morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-10-14
From: Hightop Hut

To: Bearfence Mountain Hut
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: overcast clouds

It started to realy rain last night, so much so that we decided to forgo the fire, since we would have had to sit out in the rain to ¢enjoy¢ it. Rob, who is a paramedic from Pittsburg, and John, are planning on climbing Mount Rainer next June, and we lay in our bags and talked of climbing and of mountains.   Awoke in a heavy mist, with water dripping on everything, even though the rain had officially ended, there was still water falling down from above. Started out in full rain gear, happy that I had gotten a great signal on the cell last evening and had a chat with KT while lying in my bag, after asking permission from my fellow hut-mates.   Despite the unpromising start the mist began to clear as I ascended Hightop Mountain. At the summit there was a spectacular outlook. I was way above the clouds, and the landscape was covered below me in white billowing clouds. Islands of distant mountains arose above the cloudy sea. One mountain in particular in the distance looked remarkably like ¢An Fear Marbh¢ ¢ The Dead Man ¢ an island off the coast of Kerry that looks like a dead man lying on his back.   The trail then descended back into the misty clouds to Swift Run Gap ¢ it was so foggy in the gap that I would not have known that the trail crossed the bridge because the mist made the marker on the other side totally invisible. Luckily there was a remark on the marker on my side that said ¢across bridge¢   Then it was up and down over Saddleback Mountain ¢ where I met Casper [ghost? rocket?] SOBO ¢ and then up and down over Baldface Mountain, where I met Amazing Grace and Andy SOBO. There were also a lot of day hikers on the trail today, and they were the same friendly people that I have been meeting since I entered the SNP.   I finally arrived at the Lewis Mountain campground and took a break with sodas and ice cream from the store. By this time the weather had changed completely. The fog was totally gone and there was a weak sun with a blue sky and puffy clouds and in the 60¢s. Took advantage of a pay phone and called home and left a message. Also restocked on munchies and candy and tuna and cheese ¢ which fits in with almost every meal and keeps surprisingly well, as do pop-tarts by the way.      Then a short 0.7 miles here to the hut, where two ladies ¢ mother and daughter ¢ are in for the night. So I will have company again tonight. The mothers name is Gi-Gi and she is section hiking the entire trail. Her current section is from Harpers Ferry to Pearisburg ¢ which I am hiking in the opposite direction. Her daughters name is Poo, and they are Native Americans.   Some clouds are again gathering as I write and the temps are dropping. The ladies tell me that the forecast tells of rain showers and possible thunderstorms. They have decided to light their fire already, thinking that the rain will forestall that pleasure later.   Thought ¢               Hiking the AT is a lot of hard work, interspersed with occasional moments of pure delight ¢ just like life itself!
Date: 2004-10-15
From: Bearfence Mountain Hut

To: Rock Spring Hut
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: light rain

A SOBO arrived late last night ¢ Reaushambeaux ¢ he had started at Delaware Gap in June and went north to Mane, before flip-flopping south, so we knew a whole lot of NOBOs that I had hiked with this summer, including Just Do It and Bear Behind.   It was a wet and windy night, and a wet and foggy morning, making it extremely difficult for me to ever find the privy ¢ so in future find out where it is before you need to use it in 20 feet visibility!   Gi-Gi and Poo left before me ¢ a first ¢ and I was on my way soon after. It was wet, cold, damp, foggy, soggy, slippery, and stayed like that all morning. Despite the conditions I made good time up Bearfence Mountain, then down to Booter¢s Gap, then up to Hazeltop and down to Milam Gap. I took a break at Big Meadows Wayside ¢ only 0.4 miles off the trail ¢ for bacon cheeseburger, fries, onion rings, coffee, soda, and of course Blackberry Shake!! I wonder if they collect the blackberries wild along the meadows, as I did when I was a boy in Ireland, to make the shakes?   After that ¢ believe it or not ¢ the rain stopped and the sun came out. Perfect to match the mood.   Met a bunch of day hikers from the camp ground at Big Meadows, including a family with a little girl, who, when she heard that I had walked all the way from Georgia, exclaimed ¢You are quiet a trooper¢ ¢ one of the nicest things that anyone has said to me on the trail.   It soon clouded over again and threatened rain, but never delivered. Am now here at Rock Springs Hut, which overlooks Rock Springs Cabin. The Cabins are private property for use only with the permission of the PATC, and are locked. Nice spring here, bubbling up from among the rocks, naturally.   A good day, despite the weather. Left a message for KT from the pay phone at Big Meadows ¢ did not get a signal last night.   Tomorrow is 14 miles to Us 211 at Thornton Gap and then another 6 miles to Luray ¢ pronounced LOOray. We shall see.Thought ¢         The weather and the trail are what they are. It is best to accept them as such and not bemoan the unchangeable
Date: 2004-10-17
From: Luray - Hawkesbill B+B

To: Luray - Best Western, Room 104
Miles today: 0.0

Checked in here this morning after breakfast at the B+B. Well, not at the B+B where I slept, but at one of their regular B+B downtown. They came and got me early and drove me over there for breakfast.   Today I walked to the local supermarket and got resupplied, and also managed to resolve my watch problems. I know that some hikers distain the use of a watch, but I rely on mine a lot. I like to know how I am doing for time as I hike, even if it is only in the most general sense. Also I would be lost trying to figure out the time in the dark hours of the predawn when I get up to make breakfast and to watch the sun come up.   I also got my laundry done and got caught up on all of the home news. A sunny and cold day. Looks like 6-7 nights and 7-8 days to Harpers Ferry. My feet feel much better today and seem to have survived the 24-mile marathon without ill effect. I plan a trip to the PO in the morning and maybe a trip to the ¢World Famous Luray Caves¢ a much-hyped local attraction. All is well.
Date: 2004-10-18
From: Luray - Best Western, Room 104

To: Luray - Best Western, Room 104
Miles today: 0.0

My horoscope for today in the Washington Post; ¢Aries [March 21 ¢ April 19]      If you stick to plans already in motion, you will continue to glide effortlessly towards your destination¢¢Glide effortlessly¢ you got to like that!Slept late and spent a relaxing day. Took a trip to the ¢World Famous Luray Caverns¢. Must admit they were realy impressive and well worth the trip.   Have mailed my package home, and am feeling much better. All of the gear is in good shape. Weather is only so-so.
Date: 2004-10-19
From: Luray - Best Western, Room 104

To: Luray - Best Western, Room 104
Miles today: 0.0

Dull, misty and cold and overcast. Contacted Bobby Jenkins who says he can take me to the trailhead in the morning. Now plan 6 nights and 7 days to Harpers Ferry. I am ready to roll on the last stage of this years journey.
Date: 2004-10-20
From: Luray - Best Western, Room 104

To: Gravel Spring Hut
Miles today: 14.3
Weather: light rain

Awoke early to take advantage of the 6AM breakfast of scrambled eggs and corned beef hash, and was outside waiting for Bobby at 7AM. He never did show up, so at 7:30 I asked the receptionist to call him at home ¢ ¢He is a real character¢, she informed me. Bobby was still asleep in bed, having forgotten about me entirely! He said that he would be at the hotel in a ¢few minutes¢, but because he could not get his car to start, it was a lot longer than that. He finally showed up in a 1962 Buick Invicta, of which he is justly proud, but it seemed to me to make hard work of the climb up to Thornton Gap. Finally I was back on the trail and the dull misty morning turned to real rain.   Once again I was struck by the suddenness of the transition from ¢civilization¢ to ¢wilderness¢. No sooner had Bobby¢s lights disappeared into the mist, and I had taken five steps into the woods, and all was changed. New set of rules apply ¢ out with the old set.   It turned out to be a cold, wet, damp, foggy day. That, and the late start, did nothing to improve my mood. At the side trail to Pass Mountain Hut, three hikers were coming down, also bemoaning the weather.   The trail climbs up to Neighbor Mountain, then down to the wayside at Elkwallow Gap. I successfully resisted the temptation to visit, as I had already had a big breakfast, and I was late in starting anyway. Then it was over Sugerloaf and Hogsback ¢ a realy miserable hike. My boots began to leak again, and I was wet and getting cold. On Hogsback I saw a sign that said ¢Launch Area¢. I wonder if this area is used for hang gliding? Certainly not a model rocket launch site. Finally I met with a SOBO ¢ Chris ¢ on a SNP hike. I made it here to the hut in good time but wet and cold.   Have now changed into warm and dry cloths and gotten water. I will cook dinner after I am done with this journal entry, and see what the rest of the evening brings.   No one here so far, and no recent entries in the register. All of the gear in the pack is dry, and I hope to keep it that way. Have hung the wet hiking gear out on a line inside the hut.   Misty and cold, dripping rain and surrounded by mist, but I am dry and warm now and looking forward to dinner, and regretting my failure to stop at the Wayside!Thought ¢          It is always good to have a back-up plan.
Date: 2004-10-23
From: Manassas Gap Shelter

To: Rod Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 13.4
Weather: broken clouds

W ell, no snakes ¢ but we did have four more people join us. A son and his late arriving dad, and a couple who tented out. That meant four of us in the shelter. Got up early. Dark clear sky with an excellent view of the stars, and a passing meteor to boot!   Started early, with Hops and Malt. A dry day, but very cold, so I started in my rain jacket and gloves and stayed that way for most of the day. Soon passed the trail to Dick¢s Dome shelter, and then came across a large boy scout group going north ¢ and Storm, who had spent the night at Dick¢s Dome. He headed on north ahead of me and I was trailed by the boy scouts until their voices gradually faded. I was worried that they would pass me and take up all the room in the shelter. So I have not yet managed to rid myself of pointless worries, although I think that I am getting better at it.   At the wooden park bench ¢ marking the junction of the trail to Sky Meadows State Park ¢ I met two ladies out for a walk, who were much taken by my long and sad tail of the hike. Wasn¢t it the mouse in Alice in Wonderland that had the long and sad tail? Shortly after that I came across a squirrel hunter ¢ with a shotgun ¢ trying his luck. None so far. It must be tough to eat a squirrel full of buckshot, but he says that he does eat them.   After crossing US 50 at Ashly Gap I came across Storm again. He had hiked 0.8 miles to a restaurant to get food and was soon off again north.   The sun finally came out, and I discarded the rain jacket and the gloves, and hiked the remaining miles in my shirtsleeves with the temp in the 50s. Cool!   When I arrived here I found Storm again. He had yogied some more food and we had a long talk. He is home-schooled and thinking about becoming an aeronautical engineer. Realy smart kid. He has now left heading north.   Scarcely had he departed when nine boy scouts and two troop leaders arrived. A different group from the one that I met this morning. This must be a popular area for them to hike. Should prove to be an interesting night. Their scout master has just taken them all aside to lecture them on respecting the quiet and solitude of ¢others¢ i.e. me, busy scribbling in his journal!   I also found a huge nail that had passed right thru the heel of my boot and came out on the other side of the upper. I have no idea how it got there but it sure wasn¢t there when I started out this morning. I can¢t believe that I didn¢t feel it when it went in, and that it did not go right thru my heel. I can¢t for the life of me figure out how it got there. It must have been sitting fairly upright on the trail and yet was unsupported enough that I carried it away without noticing it. As luck would have it someone had left a pliers in the shelter ¢ talk about a coincidence - and it was an easy matter to extract the nail.      My right ear is blocked up and putting out some smelly discharge ¢ otitis externa again!   Am trying to dry all the gear - especially the boots and the hiking socks.Thought ¢            Birth, Death and Resurrection ¢ the Unbroken Cycle
Date: 2004-10-24
From: Rod Hollow Shelter

To: Bear's Den Hostel
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Well, the night went well, the boy scouts were quiet after the usual flatulent jokes and I slept well. A lot of junk came out of my right ear and it feels better today.   I awoke early as usual, to the usual fog and mist and was on the trail early. Today was the beginning of the ¢Roller Coaster¢, marked with a sign that wished luck to all ¢who survived¢ the hike. After this auspicious beginning, the hike itself was not as bad as I had feared. I had been impressed by SOBO tails of sheer 500¢ ascents and descents, so steep that while hiking you ¢could touch the trail with your outstretched hand¢. It was indeed a repetitive series of ups and downs, some quiet steep and some rocky, but difficult only in comparison to the smooth trails of the SNP. I counted eight ups and downs, and a ninth up, so far, to this hostel. Tomblin Hill was the toughest, I thought, but I was still here by mid-afternoon.   Saw a lot of people on the trail today ¢ mostly day or 2-3 day hikers ¢ but did see one SOBO thru hiker. The day was dull and overcast. The sun tried, but was unsuccessful, to break through. Hiked in the rain jacket, but not the rain pants.   This is an excellent hostel. It is a large stone house located close to the trail but still deep in the woods. It has two turrets ¢ the builder having been impressed by European castles. It is the cleanest, most elaborate hostel that I have ever been in. The showers have shampoo and soap and it has a huge and well-equipped kitchen and a big dining room. I am writing this in a large and well-equipped common room ¢ it even has a piano!   I split a pizza with a fellow hiker, and, feeling still hungry, followed it with my regular dinner of chicken alfedo with soup and tuna, followed by a Twix bar and, to cap it all off, a 1000 cal. pint of Ben and Jerry¢s ice cream!   Warm well fed and comfortable. Have also run all of my hiking gear thru the laundry and feel in good shape for the 10 miles to David Lesser Shelter in the morning. This is great. What a fortunate decision to stay here, it has realy made me feel good. There is the dad and son here, as well as three ¢small section¢ hikers, all men about my age. I just love it here. Onward tomorrow.Thought ¢         The more you know ¢ the less you need.
Date: 2004-10-25
From: Bear's Den Hostel

To: David Lesser Memorial Shelter
Miles today: 11.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Slept well and rose late, but still was on my way before the father and the son were stirring. Misty foggy morning, and cold. Put the rain pack cover on before setting out today.   Went down #9 to Snickers Gap [a four lane highway] and then up #10 and down, up and down #11 [a small one], up and down #12, then on #13 crossed the VA-West VA border and on to Crescent Rock. There was an interesting view ¢ the mist was on the upper slopes but there was some foliage visible down below. I tried to capture it on film but I don¢t think that I did it justice. #13 was the last of the Roller Coaster. The son passed me on it, but I caught up to him again, waiting for his father at the trail junction to Blackburn AT Center. I left him there, awaiting, and continued on.   The fog and the mist gradually cleared and even though it remained cloudy it got a little warmer. The trail follows the VA-West VA border along an extensive ridge walk and I moved right along, after the ups and downs of the Roller Coaster.   Arrived here in good time. The shelter is described as ¢an engineering wonder¢ it is very nice with a deck and a separate gazebo with a swing! The only problem is the water source ¢ it is a good 0.25 miles downhill. As usual I filled up as soon as I got here, quiet a hike.      No sooner had I done that, then the son arrived and says he and his Dad are going to continue on to Harpers Ferry, and asks me for some of my water. I gave him some ¢ but it realy pissed me off. I have no problem in giving water, or anything else for that matter, to anyone who needs it and who cant get it. But he could have gotten it himself if he wanted to. All he had to do was to go down to the spring as I had, Instead he bummed it off of me, because he lacked either the time or the energy to get it himself. But he had plenty of time and energy to continue on to Harpers Ferry. You need to be responsible for your decisions out here. Spoiled a nice afternoon by making me mad at myself for being mad at him!   But on the good side, there is a book here in the logbook locker. It is a novel by Anne Perry featuring Inspector Monk. Billed as a Victorian Mystery. Many people leave books, or just parts of books, in the shelters. It seems to be an accepted exception to the ¢Leave No Trace¢ rule.Thought for today ¢      If you need something ¢ help, advice ¢ then you need to ask for it.      A dumb priest looses his benefit.
Date: 2004-10-26
From: David Lesser Memorial Shelter

To: Harpers Ferry - Comfort Inn, room 102
Miles today: 9.6
Weather: mist

I had company last night. First arrival was Torch ¢ an 18yo SOBO thru hiker, fleeing from Harpers Ferry because of cat allergies. The person he was staying with had a cat to which he was allergic, and as the light faded Phoenix arrived, another young SOBO thru hiker.      I awoke and arose early, as did Phoenix, and was soon on my way. The predawn colors were spectacular with bands of dark blue alternating with red and gold to the east. The promise of a great day was quickly shattered by the descent of the mist, as I hiked down to Keys Gap, a very busy road crossing, made all the more dangerous by its situation on a sharp curve [and a ¢Welcome to Virginia¢ sign] and today the dense fog that hid the approaching traffic and distorted the sound direction.   Soon passed the old road with the reported ¢stone Civil War redoubts¢ and then a steep descent to the Shenandoah River. There is no good overview of either bridge or river until you are suddenly upon them.   Just there I met ¢Se-La-Vie¢, another SOBO known to both Storm and Phoenix, who they had expected last evening at the David Lesser Shelter. He had started the hike with his wife, but she had unfortunately contracted Lyme disease and is currently off the trail with arthritis.   After a spectacular crossing of the Shenandoah River and multiple photos of a mist clouded, rapid filled river, with an even mistier backdrop of full fall color foliage, I was here at the hotel. Since the room was not yet available I took a trip to the local pub for pub-food, and a snack run to the local 7-11. Am now ensconced in the room post shower and well contented.   Plan to hike through Harpers Ferry in the morning and stop in at the ATC Headquarters and sign in on their register. I will spend some time viewing the sights and then ¢ depending on the reliability of Amtrak ¢ take the train home to arrive in Chicago on Thursday 28th in the morning.   So ends this section of the odyssey. I am very pleased, and somewhat surprised, that I made it all the way to Harpers Ferry. I realy enjoyed this section ¢ despite some realy bad weather. I especially liked the Shenandoah National Park, well maintained, and well graded trails, with good blazes and directional signs, hiked at the peak of the fall foliage colors.   I feel physically and emotionally good ¢ and if the scale at the Bears Den hostel is reliable, I have lost 30 lbs! It¢s as if I wasn¢t carrying a backpack any more ¢ but try to tell that to my back and legs at the end of the day.   I am however ready to go home now for the winter. For the thru hikers, the hardest thing must be to just keep on going, day after week after month ¢ it is certainly more of a mental than a physical challenge. ¢More head than Heel¢    Personally I miss my wife, family, and home too much to go the whole way without periodic returns to the home fireplace.   Next year ¢ next blaze! Thought for today ¢         Going slow prolongs the enjoyment ¢ and the agony!
Date: 2003-01-11
To: hot springs
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

It's now 2003... the year of my ever-increasingly-close hike...Yahoooooo!Man, I gotta say, after living in Montana, I certainly do wish the AT had some natural hot springs along the trail! That's been my favorite activity here, and the hikes to and from them just increase the enjoyment. I'm still pumped about the AT, asking questions all the time, and now really getting into my planning guide. It's a bit outdated (1991), but has a lot of relevant information. I've learned that I'll probably do mostly mail drops...wait, me?? no, I meant my parents....this is where they really kick into the planning :) and occasionally some in town buying. I've also learned that unless I learn how to dehydrate my own organic food, I'm going to be plunging into my piggy bank to purchase dried organics in bulk for the trail...and the mail ordered prepared dried foods are about 5-7 bucks a meal too! YIKES! Another option, and most likely one I'll look into as well, is to make a run for BJ's when I get back to Mass. and stock up on Liptons, Ramen, Soups, and Apple Cider. That's it for now. More later. Tomorrow though, it's hot springin' time! Peace~tidi
Date: 2003-01-22
To: food
Miles today: 0.0

hey ya'll~Yesterday i went out and bought a dehydrator. Not the cheapest thing in the world, but far less expensive than my 1970's trail food cook book lures me into thinking. (Also far easier than the books suggestions on how to make your own.)Food is such a big topic for me. Mail drops are something I still have to figure out, but more than that, I'm finding it's a juggling act trying to choose between light food, enough food, the cost of my food, the calories they pack in, the chemicals intake for all those not organic, the cost involved, and keeping myself generally healthy.I know that I can't eat all organic along the trail, (and I've been slipping on that at home as well) but I've decided that I will dehydrate organic fruits and veggies prior to my hike and take those along as a compromise. I'll also be taking Juice Plus capsuls as a supplement to the food I'll be eating. They're basicly dehydrated, organic fruits and vegetables of a wide variety, without the sugars, and condensed into capsuls. There's a lot of knowledge and science backing up the idea that these little buggers do more for you than vitamins because they contain the whole food product, which includes the micronutrients that vitamins do not. How do I know this much on the subject? My mom is a distributer for their product, and our family is constantly bombarded by her talks and consequently saved by the health benefits of Juice Plus. Wouldn't trade it for anything, thanks Mom!Well, that's it for now on the food topic. Updates to come on how good dehydrated veggies actually taste.