morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-05-25
From: Rice Field Shelter

To: Bailey Gap Shelter
Miles today: 16.2
Weather: broken clouds

Rained most of the night last night. I had an easy hike today only one tough climb. Not much happening today. I am feeling better about my chances to complete this hike. It¢s not that I don¢t like the hiking, I really enjoy being out here and the people I¢ve met have been great, and, of course, I¢ve enjoyed the towns along the way, It¢s just that thought of all the miles ahead. I¢m going to forget about Maine for a while and focus on getting to the Shenandoah National Park and then, finally, out of Virginia. I will take one step at a time, one day at a time, one section at a time.
Date: 2004-05-26
From: Bailey Gap Shelter

To: Keffer Oak Tree
Miles today: 18.2

I hiked with Sir Fix A Lot much of the day. He has made the decision to go home. His wife, Blue Sky, went home in Bland, VA and he¢s missing her. We never did cross a busy road where he could get a hitch so He¢s still on the trail. We¢re camped by a huge oak tree. It is estimated to be 300 years old with a girth of over 18 feet. I got here after walking the last three miles in heavy thunderstorms, the second downpour of the day. I had a good time joking around with Sir Fix A Lot about his dilemma of not being able to get to a phone.
Date: 2004-05-27
From: Keffer Oak Tree

To: Pickle Branch Shelter
Miles today: 18.7
Weather: overcast clouds

I got to the shelter and, to my surprise, no one was in the shelter. This is the first time the on the whole trip that this has happened. The shelter is 0.3 miles off the trail so I got water and hiked back to the trail to camp out. I had a break at a new shelter (Sarver Hollow), one of the better shelters I¢ve seen. I saw the Audie Murphy Monument just off the trail. He was the most decorated person in WWII and he died near this site when his plane crashed. I came upon another black snake today on the trail and got what I hope is a good close up picture of it. I¢ve lost count now but I think I¢ve seen over a dozen snakes.
Date: 2004-05-28
From: Pickle Branch Shelter

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

Great views today and some fun hiking coming down Dragons Tooth, a big slab of rock at the top of a ridge that looks like a tooth. I hiked about 12 mile into Catawba for lunch and to get a few things to get me to Troutville and then later hiked about a mile into Catawba again, 6 trail miles later. I got a pizza at the general store. I went to the Home Place Restaurant but there was an hour wait so I had the pizza instead. I only hiked one more mile after that to Johns Spring Shelter. Again, for the second night in a row, there is no one here. I¢m staying in the shelter tonight. I haven¢t seen Sir Fix A Lot since the morning at Keffer Oak Tree; maybe he finally got to a phone and got off the trail.
Date: 2004-05-29
From: Johns Spring Shelter

To: Troutville, VA
Miles today: 18.6

I had a great day with great views. McAffee¢s Knob was fantastic. It is said to be the best view in Virginia. I had been looking forward to it. I took a picture of myself sitting on the ledge using the timer on my camera but I wasn¢t sure if I made it form the camera to the ledge in time. Fortunately, another thru-hiker, Chasqui, came up a few minutes later and we exchanged cameras. I went over tinker cliffs to more great views. This is one of the better days on the trail. This is a fantastic area. I can¢t describe it, not with words and not with pictures. I saw Sir Fix A Lot today. He is on the trail and I had dinner with him in town. He¢s going home tomorrow. I am staying at Econolodge, right near the trail. Tomorrow will be a zero day to re-supply.
Date: 2004-05-30
From: Troutville, VA

To: Troutville,VA
Miles today: 0.0

Re-supplied, did laundry, phone calls, etc. I might take tomorrow off too. The thought of getting off the trail is gone, but I do enjoy towns and I need to eat as much as I can when I get a chance. I think that is one of my biggest problems, eating enough. I get to town, have a big dinner and an hour later, my stomachs growling and I¢m just as hungry as I was. Food is mood!
Date: 2004-05-31
From: Troutville,VA

To: Troutville, VA
Miles today: 0.0

Yes, another zero day, I¢ll get going tomorrow. I saw speed and Breathless today. I haven¢t seen them in a long time. They got off the trail for 9 days so breathless could heal up. Everyone is showing signs of wear and tear at this point. It could be blisters, knees, shin splints, feet or a combination of things. I spent the day eating and watching T.V. and of course watching it rain on and off. I¢m packed for seven days; the pack is going to be heavy tomorrow. I¢m going to try to make it the 133.7 miles to Waynesboro without re-supply. That¢ll put me at the doorsteps of Shenandoah.
Date: 2004-06-01
From: Troutville, VA

To: Wilson Creek Shelter
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: scattered clouds

I had breakfast and lunch in town and got back out on the trail. The weather was awesome today. It was a nice day, breeze and sunny all day, so far NO RAIN although that might change tonight. My pack weight was brutal today but the terrain wasn¢t too bad. I camped out tonight by the shelter with Dave, whom I hadn¢t seen since Bland, Tom, who is hiking southbound from Harpers Ferry to Georgia, Mama¢s Boy and Caterpillar. And now as I write this at 8:00pm it has suddenly gotten cloudy and very windy. Perhaps there will be more thunderstorms on the way.
Date: 2004-06-02
From: Wilson Creek Shelter

To: Bryant Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 20.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Finally, I had a twenty-mile day. It never did rain last night and hasn¢t rained all day today. It¢s been a while since there has been two days in a row without rain. Crossed the Blue Ridge Parkway today. Something I will be doing often, along with Sky Line Drive in Shenandoah, for the next 200 miles. I am staying tonight in one of the biggest shelters on the trail. I am here with Caterpillar, Poko, Mama¢s Boy, and a southbound section hiker. It¢s great to be out here. Maybe the Virginia Blues are fading. It also helps to be around a good group of thru-hikers. It seemed like I hadn¢t seen many thru-hikers the last couple weeks but since Troutville I¢ve been meeting some great people.
Date: 2004-06-03
From: Bryant Ridge Shelter

To: Marble Spring
Miles today: 17.2

Had my worst night sleep last night. The shelter had a nice porch and it was warm last night so I thought it would be nice to sleep out on the porch. The bugs were relentless. These little ¢no-see-um¢s¢ as they¢re called ate me alive. If I kept myself all the way in my sleeping bag I¢d get really warm, if I stuck my arms out or head out I¢d get bitten, a horrible night. Today was awesome, great weather and some good views. Took a nice break on Apple Orchard Mt. (Elevation 4,288 Ft.). The last time we will reach those heights until New Hampshire. I am with Caterpillar, Thumper, Mama¢s Boy, and Poko. Met up with about 20 older ladies who hike every Thursday. They call themselves the happy hikers. I had a nice campfire and good conversation tonight with Thumper, Poko and Esoteric Ninja.
Date: 2004-06-04
From: Marble Spring

To: Glasgow, VA
Miles today: 7.7
Weather: light rain

It started raining during the night and hasn¢t stopped since. I walked five miles to the first shelter after spending the whole morning lying in my tent thinking the rain would pass. I hadn¢t heard anything in the weather reports about rain for today. Weather can be unpredictable! Lying in my tent, I ended up eating some of my food. I was already cutting it close to get to Waynesboro. Knowing I¢ll need to stop somewhere to re-supply in the next 3 days and after a long debate with Thumper at the shelter, we decided to head into Glasgow. Surprise! Surprise! I am spending another night in town. Splitting a room with Thumper at the Mom and Pop Motel and Restaurant. It¢s still raining and showing no signs of letting up. Also here are Poko, Octane, Mouse Bait, and A couple others.Just before getting to the road to town we crossed the James River Footbridge, the longest footbridge on the trail at 625 feet. I got a ride to town, 4.5 miles away, form three people who were going out on a section hike and saw up walking down the road¢¦in the rain.
Date: 2004-06-05
From: Glasgow, VA

To: Punchbowl Shelter
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: light rain

I went to the library in Glasgow this morning to check E-Mails and send out an E-Mail. I went to lunch, made a couple phone calls and then hitched out of town with Thumper. We got a ride within 15 minutes and almost got dropped off 20 miles ahead of where we were. Due to us forgetting about a turn off and the driver heading to where he knew the A.T. was. I got that straightened out and finally got hiking at 3:45pm and made it to the shelter with just enough time to cook dinner and set up my tent before it got dark. Also here are Dave Mueller, Thumper, Lefty and a couple others. It is a nice area right by a pond. Listening to the frogs as I write this.
Date: 2004-06-06
From: Punchbowl Shelter

To: Cow Camp Gap Shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: light rain

More rain overnight, I got packed up, had breakfast and said good-bye to thumper. She¢s been hiking 7-10 miles a day after taking 3 weeks off to heal a sore toe. I probably won¢t be seeing her again, but then it is the A.T. so you never know. I had an easy hike for the first 9 miles, walking along a couple creeks and going right past Pedlar Dam and the Lynchburg Water Reservoir. After that it was a five-mile climb up to Bald Knob and then a quick mile to the shelter. There are three section hikers here, a mom and her two sons doing a 200-mile section.
Date: 2004-06-07
From: Cow Camp Gap Shelter

To: The Priest Shelter
Miles today: 17.1
Weather: broken clouds

I hiked in the morning with the three section hikers, Cantaloupe and her two teenage sons, Midnight and bags. I had lunch on Wolf Rocks, a beautiful lookout with views of the Priest and three ridges, both of which I¢ll be summiting tomorrow. The temp¢s were cool today, great for hiking and no rain. I crossed a few forest service roads that had me thinking of my brother Alan and his jeep. There are great opportunities for off roading around here.   I camped near the shelter with two thru-hikers I just met today, Eelz and Lint.I¢ve got two days or I should say 34.2 miles to get to Waynesboro. Today I had to start to ration some food. I¢ve got enough meals but I should have picked up a few more snacks while in Glasgow. Also, I am finally starting to heal from the bug attack at Bryant Ridge Shelter a few nights ago. Odd how something you can crush between your finder and thumb can drive you to the brink of insanity. And, oh yeah, over 800 miles now!
Date: 2004-06-08
From: The Priest Shelter

To: Cedar Cliff
Miles today: 19.7

Got here under headlamp tonight. I wanted to leave myself an easier day tomorrow considering my food supply. I¢m down to a bagel, some peanut butter, a tea packet bag, a bag of sugar, a packet of salt, and A little 3 oz. Bag of trail mix that I got from a jogger passing by. I was so conscious of pack weight coming out of Glasgow after packing all that food from Troutville that I skimped a little too much. That and I also thought I¢d do more miles a day, but then I always think that. Oh well, 15 miles tomorrow and I¢m in Waynesboro. Lesson learned! Good hike today, a bit hazy, unfortunately, not the view I¢d hoped for going over the Priest and, after a long climb up Three Ridges all I could see was hazy mountains in the distance. I had dinner at the last shelter and pushed on 6 miles to this spot, a great overlook at the farm valley below. Tonight all I can see is the lights scattered all around. Tomorrow morning, I¢ll get a good look at where the lights are coming from. One more lesson learned today, never trust a South-bounder. I was about a mile out from the last shelter when I pass a guy going Southbound. So, the normal ¢Hi, how ya doing, etc. etc.¢ He asked me how far to the shelter and if there are any good campsites coming up. I tell him the shelters a mile away, up and down this hill and there¢s a nice campsite at the top of the hill. Now in return, I expect to get some useful info myself. It¢s about 7:30pm and I ask ¢Any good campsites in the next two or three miles?¢ ¢Oh yeah.¢ He says confidently, ¢There¢s a few flat spots up ahead.¢ Off I go, like a fool, across some nasty, rocky, side-trail. Meaning to the left of me, down¢¦ to the right of me up¢¦ and in front of me rocks and boulders. Not the first time I got bad info form a South-bounder.
Date: 2004-06-09
From: Cedar Cliff

To: Waynesboro, VA
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: few clouds

I had a rocky hike into town with the exception of the last five-miles. The rocks and boulders made it tough to make good time. I woke up to hazy views from Cedar Cliff and got hiking by 7:30am. I went the first five miles on nothing but water and then I had the last bagel loaded with Peanut Butter, put the last tea bag in my water bottle with the last packet of sugar and hiked on. Five miles to a shelter, I got water and ate the little bag of trail mix I got from the Jogger a couple days ago, from there five miles to Rock Fish Gap and the road to Waynesboro. I walked two of the 4.5 miles into town when I got picked-up by two very pretty ladies and I wasn¢t even hitching at the time. Sometimes the backpack says it all. They drove my smelly self to the Post Office and along the way pointed out what¢s in town. Pick up a package I sent from Pearisburg with the maps for the rest of Virginia and the white cotton T-shirt Ron sent me a while back. I walked a few blocks to the Quality Inn, Got a room and then went across the street to Ciro¢s Pizza and got a meatball sandwich. I ate that, went to the store and got a half a gallon of mild and a box of Fruit Loops. I went back to my hotel room and took a shower and ate the Fruit Loops. Just relaxing now after a couple of phone calls. It will be a zero day tomorrow to re-supply.
Date: 2004-06-10
From: Waynesboro, VA

To: Waynesboro, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

I spent the day doing laundry, eating, and re-supplying. Waynesboro is a bigger town than usual. Everything is spread out so this meant I had to do a lot more walking than I would have liked. Another hot and muggy day, just like yesterday.
Date: 2004-06-12
From: Waynesboro, VA

To: Waynesboro, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Yes, I am still here. The only problem with knowing that everyone I know will be reading this, is that perhaps there is an expectation that I should be moving along a little quicker and not spending so many day not moving. Well, I expected that same thing but I really enjoy some of these towns along the way. There is a bike race happening around here, the Tour of Shenandoah, and along with it a town fair. I spent some time there and then went to mass at St. John, which is about 2 blocks away. A nice church that I took a couple pictures of for my mom to see, I know she¢ll get a kick out of seeing them. The parish also has a Knights of Columbus Council and if I stay here a couple more days I could go the their meeting on Monday night. Of course, I have no plans on still being here for that. I will be hiking out tomorrow. Although, there is a big BBQ in town tomorrow and a couple hikers I know who came into town today are staying for that. But, really, I¢m hiking out tomorrow.
Date: 2004-06-13
From: Waynesboro, VA

To: Calf Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: broken clouds

I had a great day today. Started with going back to St. John¢s Church for a $2.00 all you can eat pancake breakfast. It was in the announcements at last night¢s mass and I couldn¢t miss out on such a great deal. Had breakfast with Father Hickman, who is very friendly, the kind of person who lights up the room when he walks in. I felt very fortunate to sit and talk with him for a while. While there I also met Paul and Joan (if I¢m remembering their names right) who were so kind in offering me a ride back to the trail at whatever time I wanted. I gladly accepted their offer and they picked me up at 11:45am. This is a nice parish with so many nice people. Fr. Hickman gave me his e-mail address so I¢ll be sure to let him know how my hike is going along the way. He¢s the kind of person who you meet once and never forget him, for all the right reasons. It was an easy day today hiking, I had two options seven- miles or twenty- miles. With the heavy backpack and leaving town, my only option was the seven miles. A few others here tonight, including Whiskey and Flat Bed, who actually started the trail eight days before me. It¢s become a rare day when I meet someone who started before me. Also here are three-section hikers from England doing the 100 miles of Shenandoah. Had a great time with them tonight. Another couple is here although I can¢t remember their names. Met them at church this morning as they were going to mass and I was eating pancakes. Last thing to note, I signed in and got my Back Country Permit to go thru Shenandoah. The Instructions say to attach it to the outside of my pack. It¢s like a luggage tag hanging there. I¢m actually one mile from the southern boundary as I write this. Tomorrow I start the Shenandoah National Park Section. Everyone has been talking about how easy the terrain will be. No matter, one step at a time...
Date: 2004-06-14
From: Calf Mountain Shelter

To: Black Rock Hut
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: clear sky

Gentle terrain today, took my time and had an enjoyable day. Stopped at a road crossing and found out how tame the deer are in the park. What a difference compared to the deer that are hunted. I was eating a granola bar and saw a deer; normally as soon as they see or hear someone coming they take off into the woods. This one hung around and even let me walk right up to it and take some pictures. I¢m sure they are used to people and unfortunately used to people feeding them. I could tell he was looking for an offering. He must have realized I¢m a thru-hiker and we don¢t give away food. Not long after he wandered off another deer came by looking for handouts. Not much else today, threatened rain all day but just a few sprinkles until now as the rain is starting again. My big toe on my left foot is a little sore after last night¢s food bag hanging experience. The shelters in Shenandoah have these over sized coat hanger looking things to hang your bad. There¢s a 20 lb pole that you hook your bag to then lift it up and hook it to the top of the ¢coat hanger@, easier said then done. As I¢m trying to hook my bag to the top it started swaying back and forth. This got everyone laughing, which made me start laughing, causing me to lose control of the pole. The pole ended up coming down on my big tow. It¢s not a bad cut; just peeled away a little skin, but the rubbing inside my shoe all day did not make it better. I¢ll have to bandage it up more tomorrow. Lots of hikers here tonight, including the three section hikers from England, thru hikers - Lefty, Michigoose and her sister, three other thru-hikers I just met and a couple sections hikers heading south.
Date: 2004-06-15
From: Black Rock Hut

To: Pinefield Hut
Miles today: 13.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Rain overnight, cleared up in the morning and became hot and humid until about 1:00pm when it began to rain and continued into the early evening. I got to Lofton Campground, a national park campground, at about 1:15pm, 7.4 miles into today¢s hike and hung out with the 3 Brits eating a second lunch at the camp store. I had just eaten lunch 12 hour before that. I wasn¢t going to go to the store because I had eaten lunch and was thinking of doing a twenty-mile day but then it started raining. No big deal until I came across a sign 10 minutes later, ¢camp store 70 yards¢, OK, I¢ll get a coke and maybe an Ice Cream and move on. I get there and the store is closed for 40 minutes for lunch break. Not a big deal there¢s a coke machine outside, I get a coke and sit in the covered breezeway watching the rain. Soon after the 3 Brit¢s show up, the store opens and I eat another lunch and 2-12 hours pass. I hiked the rest of the way to the shelter thru rain. Also here are: Joe Flamingo, the 3 Brits (Dave, Dave, and Amy), and two South bounder section hikers going from New Jersey to Georgia. It is 11:00pm and the rain has started again.
Date: 2004-06-16
From: Pinefield Hut

To: South River Picnic Grounds
Miles today: 14.6

I got here after heavy rains for about two hours. I had dinner at the last shelter and hiked about 1.5 miles when the rain started. The trail in Shenandoah is about the best yet in so far as how well it¢s built and maintained. Very well graded, smooth, not all the rocks and roots, as has been the case. The trail became the usual stream when the rain was coming down hard but once it stopped raining the water was gone. I camped out tonight near a picnic area with the 3 Brits, they¢ve been a lot of fun. I am not sure if I¢ll ever make it to Maine at this pace but I am having a good time. The key for me is to stay out of towns!I always think of so much stuff to write as I¢m walking along and then night comes, I pull out my journal and I¢m speechless. Maybe I¢ll start pulling it out during some of my breaks tomorrow and see how that goes. Meeting a lot of tourist in the park, on the trail and at road crossings (the trail crosses Skyline Drive twenty-eight times over the 100 miles), they still say good luck but I¢m beginning to sense a little congratulations as well. I guess the miles are starting to add up.
Date: 2004-06-17
From: South River Picnic Grounds

To: Big Meadows Campgrounds
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: light rain

I woke up to sunshine so I dried all my stuff out and relaxed with the Brit¢s most of the morning. I had lunch with them and then ended up here after taking my time all day. I thought the camp store was open until 8:00pm but when I got there they closed at 5:00pm. Not a big deal but I had planned on getting a few things and hiking on for another mile or so and the store is a mile away from the trail. So I decided to just spend the night here, go to the store and make a few phone calls in the morning. I saw a lot of deer today it¢s fun to take a snack break when I see one. They hang around, eating grass and checking out what I¢m doing. I enjoyed a nice over look on Bear Fence Mountain where there must have been seven or eight turkey vultures making noise and flying around.
Date: 2004-06-18
From: Big Meadows Campgrounds

To: Pinnacles Picnic Grounds
Miles today: 12.3

I got down to the store this morning to see that the sign with the store hours had been changed from 9:00-5:30 to 9:00-8:00. Today they start their late hours. I got a few things to get me to Front Royal, 45 miles away, and then made a few phone calls and got back on the trail. What had started out as a beautiful day changed to clouds and then heavy rain within a half hour of hiking, it made me laugh because I had just called Dale and told him what a nice day today was going to be. It rained for a couple hours and stopped as I got to a shelter for lunch. I had dinner on the cliffs of Little Stony Man Mountain. It is hazy but it has incredible views.