morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2012-05-09
From: 611.0 Dismal Creek

To: 629.8 Pearisburg
Miles today: 18.8

A damp morning turned to rain about 12:00. Stopped into Docs Knob Shelter for a quick lunch. It was cold left over pizza. Two unrelated section hikers were waiting it out. An old fellow with a Mini-Pincher whom he carries and a younger guy with two mixed huskies, one a puppy. With 8 miles and the light at the end of the tunnel in sight I moved along into Pearisburg. It was about 48 ¢ cold with a strong wind across a ridge for about 3 miles and 3600 feet. Cannot stop, will become cold. Had gloves over mitts on and a rain jacket, shorts, gators and head gear. Still cold but less rain and wind at Craggy Angels Rest. A beautiful spot of huge layered stacked rocks and spectacular peak bloom Rhododendrons. Really a very nice forest effect walking under them. Ascent3620 Descent 4340, Hike duration 10Hr 00Min
Date: 2012-05-10
From: 629.8 Pearisburg

To: 629.8 Pearisburg
Miles today: 0.0

Favorite scent and sight yesterday was the elusive clove spice smell of Pink Azaleas. Hope to see and smell more. These grow like the Flame Azaleas interspersed in the hard wood forest and sometimes among the Rhododendrons. All these plus Mountain Laurel are in bloom here. Lily of the Valley is also in bloom. It has turned cold, 40¢s at night with Rain forecasted for the nights so there may be no scents for a few days.Ascent0 Descent 0, Hike duration 0Hr 00Min
Date: 2012-05-11
From: 629.8 Pearisburg

To: 649.4 Pine Swamp Branch Shelter
Miles today: 19.3
Weather: clear sky

Last nite I enjoyed Old Time Music from the 1880¢s while eating some of the best BBQ and Soul Food that I have ever had. I was on the lookout for Local String Music and saw that the Giles String band ws playing. The owner of the Old Virginia Smokehouse plays as well as his wife. It was a Gala type of gathering with two fiddles, two banjos, guitar, and base. Very enjoyable. The lead gentleman is 83 and learned civil war music from his grandfather who was in the war. The smokehouse also features Brunswick Stew(the chicken variety, not squirrel which is original). A recipe from the wife¢s father ¢ stew master from Brunswick County Virginia. A good experience!Ascent 4290 Descent 3370, Hike duration 9Hr 24Min
Date: 2012-05-12
From: 649.4 Pine Swamp Branch Shelter

To: 667.6 Laurel Creek Shelter
Miles today: 18.5
Weather: clear sky

6AM, Tent Temp 45, outside 40. A brisk start to a day that proved to be rocky and rough on the feet. Hiked with Old Goose (retired history teacher from Chicago area) who I had met coming into Damascus. Met William who is taking a few vacations days to section hike locally. Also met Shanti who is hiking to bring awareness for Peace and her friend Storm ¢ all at the shelter, some of them tenting. I was tired so decided not to pitch the tent. The shelter¢s wooden floor is harder than the ground though. I will get a klymit air mattress to lay on top of my Z-Rest. The AT crosses the Eastern Continental Divide and is the longest marked foot path in the world. Ascent 4420 Descent 4170, Hike duration 10Hr 00Min
Date: 2012-05-13
From: 667.6 Laurel Creek Shelter

To: 685.1 Audie Murphy
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: overcast clouds

An easier day with a welcomed stop for a trail side dinner made in Dutch Ovens. The women putting it on want to recognize the unique contribution that thru-hikers make by taking time in their lives to adopt a simple and more humble life style. Some of them were thru-hikers themselves. About 25 or so hikers were there when I stopped. Hiked on carrying water for a climb of 1550 and 3.5 miles. Called it a day near the Audie Murphy Monument. Murphy was the most decorated American soldier of World War II.Apparently he died in a plane crash near the monument (and my tent spot). It is now raining and 58 with rain in the forcast for the upcoming days.Ascent 3930 Descent 3530, Hike duration 9Hr 30Min
Date: 2012-05-14
From: 685.1 Audie Murphy

To: 696.8 Four Pines Hostel
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: moderate rain

Rain during the night but was able to pack up ok. The route today climbed to a ridge which like a dragons back kept climbing up. It became narrow with lichen covered slabs on edge forming a pathway- well with rocks to climb around. The culmination of four hours of climbing was reaching the knob overlook or head of the Dragon. Unfortunately this coincided with down pouring rain. I didn¢t take the optional 0.1 mile hike to the ¢Dragons Tooth¢ on big monolith rock. Instead I started the steep series of ledge traverses down. Some ares had rebar holds. Fun with rivulets of rain streaming down. I will say that about a mile of the descent was beautiful with peak Mountain Laurel in Bloom against the gray rocks. With the Pines and fog it looked oriental and bonsai like. Decided to cut the day short and stay in the Hostel close to where the trail meets VA and 624. Actually it is an oversized garage ¢ but I am lying on a bench built along the wall of a metal barn ¢ dry. Tomorrow may be a wet one again, then and overnight in Daleville.Ascent 2400 Descent 3620, Hike duration 6Hr 30Min
Date: 2012-05-15
From: 696.8 Four Pines Hostel

To: 713.1 Lamberts Meadow Shelter
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: light rain

Last night it poured intermittently so it was good to have been under cover although I didn¢t sleep well. Reached McAfee Knob after noon. This is a traditional photo spot. The dark clouds moving up the valley below held off. The trail followed the ridge to Tinker Cliffs. Beautiful but I hurried to the shelter just minutes before another down pour. I was DRY!!Ascent 4370 Descent 4200, Hike duration 9Hr 30Min
Date: 2012-05-16
From: 713.1 Lamberts Meadow Shelter

To: 722.5 Daleville Va.
Miles today: 9.4
Weather: few clouds

This morning¢s hike was along a pine covered ridge with white sand and pine needles between the rocks and ledges. It reminded me of the cape. I could watch the sun climb and the valley fog lift. Descending into Daleville. The sound of cicadas became almost deafening. I noticed it the day before. It is a high frequency. When you are about to re-enter hardwoods after being in a clearing it is like entering a cone of sound. At first I thought I was paralleling high tension power lines. The area is full of these insects. Apparently out for their every 17 year cycle. The ¢Hills are alive with the Sound of Cicadas! Today I saw a bear galloping at a diagonal away from me ¢ ie. In the right direction!Ascent 1280 Descent 2150, Hike duration 4Hr 00Min
Date: 2012-05-17
From: 722.5 Daleville Va.

To: 742.2 Blue Ridge Parkway
Miles today: 19.9

Today marks my completion of one Third of the AT ¢ 728 miles! Very Good. It also marks the first in a series of days that I am ¢slack packing¢.   This means that I am hiking for the day with only day pack supplies like lunch, water, some clothing. I was fortunate to be asked to join Old Goose doing this. His wife Sheri is down from Chicago and can bring us to the trailhead and pick us up at the end of the day as we move north near the Blue Ridge parkway. Notable sightings today, a deer, a black rat snake about 2.5 feet long.Ascent 4610 Descent 3470, Hike duration 9Hr 18Min
Date: 2012-05-18
From: 742.2 Blue Ridge Parkway

To: 762.0 Blue Ridge parkway
Miles today: 19.6

Day two Slack Packing. Another good weather day. Three nice shelters along the way, particularly Bryant Ridge Shelter which was built like a two story mountain chalet and holds 20 people.Ascent 5420 Descent 4400, Hike duration 9Hr 00Min
Date: 2012-05-19
From: 762.0 Blue Ridge parkway

To: 779.3 US 501
Miles today: 17.3

Day three slack packing. Changed location at night to the town of Buena Vista. It is fun to ride in the car along the parkway to experience it. Crossed the James River on the longest foot bridge on the AT. Having the bridge saved a day¢s hike up and back to the original bridge..Ascent 2730 Descent 5470, Hike duration 8Hr 30Min
Date: 2012-05-20
From: 779.3 US 501

To: 801.1 US 60 Buena Vista
Miles today: 21.7

Day Four Slack Packing. A record mileage day so far (with the light pack of course) Met up with ¢Alpo¢ and his mother who was stopped on the BRP dispensing Trail Magic ¢ sandwiches, watermelon and other goodies. A nice break during a long day. So far I thought that this region doesn¢t have the ticks that we do at home. Wrong ¢ today I found two, one wood and one deer tick on me. In fact it was the day of the tick since I came upon a hiker who asked for help removing a tick from his scalp. ¢Crossman¢ was taking 6 days to hike the trail but normally bikes with his cross. He spreads the ¢word of God¢ and has ridden 17,000 miles doing it. I successfully removed the tick and was blessed for my effort.Ascent 5460 Descent 4060, Hike duration 10Hr 00Min
Date: 2012-05-21
From: 801.1 US 60 Buena Vista

To: 817.4 Spy Rock Rd.
Miles today: 16.3

Day Five Slack Packing. I have the luxury of being driven around by Sheri. She dropped us off at the trailhead this morning, then brought our trashbags of ¢non slack¢ items to a B and B near the next section. Now happily relaxing in a charming comfortable wood paneled B and B. The owners shuttle hikers to trail spots..Ascent 4460 Descent 3670, Hike duration 8Hr 30Min
Date: 2012-05-22
From: 817.4 Spy Rock Rd.

To: 826.5 Tye River
Miles today: 9.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Day Six Slack Packing. I have been admiring a white clintonia along the trail. At home it is C Borealis ¢ Blue Bead with yellow flowers. This has an elegant round cluster of white. Still smelling clove azaleas here and there. Some new flowers for me are Bowman¢s root (Gillenia trifoliata), Golden Alexander (Zizia Aptera) and Four-leaved Milkweed. The mountains must be catacombed since moist soil plants like Spiderwort and cow parsnip form drifts near summits. I have seen wild comfrey, very tall coral and yellow columbens and pastel pink and Yellow Fumewort. It is too bad that hiking distances prohibits serious bird watching. The green canopy with sunlight filtering through made a deep woods back drop to spot Mountain Bluebirds and Redstarts. These creatures move so fast and their colors are so bright I can hardly believe what I have seen.Ascent 2240 Descent 3970, Hike duration 4Hr 51Min
Date: 2012-05-23
From: 826.5 Tye River

To: 842.0 Dripping Rock
Miles today: 15.5

Day Seven slack packing. Your eyes do not deceive you. Today I hiked North to South. Tomorrow will be a ¢flip flop¢ skipping over today¢s covered section. Having a car ride by the B and B owners to drop off at end points allows one to hike down about 3000 feet today instead of up. This proved to be a big help since the way was rocky and slippery in the morning¢s down pour. The B and B owners are part of the search and rescue team in the area so we hear stories of two recent copperhead snake bites; people being shuttled for acute poison ivy treatment; a woman with a broken arm getting back on the trail and of intestinal flu occurrences all recent. I am just looking forward to going to the Waynesboro Post Office tomorrow and trying my new trail running shoes. It will be an easy 14 miles. Still slack packing since I am having the big black trash bag of pack contents dropped off at the motel. I will need to arrange a ride into Waynesboro with a volunteer trail angle. I will resupply there and get ready to hike into the Shenandoah Nation park with my full pack..Ascent 1800 Descent 3350, Hike duration 8Hr 30Min
Date: 2012-05-24
From: 842.0 Dripping Rock

To: 856.5 Rockfish Gap
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: light rain

Day 8 slack packing over a comparatively easy route starting North where we headed southbound yesterday. There are four of us hiking together now. Mad hat from Minnesota had decided to stay at the B and B with us and now Waynesboro where we are overnighting. Mad Hat is a retired freight conductor and wears a multi-colored conductor¢s hat. He is on trailjournals.com as well. I am enjoying the group dynamic. Hikers group together then circumstances like differences in pace spread them apart.Ascent 2160 Descent 3330 Duration 6 hr 15 Mins
Date: 2012-05-25
From: 856.5 Rockfish Gap

To: 876.3 Blackrock Hut
Miles today: 19.8
Weather: clear sky

Back in the swing of things with the full pack. Started hiking at 7:30. Shortly into the trail there is a registration station in the woods for the National Park permit which you tear off (triplicate) and carry with you. A hazy, hot and humid day. I am madly trying to avoid poison ivy as I hike. I¢m sure that I¢ll lose this battle eventually. Mad hat and I stopped for a mid-morning break at an open overlook spot. It was a bit ledgy. I could see around the ledges. As we ate Mad hat spotted a four foot long rattler about as thick as my wrist. Oh Boy, my first rattler on the trail. It was below us minding its own business, basically coiling up in the shade of a bush. I didn¢t want to get too close for the picture. I guess it was a double header day since in the afternoon rounding the corner of a long graded uphill I see a bear standing in the trail looking at me. It was about 50 feet away so I made a hasty retreat. Mad hat was behind and blew his whistle before we cautiously advanced. No sign of the bear. Settled into the tent at Black Rock hut about 8:30pm. ¢Rock¢ was the operative word. It is my first nite trying out the new air mattress. I am already very happy with it.Ascent 4670 Descent 3880 Duration 10 hr 00 Mins
Date: 2012-05-26
From: 876.3 Blackrock Hut

To: 897.7 High Top Hut
Miles today: 21.4

Once it wasn¢t fully dark last night there was a whip-or-will A-thon. One of the birds was within a few feet of the tent. They never stopped all night. I slept well with my mattress though. The Shenandoah National Park (SNP) route has fewer water sources and the shelter spacing isn¢t quite right for full days at my pace. Today¢s 21.4 was really two miles longer counting getting to and from shelters, water and the Loft Mountain wayside for a Blackberry Milkshake and Hamburg. You are criss-crossing Skyline drive all of the time plus being memorial weekend there are lots of people out hiking. One fellow at the scenic pull over along the drive this morning was working on a documentary (his) about AT hikers so I was among those who volunteered to be interviewed. Another hazy, hot, humid day. Got into the shelter the latest that I ever have stopped ¢ 7:30PM. There were many piles of bear scat on the way in ¢ everything is hung on bear poles now.Ascent 4640 Descent 4180 Duration 12 hr 00 Mins
Date: 2012-05-27
From: 897.7 High Top Hut

To: 921.6 Rock Spring Hut
Miles today: 23.9
Weather: clear sky

Today marked 10 weeks/70 days and passing 900 miles on the trail. No signs of bears last night. The trail weaves around Skyline Drive so one can hike up to camp stores, picnic areas, waysides and Big meadow Lodge and Skyland Restaurants fairly easily. So I had a conversation with a fellow who hiked the trail in 2010 and was stopping at the picnic area to give out trail magic (Honey Buns and Coke) to Thru-Hikers. Then I stopped at the Lewis Mtn Camp store for more to drink. And finally at the Big Meadows wayside about 5:00 for a hamburger and Blackberry Milkshake. An Awful lot of stopping to get in the longest day yet of 23.9. My dogs were barking so much I just wanted to get off of them so grabbed a spot in the upper level of the shelter. There were 10 already there including a father, young son, and friend from Titusville Fl doing a week and one half section up into PA..Ascent 4820 Descent 4500 Duration 13 hr 00 Mins
Date: 2012-05-28
From: 921.6 Rock Spring Hut

To: 940.1 Stealth Camp
Miles today: 18.5

Not far after leaving Rock Spring I saw Duck and Rhymausarus watching something up ahead. It turned out to be a she-bear and two cubs making their way across the wooded hillside. I have now seen five bears. The first stop was at Skyland restaurant for a second breakfast. The buildings (resort also) are set into the mountain side with views of the Shenandoah Valley. The hike into Rock Spring last night until tonights stop has been the best in the park. Higher with various cliff views (low to mid 3000¢s) Still hot, hazy 80¢s and humid. Had an isolated downpour with hail for about 20 minutes today. Snake Girl and Diesel passed today, shown in picture.Ascent 3720 Descent 4400 Duration 13 hr 00 Mins
Date: 2012-05-29
From: 940.1 Stealth Camp

To: 959.6 Front Royal Hostel
Miles today: 19.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Last night was a push to get a few extra miles in before dark so that today was doable. First stop was the Elk Wallow Wayside in the SNP and 4.4 miles from the campsite. About 0.2 from the wayside I saw three people stopped up ahead on the trail. A rattlesnake had been on the trail and Snake Girl (yes, really her trail name since she had previously stepped on one ¢ no injury) had it coiled off of a long stick. It was rattling fo sure. After pictures were taken she moved it about 15 ft away and lay it down. It just lay there. I guess they¢re out there in the open woods along leaves. Snake Girl hikes with her dog Diesel. Dogs carry their own supplies. Diesel seems pretty happy especially when he doesn¢t have to battle poisonous snakes. I arrived at the hostel just as it started to rain ¢ good thing. A typical hiker hostel ¢ in this case run out of the owner¢s home. Two others came in just before me ¢ Polaris (bear bag incident in GA) and Skeeter. They were being shuttled to Front Royal to meet others and canoe down the Shenandoah River 60 miles to Harpers Ferry. Hikers call I ¢Aqua Blazing¢. Front Royal boasts being the ¢canoe capital of Va.Ascent 3830 Descent 4410 Duration 10 hr 15 Mins
Date: 2012-05-30
From: 959.6 Front Royal Hostel

To: 983.4 Ashby Gap
Miles today: 23.8

I decided to slack pack from the hostel ¢ today going south back to the hostel. Why slack pack again? Timing for one thing to help get into Harpers Ferry before the post office closes Friday and secondly just to help reduce general wear and tear/stay healthy. An added benefit of flip flopping was the fun of walking against the flow of hikers heading Northbound. So I saw people who I have lost track of ¢ Catnip (one of 4 who had their bear bags taken back in Ga), Anja and Fredrich from Germany who I first met entering the Smokey mtns for example. The rain the night before cleared the air a bit so it was a sunny, less humid day. This area of Virginia in particular is full of civil war history. Some shelters reflect that history like ¢Manassas Gap Shelter¢ in Manassas Gap. Manassas was the first major confrontation when the North decided to march south to Richmond (the capital of the confederacy). Later there was another battle at Manassas where the north lost again. The southerners called the first battle Manassas after the nearby city and the north called it Bull Run after a river..Ascent 5320 Descent 3970 Duration 10 hr 00 Mins
Date: 2012-05-31
From: 983.4 Ashby Gap

To: 1004.8 Blackburn AT Center
Miles today: 21.4
Weather: clear sky

Today was challenging even slack packing because of the high mileage which included the ¢Roller Coaster¢. The coaster is a 13.5 mile stretch of fairly steep and rocky in parts ups and downs amounting to about 5700 feet of Ascent and 5k down. The less humid air and sunny day was a help to tackle this. Today also marked the completion of 1000 miles and leaving the state of Virginia! I am now in West Va. For states down 10 to go.Ascent 5750 Descent 5100 Duration 10 hr 25 Mins
Date: 2012-06-01
From: 1004.8 Blackburn AT Center

To: 1017.8 Harpers Ferry WV
Miles today: 11.9
Weather: broken clouds

The Blackburn AT center is a stone building with a screened wraparound porch and stone terraced grounds. Hikers can sleep on the porch or a cabin with 4 bunks. I was lucky last night to get there in time for a spaghetti dinner that the caretakers served on the porch. This morning I climbed back up onto the ridge and hustled into Harpers Ferry to beat a storm. I did. Made it into the AT conservancy before the rain to register as the 301st thru hiker to pass through so far this year. I was number 444 at the start on 3/18. I am lucky to be able to slack pack again since Old Gooses wife is here to shuttle us. So I was able to settle in sheltered from down pours and tornado warnings today. I am very happy to have reached this point. I have actually gained a few pounds and am back at my start weight and still feel good about the hike. My hiking companions remain Trog and Old Goose. Mad Hat is somewhere behind as is the Moving Village who I have not seen since Damascus entering Va..Ascent 1430 Descent 2320 Duration 4 hr 45 Mins
Date: 2012-06-02
From: 1017.8 Harpers Ferry WV

To: 1036.4 Washington Monument State Park
Miles today: 19.1

This was a fun southbound day- relatively easy, cool and sunny after the storm. You walk into historic Harpers Ferry over the old Foot Bridge spanning the Potomac River. Harpers Ferry is at the point where the Shenandoah runs North (yes North) into the Potomac. From the bridge which is packed with people on rented tubes in the river and predominately red brick buildings of the town. Looking back is the train tunnel in the mountain side and below the tow path for the defunct Chesapeake and Ohio canal. By 1860 HF was an industrial town of 3000 people. Mostly engaged in rifle and musket manufacturing (10k/yr) for the U.S. armory. John Brown in 1859 tried to take over the armory as an abolitionist step to rid the nation of slavery. He failed. The incident resulted in heightened tensions that fueled the start of the civil war. Ultimately HF became a Union controlled supply base. Today it is a National Historic Park.Ascent 2400 Descent 3420 Duration 9 hr 10 Mins
Date: 2012-06-03
From: 1036.4 Washington Monument State Park

To: 1049.7 MD77
Miles today: 13.3

Heading south again today over mild terrain and bright skies. W.V. is only 17.5 miles of the trail. So another state down! I passed hikers doing the 4 state challenge today which is hiking from Virginia a few miles outside of Harpers Ferry through West Virginia and Maryland and into PA for 44 miles ¢ NOT FOR ME! I visited the Washington Monument at the end of the day which is part of a state park. There is the site where he cut down the cherry tree too. George Washington was born in Virginia, 1732, became president when the Federal Constitution was ratified in 1789 and died in 1797 in Mont Vernon..Ascent 1840 Descent 1930 Duration 5 hr 00 Mins
Date: 2012-06-04
From: 1049.7 MD77

To: 1065.4 Old Forge Park
Miles today: 15.7

This area is famous for the three part battle of Antietam. It is known as the bloodiest one day battle in the Civil War. General Lee had hoped to give the north a taste of battle on their own ground and with a victory to convince England to recognize the south as a separate entity. He failed and retreated. The north under Maj Gen George McCellan suffered far more casualties than the more skillful general would have endured. The battle of Antietam prompted Lincoln to draft the war document ¢ The Emancipation Proclamation and to replace McCellan. The south did not agree with the proclamation terms and the war continued. Now out of Maryland and into PA. Six states complete 8 to go! I also crossed the Mason- Dixon line today. The New England girl is back in North country. Let us cross over the river and rest under the shade of trees. Thomas ¢Stonewall¢ Jacksons last words..Ascent 2660 Descent 3370 Duration 6 hr 40 Mins
Date: 2012-06-05
From: 1065.4 Old Forge Park

To: 1080.2 5 Way Gravel Rd Intersection
Miles today: 14.8

Yesterday Sheri, Old Goose, Trog and I did a reconnaissance of the meeting point for today. We went to the Caledonia State park visitors center after the day¢s hike and fortunately had a ranger drive by. There are 130 miles of gravel roads in the Michaux State Forest area that we are hiking through for 3 days.. Cool now in the 60¢s during the day. The PA shelters look different since they have two parts or even two buildings. The Quarry Gap Shelter was log and stucco in two parts with a covered picnic table area between. The approach is up through a Rhodie corridor. The area has a little babbling stream and spring. Quite pretty. Tent platforms provided now since the ground is rocky. The Mountain Laurels are near the end of blooming.Ascent 2760 Descent 1730 Duration 6 hr 10 Mins