, Jack Frost and some newbies Pilgrim, Indy and Kate (another Michigander). All of the newbies got on in Virginia and are headed north to Maine and later, a flip flop.The newbies hitched a ride to a supermarket in Boonesboro and grilled london broil, corn on the cob, baked potatoes smothered in butter, onions and mushrooms, with a side of watermellon. ROOKIES!I had tuna and noodles, you know, hiker food.
Date: 2008-05-30
From: Dahlgren backpacker campground

To: Mason/Dixon line
Miles today: 19.1

The picture is of me several days from now, one of the wonders of the internet! It is the halfway point of this journey and my current motivation, only a few days away.The mountains here in Maryland are much shorter than Virginia and not as numerous. The trail begins to wind through fields and pastures looking for more mountains. I'm told Pennsylvania is the same.I ran into a young ridgerunner on the trail today and we shared lunch at a shelter. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy hires people to walk the trail and be the ears and eyes of the Park Rangers. These are the ridgerunners. Shane is about 20, in between colleges for the moment, and has a ridgerunner contract through October. He had two days of training and this is his first week on the job. He's still happy. He is responsible for 40 miles of trail and is required to hike from end-to-end once each 5 days. He works ten days and then has four days off. The only tool he carries is a two-way radio to call in reinforcements. The biggest problems are fires, beer, and chainsaws.
Date: 2008-05-31
From: Mason/Dixon line

To: South Mountain, Pa.
Miles today: 14.3

Today I crossed the Mason/Dixon line and entered Pennsylvania from Maryland all at the same time. This Yankee is happy to be North. That's where Mt. Katadhin is.The hiking was fairly easy down a short ridge, through a cornfield (see pic), and up another short ridge. Repeat many times. It's getting hot and humid, however.About 10AM the rains came. Then the heavy rains came and thunder and lightning, followed by ridiculous amounts of rain. Since rain in the morning means rain all day long I cut the day short at 3PM and sogged into the only motel in Waynesboro, Pa. I was very wet.