morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-06-14
From: Maupin Field Shelter

To: Rockfish Gap (Inn at Afton)
Miles today: 21.1
Weather: overcast clouds

It was hard to get moving again this morning. Maybe the series of near-20 mile days is wearing on me. I was out finally about 8:30am on another overcast and foggy morning. I made a short stop on the rocks at Cedar Cliffs to dress my fussy toes. The knee seems to be OK if I don't push too hard. When I do, it complains a little and I back off. I stopped for eats at the spring at the Dripping Rock parking area on Skyline Drive. A younger gentleman dropped off a hiker and came over to talk. He's planning a thruhike in a few years and is thinking of doing both the AT and the Pacific Coast Trail in the same year. I bit my tongue to keep from saying, "You have no idea what you're taking on." Everyone hikes their own hike (or hikes in this case).A short way down the trail I came upon a mystery. An older gentleman, a young woman (his daughter?), a small boy and a baby girl (his grandchildren?). They were pushing a double-wide baby stroller down the AT. Don't know where they came from since there was no car in the parking lot at the spring. But I did know that they weren't going much farther with that stroller. The AT just isn't that kind of trail. Sure enough, a couple hundred yards after I passed them the trail went straight up over a massive rock face.From there it was up and over Humpback Mt, covered for miles with smooth and greasily wet rocks. I slipped and fell for the 4th time on the hike. Fortunately no damage done. And no one saw me fall. I know because I looked around just after the fall to see if anyone was looking.Just before the end of the endless rocks I met Augy and Sundown slackpacking south. Augy was days ahead but got caught up in the hostel at Rusty's Hard Times Hollow for two zero days. Sometimes it's hard to escape the vortex of a good trail town or hostel.The trail was good for the last 5mi to the Paul C. Wolfe shelter. I stopped there at 5:00pm for water, then pushed on for another 5 miles to Rockfish Gap at the entrance to the Shenandoah National Park. Allegheny told me of the hotel at the gap with a steak and seafood restaurant, so I decided to stop there instead of going into Waynesboro for supplies. The Inn at Afton was a throwback to the vacation days of the 70s. A huge hotel perched on top of a hill that is on it's last legs. There were about a half dozen cars in the enormous parking lot. The room revealed why. While clean and sufficient for my needs, it was much outdated. For instance, the battered TV had only 2 network channels, which eliminated the need for a remote control.The restaurant was closed on Mon (and several other nights), so I called Dominos and ordered 2 medium pizzas and a 2liter Coke, and ate it all. Off to sleep on a comfortable bed with a full stomach. Life is good. Into the Shenandoah National Park tomorrow, which is rumored to have only wide level trails and vending machines around every corner.
Date: 2004-06-15
From: Rockfish Gap (Inn at Afton)

To: 1 Mile North of Turk Gap
Miles today: 12.4

I got up early this morning and worked on my journals, then went over to the hotel restaurant for breakfast with Allegheny. We were the only two in the huge restaurant. But the eggs and bacon were delicious just the same. By the time I packed up and went by the convenience store for a few things it was 11:00am before I was back on the trail.A couple of miles down the trail was the entrance to the Shenandoah National Park - or at least a registration board for hikers. I filled out a permit form (free entrance for AT hikers) and attached the tag to my backpack. Also read the long list of rules for park hikers. Preferred that you stay in shelters. No tents within 50ft of shelters. Or within 200ft of the trail. And so on. Very bureaucratic.It was a hot and humid afternoon. I stopped for a snack at a road crossing and a park maintenance worker came by in his pickup and filled up my water bottles with ice water - what a luxury! Maybe the bureaucracy is confined to the paperwork and doesn't extend to the people. Shortly afterward I hiked by the turnoff to the first shelter in the park just as I heard a roll of thunder in the distance. I stopped for a few minutes, torn between stopping in the early afternoon and assuring a dry night or hiking on and taking a chance on a wet one. I finally decided to keep going since I had only done about 7 miles then. These thunderstorms are spotty anyway.As I approached a powerline I met a couple who advised that there was a rattler by the trail just as you got to the brushy part of the trail under the powerline. I didn't think to ask them which end of the brushy part and was obliged to move very slowly through the entire section of brush with my eyes wide open. I didn't see or hear the rattler.Of course the thunderstorm soon caught me. The rain was light at first but continued to get heavier. Finally about 5:30pm I spotted a clear spot off the trail under some large oak trees - one of the few that I had seen. I pulled off the trail, set up my tarp and settled in for the night. By 7:30pm I was asleep to the sound of falling rain. I made about 5 more miles but would have been much drier at the first shelter.
Date: 2004-06-16
From: 1 Mile North of Turk Gap

To: Pinefield Hut
Miles today: 20.8
Weather: light rain

I was up early, packed and on the trail by 6:30am. A mile or so down the trail I passed a lady standing outside her tent. Someone else had been caught by the rain last night. I bypassed the Blackrock Hut and moved on to the Dundo Campground for water and a second breakfast. The lady caught up with me there. Her trailname is April Showers, on leave of absence from her real estate job in CT. She's done a lot of the trail in sections and started this hike as a section hike from Springer Mt. Then it developed into a thruhike attempt.April left and Skibum stopped for water. He's from Breckenridge, CO. He described how he's changed from 20 mile days to 15 mile days and is enjoying his hike much more. Something to think about. But not till after Harper's Ferry. I have a plane and train schedule to meet that requires that I be there a week from tomorrow, so I'll be averaging about 18 miles per day until then. When I get there I'll be taking a week off for a short break at home and I'm looking forward to it.I moved on to the camp store at Loft Mt for supplies and sandwiches and ice cream. Also took advantage of the pay shower and washed out my hiking clothes to boot. Put them back on wet, but they'll soon dry if the sun stays out. April Showers was there also and we hiked on to the Pinefield Hut. The thunder started about a mile from the shelter and for once I won the footrace with the thunderstorm, coming in just as the rain started. Allegheny was there and Roadrunner came in. Buick, from Montreal, and an older gentleman (didn't get his trailname) came in later. In the course of conversation they mentioned that they left Springer on 02 May - 17 days after I did and they've caught up! Everyone was impressed and congratulated them on their speed - an average of almost 20 miles per day.A short time later another hiker came in. One of the fast burners asked if he were thruhiking. Yes. When did he leave? 20 May. From where?! From Springer Mt. Needless to say the good feelings of the two fastburners were deflated somewhat. Here was a hiker who was averaging over 30 miles per day! Simply incredible. He said he can stop for food every day or two since he passes towns about that often. He's on a tight schedule because of school starting in the fall and he has to be off the trail for ten days for personal reasons and he likes to walk. So he's booming along. Everyone is asking him to take messages to people ahead so he's thinking of taking on the trail name of Pony Express.Roadrunner gave me half a pack of ground beef and I cooked up a dehydrated beef stew dinner. Thanks to that and the food at the camp store I went to bed feeling completely full for a change.
Date: 2004-06-17
From: Pinefield Hut

To: Bearfence Mt Hut
Miles today: 20.6

I was up early again today and on the trail by 6:30am. I was soon passed by Pony Express who was quickly out of sight. Roadrunner passed also. The morning was cloudy and the woods wet from last night's rain. I stopped at the Hightop Hut to finish off the last of my Cheerios, meeting BigStick on the way out. He had hiked over from the last shelter after the rain quit last night. He looked sleepy. At the shelter I met the crew of MichiGoose from MI, Lefty from MD and Sista Goose (MichiGoose's sister who had come out to hike for a few days). They were just coking breakfast and MichiGoose made a huge pot of grits - so much that I had to pitch in and help eat them.The day turned out to be sunny, hot and humid. I stopped at the South River picnic area for water and met Sam and a friend (both from NC) who were on a short motorcycle road trip through the park. Sam gave me an icy Diet Coke and shared his strawberries and graham crackers. Thanks, Sam! We talked for a while then they motored on down Skykine Drive and I motored on up, up, up the AT.My next stop was the Lewis Mt Campground store where I had ice cream, a root beer, two burritos and a hot shower. Everyone stopped in, including Snail and his teenage son LaDeDah from Cookeville, TN. Snail started a thruhike last year but was forced off the trail around Catawba by a leg infection. He's back this year for more.I moseyed on the 0.7mi to the Bearfence Mt Hut, moving slowly to keep from sweating too much after my shower. There I found a good top shelf sleeping spot. Crash and his dog Cadbury came in, as well as Wife and Beater, Allegheny, April Showers, BigStick, SkiBum, Roadrunner and others.I told BigStick that he still looked sleepy when I saw him midmorning. He admitted that he had a hard time starting today. He said "I thought of taking a nap. Then I remembered that I hadn't done any hiking yet!"
Date: 2004-06-18
From: Bearfence Mt Hut

To: Skyland Lodge
Miles today: 16.1

I was out at 6:30am again. I soon caught and passed Snail and LaDeDah. The trail has finally leveled out somewhat and I covered the 8 miles over to the Big Meadows complex by 9:45am. I took time to wash up and shave then went up to the lodge for breakfast. Although the breakfast service had stopped at 10:00 I managed to talk my way in for a big breakfast of eggs, bacon. hash browns, biscuit with gravy, OJ and coffee. Then I took time to read the newspaper, work on my journals and talk to a father and daughter from Pasadena for a while.I finally left about 12:30pm. The thunder boomed and the rain followed shortly. My umbrella kept me mostly dry but my shoes were soon soaked again from the water on the grass and trail. I stopped in at the Rock Spring Hut to find Wife and Beater, Snail and LaDeDah, and April Showers along with a scout troop that had a smoky fire going with the smoke blowing right into the shelter. I didn't stay long and April Showers left with me.We had not gone far when I stopped short after spotting a big rattler on the trail about 10 feet ahead. It didn't want yield right of way, so after giving it a wide berth I took a branch and forced it off the trail a bit. Now it was realy upset, coiled and rattling and dangerous to anyone who walked by. We left a warning note in the trail on both sides, and marked the location with a branch in the trail.There were no places to camp and the next shelter was miles away, so we decided to stop by the Skyland Lodge to see if they had rooms on a Sat night. Unbelievably, they did, so we took one in spite of the expense. Then we went over to the restaurant and I had a delicious meal of a Greek salad, broiled salmon with all the trimmings, and blackberry cobbler with ice cream. Can this really be the AT? I waddled back and was asleep by 9:30pm. My goal is to gain a pound as I went through the Shenandoah National Park, and I may do it!
Date: 2004-06-19
From: Skyland Lodge

To: Gravel Spring Hut
Miles today: 23.8
Weather: overcast clouds

We had to wait for the restaurant to open at 7:30am. After another big meal we were on the trail about 8:30am. From there we hiked over to Thornton Gap for April to contact her husband. He's driving down today to meet her for a couple of days and she wanted to give him a more specific pickup spot along the trail. I enjoyed some ice cream and a root beer while she made the calls and restocked on snacks for the rest of the day's hiking.April dropped off at the next crossing of Skyline Drive to wait for her husband and I continued on to the Elkwallow Gap wayside. I passed Wife and Beater on the way, and caught up with Snail and LaDeDah at the store. LaDeDah has what appears to be poison ivy across his cheeks and the bridge of his nose, causing his eyes to swell somewhat. Snail was making arrangements to get him to a doctor, and a local hiker volunteered to hike to his car and take them into Front Royal to a clinic. Snail gratefully accepted.As I walked up to the wayside there were April and her husband, so the pickup was made successfully and I got to meet Stephen. I ordered up two cheeseburgers and an order of fries and proceeded to feast again. I left about 5:30pm for the last 5 miles to the shelter carrying a big ice cream cone. When I reached the shelter Crash and Cadbury were there as well as a scout troop and a father and daughter. Most everyone chose to set up tents, however, and there was plenty of room in the shelter. The scouts cooked too much noodles and chicken and I was obliged once again to pitch in and help out. Off to sleep with a full stomach again.
Date: 2004-06-20
From: Gravel Spring Hut

To: US Hwy 522 (Front Royal, VA)
Miles today: 13.4
Weather: clear sky

I woke up on the first day of summer to clear skies and a temperature of 50 degrees! My 20 degree sleeping bag felt good last night. I slept late since I had a short day planned. I decided to go into Front Royal today for Father's Day phone calls and provisions to get me to Harper's Ferry. I was on the trail about 8:30am.I walked out of the Shenandoah National Park before noon having not seen a single bear. Some people spotted 5 or 6. But I'm not complaining. The first stop was the Tom Floyd Wayside shelter for a short break. Then on to Hwy 522 where I waited for about 20min for a hitch into town and the Quality Inn.There I took a shower and washed clothes, then went to the outfitter for fuel, to K-Mart for a better radio, and to the grocery store. I bumped into April Showers and Stephen, shopping for trail stuff. Then back to the motel where the restaurant was featuring a Father's Day special buffet of ribs and chicken and lots of side dishes. I had two big plates, then took the strawberry shortcake out to the pool so the restaurant workers could close up. Then back to the room for phone calls and journal updates. Off to bed tonight after midnight.Either three 20-mile days or four 15-mile days to Harper's Ferry and a break from the trail for a week.
Date: 2004-06-21
From: US Hwy 522 (Front Royal, VA)

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

I slept late this morning, went over to the hotel restaurant for breakfast and got a ride by the hotel back to the trail about 10:00am. Three section hikers were taking a break at the road crossing. I left before them and didn't see them again. The first stop was at the Jim and Molly Denton shelter for a break and food. This was a neat shelter - a big deck with chairs and a cold shower!From there it was on to the Manassas Gap shelter. I had to wait for a train at Hwy 66 for a few minutes. Just past there I met a southbound hiker with nothing on but shoes, socks, hat and a pack. He said "Happy solstice!" to me as he went by. So I guess this is the first day of summer, not yesterday. And the traditional Nude Hiking Day.At the Manassas Gap shelter I bopped down the weedy path to the spring for water, then after returning to the shelter read that both a copperhead and a blacksnake had been spotted in and around the shelter! I didn't see either. But I didn't have any desire to linger.From there I waded on through the weedy woods of western VA to Dick's Dome shelter about 5:30pm. Just before the turnoff I met a section hiker contemplating whether an umarked side trail led to the shelter. He went on with me to the real trail a short ways on. He is a different type of section hiker - he parks his car, hikes a section, then hikes back to his car. Seems to me that he's a little unclear on the concept, but it's his hike. He seemed a little disappointed when I told him that the Shenandoah National Park seemed better suited for auto touring rather than backpacking. I didn't see much of interest in the backwoods there except at road crossing overlooks. And the food at the camp stores.At the shelter I met section hikers Susan and Don from FL. They had come over from the Denton shelter today. They seemed amazed that I had come from 5mi back, starting at 10:00am and had caught them here. I reminded them that I've been doing this for over 2 months, and that I'm carrying at least 10 pounds less in body weight than when I started.Flamingo Joe and a friend came in later and said that SkiBum and BigStick were on the way. I didn't see either and was the only person in the shelter when I went to sleep. The others were tenting nearby. More people are tenting these days, probably to escape the bugs. My bug bivy is working fine, but I need a lighter summer sleeping bag now.
Date: 2004-06-22
From: Dick's Dome Shelter

To: Bear's Den Hostel
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: light rain

I was out early at 6:30am today. I've decided to make the run to Harper's Ferry in 2 days, which will require a couple of near-20 mile days. I soon entered the Roller Coaster section of the trail, named by the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club for the ups and downs of the next 20 miles or so. I passed 3 section hikers moving slowly (actually stopped) on one of the steep ups. The terrain is reminiscent of that in GA.I stopped at the Rod Hollow shelter for food, water and a big half-hour nap. SkiBum caught me there - he had come in to the last shelter late last night and set up a tent. I pushed on over the ups and downs in the heat and humidity, literally dripping sweat. Summer has arrived and I think every day will be like this for the next 2 months.I was caught and passed by Crash and Cadbury. Arrived at the Sam Moore shelter about 4:00pm and was tempted to call it a day until I recharged on Fritos and fruit bars. About 2 miles from the Bear's Den hostel the rain started suddenly. Foiled again in my quest to beat the rain to shelter. This was a small rainstorm that only lasted long enough to make me frantically put on my pack cover and stand under my umbrella for ten minutes. Then it stopped and the sun came back out for a while.I made it to the hostel about 6:30pm. I know, I've sworn off hostels, but this one is located in just the right place, has hot showers, Ben & Jerry's ice cream, pizza, a caretaker, etc. I'm gonna have to learn my hostel lesson again!As it turned out, the Bear's Den is a neat place. I bought a pint of Cherry Garcia ice cream and a spinach pizza, did my laundry, got a shower, and picked a bunk with a mattress and clean sheets. The hostel is in a renovated stone building and has a nice kitchen, dining room, reading room and internet access. And there were only myself and two section hikers there. Lights out at 10:30pm.
Date: 2004-06-23
From: Bear's Den Hostel

To: Harper's Ferry, WV
Miles today: 20.5

Back on the trail at 8:30am after a good night's sleep. A couple of hours later I finished the Roller Coaster, then hiked out of the looong state of VA into WV. I stopped at the David Lesser Memorial shelter for lunch and was caught there by Sundown. I last saw she and Augy on Day 62 slackpacking over Humpback Mt. Augy got off the trail yesterday for a week to attend her brother's wedding.I made the quarter mile trek down to the spring for water since there is none before Harper's Ferry. Then just up the trail from the shelter I passed the 1000 mile mark. I felt pretty good about that, since I had no idea at the start whether I would make it this far. Then it was on across a long rocky section and down to the Shenandoah River where I crossed on the pedestrian walkway of the long bridge. It's always a little jarring to come out of the woods into traffic, and this time it was whizzing right beside me for a half mile. But we must remember that those big trucks help move the ice cream around the country!I stopped first at the Comfort Inn, but they only had smoking rooms left. They were nice enough to call the Hilltop House hotel, who had a hiker room available. So up with the pack and up the hill, with a hitch from a gentleman in a pickup the last few blocks. The Hilltop is an old luxury hotel that has been refurbished. It affords magnificent views across the Potomac and down to the Shenandoah River. I cleaned up and came back downstairs for the great buffet dinner, followed by a microbrew on the patio watching darkness fall over the river. I'm a day early and ready to take a zero day tomorrow. I haven't had a day off since Daleville (almost 300 miles back) and have averaged over 18 miles per day since. I'm tired. But close to half way done.
Date: 2004-06-24
From: Harper's Ferry, WV

To: Harper's Ferry, WV
Miles today: 0.0

I slept in till 7:00am this morning then went down for breakfast, meeting Spiceman and Party Girl at the desk. They had "aqua-blazed" past the Shenandoah National Park, canoeing down a river to Front Royal. Spiceman was making big mile days, but his pace seems to have slowed. They had planned to take the train into DC today, but just missed it. Roadrunner stopped by to say goodbye - he's hiking on today.I walked down to locate the train station and stopped by the outfitter store on the way back. Who should be working there but Baltimore Jack! I've seen him at Hot Springs, the Kincora Hostel, and now in Harper's Ferry. We had a talk and he gave me some good avice about the upcoming sections of the trail. He recommends finishing by 20 Sep to be sure of avoiding snow.I stopped by the Appalachian Trail Conference headquarters to sign in and have my picture taken. Then down to the library, stopping along the way at the Anvil restaurant for a fried shrimp lunch. I got online at the library to check on some gear items, caught up on the latest news magazines and spent 50 cents on a paperback book for the train ride tomorrow. I haven't been carrying a book - they weigh too much and I haven't had time for reading anyway.After the library I stopped at the 7-11 for a pint of Chunky Monkey ice cream for the walk back. At the ATC building I ran into Allegheny who had just hiked in. His fiancee Shirley was with him. Then it was back to the hotel for more relaxation on the patio, talking to Spiceman and Party Girl and other hikers who arrived. A phone call home, some reading and to sleep about 10:00pm. A nice zero day.