morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-05-05
From: Bryant Ridge Shelter

To: Johns Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 26.5
Weather: overcast clouds

We woke up to find out that the midnight hikers were Midnight Sparkle, Moxie, and Sisyfus, who apparently stayed a little later in town than they'd planned that day. I rolled out at 8, and got drizzled on going up Floyd, although the sun came out as I went down the other side, then back up Apple Orchard. I took lunch at Thunder Hill with two Sobos, and met some friends of theirs and Pintsize afterward. I got hit by a thunderstorm going down into Petites Gap and going out of it, but it cleared up as I hit the top of the mountain. Shortstop was at Matt's Creek Shelter, along with several others, including someone who told me that some friends of hers had done some trail magic at Fontana Dam for the April 1 wave, and counted 125 in four hours. Anyway, I decided to try to get into Glasgow, but failed, and so pushed on to John's Hollow, which I reached at 8. Only one person was there, and they were tenting and asleep.Not everything hurt as I crawled in my sleeping bag, but it felt like it.
Date: 2014-05-06
From: Johns Hollow Shelter

To: Buena Vista, VA
Miles today: 20.1
Weather: light rain

I got out near 8:30 after getting some trail magic from the tenter, a former thru-hiker named Chainsaw. It was a long climb up Bluff Mountain, but the view was good. I had lunch and talked with Chainsaw there after arranging a shuttle into Buena Vista. Turns out he was a fireman.Hiking next to the reservoir was quite boring, although going along Brown Mountain Creek, a former community of freed slaves before the Forest Service bought them out, was interesting. Due to a case of mistaken identity on my part, I took the wrong shuttle down to town, and was delayed resolving that. However, I met Survivorman and the Machine at the hostel, the Blue Dog Art Cafe, and Mama Bear, Rambo, Hard to Kill, and Blink at the Italian place nearby. I ended up having a bit of a time finding the food I needed, but I found it, and went to bed late.
Date: 2014-05-07
From: Buena Vista, VA

To: Porters Field
Miles today: 15.1

I got up early, and, due to various exigencies, out late. I saw Top'o and Grasshopper in town, and Koko and Seymour at the road as the owner of the Blue Dog dropped us off. After partaking of trail magic left by a fellow named Frodo, I headed out at 11. After a climb that was not as bad as antcipated, I took lunch on Cold Mountain, which had a right good view. This, however, was not until meeting a group of section hikers who didn't know that Cow Camp Gap shelter was a half-mile off the trail. It was a bit of a sad moment as I went through Hog Camp Gap, as that was where Fresh Ground gad been until the 1st of May, when he ran out of money to continue. I hope he nakes it farther next year.I ended up swinging on past Seeley-Woodworth shelter, as I wanted to do the 3000 foot in 4 miles downhill and equivalent of 3300 feet in 4.1 mile uphill I was going to do the next day early. I planned to make it either 3 or 6 miles, but a sudden notion took me at Porter Field, abouf a mike after the shelter, and I decided to camp there. As it turned out, down near the spring were two section-hikers--Swamp Frog and John, the latter of which is a pastor. We had a good time, the three of us. Turned out John had wanted a long talk with a thru-hiker, and I was glad to have the fompany of believers--and a prayer.
Date: 2014-05-08
From: Porters Field

To: Maupin Field Shelter
Miles today: 19.3
Weather: clear sky

I got up at 6 to find Swamp Frog and John heading out, and, as it was their last day out, they gave me food. I hit The Priest Shelter by around 9:30 to find a couple out for a few days and a very odd shelter register.You see, the reason that the shelter is named "The Priest" is that that is the name of the mountain whose peak it lies near. So, hikers being hikers, there were a whole series of tasteless jokes and joking confessions. Me being me, I wrote "I'm a Protestant, I don't confess to priests" and went on my way after getting water.It was a right long climb down the Priest, and it was a little past noon by the time I got down to the Tye River, and the beginning of the ascent up Three Ridges Mountain. I took lunch near the river, then went on up the first climb, which was a bear, then got water and relaxed at Harper's Creek Shelter, which is a very lovely spot, for about an hour. Survivorman and the Machine caught up to me there, and we talked for a bit before I headed on up. To put it mildly, the climb up Three Ridges was brutal. It was long, steep, and the day was hot and humid. I didn't get to Maupin Field Shelter until past six o'clock. There was only one other person there, a fellow named Night Road, who was aiming to complete his Sobo hike that he'd had to abandon a few years before.
Date: 2014-05-09
From: Maupin Field Shelter

To: Waynesboro, VA
Miles today: 20.9

I got out by 8, and saw no sign of survivorman or the Machine at any point. I took lunch a little past Humpback Mountain, and met a couple from Canada and New York as I went down into Paul C. Wolfe shelter, which, while a right nice shelter, was not where I was aiming to go. I hit Rockfish Gap at 5:30, and was pleasantly surprised to find that the good folk of Waynesboro had left a list of phone numbers of people willing to get hikers from trail to town or the other way 'round.I ended up catching a ride with woman nicknamed "Mystery Lady," due to the fact that she wrote mysteries for dinner theaters, and got myself a room at the Quality Inn. Afterwards, I walked on over to the Ming Garden chinese buffet, where I ended up meeting Red, Half Moon, Wrong Leg, and Charlie Jr., now called Boomer, and Sage, all of whom were planning on canoeing down the Shenandoah, a notion known as "Aquablazing." It was good to see them again.
Date: 2014-05-10
From: Waynesboro, VA

To: Calf Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.6
Weather: light rain

Breakfast was enlivened by Blink, Hard to Kill, Mama Bear, Half Moon, Wrong Leg, Rambo, and Red. I headed out around 11:00 after catching a shuttle with Blink and Hard to Kill, and was then rained on until I got to Calf Mountain Shelter. Having looked across the valley and seeing a rain wall, and knowing my body could use a a day where I didn't go more than 10 miles, I decided to stay.Of course, the rain stopped. I stayed anyway.Anyway, I was joined there by a group of five girls who had ended up hiking together--Prom Queen, Wees, Ice Party, Hyperbole, and Sassafras--as well as Live 'n Learn, two cousins named H20 and Senator, and an older relative of theirs named Bad Grampa.
Date: 2014-05-11
From: Calf Mountain Shelter

To: Pinefield Hut
Miles today: 26.2
Weather: broken clouds

I got out just before 7:30, and, as it was Mother's Day, called home at 9:30. The trail was well-kept and reasonably flat, which meant that I made the 13 miles to Blackrock Hut by 12:15. I had lunch there, being joined by the girls about twenty minutes in, but was soon rolling on again. I took a short break at the Loft Mountain Camp Store, then continued on to Pinefield, arriving there a bit before 7. By the time everyone got in, there were around a dozen of us--the girls and Live 'n Learn, Blink, Gentle Spirit, West, Elusive, Guy on a Buffalo, Bean Dip and Mama Bean, Violet and her mother, Elusive, and some section hikers. Talked into the night with Live 'n Learn, Blink, West, and Gentle Spirit. Good times.
Date: 2014-05-12
From: Pinefield Hut

To: Lewis Mountain Campground
Miles today: 20.0

I got out of the shelter a little after 8, and, a little before Hightop Hut, got my first news of Columbus and Queen in months from a section hiker that Columbus used to work for. Apparently they'd been in Pearisburg the week before, and he was hoping to meet them in Waynesboro. I took an early lunch at Hightop Hut, then got rained on all the way from the top of Baldface Mountain to the bottom of Lewis Mountain.Initially planning to just swing by the camp store, I ended up just listening to the stories told by the manager, who was a runner back in the day, and apparently ran the trail back in the late 60s for quite a while. I ended up getting a half-price cabin with Live 'n Learn and Blink, along with free towels for the camp shower, and we hung out 'til 10.
Date: 2014-05-13
From: Lewis Mountain Campground

To: Rock Spring Hut
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: clear sky

I started after 8, but still hit Big Meadows Wayside by 11:30, where I decided to stop for awhile and have lunch, where I was joined by Live 'n Learn and Blink. I ended up staying 'til two, and reached the shelter by 4:30. I decided to stay in order to avoid the rain and because I was going to get picked up by family at 2 pm at Thornton Gap, around 14 miles away. Since the next hut was three miles from there, I saw no point in going on.I was joined by Hyde, Trail Light, Bean Dip and Mama Bean, Gentle Spirit, Bright Side, West, Guy on a Buffalo, Violet, and others. This time, the downpour came in around 6:00.
Date: 2014-05-14
From: Rock Spring Hut

To: Thornton Gap
Miles today: 14.1

I got out of the shelter before 7:30, and ended up taking brunch with Bean Dip, Mama Bean, and Elusive at the Skyland Restaurant. I took a break at Byrds Nest #3 Hut, then went on down to Thornton Gap, where I ran into the twin issues of there being nothing in Thornton Gap and the fact that there was a cloud in the gap. I ended up catching a ride to Luray from a former thru-hiker, then met with family at the Pizza Hut.
Date: 2014-05-20
From: Thornton Gap

To: Gravel Springs Hut
Miles today: 14.3
Weather: overcast clouds

My cousin dropped me back on the trail shortly before 10, and I was ready to roll. I took a late lunch at Elkwallow Wayside, where I met a Sobo sectioner named Two Bears, as well as Prom Queen and Trail Wife, who were, despite their names, both dudes, and Grouch. I made Gravel Springs at 5, but decided not to hike on, although Grouch did. I was joined by the two dudes, Ezra, who was finishing up a thru-hike, Grasshopper, who went down to Trail Days, a fellow named Ian, and two girls named Purple Blaze and da Vinci. Apparently, Stakes and Cliffwalker aren't far behind, and, judging from the shelter log, my friends aren't far ahead.
Date: 2014-05-21
From: Gravel Springs Hut

To: Jim & Molly Denton Shelter
Miles today: 18.6
Weather: scattered clouds

I got out before 7, and rolled right on out of the park. da Vinci went into Terrapin Station, while Purple Blaze swung on, as did I. I took an early lunch at Tom Floyd, and made it to the shelter by 3:30. On my way, I passed by the Mosby Campsite, named for John Singleton Mosby, a Confederate partisan ranger who controlled four counties in the area--referred to as Mosby's Confederacy--and made life miserable for Union forces during the Civil War. Grasshopper, Pepper. Boomer and Smudge (Sage) came and went at the shelter, while Prom Queen and Trail Wife stayed.
Date: 2014-05-22
From: Jim & Molly Denton Shelter

To: Rod Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 18.4
Weather: scattered clouds

I got out of the shelter a little after 7, and made Manassas Gap Shelter a little before 10, spotting Boomer and Smudge's hammocks in the gap itself. At the shelter, I met a ridge runner who very nicely gave me a small orange and took out my trash, in addition to leaving toilet paper in the privy. I took lunch around noon at the turnoff to Dick's Dome Shelter, then swung on over Sky Meadows. While the first bit was, honestly, rather omninous looking due to the fact that most of the trees were half-destroyed, the second half was quite lovely. I met two section hikers going down into Ashby Gap, where we partook of some juice and granola bars someone had left. There, I ran into some high school seniors who were doing a two-week hike as a class project, which seems like an awesome idea to me.I met Pancake and Babyface on the way to Rod Hollow, which I went in to as the sky began to spit. Half Moon and Wrong Leg were there, and we exchanged pleasantries as I tried to figure out how I'd caught up to them so fast. Apparently their monster day/zero day cycle had finally caught up to them--well, for Mama Bear and Rambo, anyway. As they left, it rained--for around 15 minutes. I decided to hold off on going to the next shelter, as it was 7 miles of roller coaster away.I also shared the shelter with a couple snakes, which was good for keeping the mice down. Shared the shelter with the sectioners from Ashby Gap, Possum, also sectioning, da Vinci, Prom Queen and Trail Wife, and Pancake and Babyface.
Date: 2014-05-23
From: Rod Hollow Shelter

To: Blackburn AT Center
Miles today: 17.9

I got out at seven, and soon experienced the joy and wonder of the Roller Coaster, 13.5 miles with 10 climbs and 10 descents. Yay fun. I took an early lunch at Sam Moore Shelter, thankful that I had not pushed on the previous day--had I done so, it would have been past dark by the time I arrived. I took a break at Bears Den Hostel, which is a cool place, but I had other plans, where I met Mama Bear, Half Moon, Wrong Leg, Rambo, and a fellow named Greenghost who I think is a mercenary of some kind. Anyway, after some frustration in finding the trail in Snicker's Gap, I headed on out, and ended up staying at the Blackburn AT Center, which, for hikers, is a donation based hostel a bit of a climb off the trail. I stayed there with three section hikers--Ricearoni, Sequioa, and Riverrock.
Date: 2014-05-24
From: Blackburn AT Center

To: Harpers Ferry Hostel
Miles today: 13.9

I got out a little past seven, hoping to make it to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy before lunch. As it happened, I did, and I met Boomer and Smudge there, and spent some time chilling there. I found out that my planned destination for the day, Harpers Ferry Hostel, was having a little shindig, so I swung out of town--not that I was planning on staying long anyway--and headed on up.Now, this hostel has some nostalgia value for me, as I stayed there with my family back when I was in middle school and we hiked some of the AT and some of the C & O Canal towpath.Well, I got there to find that the vent was not quite as advertised--and that is not to say that it was awful, it just wasn't awesome--but I got to spend some time talking with a fellow who owns a new outfitter called Appalachian Outdoor Essentials and Readiness. Cool guy.However, we did get fed that night, although we had to do it ourselves. Ehh. No big deal.
Date: 2014-05-25
From: Harpers Ferry Hostel

To: Pine Knob Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

I got up at 7 and helped the hostel owner and another hiker named Bootburner make breakfast. While ha and I disagreed on some things, one thing we could agree on was that a team of Greenpeace trainees who were staying there had completely discredited the organization.I got out just after 10, breaking at the Ed Garvey Shelter, and got into Gapland State Park to find Bootburner and a fellow named Hagar hanging out with a new trail angel named Vicky.I ended up making Pine Knob around 7 after hiking out of Crampton Gap and through Turner Gap, both of which are kind of important. Here's why. In the days before the battle of Antietam Creek, Robert E. Lee found himself on the backfoot for the first and only time when dealing with George B. McClellan when some orders of his were found by Union soldiers. Lee ended up delaying McClellan by holding those gaps for an entire day with less than two divisions against the whole Army of the Potomac--which gave Stonewall Jackson time to take Harpers Ferry and join up with him in time for the main event.Anyway, the shelter was inhabited by section hikers--Rolling Fireball and her friend Patrick, Antler, and Wandering Shadow and Thumper. We spent awhile talking, and then up comes Bootburner, Vicky, and a friend of hers named Gary, with burgers, hot dogs, fruit, and assorted beverages. A good time was had by all.
Date: 2014-05-26
From: Pine Knob Shelter

To: Deer Lick Shelters
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

I had some of the leftovers from the previous night for breakfast, and got out at 8:00. I found trail magic at Fox Road from the Machine and wife, where I met Mary Poppins and Cupcake and found Boomer and Smudge. The Machine, unfortunately, was taking a week off due to shin splints. Anyway, I took lunch at Raven Rock, swung through Pen-Mar state park and over the Mason-Dixon, and reached Deer Lick at 7:15, where I stayed with Cupcake and Mary Poppins.
Date: 2014-05-27
From: Deer Lick Shelters

To: Quarry Run Shelter
Miles today: 0.0

I got out by 7:30, and arrived at Tumbling Run to find that most folks had stayed there, and also found Sun Bear. Apparently Grease was well ahead, planning to finish by July 14. I was near out of food, so I needed to resupply in Fayetteville. Fortunately, I was able to hitch a ride along with Wees, Ice Party, and Prom Queen to Wal-Mart, where we ended up waiting out the first of a series of thunderstorms. I went over to a frozne yogurt shop called Sweet Frog to pack and wait out the afternoon thunderstorms, which I gauged by looking outside and saying "Nope, not leaving yet" when I saw a rainwall coming in.I left at 7 and got a hitch an hour later, only reaching Quarry Gap Shelter at 9:18, where I slept on the covered porch.
Date: 2014-05-28
From: Quarry Run Shelter

To: James Fry Shelter
Miles today: 0.0

Turned out I stayed the night with Headbanger, Elusive, Mary Poppins, Cupcake, Bootburner, and Sun Bear. I got out at 7:30, and, when I got to Birch Run, found out that it had been quite a party, with twenty high schoolers, various sectioners, and a bunch of thru-hikers. I hit this year's midpoint (Yes!) a bit before Tom's Run Shelter, where I had lunch before reaching Pine Grove furnace State Park around 2.Now, Pine Grove is kind of the area that the AT midpoint has centered around since its inception, so there's this thing called the half-gallon challenge, where you eat a half-gallon of ice cream in one sitting. Theoretically, anyway--the containers are actually a quart and a half. Well, I completed a 3/4 of a gallon of chocolate chip cookie dough, and stuck around for awhile talking with people. I decided to not stay, but push on to the next shelter, which was packed due to storm worries. Headbanger, Mary Poppins, Cupcake, Bootburner, Sun Bear, Santa, Legs, Boomer, Smudge, Prom Queen, Ice Party, Trail Wife, the male Prom Queen, 4 high schoolers, and sectioners.
Date: 2014-05-29
From: James Fry Shelter

To: Carlisle, PA
Miles today: 0.0

I ended up getting out at 8, which was mildly unfortunate. The reason was that it started raining on me about half a mile out of Boiling Springs. It was also somewhere in the fifties, which meant that I was wet and cold. I spent some time in the ATC's regional office, then went over to the Caffe 101, where I met two ladies who were staying after their book club, talked with them for a bit, then went up to order. As they left, one of them handed me ten dollars, while the other contributed ten dollars to my meal there. I stayed there for a bit, then went over to Anile's, where I had an early supper, then decided, on the grounds that I could split a room with Sun Bear and Headbanger, to swing into Carlisle. I met them at the Middlesex Diner, where I had fourth meal--too much--couldn't finish--then went to the Super 8 across the street.
Date: 2014-05-30
From: Carlisle, PA

To: Darlington shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I got out of the Super 8 around 11, and caught a ride into Carlisle from a fellow named Gary who had a taxi business that he'd just started, and was looking to get some hiker business if hecould, since he'd section hiked a few years before. I told him that he wasn't likely to get alot, since the the trail went right through two towns half a day before and after Carlisle, but thatitmight be worth a shot. I gotto the library at 11, where I was planning on meeting a friend. Unfortunately, she rani into transportation issues, which meant that the meeting didn't happen. 'Twas most unfortunate, but what can you do? I ate a late lunch at the North Hanover Grille, then called Gary again for a ride out of town. I got back on the trail around 4:30, and was at the shelter by 7. There I was joined by two section hikers named Polecat and Badger, as well as Bootburner and his dad, Progenitor, and Trail Wife, Prom Queen, Mary Poppins, Cupcake, 4 weekenders, and a fellow named Han Solo who was hiking the Tuscarora trail.
Date: 2014-05-31
From: Darlington shelter

To: Peters Mtn. Shelter
Miles today: 0.0

I got out of the shelter by 7:30, intending to make it to Duncannon for lunch, which I got to at noon after clambering over Cove Mountain, which is listed in guidebook as being very rocky. Yeah, right.I stopped at the library, which is open two days a week and is actually a church library, took lunch at the Doyle Hotel, which wasn't bad, but it wasn't a must-go, and went to the local ice-cream place with the crew, where I met Hard to Kill again. Pennsylvania is his home ground, so he'dbeen slackpacking for a few days. Apparently his buddy got a stress fracture in his foot, thenhike the Shenandoahs with it, and was off the trail for good. Letmeremind you that Hard to Kill was the one who tagged along, and his friend, PA System, was the one who'd planned the thing.Anyway, after dealing with resupply nonsense on my way out of town, I went up and out of the Susquehanna Valley on a truly brutal uphill climb over rocks, rocks, and more rocks. I saw Boomer at Clark's Ferry Shelter when I stopped to get water, as Peter's Mountain had a reallyhard to get to water source. There I realized that I'd left my filter somewhere back before Duncannon. Fortunately, the water was coming right out of ground.I got to Peter's Mountain around 8 to find just about all the thru-hikers I'd been with for the past few days except Bootburner.
Date: 2014-06-01
From: Peters Mtn. Shelter

To: Rausch Gap Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

I rolled out at 8 with Santa and Legs, splitting with them at what appeared to be the old AT route, which was blue-blazed. Along the way to the shelter, I met up with Five Star, who got the name because of her food, Reset, and Double Check. I also tried to help a lady who was hiking around based out of Rausch Gap Shelter and had managed to miss a turn, but was unable to, as all we had were terrain profiles. However, she did get back to the shelter. I made the shelter at 4, where I was joined by all the thru-hikers from Peters Mountain. Santa and Legs had gotten lost on that blue-blazed trail and ended up at a dairy farm. We were also joined by Boomer and Moose, although the latter trucked out late. From him, I learned that Brightside had gotten off trail due to his father's health problems, and Flipper had left to go sailing in the Caribbean with her boyfriend. I also found a tick on my leg that had been there for a awhile, and, after tweezing it off and burning it, looked at the bite and saw it bore the marks of Lyme Disease.
Date: 2014-06-02
From: Rausch Gap Shelter

To: 501 Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I got out at 8, and took lunch on the ridge, and met most everyone, along with Prom Queen and Trail Wife's dad, at William Penn Shelter. I went on to 501, which is known as a shelter where pizza can be ordered--but not on Mondays. It was Monday. Anyway, I stayed, along with Santa, Legs, Peaches, Five Star, Bean Dip, and Down-Low, a husband and wife. I found out that Quickstep was off trail due to a stress fracture and demotivation, and Radar and Nordo were also off due to health.