morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-04-23
From: Jerry Mountain Shelter

To: Bald Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 24.7
Weather: broken clouds

Up hill to Big Butt at 4840' with an overlook then down to Flint gap, 3425'. Then up to Frozen Knob, 4580' and down again! so the trail goes! At Hogback shelter, 4:00 p.m., we decided to move down the trail just a bit further, due to the crowd at Hogback, so at 6:40 we arrived at Low Gap, where there were no spot to camp either! Continuing on, the terrain is very steep and doesn't lend itself to camping ... we hiked on and on.. and by 9:20 p.m. we had done our first night hike and made it across Big Bald to Bald Mountain Shelter! whew! a long day, but an excellent one!
Date: 2006-04-25
From: Uncle Johnny's Nolichucky Hostel

To: Cherry Gap shelter
Miles today: 16.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Shuttled agian to Erwin to pick up our food box at the post office and had a pancake breakfast as well. Beautiful pine forests. Met Low Gear, who use to be a prison guard, now a thru hiker. He had started with a 65 lb pack with all kinds of things he didn't need, like road flares, pepper spray, heavy sleeping bag, etc. Comfortably Numb, Transcriber and Thin Mint at the shelter as well.
Date: 2006-04-26
From: Cherry Gap shelter

To: Roan High shelter
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: moderate rain

Rain and wet feet today. Roan Mountain was very steep and we climbed to the shelter, which was once a ranger station at 6285'. This shelter was our first to have a door and four walls and an upstairs. It was cold outside and we quickly added our extra layer. There were lots of people here, but we were all glad to be in the dry shelter. Thunder,lightening and more rain outside!
Date: 2006-04-27
From: Roan High shelter

To: Apple shelter
Miles today: 14.7

It rained hard most of the night. The temperature was just above freezing. We took off our extra layer and put it into the trash bag, where it was sure to stay dry. We put back on those wet sock and headed off after a good breakfast of hash browns and eggs. We wore fleece hats, gloves and wind pants. The trail was a river of water a couple of inches deep. By 11:00, however, the mist had cleared and the sky started to turn blue. Great views from Little Hump and Hump Mountain. Also, a herd of long horned steer lay in the sun close to the trail and didn't move as we hiked by. Our shoes and socks dried as we walked into the afternoon. Apple shelter by 5:00 and we were near a road. A restaurant had an ad posted in the shelter, which we decided to head for, only a mile down the road. Mapman ordered a steak! Back at the shleter at 7 p.m. and we were still the only ones there. On the walls of the shelter were written, "this shelter is haunted".    At dark, we heard someone coming toward us. It turned out to be Jimmeny and Cricket from '98 and their three children. They were in the area and decided to bring some trail magic to our shelter; two pizzas, 8 cans of soda, a box of sticky buns, 8 Snickers, a box of Swiss rolls and a package of Reese's peanut butter cups! Wow, we liked this "haunted" shelter! We ate pizza and packed out the rest of it and put the cans of soda in the spring for others and hung most of the other items from the rafters on strings with tuna cans to keep mice from walking down the strings. Nice!
Date: 2006-04-28
From: Apple shelter

To: Moreland Gap shelter
Miles today: 18.2
Weather: few clouds

Sunny and 70s by noon! beautiful day!! Jones Falls were amazing - a tenth of a mile off the trail, well worth it! Numb and Banjo Man were at the shelter by day's end. Excellent view of the rolling hills from the shelter and the sunset was bursting with color.
Date: 2006-04-29
From: Moreland Gap shelter

To: Watauga Lake shelter
Miles today: 17.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Beautiful day with spring weather. We we resupplied at Lauel Forks Hostel. There was no one at this hostel, but the more visited Kincora was packed with people. Laurel Forks worked out well, laundry, hot shower and our food drop was waiting. Off hiking again and confused at one point. We found ourselves on a blue blazed trail. So, back to the while blazes again, and we realized that a double white blaze was covered by tree branches, which indicated a turn, which we hadn't taken. The more used day hiker trail looked like the A.T. being actually more used than the A.T.! But, we figured it out! Damascus here we come!
Date: 2006-05-03
From: Lost Mountain shelter

To: Wise shelter
Miles today: 17.3
Weather: broken clouds

Caught up with Chill today. Extream wind on top of Buzzard Rock, top of White Top Mountain, but less wind at Elk Garden, which is 1,000 in elevation lower. Wildflowers are everywhere! New foals in the herd of wild ponies near Thomas Knob shelter, excellent viewing time during lunch at the shelter. More ponies in Grayson Highlands State Park. nice to see!
Date: 2006-05-05
From: Trimpi shelter

To: Chatfield shelter
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: light rain

We arrived at Partenership shelter by 11:30 a.m. and took a shower! can't believe there was a shower there! The shelter was near the Mt. Roger's National Recreation Area Headquarters with a visitors center!   At Chatfield shelter, we met Otter and Coheba and a section hiker with his dog. Dogs aren't allowed in the shelters and the dog wasn't happy about being left out. Chill had gone for the motel in Atkins.
Date: 2006-05-06
From: Chatfield shelter

To: Knot Maul Branch
Miles today: 18.4
Weather: overcast clouds

After four miles of hiking today, we crossed highway 81 where we found the Country Restaurant and breakfast! More nice trail and a great day of hiking. The shelter area had lots of people including, Chill, Identity Crisis, Outbreak, Morning Fit, Big Foot and Ounce. Asleep by 8:30 -hiker's midnight!
Date: 2006-05-07
From: Knot Maul Branch

To: Jenkin's shelter
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: moderate rain

Rain, fog and more rain and colder temperatures. We hike to Chestnut Knob shelter, which use to be a ranger station, so we had four walls and two picnic tables! We pulled off our wet clothes and put on dry long Johns and worked to get warm. The shelter became full of others, including, Grinds and his cold, wet girlfriend, who was visiting him for a few days. She looked like she was ready to get back to home! Chill came in and warmed up and we encouaged each other to continue onto the next shelter as the rain come to a mist. At Jenkin's shelter, we met a huge group of people including Ork and Bean, Rainbow Connection, Danger Zone, Pumpkin, Pink Blaze, Fortune Cookie, Mad Dog and more! We tented! Nice sign in the shelter saying that the Methodist church was offering breakfast tomorrow morning for hikers!
Date: 2006-05-08
From: Jenkin's shelter

To: Helveys Mill shelter
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Wow!! What trail magic today! The Methodist church shuttled us off the trail to their near by church at 8:30 a.m. for breakfast! What a spread at the tabling including orange juice, ham, sausage, cheese, eggs, ham, muffins, waffles, bananas and more! The minister strummed is guitar as we ate. There were 15 of us hikers at two long tables. It was a great party! After eating the church members also handed out Mother's day card for us to write a note home! They said they would put stamps on the envelopes and mail them for us! What good will! Back on the trail, we cruised along to Helveys shelter by 3 p.m. It was a great day for hiking. The overcast day made for cool hiking conditions. We set up out tent. There were lots of hikers at the shelter including Pumpkin, Mad Dog, Danger Zone, Pink Blaze, Chill.
Date: 2006-05-09
From: Helveys Mill shelter

To: Trent's Grocery store/ campsite
Miles today: 16.3

Cool and overcast. On the trail by 7:15 and to Jenny Knob shelter by 10:45. Excellent trail, rolling hills, beautiful. At VA606 there was Trent's grocery store, where we stopped for a hamburger. Chill decided to camp in their back yard for $6 and do his laundry. We decided to do the same. Our clothes were very much in need of washing. We were in a logging area and near by was a huge pile of tree trunks.
Date: 2006-05-10
From: Trent's Grocery store/ campsite

To: Doc's Knob
Miles today: 16.1

Breakfast at Trent's short order grill. Beautiful creek and falls at Dismal Creek, which is the wrong name for this area. Too cold to swim, however. Awesome area of pines, water, ridges. At Doc's Knob, we found steep ridges around us and found no place to set up our tent, so opted for the shelter tonight. Moring Fit, Outbreak, Pumpkin, Chill all were at the shelter as well. Route Step joined us after dinner, when the rain had started up again. We all squeeze in for the night.
Date: 2006-05-11
From: Doc's Knob

To: 2 miles north of Rice Field
Miles today: 16.3

foggy in the morning, but nice hike past Angels Rest 3550' and down the valley to Pearisburg at 1620' by 9:45 a.m. Compost met us as we hiked to the post office. He had the biggest smile on his face because he had picked up his new shoes! He had been wearing his crocks the last 163 miles! Chill and Pumpkin were at the Hardies and Ork and Bean were at the Pizza Hut. We past more people in town that we knew than when we do a shopping run at our own home town! At the post office, we picked up another food drop then went to the chinese buffet! On the way out of town we stopped at the Rendezvous motel to buy a bit more denatured alcohol. Back on the trail, we climbed back up to 3375' and past the Rice Field shelter, which was full of about 20 high school students, an outdoor boot camp. Two miles down the trail, we found a great camp spot out of the wind and on nice duff. The temperature was down around 45 and the mist was turning to rain. We got into our tent and under our down quilt for a restful sleep. 9:00 p.m.
Date: 2006-05-12
From: 2 miles north of Rice Field

To: Bailey's Gap shelter
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: overcast clouds

No rain last night and non today either. At Stoney Creek, there was a sign that the bridge ahead was out and we could take a detour. However, we didn't want to take a deture if at all possible. We wanted to hike the entire trail. Robin hiked ahead to check it out. The bridge was out, but a tree had also fallen across the creek and it was a huge tree. We could cross on that. Robin crossed to be sure, then returned to Mapman and they headed north. Mapman crossed over on the tree successfully and we arrived at Bailey Gap shelter. Cool Hand Luke, a Cub fan from Chicago, Squarrel, and Junco were at the shelter as well. Ork and Bean joined the group at dusk. nice evening.
Date: 2006-05-13
From: Bailey's Gap shelter

To: Sarver Hollow shelter
Miles today: 21.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Clouds cleared off and the sun shone today! At Wind Rock 4100' we snacked and enjoyed the rays. Open fields with cows, stiles to cross, more open fields and rolling hills. At Sarver shelter there were lots of folks, including Wolf, Fear Not, Good Tho, Mama Bear, Free at Last, Fiddle Head, Slick Bee, Tecumseh, Cool Hand, Junco, Squarrel & Grinds. Big shelter, which we slept in cowboy style on the covered porch. It rained in the night, but we stayed dry.
Date: 2006-05-14
From: Sarver Hollow shelter

To: Pickle Branch shelter
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: light rain

Lots of rain last night. Good climb with views from rock bluffs at 3450'. Huge black wall of clouds gathered in the sky around noon. Thunder and lightening pushed through the area for about 30 min. We were climbing a ridge at the time under trees and not exposed. Audie Murphy's memorial was on the top of the ridge at 3080'. Sunny on the back side of the wall of clouds. But, more rain came by night fall. Junco, and Squarrel made it to the shelter with us and Iron Wolf was already there. Ork and Bean rolled in at night fall.
Date: 2006-05-15
From: Pickle Branch shelter

To: Campbell shelter
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: light rain

Dragon's tooth today with Ork and Bean, so we got great pictures! Stunning views over the green valleys at 3020'. Also, thickets and tunnels of large pink rhododendron blossoms the size of grapefruit. Pink lady slippers and Mountain Laurel blossoms were all out in force! Near the town of Catawba was a cooler with treats for hikers! On toward the famous look out of McAfee Knob at 3250'. Dub and Scoot were there to take our picture, what a view! Quiet shelter as we were the only ones in it and a full brilliant moon.
Date: 2006-05-16
From: Campbell shelter

To: Howard Johnson Express Inn
Miles today: 15.4

More amazing views at Rock Haven and Hay Rock and we headed to the town of Daleville. Tinker Cliffs were also stunning and we liked the ridgewalk across them. A deer followed us for a quarter mile or so and when we stopped on the rocky ledge, the deer came out to us. It must have been fed and was looking for another hand out. We are of the mind to keep wild animals wild so we didn't give him anything. In town, we bought a bag of oranges and did our own trail magic giving them out to hikers we saw. At the motel we saw Ork & Bean, Cagoose, Parkay, Walk-about and Free Fall.
Date: 2006-05-18
From: Howard Johnson Express Inn

To: Bobbets Gap shelter
Miles today: 18.5
Weather: scattered clouds

 Big day for the new hikers. We hiked over rolling pastures, thru rolling hills and into the pines. It was a glorious sunny day. We stopped at Wilson Creek shelter for a break after 12 miles. Then we pushed on to Bobbets Gap. Free Fall, Walk-about, Caboose and Parkway were all there too and unfortunately, they had brought beer from town and stayed up late drinking.
Date: 2006-05-19
From: Bobbets Gap shelter

To: Bryant Ridge shelter
Miles today: 13.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Beautiful hike along the Blue Ridge Parkway seeing views of Sharp Top and Mills gap and climbed Cove Mountian 2720' and down to Jennings Creek at 950'. Tunnels of rhododendrons and mountain laurel in full bloom lined the trail. Big, new shelter with Sven, Tailwind, Aloha, Bunny, Slide Rule and our friends now with names, Nightengale and Florence. Much better atmosphere tonight.
Date: 2006-05-20
From: Bryant Ridge shelter

To: 3 miles north of Thunder Hill shelter
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: scattered clouds

The trillium were out all over the trail and in full bloom today! sunny and beautiful day. Guillotine rock was fun to go under, suspended over the trail caught by two other rock faces. We crossed the Blue Ridge parkway road twice and arrived at Thunder Hill shelter by 3:00 p.m. We enjoyed the sun and hung out with our friends. Dinner then we hiked a bit further down the trail from the shelter to a campsite over looking the 12 layers of Blue Ridge mountains on the horizon. It was very inspiring with the sunset colors around us and the quiet of the spot.
Date: 2006-05-22
From: John's Hollow campsite

To: Dutch Haus B&B
Miles today: 0.0

zero day. Our friends had hiked 70 miles of the A.T. and were very happy with the trail and their accomplishment. Now, Nightengale would drive us back to St. Louis for a graduation and retirement of two family members. We would rent a car and drive back to the trail, this spot to resume our hike on 6/1.
Date: 2006-06-01
From: Howard Johnson Express

To: Punch Bowl shelter
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Back on the trail! so very nice to be back on trail! Del, a trail angel drove us back to the James River where we got last. Up, up to Bluff Mountainat 2650' from the River at 710'. Thunder rumbled, but no rain. Punch Bowl shelter is at 2500'. Hot day, at shelter some of our old friends, Mike and Zan of Austrailia. Also, Minnesota Smith, Jeremiah Johnson, G-Walk, Jump Start and Enduro.
Date: 2006-06-02
From: Punch Bowl shelter

To: Hog Camp Gap
Miles today: 17.6
Weather: overcast clouds

At USFS Road 38, we met Flash and Hot Flash, a couple who had hiked the trail all the way thru in '87. Very fun to talk with them and hear how different the trail was back then. Their only trail magic was from a motercycle gang and it was some moon shine. Flash pretended to take a swig and Hot Flash thought he liked it so took a real sip and about gagged! Then over Rice Mountain 2210' and onto Brown Mountain Creek shelter. After the break we continued north to Hog Camp Gap and found an excellent field to camp for the night. Daisy, Mud Flap and their son Sizzle were there. Old friends, Pigeon and Tattoo also came into the area, we had seen them back at Max Patch. Burner, Feng Suai and G-Walk joined us too.
Date: 2006-06-03
From: Hog Camp Gap

To: Harpers Creek campsite
Miles today: 22.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Lunch at the Dutch Haus with lots of other hikers. Louis and Earl are very generous in opening up their home for all of us hikers. They give a free lunch to any hiker that show up! Blue, Waltzing Matilda, Hawkeye, Knock-Knock, and more were there.   After a good lunch and visit, we headed north to Sky Rock 3860' a look out post during the Civil War. Then Priest Mountain and down to the Tye River, which was buzzing with 35 Boy Scouts! We pushed on to Harpers Creek and found our own camp site by 9 p.m.
Date: 2006-06-04
From: Harpers Creek campsite

To: Paul C. Wolfe shelter
Miles today: 22.3
Weather: light rain

Super hiking day. 70s sunny; rolling hills from 1800' to 3900'. Lunch at Maupin Field shelter with Banjo Man, Pigeon, Tattoo, Goldfish, GWalk, Silver Foot, Baldylocks, Mike and Zan. We all decided to make the next shelter 16 miles north. Humpback mountain at 3600' and then down to the shelter at 1700'. Made it to the shelter by 7:45 p.m. Banjo Man strummed his backpacker's guitar and we all enjoyed the concert.
Date: 2006-06-05
From: Paul C. Wolfe shelter

To: Shenandoah Natl pk. Calf Mountain
Miles today: 12.0

Town day at Waynesboro, which was a very friendly hiker town. At the road crossing, there is a visitors' center with a phone for the hikers and list of numbers to call for rides to town. While we waited for our ride, Rock Sitter and Bull Winkle came by and handed out home made cookies! Then Alice drove up, a retired lady who loves golf, doesn't hike, but likes to shuttle the hikers to town! She also had room for Mike and Zan, who had just walked up. She also stopped by the outfitter and Mapman bought some new socks and fuel for our stove. Alice then dropped us at the post office. We picked up our food box and walked down a few blocks to the YMCA. The attendant tossed us a towel when we entered and said the showers were down the hall! After the shower, we walked out of the building at a red pick up truck stopped to ask where we needed to go! It was off to the laundromat, where we met very friendly locals, one of whom finished her laundry at the same time as us and offered to take us back to the trail head! What a friendly town!! On the trail, there was the self registration box for Shenandoah permits. Beautiful park and we would have 107 miles of trail thru this park. At Calf Mountain shelter there was Rock Sitter, Bullwinkle, Expo, Recess, Penguin, Tux, Out Break and Jimmy C. We hung our food from poles that the park provided out side the shelter.
Date: 2006-06-06
From: Shenandoah Natl pk. Calf Mountain

To: Pinefield shelter (Shenandoah)
Miles today: 26.2

Excellent hiking. Robin was her first bear! He was right on the trail about 30 feet ahead and he scooted into the brush was fast as he could. Very tame deer in the park. We past two deer with in arms length right off the trail and they didn't move as we stopped to take their picture! Views from Blackrock 3092' and Loft Mountain 3320'.
Date: 2006-06-08
From: Bearfence Hut (Shenandoah Natl pk)

To: Rock Spring Hut (Shenandoah)
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: overcast clouds

easy day took our time. This shelter was full of hikers. Butterfly and Boxcar hiked into camp late and couldn't find a place to pitch their tent, so they cowboy camped under the bear pole. A section hiker staying at the cabin said at 8 a.m. this morning, they were still sleeping when a bear came into camp and sniffed them and look up to the food bags and moved on!
Date: 2006-06-09
From: Rock Spring Hut (Shenandoah)

To: Pass Mountain Hut (Shenandoah)
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: scattered clouds

clear, sunny and perfect hiking. Views at Crescent Rock overlook at 3450'. We ate lunch at the Pinnacles Picnic area on picnic tables. A "want- a- be" hiker came over to talk with us about thru hiking an handed out fresh cut melon! yumm! At Mary's Rock 3500' we watched the turkey vultures ride the wind currents at our eye level! After dinner, which we ate with several other thru hikers, Pigeon, Tatto, Gringo and Out Break joined us. They were wearing name tags?! They scored awesome trail magic being invited to a wedding reception and buffet line! Then Holly, who had gone to fill her water bottle called us to come and check out the bear drinking out of the creek! nice! We got to observe for several minutes before he left.
Date: 2006-06-10
From: Pass Mountain Hut (Shenandoah)

To: Gravel Spring Hut (Shenandoah)
Miles today: 13.1

We got to see another glimps of the bear this morning at the same creek as we were leaving. nice trail fun time at the shelter with concert from Banjo Man. Blue Skies song was a hit as well as Icky, Yucki Sushi! Banjo Man had taken second place with that song in the Damascus Trail days talent show!
Date: 2006-06-11
From: Gravel Spring Hut (Shenandoah)

To: Jim & Molly Denton shelter
Miles today: 18.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Another picture perfect day in the Shenandoah, our last day in this park. We met Brain Freeze and Identity Crisis and Just Judy, Bama and Little Wing, K'ache, Pi, & Sleepy Arab. Nice shelter, four miles out of the Shenandoah park with a solar powered shower. I took a shower and the water was probably 60s! guess the sun hadn't heated this water much! More hikers came into the area including Butterfly Sky, Boxcar, and Ghost. We got to tell Butterfly and Boxcar about the bear that had wondered into camp at Rock Springs and had sniffed them while they slept under the food pole and were cowboy camped!
Date: 2006-06-12
From: Jim & Molly Denton shelter

To: Rod Hollow shelter
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Rain at 2 a.m. this morning. Our hiking umbrellas came in handy again. Just down the trail, we crossed VA/55VA725 at Manassas Gap where we turned left down the road for 1.2 miles to the Linden post office and picked up our next food drop. Bouncing out of town sure saved time and money. It was nice to just pick up a food box and keep going. Harpers Ferry was coming up. The trail was amazing and we were so enjoying being outside 24/7!
Date: 2006-06-13
From: Rod Hollow shelter

To: David Lesser Memorial shelter
Miles today: 21.0
Weather: overcast clouds

The trail came upon the beautiful veiw of the Shenandoah River at Bears' Den Rocks. Also, we past the Bears' Den Hostel, a stone building built in 1930 now owned by the ATC (Appalachian Trail Conservancy), a 26 bed facility with a meeting room and yard allowing camping!   Bama and Just Judy greated us, their tents were already pitched in the yard and they had been invited to the buffet at the hostel, which was spread for a social workers conference for the mentally impaired. The participants of the meeting loved talking to us and gave us food as well. After socializing, we moved on down the trail to the next shelter just three miles away.
Date: 2006-06-14
From: David Lesser Memorial shelter

To: Harper's Ferry (the Henn's house)
Miles today: 9.4

Harpers Ferry and the Appalachian Trail conservancy headquarters today! Built in 1747, the building of the ATC was welcoming. Very historical town with the rock that Jefferson stood on and looked out over the Shenandoah River. Inside the ATC was a huge relief map of the whole A.T. Staff took our picture and added it to their photo books. We enjoyed looking through the books. We weighed our packs and ourselves both lighted than when starting the trail. We refilled our fuel bottle and picked up another food drop at the post office. Old Drum was ahead of me in line at the post office and he was explaining to the postal worker that he had been "robbed" out on the trail. He was missing his rear end! we laughed! Suzie, our friend from Reston, VA picked us up for a zero day at her house tomorrow!