morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-05-18
From: US 250 Waynesboro, VA

To: Calf Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.5
Weather: overcast clouds

I got up early and took mail to the post office then went to breakfast at Weasies. After breakfast I found a barber shop to trim me up a bit. The lady was real nice to me and didn't want to charge me anything so I left a generous tip and off I went. I was supposed to have a shuttle ride back to Rockfish Gap about 10:30 AM. We had to call again for a shuttle and I got to Rockfish Gap about 12:45 PM with four uphill miles staring at me in 85 degree weather plus humidity. The total miles for the day was 7.5 miles to Calf Mountain Shelter. I was pushing way too hard for the heat content. At 4:30 PM it started to rain so out came the umbrella for a while. Now I had wetness from sweat and rain. At Beagle Gap a fellow gave me two bananas. Thanks a lot buddy. I inhaled one right away and saved the other one for later. He said it's only 1 1/2 miles to Calf Mountain Shelter. Well, it was 2.2 miles and this poor sucker was bushed. I set up camp and got some water filtered before dark. I took a short nap and woke up hungry so I found some food in devour. My legs were cramping for the first time in 19 days. Tonight will be 19 days I haven't seen a bed. Oh well. Now a bit about Waynesboro. They have a list of trail angels that pick us up and take us hither and yon for FREE. Thank you trail angel drivers. I hit the Shenandoah National Park today which I was hoping to see. The first 7 miles were not very scenic. We will see what goes. Thought for the day:Today it is 5 years since brother Jake passed to his reward. So long, good buddy. Rest in peace.
Date: 2015-05-19
From: Calf Mountain Shelter

To: Skyline 95.3
Miles today: 2.8

I woke up at 5:30 AM at Calf Mountain Shelter and I felt washed out so to speak. I wanted an early start because I had 13 miles to the next campsite. I inhaled some breakfast food and packed up for the long trek of the day. The trail was small up and down stretches so walking was easy but something was lurking in my body which I couldn't figure out. The first road crossing was about 3 miles out. About an hour and 2 miles into the hike, I felt like 6 trains crashed into me. It started with nausea, weakness, shortness of breath, dizziness and chest pains. Darkness swept across my eyes and I was in trouble. I managed to sit down with my pack on and my legs dropped over a 6" log for support. I used my trekking poles to prop me up and I closed my eyes and fell asleep. I woke up 20 minutes later in the same position I had slumped over in. I got up and things were not well with me. I couldn't think right and I slowly walked and stumbled along for about .1 mile to the road crossing and a parking lot. I layed on a rock wall to gather myself together then I called my wife to report the bad news. She said I sounded horrible. Well, I felt horrible. It was hard to breathe and think at the same time. There was another hiker at the parking lot and he had a shuttle coming so I waited for a ride to Waynesboro. I wear a tracker that records the GPS location of me every 10 minutes. It also has two buttons for me to press in case of trouble and help will arrive right to my location. I am too bullheaded to use them if I can still function one ounce yet. I got a ride to Rockfish Gap then called a shuttle to take me to Waynesboro to the Quality Inn to rest and clean up. I now saw my first bed in 20 days. Oh, it felt good. This is the first night since April 30 I didn't have bugs, flies, spiders, worms, sticks, stones, and leaves bothering me. I toughed out the afternoon and night and felt somewhat better. I'll seek medical help on Wednesday if I wake up. I woke up on Wednesday morning. I guess pushing myself on Monday in 90 degree heat and high humidity doesn't work for an old goat.Thought for the day:A candle glow can pierce the darkest night.
Date: 2015-05-20
From: Waynesboro, VA

To: Waynesboro, VA
Miles today: 0.0

I did wake up this morning. Really no surprise at all. The body felt a bit better but the right thinking was a bit off. I went to Weasies for breakfast on foot about a half mile away. I had a good appetite. I had pork loin, eggs and potatoes. I went back to the motel to rest until 1:00 PM when a trail angel shuttle picked me up and took me to Augusta Medical Center for a check up. My blood pressure and pulse were okay and my sugar was okay. They said I was not dehydrated because I was sweating a lot. They hooked me up to do an EKG and said the pumper is okay and doesn't look like a heart problem. I was still feeling a bit dizzy and disoriented. They wanted to do a blood test but I would have to go to the ER. Well, I couldn't drive-no car-so they would call an ambulance. I'll die before riding an ambulance. I'll walk to the hospital. They said no way and so I said I am done now. All my vitals were fine so I knew it was a chemical imbalance. I signed off and walked to the nearest drug store to get potassium pills which they were out of. I went across the street to a Taco Bell and filled up my belly with food. After a big meal my symptoms went away and I felt almost normal. I hiked the 2 miles back to the motel and then got my laundry done. I walked several blocks to Green Leaf Grill and inhaled more food then went back to the motel for a night of comfort.Thought for the day:What one has, one ought to use. And whatever he does, he should do with all his might.
Date: 2015-05-21
From: Waynesboro, VA

To: Waynesboro, VA
Miles today: 0.0

I woke up this morning in a clean bug free room. No dew or rain on my tent. No dirt to stare at me. I went to Weasies for breakfast then to Kroger for some potassium pills to make me wonderful again. I did some writing this morning and made some calls to campgrounds for information. I hope to hit the trail on Friday morning. I went to the post office to mail stuff home then went through my food supply. I hiked to Kroger again for a few items to get me to Loft Mtn Campground on Saturday. I washed all my cookware and water containers and repacked everything then went to Pizza Hut to snarf some food.A story on my GPS Spot tracker. My son Nathan and wife Deb bought me a Spot tracker so my wife and four sons and family can keep track of the old buzzard. It has one built in GPS feature that if I'm hanging over a cliff I just push the SOS button and help will arrive without further ado. The other help button sends a call for help to my four sons and they will try to get me help. The other feature is it spots a GPS location of me every 10 minutes while I'm walking. When I stop for the day I hit a button and my wife and sons get a pre-programmed message that I'm okay and I'm stopping for the day. When I was in Waynesboro, my wife looked at my location on satellite view and said that I'm camped in a big field and on one side are some big trees and my tent is right under the first big tree and she was correct. She said not far from me is a big parking lot with about a hundred cars. Right again because there was an old car show there. This means I better not be giving people the bird because she will see it. oops. This Spot tracker is for keeping track of old dudes like me and giving my family peace of mind. All they need to do is go to the computer and dial me up or beam me up. The other day when I walked all over town my wife told me every store and place I went that day. Is this scary? Well, yes!Thought for the day:Let us realize that what happens around us is largely outside of our control, but that the way we choose to react to it is inside our control.
Date: 2015-05-22
From: Skyline 95.3

To: Blackrock Hut
Miles today: 10.2
Weather: clear sky

I woke up in a clean motel room instead of in a tent. I packed up my things and signed out of the motel in Waynesboro. I hiked to Weasies Restaurant about a 3/4 mile away to eat breakfast before I hit the trail. I had called Jim Gizmo for a shuttle ride to Sawmill Run overlook. He said to call when I'm done with breakfast and so I did. We picked up several more hikers at the Waynesboro campground. The lady hiker was Mighty Mouse and I don't remember the man's name. Gizmo dropped the others off first and then me. Well, he dropped me off a mile too soon and I didn't catch it until he was gone so I called him and he came back and this time we got the right location. I hiked about 2 miles and the brush was very close to the path and I couldn't see far ahead. There was a turn in the AT and I was just ready to click my poles together when a black bear turned the corner. It was about 50' between us. I clicked my poles and the bear did such a fast u-turn he almost turned himself inside out. The bear disappeared into the brush and The Leopard kept on marching. I crossed Turk Mt Trail and Wildcat Ridge Trail and Riprap Trail then over Black Rock Gap. I ended up at Blackrock Hut for the night. It was a 10.2 mile day. Not bad for recovering from a 6 train attack on Tuesday.Thought for the day:Everything was been thought of before. The difficulty is to think of it again.
Date: 2015-05-23
From: Blackrock Hut

To: Loft Mt Wayside
Miles today: 9.5

Oh yes, this morning I woke up in a tent and it was 40 degrees instead of a comfortable 70 degrees like I had for several days. My hike was to be 9.5 miles to Loft Mtn Campground. I ate some breakfast in the cold morning air and then started walking by 8:00 AM. The trail was nice and wide today with some small uphills to navigate. We don't have many scenic views in this park so my photo taking has slowed. I hit the 7 mile mark by noon. I crossed Trayfoot Mtn Trail and Skyline Dr about about four times and no bears. When I got to Loft Mtn Store I bought some food to eat and rest a bit. I decided to go to Loft Mtn Wayside to eat restaurant food so I had another 1.5 miles to go. I took Frazier Discovery Trail to Loft Mtn Wayside restaurant. I had some good food and then rested for a while. I needed to buy food for the trail for Sunday so I hiked 1.1 miles back to Loft Mtn store. I hit the AT behind the store and went back south on the AT until I found a stealth place to camp. I'm all alone here but I'm only .2 mile from the camp store. In the morning I will get my food for hiking on north then hike 1.1 mile to Loft Mtn Wayside for breakfast, then back to the AT and head for Pinefield Hut and call it a day. I had some good views today as I went over Blackrock Mtn. It had enough boulders stacked up to last a lifetime.Thought for the day:The itching sensation that some people mistake for ambition is merely inflammation of the wishbone.
Date: 2015-05-24
From: Loft Mt Wayside

To: Pinefield Hut
Miles today: 3.7
Weather: broken clouds

I woke up this morning alive and mostly well. I was out in nowhere and I didn't know if any wild animals would leave me alone but they did. I packed up and went to the Loft Mtn store but had to wait until 8:00 AM when they opened. I bought supplies to last for 3 days. I walked to the Loft Mtn Wayside restaurant about 1.1 miles away for breakfast. The restaurant didn't open until 9:00 AM so I just waited outside. When they opened I ordered big - scrambled eggs/bacon/sausage/potatoes/toast/coffee. Yup, sounds like a lot. I had already eaten a package of sliced ham I bought at the store. I found an outlet at the store and recharged my phone while resting and plotting out my next 3 days of walking. I waited until 11:00 AM when they started serving lunch. I ordered a big hamburger, water and a big OJ. I had only 3.7 miles to the Pinefield Hut so I started about 12:00 noon. I hiked about 1 1/2 miles when people told me a mamma bear and cub were on the trail up ahead. I came around a corner and there they were right on the trail. The cub was the size of a raccoon. I clicked my poles together since only about 30' separated us. The baby let out a squeal and mamma stared at me. I had my camera ready, held it up and snapped a photo. Well, mamma wasn't happy with that and she started toward me. I yelled at her and I made a hasty retreat. All turned out okay. I think she yelled after me to tell Elvie Chupp at Hilltop Restaurant she wants to lick his face. If you see Elvie, tell him to get to Virginia and meet mamma bear. Ha. The rest of the day was fairly good hiking, had a few good overlooks and met some nice people on the trail. I arrived at camp around 4:00 PM and set up then took a nap. I cooked supper and had a nice talk with Cooper, a section hiker, and Flyaway, a woman hiker trying to get to Maine. We are camped within 20' of each other.Thought for the day:Everyone needs their own space. So be generous and let them have their space.
Date: 2015-05-25
From: Pinefield Hut

To: Skyline 69.9 Powell Gap
Miles today: 5.4

I got up at 5:45 AM and had to use the privy and walking to it I saw some animal movement. I stopped in case it was a bear. It was only a deer eating grass. I was saved by the brown color instead of black. I ate breakfast and packed up my gear for an early start and cool walking. I came to a Skyline Dr road and sat down for a rest. Yes, it was an uphill climb and I was already tired. I rested for 15 minutes and took off again. I had another uphill climb and I was getting into trouble with energy. When I topped out I was exhausted so I decided the next crossing will be where I end my hike. I got to Powell Gap and took off my pack and popped several Tylenol. I set the pack beside the road and held out my thumb. A van came along and stopped to see what I wanted. The driver was Food Walker and his wife-Out On A Limb-was walking the AT and he would meet her at night at a road crossing. Food Walker took me to Country View Motel and I got a room for the night. I have walked 900.9 miles of the AT plus all the other side trails I had to walk to get to a town, campground or hostel. At the motel, I took a nap, showered and then walked a half mile to Bear Mtn grocery and they had a food supply and food take-out. I got 3 pieces of chicken and a hamburger. I went back to the motel to rest and called for a way home. It was 6:30 PM when I went to Bear Mtn grocery again. I had more chicken and 3-bean salad. I'm getting close to full now. I made more phone calls then off to bed I went.Thought for the day:The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.For all following actual AT mileage -- The mileage used for this journal is based on the 2013 NORTHBOUND AT GUIDEBY DAVID "AWOL" MILLER.The 2015 NORTHBOUND AT GUIDE BY DAVID "AWOL" MILLER has revised mileage due to rerouting, etc on the AT.The 2013 version has The Leopard's mileage at 896.6 miles.The 2015 version has The Leopard's mileage at 900.9 miles.
Date: 2015-05-26
From: Skyline 69.9 Powell Gap

To: Goshen, IN
Miles today: 0.0

I woke up at 5:15 AM at the motel. I rolled over and said tough luck dude. I did get up at 6:30 AM and walked to the Bear Mtn grocery for some breakfast. I got to the motel and started calling shuttle drivers to get to Charlottesville to the Greyhound station. I got Jim Gizmo on the line and told him what I needed and then we were dropped by Verizon. A while later I called again and he said he is within 10 minutes of the motel. It turned out he had a hiker to drop off not far from me. When Gizmo got to the motel I had another hiker lined up so he took us to Charlottesville to the bus station for $20 each. A very good deal. I got a ticket at the bus station for Goshen, Indiana, but had to wait until 9:40 PM to board which was okay with me. I'll be going home to a good wife and good food. Oh, at last. I was around the bus depot and the ticket man and I had it going all day. He was a friendly chap. I grabbed lunch at McDonald's and supper at Wendy's. At 9:30 PM I got on the bus and Betty S. was the driver. She handled the bus like a piece of cake. I had told her at the bus depot that lady commercial drivers were better drivers then men drivers were. We had our fun going on until she dropped me off at Wytheville, VA. She took the bus on and I had a 4 hour lay-over. My next bus would leave at 5:35 AM for Columbus, Ohio.Thought for the day:There is nothing permanent but change.
Date: 2015-08-23
From: Gapland Road

To: I-70 Footbridge US 40
Miles today: 12.3

My first day of fall hiking began early this morning at the I-70/US 40 trail head in Virginia. I packed only water and snacks for the day. My wife is following in the truck and we will meet for lunch and then pick me up evenings for a night in a motel. I won't cook or sleep in the woods, only walk. I walked over I-70 on a foot bridge. You can see the photo later. My first point of interest was a stop just up the trail called the Washington Monument way up 1550' on a mountain. About 4 miles into the hike my left knee started to hurt because I was hiking too fast. That's what happens when the pack is light. When I hit Fox Gap, both knees were hurting. I had slowed down but the slow down was too late. The hurt was with me. The trek over Lambs Knoll was not very pleasant. There were another 3.8 miles to go to Gapland Road where my wife would pick me up. I called her and said pick up should be Gapland Road instead of Weverton Road which was 6.5 miles further. I could barely walk because both knees were locking up. I got off the trail at Gapland Road and rested then took some pills and soon could walk better. At the Gap was the War Correspondents Monument so I took a photo. We went to a motel to rest and then rearranged our hiking schedule.Thought for the day:Our joys are our views.Our sorrows are our spurs.
Date: 2015-08-27
From: Skyline 69.9 Powell Gap

To: Trail West
Miles today: 12.6

I got a good breakfast at Weasie's this morning and then my wife took me to Powell Gap on the Skyline Drive in the Shenandoah National Park to start my trek north. I met my wife at noon and we ate lunch at a rest stop. Then I was off again. I heard a hoot owl this afternoon which was odd. As I hiked along a flock of quail flew out of the weeds in front of me and scared the willys out of me. It was pretty quiet today with the exception of a few birds talking but not much else. At about mile 11 I had a real rocky steep drop with switchbacks. This was the first in a lot of miles that it was this bad. Oh well, it's the AT and I must expect anything and everything. I hit mile 12.6 and there sat my wife in a lawn chair on the trail. That was a first in over 900 miles and what a nice surprise! We hiked about .1 mile to the truck and took off for Elkton, VA for food and a motel. We ate at Bear Mt. Grocery then off to Country View Motel. I made some phone calls and then washed some of my clothes in the bathtub since there were no guest laundry facilities. Today I saw some really nice Chicken of the Woods mushrooms growing on logs. Photos will appear later. I also had a little knee trouble today. I wore a brace on the right leg and wrapped the left leg. It's the pits getting older and tormenting my legs so much!Thought for the day:I guess the message to me and others is travel on the AT at you own risk! smile
Date: 2015-08-28
From: Trail West

To: Fishers Gap
Miles today: 12.2

I ate breakfast at Bear Mt. Grocery with my wife and then she took me to my starting point on the AT along the Skyline Drive. On my hike I scared a bear on the trail half to death. He dashed off into the underbrush and was gone. I walked until noon then met my wife for lunch at Bootens Gap. I got back on the trail and walked across Tanners Ridge and past Big Meadows Campground. My left knee started acting up so I slowed down a bit because the pain wasn't enjoyable at all. I took a few good photos of Chicken of the Woods mushrooms and a very tame deer. The deer was only about 20' from me and just stared at me. I guess it had never seen The Leopard before. I asked how far to Fishers Gap and it ignored me and kept eating grass. I saw more bear scat on the trail than ever before. They had clawed open dead trees and knocked over dead trees. I only saw one bear today and I was sure glad I wasn't a dead tree with bugs in me. I got to Fishers Gap at 4:00 PM. My wife picked me up and we went to Laury, VA for supper and a motel. We stopped at a WalMart for food supplies and a knee brace. Now I have one for each knee. Hopefully, this will get me to Gathland State Park about 107 miles north. Oh happy day for me.Thought for the day:Remember that the coin you clutch has never brought happiness. The world and you will profit more from sincere thoughtfulness.
Date: 2015-08-29
From: Fishers Gap

To: Pinnacles Picnic Area
Miles today: 10.6

My wife and I ate breakfast at McDonald's this morning then she shuttled me to Fishers Gap for my daily hike in the woods. I didn't fork over cash but most likely I pay out somehow. I saw more bear shinnigans but no bear. I went over Hawksbill Gap and to Skyland Stables service road where I met my wife to eat lunch under the trees. I took a half hour lunch break and then took off again. I met my wife at Stony Man Overlook for a check-in. My left knee was killing me again. I swallowed several Tylenol and slept for 10 minutes. When I woke up my knee was brand new. I hiked to Pinnacles Picnic Area a good 2.2 miles up and down and there was no pain in my knee. What went wrong here or was it that it went right? I did the hike in 1 hour and 15 minutes. Sometimes things do go right. While I was on the trail, Marilyn met a hiker in the picnic area named Zaphod. As he was leaving I entered the picnic area. She yelled at him and he came back to talk. He was from Lancaster, PA. I asked if he knew Proudfoot and he did. What a small world. I had met Proudfoot this spring. As Zaphod left, 2 hiker ladies came and my wife gave them trail magic and we talked a while about trail life. We left the trail for food and a motel. We ate at Brookside Restaurant and filled up on their buffet. Oh yum. We stayed at Days Inn close to Laury, VA.Thought for the day:Absence of occupation is not rest. A mind quite vacant is a mind distressed.
Date: 2015-09-06
From: Harpers Ferry WV High St

To: Gapland Road, Gathland State Park
Miles today: 10.0

Accomplished the goal of 144.7 miles today!Total miles on the AT2013 Northbound THE AT GUIDE by David Miller   1041.3 miles2015 Northbound THE AT GUIDE by David Miller   1045.6 milesReliable sources say the AT gains an average of 2 miles per year in reconstruction due to washouts/storms, etc.
Date: 2016-05-25
From: I-70 footbridge, US 40

To: Raven Rock Shelter
Miles today: 13.7
Weather: clear sky

Hello AT once more. This is my first morning back on the trail for this year. I'm tired as heck from my work at home but I will make the best of it all. My wife dropped me off at I-70/US 40.(Hagerstown, MD) We said our goodbyes and northward I went. I was headed for the first shelter 9.9 miles away and then see how my body was working. I had steep climbs and rocky areas like you wouldn't believe. I reached 9.9 miles about 2:30 PM and took a rest. My legs were cramping so I rested and then made the mistake of hiking another 5 miles to Ensign Cowall Shelter. It was a bad choice on my part. I had so many rock climbs and rocky places the birds even had a hard time getting through. My last road crossing for the day left me with one mile to go. I thought it was 1/2 mile so I kept walking and no shelter was in sight. I started to look for a stealth campsite when about 8:00 PM I saw the shelter sign - Raven Rock Shelter -.1 mile to the west and .3 to the east for water down a steep side trail. There was relief but also a lot of body pain. I set up my tent and took off for water since I only had several cups left. So after .8 mile round trip, I had water. Wow, I now had a rough 14.5 mile day which should have never happened in this rough terrain. I think I'm a dim bulb for sure. I was so tired and sore I just ate a package of M&Ms and a spam meat serving and went to sleep about 9:00 PM. I had been warned by a shuttle driver that Maryland is real tough but I thought I was tough. Well, the trail won. I was just another hiker taking his punishment.Thought for the day: Sometimes stupidity in life does not do a person's body any good whatsoever. I should have stopped at mile 9 and things would have been better.Mileage based on 2013 Northbound THE AT GUIDE by David "Awol" Miller