morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2006-06-13
From: Maupin Field Shelter

To: Waynesboro, VA
Miles today: 21.1
Weather: broken clouds

Did my first back to back 20 mile day. My feet werereally hurting, but I knew I could do it I just takelots of breaks with my boots off. It helped tha thelast 10 miles were on pretty good trail. I averagedbetter than 2.5 miles an hour for the last half ofthe day. I planned to eat dinner tonight with Veto andHandlebar. We each wanted a steak. We got to the roadcrossing at 5:00 and finally settled into the hotel by6:00 and at the steakhouse by 7:00. We gorged on steak,salad and vegtables. I plan to take a day offtomorrow. Lots of chores to do in town.Clay
Date: 2006-06-15
From: Waynesboro, VA

To: Calf Mtn Hut
Miles today: 7.0

I finally got out of town at 1:30. I was glad to havegotten virtually all of my chores done. My phone hadcrapped out so I had to pay for a new one plus thecost of a cab to get to a corporate store to get itaccomplished. I did the ususal laundry, email,resupply, eat, etc... I got a ride to the trail andstarted at 2:00. I am now doing the Shenandoah NationalPark. I am looking forward to the views and thewildlife. It should take about 1 week to get through.It is 109 miles. Today I went jsut the first shelter.I think 20+ miles is the plan for tomorrow. Not muchup and down in elevation, and Hopefully the treadwaywill be smooth. We shall see tomorrow.Clay
Date: 2006-06-16
From: Calf Mtn Hut

To: Pinefield Hut
Miles today: 26.2
Weather: clear sky

Personal record day. I did not wake up this morningwith the intent to do this many miles. I did start at6:40 and the terrain was very good. Not many hills,and the trail was mostly clean and smooth. I made itto my planned destination at around 4:0pm. 20 milesand was going to stay at the Loft Mountain campground.This is an actual public campground with campers andRV's, etc.. It was going to cost me $16 to occupy a sitebut I was ok with that as it would have been a good 20miles day. My first stop off the trail was at the campstore. I filled up on Gatorade, chips, Ice Cream,etc.. It was then that I figured out that the actualcampsite area was 6/10 back the direction I hadalready came, and it would be walking on pavement, andthere was no way to know how much walking I woold haveto do to find a site, then go to the ranger stationand pay I decided there was a better alternative. 6.2miles north on the trail was a hut. I decided this wasa better use of my tired feet. I packed up and gotstarted. Earlier in the day I had seen a hen turkey and herclutch of poults. And I had seen a doe and her fawn.But the excitement of the day was this evening around6:00 when I finally saw a bear! I was walking along andheard a loud commotion through the brush that meansnothing else than a bear. I looked toward the noiseand after a few seconds of silence and searching Ispotted a medium size bear climbing down a tree trunk.It dropped into the brush aad I lost sight of it, butthen could see it moving along the ground parallelingthe trail. It was about 25 yards off. I kept up withit for about 100 yards before it faded off into thebrush down the hill. Pretty cool. I hope to seeanother and get a picture before I get out of theShenandoahs.The reet of the night was quiet. I got to the shelter,watched more deer walk around. Cooked my dinner. Tookmy Ibuprofin and went to sleep.Clay
Date: 2006-06-17
From: Pinefield Hut

To: Bear Fence Mountian Hut
Miles today: 20.6
Weather: clear sky

Another good mileage day. There were more ups anddowns today, and I could tell my legs were dead fromyesterday. It was a tab bit warmer today too. Noexcitment, saw more deer, made it to the next campstore and filled up again. I don't think I will do bigmiles tomorrow give my legs and feet a rest. Clay
Date: 2006-06-18
From: Bear Fence Mountian Hut

To: Rock Springs Hut
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: scattered clouds

A great day. After to 20+ mile days I took an easy dayof only 11 miles. I tried to sleep in but after thesun comes up I can't sleep, even though I had a badnight. My tent pad was not all that flat so I spenta lot of time re-adjusting. I ate the usual quickbreaskfast and started out at 7:40. My planned mileswere 11.8 to the next shelter, but I intented to stopat the Big Meadow campground for lunch.I got there are 11:00 AM. The dining hall did not openuntil noon so I drank my gatorade and sat on the largedeck overlooking the valley. This is an old rock lodgebuilt by the civil conservation Corp. back in the30's. Very old but nice and magestc. I ate myCHEEZEBURGER! prepared to perfection along with soupand blackberry cobbler. Wonderful! Next I got a showerand did my laundry. I wanted to sit in the little barand watch the U.S. Open, but the only TVs there wereon the Soccer World Cup, and NASCAR. So I read thenewspaper in the shade with a cool breeze blowing.Around 4:00 I got back on the trail to cover my last 3miles. A mile or so in a a couple of South bounddayhikers came by and said they had seen a bear abouta half mile back. It was "fairly big" and jsut stoodthere looking at them.Cool, maybe I would finally get a chance to see a bearwell and take a picture. My wish was granted. I walkedalong the trail, camera ready. I saw a black spot thatlooked like the back of the head and an ear of a bear,but I thought, that can't be a bear. It is jsut a burnedlog or small cave opening. My imagination is gettingto me. As was watching that spot I stepped on a rockthat shifted and made a noise. Well that spot came tolife. Up jumped a big bear! It didn't run off, butjust looked at me. I started snapping pictures andeven made some video. A couple of teenage boys camealong and watched me and the bear for a minutes or two.Mr. bear seemed to have had enough as he made asnapping noise with his jaw. The second time wasenough for me and I started back on my way, and thetwo boys did as well.I finally got my bear pics, and video too. Oh, I alsogot a pic of a rattlesnake. That was in the actualpicnic area of the Big Meadow park. Sort of unnervingI thought. Made a point to stay on the paved path therest of the day. Good Day!Clay
Date: 2006-06-19
From: Rock Springs Hut

To: Pass Mtn Hut
Miles today: 15.7
Weather: scattered clouds

A very uneventful day. I went only to the very nexthut (in the Shenandoah park the shelters are calledhuts). It was 15.7 miles up trail. An unusually longdistance between. And it was a very rocky trailday. Lots of uneven unstable rock trail. My feet aresore and tired. I did stop at the Skyland Lodge for acinnamon roll and coffee. Tomorrw I plan on a 24 mile day to ohe last hut in thepark. But if the trail is diffcult again I will onlymake it 13 miles to the next shelter. I will need tostop somewhere to buy supplies for th next few days. am in my tent. It is 9:12 pm. I hear commercial jetsevery 5 minutes so I must be in the glide past forReagan intentational or some other large airport. Itis a bit annoying but I doubt I will hear them afterI put my ear plugs in. Good night.Clay
Date: 2006-06-20
From: Pass Mtn Hut

To: Terrapin Station Hostel
Miles today: 22.9

Today was a long hard day similar to yesterday. Toughterrain. I made a slight change in my plan. Instead ofgoing to a shelter just outside of the park I decidedto take a side trail just short of it and go to ahostel. It provided me with the opportunity to get aguaranteed ride into town to re-supply as opposed totrying to hithchike to town and back to the trail thenext morning. The hostel was nice. Similar to most allI have visited. The owner Mike Evans was very helpful.And is a former thru hiker so he had a wealth ofknowledge to share. It was nice to get a shower andwash clothes. More miles tomorrow.Clay
Date: 2006-06-21
From: Terrapin Station Hostel

To: Dick's Dome Shelter
Miles today: 18.7
Weather: overcast clouds

I got off to a later than ususal start. It was 9:15.It is just more difficult when your routine ischanged. Being in a hostel you feel the urge to sleepin eat again and again, and even take a zero day. ButI want to keep making miles and take a day off inHarper's Ferry. It was a hot day today. The trail wasrocky at times. The climbs were not too much. Isnacked on wild rasberries, and mulberries today alongthe trail. Pretty darn good.One thing I guess I take fro granted in Arkansas itthe availability of clean nature noise. Today andactually most of the past week has been full of manmadenoise almost constantly. If not motorcycles on theSkyline Drive in the Shenandoah Park, it is the soundof commercial aircraft all day long. I now appreciatethe opportunity to listen in the woods to pure naturesounds.Today was summer soltice. The longest amount ofdaylight in 24 hours in the northern hemisphere and Icomplied with the long time tradition all thru hikersdo on this day. I hiked naked. Not the whole day, justa couple hours. I think it would take some gettingused to. To much of a chance to rub against poisen ivyfor my liking. But at least I can say I did it. That's all for now. I have to scratch all my itchesand go to bed.Clay
Date: 2006-06-22
From: Dick's Dome Shelter

To: Bears Den Hostel
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: broken clouds

Damn, what a hot hard day. I started at 7:15 and itseems the whole day was rocks to walk on. Early in themorning walk it tried to rain. I never got very wet,but the humidity was there. Then after lunch I hit anarea called the roller coaster and that is what itwas. 8 climbs and and 7 descents of 500 to 1000 feet,all over rocky terrain. I rank today as one of thetoughest. Mostly because the heat and humidity hascome on strong. Tomorrow is a short day. Only about 11 miles I willstop short of Harper's Ferry at the shelter located atthe 1,000 mile mark! Can you beleive it! Then Saturdaymorn I will go early into town to do chores and thenSunday will be a zero day. Well earned. Lots of milesin the last 8 days.Clay
Date: 2006-06-24
From: Bears Den Hostel

To: Harper's Ferry
Miles today: 4.2
Weather: scattered clouds

I woke up early. I was ready for town. It had been 9trail days. I got to town by 8:00 am. Made my stop atthe Appalachian trail conferance center. I got mypicture made. I was the 458th thru hiker to arrivethis season. Peter Pan at the trail center said about3000 people start each year. About 800 make it toHarper's Ferry, and about 400 make it all the way toKatadin. Tough, tough statistics for sure. I got my bounce box from the post office. I got myroom and got my boots off. Even though Harper's Ferryis a very historic town, many buildings of 150 yearsold, my plan is to stay off my feet for the rest oftoday and tomorrow. And or course eat.Clay
Date: 2006-06-26
From: Harper's Ferry

To: Crampton Gap Shelter
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: light rain

A short day today. Left Harper's Ferry at 11:00 aftergoing to the post office to bounce my box. It was hotand muggy getting started. I picked up the trail whereI left off and followed it north as usual. The trailtook me to the historic part of the town I had notexplored. I wish I had had the time and feet toexplore the old buildings and museums but not on thistrip. I crossed the Potomac river where it is joinedby the Shenandoah. I then travelled the old C&O Canalpathway for about 3 miles before exiting into thetrees and hills.Around 2:0 it started to rain lightly.I continued on. I was by myself for the day. I feltlethargic and slow. I knew I would only do a shortmile day so I didn't feel the need to push my pace. At4:00 I met up with Spitball at Gathland State park. Wecontinued together the last 4 tenths of a mile to theshelter. An old log built shelter constructed in 1941.It was in very good shape and relatively mice free.Since the rain was going to continue all night I willstay in the shelter. I think the bugs will be minimal.More rain is expcted tomorrow. I will probably do afull 20 mile day. Good night.Clay
Date: 2006-06-27
From: Crampton Gap Shelter

To: Ensign Cowall Shelter
Miles today: 20.7
Weather: heavy intensity rain

Started at the usual time. Had a long day planned. Ofcourse it had rained over night. There was fog for themorning. During the early part of the day the rain heldoff but by 11:00 am it started another steady shower.Spitball and I decided to stop at a small restaurant /tavern at one of he road crossings. We sat on thecovered patio and watched the rain come and go andcome again. Handlebar showed up wet as we were. We atea few burgers and various other meals to pass thetime. By about 4:00 the rain seemed to let up so we allmade a break for the near shelter, only one mile away.We met up with Johnny K as he was walking away fromthe shelter. He said it was full so we now had to gothe next shelter 8.3 miles north. We were only juststarting when the rain began to pick up. We pressedon. By the 3rd hour of walking we were in an out andout monsoon. It was easily raining at least an inch anhour. The trail was a stream of water. We were alltotally drenched including our boots. When we were within a half mile of the shelter therain let up for only a minute or so, but it was longenough to allow us to hear a very ominous roar. 300yards short of the shelter was a raging stream out ofits banks. We waded in the slow moving water for about75 feet before we reached the edge of the normalstream bed. Plain and simple my conservative vote wasto wait it out. This thing was rolling like mad. Waterwas low thigh deep for what I could see and notelling what was under that water. I was overruled andwe each made our crossing. Small steps facing upstreamand using our hiking poles I made it across the 30feet of major flood water.When I finished I knew I had just topped the list ofdumbest things I have ever done. We went on to the shelter and found we had to sharethe 8 person shelter with 1 other thru hikes, Mummytoes, two section hikers, and 12 Outward Bound kidsand their 2 counselors. That is 21 people! Crowded,wet, noisy, amusing but I survived. Clay
Date: 2006-06-28
From: Ensign Cowall Shelter

To: Deer Lick Shelter
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: clear sky

After a very very wet day, and a shelter full of wetfellow campers we had a day of mostly sunny. I leftthe shelter about 9:0 am. The trail was either muddyor still a running stream. We had a few more streamcrossings to contend with, but none as harrowing aslast night. There was lots of trail and road damage.Around mid day I ans Spitball arrived at Penmar park.It is on the the Pennsylvania and Maryland border. Wetook a couple hours to spread out all our gear to dry.We ordered a pizza and took a rest in the sun. We stillhad 5 miles to go and we started back on the trailabout 4:0 and wouldn't you know it the rain started upagain but only a short distance from our shelter. Westated mostly dry and turned in for the night by about7:30.Clay
Date: 2006-06-29
From: Deer Lick Shelter

To: Birch Run Shelter
Miles today: 23.2
Weather: few clouds

Spitball and I hit the trail by 7:00 am. I knew we hadlots of miles to cover today. Again we travelled overmore trails that still had water running in them. Wearrived at Caledonia State park and learned theswimming pool had been a victum of the flooding. Itwas filled with dirty black water and debris. We stopfor a brief lunch then drudge on. Still more runningstream crossings. The day runs long and we arrive atour shelter about 7:00 pm. It was a nice new big shelterand Spitball and I have it to ourself until about 10:00pm when another hiker named Carnivor arrives. It was achilly night, but we made it thru the entire day withno rain for the first time in 7 days.Today is Ryan's birthday. He would be 21 today. I misshim so very much.Clay
Date: 2006-06-30
From: Birch Run Shelter

To: James Fry Shelter
Miles today: 17.1

Today was to have a milestone. We will cross thehalfway point. Officially it is half of 2175 i think.The ceremonial marker had a diffent figure as it waserected a few years ago. The actual mileage changesyearly due to trail rerouting. To celebrate theachievement hikers take the half gallon challenge. Thatis to eat a half gallon of ice cream. There is no timelimit, just eat it all. We do this at the Pine GroveFurnace State Park camp store. I didn't participate in the challenge. When we arrivedat the store, the selection of half gallons to choosefrom was slim. Just Cherry jubliee and something else.the ice cream man was scheduled to arrive in a fewhours. I decided I was too hungry to wait so I ordereda cheezeburger and fries and had my lunch. Spitball onthe other hand eats 3 cheezeburgers. I found a shadyspot and took a nap. Spitball visits with otherhikers. In about 2 hours the ice cream truck arrivesand Spitball decides to go ahead with the challenge.I told him if he ate it all I would pay him for theice cream. I lost. It took him about 24 minutes. Therecord is about 4 minutes if you can beleive that. Well after all that excitement there was nothing leftto do but hike another 7 miles. We headed out about4:00. Suprisingly Spitball felt fine. We took outpictures at the halfway pole and got to our shelteraround 8:00 glad to know I had passed the halfwaypoint.Clay
Date: 2006-07-01
From: James Fry Shelter

To: Boiling Springs, PA
Miles today: 12.2

Last night was hot and muggy compared to the nightbefore which was cool. I goo bit by bugs quite a bit.I look forward to getting back to my tent now that therain threat has subsided. Spitball and I got on thetrail at 7:0 and walked to the road then another 4tenths down the road to a small restaurant forbreakfast. I owed Spitball for the icecream challenge.We ate and hit the trail by 8:30 and made it the 12miles to Boiling Sprins, PA. Much of the trail wasfine, but parts up on the ridgetop was verr veryrocky. It really looks lik the trail planners tookpleasure in placing the trail in the most difficultterrain. Much of the day was boulder hopping. This istiring as you plan each step and pole plant. The last 2 miles of today's hike was much morepleasant as we dropped down into the CumberlandValley. We walked through corn and bean fields. It wasnice to see the old farm houses and barns. The trailgoes right into town. We stopped early today as thereis not another legal camp spot for 14 miles. Tomorrowwe will get at least tha far for sure, farther if theweather is cooperative. I contacted Mike from PA wholives in nearby Carlisle, PA and had just gotten offthe trail. He stopped by and helped me get areplacement phone. Then I, Spitball, and Rock Chalkgot a ride to a small motel outside of town. They wentout to dinner. I stayed in, ate pizza, worked on somegear repair and relaxed. Clay
Date: 2006-07-02
From: Boiling Springs, PA

To: Darlington Shelter
Miles today: 14.3
Weather: broken clouds

Mike from PA picked us up and we had breakfast thengot started on the trail by about 10:00. It continuedalong aad through wheat and corn fields. Along theedge of the fields we found lots of Mulberry treesfull of berries. I munched on them. Yum. We stopped forlunch at another road crossing. It may sound like Inever even get in the woods anymore, but I do. It isjust that the farther north I go the less rural it is.The trail is still in the woods, but crosses lots ofroads and development. It is easier to just buy at adiner, than buy food and pack it. After lunch I had another 6 miles to the shelter. Andthe ususal afternoon rainstorm came up. I got rainedon a bit but not drenched. I arrived at the shelter at5:00. I won't cook tonight. I am full. Tomorrow I gointo Duncannon and will probably take a day off there.Clay__________________________________________________
Date: 2006-07-03
From: Darlington Shelter

To: Duncannon, PA
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Just a short day today. Going into town for resupplyand at least one night at an old downtown hotel. TheDoyle Hotel. I got up at 5:30 and was on the trail at 6:40. Thewalk was over the ususal rocky terrain. I took a verycasual pace. I knew my destination was not far so noneed to rush. And I seem to fair better when I goslower over this rocky stuff. I arrived in town at noon aad went to the hotel. I gotthe key for my room on the 4th floor. After the walkup I check out my room. A corner location, twowindows. The size is about 12 by 15. There is a smallbed and a dresser and a rocking chair aad a floor fan.No TV, no phone, and no air conditioning. This hotelwas built in the early 1900's and probably was veryupscale in it's day. Now for $20 it is a hikers oasis.The cheap price and bar for a lobby make it popular.It is good enough for me and I dump my pack, take offthe boots and go take my shower in the bathroom downhe hall shared by other tenants. For the evening I go to a little pizza place down thestreet. The owners were and food was authenticItalian. I have found that I have to speak a littleslower, a little louder lately. It seems my southernaccent is hard to decipher. I can comply, as long as Iget a cheezeburger when I want a cheezeburger. Despite the lack of air conditioning I sleep well.The two corner windows provide the breeze. Clay
Date: 2006-07-04
From: Duncannon, PA

To: Duncannon, PA II
Miles today: 17.1
Weather: overcast clouds

I had planned for today to be a zero day to rest myfeet. But an opportunity came up for me to slack pack17.1 miles and get back to the hotel again tonight. Iknew the upcoming terrain was going t be tough so Iopted to do the slackpack. Doing the miles with 10pounds on my back seems much more logical then with30.I got the shuttle ride with a group of other hikers upthe trail. We started back south by about 10:45. Evenwith the light weight I still moved slow andmethodical. I got back to town by a late 7:0 pm. Thelast 2 miles were on hard pavemnt on the still highSusquehanna River and city streets back to the Doyle.More pizza, pop and some ice cream and that was myday. I slept well. Tomorrow is going to be my day off.Clay
Date: 2006-07-05
From: Duncannon, PA II

To: Duncannon, PA III
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

I think I picked a good day to take day off. When Iwoke up it was and had been raining for a couplehours. Johnny K had slept on the floor in my room. Hewas a bit disgusted that he had to hike out in the raintoday. But I was pleased to not be going. I was goingto take it easy. Put my feet up, do some reading andjournal entries. In fact I am doing this entry rightnow while sitting down in the little lobby bar andeating my lunch. I will get these transmissions donenext, then a nap. Laundry is already done.I will be at the 1,000 miles to go mark probably bytomorrow or one day after. That is a milestone I lookforward to. Now I can say 900 or 800 or 700 t do. I cancount in 100 mile weeks. Even though there are manymiles left to go, it seem attainable when I can talk inless than 1,000 mile numbers. Because the days arelonger and of course I am seasoned I can do more milesa day. I vagualy remember when a 12 mile day was agood day back in Georgia. Now 12 miles before lunch isthe norm. I do know the next 200 miles may in fact bethe toughest. Everyone speaks of the rocky trail inPennsylvania. It is hard to imagine it worse butregardless of what it might be I will take it one stepat a time. My cheezeburger is here. Time to eat.Clay