morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-04-17
From: Wapiti Shelter

To: Pearisburg
Miles today: 16.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Up early, on the trail by 7am. Had some great views around Angel's Rest but little film left in camera. Got to Pearisburg somewhere around 3pm. A guy pulled over and offered me a ride almost as soon as I came out of the woods-Trail Magic! Checked into Rendezvous Motel, called Cindy at work. She, Travis and mama and daddy made a road trip to Pearisburg and picked me up this evening! It was good to see them and to go home for a few days!
Date: 2003-04-18
From: Pearisburg

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Went to Allen's for an early morning haircut and beard trim! People were surprised to see me back in town! I switched out my winter/summer gear, which required a trip to Blue Ridge Mountain Sports and Great Outdoor Provision for a few items. Also went to Wal-Mart and GNC. Finally had some good Mexican food at "Mexico" restaurant, for lunch.
Date: 2003-04-19
From: Home

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Trying to get caught up on "real world" items- bank accounts, mail reading, newspaper reading, coffee drinking, etc. Almost an overload, must be the caffeine! Even on the trail it's hard to slow down and "smell the roses", but I'm getting better at it!Spent a great evening at a cookout at my parent's house. I was glad to see all my family!
Date: 2003-04-21
From: Home

To: Pearisburg
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: overcast clouds

One last pot of coffee before I go! Got to speak to Mrs. Memory briefly, this morning. It was good to see her! Packed up, showered and tried to get on the road at a decent hour. Austin (my nephew) rode with us (me, Cindy and Travis) on our return trip to Pearisburg. The 3 hour trip north just passed too quickly! Saw Subman in Pearisburg, gave him a ride to the AT with us! Took a couple of pictures, gave hugs and kisses and hit the trail!
Date: 2003-04-22
From: Pearisburg

To: View Entry
Miles today: 25.0

A lot of rain last night! Cloudy, foggy and cold this morning. Started hiking at 7:15am with hopes of a big day! Felt really good all day! Lunch at Pine Swamp Branch Shelter, in the rain. I was expecting sunshine and warm temps...ol' well, today was much more comfortable (except for the rain) than I had expected!
Date: 2003-04-23
To: View Entry
Miles today: 18.2

Blue sky! Cold wind chill! Hiked with my rain jacket on until almost lunch. Beautiful views of valleys today and nice hikes through pastures! The sun felt great! 10 more miles to next shelter, (with no campsites in between shelters)so Subman and I called it quits at 4:40pm today. It gave me a chance to relax and "attempt" to plan some "mileage days" in advance. It's so hard to guess how many miles I can do in a day/week! Probably going to Four Pines Hostel tomorrow. They shuttle to "The Homeplace" AYCE buffet!
Date: 2003-04-24
From: ?

To: Four Pines Hostel
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: clear sky

Didn't sleep well last night, but was up and on the trail by 7:10am. Nice and cool, great morning for hiking! Didn't stop until I got to Dragon's Tooth (awesome piece of rock!)between 12:30-1pm. Had lunch, took some pictures with Subman. Hiked on down to VA624 where the Four Pines Hostel is located. Joe Mitchell runs the hostel and he is very nice! He gave us a vehicle to drive to "The Homeplace" AYCE buffet! It was fabulous and I'm so full! Got back to hostel, called home, everyone is safe and sound!
Date: 2003-04-25
From: Four Pines Hostel

To: View Entry
Miles today: 16.1

Wonderful day! Cloudy and rainy, but comfortable temps! Got an 8:30am start after Joe loaned us his Bronco to make a post office run and trailhead shuttle! Hiked over McAfee Knob and Tinker Cliffs today and I'm sure the views would have been terrific, but I could barely see the blazes on the trees! This is a "must come back" section of the AT. This would be a great weekend trip for the Boy Scouts!
Date: 2003-04-26
To: View Entry
Miles today: 14.2

Up early and hiking by 6:50am! Trying to get to Daleville to call Cindy before she leaves for the BSA Spring Camp-o-ree. Got to town by 10:30am and called home with time to spare! Fuel at Outdoor Trails Outfitter, groceries at Kroger and pizza at Pizza Hut! Got back on the trail!
Date: 2003-04-27
From: ?

To: Bryant Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 26.8
Weather: clear sky

At it by 6:50am again this morning! Had a really nice day hiking. Crossed and walked beside the Blue Ridge Parkway, most of the day! Awesome views of the valleys! Going by Peaks of Otter brought back great memories! Staying at Bryant Ridge Shelter tonight. It's the coolest shelter, so far - 3 stories high! I could easily take a "0" (zero) day here, just hang out and read - but I will travel onward!
Date: 2003-04-27
From: Bryant Ridge Shelter

To: Matt's Creek Shelter
Miles today: 22.7
Weather: clear sky

Not intentionally, but I hiked another big day! So, tomorrow I'll have a short day so I can meet Ritchie, Roger and Kyle on Wednesday morning. Thought I had my mileage figured out evenly for today and tomorrow, with a campsite at Marble Spring Gap. When I got to Marble Spring Gap, it was rocky, buggy and hot! So I pushed on another 5.5miles to Matt's Creek Shelter. There's a stream right in front so I took a "river bath" and rinsed out my shirt!
Date: 2003-04-29
From: Matt's Creek Shelter

To: Punchbowl Shelter
Miles today: 12.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Started out my morning by washing my shorts in the creek and putting them right back on - this was a cold, refreshing start to my day! The salt build-up in my shorts was so terrible, they were stiff as cardboard! Hiked a short day. Had some awesome views of the Jame River before and after I crossed it! Had a couple of "BIG" climbs today...just when you think you've conquered the mountains, they let you know who is boss! Washed my socks in the creek this afternoon at Punchbowl Shelter! Me, Subman, Chiquita and Donkey in shelter tonight.
Date: 2003-04-30
From: Punchbowl Shelter

To: View Entry
Miles today: 14.4

60 days on the trail - it's hard to believe I've been out here this long! Had another good short day. Subman and I met Ritchie, Roger and Kyle this morning around 7:30am on The Blue Ridge Parkway! It was really good to see all of them! It meant a lot to me that they would take their time to come see me! They took us to resupply in Buena Vista, had huge breakfast (pancakes with blueberries), and talked for a while! Called home! Got back on the trail around 11:30am - with a heavy pack again for a 3000 foot climb!
Date: 2003-05-01
From: ?

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

Squirts is back on the trail, walked into shelter around 8pm tonight! He had hiked seven to eight 20 mile days to catch the group that he and Red Streak had been hiking with! Unfortunately, Red Streak injured his foot and has to get off the trail for 2-4 weeks, so his foot can heal! He's planning to return to the AT soon and he has a longer time frame to work with than Squirts does. I've been at shelter since 3:30pm this afternoon - swatting bugs, looking at mileage and maps, writing Mother's Day cards, reading and just relaxing!
Date: 2003-05-02
From: The Priest Shelter

To: Maupin Field Shelter
Miles today: 13.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Got to Maupin Field Shelter by 2:45 this afternoon. Can't go any farther because I'm meeting Matt, Michael and Mike in the morning. Partly sunny and totally buggy! Just washed my clothes in the creek again - and myself! Squirts came in around 4:20pm, but he's going on to try to get into Waynesboro by Saturday at lunchtime! Big climb today over Three Ridges Mountain - 3000'. Another blister on my right heel-ouch!
Date: 2003-05-03
From: Maupin Field Shelter

To: View Entry
Miles today: 16.1

Had the shelter to myself last night! (except for a couple of overly active mice)! This was nice for a change. Up at 6:00am, hot breakfast and off the meet the guys! Arrived at Reed's Gap around 7:40am. Matt, Michael and Mike arrived right at 8:00am! Nice day hiking! Cool, cloudy and no bugs! 14.4 miles today for the guys today! Everyone's tired. Shelter is full, so we slept on the porch!
Date: 2003-05-05
From: ?

To: Pinefield Shelter
Miles today: 26.2

Cold and raining this morning! Started at 7am needing a lot of hours to hike the 26 miles to Pinefield Shelter. The 1st shelter was 13 miles (not enough) and Pinefield was about 4 miles too far! Easy hiking in the Shenandoah's, but 26 miles was still a long way! This would be a great place to bring the Scouts for a long weekend...the trail crosses Skyline Drive several times, leaving a lot of options for mileage. Have a 20 mile day planned for tomorrow and I'm hoping for a little better weather - at least warmer weather!
Date: 2003-05-06
From: Pinefield Shelter

To: near Bearfence Mountain Hut
Miles today: 20.6
Weather: overcast clouds

I hit my 900th mile mark today! Weather was definitely better today - blue sky, some clouds, but kind of hot! 20 miles today seemed to take it out of me more today than 26 miles yesterday! I think it was the heat and the bugs! Called Cindy from Lewis Mountain Campground... she, Travis and Mike (my brother-in-law) are coming to see me in Front Royal this weekend. Can't wait to see them! Mike is going to backpack with me on Saturday. Bearfence Mountain Hut is full tonight, so I'm staying in my tent, hoping it doesn't rain! 27+ miles to 2 more huts tomorrow, but I may camp out at 20 miles!
Date: 2003-05-07
From: near Bearfence Mountain hut

To: Pass Mountain Hut
Miles today: 26.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Deer in my campsite this morning! Saw a lot more on the trail! Made really good time early, so I stopped at Big Meadows Lodge for some breakfast around 10am. Buckwheat pancakes with whipped butter and blackberry syrup, 2 sausage patties, OJ and coffee! It was delicious! Shovel and Lieutenant joined me. Ate a late lunch at Pinnacle picnic area (3:30-4pm), then was chased the next 6.5 miles by thunderstorms! Got to Pass Mountain Hut just in time. Subman, Grunt, A-Train, Caddis, Lieutenant, Chiquita and AKA are all here tonight.
Date: 2003-05-08
From: Pass Mountain Hut

To: View Entry
Miles today: 13.1

Short day today because I don't need to be in Front Royal until Friday. I have a big blister on my right foot from yesterday! Came to Elkwallow Wayside around 10:30am, went in and enjoyed a blackberry milkshake! A lot of thru-hikers were hanging out and eating! Called Cindy at work about this weekend. Went in Wayside, bought a cheeseburger, fries and another blackberry milkshake! Got caught in a big thunderstorm on my way to the shelter, but dried out just fine!
Date: 2003-05-09
From: ?

To: Pioneer Motel
Miles today: 0.0

Backpacked to Pioneer Motel in Front Royal, Va. Mike, Travis and Cindy arrived around 9pm. Great to see them! Caddis and I had already eaten supper, but decided we could eat again! Went to Arby's for a Beef-n-Cheddar and a large Jamocha milkshake! Boy, were we full!
Date: 2003-05-10
From: Pioneer Motel

To: View Entry
Miles today: 15.0

Travis and Cindy dropped Mike and me off 15 miles farther north than where Caddis and I had quit hiking on Friday. We hiked south back to where we had left off yesterday. It was a rainy, messy day. They dropped Caddis off at Ashby Gap and he hiked 20 miles south back to where we had left off on Friday. We had a great day hiking! Met Caddis' father who is going to hike with him to Harper's Ferry, over the next few days. Enjoyed a great Mexican dinner at Jalisco's Mexican restaurant. Resupplied for the next 5-6 days on the trail.
Date: 2003-05-13
From: David Lesser Shelter

To: Crampton Gap Shelter
Miles today: 19.9
Weather: broken clouds

Started hiking at 6:30am and crossed my 1,000th mile mark at 7am! Cool, windy and cloudy day again today. Arrived in Harper's Ferry around 10am today. Called home to let everyone know I had made it to Harper's Ferry, West Virginia! I am the Official ATC NorthBounder ("NoBo") hiker #60 for the year 2003! I had a sub and fries for lunch at a pizza place. Noticed rubber coming loose from other rubber on my boots this evening while at Crampton Gap Shelter. Rising Star who is a section-hiker, retired from the marines, saved me by providing me with some super-glue! Rising Star and I plan to hike to Ensign Cowall Shelter tomorrow. A member of The Potomac AT Club slept at shelter tonight, also.
Date: 2003-05-17
From: Tom's Run Shelter

To: near Alec Kennedy Shelter
Miles today: 19.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Made it to Iron Mountain Mansion Hostel by 8am! They close at 9am! Had time to do my laundry and get a quick shower! Today I had the opportunity to join the "half-gallon club" - a tradition to eat 1/2 gallon of ice cream at one sitting, to mark the halfway point of your thru-hike! It was 40-50 degrees, so I decided to eat only 1 pint of MooseTracks, a honeybun, and drink my coffee while reading the paper! For a late lunch I hiked 2/10 mile off the trail to Green Mountain Store and Deli for a fresh deli sub ($3.50)! For lunch, it was a choice between a fresh sub OR peanuts and crackers...decisions, decisions! Had planned on spending the night in Alec Kennedy Shelter, but it was full of Boy Scouts, glad to see them out in the woods! Spent the night in my tent about 1/10 mile from shelter. Southern Yankee, Papa Bear, Lokey and Pokey also tented out. I passed the 1/2 point of the AT (Pine Grove Furnace State Park) as well as my 1100th mile on the trail, today! Feeling great!
Date: 2003-05-30
To: A-Train's dad's house
Miles today: 0.0

1356 miles down and 816 miles to go! A-Train called his parents to rescue us from the trail (in from route 17A, just over the NY line)! A-Train, Grunt, Squirts, Southern Yankee and myself were brought into Brooklyn this evening. My knees and left foot have really taken a beating on the trail. I truly needed this break! I think the others did too! We ordered pizza when we got to A-Train's dad's house where we all did our laundry and bunked down. We are going to enjoy 2 "zero" days in New York City! How nice!
Date: 2003-05-31
From: A-Train's dad's house

To: A-Train's mom's house
Miles today: 0.0

A-Train treated us to a "sightseeing" adventure in New York City. Walked about 10 miles around the city today and saw many sites, in the rain. Took subway to Battery Park. Saw Statue of Liberty from a distance. Walked down to Ground Zero-overwhelming! Walked through Chinatown and The Village. Saw the Chrysler Building and Grand Central Station. Got to Times Square right before dark. Had brick-oven baked pizza for lunch and "snack" of hotdog from a corner hotdog stand. Spent night at A-Train's mom's house.A nice surprise was awaiting us on our return from "sightseeing"-Red Streak! His brother brought him up to meet us so we could all continue hiking together!
Date: 2003-06-01
From: A-Train's mom's house

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Called parents and Cindy/Travis today. Really enjoying time off the trail. A-Train has been so busy seeing and talking to family and friends, he hasn't had much "rest". His family's hospitality has been great! Can you imagine 5-6 smelly backpackers all in your house, under one roof, at the same time? Me, Grunt, A-Train and Southern Yankee layed around all day today, getting some R & R. Red Streak and his brother and Squirts went to Mass. We all resupplyed and know we must "hit the trail" again in the morning! Only 816 more miles to go!
Date: 2003-06-05
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Will do 16 vs 25 miles today, still undecided. Called Cindy at work. Still in New York but plan to make it to Kent, Connecticut tomorrow. Hit 1400th mile yesterday (6/4/03). Approximately 760 more miles to Mt. Katahdin! Can't wait to get home!Went off of Hwy N52, 1/2 mile to deli today. Needed more food to get us to Kent, Conn. tomorrow. Met back up with Johnny Walker, Moxie, Shovel and Afterburner. Still raining, we are all like sponges! I guess it beats all the "bug swarms" that occur when it is not raining! Terrain is getting tougher again.
Date: 2003-06-30
From: 1.5 miles south of Mt. Washington

To: View Entry
Miles today: 15.0

Flick called home from the top of Mt. Washington, New Hampshire. There is a weather station on top of the mountain. Highest recorded winds in USA were recorded here - greater than 231 mph. 50 degrees here now with 38 mph winds, but 80 degrees in valleys! Cloudy and foggy today. Hiked in 1.5 miles this morning. Got a late start (9:15am) due to "work for stay" at Lakes of Clouds Hut. Worked for last night's dinner and this morning's breakfast. Need to hike additional 13.5 miles today (will take at least 10 hours to do this). Met back up with Journeyman at Mt. Lincoln - he's doing great! Southern Yankee and A-Train took some time off the trail to attend family weddings. Squirts, Grunt, Subman, Journeyman and myself are now backpacking together. These White Mountains have about taken it out of us! They are tough! You talk about "scrambling" - that's what we do all day just to get from one point to the other.Approximately 308 miles to go! YES!
Date: 2003-07-02
To: Gorham, New Hampshire
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Flick "phoned home". For $15 per person, Flick, Squirts, Grunt, Subman and Journeyman are spending the night at "Hiker's Paradise", motel/hostel. $3.00 to do laundry, showered, resupplied. Place "sold" them bikes for $1.00 each which they rode into town (Gorham, New Hampshire) to Mr. Pizza's for supper. Flick had eggplant parmesan. Ate 1 pint Ben & Jerry's "Everything But The 2 Twisted Ice Creams" for dessert-delicious! Flick said the ice cream, "has enough calories to kill a human being" (320 cal/serving and 1 pint has 4 servings = 1280 calories!! and he's eating it at 9:30pm!!). Weight is back to when began trail, wonder why? Drinking 6-7 quarts of water, daily. Hiking straight up and down and then do it again...whew! Highs on summits today was in 40's and in valleys temps were in 80's. Rocks, boulders and more rocks and boulders, steps made out of rocks and boulders.... Coming up, every mile will take 2 hours!! Hiked through the "Wildcats" which are 4 different peaks but all 1 mountain! Hiked by ski lift at top of mountain, no snow. There was still snow in places on top of Mt. Washington, though! Journeyman is hiking with us now. He is 65 years old. Has never backpacked in his entire life and is thru-hiking the AT!! Worked 17 years as an electrical inspector for an oil company in Saudia Arabia. Ran sailboat cruisesand taught people how to sail. Very interesting person. From Port Charlotte, Florida. This week alone, met 5 South Bounders from North Carolina! 2 brothers from Asheboro, another guy from Asheboro (attends NCSU), a guy from Winston-Salem (attends NCSU) and another guy (NanoWolf)who lives in Charlotte (attends NCSU). Met some South Bounder girls today who started the AT on 6/8/03 and are in Gorham, New Hampshire today (7/2/03). P.S. Flick and Squirts saw their first moose on Wed, June 25, 2003!
Date: 2003-07-06
From: Andover Guest House

To: campsite
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Flick called home this morning from payphone outside Andover General Store. Squirts, Grunt, Subman, Journeyman and Flick made it into Maine on Thursday, July 3, 2003. A BIG 17 mile day! Backpacked only 9.5 tough miles on July 4, 2003. Paid $8.00 to spend the night at the Speck Pond Shelter b/c it is maintained by the Maine Appalachian Mountain Club. Went swimming in "pond", which was more like a lake. Speck Pond is the highest body of water in Maine. Exciting 4th of July - in bed at 8pm!! John is a section-hiker we me up with who is hiking Vermont to Maine. He injured his foot when thru-hiking a couple of years ago-trying to complete the trail now. July 5, 2003-hiked 15 miles which was another BIG DAY! Spent night at Andover Guest House, very clean hostel. Unfortunately, owner Pegleg Turcotte passed away this past week (his wife is Sandra Turcotte). The town of Andover is a very small "place in the road" - literally a crossroads and a total of 7 buildings, 5 of the buildings being homes! Weather is in upper 80's and humid. Rest of week should be in lower 80's.Grunt attempted the "pancake challenge" this morning at restaurant in Andover - eat all 3 pancakes and you don't have to pay for your meal! He was up to the challenge! However, when his plate arrived with 3 HUGE pancakes hanging off all sides of the plate and each were 3/4" thick, he managed to get only 1 pancake down!! Still a bargain at only $4.00 for a plate of pancakes. Flick said the plate of pancakes "looked like a cake"! Fun was had by all!255.6 miles to go and we can't wait!!
Date: 2003-07-15
From: campsite

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Friday (7/11/03), Flick, Squirts, Grunt and Journeyman left Stratton, Maine. The weather was rainy and windy with the temperature dropping into the 30's. Spent the afternoon and night in their sleeping bags, waiting on the rain to let up, oh well, we know how the wweather goes on the AT, this year....What friends! David Huffstetler and his sister Ann Huffstetler rented a car and drove 24 hours over the weekend to Maine to visit with Flick for only a few hours on Saturday! David and Ann treated Flick and Journeyman to a motel room and dinner on Saturday evening, which was enjoyed by all! David and Ann took "the guys" a care package, including 2 more cases of Nutella. Nutella was distributed to all backpackers around and the rest was left for other backpackers! Flick and Journeyman hiked 23.3 miles on Saturday, while Grunt and Squirts hiked 27 miles.Met back up with Grunt and Squirts on Sunday morning. Sunday entailed a 22.9 mile day of hiking and on Monday, a 22.0 mile day. Spent Monday night at Shaw's Boarding House in Monson, Maine. Feet are blisterd again and everyone is exhausted due to the BIG days! Flick's hips are very sore-using moleskin and duct tape to try and protect them from backpack. Today (Tuesday, July 15, 2003), have plans to hike a short day of only 10 miles to begin trek into "100 mile wilderness". "The guys" have plans to register at "The Birches" in Baxter State Park, campsite for hikers only, on Monday, July 21, 2003. Only 12 folks are allowed in this area, 8 in shelter and 4 in tents. Plan to summit Mt. Katahdin, Maine on Tuesday, July 22, 2003. 5 rugged miles up and of course 5 miles back down. All are excited to be near the completion of this great adventure!
Date: 2003-07-22
To: home
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: broken clouds

i am done!!!!!!!!! squirts grunt journey man and i have completed the trail. it was a class 3 day it was great to finish in the same weather that we hiked. There was 40 mph winds, hail, rain, and a lot of slippery rocks. We decided to go against the rangers advice and summit anyway. it was great to have cindy and travis here for the finish and now we are going to take a few days to sight see and relax in maine. good luck to all. i am going home to build my own shelter.Flicks pond shelter.
Date: 2003-02-21
To: Hello
Miles today: 0.0

Hello and welcome to my trail journal. I'll give a little background on myself (in case anyone cares). I am from PA, 34 years old and married. My occupation is in technical marketing/engineering, but I like spending my time trail running, biking, and hiking.Now that you know a little about me, on to my AT adventure. After making some very difficult decisions, I've decided to follow my dream and hike the AT. You know that "someday", that same "someday" that people talk about when they say "...someday I will do [insert whatever dream here]", well it has come for me. Or more accurately I am making it come to me. I believe it's far better to make things happen than to let things happen. Enough of the cliche's. Before I go any further, I must thank my wife for her support. I also have to thank my employer for agreeing to give me a 5 month leave of absence.My current plan is to leave for Springer on 3/31/02 and start my journey northward with my friends George and Mike. More to come soon.