morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-04-23
From: Hog Camp Gap

To: Cash Hollow Road
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: clear sky

Breakfast by Fresh Ground was a great treat. He makes real coffee -- hence his trail name -- and today, he fed me scrambled eggs with cheese and three wonderful banana pancakes. As I was leaving (not until a bit after 10) Skinny D arrived. Didn't think I'd see her again, but she had taken a couple of days off. Iron Man, who is hiking with the German group, blew by me slack packing, and John from Virginia Beach also passed, as did Skinny D and Tuesday. I feel like a real slowpoke, but then, they are all younger!My goal was to reach The Priest Shelter, but that was not to be. I got messed up at Spy Rock. In the gap below, the trail sign said, "Appalachian Trail, Spy Rock .5, Priest Shelter 4.4." When I got to the top of the hill, there was a sign pointing right to Spy Rock, but no blazes that I could see. Did I come up the wrong way? Blazes down the trail were faint. Maybe the trail did not follow that old road, and I had missed a turn. So I headed back the way I had come. But yes, this was the right trail, so back up again. Since Spy Rock was under the AT on the sign, I headed toward it, a massive rock that looked like a great site for doing boulder problems but not so great for one with a backpack. I went up it anyway but found no blazes. Took a couple of pictures and carefully made my way back down. Thank goodness for that long-ago rock climbing experience! When I turned back to the sign, there was the trail straight ahead -- going left where I had turned right. Lost 45 minutes and any chance of making the shelter. But the AWOL guide showed Cash Hollow Road, and to me, that meant the possibility of a flat place for my tent. Sure enough, it was an old roadbed overgrown with grass. Perfect. So I set up as the light was fading, cooked dinner, ate quickly, and zipped myself into the tent.
Date: 2014-04-24
From: Cash Hollow Road

To: Three Ridges Mountain
Miles today: 12.6

I left my tent site at 7:45, intending to cook breakfast at the Priest Shelter. When I got to the turn-off, I realized I didn't want to do the extra .4 down and back, so I cooked there by a huge rock. Looked like lots of people camp there.I climbed the rest of the way to the top of The Priest (at 4063 feet). Going down, I met Bangerang (from Peter Pan), who is doing flip-flop. He went north to Damascus, then is going south from Duncannon, PA, to get to Damascus for Trail Days, then will go NOBO again from PA. I was dressed for the chill. He was stripped down for the heat of a long climb. Tuesday passed me, headed for Maupin Shelter, my original goal. I had a fun chat with Star Catcher, doing a section SOBO from Boiling Springs to Daleville. He is a Delta pilot on leave while recovering from two mini strokes. He often flies the Atlanta-EL Salvador route, and I told him that's what Lee is doing today. He took a selfie of the two of us and said I am inspiration. He wanted to share the picture with his wife. He also said he had an AT&T signal a bit further down. So I sent Lee a photo and got her texts. Too late to catch her before her flight left Atlanta. Also texted Leigh. No signal since, even though I have been in sight of the valley I thought it was coming from.The descent from The Priest was long, a bit over 3000 feet to the Tye River Valley. Somewhat over two thirds of the way, I crossed Cripple Creek, where I planned to filter some water. What a beautiful surprise to find wild Trillium, shaded from white to a darkish pink, growing over the hillside. Nothing to do but smile and say thank you -- and of course take pictures.At the bottom of the descent, I crossed a road and then a long wood suspension bridge. The trail started right back up again toward Three Ridges Mountain, with first a climb of 1000 feet, a descent of a couple of hundred, then steadily up for another 2000 feet. I stopped for lunch at an old roadbed after just under 1000 feet of gain in 1.2 miles. Iron Man came by again, this time slack packing north.After that, the Trail was more like New England trails, in that it was rocky and had more interesting footing. But it was not fast hiking. I finally made it to the top of Three Ridges Mountain at 7:50 and decided to camp rather than go down in the dark. I will need to make up the lost miles so I can make Waynesboro Saturday.
Date: 2014-04-26
From: Dripping Rock (BRP mile 9.6) and Tree Streets Inn

To: Humpback Gap
Miles today: 6.6

After a delicious breakfast and good conversation with 5 other guests (a couple from Rochester, NY, a couple from Silver Spring, MD, and a man from WVA here for a Fishburne Military School reunion), Bill drove me back to Dripping Rock so I could slack pack a few miles over Humpback Mountain. Nice view of Wintergreen ski area (still with some patches of snow) with Three Ridges and The Priest Mountains in the background. It took 4:15 to do the 6.6 miles, including a stop for lunch and a couple of other brief stops. Bill picked me up at Humpback gap and brought me back to the Inn for a shower and a rest. Went to Scotto's Italian Restaurant for dinner. Had a special, with canelloni, lasagna, and chicken Parmesan plus a good green salad and two beers. I normally could not have eaten all that, but no problem tonight! The half mile walk back was probably good for everything but my feet and knees. Dealt with email and went to bed.
Date: 2014-04-27
From: humpback Gap

To: Tree Streets Inn, Waynesboro
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

I had told Bill and Nickie that I wanted to go to the local Episcopal church. Nickie kindly emailed her good friend, Elizabeth Smith, to watch for me. She and her husband, Richard, were serving today, but hey introduced themselves before the service and were most hospitable. The Rev. Kim Webster preached about low Sunday and the importance of remembering that every Sunday is Easter. The key, he said is to live our lives as Christians, to love God and love our neighbor. He spoke without notes and was quite engaging. I talked about my hike with people at coffee hour, and Richard and Elizabeth drove me back to the Inn. Thanks for saving me the uphill walk!I hope my body appreciated the quiet afternoon spent working on the journal and figuring out the next stage. Unfortunately, it is supposed to rain for the next three days. I hope I can still make some good miles in Shenandoah National Park. It has ups and downs, but the trail is supposed to be easier walking.A couple arrived this afternoon, who are from Michigan but now living in NC. I spoke with Sally about my adventure, and later, when they discovered we were all eating at the Green Leaf Grill, she and Ted offered me a ride back. Another thank you for saving me an uphill walk.Am paying bills, packing a very full pack (7 days of food), and updating the journal. I need to add more pictures, but at least the verbiage is up to date. I hope to add some reflections that go beyond the facts of the trip.
Date: 2014-05-02
From: Campsite near former South River Shelter

To: Big Meadows Campground
Miles today: 14.6

Our campsite was .3 off trail. Got to trail at 9, and made it up Baldface Mountain in pretty good time. Met Bob and Kathy (no trail names yet), who are from North Carolina, and flip flopping, first SOBO from Boiling Springs, then SOBO from Katahdin. I told her I was envious of the purple streak in her hair. She had not heard of the poem ("When I am old, I shall wear purple"), but she said she got it done just as she quit her job. "What were they going to do, fire me?" They are probably in their fifties.Got tired of trying to get the phone out of airplane mode so left it on. At the top of the hill by the Lewis CG, I looked at it to check for a signal and found texts from Lee! Had to go back down the trail a bit to get a signal, but I was able to text and then call her. She had just pulled off 91 to get something out of her bag. Glad she is safely back from El Salvador. Then I texted and talked to Leigh. She may pick me up and spend a night with me in Front Royal -- and bring my food box. While I was talking to Lee, Farmer came by, and I said hello. We remembered each other from before Daleville. He is from Quebec. Later, he came by again as I was sitting on a rock having my PB&J. He had gone down to the Bearfence Hut. I skipped it when I realized it would add a half mile. We had a nice chat about food (eat more), his love of the Green & White Mountains, etc. I gave him Lee's contact info. He is much faster than I -- took off ten days to do the canoe route from Waynesboro, then went back to hike the trail. He was glad to know he is close to M. They started the same day, along with Pa Burt.Shortly after my lunch break, I was able to call Dad from the top of Bearfence Mountain.The hike seemed long today, and I thought I'd never get to the campground. I picked a site and registered. Met Diesel near the registration building. He was checking out the place but moving on. I had told Cardinal and Ozark we could share a site, but I didn't see them all day. As I was getting back to the site from the bathroom after setting up the tent, they arrived. It is very strange sitting here in my tent with people driving by. Some late arrivals may even be looking for sites. Not sure how quiet a night it will be. Had hoped to get a shower, but that will have to wait for morning, as will laundry. Then I hope to get to Skyland and a stealth site beyond. I'll need to move fast in the morning!
Date: 2014-05-04
From: Campsite near Crusher Ridge Trail

To: Beahms Gap (and Reston)
Miles today: 10.2
Weather: clear sky

[I have added locations and mileage for each day since leaving Waynesboro, but the first few days do not have full entries. The weather was miserable, and I did not have the time to do more than make a few reminder notes. I hope to fill in the gaps soon -- and addd pictures!]My alarm went off at 6, and I got up shortly after. It was breezy and in the mid-40s. Managed to pack up, cook breakfast, and get on the trail by 8:15. I had 6.9 miles to do to meet Leigh and Mike at the Panorama parking lot. The plan was to slack pack for a few miles, go home with them to Reston, and take a zero day Monday, so I could go with Leigh to meet Lee at the airport. Lee was due in for a meeting, and since we hadn't seen one another in a month, I was looking forward to a visit, if only for a couple of hours.A beautiful Sunday in this part of the park is busy with day-hikers, and I wound up talking with quite a few. Five men from PA were the first. I had seen them the day before. Two had completed the trail in sections, and they were walking with a friends, who had done 1,200 miles to date. At the Byrd's Nest #3 Hut, I stopped for a snack and to sign the log. M had been there the day before. Two women sat down at the picnic table, and asked about my pack and where I was headed. The younger said she was showing her "new mother-in-law" from Tennessee the beauty of the park. Again, I got the awed and encouraging reaction to my hike plans. I saw them again on top of Mary's Rock, where the husband/son took my picture. A woman who passed me on her way up as I was headed down stopped to chat. We walked along together the rest of the way down. Sarah wants to do the trail, we discovered commonalities, and the conversation made the last half mile go quickly. I had told the people I met along the way that I was meeting my sister and brother-in-law. Turns out that when Lee and Mike asked people if they had seen a thru-hiker, they knew who it was. One of the PA guys said, "A woman, 69 years old, you must be the sister and brother-in-law. She was not shy about telling her age!" Near the bottom of the hill, I saw Leigh leaning out from behind a tree with her phone, taking my picture. She ran up, and we had a good hug. I was so glad to see them both. We took my pack to the car, got pictures of Sarah and me, I ate PB&J and a wonderful apple, and Mike and I set off for Beahm's Gap, 3.3 miles away. Leigh would meet us there. It was a pleasant walk without the pack and good talking with Mike. As we neared the gap, he saw a bear in the woods about 75 feet away. We stopped, it looked at us and then just sat down. Not a clear enough sight line for a photo. Leigh walked in and met us, and we went to the car and headed for Reston, with a stop in Front Royal at a fun frozen yoghurt/gelato place.After a wonderful shower, we went to an Indian restaurant, where I had a lamb tandoori dish and a 20 oz. beer.
Date: 2014-05-05
From: Beahms Gap (and Reston)

To: Reston
Miles today: 0.0

Went to Hudson Trail Outfitters for wind shirt and stove fuel.Picked up Lee at National, went to Ben & Jerry's in Old Town, and then took her to Virginia Seminary for her meeting. Even if brief, it was wonderful to see her!Visited Mom, who was surprised and glad to see me. Showed her hike pictures.Leigh cooked a lovely dinner, and I organized for the next week of the hike.
Date: 2014-05-06
From: Reston

To: campsite on South Marshall Mountain
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: clear sky

Leigh slack packed me for the first 8 miles of a gorgeous day. What a treat, and it was fun walking with her for part of it. She walked in 1.2 miles and then went back to the car and drove to the Elk Wallow Wayside. I made the 5.5 miles there in 2 hours and 25 minutes. We had a huge lunch there -- Wayside Club Sandwiches with fries and, of course, the famous blackberry milkshakes. My mistake was getting a second milkshake. Slowed me way down in the afternoon.In the first mile, we met Spaghetti and ?, two young men. At the Wayside, we met Socks and Blaze, women who are recent college grads and were roommates. They had stayed in Luray and were headed for Gravel Springs Hut. I am sure they will pass me in the morning.I got my pack back at the Hogback parking area, and Leigh headed home. It felt like a box of bricks! I thought I might stay at Gravel Springs, though it seemed as though a lot of people were headed that way. I did go down the .2 mile, because I needed water, but I didn't stay. Too crowded and no tent sites. I slogged back up the hill and headed on toward South Marshall Mountain. The going was slow. My feet hurt, and lunch weighed heavily. But when I got to the point the guide said had a view to the west, I saw a campsite that had been used. Even evidence of a small fire ring. So I set up in a lovely spot, set the line for the food bag, and ate a modest dinner. As I was setting up, Doc Bob came by, headed south. He is doing a large section and will have done everything from Springer to Bear Mountain, NY. He had started a thru-hike I think in 2010 but had to quit. He wound up having back surgery. I would have enjoyed talking with him more, but he needed to push on. I told him bout the little I spring running across the trail near here. It would save him the trip down to the hut. I plan to be up early to take down the tent and pack up, though I will probably do breakfast here. I am hoping to do a long day tomorrow, maybe 17 miles if the feet cooperate. Just gave them some vitamin I.
Date: 2014-05-07
From: campsite on South Marshall Mountain

To: Jim & Molly Denton Shelter
Miles today: 17.1
Weather: overcast clouds

My longest day so far. I managed to pack up, cook breakfast, and leave by 7:50. A record for me. The clouds rolled in, so three were no views through the morning. Distant thunder and sprinkles brought out the rain gear.Met Z and Key (Z's dog), Extra Credit from Mississippi, Laughs a Lot and Sequoia, Which Way, who started a flip-flop in Waynesboro. Will probably see her after I get back on the trail.yStaying with Blaze, Socs, and Professor TurtleGot to shelter at 7. Socs had been there since three. I suspect Blaze was about an hour behind her. Professor Turtle, an environmental sciences major from VA Tech who grew up in Richmond was also there. They had all already eaten, so I took myself out to the "dining pavilion" -- picnic table under a roof -- and made dinner. This is a lovely shelter,clearly well cared for -- grassy yard, and even daffodils blooming along the path to the privy. It wasn't sunny enough during the day to try out the solar shower.
Date: 2014-05-09
From: Myron Glaser Cabin

To: Bear's Den Hostel
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: overcast clouds

I planned a shorter-distance day, since I knew I would be hiking the bulk of what is known as the Roller Coaster, a 13.5 mile series of ten ups and downs with few switch-backs. Evidently, the trail corridor is too narrow in this area to do much more than go straight up and down. The trail actually reminded me of home -- more consistently rocky and steep than earlier, especially Shenandoah Park. And I was definitely slower. At the top of the first Roller Coaster hill, I sat on a big log, fished out the iPad, and went to the ULA website. I had been pondering changing packs, and an issue that started yesterday convinced me to try a ULA. Suddenly, I found that the pack was pressing on the right top of my sacrum in such a way that my right foot and leg were getting tingly and then numb. I was able to adjust, but I wasn't sure that with a full load (I had eaten most of my food supply) it would work. I passed Lil' Wolf and Tree Beard, who are headed south, and met Scooter, who is also headed south and is on his first backpacking trip. On about the fourth of the seven hills before Bear's Den Hostel, Scampie quickly overtook me and disappeared. I finally got to The hostel at 6:15. It is a wonderful stone building owned by the ATC. What a treat to see that DoYi had registered and would be here for the night. I picked a bunk downstairs in the thru-hiker area, showered and went upstairs, where I talked with some of a group of women from Ohio, who are at the hostel for a few days of hiking. I chose my 12" pizza out of the refrigerator and put it in the oven. The hiker package includes a bunk, shower, access to a washer and dryer, a pizza, a pint of Ben & Jerry's, and pancakes for breakfast. DoYi came back from dinner with friends, and we had a fun reunion. I ate 3/4 of the pizza but to save room for the ice cream, I gave the rest to DoYi. My pint of Half Baked went down easily, and after some conversation, we all went to bed. We had been joined by Noname, who was hiking south from PenMar Park as far as he felt like going.
Date: 2014-05-10
From: Bear's Den Hostel

To: Off trail
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

The day started at Bear's Den Hostel, with Noname cooking pancakes for the four of us thru-hikers. Scampie and DoYi left about 8:30, after DoYi and I exchanged phone numbers, etc. I am to call when I am near his home in Cherokee, NC. Had conversations with some of the women from Ohio, some of whom were going to day-hike on the Roller Coaster part of the AT, and some of whom were going to the Manassas Gap area to see the trillium. I waited on the front porch for Leigh & Mike, who arrived a bit before 10. This is the beginning of my 10-day hiatus from the trail. We drove to Reston, and Leigh and I took my pack, winter sleeping bag, and other items I won't need to the UPS Store and sent them home. Sunday, my niece, Kim, arranged a Mother's Day brunch for five of us (Kim, Leigh, me, and Kim's girls, Sydney & Madeline) at the St. Regis in Washington. She even had a car and driver to take us so no one would have to be the designated driver. We had a lovely time. Thanks, Kim!Very early Monday, Leigh took me to the Metro so I could get my 8:10 train to New York and the General Theological Seminary Board of Trustees meeting. The board met Monday afternoon and all day Tuesday. Lee came in Tuesday and was able to attend the dinner honoring seniors and honorary degree recipients. The commencement Wednesday was its usual elegant event, and I processed in academic dress with the trustees and faculty. It was fun to see Vermont's own Mark Genszler receive his degree, cum laude.Lee and I took an afternoon train to Albany, and drove home to Vermont. I enjoyed the few days at home, letting my feet rest, doing errands, and packing up food boxes for the next round. I was delighted to be able to join Lee for dinner at Denman and Jill Scott's, our neighbors in Plymouth since we bought our property. They have been good and supportive friends, and this was their last weekend at their house, which they are selling to a nephew. We will miss them, but I hope the friendship can continue in a new way.It was fun seeing the folks at church. And it was great being with Lee, if only for a short time. She drove me to the Albany airport Monday morning for the flight back to VA and the trail. I had my new ULA Catalyst pack, my summer sleeping bag, and a few other items. Leigh met me at the Metro, and she and Mike fed me a good dinner.
Date: 2014-05-20
From: Bear's Den Hostel

To: Campsite after Keys Gap
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: clear sky

Leigh took me back to Bear's Den, and I started hiking about 9:30. I had 3.9 miles to the end of the Roller Coaster, and I found the going easier than the section before Bear's Den. There were still some pretty good rocky sections, even after the Roller Coaster. I was not speedy, but one fun part was crossing into WVA. For the people who started in GA, the 1000 mile point came shortly after Bears Den.I went to the David Lesser Shelter to get water, which was .25 miles down a steep trail. I didn't think I had a choice, because the guide and maps did not show any other source before the campsite I hoped to reach 5 miles further on. I spent a bit over an hour there talking with Bean Dip and Mama Bean from Australia, Survivor Man, and a SOBO section hiker. I left with enough water for dinner, breakfast, and part of the next day. Heavy. It turned out there was a small stream a bit further along the trail, and though it was flowing today, it would likely be dry more often than not. There were some pretty good muddy places from last week's heavy rains.Since I didn't leave the shelter until 6, I figured I'd need to find something by 8. About 7:45, I found a site that had been used before. I set up the tent and bear bag line before dark and cooked dinner. When I finished, I tromped around for a while in the dark looking for the darn bear bag line and finally got the food hung up. I was glad for the reflective bits on my tent that helped me get back! I had a phone signal, so I was able to talk with Lee.