morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-06-08
From: Wapiti Shelter

To: Pearisburg, Va
Miles today: 16.6
Weather: broken clouds

It rained during the night but the skies were clear when I started hiking at 8.30 a.m. Pretty easy terrain but the slick rocks in some section slowed me down. Met Chainsaw, a trail maintainer who has been at it for 40+ years. Got to Pearisburg around 3.30 p.m. and my friends Butch and Virginia picked me up from the trailhead. They live right in Pearisburg and it was great to get a shower and relax. Hung out with some Blacksburg friends and ate some pizza. Very fun night off the trail. Thanks for your hospitality Butch and Virginia!
Date: 2006-06-09
From: Pearisburg, Va

To: Pine Swamp Branch Shelter
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: broken clouds

Stopped by Wades on my way out of town to resupply and didn't get started on teh trail until almost 1 p.m. After crossing the bridgeover the New River and a short road walk, it was back in the woods and a climb up to the Rice Field Shelter area, another mountaintop that is kept cleared and has some nice views west. The rest of the day's hike was fairly easy ridge walking and I got to the Pine Swamp Branch Shelter around 8 p.m. Met Canman, a thru hiker from the Greensburg, Pa area - where most of my family is from. I pitched my tent about 100 yard north of the shelter, right off the trail.
Date: 2006-06-10
From: Pine Swamp Branch Shelter

To: Laurel Creek Shelter
Miles today: 18.5
Weather: broken clouds

Well somehow with all day to hike I ended up doing less mileage yesterday but it was nice getting to the shelter early and relaxing. Two pretty good climbs today. I met Fireman, who has been hiking with Canman since Georgia, I think, and Rabbit who ended up pushing on past Laurel Creek Shelter possibly to Sarver Hollow Shelter at mile 666.0 even though she said she wasn't superstitious. I was contemplating a "Homeplace Challenge" for tomorrow; Trying to hike 29 miles by 6 p.m to make it to the great all-you-can-eat place near the Trail (they close at 6 p.m. on Sundays). Looks like I would have three sizeable climbs and maybe wet trails if it rains tonight as it is threatening to do. I may try to make it the 29 miles tomorrow but definitely can't do it by 6 p.m. Rainmaker and Huey showed up around 8.30 p.m. after doing a 31 mile day from Rice Field Shelter.
Date: 2006-06-11
From: Laurel Creek Shelter

To: Va. 624, North Mtn. Trail
Miles today: 29.0

I had planned on getting an early start but it was raining in the morning so I slept in a bit. After hiking abuot three miles, I ran into Rabbit hanging out with a couple, Renegade and Tomboy, doing Trail magic. I had eggs, sausage, pancakes and Sunny D. Rabbit had camped there the night before and also had a Trail Magic dinner along with 4 or 5 other hikers. I hung out for a little while and then got back on the trail. When I got to an exposed ridgeline with a nice view to the east someone said that it was Father's day. Everyone started calling their fathers since we could get cellphone service from the ridge. Right after I left my "Happy Father's Day" msg it was discovered that it is actually next weekend. I told Rabbit about the challenge to hike to the HOmeplace had been replaced by tring to get to the Catawaba grocery story by 10 p.m. (when it closes) for fun snacks and beer. It was tough to set a good pace at first - the ridgeline of Sinking Creek Mtn. is mostly slanted rock. I started moving faster about halfway down the mtn and then the terrain leveled out for a few miles. The climb up to the Andie Murphy Monument was one of the tougher ones so far in Virginia - about 1,600 feet up. I drank all of my water on the way up as the late afternoon sun was brutal. Soaked my feet in Trout Creek and took a much-needed break after I descended the ridge. Filled up my water and decided to try to make it the last seven miles to complete my longest day. It took me until around 8.30 p.m. to finally make it to Dragon's Tooth. I still had a little light for the climb down which is mostly rock scrambling for half a mile. I made it to the 624 road crossing at about 9.40 p.m. and hid my pack up the trail a little way and ran to the store. Got there with 10 minutes to spare. The challenge to hike the 29 miles for me was also so I could use the payphone and talk to Lisa. Besides the brief time on the ridge, I hadn't had cellphone service in a couple of days. After a nice chat w/her, I lugged my goodies to my pack and loaded up. I didn't want to camp so close to the road so I followed the trail north up a large hill and set up my tent at the top. The celebratory beer was very good. didn't get much sleep as a thunderstorm rolled in right as I was settling down and lasted for over an hour. The lightning was directly overhead for a few minutes.
Date: 2006-06-12
From: Va. 624, North Mtn. Trail

To: Va 311
Miles today: 5.9

A great "near-o" day. My Aunt Roberta picked me up from the trailhead and took me to her house where I showered, did laundry, washed my shoes and sleeping bag and aired out my tent (and emailed Lisa). It was gerat to get everything clean and smelling relatively good. I think some of my stuff has permanent funk, though. Roberta treated me to dinner at an all-you-can-eat place and I went and had a couple of beers with some friends at Rivermill in downtown Blacksburg. Thanks for everything, Roberta!
Date: 2006-06-13
From: Va 311

To: Fullhardt Knob
Miles today: 24.8
Weather: overcast clouds

I was having a pretty uneventful day up until my encounter with the skunk. I started hiking around 10:30 a.m. after Roberta dropped me off and had a decent view from McAfee Knob although it was cloudy. Ran into Rabbit at Tinker Cliffs and ate at the Mexican Restaurant at the Daleville road crossing. Got back on the trail and was moving along nicely until about one mile past the Va. 652 road crossing. I was passing through some farmland and had just begun my ascent up to Fullhardt Knob when I turned a corner on the trail and spotted a skunk rounding a turn, heading southbound on the trail and walking right toward me, about 25 feet away. I wanted to keep my distance but I also wanted to get a quick photo so I pulled out my camera and took a picture while I was backpedaling, realizing that the skunk was not heading off into the woods as creatures out here do but had broken into a trot and was coming straight towards me. I started to run away from it southbound on the trail. After about 50 yards I turned around and saw the skunk still on the trail and still coming towards me. I banged my trekking poles together and yelled at the skunk making so much noise that a dog around a half mile away started barkin. The skunk was undettered and didn't even slow down. I ran another 100 yards, turned around and waited and sure enough, a few seconds later, the skunk appeared still ambling down the trail. I retreated again, going through a fence setup so hikers can get through but cows cannot. There were some stairs leading up this section of the trail and it was a good place to try a new tactic with the skunk: throw things at it to scare it off. I picked up a small log about 3-4 inches in diameter and about a foot long and launched it at the skunk just as it crossed through the farmer's fence. I hadn't really meant to hit it, just give it a scare, but the log hit the skunk broadside, knocking it over. It hissed, bit and clawed the log a bit and then continued coming after me! I threw a couple of other things at it, but the skunk was unfazed. The chase had now lasted a half mile and it was rapidly getting dark. I started cursing at the skunk (sorry Mom) and there was no way to get around it on the trail, dense vegetation on both sides. Eventually I retreated all the way back to the Va. 652 road crossing and walked right on the road about 50 yards. After a couple of minutes, the skunk appeared and headed straight across the road and went south on the trail. Maybe it is southbounding to Springer? I waited a little while, then quietly headed northbound on the trail, quickly trying to put some miles between me and the skunk. I finally made it to a tentsite about a half mile before Fullhardt Knob Shelter around 10 p.m. I called Lisa to tell her about my crazy encounter and went to sleep.
Date: 2006-06-14
From: Fullhardt Knob

To: Jennings Creek
Miles today: 23.1

Woke up to a little rain but after my late night I didn't mind sleeping in a little. The Fullhardt Knob Shelter was only about a half mile north so I packed up and headed there for breakfast. I was out of water but my guidebook mentions the shelter's "elaborate cistern system." Basically, it collects rain run off from the roof of the shelter and you turn a valve to get brown debris-filled water. Not so elaborate. I made some coffee and oatmeal and decided to head off the mtn. for better water. I told my skunk storty to the four people still at the shelter. Dartman, (who I had met coming out of Pearisburg, he got a ride up to Daleville to get his knee checked out) Tripod, Scooter and Shine. A very pretty day of hiking followed with several crossing of the Blue Ride Parkway which the trail parallels in this section. Many small ups and downs today but no major climbs. I made it to Jennings Creek before dark and met Crescent City and Brock. Crescent City is from new Orleans and is doing the thru-hike to raise money to plant trees in the New Orleans area. She wants to plant one tree for every mile she walks. Her website is http://www.hikeforkatreena.com/
Date: 2006-06-15
From: Jennings Creek

To: Marble Spring
Miles today: 20.9

Managed to get hiking by 8:30 a.m. which is early for me these days but a tough day of hiking followed. Three or 4 major climbs with over 4,000 feet in elevation gains for the day. Somehow I managed to miss 2 trail magics that other hikes told me about later. Had planned to make it to Matt's Creek Shelter for the night but I decided to call it a day at Marble Spring which is a nice large place to camp. Met Ann, a thru-hiker, there. Two hikers, Snake Eyes and Walker, who I had met at the Bryant Ridge Shelter earlier in the day stopped in for a bite to eat before pushing on to Matt's Creek. They were planning to hitch into Glasgow the next morning. I have been eating everything in my food bag, so I am going to have to hitch in tomorrow as well. I tried to carry a little less food for these four days but my planning wasn't quite enough.
Date: 2006-06-16
From: Marble Spring

To: Pedlar River
Miles today: 22.7

Made fast time to Matt's Creek Shelter. On the descent to the shelter, I passed a troop of Boy Scouts heading up the mountain. I only had to wait about 15 mins for a hitch into town. Not much happening in the very small town of Glasgow but there are a couple of resupply options and a Dollar store. No restaurants in town so I had Combos and ice cream for lunch. As I was walking towards the road junction to hitch a ride back, a very nice older gentleman named Bob pulled over and offered me a ride back to the trail after he stopped off at Dollar General. People are very friendly to hikers in this area. On our way out of town we picked up 2 other hikers, Thadeous and F'mazing. Bob had a little shuttle service going. Back on the trail, I ran into Walker, Snake Eyes and thier friend Pixie and hiked with them for the rest of the day. We had some major climbs in the heat of the afternoon so we took frequent breaks and finally made it to the Punchbowl Shelter around 7:30 p.m. It was like tent city there. In addition to a small Scout troop, there were some long distance section hikers, and several thru-hikers - Kids Meal and Low Gear were two that I talked with a bit. We cooked dinner and headed out around 9 p.m. - serious night hiking! After a couple miles, Walker gave me a new lithium battery for my headlamp which was so dim it was hard to see where I was going. The difference was incredible - definitely going with lithium batteries from now on. We were all pretty tired by the time we got to the suspension bridge over the Pedlare River and there were a few people camped out near the foot of the bridge so we decided to call it a day/night and camp there.
Date: 2006-06-17
From: Pedlar River

To: U.S. 60
Miles today: 6.8

Got off to my earliest start since I've been on the trail - 6.15 a.m. I wasn't sure how the terrain would be and I wanted to get somewhere I could get cell service so I could talk w/Lisa before she picked me up at the road crossing at 10 a.m. It was a pretty easy hike around Pedlar lake and then up the Brown Mtn Creek. The last mile or so involved a little climbing. Thanks for coming so far to get me, Lisa, so I can spend my birthday with you and my friends! I love you!
Date: 2006-06-20
From: U.S. 60

To: Hog Camp Gap
Miles today: 6.3
Weather: scattered clouds

I got dropped off at the trailhead around 7.30 p.m. and hiked about 10 minutes before I saw my first bear - a smallish one, moving quickly away fro me heading up the mountain. A 2,000 foot climb to get to the top of Bald Knob made me glad that my legs had a couple of zero days to recover. As I was crossing the bald top of Cold Mtn I spotted a skunk around 20 ft ahead of me on the trail. This one exhibited typical skunk behavior and walked off the trail to my right. I made a slight detour to the left to give him plenty of space. Night hiking is definitely the time to spot wildlife. On my way down to Hog Camp, I saw a pair of eyes glowing at me from the dark and heard some deer moving around. Camped in a field near the Forest Serve Road and got to sleep around 11.30 p.m.
Date: 2006-06-21
From: Hog Camp

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

A couple of tough climbs today but the Priest Mtn. is definitely easier coming from the south. The section hikers I passed on the descent looked very worn out from the 3,000 foot climb. Stayed at Harpers Creek Shelter w/Kite, a southbounder finishing up a hike he started last year. He did a southbound thur-hike in 2004 and gave me advice on places to stay and things to do in New England. A rat stole my sock during the night.
Date: 2006-06-22
From: Harpers Creek Shelter

To: Paul C. Wolfe Shelter
Miles today: 22.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Started the day with a 2,000 foot climb up to Three Ridges. Very hot today. Met a thru-hiker named Jericho and hiked with him for a few miles, then took a break while he waited for his family to arrive to visit him for a couple days. Just as I was getting ready to leave, his family pulled up, with some great trail magic; soda, cookies and rice krispy treats. A couple miles before the Paul Wolfe Shelter, I met up with Chuckles and Draggin', a father and son out for a nine day section hike.
Date: 2006-06-23
From: Paul C. Wolfe Shelter

To: Calf Mtn. Shelter
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Hiked the 5 miles to the Waynesboro road crossing by 10 a.m. and was walking down off the Blude Ridge Parkway when a woman in a SUV yelled out her window "I'll be right back to get you after I drop this guy off." Could getting a ride into town be so easy? It was a woman named Sherri and she is a trail angel listed in the visitor center. Sh took me by the outfitter and even gave me a tour of the town. I got a shower at the YMCA and ate at the amazing AYCE at Ming Garden. Before I could even start hitching my way out of town, a friendly guy stopped and said he was heading in the direction of the trail. Friendliest trail town so far: Waynesboro. I got back on the trail around midafternoon and got to Calf Mtn. around 7.30. I was tempted to press on but I heard from thunder and decided to stay. It turned out to be a wise decision as a massive thunderstorm hit around nightfall and it rained until 2 or 3. I also had to pee in a pot during the night since I was trapped on the top bunk!
Date: 2006-06-24
From: Calf Mtn. Shelter

To: Pinefield Hut
Miles today: 26.2
Weather: moderate rain

During the morning I saw quite a few blowdowns on and near the trail from the night before. Made it the 20 miles to the Loft Mtn. Campstore by 3 pm. but then got bogged down chatting with tourists who had questions about the AT and thru-hiking. I planned to hit the Loft Mtn. Wayside for some real food especially since my lunch of ice cream and combos didn't agree w/me, but the side trail was very steep and it was threatening to storm. Should have waited out the rain at the wayside since I got drenched (at least my feet). Kid's Meal and Hard Charger were at the shelter along with some Boy Scouts. Thought the rain was over so I set up my tent but it rained for a few hours during the night.
Date: 2006-06-25
From: Pinefield Hut

To: Bearfence Mtn Hut
Miles today: 20.6
Weather: light rain

Caught up with Kids Meal after lunch and hiked with him in the afternoon. A couple of miles before Lewis Mtn Campground, we almost walked right by a female bear and her three cubs. They were only about 10 yds off the trail to our left and we noticed them only when the female bear made noise to send two of her cubs up a tree. The third cub was farthur away from the trail. We watched them for about a minute until the mother bear gathered up her cubs and they walked away. It was very cool to see that large of a bear family. We ran into Walker and Snake Eyes at the campground, and we all went for snacks at the campstore. A very nice man and his family gave us trail magic : vegetarian lasagna (so even Kids Meal could eat it). They come up to the park every year for a few days and try to feed thru-hikers that they meet. It was delicious. Later that night after a shower at the campground and chatting w/Lisa on the pay phone, I finally got to the shelter area around 10 p.m., set up my tent and fired up six hot dogs. It poured for several hours during the night but I stayed dry in my Tarptent Squall. A great piece of equipment.
Date: 2006-06-26
From: Bearfence Mtn Hut

To: Big Meadows Lodge
Miles today: 8.0

I felt pretty good in the morning after my massive calorie-load from the night before. Final tally: 2 packets of lunchables, 1 huge piece of lasagna, 6 hot dogs and buns and 5 beers. I was ready for a big day! It didn't turn out to be a high mileage day though. I had another bear sightin about six miles north of the shelter. As I was hiking along, I noticed movement off to my left and saw a fairly large bear about 15 feet away, just watching me. I took a picture and was beginning to wonder why it didn't run away when I saw a little bear cub poke its head out around a tree about 10 feet in front of me and right on the side of the trail. Had I kept walking I would have been right between the cub and its mother - not a safe place to be even though the bear was not acting aggressively. I backed away and the cub took of running, but not towards its mother. It headed aways off the trail to the right. Now if I walked on the trail I would be right btween the mother and cub. I backed off and waited a few minutes hoping that they would leave the area. When I walked north again, the female bear was laying down about 10 feet ooff the trail to my left. She stood up and loped a short distance away, making bear sounds. I didn't see the cub so I kept on trucking, saying "I'm just passing through" in case the bear understood English. I gave a heads up about the bear to a family I passed but they were taking a side trail anyway. Got to Big Meadows Lodge, ready to some real food, only to learn that the power was out and they weren't open. I had taken a bunch of stuff out of my pack to dry while I ate so I had to repack everything and hoof it down to the Big Meadows Wayside, which I was told was open. Also feared my cell phone had died due to getting wet the day before. On my hike to the Wayside, it began to rain. Met up with Kids Meal and Low Gear at the Wayside and somehow racked up a $30 tab (for just my food and a milkshake). It started pouring outside and we decided to meet up back at the lodge, which now had power, to see if we could get a room. We were not walking in the rain today. It was nice to have a roof over my head, even if it was overpriced. Also did laundry and dried out my boots. Had dinner in the taproom and racked up another big tab. A friendly family at a nearby table bought us a round of drinks. I'm the only one who really benefitted since the other two guys were drinking water and soda. Very cool Shenandoah Trail Magic.
Date: 2006-06-27
From: Big Meadows Lodge

To: Pass Mtn. Hut
Miles today: 18.8

I had breakfast with Kids Meal and Low Gear at the Lodge. It was raining outside and we were in no hurry to go back out in it again. We noticed some hikers pulling in as we were eating and one of them came over to our table to talk. He thru-hiked last year and his trailname is Three Cats. He offered to pick up our checks and we intially refused, but he persisted so we finally let him with many thanks. I hiked with Low Gear most of the way to Skyland and we stopped in to get out of the rain and to get some lunch. We waited for Kids Meal for a little while until we figured he must have pushed on by so as not to be tempted to stay. It took some serious self-motivating to walk back out into the rain knowing that we had over 10 miles to go. We caught up to Kids Meal at the Byrds Nest day use shelter just before Mary's Rock. He was having a bad day - somehow water was leaking into his pack and he had fallen and snapped a trekking pole. He planned to hitch into Luray to dry out and spend the night. Low Gear and I pushed on to Pass Mtn Hut arriving at 8.30 p.m. It finally stopped raining for our last hour or so. Chucnk, 48 Leaves, Hard Charger were at the shelte.r Kids Meal couldn't get a hitch and arrived a bit later.
Date: 2006-06-28
From: Pass Mtn. Hut

To: U.S 522
Miles today: 26.5

Knowing I had a big day in front of me, I got an early start and hiked through the northern section of Shenandoah. Much of this terrain was very easy and I had done most of it before on days hikes and backpacking trips. Just about a mile and a half from 522, it started raining, a brief but strong thunderstorm that soaked my shoes again. Some of the stream crossings were still challengingn due to the 11 inches of water that Shenandoah had recieved over the past 3 days. At least the trails weren't completely waterlogged like the previous 2 days, when I was ankle-deep in water much of the time. Couldn't get a hitch at 522 so after about a half hour I gave up and walked into Front Royal where I was meeting Lisa at 7 p.m. The extra 3.2 miles and the .2 from the shelter made it nearly a 30 mile day. At least it was relatively flat terrain. I met Lisa in Front Royal. This time she didn't have to drive for many hours to pick me up.
Date: 2006-06-30
From: U.S 522

To: Dick's Dome Shelter
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: few clouds

Lisa dropped me off at the zoo, which I soon learned isn't open to the public at all. They only do one open house weekend per year in October. It would have been nice if the AT Companion book had mentioned that the zoo is closed to visitors. Back on the trail, I got to follow the zoo boundary fence for awhile but no animals were visible. Sometimes detours from the trail don't work out as planned. Met up with Low Gear at Dick's Dome. Also staying there were southbounders Long Knife, Nomad and Mud the Dog. Found a good tentsite back up the blue blaze trail across the stream from the shelter. Also met Single Malt today, a thur-hiker who is southbounding for a couple of days to pick up the section she missed when she got off the trail for a couple of days to escape the rain.