morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-03-30
From: Crabtree Meadows

To: Harper's Creek Shelter
Miles today: 8.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Back in 2004 when I first hiked the AT I arrived at The Priest shelter and found a note from the Blues Brothers saying they had organized the Aqua Blaze (canoeing the Shenandoah River) to leave from Waynesboro at 10 a.m. the next morning. It was around noon so I high-tailed it down the Crabtree Falls trail to Montebello and the Dutch Haus, where after a lot of phone calls I finally got a shuttle to Waynesboro. I was picked up after midnight and reached the Blues Brothers' hotel room well after 1 a.m.(The aqua blaze was awesome by the way).So this year when Jay and Jolie were getting ready to drop me off and I was debating doing the rest of the road walk I had missed yesterday, Jolie asked if I needed to hike down from the Priest (since I had previously said I was going to hike every part of the trail I missed in 2004). It seemed like a good idea, so they drove me to the top of Crabtree Falls and I began hiking again from there after saying goodbye (hopefully it wont be 4 more years before I see them again).I did the long descent to the Tye River and just as it was getting dark caught up to Queen Bee and Winterhawk, section hikers who have completed the AT up to here. I passed them, then got turned around briefly after crossing Harper's Creek before figuring out the shelter was up the creek. Brian and Taylor were at the shelter with their dog Mosby and a roaring fire. We saw the headlamps of Queen Bee and Winterhawk and they also seemed puzzled the same place I had been, so I ran back down the trail to help them out.There was a light, cold mist most of the afternoon. Not too bad for hiking, but the fire sure was nice.* * *Skit's bits:* Hostels I wanted to stop at that are not open this year: Miss Janet's, Rusty's Hard Times Hollow.* Places I ate at with Jay and Jolie: Captain Tim's (great seafood in B-Uena Vista), Pink Cadillac (typical greasy diner fare near Natural Bridge), Dutch Haus (awesome fruit, eggs, pancakes for breakfast), and Chickpeas (a surprisingly good restaurant in the run-down center of Waynesboro).* Movies Jolie and I used to play drinking games to: Jane Austin's Pride and Prejudice (the multi-part series with Colin Firth).* * *This day in bad trail poetry:In a car miles go by fast,the views are many but fleeting,going by foot is slower,the sights have more meaning
Date: 2008-03-31
From: Harper's Creek Shelter

To: Paul C. Wolfe Shelter
Miles today: 22.0
Weather: light rain

First of all I have to apologize to all my fellow hikers.On Saturday I sent out a mass e-mail to my friends describing how spring was arriving. That afternoon I even bought some sunscreen since my hands and face were getting dry and red. So this cold spell with snow, ice and a full day of rain today is all my fault. Sorry.It was misting last night and a soft rain/snow continued through the night. It had stopped by morning, but the light mist began again as soon as I started hiking and it became a harder rain off and on through the day.Though you couldn't see anything through the clouds that had settled down on the ridge, I still opted to take the side trail over Humpback Rocks. It appeared to be the old AT as a couple white blazes still existed.I took only one break all day and arrived at the spacious Paul C. Wolfe Shelter at 4:30 p.m., having done 22 miles. Waynesboro is only 5 miles away so I should have almost a full day in town tommorrow.Two hikers with two dogs arrived at the shelter after me. They are cooking at the shelter but for some reason setting up tents in the rain. The shelter sleeps 10.I want to finish this hike by June 8 at the latest (so I have a week before the CDT). If I average 20 miles a day, including zeroes, I would get 1,340 miles done by June 8 and there are 1,326 from Rockfish Gap to Katahdin. If I average 15 miles a day I would get 1,005 miles done and there is 1,002 miles from here to the end of the Long Trail. My body already has many nagging aches and pains; I think it would be smarter for me to shoot for the shorter goal and try to stay healthy for the rest of the Quadre.* * *Skit's bits:* Overlooks I stopped at today: 7 (3 while climbing over Three Ridges; two at places where the trail crosses the Blue Ridge Parkway; Humpback Rocks, and an overlook just before descending to the shelter)* What I saw from each overlook: grey mist.* Miles of trail I've hiked since yesterday that I did not hike in 2004: 29.4* Number of times the AT crosses or meets up with Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park: 44 times -- crossing the road 28 times and meeting it 16 other times (at mileposts 105.2, 102.1, 99.5, 96.9, 95.3, 94.1, 92.4, 88.9, 87.4, 87.2, 84.3, 82.9, 82.2, 81.9, 81.1, 77.5, 75.2, 73.2, 69.9, 68.6, 66.7, 57.6, 55.1, 52.8, 49.3, 45.6, 44.4, 38.6, 36.7, 36.4, 31.5, 28.6, 28.5, 23.9, 21.9, 21.1, 20.8, 19.7, 18.9, 17.7, 15.9, 14.2, 12.3, and finally 10.4 according to the data book.)* * *This day in bad trail poetry:Icy rain softly, gently falls,Grey mist haunts the trees,and gives the grass a cold embrace,Gaining winds gust,Tufts of clouds hurry past,horizontal raindrops sting,then the gentle, peaceful rain returns
Date: 2008-04-01
From: Paul C. Wolfe Shelter

To: Rockfish Gap
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: light rain

Waynesboro has to be one of the most hiker-friendly towns around.I arrived at the visitor center at Rockfish Gap where John gave me a map of the hiker services in the area and a list of about 20 trail angels who give rides then he called up Bill Gallagher who said he would be there in six minutes. Gallagher is an overseer of a section of trail and he drove me to the Quality Inn, which gave me a hiker rate and let me check in at 10 a.m.Around 5 p.m. I heard a lot of noise in the hallway, some of the voices sounded familiar. I opened the door as Vagus, Stride and Torchy Flambeaux/Trenchfoot/Amazon were going around the corner and I shouted in a mean voice, "hey you need to keep it down out there." I caught them as they were going out the door, they thought they had pissed somebody off.We went to eat, to the store, and are hiking out together tomorrow. Hurray I'm finally hiking with other people.* * *Skit's bits:* Message I got in a fortune cookie in Waynesboro: You are one of the people who "goes places in life." (The quotation marks are on the fortune.)* Number of Drew Carey shows watched at hotel: 4.* Room Torchy Flambeaux/Trenchfoot/Amazon had at the hotel: 140, right next to my room.* * *This day in bad trail poetry:BrokenThe spider worked hard all morning,until exhausted and hungry,it had cast a long web from tree to treeperfect for catching dinner,then I came walking byThe secretI've got a secret that I just can't share,it's a secret that has made me who I am,lonely, loveless, hesitant and weak,I'm not sure why I have this secret,I can't tell anyone, no one else will understand,and what can they do,it's embarrassing, it's not their problem,it's personal, uncomfortable,so its a secret I'll continue to keep,if only one day I could show someone and have them understand, then truly I would be a different man.
Date: 2008-04-02
From: Rockfish Gap

To: Blackhut Shelter
Miles today: 20.0

So far Shenandoah hasn't impressed me much -- it's only been 15 miles. The map says this section of trail is "delightfully wild" along a "sinuous ridge." The fairly easy hiking has been on a narrower ridge, but the country seems much less wild than that of the land the AT goes through to the south on the Blue Ridge.I walked with Vagus, Stride and Amazon/Torchy Flambeaux (she doesn't like Trenchy) all day which made the hike very enjoyable, with conversations jumping around many random subjects -- (school, names of bags alphabetically, did I really have sex on a fryer at an A&W - see my alternate bio on one of the prep entries).We played around a bit on these random old tractor chairs set up near some radio/tv antennae and we're all camped together tonight. In fact, legally they have to stay with me as my name is on our Shenandoah permit for the next four days.In the morning we got a ride out of town from another trail angel, Steve Orzech, and started hiking around 11:30 a.m., finishing 20 miles by 8 p.m.* * *Skit's bits:* After my complaining about Natural Bridge being one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World Recess did some investigating and found:The Natural Bridge web site says:"Higher Than Niagara, Old As The Dawn! One of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World. Owned by Thomas Jefferson. Initialed by George Washington. 215 feet tall."But ... Wikipedia says that THESE are the seven natural wonders of theworld:   * Grand Canyon   * Great Barrier Reef   * Harbor of Rio de Janeiro   * Mount Everest   * Aurorae (Northern Lights)   * Par­cutin volcano   * Victoria FallsWikipedia also says that there is not a consensus on exactly what should be on the list. But, I didn't see the Natural Bridge of Virginia listed as any of the alternate "wonders."* Number of families that were displaced to create Shenandoah National Park: 465* * *This day in really bad trail poetry:Lying in my warm cocoon,listening for the slightest noise,there's a rustle, then stillness,I can go back to sleep
Date: 2008-04-03
From: Blackhut Shelter

To: Hightop Hut
Miles today: 21.4
Weather: overcast clouds

It was a day where I was glad we were headed to a hut to spend the night. Camping in this weather would've been miserable.Sleet fell early in the day before changing over to rain, which was fairly light until afternoon. It began raining harder and the temperature dipped below 32 degrees so the water was freezing to the trees.The hiking was easy and we made it to the hut by 5 p.m. and hung out talking, hoping for better weather tomorrow. We heard it was supposed to be "a gusher" tonight, but warmer tomorrow with more rain and possible thunderstorms.* * *Skit's bits:* Temperature reading on Torchy Flambeaux's thermometer at 5 p.m.: 31 degrees.* Discussion subjects at the hut: Sleeping bags, pee bottles, food, sex dolls, Maryland challenge.* Vagus-inspired list of names if hikers had kids: Strittles (Stride and Skittles), Dr. Asco (Dr. Pepper and Tabasco), Recittles, Vagittles, Skorchy, Stragus, Vambeaux, Water Vagus, Stormwater, Merlow, Amoezer, Shine on you Crazy Giant, Sgt. Rockknocker.* * *This day in really bad trail poetry:Warm, organic apple juice,freshly squeezed into a bottle,someone threw it away in the morning,the nerve of that guy.
Date: 2008-04-04
From: Hightop Hut

To: Rock Spring Hut
Miles today: 23.9
Weather: overcast clouds

A fairly long day of hiking ended with great trail magic from Bob and Pat and their girls Kayla and Laura.Only about 100 yards from Rock Springs Hut is a locked cabin that people can rent. About an hour after we had arrived at the hut (and eaten burgers with beer we had carried from Big Meadows) a family arrived carrying a ton of stuff down to the cabin.A little later Bob came up and asked if we wanted to share some wine. We did. We finished off a full 5-liter box wine along with some chocolate and talked wile their girls made dinner on a wood stove. The dinner took a while to cook, but the ham, potatoes and corn was awesome.They took hiker names of Almaden (Pat after the wine), Biker Bob, Snickers and Flames. Pat invited us back about a thousand times (they have the cabin for the weekend) and so we decided that we will try to hitch back tomorrow and then when they leave on Sunday they will give us a ride where we need to go.I think I'm actually going to hike the White Oak Canyon trail and Old Rag tomorrow and then either try to catch up or just get a ride up to where the rest of the group is and not worry about that section.* * *Skit's bits:* Food and drinks I got during my quick run up to Big Meadows: 4 burgers, 6-pack beer, bottle of root beer, small orange juice, bag of munchies, chocolate bar and Skittles -- I managed to get all the food and still zip ahead to meet Vagus and Stride on the trail with the burgers.* Number of minutes Stride's vow to not giggle the rest of the day lasted: About 3.* Number of deer seen in the meadows at Big Meadows: 22 (in 3 groups).* Big Meadows is named after a guy named Meadows, not the big meadows that are there. You pass a cemetery with a few headstones with the name Meadows shortly before reaching the campground.
Date: 2008-04-05
From: Rock Spring Hut

To: Thornton Gap
Miles today: 26.0

Rock Springs Cabin to Thorton Gap via Whiteoak Canyon and Old Rag - 26 miles?It's 7 p.m. and I'm back at Rock Springs Cabin, wondering where everyone else is. None of the other hikers are here, nor the family that was staying here. The hut nearby is full of scout leaders.Today was a long, grueling and very rewarding day. I went off the AT to hit a couple of trails that came highly recomended -- Whiteoak Canyon and Old Rag -- taking a circuitous route that I don't really know the length of. (AT to Skyline drive to Whiteoak fire road to Whiteoak Lower Trail to Berry Hollow to Old Rag to Nicholson Hollow to Hannah Run up to the Pinnacles, road walk to Thornton Gap then hitch back to Rock Creek).The falls trail was great, there are falls almost the entire lower length and I love waterfalls. At the end I roadwalked up to the Old Rag trailhead, by the time I got to the top of Old Rag the overcast day had cleared off and it became sunny. There were a ton of people scrambling on the rocky ridge of Old Rag. It was a fun hike, would be a great day hike when you felt you had more time to screw around on the rocks. The long climb back up to Skyline Drive had me feeling extremely tired. It was nice to walk the road and get in a few easy miles at the end of the day. I think the best parts of Shenandoah are probably off the AT.The family returned and I felt a bit awkward waiting for them by myself at the cabin. I'm not the most outwardly social person and I definitely felt a bit out of place.The evening ended up pretty nice, though, as I drank a bunch of beer, played hangman with the girls and Sorry with the girls and Pat, and Bob made a great dinner. We had popcorn and more beer after dinner and I slept on a mattress on a bunk in the cabin.* * *Skit's bits:* Hangman puzzles the girls had me solve: "Maryland is a great place to have fun" ... "Crabs are popular on the eastern shore" ... "Dolphins live in Chesapeake bay."* Games of Sorry played: 3* No. of games I won: 2 (I don't think I've ever played Sorry before).* No. of beers I drank: At least 8 (I was thirsty).* * *This day in bad trail poetry:At a distance it looks like an old rag,disposable, ugly, tossed in a heap,Up close it is a unique climb to bag,a beautiful, rugged old peak.
Date: 2008-04-06
From: Elkwallow Gap

To: Floyd Wayside
Miles today: 16.2
Weather: light rain

We slept in late until 10 a.m. and didn't leave until afternoon. It was a bit later start than I had hoped for and the family offered me a ride as far down the road as I needed. So I ended up skipping a few miles of trail (about 9?) to make sure I could get to Floyd Shelter (our designated meet-up place) by dark or close to dark.We had pancakes for breakfast and I cut some wood while the family packed up their stuff. Then we walked the mile up to the car -- I carried my pack and the trash bag.The drive was slow as we were completely socked in by fog and you could see only a few yards down the road. They let me out at a trailhead. I don't even know their family name -- but many thanks to the Rock Spring Cabin family (Bob, Pat, Laura and Kayla, a friend of the family).I met a guy hiking south with his dog. I was reading my map at the time and he yelled down the trail, "you're going the wrong way." The guy told me that Crazy Diamond and Giant were just ahead and Vagus and Stride were a ways ahead. I tried to catch Crazy Diamond and Giant, but they got to the next hut before I did. I went down the trail to talk to them, since I had been following their names forever.Crazy Diamond had a big full beard and big smile and Giant is definitely a big man. We talked only for about 10-15 minutes before I moved out, but it was fun to meet them. They told me that Trek, whose name I had not seen forever, was still way ahead on the trail. He apparently had tried to be the first to Katahdin last year, but had been signing all the registers and somebody shadowed him then passed him the day before Katahdin. So this year he is hiking in stealth mode trying to be the first one done. As far as we know Dozer is the only other hiker ahead of us.A little later I ran into a search and rescue crew, they were looking for a depressed guy who had been reported missing for days and whose car had been found in the park. I asked if there was anything I should keep an eye out for and was told bluntly "no."Vagus and Stride were at the shelter when I arrived. Torchy is somewhere ahead, they hadn't seen her since she fell behind them yesterday (not sure how she got ahead).Twilight and Suzanna, two college-age girls came in around dark. Twilight is out hiking for nine days, she has hiked in the Winds and Canyonlands.* * *Skit's bits:* Nights in a row I've had popcorn: 2 (Twilight and Suzanna had brought some).* Days since I last had to dig a hole: more than a week (I had an emergency poo situation today, unable to make it to the next outhouse).* How Giant hurt his knee causing him to miss a week of hiking: He hit it on the corner of a metal coffee table in a hotel in Pearisburg.* * *This day in bad trail poetry:It's the middle of the night and I hear something munching,it's not a mouse or a bear attacking the food pack,just Vagus and Stride awake for their 2:30 lunching,whispering and giggling during their nightly snack attack.
Date: 2008-04-07
From: Floyd Wayside

To: Dick's Dome Shelter
Miles today: 18.2
Weather: overcast clouds

We spent about 3 hours in the small Monterey Grocery Store in Linden, Va., today.First we went to the post office to pick up our mail drops. At the p.o. a woman offered us a ride to Front Royal and back to resupply, but said she had an appointment to go to first and would look for us at the store.We bought some stuff at the store and loitered there for 90 minutes before deciding our ride wasn't coming back. Then we all ordered two chili dogs, which proved to nearly kill us on the hike uphill out of town. The grocery was a hangout for locals who crammed in with the apparently 5 people working at the tiny store. Most were wearing some sort of camo clothes. They were all friendly and we got a ride back to the trailhead from one.We met Andy and Twilight at the Mannassas Gap Shelter, but decided to hike 4.5 miles more to Dicks Dome Shelter. Stride wasn't thrilled with the decision, but Vagus and I were both for hiking further. Stride left us in the dust on the way to the small shelter, which ended up being mostly filled by two people and their gear (it sleeps 4) when we arrived, so we ended up setting up camp -- me in my Wild Oasis and Vagus and Stride under their tarp. I need to camp more in the Wild Oasis to decide if it is what I want for the rest of the Quadre, otherwise Recess might be interested in it.* * *Skit's bits:* Date Andy started his thru hike: Feb. 29* Miles he is averaging: About 25.* Thru-hikers he has seen since Damascus: 5 (us, Crazy Diamond and Giant, unfortunately he didn't see any of the other hikers we know are behind us.* Stated by one of several guys in camo in the store: "This is the most redneck place you'll ever be, but it's friendly."* What they told me at the store when I asked if there was a restroom: "It's the door to the right marked employees only, unless you only have to pee then you can go outside around the corner."* Number of packages I was expecting at the post office: 2* Number that were there: 1 (package from ULA had not arrived, I asked to forward it to Harpers Ferry).* Sign in the store: If you want the best seat in the house move the cat.
Date: 2008-04-08
From: Dick's Dome Shelter

To: Sam Moore Shelter
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: overcast clouds

We hit the infamous roller coaster today, but we are going to end up breaking the 13-mile section into three days. We did half the roller coaster today and are only hiking 3 miles to Bear's Den tomorrow. Today's portion of the roller had four 500-foot climbs and descents, nothing too horrible.We woke up to another morning of grey mist. My tent was soaked, outside from rain, inside from condi. Bigger drops falling from the trees caused a light spray inside.The morning walk was beautiful through some grassy areas with trees standing shrouded in the mist. Several varieties of songbirds called cheerfully and sweetly to us as we passed. With the wet weather the smell of the earth has been especially strong in places, a musty, moldering odor.We met two more flip-flop hikers -- we've been seeing a lot section hikers and flip-floppers lately.We stopped early, around 4:30 so we can have a nero tomorrow to Bear's Den and relax there all day.* * *Skit's bits:* Thing that has made me laugh the hardest so far on this trip: Vagus making foot shadow puppets at the shelter. He wasn't very successful, but the attempt and his voiceover were hilarious.* Name Vagus came up with for Andy: Leap (since he started on Leap Day and is leaping past everyone -- Stride and I briefly caught up to Leap today and told him the name, he seemed to like it. We didn't tell Vagus, hoping he'll see Leap sign in somewhere.)* Reading material at the Sam Moore Shelter: half a book, a New Testament, and a really awesome National Geographic animal picture book.* Sign at start of the roller coaster: HIKER NOTICE - WARNING!! You are about to enter THE ROLLER COASTER!!! Built and maintained by "Trailboss" and his merry crew of volunteers. Have a great ride and we will see you at the Blackburn Center (if you survive).* * *This day in bad trail poetry:The roller coaster is old and rickety,the myriad ups and downs cause some to be persnickety,though you get a long ride for your dime,and some come back for a second or third time.
Date: 2008-04-09
From: Sam Moore Shelter

To: Bears Den Hostel
Miles today: 3.0
Weather: broken clouds

A fantastic, relaxing day that included a swim at the YMCA and an incredible dinner.We met a couple just as we were about to arrive at Bears Den around 9:30 a.m. We talked for a minute then they told us to make sure to "enjoy the shower" at the hostel. I think they were subtly making a point. We stink. Bad.Amoeba, Torchy and Queen Diva were at the hostel when we arrived. Queen Diva knew of me through Roadster -- who painted a mural downstairs -- and Recess, but it took us awhile to figure out how she knew me. She is running the hostel, an old brick mansion, for the week. She says we stink about as bad as she has smelled three hikers.We waited until we got to the Y to take showers, though. I swam and sat in the sauna. It was awesome.Twilight -- now Twiggilight -- showed up and the seven of us at the hostel had an amazing Italian dinner and played games afterwards.* * *Skit's bits:* Winners of Quiddler: Queen Diva and I tied (first time I had played that game)* What we had for dinner at the Bears Den: Spinach salad with fruit and nuts, pasta primavera, chicken parmesan, eggplant, garlic bread, pesto crouton bread, brownies, Ben and Jerry's Half Baked ice cream.