morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-05-25
From: US 220 Daleville, VA

To: Wilson Creek Shelter
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: light rain

Enjoyed a morning shower at Signage's house, packed up and then went to the local coffeehouse for breakfast and java. Then we hit the trail about 9:00. Pleasant, "less hard" hiking today. Went 6 miles to the first shelter and had first lunch. Our visit was only 24 hours, but the bond of a mutual love of the trail is strong. We promised to hike together next year, said our goodbyes and she headed back to town; I headed north.The trail continued to be "less hard" and I made it to the next shelter at 4:00. Made a nice hot cup of tea and was about to fall asleep when hikers came in. Barley, Biscuit, Honey, Gravy, Little Aspen, Toothpick and Cody all came in over the next couple of hours.8:30 and ready for snoozeville.
Date: 2010-05-26
From: Wilson Creek Shelter

To: Bobblets Gap Shelter
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Up and out early but took my time as there's a mega hiker feed about 30 miles uptrail this Saturday that I don't want to miss. So I'm actually slowing down so I can time it right.Leisurely, easy walk - or maybe I'm just getting stronger. Crossed the Blue Ridge Parkway several times, all in the clouds so no views in the early morning. Walking in the cool of the day was a pleasure.As I was sitting on the grass along the parkway having a snack, I heard the distinctive sounds of bicycle tires coming down the road. They went by fast! Probably doing 30-40 miles per hour. and followed by a motor cycle as they coasted down the mountain.Saw an amazing stone retaining wall that was built in the 1930's by the Conservation Corps. Made it to the shelter, had lunch and took a 3 hour nap.Met Winston and Churchill (from England) and stayed at the shelter with Tom Thumb and Magnet Man. Word is that there's a huge bubble of thru-hikers only a day or two behind coming up from Trail Days.
Date: 2010-05-27
From: Bobblets Gap Shelter

To: Bryant Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Officially done with 1/3 of the trail. At midnight last night, a hiker came through by headlamp and woke us all up as he set up to sleep in the shelter. Woke me up a second time about 45 minutes later with his rafter-shaking snoring, and woke me up a third time when he got up at 4:00 AM, packed up and left. I pray that he keeps hiking fast and far because if I meet him again in the daylight, I probably won't be able to restrain myself from telling him how rude I found him.Hike was level and fast in the morning. Went for a swim at Jennings Creek which was wonderfully refreshing and then hiked on to a beautiful 2-story shelter where I spent the night.
Date: 2010-05-28
From: Bryant Ridge Shelter

To: Cornelius Creek Shelter
Miles today: 4.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Really, really short day but they were 90% uphill miles so I didn't get here until almost noon. Just reading, updating my journal entries, and making a few phone calls. My slowing down in order to go to the hiker feed tomorrow will require me to do some big miles after the feed because I'm using up my food and will be short a couple of meals before I get to my next resupply. A month or two ago I would have been freaking out but I've seen enough now to know the serendipity of the trail will have everything turn out okay. Most likely, I'll get extra food at the hiker feed to take with me tomorrow. Alternatively, if I mention uptrail that I'm a little short of food, other hikers would give me any excess food they had. Worst case is that I'll have to do a 6 mile hitchhike into the next town. As with most things in life, it will turn out as it should.Giving up worrying about every detail took about 400 miles to accomplish. Giving up the compulsion to control every detail.... let's just say I'm working on it.
Date: 2010-05-29
From: Cornelius Creek Shelter

To: Thunder Hill Shelter
Miles today: 5.3
Weather: overcast clouds

I was so happy I stayed at the shelter last night. The distant thunder finally manifested into a deluge of rain in the evening and it rained through most of the night. The fog rolled in which makes for a rather eerie atmosphere at night. I was glad the Canadian Geese (a retired couple formerly from Canada now living in The States) came in right before the rain.Woke up at 6:00 AM to a clear sunny day with the rising sun shining brightly right into the shelter. Nice way to wake up.The Geese packed up and left about 7:30 AM. Since I only had a little more than 5 miles to do today, I dawdled over coffee and breakfast. Pretty soon, a couple fast hikers came in from the previous shelter and we talked trail for awhile. They left and I finally got on the trail at 10:00 AM.At about the halfway point someone called my name. It was Trinket. He had yellow blazed (rode in a car) from further down the trail to catch up with his brother, Q-Tip. We caught up on trail news and he headed south to meet his brother and I headed north. I crossed an open meadow near the top of the mountain that had an ominous looking FAA radar dome on top.Then I finished climbing Apple Orchard Mountain where there were some fun rock steps and a balancing rock wedged between two rock walls that the trail went under, called The Guillotine. Very neat.A short time later I hit the Blue Ridge Parkway and there's Signage a tenth of a mile down the road waving me to the hiker feed where I spent the afternoon. It was over-the-top outrageously delicious. Made to order quesadillas, home baked bread, lasagna, salad, hummus, fruit salad, spring rolls, cheese biscuits, pop, juice, and beer. Everyone was so stuffed we all waddled away at the end.One of the organizers gave a very nice short speech about how anyone who attempts an AT hike learns new truths about themselves because they are doing something extraordinary. That positive energy has a ripple effect part of which is why the organizers get so much pleasure themselves feeding the hikers. She passed out authentic mineral marbles, urged us to feed our positive energy into it and leave it somewhere appropriate. They've been doing this for a number of years and the marbles have ended up in places all over the world--the Kremlin, the Himalayas, or simply passed along to someone else. I chose a beautiful red jasper marble.Stayed several hours, said my goodbyes, expecially to Signage, and hiked the 0.3 miles to the shelter where I tented for the night.
Date: 2010-05-30
From: Thunder Hill Shelter

To: Thunder Hill Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Had a rough night. Ran a fever and I have developed a deep chest cough. Stubborn as I am, after coffee and breakfast in the morning, I felt a little better so packed up and got on the trail. I went less than a half mile and was stopping every 20 steps or so to cough and my nose started running. Realized that hiking to the next town which is 3-3.5 days away was probably not the smartest thing to do. So I hoofed it back to the shelter and will ask Signage today to drive me back to Daleville where I can get a cheap room at the Howard Johnsons and hole-up for a couple of days trying to shake this illness. Then I'll have her drive me back up here to continue with my hike.Really a shame to get sick right now as I had plans to go to a bluegrass concert up the trail tonight. Tomorrow everyone was going to jump off the James River suspension bridge and go swimming, and on the 5th there's a Hikerfest in Waynesboro. But if the trail has taught me anything it's to be flexible and just appreciate each day as it comes.Signage came to Day 2 of the hiker feed and I asked if she could take me back to Daleville. My plan was to go to a 24 hour care clinic and try to get an antibiotic. Signage had a better plan. She called a doctor friend who said she'd see me tonight at her home. So we drove there on a Sunday night of a holiday weekend. She took a medical history, examined me and called in a couple prescriptions. She also took a look at my knee and suspects I have a tear in the cartilege. She recommened Aspircreme as a topical or Ibuprofin, and a knee brace. To top off the amazing kindness of the doctor, she refused payment. Signage dropped me off at my hotel and will pick me up in the morning to get the prescriptions. Again, amazing kindness.As sick as I feel, it was still a day filled with magic.
Date: 2010-06-01
From: Thunderhill Shelter

To: Thunderhill Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Still at the Howard Johnson's in Daleville. Sweet Cheeks and Krazy Karl are here too. I walked .3 miles to the outfitter and bought stove alcohol and then to the grocery store for 3 meals of trail food. Went back to the hotel and did laundry, rested and napped. Feeling a lot better. Signage is picking me up in the morning and will drop me off where I left the trail 3 days ago.
Date: 2010-06-02
From: Thunderhill Shelter

To: Marble Spring Campsite
Miles today: 6.9

Signage drove me back to the Thunder Hill Shelter where I got off the trail a few days ago. I am feeling a lot better but not quite 100%. About 5 miles before we get there, Signage sees a hiker walking along the road and picks him up. It's Perfect Storm whom I haven't seen since Damascas, and he's yellow-blazing to Thunder Hill. Serendipitous.Said another round of goodbyes to Signage who has been an amazing angel, and poof - I'm back on the trail again. So did a realatively easy 7 miles and tented at a nice campsite with a spring along with Perfect Storm, Sarah, Dewlap and friend.
Date: 2010-06-03
From: Marble Spring Campsite

To: Stealth Camp N of Fullers Rocks
Miles today: 11.5

Up and out by 8:20. By 10:00, the heat became oppressive. Thankfully, the morning climb was behind us and we had either level hiking or easy downhills for the rest of the morning. Had a pleasant walk along the James River with dramatic rock walls on one side and this big, lazy river on the other. Came to the notorious foot bridge where the challenge of the day was to jump off the bridge into the river.I climbed the bridge and started walking to the other side (the bridge is the trail at this point) but Perfect Storm called me back to do the jump. The 40' from the bridge was a little too high for me so I jumped from about 15' from the side. Two other hikers came by and we taunted them into jumping too. It actually was quite exhilerating, and refreshing too.Put my boots back on and crossed the bridge where Muddy Waters, a section hiker, had set up some trail magic. He had soda pop, make your own sub sandwich fixings, and fresh fruit.Thunder started to rumble in the distance so I hurried to get to the next shelter. When I got there, the threatening weather cleared up and the sun came out. Still some thunderheads in the distance but decided to move on.Climbed 1500' in 3 miles, gained a ridge top and found a place to camp for the night with a panoramic view of the mountains and river I've crossed in the last two days.Finished dinner and hung my food up in a tree. Enjoying the comfort of my tent and listening to the thunder get closer and wind picking up. Perhaps a ridgetop was not the best place to be sitting in a tent with metal poles during a storm. Hmmmmmmmm.
Date: 2010-06-04
From: Stealth Camp N of Fullers Rocks

To: Brown Mtn. Creek Shelter
Miles today: 16.2
Weather: broken clouds

Storm missed me by the narrowest of margins. Slept long and well, waking up a little before 6:00 AM. Made coffee and breakfast on the rocks overlooking the valley and watched the sunrise.Broke camp and on the trail by 7:30 AM and moving fast as I'm out of water and the next source is almost 7 miles up-trail. Did the 7 miles in just under 3 hours. I can hike without water for a couple hours in the cool of the morning, but once it starts to heat up and especially if it's humid, I drink about a half liter or more per hour.Stopped at Pedlar Lake and went for a swim. The water was a little tepid but refreshing anyway.Went through some old forests today. The trees are huge. In many places there's only knee high plants in the understory so all you have are these big, stately trees and a forest floor carpeted with low plants. At times it doesn't even look real.Made it to the shelter at about 7:00 PM and set up my tent. The bugs will have me tenting almost always from now on.
Date: 2010-06-05
From: Brown Mtn. Creek Shelter

To: Seeley - Woodworth Shelter
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: overcast clouds

In my usual style, I was the last one out of camp. I do so love my coffee and hot breakfast. Had a long 2,700' climb over 5 miles. It wasn't particularly steep, just long. I was running out of "go juice" (energy) so stopped for first lunch at 10:00. Now I regret not getting an earlier start and taking advantage of the cool of the day. It's hot, which when you're exerting energy, is anything over 65 degrees. So "hot" is a relative term depending on how much uphills you have. Down in the gaps deep in the forest, the air is still. It's only breezy when you get near the summit. So it was a pretty miserable sweaty morning.The afternoon was better. Stopped for second lunch at noon, did some minor bouldering and had to walk 1.2 miles round-trip to get water. That mileage was off trail so doesn't count toward my thru-hike miles. Water sources can sometimes be tricky. On hot days like today, I go through a lot of water so if you have to walk an extra mile, you do.I crossed a series of balds today just as some clouds were rolling in so didn't get fried in the sun. However, I did get caught in a little shower which only resulted in my socks and shoes getting wet walking through the rain soaked grass. Even with that, the rain really felt good.Had third lunch about 5:00 PM with a cup of hot tea. I still had almost 6 miles to go so didn't get to the shelter until about 8:00 PM. I set up my pad and sleeping bag in the shelter. I was too tired to set up the tent and it was cool enough the bugs weren't an issue.Got water from a really nice spring about a half mile away (another mile round- trip), had dinner at about 9:00 PM and sawing logs by 9:30 PM. Oh! I also passed the 800 mile mark today.
Date: 2010-06-06
From: Seeley - Woodworth Shelter

To: Fish Hatchery Road
Miles today: 2.3

Woke up early and with the magnet of town doing its siren song thing, had my coffee and hot breakfast, finished yesterday's journal entry and was on the trail my 7:30 AM.Breezy, cool morning encouraged a quick 1-hour hike off the mountain to Fish Hatchery Road and a downhill 2.5 mile road walk to "town" which consisted of a general store/gas station, fire station and a post office. The store had black cherry IBC, one of my favorites and was quite adequate for a short-term resupply. Then hiked another 0.5 miles to the Dutch Haus B&B that served a double cheeseburger, potato salad, baked beans, watermelon and homemade lemonade for lunch. Large beautiful log home with an impressive stone fireplace. I arranged for a bunk in the Bunk Haus for the night that included shower, linens, laundry and breakfast with a free shuttle back within a mile of the trailhead tomorrow. Since all my clothes were dirty (and salt-crusted with 4 days of sweat), they provided bathrobes to wear while the laundry was washed and line dried. I'm having dinner here tonight also.Virginia hasn't been anything like I expected - it's been a delightful surprise. There's noticeably fewer hikers now as many of them have gotten off the trail due to injuries or money problems. Also, I think that up to this point a lot of the focus has been on the various "party" towns and now only the serious thru-hikers are continuing. Also, although the terrain is less hard (but never easy), closer attention has to be paid to water sources. They are not as easy, prevalent or close to the trail as before and if you're not careful, can easily run out of water, which is not good.Physically, I seem to beat the tail end of this sinus/bronchial infection, legs and feet are strong and feeling good, chigger and gnat bites are driving me crazy, left knee is good, right knee is about the same but the knee brace seems to be helping.And if all my talk about food is any indication, I'm almost always hungry - to the point I can't carry enough food to feed the constant craving for calories. Sugar-free and low fat is anathema to a hiker. Cheese is a necessity. Snickers bars are what gets us up the mountain. At this point, all it takes is one look at a hiker to know if they're out for the weekend or thru-hiking - simply from the body fat. (But also because the day-hikers are so clean!) Do you want to lose 10 pounds? Hike the trail for 2 weeks. I've been hiking for 3 months and have lost 43 pounds. My backpack, fully loaded with gear, food and water only weighs 30 pounds so you would think with my weight loss my legs wouldn't even know I'm carrying a pack, right? Wrong - it still weighs 30 pounds and feels like it. Go figure.
Date: 2010-06-07
From: Fish Hatchery Road

To: Harper's Creek Shelter
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: scattered clouds

What a glorious day! It rained yesterday afternoon, while I was at the B&B, and a cool front moved through. Today is cool with a medium breeze, puffy white clouds and a crystal blue sky.After the 700 foot climb over 1.1 miles to get back to the trail, I had another .5 mile climb up to Spy Rock. Dropped my pack and poles and walked the 400 feet over to it expecting to see some minor rock formation with a view. Not minor. There was this 40 foot tall massif the width of the ridge. It begged to be climbed, and I did. Took about 15 minutes to get to the top. Very exhilarating doing a free climb so high and so worth it. I had a 360 degree view and could see all the mountains I had climbed over the past 3 days and the ones I was going to climb over the next 3. It just doesn't get any better than this. Stayed up there for about 20 minutes and a little harder than getting up but since I was alone, was unembarrassed to butt-slide some of it.As I continued on hiking I know I had a big grin on my face and realized I was absolutely, 100%, certifiably happy. Glorious day, not so hard trail, afterglow of the rock climb, sun dappling the luscious green forest in yellow, accompanied by the whispering breeze and dozens of songbirds.Stopped for lunch at the Priest Shelter and then started a long 3,000' descent down to the Tye River. I took a rest about 3/4 of the way down at Cripple Creek, an idyllic, boulder strewn little creek where I sat reading for a bit.A day hiker came along and we chatted for about 45 minutes. Her name is Paula. Very nice, upbeat, energetic lady. She's camping down by the Tye River which looks like a lovely place to go swimming but I was starting to lose the afternoon and still had a 1,000' climb and about 2.5 miles to go.Made it to the shelter to find Betty there. She had stayed at the B&B last night. She tented and I had the shelter to myself. It was a good day today.
Date: 2010-06-08
From: Harper's Creek Shelter

To: Stealth Camp N of Bear Spring
Miles today: 18.1

Legs and feet feeling good even after a big mileage day. Had one stiff ascent first thing in the morning and a smaller one later in the afternoon. Met a thru-hiker, Stix, as we kept tag teaming each other. When he caught up to me in the early afternoon, we took a lunch break together at the beautiful overlook.We hike at about the same speed, so stuck together as we tried to get to the next shelter. But the terrain conspired against us. Lots and lots of rocks made the going slow. The trail led us to ridge-tops and cliffs and had us walking, or rather climbing over these rock slabs and big boulders. Put my poles away a couple times and did it using handholds instead to steady myself. Turns out I really like this rock climbing and bouldering and think I'll do more of that when I get home.Water was scarce but we finally found a spring about four miles before the shelter. Decided to stealth camp as we were running out of daylight. So I'm tenting it tonight.Town tomorrow! Pizza, cheeseburgers, Coke, mmmmm - can't wait!
Date: 2010-06-09
From: Stealth Camp N of Bear Spring

To: Rockfish Gap
Miles today: 8.9
Weather: overcast clouds

The rocks didn't abate until we were halfway down the mountain after which we flew to the Gap. There was a list of trail angels and their phone numbers posted at the Visitors Information Center which was about .4 miles uphill where the AT met VA250 at Rockfish Gap. These trail angels would give you free shuttles into Waynesboro which was 4.5 miles away. A lady, Joanne, picked me up and dropped me at the post office so I could pick up my mail drop and another package.Stix had caught an earlier shuttle but he was at the post office getting his packages too. When I came outside he was sitting on a bench right by the front door eating some homemade cookies his wife had sent with the most blissful, appreciative look on his face. Simple pleasures - that's what it was all about. It's easy to enjoy good things; not so easy to consciously appreciate them. The trail has taught me to stop, take notice, and be thankful for the simple pleasures.We went to Ming's Chinese Restaurant for their AYCE buffet. We each had seven plates of food and then waddled over to the YMCA for a free hot shower.So, well fed and clean then went to the library to use the internet until I could check into the hostel at 5:00 PM. The "hostel" was at Grace Lutheran Evangelical Church where they fed us a spaghetti dinner including a wonderful spinach salad and fresh fruit salad.After dinner, I went to their short Vespers service which allowed me to review and be thankful for the bounty of the day.
Date: 2010-06-10
From: Rockfish Gap

To: Calf Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: broken clouds

Hiked a mile with my backpack to do laundry. Stix was there too. We decided to have lunch at Weasie's before calling a trail angel to drive us back to the trailhead. Just as we were getting ready to hike the 1.5 miles to Weasie's, a lady pulled in with a pick-up truck just to post something on the bulletin board in the laundromat. I asked her if she could take us to the restaurant, and she said yes. We hikers are selfish with our miles when we're not on the trail.Had a great second breakfast, called a trail angel and were on the trail filling out our Shenandoah back country camping permits my 1:00 PM.It was a hot and humid 7 miles. When I got to the shelter, it was quite buggy, so decided to tent. Stix chose to continue on. He prefers not camping around shelters and he's a faster hiker than me so I probably won't see him for awhile.Met Gray Wanderer and saw Tattoo again. Tattoo is waiting for Clarity to catch up so will be zeroing at the shelter tomorrow. Also met Judy and Jim, both section hikers.
Date: 2010-06-11
From: Calf Mountain Shelter

To: Blackrock Hut
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: clear sky

Slept in and had a late start (9:30 AM). Had planned a longer day but when I see it's going to be hot, I sabotage myself my getting a late start. Oh well. It is what it is and I'm exactly where I should be on this trek.Saw my first bear today. I was resting at the Sawmill Run parking area. There were a couple cars and several people there enjoying the overlook. I heard another hiker come out of the woods, glanced over and saw a big adult black bear cross the road about 250 feet behind the hiker. Very exciting and relatively safe due to the distance.Awhile later I rounded a bend in the trail and a deer was casually walking right towards me. She veered off into the woods and we both stood there watching each other for a few minutes before continuing on. (See video.)Ran it really close with my water. I brought extra due to the heat and finished the last of it about a quarter mile before the shelter and water sources.The shelter had a warning sign that there had been recent bear activity around this shelter. Also, I read there were two resident rats in the shelter. Judy and a father/son pair of weekend hikers decided to tent so I did too.