morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-05-22
From: Dennis Cove, TN

To: Laurel Fork River, TN
Miles today: 7.5

Laurel Fork FallsWe awoke early at the Dennis Cove trail head and walked to the Laurel Fork Lodge to use the bathroom, Internet and check out their store. The manager of the lodge, which had a hostel and cabins as well, was from Chicago, so Liz and he exchanged stories of the Windy city and he filled us in on some good swimming holes up the trail. We got on the trail around noon and had a very enjoyable hike. It was fairly easy going and followed along the banks of the laurel Fork. We soon figured out where the name came from as we passed by mile after mile of blooming Mountain Laurel. Eventually we came to the Laurel Fork Falls, the trail to which was very steep and rocky. We all struggled to get down the rugged stone stairway, but were left open jawed by the sheer beauty of the waterfall. We stopped there to have lunch and met a professional photographer who was in the area for vacation and had lugged his equipment out to the falls. He asked if he could take some pictures of us, and especially Einstein, with the falls in the background. After lunch, Jess, Einstein and I waded through the rapids across the river and climbed across the rocks on the far side to get to a deep pool at the base of the falls. All 3 of us jumped in with the intention of swimming, but the water was so frigidly cold that we couldn't stay in for more than a few seconds. Of course the moment we emerged the sun dipped behind the clouds and we were left cold and shivering. After the falls, the trail remained treacherous and rocky as it hugged the bluff walls along the river and eventually made a steep climb up to the Laurel Falls Shelter, where we stopped briefly to check the register for familiar names. The trail eased up after that and meandered along the river though pines and rhododendrons until it met back up with the river. We followed it to a nice bend in the river with a deep pool we could take another dip in and decided to camp there for the evening. Einstein enjoyed another swim as The Phlo kept him entertained with a stick. After dinner and a nice fire, we slept soundly on a soft bed of pine needles.
Date: 2009-06-01
From: Marion, VA

To: Partnership Shelter
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: clear sky

Cheap Wings and BeerYesterday, May 31, was my Birthday. Everyone had kept asking me what I wanted for a gift. All I really wanted was a zero day in a motel room and all of the luxuries that included: a bed; television; shower; flush toilet; and maybe a few hours on a computer to catchup on Email and update my journal. I got my wish. It was a rather uneventful birthday, involving a few AYCE buffets and a giant Birthday cookie cake from Dizzy, but it was everything I could have hoped for. The next day we stopped by the post office and library on the way out of town. dizzy had sent some Birthday gifts ahead to Marion which she brought to the library form the Post Office: a couple of pouches to attach to my pack for holding my camera, journal and iPhone; a bug repellent bandanna for Einstein; and a kid's Spider-man umbrella from the dollar store to keep the rain and sun off my had while hiking. They were great gifts and all would come in handy on the trail. On the way out of town we asked some locals for a good place to eat in downtown Marion. When they told us of a sandwich shop in the old post office that had 29 cent wings and $3.99 pitchers of beer. Several hours, 4 dozen wings, and a few pitchers of beer later we were ready to stumble back out onto the trail. By this time it was dark and we were a bit sloshed, so we called a taxi to take us to the Mt. Rogers Ranger Station, which was a half mile from Partnership Shelter, the closest spot to get back on the trail. We didn't waste much time setting up camp and getting to sleep.
Date: 2009-06-08
From: Wytheville, VA

To: Waynesboro, VA
Miles today: 6.5
Weather: few clouds

Weekend Layover in WythevilleStone Skipper's wanted to continue hiking with The Phlo and Graveyard out of Bland, and her mom was staying until Monday morning, so we ended up staying the weekend at the Wytheville Motel 6, taking advantage of the pool, laundry facilities and nearby restaraunts. Dizzy Bat was concerned about reaching Harpers Ferry in time to make her flight from Washington, D.C. to Mexico for her brother's wedding so Skipper's mom offered to drive us up to Waynesboro, VA on her way to Pennsylvania. Waynesboro is at the southern end of the Shenendoah National park and would be a good distance for us to hike and reach Harpers Ferry just on time for her flight in two weeks.So, Monday morning we bid farewell to our long time hiking companions. But we planned to all meet up again in Waynesboro in 3 weeks, after Dizzy got back from Mexico, to canoe up the Shenendoah River to Harpers Ferry - what AT hikers call an Aqua Blaze. Since Liz and I were hiking Shenendoa to Harpers Ferry first, we would get the opportunity to see the area twice - once from the ridge and then from the valley.We arrived in Waynesboro in time to mail off some packages at teh post office, hit the nearby Chinese buffet and pitch our tent for free at the local YMCA.
Date: 2009-06-15
From: Big Meadow

To: Hawksbill Mountain
Miles today: 18.0

Prats and PitfallsWe weren¢t anxious to leave Big Meadow, but we didn¢t want to pay for another night of camping and felt a need to get back on the trail. We packed up everything and decided to wait at the lodge for Ezra to show up. In the process of packing up, I lost one of my last pair of contacts and broke one of my trekking poles we had been using at a tent pole. Neither was a tragedy but meant that I would have to walk either half blind or with my glasses, and short one trekking pole, which makes a big difference hiking up and down hills.So a bit deflated from the events, and yet another day of rain, we hiked up to the lodge and waited for Ezra. We had a nice lunch, watched some news (mostly about the Iranian election protests and upcoming health care debate), charged up our phones and did our final check of calls/email while we had coverage.Not paying attention to the time, we eventually realized it was getting late in the day and we hadn¢t heard from Ezra yet. We called him and discovered he stopped at the Big Meadow campground to take a shower and assumed we had hiked on after finding our campsite empty. He planned to make it to Skyland, another resort area further north in the park. We didn¢t think we¢d make it quite that far today, but set out to cut some of the distance between us.On the way out of Big Meadow we ran into Patches and Crazy Lady who were camping there for the night. We also ran into the couple from Chicago who was planning on treating themselves to a room and nice dinner. They gave us the news that she was getting off the trail in Harpers Ferry while he would go on alone after a short break. Ezra had also told us he was considering getting off the trail in Harpers Ferry, which was a huge blow. Now, except for Stone Skipper, Graveyard and The Phlo, everyone in the group we started off with the first month was now off the trail. Muscles got off the trail with Father Time at Trail Days. Silver Hammer and Ten Sticks got off a few weeks later. N¢Da¢Wind left after Trail Days, which she had originally planned. I think that Julio and Patience Jr. might still be on the trail but far ahead of us if they were.So, with spirits dampened we set off for Fischer¢s Gap, a spot north on the trail where our guidebook said there was camping. There was not. So we resigned ourselves to walk 4 more miles north to Rock Springs Hut, the next shelter up the trail. But along the way we found an outcropping of rock overlooking the city of Stanley in the valley below. It was too beautiful to pass up, so we stopped for dinner and decided to pitch a tent. After the sun went down, and the lights in the valley came on, it was a rather surreal finish to a very discouraging day.
Date: 2009-04-06
To: Erwin, TN
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Tonto and I have been planning to do a reunion hike ever since I completed my thru-hike in 2007. We were going to hike this section in 2008, but Tonto got a stress fracture over the winter of 07-08, so we had to put it off. Tonto did a section in Mass. and Conn. in the fall of 2008. He invited me to come, but other commitments prevented that. Now we are finally ready to go.Judy, Max and I had been planning to spend a week at Myrtle Beach in the early Spring, so this hike fit in well with those plans. We left our condo there Saturday morning and drove to Gatlinburg. We spent a couple of great days in and around the Smokies and then parted company. I traveled from Gatlinburg to Erwin today and checked into Uncle Johnny's hostel. Tonto and I plan to meet tomorrow afternoon and then drive back to the Newfound Gap area to start hiking Wednesday morning.However, the weather may put a monkey wrench into our immediate plans. After a couple of wonderful Spring days in the Smokies, the forecast is for rain changing to snow. It is supposed to snow off and on during Tuesday, but stop overnight. If it works out that way we will probably start hiking on schedule Wed. morning.
Date: 2009-04-08
From: Davenport Gap

To: Brown Gap
Miles today: 11.2

Mother Nature definitely threw us a curve. After breakfast, we got to Cherokee, NC and turned onto Route 441, only to discover that the road was closed to Newfound Gap. The rangers told us that Newfound Gap had 15 in. of snow. They thought the road would be opened later in the day. However, the AT in that area would probably be difficult to impossible to hike for a couple of days.We considered our options. We finally decided to go to Davenport Gap, where I-40 crosses the mountains and passes over the AT. I figured that area would be passable, since it is only about 2000 feet high. We got there, and there was only a light coating of snow. We bid Penny and RV farewell, and started out.We climbed straight up for a few miles, going over Snowbird Mtn., at almost 4,300 ft. the high spot of the day. There was almost a foot of snow at the summit. We stopped at Groundhog Creek shelter and talked to several thru-hikers, including Sassafras. They had spent the last few days at Standing Bear Farm hostel waiting out the cold and snow. We decided to push on a few more miles. We are spending the night near a spring at Brown Gap. The trail has been snowy and sloppy, but certainly hikeable.Moving up to Davenport Gap will mean our hike will be a couple of days shorter. However, we both agree it was the best choice given the circumstances. Tonto and I seemed to have fallen into our old rhythm. Though we are different form each other in many ways, we fit well together on the trail.
Date: 2009-04-09
From: Brown Gap

To: informal campsite south of Garenflo Gap
Miles today: 16.0

Tailwind, a thru from Atlanta, camped near us. It was close to freezing when we woke up. We were underway by 7 a.m., just like old times. The first highlight of the day was climbing over Max Patch Bald, probably the most famous of the balds on the AT. While taking a rest at a shelter, we saw Sassafras again. She is a very fast young hiker. Later on at a sprng we saw Leanto, an older guy thruhiker from southern Mass. Just before noon we found our first trail magic of the hike. Volunteer from Charlotte. NC, was giving out sodas and snacks while waiting for her friend Jester. Later on Jester caught up with us and we had a nice conversation about hiking and other things. She will be hiking in Vermont at around the same time Tonto will be doing a section. I will also be there for the ATC Biennial, so we may all run into each other. There was some snow and slop around Max Patch, but the trail was a lot better than yesterday. Tomorrow we will hike the 7 miles into Hot Springs, resupply and do laundry, and probably stay there overnight. Thundershowers are forecast for tomorrow, so it will be a good day to be in town.We are in the midst of a big drop in elevation, from Max Patch at over 4,600 to Hot Springs at 1,325. After Hot Springs it goes right back up to over 3,500. That's the AT, full of pointless ups and downs.
Date: 2009-04-10
From: informal campsite south of Garenflo Gap

To: Hot Springs
Miles today: 7.6
Weather: overcast clouds

It was a great night for sleeping, temperature around 50. When I got up around 5:30, it was mostly clear and it seemed hard to believe that it might rain soon. Still, we wanted to get into Hot Springs as soon as possible.It started to cloud up a short time after we started. By 8:30, we heard the first rumble of thunder, and rain strated about 9. We had a chance get our raincoats and pack covers on before it got too bad. We hiked the last few miles into Hot Springs under steady rain, arriving about 10. Sassafras had camped a bit ahead of us and passed us shortly after it began to rain.Hot Springs is a great trail town, not too big but just big enough to meet all of a hiker's needs. The town is filled with hikers today, both because this is the heart of thru-hiker season and because bad weather is in the forecast. In 2007, I missed staying at the famous hostel Elmers because it was full. Alas, they are full this time as well. Tonto and I are staying at the Alpine Court motel. We'll wait out the expected storm and hopefully start out early tomorrow.
Date: 2009-04-11
From: Hot Springs

To: informal campsite near Log Cabin Rd.
Miles today: 16.3

During my 2007 thru-hike, the trip out of Hot Springs was perhaps my hardest day on the trail. It went from rain to sleet to snow with winds over 30 mph. I only made it 11 miles to the Spring Mtn. Shelter. Today was much better, and we got a lot further. The forecast called for partly cloudy skies. That wasn't true, at least here in the mountains. It was cool with a bit of rain mid morning. Before starting out, we had breakfast at the wonderful Smokey Mtn. Diner. Tonto asked for three pancakes and thought he might want some biscuits later. He was served three enormous pancakes, and could only finish about two thirds. I don't think anyone ever leaves the SMD hungry.We're camping just off the trail near a cemetary. There is a hostel a little ways down the road, but we didn't want to go since we had just been in Hot Springs. Today we ran into several younger thrus, including Mr. T, Half Moon and Angie.The weather didn't quite live up to the forecast, but we had a great hike today. Just as we are settling in for the night, the sun has finally broken out. A perfect end to a wonderful day.
Date: 2009-04-12
From: informal campsite near Log Cabin Rd.

To: Flint Mtn. Shelter
Miles today: 16.0

We had a great night near the cemetery, with not a single ghost or goblin. Tonto and I were underway by 7. We started out with a long uphill to Camp Creek Bald. There we saw a great view of the valleys in a blanket of fog. The hardest stretch was a rock scramble near Coldspring Mtn. By 11 Tonto and I were down to t-shirts after starting the day in several layers. There is a big group here tonight, including Dutch, Texas Chill, Half Moon, Angie, Topo, Samwise and Newt and Miss Scarlet (twins). We are pretty beat but happy after a long good day.
Date: 2009-04-13
From: Flint Mtn. Shelter

To: Bald Mtn. Shelter
Miles today: 18.8

It rained a bit about 3 a.m., but there was none when Tonto and I woke up. There were 8 of us in the shelter and maybe a dozen tenting around us. We got underway earlier than normal, about 6:40, just as the sun was starting to rise. We were expecting rain, but none came. It was windy and sort of cold, though. In the morning the footpath was pretty good and we made good time hiking to the Hogback Ridge shelter. We saw Rehab there, who is from Pittsburgh. Later, we passed by a beautiful waterfall that I got a picture of.We planned to go to Low Gap and camp, for about a 15 mile day. We got to where it was supposed to be and absolutely could not find it. We kept going and looking for it until we came upon some streams. After consulting my Handbook and GPS, I realized we had gone past Low Gap and were less than 2 miles from the Bald Mtn. Shelter. The wind was gusting over 40 mph and we saw no place to camp, so we decided to push on to the shelter. My latest toy, a GPS, helped us considerably in determining where we were in the fog.It was blowing a gale with pea soup fog as we came over Big Bald, over 5500 high. We made it to the shelter about 5 p.m. It was pretty full and we decided to tent. It is breezy here but manageable. We are pretty beat tonight. Several other folks are also saying that they missed the alleged Low Gap.
Date: 2009-04-14
From: Bald Mtn. Shelter

To: Nolichucky River
Miles today: 16.9

We spent the night in the clouds. It may have rained but it was hard to tell because of the mist. We were up and underway by 7:15. The footpath was good all day. Even though we dropped about 3,400 feet during the day there were a surprising number of climbs. We had rain for an hour at about 9 a.m. We passed several streams and waterfalls at near bank full. We stopped for a break at the No Business shelter and saw van Dutch and Boston. They are headed to Erwin as are almost everybody we have seen lately.We got to Uncle Johnnys about 3:30 p.m., just after another brief rainstorm. I pointed out to Tonto the great views of Erwin and the Nolichucky River. The hostel will be full tonight and we got two of the few places remaining in the bunkhouse. We got showers and are doing laundry. Later I will take Tonto into town to get resupplied. Tonto will then continue on to Damascus. We're tired but happy after another great experience on the AT.
Date: 2009-05-16
From: Lewis Mountain campground

To: Bearfence Shelter
Miles today: 0.7

This entry begins a journal for a separate trip that I led for our local hiking clubs. Accompanying me were Craig (Java Dude), Nancy and Gail. We hiked the northern half of Shenandoah National Park from Lewis Mountain up to the end.We left my house about 9:45 a.m. On Sat., traveling in two cars, Craig and Nancy in one, Gail and me in the other. We stopped for lunch near Winchester and arrived at the Johnsons a little before 2 p.m. They live close to the trail on High Knob a bit north of Chester Gap. Tom Johnson is a former President of PATC, the largest trail maintaining club. Sharon spends a lot of time helping out hikers. This includes letting them park in their driveway and shuttling them them various places. We left Craig's car there and drove down to Lewis Mtn. We got to Lewis Mtn. about 4 p.m. and prepared to hike the short distance to the shelter where we would spend the night. The skies were threatening but we decided to start out. That turned out to be a mistake by us (meaning me). Though we only had seven tenths of a mile to go, the skies opened up right away with rain and hail. We put our rain coats and pack covers on but still were pretty wet when we got to the shelter.Craig, Nancy and I decided to tent while Gail stayed in the shelter. With Gail were Wizard, Blueberry, JD, Lovely Day, Duckie, Camper Pat and Pyro. Just after we finished up it started to rain again and continued for most of the night.
Date: 2009-05-17
From: Bearfence Shelter

To: Rock Springs Shelter
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: light rain

It rained most of the night but had stopped when we got up. We were up and out early, before 8 a.m. The skies were threatening during the morning, but it didn't actually rain. It was quite wet after last night's rain. There is much more water in this area than during my thru hike in 07. We got to the Big Meadow Wayside just before noon. There we dried a few clothes and had a big lunch.Two of our group do not yet have trail names, Gail and Nancy. We have warned them that we will assign them each names if they don't assume suitable ones soon. Craig and I think "Bag Lady" is a good one for Nancy, since she puts everything in plastic bags. Most everyone here tonight was at the last shelter. I had a nice chat with Lovely Day who is from Medford, MA. He hikes a section of the AT every spring. We discovered we have lots of common acquaintances among the trail community. The rain has cleared out and been replaced by cold weather. It is supposed to get into the 30s tonight. Most folks are tenting tonight, with just Gail and Lovely Day in the shelter.
Date: 2009-05-18
From: Rock Springs Shelter

To: Pass Mtn. Shelter
Miles today: 15.3

Last night was even colder than the last one, probably about freezing. My Slumberjack 30 degree has served me well for over 2,000 miles of backpacking, including about three quarters of my 2007 thru-hike. I've decided it is time to retire it. The insulation doesn't work well anymore and it is now probably about a 45 degree bag. I was pretty chilly last night with the cool weather and breezes. The vicinity of the Rock Springs Shelter is really picturesque. It includes beautiful rocky terrain, a nice rental cabin operated by PATC and a fairly nice shelter. The best part is the view of the valley below from the cabin. I had a nice conversation this morning with Mel, from Chesapeake, VA, who is backpacking through the Park. It was another clear day with great views, including Crescent Rock and Stony Man. Craig, Nancy and I stopped for coffee at Skyland. SNP is probably the only place where you can get Starbucks right on the trail. Late in the day was a long rocky downhill that caused our feet to complain a bit. Just after Thornton Gap Gail and I found trail magic apples which really hit the spot. It's official - Nancy's trailname is Sharpie. Craig and I made that momentous decision for two reasons. She uses a Sharpie marker to label all of her bags and gear. Also, she carries two sharp sticks. Today while taking a break at the Byrd shelter she pricked her finger on one while getting out moleskin for Craig. We spent the night with about seven college guys from New Jersey, several of which are going to Rutgers. It was great entertainment to watch them cook and eat tremendous quantities of dinner. We helped them to treat some of their blisters and cuts. Very nice young men. Sadie and Ben, a couple of about the same age who are hiking through the Park, are also sleeping here. I decided to stay in the shelter tonight in hopes it will be less windy there.
Date: 2009-05-19
From: Pass Mtn. Shelter

To: Gravel Spring Shelter
Miles today: 13.1

We were up and out early as usual, about 7:45. It was another cold night but somewhat warmer in the shelter. It warmed up quickly as we hiked. Among the views today were Rattlesnake Point and Hogback. During the day I chatted with Ducky, a young nurse from Wisconsin who is hiking about 800 miles from Davenport Gap to Harpers Ferry. We had a nice lunch at Elkwallow Wayside. Craig and Nancy wanted to get showers but alas Elkwallow has no shower facilities. Instead we cleaned up a bit in the bathroom. We met a Marine Lt. at Gravel Springs who was doing a bit of hiking while on leave from Quantico. So far on this trip, Craig, Nancy and I have all done something foolish. I led us on a .7 mile hike through a rain and hailstorm we could have easily avoided. Craig almost led us off a cliff on the second day. Nancy impaled herself on one of her sticks. It is now up to Gail to do something embarrassing to remain a part of our highly professional group. Ben and Sadie camped with us at the shelter again. Late in the evening four folks came in. They erected an enormous tent (for backpacking anyway) that was about seven feet high and maybe twelve feet on each side. Glad I don't have to carry it. I'm sleeping in the shelter agin tonight, in the upper level just above Gail. Several hikers who had been with us are planning to do big days to get to the hostel at Chester Gap.