morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-05-08
From: Pearisburg, VA

To: Pine Swamp Branch shelter
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: clear sky

I spent a very restful afternoon and evening in Pearisburg. I washed a load of clothes with Calamity Jane, who was also staying at the Plaza. I had breakfast at Hardees and walked down to the trailhead. Leaving town, the trail crossed a major river, the New. There was a hard climb out of Pearisburg, followed by a fairly level stretch on the ridgeline. This was followed by another significant uphill followed by a big downhill to the shelter. All in all, a fairly tiring day. The shelter has a broken roof ridgepole caused by a fallen tree a couple weeks ago, meaning that the shelter's loft is essentially unusable. I am tenting next to the shelter tonight. Also here are Calamity Jane, Red Dawg & Mike.I have to say that today's section is badly in need of maintenance. There were several blowdowns and areas that needed to be weeded just north of Pearisburg. This is surprising because it is so easy to get to them. Up on the ridgeline, there are several more blowdowns and some blazing that needs to be redone. There was one section where no blazes at all could be seen. All of us in the shelter were confused by this section. Also, there is a bridge out just north of where we are tonight. Hopefully the maintaining club will get on these issues soon.
Date: 2007-05-09
From: Pine Swamp Branch shelter

To: tenting near Laurel Creek Shelter
Miles today: 18.5
Weather: light rain

The first highlight of the day was the bridge out at Stony Creek. The choices were to ford the creek or take an bushwack trail of about a mile. When I got to the bridge site, the current looked too stong to ford safely. But I walked upstream about 100 yards and discovered a better place to ford. I switched to my camp shoes and made it across with no problem. They are in the process of building a nice new bridge. However, rumor has it that the bridge contractor has left the job. After that, it was a normal day of ups and downs until about mile 14, when there was a tough 2 mile uphill. The second highlight is that we are sharing the shelter area with a group of about 20 teenage girls on an overnight trip. My earplugs may come in handy tonight. They each have huge packs. They are sleeping under a giant tarp next to the shelter. I'm also sharing the shelter area tonight with Pack Rat, Lucky, Red Dawg, Calamity Jane, Bonnie Carolyn, and Chinese Mike.
Date: 2007-05-10
From: tenting near Laurel Creek Shelter

To: informal campsite
Miles today: 15.9

The day began by passing through several pastures, which required climbing a lot of stiles. Then it climbed up to a ridgeline with a long scramble over rocks. It ended with a two mile climb up a mountain with an elevation gain of about 1500 feet. At the top there was a surprise, a wooden bench. I decided that was a good place to stop, make dinner and camp. Most of the people I camped with last night went on towards the next shelter, but I was too beat to go further. Before the last climb, I saw two trail maintainers, Homer & Therese. They had just finished clearing out some blowdowns. I told them about the work that needed to be done north of Pearisburg. They promised to report it.
Date: 2007-05-11
From: informal campsite

To: informal campsite south of Catawba
Miles today: 16.5

When I started out, I discovered I was only a short distance from the Audie Murphy memorial. That is near the site where the WW II hero and later movie star died in a plane crash. Lucky and Pack Rat were camped there. The three of us spent much of the morning hiking near each other. I got ahead when they stopped for water.The next section was a tough uphill rock scramble for a couple of miles. This was followed by an even tougher climb over and around big rocks in the area called Dragon's Tooth. This was probably the most technical climb and descent on the whole trail so far. I was pretty tired out by the time I got to Lost Spectacles Gap around noon. I recovered somewhat for the afternoon hike. However, by about 3:30, I came by a campsite above the trailhead for Catawba. I decided it was time to stop for the day. It would have been nice to go on into Catawba to go to the Homeplace Restaurant. It's a famous place on the AT, said by many to have the best food on the AT. Oh well, my weary bones won out over my stomach. I saw Calamity Jane again, along with her friends Signage and Minnesota Mike. They are staying at a friend's place in Catawba. Other than the tough hiking, the highlight of the day was the flowers. The mountain laurel and rhododendrons are coming into bloom. Both ar! e pretty and the mountain laurel also smells great.
Date: 2007-05-12
From: informal campsite south of Catawba

To: Lamberts Meadow campsite
Miles today: 13.2
Weather: light rain

I started the day hiking down to the trailhead at Route 311. There I saw Logan again, along with a trail maintainer from the Roanoke AT Club. He offered us apples, oranges and water, which we gratefully accepted. Then we had a fairly easy climb up to McAfee Knob with Logan quickly outpacing me. This site is one of the most famous on the entire AT, and perhaps THE most photographed. Chinese Mike and I got there together. Each of us took the obligatory picture of the other dangling his legs over the ledge. I found McAfee Knob to be just as spectacular as the many photos of it indicate. A local said that on a clear day you can see all the way to Roanoke.Both Logan and Chinese Mike are youngsters just out of college. As I hiked on, it occurred to me that those my age and older who think that the young generation is headed into the dumper should meet Logan and Chinese Mike. Both are fine upstanding respectful young gentlemen. Things will be just fine when they take over,... assuming that we oldsters haven't screwed things up beyond redemption by then.I didn't realize until today that two of the famous places on the AT are so close to each other. Just 5 miles after McAfee Knob is Tinker Cliffs, another spectacular place. It is comprised of huge rocks jumbled around the edge of a cliff. It sort of looks like giant children dropped their toy blocks in a pile. More spectacular views from them. I wish the AT was marked a little better around Tinker Cliffs. I lost the trail for a while and went a quarter mile or so before I realized I was off it.This is a very popular area for day and short term hikers. To accomodate them, there are four shelters within less than ten miles. While I resteed at one of them I met the ridgerunner who is in charge of this section. I am camping just past the last shelter in the group of four. I saw lots of wildlife, including three deer. The shelter register says a bear has been spotted recently, but I didn't see it.This was a very scenic and rewarding day.
Date: 2007-05-13
From: Lamberts Meadow campsite

To: Route 220
Miles today: 9.1

I spent the night at a campsite surrounded by a meandering stream. Today's hike was another series of ups and downs with some nice views of the Roanoke area. The best views were around Hay Rock. Unfortunately, like yesterday, the trail wasn't well marked near this vista. I got off the trail for a short time, but quickly discovered my error. Then there was a gradual downhill that turned into grass fields before I got to Route 220. This is a popular spot for hikers to rest and resupply. However, it isn't really a town, but rather a series of intersecting roads and interchanges. There are several motels and restaurants and a large supermarket. I'm spending the night at the Econolodge while washing clothes and resupplying for next five days.
Date: 2007-05-14
From: Route 220

To: Bobblets Gap shelter
Miles today: 18.5
Weather: clear sky

I had a very relaxing afternoon at and around the Econolodge. I watched my beloved Pirates beat the Braves, and watched portions of two of my favorite movies, The Godfather parts 1 and 2. I tried to eat as much as possible yesterday, since I've lost quite a bit of weight since I started. I ate most of a large pizza, some pastry and some fast food. I think I've stopped losing weight by eating more both on the trail and in town. But I need to watch it, since I don't to lose any more. I woke up early and had the motel's continental breakfast before starting out. The day started out walking through grass fields and road crossings, then back up to the ridgetops. After two days with a lot of rock scrambles, the footing was much smoother today. Late in the day, the trail joined the Blue Ridge Parkway, crossing it three times. We'll be near the parkway for the next several days. Most of the talk on the trail right now is about Trail Days, the big AT festival in Damascus, VA this weekend. A large proportion of the hikers are either going or thinking about going. Judy is picking me up on Friday to go down. It seems like the trail will be pretty empty this weekend. So far, it's just Red Dawg and me at the shelter tonight. There are no good places to pitch a tent around here, so I am staying in the shelter.The shelter here is nothing special, but the privy is very nice. Brand new with a plexiglass roof.Today I passed the one third mark, which is at 725 miles. Some wit said in a shelter journal: "Where's my 1/3 gallon of ice cream?" This is a reference to the half gallon challenge, which is at the store at Pine Grove Furnace park in PA, at the halfway mark. Sadly, no 1/3 gallon here.
Date: 2007-05-15
From: Bobblets Gap shelter

To: Cornelius Creek shelter
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: clear sky

Two more hikers joined us late last night after Red Dawg & I had turned in. I didn't get their names since I was gone before they were up. Today was another day of ups and downs on the Blue Ridge. There are lots of rhododendruns in bloom. I ate lunch at the Bryant Ridge shelter, one of the nicest and newest I have seen. This was followed by four miles of almost constant uphill for a climb of about 2,200 feet. This shelter is ok, but not nearly as nice as the last one. So far, I'm the only one staying in the shelter, but several folks are tenting around it. A group of hikers I've been hiking near and sometimes with decided to move on to the next shelter. These include Sandwitch, Brue, Hot Karl and Larry.
Date: 2007-05-16
From: Cornelius Creek shelter

To: Matts Creek shelter
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: broken clouds

I spent the night alone in a shelter for the first time on the hike. Today was a day of ups and downs mostly on ridgetops. Early in the day, I went under The Guillotine, a rock suspended above the trail. I got to the next shelter just as a bunch of folks were starting out from there. The tough climb of the day was to the top of Thunder Hill. Rain was predicted for the afternoon, so I wanted to get to the shelter as soon as possible. It sprinkled for an hour before I got there. About an hour after I arrived, the skies opened up. Glad I wasn't out hiking then. Lots of folks are going into the next town, Glasgow, and then hitching to Trail Days. I am not, because I am meeting Judy on Friday. I'm staying in the shelter tonight with Focus and Driftwood. Focus is a recently retired hiker about my age.
Date: 2007-05-17
From: Matts Creek shelter

To: campsite near Pedlar River Bridge
Miles today: 17.1

We got several more folks in the shelter last night, as well as a couple of tenters. The late ones got pretty well soaked. The late arrivers included Lucky and Pack Rat, two brothers, and Stealth Blew. Lucky and Pack Rat are from Florida, but they have relatives in Maryland. I first met them about a week ago. They are going to try to slack pack the entire 40 miles of MD in one day. Since I have hiked the AT in MD, I gave them an idea of what to expect.The first four miles was pretty flat and crossed another major river, the James. The elevation at the James River bridge is only 710 feet, the lowest so far. The problem with low elevation on the trail is that it usually comes just before a big climb. That was true today. Right after the bridge, I started a tough five mile climb that took me up 2,300 feet. I was rewarded by great views of the James River valley followed by another climb up Bluff Mountain, at 3,372 feet the high spot of the day. The rest of the day was a gradual downhill to the Pedlar River bridge, at 1,000 feet. Some say the AT is full of PUDs, or pointless ups and downs. The guide said there is a campsite near the bridge, but I sure couldn't find it. I'm camping at a stealth site near the bridge.
Date: 2007-05-18
From: campsite near Pedlar River Bridge

To: Long Mountain Wayside, U.S. Route 60
Miles today: 7.1

Last night was an excellent test for the tent. It sprinkled around 9 p.m., but later on the skies opened up for a couple of hours. I'm pleased to report that with the additional stakes for the center side area that I acquired, the Tarptent was perfectly dry. The Pedlar River bridge was a good place to cook breakfast and pack up. This was an easy day with some nice views of the James River. I got to the Wayside around 9:30 a.m., which I knew would be earlier than Judy. It poured rain just before I got there, so I got a little wet. The temperature dropped afterward, to around the high 40s. While waiting, I met Blissful (also on trailjournals) and Granite from New Hampshire. Judy was a little late because of traffic problems around DC (big surprise...NOT!) We got to Abingdon around 4:30. I did most of my chores today so we will have lots of time for Trail Days on Saturday. There are lots of hikers and trail enthusiasts here at the Holiday Inn Express.
Date: 2007-05-19
From: Trail Days

To: Trail Days
Miles today: 0.0

Judy, Max and I had a great time Saturday at Trail Days. I met several trail friends there. Among them were Lorrie Potteiger of ATC and her husband, Bob Peoples of Kincora Hostel & Tennessee Eastman ATC, Leif of Trail Journals and Mountain Squid. I met a few others for the first time in the flesh, including Baltimore Jack and AT Troll of Whiteblaze. The highlight was the hiker parade. This year I participated in it as a 2007 thruhiker. I saw lots of people that I'd hiked with during my seven weeks on the trail. It had just warmed up enough to make the water battle with the spectators fun. Judy had purchased water guns for her and Max. Early on in the parade I found a water baloon that hadn't exploded. When I got to them I made sure to douse them good with it. They of course retaliated in kind. A good time was had by all. Tomorrow it's back to the trail in central Virginia.
Date: 2007-05-20
From: Route 60

To:  Route 60 to Seely-Woodworth shelter
Miles today: 14.0

Judy, Max and I left the motel in Abingdon a little after 9 a.m. We had lunch and it was about 12:30 when we got back to the Long Mountain Wayside trailhead. I really enjoyed Trail Days and spending time with them. I think in retrospect I really neede a zero day after not having one in four weeks. The day started off with a bang as I climbed 2000 feet in five miles to the summit of Cold Mountain. After that it was up and down the ridges. I was planning to stop somewhere between 10 and 12 miles, but I didn't see a really good place to camp. I was feeling pretty good so I decided to go all the way to the shelter, though it was about 7:30 before I got there. There are no thruhikers here, probably because so many went to Trail Days and haven't made it back yet. There are three women section hikers tenting nearby, a mother and daughter and their neighbor from Lynchburg, VA. They do a five day section every year about this time. We had a nice chat. Since there is no one! in the shelter, I decided to stay in it rather than tenting. The only thru-hiker I saw all day was Bonnie Carolyn, who I had met over a week ago. Just before I went to sleep, Bonnie Carolyn came to the shelter. She had done a long day, over 17 miles.
Date: 2007-05-21
From: Seely-Woodworth shelter

To: campsite near Three Ridges summit
Miles today: 18.0

Today didn't look like it would be a tough day, but it worked out that way. There were some normal ups and downs for the first seven miles. The first tough part was a 3000 foot downhill over about four and a half miles. For me and some other hikers I've talked to, long downhills are almost as tough as long uphills. You have to hold yourself back, and they can cause problems with the feet, especially toes. If I had stopped at the Harpers Creek shelter, it wouldn't have been that tough a day. However, I wanted to do more than 14 miles, so I decided to find a place to camp a couple of miles further. However, there was no good place to camp close by. I ended up having to climb all the way to the top of the Three Ridges, which amounted to a 3000 foot climb. I should sleep well tonight. In the middle of the day I saw someone I hadn't seen in over a month, Gator Gump. He was slack packing southbound because his wife was back to see him. He was hiking with Dorothy and To! to, who I believe I have also met before.
Date: 2007-05-22
From: campsite near Three Ridges summit

To: Paul C. Wolfe shelter
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: broken clouds

I did have good night's sleep. Before daylight I woke up and heard a coyote not far away. Because I camped on a summit, I wasn't close to a water source. I had just enough water for breakfast. I stopped at the first shelter to get water. I saw The Dude and a couple other thrus there. Today was about as long as yesterday, but the terrain was easier. One vista at Cedar Cliffs offered a great view of the Blue Ridge. When I got to the Wolfe shelter, there were two guys there, Gorilla and Ross. They were just resting before going on to Waynesboro. Ross is from Beaver, PA, north of Pittsburgh. This fall he is going to the Titusville campus of the University of Pittsburgh. I told him Titusville is my home town. He has a camp at Tionesta, a town near Titusville where I oncw worked. Tonight I am sharing the shelter with Tin Tin and Stalin. This is a very nice new shelter. It is reminiscent of the Mountineer shelter in Tenn.
Date: 2007-05-23
From: Paul C. Wolfe shelter

To: Calf Mountain shelter
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: scattered clouds

This was a busy day. I left the shelter about 7 and got to Rockfish Gap by 9. I quickly got a ride into Waynesboro by a lady who is the Director of Social Services for the city. I went to the YMCA, where showers for thruhikers are FREE, rather than the small charge mentioned in the guides. I then washed my clothes at the laundromat. It's been a while since I've been able to wash and dry a load of clothes for just $2.00. I then did my resupply at Krogers and partook of the fabulous Ming Garden lunch buffet. It is reputed to be the best Chinese on the whole trail and did not disappoint. I then went to the library to check email and read a few magazines. I was planning to stay at the Y's tentsite, but it was just after 2 and it seemed like a shame to waste the afternoon. I decided to hitch back to the trail and hike at least a little bit. Again I got a hitch very quickly by a lady and her daughter and was hiking again by 3:30. I bought a sub to eat for supper along ! the way. Waynesboro is truly one of the great trail towns. It has all the services that hikers need and extremely friendly people. At Rockfish Gap, I got a permit to hike in Shenandoah National Park. The seven miles to the first shelter went pretty quickly. It looks like the trail will be busy this weekend since we are in a popular national park and Memorial Day is coming up. The shelter is nearly full and there are several tenters around us.
Date: 2007-05-24
From: Calf Mountain shelter

To: near Dundo Group campground
Miles today: 15.3

Today I paid the price for all the stuff I got done yesterday. I felt sluggish all day and my feet hurt late in the day. I only did 12 official trail miles yesterday, but I also did a lot of walking and messing around in Waynesboro doing my town chores. Another factor is that I have been nursing a cold the last few days. I think I'm just about over that. I went pretty slow all day and stopped when I got to a group campground in the park. I can't camp in the campground itself because it is for groups and you have to register ahead of time to use it. However, there isn't a soul there tonight. I imagine it will get busy starting tomorrow with the start of Memorial Day weekend. Tonight is the first night that I will spend in the park. I know that it probably appeared from yesterday's entry that I had entered the park then. Actually, both things are true. The AT enters SNP at Rockfish Gap. However, it then meanders back outside the park before coming back inside for ! good at Jarman Gap. I'll be in the park for the next several days until just before Front Royal, VA.I'm starting to think more and more about home. When people hear that I'm from PA and live near the trail, they are asking me what the trail is like up north. I've been telling them that we've been working all winter to get the famous PA rocks nice and sharp for them. One young lady from Texas is meeting her boyfriend at the Harrisburg airport and asked my opinion on how to get around and where to go hiking with him. Also, I've started the big section of the AT maintained by the Patomac Appalachian Trail Club. Their section continues until Pine Grove Furnace State Park in south central PA.
Date: 2007-05-25
From: near Dundo Group campground

To: informal campsite north of Powell Gap
Miles today: 16.3

There are lots of relatively tame animals in SNP, undoubtedly because no hunting is allowed. Last night at the Dundo campground there were 5 or 6 deer grazing at dusk. I've probably seen a dozen deer in the last week. Earlier in the day I saw a hen turkey with several chicks crossing the trail. Several hikers have reported seeing bears, but I have yet to see one. I've seen a few snakes, all I believe non-poisonous. Others have reported seeing copperheads and rattlers. We'll definately see timber rattlers in PA sunnibg themselves on rocks, but they are very shy. After about 5 miles today, I got to the Loft Mountain campground and store. I got some ice cream at the store. The place had a look of deja vu about it. Then I remembered Judy and I had been there about 8 years ago. Last winter, the park had a very damaging ice storm. It closed the trail for a few weeks. The park folks and PATC have done a nice job cleaning out the mess. Tonight I'm camping in an area s! urrounded by recent blow downs. I saw lots of section and day hikers today, but the only thru I saw was Chill Out, who passed as I was cooking dinner.Here is a note for folks in central PA who are interested in meeting me and/or hiking with me while I am in the area. God and my feet willing, I plan to be in the area around the second weekend of June. I'm taking a zero day on June 9. On Sunday, June 10, I plan to do a slack pack day starting from the hostel at Pine Grove Furnace State Park at around 8 a.m. I'm going to take another zero on Monday. On Tuesday, June 12, I plan to start hiking at Boiling Springs at about 8 a.m. I hope to see some of you then.
Date: 2007-05-26
From: informal campsite north of Powell Gap

To: campsite near Bearfence Mtn. Hut
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Yesterday marked the first day of my third month on the trail. Today I passed the 900 mile mark, and I'm about halfway through the SNP. Today was the first day that I felt fully recovered from the cold I got at Trail Days. I saw many more day and section hikers today. The campgrounds in the park appear to be full to capacity. The only really nice vista today was at Hightop Mountain. Near the end of the day I stopped at the Lewis Mountain camp store to get some ice cream. Yum! The shelter is apparently going to be pretty full, so I decided to tent in the adjoining campground. I'm near a lady from W. Va. and her two friends from Arizona.I've just finished dinner and I'm listening to one of my favorite radio programs, Garrison Keillor's Prairie Home Companion. Every year they do the Memorial Day weekend program at Wolf Trap, in suburban DC, just about 100 miles from here. Judy and I have gone to it the last few years. This year Judy is going with two of our friends, Georgia and Brian. It would be nice to be there with them, but I'm enjoying it here too.