morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-05-11
From: John Hollow Shleter

To: Browns Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 18.4
Weather: light rain

The rain started as I sat comfortably on a privy seat. It came and went for most of the day. The wind howled fiercely at times, but it still made for comfortable hiking weather.        Speaking of comfort, Nicole had to hike all day in her sandals. We spoke about how lucky she was now that she had sandals with a heel strap on them. But alas, the heel strap only lasted seven miles and she kept hiking without it. Her ability to move on without the slightest sign of frustration is unbelievable. When the strap broke we lost a piece to fix it. I scanned the trail for several minutes and grew angry at her stroke of bad luck. She calmly pulled me away saying, ¢It¢s OK, I don¢t need it. We¢ll be in Waynesboro soon.¢ I¢m not sure how I¢d react to the adversity she¢s faced so far. I admire her for her strength and positive attitude.        The highlight of my day came from a grocery item found at the Dollar General. It¢s a peanut butter and jelly in a plastic jar. That¢s hiker white gold! We always see it in glass jars, but glass is to heavy to carry. I cracked it today and already ate half of it with a squished loaf of bread. Now that¢s a good meal!        Well the rest of the day went like this: rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain and rain. We squished into the shelter like sardines and cooked our meals in the shelter. Fast Lane said he saw a bobcat and its baby while hiking today. The baby was on the trail and he stopped to keep his distance. The mother picked it up and carried it away. He said his hiking poles were inside his pack at the time. That¢s why I always carry mine. If I get attacked by a bobcat or bear I¢m going to start swinging like a Teenage Mutant Ninja Hiker.
Date: 2006-05-12
From: Browns Mountain Shelter

To: Seeley-Woodworth Shelter
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: overcast clouds

We awoke to a cloudless morning. A perfect blue sky was visible through the trees above. Oh yeah, happy two month anniversary to us! We¢ve officially been on the trail for two months. Fittingly, we also crossed the eight hundred mile mark. They¢re just another couple of milestones to keep our motivation alive.        To start the day we faced another 2500 foot mountain. The temperature remained cool even though the sun shone directly upon us. This morning I affixed Nicole¢s sandal heel strap with a piece of cord. I knew we were climbing a lot today, so if effective, it would help her a great deal. The trusty square knot did the trick as it lasted the entire day.        At lunch we found a swing at Hog Camp Gap. I wasn¢t sure how stable it was, since a swing on a neighboring tree was broken. We all had turns taking it for a spin during our break.        The rest of the day flew by. The trail climbed a bit more, but it was smooth. Just before we arrived I told everyone we had at least twenty minutes more to go. Two seconds later Shane announced that he saw the shelter.        Once again it¢s going to get cold tonight. It¢s only 47 degrees and the sun is still up. I¢ve got a two degree buffer of comfort. Oh where oh where is my 20 degree bag¢¦ Oh yeah, I sent it home a month too early!
Date: 2006-05-13
From: Seeley-Woodworth Shelter

To: Mavpin Field Shelter
Miles today: 16.5
Weather: broken clouds

We woke at six this morning. We planned on a twenty mile day so we though we could use the extra time. Unfortunately we didn¢t pack like we were in a hurry. I came back from the privy and found Nicole and Christina back in their sleeping bags. I quietly ate my breakfast until they started moving again. Christina later said she planned on getting up when I returned, but pretended she didn¢t hear me come back.        We stopped to check out Spy Rock three miles into the morning. It received its name because Confederate troops spied on the Union during the civil war. From the top of the rock we could see into the valley on both sides of the mountain.        After hiking down 3000 of the Priest we stopped for lunch on the Tye River. I took a dip under the bridge to wash some of the silt off my stank body. Lunch on the Tye was one of my favorite lunch breaks on the trail.        Soon after lunch we arrived at a blue blaze short cut to the shelter. It was more strenuous than the AT, but it cut off some additional miles. Since Nicole was extremely tired and sore from hiking in Waldies, we decided to take it. The hiking was very difficult at times. We were glad though when it dumped us off at the rear of the shelter.         The shelter was full of section hikers and thru-hikers who we¢ve been behind for quite some time. Nicole and I fit inside while Shane and Christina set up their tent. It¢s supposed to pour tonight. For now, we have a blue sky sun down.        Des and Ryan still haven¢t caught up. Where are they?
Date: 2006-05-14
From: Mavpin Field Shelter

To: Paul C. Wolf Shelter
Miles today: 16.1
Weather: light rain

I slept in until 7:15 this morning, a full 30 minutes later than normal. The rest of the shelter slept soundly as I got up and jogged to my morning privy appointment. It¢s always difficult to start moving my feet in the morning. My ankles lock up while sleeping so on my jog to the privy I looked more like a waddling duck.        No climbs today! Most of the day was relaxing. It rained off and on during the morning hours, which made the rock scrambling difficult and slippery. Nicole slammed her ankles info a few sharp edges. Sandals apparently aren¢t made for such conditions. Who would of thunk it? I slipped on one rock which sent me head first into a boulder. The boulder left me with a few bloody scrapes on my elbow. It was just a flesh wound, no need to smoke signal paramedics.         At lunch we discussed our intentions while in Waynesboro. We¢re going to take another zero. It will give Nicole¢s body a day to recover after 85 miles in Sandals. Hopefully Des and Ryan can catch us as well.        We made it to the shelter at 3:30. It would have been a fun afternoon, but the pouring rain kept us inside. I began to read a book left at the shelter about monks in New York. The sun will still be up for another hour. If I went to bed now it could be a long night.
Date: 2006-05-15
From: Paul C. Wolf Shelter

To: Waynesboro, VA
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: scattered clouds

What a quick hike! Everyone packed up and left before me. Just as I swing my pack to my shoulder, I had the sudden urge for a privy run. I tore through my pack looking for toilet paper. It wasn¢t there! Nicole must have taken it. Noticing the look of terror on my face, Brian offered me his.        I took off down the trail a half hour behind everyone else. After a few minutes I came across two deer on the trail. They ran away but mostly along the trail. Once again I closed in on them. I slowly attempted to pull my camera from my hip belt. They heard the sound of the Velcro and became alert, staring at me from five feet away. One more thread of Velcro tearing caused them to bounce off into the woods.        The five miles to the gap only took me an hour and fifteen minutes. I caught the group as they reached the road. The visitor center called a local trail angel and got us a ride into town. We went to the post office and got hosed for an expensive hotel room. Later we walked to the outfitter. Nicole and I both got shoes.        When we returned to the room we found Des and Ryan had come by. We called Ryan¢s cell phone and made plans to meet them for Chinese buffet.         We¢re all in the room tonight. We¢re not sure if six are allowed, but we¢re going to try it anyway. Tonight, some beers and a nice bed to sleep in.
Date: 2006-05-16
From: Waynesboro, VA

To: Waynesboro, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

We awoke at 8:00 and decided to head to Weasie¢s for breakfast and to do laundry. I ordered the all you can eat pancakes. I polished the first three within minutes and ordered another batch. It took another fifteen minutes to get round two. I think it was a plot to curb my appetite. They came out with two more and they were enormous! I could barely finish half of the second order. It was a poor showing considering the record was 24.        While we were doing laundry Ryan introduced me to a cross country cyclist named Joy. I got nostalgic talking about some of the towns she¢d go through. Just looking at her packed bike made me want to ride again. Just last night Jasper invited me to ride from Mexico to Alaska¢¦.hmmm¢¦        We decided to get the room for another night because we¢d have no place to keep our belongings until the hostel¢s 5:00 check in time. It turned out to be a good decision because it was great to walk around without our packs.        I made a trip to the library to check mail and send an article for the paper. Chris mentioned that Jake Lemanski was still interested in hiking a section with me. I totally forgot about it. I was so excited and fired off an email and left a message on his cell phone. There¢s no telling if he¢ll make it out, but I keep hoping.        It was a late night. We went to dinner at eight and walked to 7-11 for ice cream. I was actually able to put down a pint and a half! Two days of town really built up my calorie and fat reserves.
Date: 2006-05-17
From: Waynesboro, VA

To: Blackrock Hut
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: scattered clouds

This morning Ryan and I waited behind in the apartment while the others got a ride to the gap. They found us a ride when they got there.        The hike inside the Shenandoah National Park was extremely easy. The climbs were gently graded and we quickly put miles behind us. It was great to have Des and Ryan back on the Maine Train.        We saw two snakes on the trail and including one big rattle snake. Des hopped right over it as she hiked the trail. We were sure to carefully scan the trail for the rest of the day.        My feet were very tired today. It could be due to the new boots or the thinner socks I¢m trying out. I may have a minor injury on my right foot because it has been bothering me for over a week.        Overall it was a great day. Nicole¢s feet were bothering her in her new shoes, so I hope they break in quickly. We had good company at the shelter. A father was with his two college age daughters and a retired couple ate with us.
Date: 2006-05-18
From: Blackrock Hut

To: High Top Hut
Miles today: 21.4
Weather: scattered clouds

We started out at an extremely fast pace this morning. It seemed as though Nicole¢s feet were holding strong. After six miles she began to have more troubles with her right foot. It was going numb so we kept loosening the laces. Since the show was so loose her heel began to rub. She put her spacers in and it stopped the rubbing, but she lost circulation again. We worked relentlessly to find the right combination but nothing would work. She ended up putting her sandal on.        For lunch we stopped at the Skyline Drive rest stop. Nicole and I ordered French fries and blackberry milkshakes. The machine broke just as it was Ryan¢s turn to order. He had been raving about the blackberry shakes since we met in Waynesboro.        After lunch Nicole fared better with her shoes. She led the way and got to almost step on a giant rattlesnake. It rattled angrily anytime we got within six feet of it. After we took our photos we walked around the trail to keep a safe distance. We left a note on each side to warn hikers.         At the shelter we found out that we were scheduled to be near Luray late Saturday. If we went to town at that time we¢d have to wait until Monday to get our mail drop. Therein lies the problem with mail drops. We¢re trying to figure out to get it before the post office closes Saturday.         Man I¢m tired.
Date: 2006-05-19
From: High Top Hut

To: Big Meadows Lodge
Miles today: 20.4

It was freezing this morning. Well, it was actually 47 degrees, but a fierce wind made the temperatures bitter cold. It was pleasant to hike in though. If you stopped for more than a few minutes you needed to add layers.        The big dilemma today was how to manage our food drop in Luray. We would never have time to get to the drop before it closed Saturday afternoon. It we tried to hitch today, Friday, we would fall half a day behind the others. We decided it would be best if we could forward the mail drop to another town. There were a hundred different scenarios running through my head. I decided the best option was to call and see if we could forward the package over the phone. Surely there was no way they would forward it without a way to identify the caller. Post Office clerks always ask us for an ID before retrieving the package. BUT THEY DID! They forwarded everything in my name and Nicole¢s name to Harpers Ferry. I couldn¢t believe it. The effort it saved us kept me excited for a couple of hours.        We hiked on the Skyline Drive for a while to reach the Wayside for dinner. It was another 4.5 miles to the next shelter and it was freezing outside. We made it to the lodge pub room for a beer. The waitress said she could get us a room for $80, even though they told us the cheapest room was $120. We took it, considering the cold temperatures, rain the forecast, and live entertainment in the pub tonight.         A nice warm bed to sleep in tonight. I¢m spoiled.
Date: 2006-05-20
From: Big Meadows Lodge

To: Pass Mountain Hut
Miles today: 18.4
Weather: scattered clouds

At 6:00 am I looked at my watch. I then rolled over and went back to bed. At 6:30 I looked at my watch. I rolled over and went back to bed. At 7:00 I looked at my watched. I rolled over and went back to bed. At 7:30 I looked at my watch. I rolled over and ran to the bathroom. It was great to sleep in an extra 45 minutes.        We didn¢t leave the lodge until 11:00. I was getting anxious because I didn¢t want to sprint to reach the shelter before dark. I always prefer to hike early and finish early. Staring late and ending late isn¢t my style.        The 8.5 miles before lunch were a breeze. It was hot though. We normally start when its cool and end when its hot. Today we started when it was hot and hike through it. We were disappointed that the wayside didn¢t have blackberry milkshakes. Lunch is more satisfying slurping down one of those babies.        There were a lot more tourists in the park today. It may have been a great opportunity to yogi some great food. However, we were in too much of a hurry to stop and try it.        In the afternoon we were close to passing a couple of day hikers. All of the sudden they turned and ran back behind us. ¢Bear! Bear!¢, they yelled. Shane and I naturally pulled out the cameras and turned the corner to check it out. There was a great commotion in the woods 10 feet away. In video mode I shot the bear crossing the AT. It continued down 15 feet in the woods. There we saw two bear cubs climbing a tree near where the mother stopped. We were glad the couple was before us, because we may have continued down the trail and put ourselves in between the mother and her subs. That spells bad news.        The last four miles went by in a hiker sprint. We saw Brian and met Gunter, a section hiker from Germany. That made two German speaking hikers in the shelter, with Michael the Austrian. Dinner conversation was very interesting. I spoke to Gunter about Germany and he talked about hiking and biking in Europe.         It¢s late¢¦.to bed.
Date: 2006-05-21
From: Pass Mountain Hut

To: Tom Flyod Wayside
Miles today: 23.5

This morning we saw a few bears on the way to the Wayside. There were a lot farther away than the bears yesterday, but Shane got a good picture.        At the Wayside I called Jake Lemanski to see where he wanted to meet up. His phone was off. I called my parents and had them check my email to see if he wrote back to me. There wasn¢t a response. At mile 13 I rounded a corner and saw a tall skinny guy hiking south towards us. It was Jake! He started 7 days ago in Pennsylvania and hiked 112 miles until he found me! After some excited and surprised greetings he turned around and headed north with us! What trail magic!        For the rest of the day we caught up with everything and shared stories. It was so awesome to have him with us. We stopped from a break at a road crossing and played Frisbee (I found one at the shelter last night).        It was another late night but I forgot about my tired feet with Jake¢s Company. He¢s going to hike for three weeks with us. That should take us out of Pennsylvania. Wahoo!
Date: 2006-05-22
From: Tom Flyod Wayside

To: Jim+Molly Denton Shelter
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: few clouds

After a quick breakfast we jumped out of camp and left for town. It took only three minutes to catch a hitch into town. The outfitter was closed so we went to the post office.         We wanted Pizza Hut buffet for lunch, but it was to far of a walk. We settled for five large five topping pizzas for fifty bucks. At six dollars a piece it was a great deal. We lounged around the Poppa Johns lawn until the boxes were clean.        At the grocery store Brian said the outfitter was going to open and the owner would bring us to the trail. The guys got talk and wanted to catch the 7:00 movie before leaving. The owner agreed to drive us at nine if two guys would help him unload boats at a lake. Ryan, Shane and Jake all decided they wanted to go.        While waiting the rest of us went to check e-mail and made a stop at an arcade. I displayed a dominating performance at skee ball and hot shot. At five we ventured to the town park and cooked dinner. The guys rolled in at 6:30. We finished dinner just as it was time to go to the movie. Christina, Nicole, Des and I all went to the Da Vinci Code while the other guys saw Mission Impossible III.        It was 10:30 before we hit the trail in the second shuttle to the trail. The terrain was great for night hiking, but my dying headlamp batteries made it more difficult. Jake and I engaged in some interesting and pretty dumb conversations. It was great. We hit the shelter at midnight and setup camp under someone who set their hammock across the platform.
Date: 2006-05-23
From: Jim+Molly Denton Shelter

To: Rod Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: clear sky

I awoke at 8:30 after a dream where I was urinating for a long time. I darted out of my bag and figured it was a sign that I ought to go right away.         There was a birds nest at the shelter and the babies were all chirping. The mother left early and the babies all scattered around. Some attempted flight and ran into the shelter walls. Others hid behind our shoes and packs. It was a funny sight.         It was another sunny and warm day. The miles went by fast and I enjoyed several conversations with Jake. Des, Nicole and I spoke about the movie last night and about religion in general. At the shelter we enjoyed the company of Cane Train, minus Bill. Jake toyed with a Sobo¢s guitar and I took a ¢shower¢ un the primitive ¢camp shower¢. It was a spring pipe three feet off the ground.
Date: 2006-05-24
From: Rod Hollow Shelter

To: Blackburned Trail Center
Miles today: 18.0

Today we started the Roller Coaster. It is a 12.3 mile section of the trail with ten rocky ascents and descents. In the grand scheme of the trail, it¢s a cake walk. Yet after hundreds of flat and generously graded miles, the section was tough. We stopped to break at seven miles. Shane was feeling sick to his stomach after having headaches all day yesterday. We decided to end at the trail center to make it easier for him.         We ate lunch at the Bear¢s Den. It is a hostel run by the PATC. The building itself is all stone with a stone wall at its gate. The care takers were gone for the day, but they left the combination to the hostel door lock. The hostel quarters were beautiful. Sodas were in the refridgerator for 50 cents on the honor system. We went to the covered picnic table to eat. Jake and I played Frisbee, attempted front hand springs and practiced hand stands. We also took off ahead of the group to warn them of our late arrival.         Jake and I burned the final tracks of the Roller Coaster, even running at full speed down one mountain for the added effect. We came to the trail center sign and expected at least two more miles to go.        Inside the house Red Wing prepared extra spegehetti, sauce, garlic bread and salad for the late arrival of the Maine Train. The PATC pays for the expenses and fives him a stipend to work at the home. He was a great host and made us feel at home. I took a solar powered shower and was amazed at how hot the water was. The rest of the train soon arrived. Shane still felt sick, but seemed to enjoy his meal anyway. We moved into the bunk house and prepared for bed.        I can¢t believe we even contemplated moving on to the next shelter. This place is a gem!
Date: 2006-05-25
From: Blackburned Trail Center

To: Harpers Ferry
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: light rain

Sleeping in the enclosed shelter was just as good as a hotel room. Warmth makes such a big difference in my quality of sleep. I packed my bag early and read an issue of Backpacker magazine before we left.        The 1,000 mile make was only three miles after the trail center. We took a commemorative photo to mark the moment and moved on. The days walk was a breeze. It was rocky at times but usually flat and smooth.        When we reached the ATC we took pictures to mark our moment in trail history. I looked through the albums to find Jaspers photo. On the way to the post office we stopped to order pizza for lunch. My time in the post office turned out to be quite an event.        I received all the letters from Luray, but none of the larger packages. I initially forgot about them since I had two other boxes for me. I went back to ask for them. No dice on the second check. If the letters made it, surely the express package should have made it before them. I asked if they could call Luray to inquire about them. Ten minutes later they tell me they can¢t find the number. I walked back to the restaurant to get it. The phone at Luray was busy for five minutes. Finally we got through and found that the packages were still there¢¦.they sent some mail but not others? Oh well, it should be here by Saturday morning¢¦hopefully.         Tonight we¢re in a hotel in Charles Town.   It¢s across the street from a couple of mini malls so it¢ll be easier to do our shopping. I¢ll even be able to make a late night walk to Walmart.
Date: 2006-05-26
From: Harpers Ferry

To: Charles Town WV
Miles today: 0.0

Another zero day. I¢ll always feel bored on zero days because we¢re usually walking for eight hours.        I made sure to increase my fat reserves by eating a 2500 calorie lunch and a huge dinner. For most of the day we watched movies because the hotel had four movie channels. I got a bad headache in the afternoon and it never went away. I decided to call it a night at 11:00 so I could get some sleep.