morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-04-23
From: Partnership Shelter

To: Crawfish Vally/Reed Creek
Miles today: 17.8

Date: 4/23/04Location: Tenting at Crawfish Vally/Reed CreekMileage: Total: 541.3mi, Daily: 17.8mi It was a day of good timing. Twice it rained on us ¢ once while my Bro, Rockhound and I were at Dairy Queen/Rt.81 and the other time right now while we¢re in our tents. There was also a blizzard! A large mocha chip Blizzard, specifically ¢ the ice cream treat served at Dairy Queen. I ate that one though.Other than dodging rain drops and hiking over PUDS (pointless ups and downs), today was fairly uneventful. We went through a brief period in the afternoon where the humidity shot into astronomical numbers and we got soaked with sweat. Green One and I came across a 5 foot black snake (also called a rat snake - not poisonous) sunning itself on the trail. My bro also almost stepped on a smaller one. Green One swung his pole in a relexive motion and flung the snake 10 ft. before he could recognize what kind of snake it was. Flying snakes - that kind of day!Rockhound's camping with us tonight. His mom sent him 2+ lbs. of choc. chip cookie bars which he's been sharing (Thanks Rockhound's Mom!) So I'm well fed and about to fall asleep to the sound of raindrops. Hoping to wake up to the sound of sunshine!
Date: 2004-04-24
From: Crawfish Vally/Reed Creek

To: Chestnut Knob Shelter
Miles today: 16.7
Weather: clear sky

Date 4/24Daily miles: 16.7Total miles: 558.0I am staying at a shelter atop a 4400 foot mountain watich the red ball of sun drop behind the distant mountains through the window next to me. I could be out with the other hikers, but I am on a bit of a low. I feel a bit tired, fatiuged I guess. But it is more emotional than anything. I was speeding with another thruhiker in the shelter while Rockhound called out the score "sox beat yanks" when he heard it on the radio. This other thruhiker is a loudmouth and not only started trashtalking the sox (Ed. note...not a good idea around Jeff, because we all know "this is the year") but also said "boston is a $#@% town anyway"I hike to get away from comments like that - I don't need this jerk talking negitive stuff about anything to back it up. Good news is that he is hiking fast and will be gon tomorrow and I get to wake up to a brand new day.We had a couple nice breaks during the hike today - once at a rocky beach/trun in a river and once at a shelter where I fried upa morel mushroom I'd pick with some ramp (wild onion) and some summer sausage. Green on, Rockhound, and I were lunching with Wonderlust, an 80 y/o who's hiking with no real end poing in mind. We heard some goood stories of his life in kansas over lunch.64 miles outside perisburg and we're tring to figure out wheather to try to town in 3 long days or 4 comfortable ones. Tomorrow will tell.
Date: 2004-04-25
From: Chestnut Knob Shelter

To: Helvey's Mill Shelter
Miles today: 23.8
Weather: light rain

Location: Helvey's Mill ShelterDaily Milage: 23.8Total Milage: 581.820 great miles over rolling mountains, crossing streams, moving right along. 4 subsequent miles of thunderstorms, downpours, crossing highways and windtunnels. I'll take the hike behind curtain number 1 please!We walked the ridge alongside a valley clled "God's Thumbprint" today. this formerly Amish farming village has only a single dirt road penetrating its ring of mountains and it's absolutely beautiful.We hopped back and forth over the same stream 12 times in a mile or two in the afternoon and were feeling real good (if a little foot sore - Ed. note, guess that was the follow-up to Kevin Bacon's cinema classic 'Footloose'...) when the clouds opened up. mowt of the AT is in the woods but there is an ugly little stretch near Bland, VA that is onl roads, crosses over a highway and is just no fun in foul weather.But I am now dry , well stuffed and just completed my longest day, so far, on the trail with a full pack. If we wake up and feel strong we'll do it again tomorrow.We're sharing the shelter tonight with Good to Go and Willy Goat, Young guys who've been good company at Partnership and Chestnut Knob Shelters.
Date: 2004-04-26
From: Helvey's Mill Shelter

To: Wapati Shelter
Miles today: 24.0
Weather: moderate rain

Location: Tenting at Wapati ShelterDaily Milage: 24Total Milage: 605.8It;s lunchttime and I'm in my sleeping bag. After hiking 10 miles through wind and puring rain with dropping temperatures I shoewed up at Jenny's Knob Shelterchilled to the bone. Green One, Rock Hound, Willy goat, and Good to Go are all here and in their bags as well. Ater 2+ hours it looks like the rain has stopped and the temp is stable at 52 degrees. the question now is to put on our cold, wet, (Ed. note - stinky) clothing back on and try to hike 14 more miles to tthe next shelter; hike 7 miles and camp and do 24 miles tomorrow; or stay here and show up to town on Wednesday at noon...Hmmm...Later -9 PM and I am back in my sleeping bag. If there is anything worse that putting on sopping wet (stinky) clothing in 50 degree weather, it is doing it twice! The rain drissled through the afternoon as I hiked alone all day. thinking thoughts that, for the most part can't be printed here. Not my best day on the trail.The good news? I hiked 24 miles and will be in town tomorrow afternoon. I am dry and toasty and most of my clothing dried on my body today. The sun in its infinet wisdom came out for the final 15 minutes of the voyage acrosss the sky- boding well for tomorrow's weatehr. And finally in the words of Monty Python - "I am not dead yet!"Green one and Rockhound were cooking dinner when I left the last shelter - I don't know where they'll end uip tonight. Gear Guide, Gumby, Gumbo, Good to Go, Willy Goat, Kinlock, and Tortise are stying in the shelter with me tonight.48 miles in two days. I need to stuff some more food and water into myh bodya nd get some well deserved rest. Pearisburg VA Tomorrow!
Date: 2004-04-27
From: Wapati Shelter

To: Plaza Motel, Pearisburg VA
Miles today: 16.2

Daily Miles: 16.2Total Miles: 622.0Angel's rest is a beautiful, serene viewpoint looking down from 2,000 foot above Pearisburg. The hiking has been been pretty today, but my feet really hurt from the heavy milage of the prior two days and the constant chaffing of the wet boots and socks. I know there is a hellacious downhill coming up, but I'm up here with Green One taking picures and trying to ficx the moment into my memory-'cause my brother just told me he is getting off the trail.We don't call it quitting, and most people do hold out some thought that they'll hike more of the AT someday. But getting off the trail in D's mind means his thruhiking is over. He's been thinking about it for 500 miles - taking his time before the final burst of wet and cold weather helped finalize his decision. In his words "My best day on the trail is no better than the averge day doing chores around my house and hanging out with my wife & dog."I respect his decision, and have been through the same horrible conditions recently, and can easily understand his thoughts. It's the right choice for him, I am going to miss him a ton - but I am going on with my hike. He has hadded humor, intelligent & witty conversateion, distraction and great company to my hike. I've camped with him for 44 out of 46 nights out here and my adventure has been so much better for his presence. I love you and will miss you out here, bro.We had some excellent chinese food tonight, the hotel room is littered with cookies, ice cream, candy, drinks and drying equipment as we enjoy our last night together as thruhikers.I have called friends, parents, and Heather and feel on a shocked but even keel. Rockhound is going to walk out of town with me tomorrow. Jbird and Burning Boots (with their dog Hershey) will be 1/2 day behind us. And as much as I miss Heather, Tally, and the rest of my 'normal' life, I am going to keep hiking. My equation still favors the awe and beauty of the trail for now - and ain a tiny way I am now hiking for two...
Date: 2004-04-28
From: Plaza Motel, Pearisburg VA

To: Campside in Symm's Gap
Miles today: 12.5

Daily Miles 12.5Total Miles 634.5What a phenominal day! And great timing too, 'cause it helped erase a lot of the lintering doubts in my head. I am tenting with Rockhound in an area so brightly lit by the 1/2 moon that I can almost write by moonlight.After a big breakfast at a homestyle lunch, a hair cut (my first out here, but not a shave) and saying goodbye to Green One, Rockhound and I walked north. My bro is rentinga car and going to surpries his wife-and I am already looking forward to seeing him when I get to his house in 10 days.We had a great 12+ mile day with perfect 70 degree weather, great views, good footing and some good conversation. It is great hiking with Rockhound - I know he is enjoying our friendship as well. But today I really feel indebted, it was tough leaving town today!The temp is down into the 40's the wind is gustin and I am snug in my bag, looking forward to a nice 20 mile day tomorrow. I am going to cut down the miles a bit, targeting 16 miles a day to try to let my feet recover and bring a bit more joy back into the hike. Tomorrow's longer walk will set up 12, 15, and 14 mile days for the next few and bee a good test for the trail shoes that Heather sent me in the last mail-drop. After 600+ miles let's see how the shoes do.
Date: 2004-04-29
From: Campside in Symm's Gap

To: Warspur Shelter
Miles today: 19.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Daily Miles: 19.8Total Milage: 654.3Sunrise was absolutely amazing this morning , highlighting an apple tree in bloom about 100 feet from our tents. Rockhound & I took our time getting packed up and hit the trail just past 8. We knew today's 20 miles would set up easy days through monday, but we were in no hurry to get it done.The best part of todays hike were the irises in bloom beside the trail - the first we'd seen on the trail, and the waterfall we found 7 miles into our hike, and the place we had an early lunch. We ran into Slips and Fitz, as well as Gumby, Gear Guide, and Gumbo.The trail got real ugly and rocky for a while in the afternoon, my feet ache and are still real tender from last week's long miles and hopping on sharp rocks for hours was not fun. The fact that the signs sy 1.1 miles to the shelter and 1.3 miles to shelter were totally ficticious and didn't help either! Creative math has no place on the AT trail signs! By the time we hit the shelter, Rockhound was on the war path and my good humor was fading quickly.We met Poptart here, cooking quesidillas over a fire and grate (good idea!) I am looking forwared to a late start and an easy 12 mile day tomorrow. I am hanging out late tonight, munching on snacks and reading, only 8 and 1/2 days until I get to see Heather and Tally!
Date: 2004-04-30
From: Warspur Shelter

To: Sarver Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Daily Milage 12.2Total Milage 666.5Hoplite: "A mouse chewed through my Aqua Mira!...I hope he died!"That was one of the first things that Hoplite said to us on showing up at the shelter this evening. You've got to know that Aqua Mira is the clorine dioxide that we use to treat our water - and that Hoplite is the guy that taught us the Homer Simpson Do-Ri-Mi-Beer song. Good to see him again! Like most of the folks out her, he is sorry to hear that Bro is off the trail. Good to Go and Willy Goat caught and passed us today and send regards to Green One as well.12 miles, I feel great! We got out of the camp at 9 AM instead of 7:30, took a nice lunch, hung out at the Keefer oak for a while and still made it to the shelter by 4 PM! The oak was awesome - it is a white oak estimated to be 300 years old with a circumference of 18+ feet. the massive lower branches are about 2 to 3 feet thick and extend about 50 feet away from the trunk, just above the ground. What an awesome tree!The shelter her is really cool as well. New construction and super clean and comfortable. The old shelter is near the water source and has a bear skull in the window. Nice to have hours to eat and hang out. Rockhound drew a mancala game on his thermarest (air matress) and we played a few games before it got dark. I think he won 3 games out of 4, but I am feeling too good to care!
Date: 2004-05-01
From: Sarver Hollow Shelter

To: Pickle Branch Shelter
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Daily Milage: 15.9Total Milage: 682.4Hanging out, and eating, tonight with Skyline & Sundance, Rockhound, Hoplite, Kinloch and a section hiker Frenchy. I have been following Skyline and Sundance since the beginning so it is cool to finally meet them tonight. Hoplite's currently eating dinner #4 right now - That is a record among this crowd. I ate light myself - trail mix, 2 tuna roll-ups, 4 servings of mashed potatoes with bacon, 2 liters of Tang and a milkyway bar dipped in peanut butter. Gotta save space for the AYCE resturant tomorrow - the Home Place resturant is supposed to be the best on the trail. Nice walk today - a steep 1500 foot mountain in the middle and the rian held off for most of the day. We got wet for an hour and just have to hope tomorrow will be drier.Saw another 4 foot black snake today, they are getting more common as are the deer we are seeing daily now. Despite comming acrowss a huge pile of bear scat, I have yet to see a bear. Grouse & turcky flush loudly and fly away from the trail. We have been walking among rised for 3 days now, and the azaleas for 2 days. Spring has caught us finally - the woods are bright green. Not many bugs yet - I am not missing them at all...
Date: 2004-05-02
From: Pickle Branch Shelter

To: Johns Spring Shelter
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: light rain

Daily Milage: 12.9Total Milage 695.3The Home Place Resturant rocks! All you can eat fried chicken, roast beef, mashed potatoes, gravy, baked apples, green beans, biscuits, beans & bacon, cole slaw, ice tea & lemonade, peach cobbler & ice cream for dessert. All for $12, awesome!Great hot food brought to the table, and replenished constantly. I ate with Rockhound & Hoplite and we were so full we could barely stagger outside...putting the packs on took another 20 minutes! Luckily we caught a lift most of the way back to the trail. it started raining as we began hiking again, so without ever tightening our hip belts we walked 1 mile to the first shelter and decided to stay. Only 18 miles into town tomorrow.Dharma and Hippie Long Stocking aer here tonight. Everyone is getting up early to hike the 2 mies to McAfee Knob around sunrise to take some pictures there. Lots of good pictures today with the columbine & pink lady slipper and many other flowers are in bloom. The dragon's tooth was a cool rock formation and the traill north of it pretty and challenging. We're talking about a relaxed day tomorrow. Hanging at a hotel with pizza and beer, celebrating an early cinqo de mayo (sp?). Then I get to try to make some miles for 5 days before Heather and Tally come to visit! Yippee!
Date: 2004-05-03
From: John's Hollow Shelter

To: Howard Johnson's, Daleville VA
Miles today: 18.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Daily Milage: 18.6Total MilageL 713.9What a great day! Got up at 5 AM with Hippie's Alarm, hiked with Rockhound and Hoplite to McAfee knob an overhanging rockcrop that is one of the most photographed spot on the the trail. Up at the knob we took our pictures just 1/2 hour past sunrise. Hoplite posed for what he calls a "Glory Halleluya!" shot - stripping off all his clothes and posing for an arms upraised picture from behind, at 45 degrees and a strong wind - Brave Guy! (Ed note - copies are available for sale...just kidding Hoplite)We walked along Tinker Cliffs a bit later, a beautiful stretch of trail with great views of the valley below. The cliffs hve many windswept pines on their edge and ravens hung around the rocks, croaking their displeasure with our presence. We coverd the 18+ miles by 3:30 in the afternoon, did laundry, got clean, and caught a hugely appreciated lift to the Troutville Post office from a local trail angle named Dell. I caught up on phone calls including my first one to my bro since he got off the the trail and happy ones with Heather and my parents - all visiting within two weeks. At night we watched movies, killed a supreme pan pizza each and a had a few beers and collapsed. Ok, truth be told, I did have to finish my pizza in the morning - I had too much of the great bread that Melicca's Aunt Jerrie had sent in the maildrop!
Date: 2004-05-04
From: Howard Johnson's, Daleville VA

To: Gobblet's Gap Shelter
Miles today: 18.5
Weather: clear sky

Daily Milage 18.5Total Milage 732.4today may have been my best day on the trail. I spent the morning eating the continental breatkfast and catching up on the first place red sox, finsihed my pizza and packed up. Rockhound and I hit the trail & Hoplite detoured to the post office.We were effortlessly flying today, taking a leisurly break, enjoying the flowers and waterfalls and still making our intended destination by 4:30. I saw my firt rhododendron blossoms opening in the late afternoon.After a break at the Wilson Creek Sheter with Rockhound, Hippie, Dharma and Aussie John, I decided to make some miles and hiked another 7 to this shelter where the flowers were brilliant in the fading light and hopefully they will be as pretty tomorrow.
Date: 2004-05-05
From: Boblets Gap Shelter

To: Thunder Hill Shelter
Miles today: 23.6
Weather: few clouds

Date: 5/5Total Milage: 756.0Daily Milage: 23.6Another fabulous day on the trail. Woke up, met the Mad Professor (who had been asleep when I got into the shelter). Packed up and was on the trail by 7 AM. Weather was partly sunny and cool in the 60's-70's - Perfect.I walked by myself for 13 miles today before getting to the modern triple-deck Bryant Ridge Shelter. 4 Hikers were there having lunch - Wildcat (thru), and his son El Blanco (section) Old Fhart ('90 thru, now section) and Condor (thru) who I last saw 700 miles prior!The hike was pretty tough
Date: 2004-05-06
From: Thunder Hill Shelter

To: John's Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: clear sky

Date 5/6Total Milage: 772.3Daily Milage: 16.3Today felt like summer, with the notable exception of the ice cream truck, we had everything else: sun, bugs, rivers, and finally the first rhododendrons in bloom! It's 9PM right now , my silk liner sleeping bag is too warm to sleep in and I am still waiting for my snow cone! Mmmm...snowconnneee....I hiked alone againf or most of the day,Condor, Wildcat and El Blanco are sharing the shelter with me again (shared lunch and breaks as well.) We've got a nice fire keeping the bugs away. I taught El Blanco to play mancala, then he let me win 3 games. Nice guy - just graduated from UCSD Med School last week. He's headed for a residency in orthopedic surgery.I have been walking through rhododendron groves since the first day of the hike. Seeing them bloom was just wonderful - I hope Shenendoah will be flowering next week as I walk through!The foot bridge over the James River was really cool. It was at least 100 yards long.Ive have been hiking for about 3 weeks without an physical problems, tendonitis and shin splints are now gone. I have only two blisters the entire trail. My feet hurt especially in the morning and after hiking 15+ miles. When I get up after staying still for than 5 minutes. I do the "thruhiker shuffle" having stiffened up immediately.20 Miles before my pick up Sat AM, life is good!
Date: 2004-05-07
From: John's Hollow Shelter

To: D and CicÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs house in Charlottesville
Miles today: 19.7

5/7 ¢ FridayLocation: D and Cic¢s house in CharlottesvilleMileage: Total: 792.0, Daily: 19.7It¢s amazing how slowly things change out there ¢ and then how fast they change when something unexpected happens. I was all set up for a nice 18 mile day: climb my biggest mountains in the relative 75* cool of the morning, hit a shelter at the 9 mile mark for lunch, then hike 9 more miles flat and downhill in the afternoon to stay at Brown Mtn. Creek Shelter. The next day, I¢d sleep in as much as my body would allow me and then hike the 2 miles to the road where my bro would pick me up for a leisurely weekend at his house. My fianc©e, Heather, was due sometime past noon on Saturday ¢ I¢d have time to clean up and then enjoy the rest of Saturday and take a zero day on Sunday.The morning was beautiful again ¢ great weather for the fourth day in a row. The climbs passed easily and the view from the highest points allowed me to see where I¢d hiked the prior 2 days as well as the trail leading to the Shenandoah National Park 65 miles ahead of me. I took a lunch break at Punchbowl Shelter, expecting Condor, Wildcat and El Blanco to catch me as I was eating, then to hike alone again to the next shelter.Instead, not only did Punner and Alabama catch up with me during lunch, but to my huge surprise, Rockhound and Hoplite caught up! I¢d expected them to fall behind and pass me while I was off the trail, instead they¢d put on some serious miles and were planning on spending the evening with me before I took off! That changed everything ¢ Rockhound had a cell phone! My lunchbreak slid into a 3 hour siesta as I hung out with the guys and considered my options. I ended up borrowing Rockhound¢s cell phone, calling my brother and arranging a pickup for 8pm that evening 11 miles up the trail. Hoplite, Rockhound and I then made time to the next shelter. I upended my food bag and let them rummage through my remaining day¢s supplies, since I was going to eat real food and sleep in a real bed ¢ after a shower ¢ that night!This wasn¢t just a town stop. This was the first time I was going to see Heather and Tally since I left Massachusetts on March 11! I had a hard time not running up the trail, but the knowledge that my brother might not show up early and I was just going to have to wait by the road slowed me down. Good thing, too ¢ there were some absolutely beautiful beech trees reaching roots down alongside a rocky stream and I got a few excellent pictures of them.Turned out D showed up just as I got out of the woods ¢ perfect timing! He and I backtracked with a bag of goodies to leave for the thruhikers to find the next morning, then hit the car for the ride back to the house. My sister-in-law and goddess of my mail drops, Melicca, had Chinese food waiting at the house. Clean, well fed and relaxed, I¢m waiting to see Heather on Saturday...
Date: 2004-05-08
From: D and CicÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs house in Charlottesville

To: D and CicÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs house in Charlottesville
Miles today: 0.0

5/8 SaturdayLocation: D and Cic¢s house in CharlottesvilleMileage: Total: 792.0, Daily: 19.7Tons of good food, another shower, a good book and a hammock. And most importantly - Heather and Tally! Wonderful to see them again! I¢d write more but I¢m too busy spending time with them and it¢s none of your business!
Date: 2004-05-09
From: D and CicÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs house in Charlottesville

To: D and CicÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs house in Charlottesville
Miles today: 0.0

5/9 SundayLocation: D and Cic¢s house in CharlottesvilleMileage: Total: 792.0, Daily: 19.7Heather and Tally are still here with me at D and Cic¢s house in Charlottesville. Today was another wonderful one, hitting 90 degrees and sunny. Lots of time spent planning with D, Heather and my parents. Heather¢s going to drop me at the trail around noon on Monday after meeting a few hikers at a BBQ thrown by D, Cic and her aunt Jerrie and uncle Jerry. I¢ll see her again in southern Pennsylvania. D and Cic, Jerrie and Jerry are going to host me at their place in the resort community of Wintergreen twice during the next week. That means I don¢t have to carry more than two days of food at a time and get to stay clean and well fed! Then my parents come into town and I see them in Front Royal, Virginia and again in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. Dad¢s even going to hike and camp with me for 24 hours!