morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-06-19
From: Johns Hollow Shelter

To: Brown Mountain Creek Shelter
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: broken clouds

Boy, am I in a bad mood. The day started out OK, but just as I was beginning to get very tired, I discovered the trail had been relocated and lengthened. Then, about two miles from the shelter, where I was planning to spend the night because it was starting to rain, I slipped on a wet rock. My pole was caught between two rocks and bent about six inches from the tip. The metal was so stressed it broke, so now I'm walking with one pole without a tip and a few inches short. It will have to do for 3 days until I get to Waynesboro. At least it wasn't my knee!Worst of all, my gorp was so good (thank you, gorp givers) that I ate 8 days worth in 3 days, and now I'm gorpless! I won't starve because I'm sure I can find something to eat in Montebello where I am headed tomorrow for a night in a B&B. I hope also to buy some more batteries for my pocketmail, otherwise no journal entries! Arggh! Not a good day!
Date: 2005-06-20
From: Brown Mountain Creek Shelter

To: Dutch Haus B&B, Fish Hatchery Road
Miles today: 18.1

What a nice day of hiking! It's amazing how everything can change in a day. Today was beautiful, with a really nice walk along an open ridge with wildflowers and great views. The trail was fast and I had company along the way. I even managed to stay cheerful when I had to walk almost all the way to the B&B. Its really nice, and there are a bunch of hikers here who were ahead of me.When you get here they give you a terrycloth robe, take all your clothes to wash, and show you the shower. There are all these hikers wandering around in bathrobes. It's great! They have regular B&B guests too. I think we have entertainment value. I have the option to slackpack back here and spend a second night, but I'm not sure I can do the whole 20 miles so I think I'll just get back on the trail, clean and fed, and, I hope, only two days from Waynesboro.
Date: 2005-06-22
From: Maupin Field Shelter

To: Rockfish Gap, Waynesboro, VA
Miles today: 21.1
Weather: moderate rain

The hiking today was tough, particularly the middle third, which was very rocky. I was also running low on food (making me even more determined to get into Waynesboro tonight) which was making m more tired thaan usual. I did, however, have enough 70% chocolate to get me through the afternoon, and I got to the Gap around 5:15, after starting at 7 this morning, but I was tired and hungry. That's when my day began to get good, better than I ever expected.I have really landed on my feet this time! I thought I would give myself a treat as a reward for covering 135 miles in 7 days and stay at a B&B when I got to Waynesboro. I even tried to call them from the trail several times, but got their voice mail. About a half a mile from the gap, I met a woman walking her dogs. One of her dogs had found the carcass of a dead fawn and was having the time of his life carrying it around. (It was pretty gross, but he really loved it.) We talked about hiking and such, and I helped her separate the dogs and the dead deer (a real challenge with two dogs, since when one put it down the other one went for it). She offered me a ride into Waynesboro, and drove me around to show me where everything was. She even drove me up to see if there was anyone at the B&B. Just as we were about to leave the innkeepers showed up, and, bless their hearts, said, "We'll find room.", when I asked if I could stay. They actually put me up in a friend's house across the street tonight because they were full. And, the best part, when I told them I was gluten-intolerant, they said, no problem, so was their daughter! They have a swimming pool and I ate dinner on their beautiful patio. What a great place for a day off!
Date: 2005-06-23
From: Rockfish Gap, Waynesboro, VA

To: Tree Streets Inn
Miles today: 0.0

This has to be the best zero yet! The B&B is a little more pricey than most hiker accomodations, but the innkeepers are actually being very generous with their rates for hikers. The rooms, the food, and the people have been wonderful. I had a swim in the pool this afternoon after getting a ride in the morning from one of the trail angels who list their numbers for hikers to call. I went to the PO to pick up a mail drop (Yum! More good gorp and chocolate.) and then to the outfitters to try and get my pole repaired. Alas, they don't even carry Komperdells, so I had to purchase a new pair for $100. They only weigh 14oz, which is good, and they are also designed for women, with a smaller handgrip, so I hope they will work out. I sent the old ones home and will take them to EMS where I bought them when I'm home. It's a matter of principle now rather than practicality, since I already had to replace them.I met a couple here at the B&B who were very interested in my hike and have asked a lot of thoughtful and intelligent questions about it. It has been fun talking to them, and a challenge to try to explain what it's like and why I am doing it. They invited me to dinner with them and have offered me a ride back to the trail tomorrow. More trail angels! This town has been chockful of trail magic.I have some personal history here as well. My father's mother came from Afton which is on the other side of the gap, and both of my grandparents are buried there. I have family still living in Afton, but I haven't seen any of them since I was a lttle girl, when we used to come down from Baltimore to visit my great uncle Jack and great aunt Catherine. My father tells me that the churchyard is full of Critzers (my g'ma's maiden name) and that I have a great great grandfather and uncle buried there who fought in the Civil war. On the the trail map is a road junction labeled Critzer's Shop, and my father says that that was his grandfathr's blacksmith shop and that he remembers hanging around there and helping when he was a kid. I had hoped to at least get a ride over to the churchyard to see my grandparents graves, but it didn't work out. I've felt welcomed in Waynesboro as if I was family anyway, even without meeting any blood relatives. It's going to be hard to go back on the trail tomorrow with a heavy pack full of food and 20 miles to cover, but at least I will be well-rested and well-fed. This is a place I would love to come back to someday, and maybe I can. Next time I think I'll drive, though!
Date: 2005-06-24
From: Tree Streets Inn

To: Blackrock Hut
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: clear sky

This was a tough day. I started a little late (around 9:45) after a ride back to the trail from Bill and Brenda, the other guests at the B&B who were headed up the Skyline Drive. With that and the dinner they treated me to last night they became official trail angels. Very nice and interesting people. I enjoyed our conversations, and hope they stay in touch.Between the hot weather and the heavy pack (food, as always) it was hard work today even though the trail was not particularly challenging, and I didn't get to the shelter until after 8, tired and cranky. The shelters here have bear poles and I don't have the upper body strength to lift the pole up high enough to hang my food, so I asked another hiker for help. Together we managed to get it up, but now it is tangled and I'm afraid there may be a problem getting it down in the morning. Rats! I don't want to spend half the morning disentangling my food.I saw another bear today, so I'm glad the food is hanging. The bear pole is a little low. Maybe a bear will get my food down. I'm hoping to do 20+ tomorrow, so it's bedtime.
Date: 2005-06-25
From: Blackrock Hut

To: Hightop Hut
Miles today: 21.4
Weather: broken clouds

This was definitely pushing it. The trails in Shenandoah may be well surfaced, but a 900 ft climb at the end of a 21 mile day is still stretching my resources. It was hot again, too, over 90, according to the forecast. With the help of some of my Penguin mints, and a good lunch at the campstore at Loft Mtn, I made it before 8 tonight. Not only was the shelter almost full, but there were people tenting all over, and more people came in after I did. I've never been with so many thru-hikers in one place before. It was fun to meet everyone and exchange info on people and trail stuff. I was too tired to set up my tent, so I decided to sleep in the shelter. I am in the top bunk with two other hikers. It doesn't seem too buggy, so with luck I won't be eaten during the night. During the last 24 hours I have found 3 deer ticks on me, the first I have found, so now I am checking every night. Lyme disease would certainly ruin my hike, and I know that every year some hikers get it.Widlife today was two very tame deer near Loft Mtn campground, who politely moved over about 3 feet so I could pass them on the trail, and someone's dog with a very funny face, tongue hanging out and panting.I worked hard at lightening my pack today, by eating as much as possible, so I'm hoping tomorrow will be an easier day.Someone wrote in one of the shelter registers that there are only 12 more shelters in VA, counting this one, so interminable VA is actually going to come to an end soon!
Date: 2005-06-26
From: Hightop Hut

To: Big Meadows Lodge
Miles today: 20.4

It was another difficult day. I started out well, feeling rested and pretty strong, and felt good until about 6 miles from Big Meadows when my left hip started to ache, and then gradually my feet and my legs. The pain in my hip was enough to slow me down some. I'm not sure what is causing it. It seems like my hip belt on my pack makes it worse sometimes if it is in the wrong position.I made it to the Lodge and booked a room for myself so I could spend some time stretching and trying to get my hip straightened out. So far it's not hurting much, but I don't think I have solved the problem. Its very frustrating because the trails in the park are easy and fast, but I'm not really able to enjoy or take advantage of that, because I'm struggling with my physical problems. It's possible that I have just done too many long days in a row, and if it doesn't get better in the next few days I will have to slow down and take it easy. I hope not, but I realize that I have been lucky up until now.The hiking here really is like walking in a park. The trails are even trimmed with a weed wacker! today I saw 4 deer before lunch, all separately, eating within 3 or 4 feet of the trail, and barely bothering to watch me as I went by. I also saw a fat brown bunny, also very tame, who let me get very close to take his picture.I did have a nice dinner in the lodge dining room tonight, and the sunset was spectacular on the deck outside, one of the most dramatic I have ever seen. Tomorrow morning I'll do my laundry and then see how far I can get. The truth is that I need a chiropractor, but mine (my husband) is not scheduled until July 2, when he comes down with my daughter to hike with me. If worse comes to worse I can always get off the trail and find a chiropractor, but I am hoping I can fix it myself. Frustrating!
Date: 2005-06-27
From: Big Meadows Lodge

To: Pass Mtn Hut campsite
Miles today: 18.8
Weather: scattered clouds

I am feeling so much better today! I managed to fix my hip this morning while doing my Egoscue exercises. I did one of the twists and suddenly there was a nice little popping sound and my sacroilliac joint slipped back where it belongs. My hip almost instantly felt better, and it has been fine all day. Now, there was that weird pain in my right calf that got progressively worse, but is fine now. Hiking involves some pain somewhere all the time in my experience. Most of them go away on their own. If they stay and get worse like my hip then you worry.Between the good dinner last night, breakfast at the lodge this morning and lunch at Skylands with two other hikers, Linus and Timshel, I am well-fed and I'm sure that has helped my energy level.What with breakfast and doing my laundry and checking out I didn't leave until 10, but I still managed to get here before dark, including a lovely lunch hour and an extracurricular climb up Stony Man Mtn (.6 up and back) for an awesome view.I also saw my THIRD bear, this one when I came upon Linus and Timshel shushing me on the trail. This one had retreated up the hill from the trail and was hidden behind some foliage, but was periodically peeking out to take a look at us. I got some pictures as it was leaving, but Linus has some great pictures of it peering over the leaves, so check out her journal when she posts them.All in all today was a great day of hiking, definitely what I came for. I'm so glad I took a room at the lodge and got myself together again so I could enjoy it.It may rain tomorrow, which is good in some ways. At least it will cool things down, which makes for easier hiking. I do hate wet socks, though! I'm hoping for 23+ tomorrow to a hostel that's supposed to be really nice, if I can get up and out early, so to bed now!
Date: 2005-06-28
From: Pass Mtn Hut campsite

To: Terrapin Station Hostel, Compton Gap Trail
Miles today: 23.2

A long day, but a satisfying one. Last night a bear tried to get into one of the other hiker's tents, and ripped a hole in the bug screen. I heard him clapping his hands to drive the bear away and knew it must be a bear, but couldn't quite wake up enough to get up and do something, although I did get up and look later when I heard it walking near my tent, but I didn't see it.After that I was up and out by 7:15. At around 10:15 I made it to the Elkwallow Wayside, famous for their blackberry milkshakes, so for second breakfast I had french fries and a shake. Delicious! How will I ever go back to eating like a normal person?I had lunch at a shelter about 10 miles from my destination, and a thunderstorm started. I hung around in the hopes that it would pass, but at 2:30 it was still going so I hiked the rest of the afternoon in an off and on storm. The rain wasn't too bad, 'though, and it cooled things down a lot.The hostel where I am staying is really nice, and Mike, who runs it, seems like a good guy. He also has a terrific record collection, so we listened to Dylan and Cream tonight, after everyone watched The Goonies. It's like hanging out in a friend's basement.The only bad part of the day was that these stupid bugs that fly straight into your eyes flew into my contact lens and screwed it up. I think I have bug parts stuck to my lens and my eye is all irritated. I hope it will recover overnight.
Date: 2005-06-29
From: Terrapin Station Hostel, Compton Gap Trail

To: Dick's Dome shelter campsite
Miles today: 18.9

I'm sitting on a rock next to my tent in the gathering gloom, listening to thunder and trying to finish my dinner and hang my bear bag before the storm comes. The shelter is full. It's teeny weeny and an awkward shape (round, as the name would suggest) anyway. It has 5 very crowded people in it. I've never used this tent in a storm, so I guess this is my chance to see how it does.Uh oh! Here it comes! I just got everything done and in my tent before the rain started. It's not too bad yet, but I really do get scared of lightning and thunder, particularly after dark, which it is. There's someone else tenting nearby so that's a little comforting, and my tent is actually cosy and dry (so far). Today was easy and relatively fast. I think I have made another leap in fitness, because I had no trouble today with 19 miles after such a long day yesterday. I didn't get on the trail until almost 10, what with one thing and another and I took an hour for lunch and several other breaks,including several stops to pick black raspberries for second breakfast, and I was still here by 7:30, which I consider a respectable hour to get to camp. Infact, if it weren't for the storm I would have had plenty of time to get my chores done.Oops! The storm is right over head, very loud and very bright. Lots of heavy rain. It's kind of cool. a formidable force of nature.
Date: 2005-06-30
From: Dick's Dome shelter campsite

To: Bears Den Hostel
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: few clouds

I survived the thunderstorm last night. In fact, I fell asleep in the middle of it. The most excitment I had was when I lifted my bug screen to check my vestibule because a little water was getting in, and a large toad jumped into my tent and my sleeping bag. While I was holding up the bug screen and trying to figure out how to get him out again, he hopped out and into the storm. I can't imagine what he was thinking!The first part of today was fast and easy again, but then I hit the Rollercoaster, a series of small 300-500 ft) hills one after another, a total of about 10, 7 of which I did today, in a day with a high in the 90's. I was really dragging until I hit the footbridge that I knew was .5 away from the hostel. I fairly sprinted up the last hill! I had no idea I could move that fast at the end of the day.It was certainly worth it. This is a great hostel. For less than $20 I have a bunk with a sleepsack and pillow in the women's dorm with only one other inhabitant, and our own bathroom, and the most delicious homecooked meal served family style with about 15 other thru-hikers. It's in an old stone house that was someone's summer house. Very pretty and very clean and neat. So I am clean, full, and lying down. Hiker heaven!I have enjoyed the last few days of hiking, even though they have mostly been in the woods with few views. I realized today it's because the woods are the same woods that I grew up playing in in Baltimore. They look and smell the same, and I recognize the plants and the bugs and the rocks. It makes me feel like a kid again, playing imaginary adventure games, only now it's for real. All that reading of Treasure Island and Swiss Family Robinson has born fruit finally!
Date: 2005-07-01
From: Bears Den Hostel

To: Hilltop House, Harpers Ferry, WVA
Miles today: 19.9
Weather: clear sky

A big day today! Today I passed the 1000 mile mark. I can't believe I've already walked a thousand miles. It seems incredible to me, and I'm the one who did it, one step at a time. I also got to Harpers Ferry before the ATC offices closed at around 4:40 and signed in and got my official thru-hiker picture taken. I am thru-hiker number 522 for 2005. That is a low number for this late in the season so either a lot of hikers are not signing in, or the numbers are really down this year.After that I walked up to Hilltop House, a large castle-like hotel on the heights above the river, with a spectacular view, but merely a ghost of it's former glamour. I was told at the ATC that I was lucky I had reservations as they are fully booked. Not luck, good planning! I'm glad it paid off. The hotel has a AYCE buffet on the weekends so I pigged out for the second time in two days. The food wasn't quite as good as the Bears Den, which was fabulous, but it was pretty good. I'm actually not hungry for the first time in weeks.The couple sitting at the table next to me stopped and asked if I was a thru-hiker and asked a few questions. Since I was wearing my go-to-dinner skirt, I'm still trying to figure out how they recognized me. Was it the way I was shovelling food into my mouth in large quantities? Or some other social faux pas as a result of too much time in the woods? I hope it was because they saw me in the lobby with my back pack, or perhaps were admiring my slim and well-muscled body! Wishful thinking I'm afraid. Anyway they said nice and admiring things about thru-hikers, all of which I agree with. We are definitely awesome! (Can you tell I'm in a good mood?)To top off the day, tomorrow I get to see my husband and daughter and friend, who are all joining me to hike for the weekend. Can't wait to see them again!
Date: 2005-07-02
From: Hilltop House, Harpers Ferry, WVA

To: Dahlgren Backpack Campground, MD
Miles today: 17.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was a great day! I got out of Harpers Ferry late, around 10, partly because I did a little sightseeing and took some pictures. It is a neat place, with two big rivers coming together and a lot of old brick buildings. I stopped at a deli and picked up some lunch, and had a strawberry smoothie (like I hadn't just eaten breakfast!), and was out of town on a pedestrian bridge over the Shenandoah River, and then a long stroll along the C&O canal. After that the trail climbed up to a ridge and I walked the rest of the 10 miles to meet my husband, Allen and daughter, Jessica, and friend David from Alaska. We met in a state park with a huge monument to War Correspondants during the Civil War. The whole area was a major battlefield during the Civil War and there are signs every where about battles, who won and lost and how many died.It was a delight to see all of them, and after getting organized we walked another 7 miles to a great campground with hot showers and toilets, all free. It's not terribly crowded and very peaceful, except for the not-so-distant sound of a fireworks display. We had our own fireworks display here, when the sun went down and the fireflies came out and lit up all over the camping field. It's been great to see everyone and great to have some company on the hike. Everyone is very tired and already asleep. We have a short day planned for tomorrow, 10 miles, so I'm looking forward to a leisurely breakfast and a shower. Oh, boy! Three showers in as many days, luxury indeed!
Date: 2005-07-03
From: Dahlgren Backpack Campground, MD

To: Pogo Memorial Campsite
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: overcast clouds

It was a nice leisurely day today. We started out with a relaxed breakfast, including taking time to heat water for tea, which I haven't done for weeks. We got going around 10, and saw all the sights along the way, including a pretty church, a monument to Washington, and a view from Annapolis Rocks. David and I walked together most of the day, and Jessica and Allen walked behind. Jessica's hip flexor was bothering her and Allen had to keep putting her back together so that she could walk. She did pretty well, though, particularly after she had a Tylenol.The walk today had 8 road crossings in 9 miles, definitely suburban. At one point we walked right by someone's backyard, where they had set up a trail register for hikers to sign. Someone also left some trail magic just after we crossed rte 70, so I got my afternoon dose of caffeine, not that I needed it today.Tonight we are camping in the woods. There is only one other party of four here, out for a week, very friendly and interested in thru-hiking.Tomorrow we walk 4 miles to the road and car, and after I do some grocery shopping everybody goes home and I'll be walking alone again, which makes me sad. I'll be back in New England in a few weeks, 'though, so that will give me the motivation to get through PA.