morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-05-11
From: Boiling Springs,PA

To: Darlington Shelter
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Monday May 11,2009Day#10Up @ 6:30am...Very Strange waking upin a bed...Jigsaw & I pack our backpacks...Get rid of the trash in our bags we've been carrying over the last 9 days...We're treated to a "country breakfast"...consisting of fresh fruit...Coffee, eggs, toast...mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!We take a few photos before leaving & Bill drives us down to the ATC HQ in Boiling Springs...and I walk across the street to the Post Office to see if my boots have arrived from home....THEY HAVE! (I woulda been in a world of hurt...if they HAD NOT!) THANKS Donna Faye!I throw on my VASQUE Sundowners (boots) & then re-pack my trail-runners & ship them home...The boots should give my feet more stability as i hike & keep them drier than the trail-runners as we tackle more PA rocks tomorrow on our way to Duncannon...& beyond to the next shelter.8:30am..."Jigsaw" & I hike outta town & together for the first few miles...we walk thru fields...& pasture land outta town...in fact...almost all day.It starts to sprinkle a bit mid-morning...we put our pack covers on...(this is a familiar task)I'm wearing my boots & they feel good thus far..(YEA!!!)I, again, bandaged & taped up my feet pretty well before slipping into my hike socks this morning...We hike over PA Hwy 74 then Trindle Rd (PA 641) & then the PA Turnpike...LOADDS of wildflowers...again today..i notice...I take quite a few photos...probably cant identify them...but they look very nice...The light rain continues & is now intermittent...We hike over Hwy 11 which goes into Carlisle,PA (where our B&B was located) thwn we cross over I-81.The temps remain cool...upper 60s & overcast)...we cross over PA Hwy 944 (near Donnellytown,PA) then pass a SPRING & from there on...its abt a 700ft climb up....in under a mile of hiking.Near the top...the trees open up & it reveals a very NICE VIEW of the Cumberland Valley below...on top is a side trail...the Darlington trail & a mile later...Blue Blazes to the right side of the trail...directing me to the Darlington Shelter (there was no sign for the shelter..good thing "BLUE" a thru-hiker from Chicago told me as he passed me earlier in the day...that there was NO SIGN to the shelter!)I get to the shelter..."Jigsaw" is talking with a couple of section hikers,husband & wife: "Pacesetter & C-it" (PA) out for a few days..."Jigsaw" tells me that "BLUE" is here...along with "EverGreen" (I met her @ Pine Grove Grocery a couple days back)...& another couple of thru-hikers arrive as we're cooking supper: "Threshold" & "Primitive"...they are headed to Duncannon tomorrow too...& will stay in the Doyle hotel.We'll be headed into Duncannon tomrrow...we hope to stop @ the Doyle for a burgeer & fries...for lunch before we move onto the next shelter.Long day tomorrow...I'm tired & cold!                                                14.6 miles today
Date: 2009-05-13
From: Clarks Ferry Shelter

To: Peters Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Wednesday MaY 13,2009Day#127:30am...We slept in about an hour or so today knowing we had a very short hiking day...ONLY 7 miles to our destination: Peters Mtn Shelter.This is due to our "ZERO DAY" (on Mothers Day/Sunday)costing us a day of hiking...so we cut our longest day (17 miles)out of our hike schedule....Sweeeeeeet!Before we packed up our gear...we sat @ the picnic table & talked awhile with "JUNCO JIM"(PA).9:15am...we leave outta the shelter...followed by "Junco Jim"we should be @ the shleter by 12:30pm-1pm easy today...just in time for lunch.Not much to see today...all walking in the Woods...(didnt even see Bill Bryson...snicker...snicker...hehehehehehe ;0)We arrive abt 12:45pm"Jigsaw" goes gets water...(way down the side of the peak)...@ Peters Mtn.I cook a hot lunch...thinking I might not cook for supper....but, I still have @ least a day or two of food left in my NEW Food bag....I cook mashed potates & add Hot & Spicy Tuna....good stuff.Jigsaw gave me a Snickers bar for dessert...he's giving away food he doesnt wanna carry tomorrow! He eats a hot lunch too.I'll probably have Tuna againg for supper.A couple section-hikers (brother & sister from Michigan)stop by & chat (2pm) as we finish lunch...as the hike winds down...looking @ the profile map for tomorrow...not many miles...but a few peaks before we descend into Clarks Valley & head to Hwy PA235 our pick up point.Probably wont have much to see tomorrow...looks like RAIN will be coming back...4pm...a thru-hiker "Cypress" comes into the shelter in the late afternoon...as it begins to cloud up...looks like RAIN tonight & tomorrow.Our shuttle guy, Michael Cervais has confirmed he'll be @ our pick up point @ 11am...so, we'll be outta the shelter in themorning by 8am or 8:30am.He'll shuttle us back to Lebanon/Swatara Gap,PA to the DAYS INN where we'll showere & spend the night & head back to Albany,NY on Friday morning."Junco Jim" arrives @ the shelter as the Sun is setting...he is a slower hiker than I am...WOW!Its a ruff life!                           7 short miles today!
Date: 2009-05-14
From: Peters Mtn Shelter

To: Clarks Valley-PA 325
Miles today: 6.5

Thursday, May 14,2009Day#13"...It's Raining again!"-Supertramp6:30am...Up early...last day of hiking for this year's "Adventure"...Only 6.5 miles to the next road Hwy PA 235 In Clarks Valley where we'll be picked up around 11am....we should be there easy...by that time.The WIND howled all night long & the RAIN started again in the middle of the night...with heavy downpours...I was hoping the RAIN had got its fill...& would leave us with a DRY...last day...but, it looks like that WONT be the case!As IF we havent seen enuff RAIN already!The forecast for today: Showers, & local THUNDERSHOWERS & chance of rain 100%.we get outta the shelter @ 7:30am...just after "CYPRESS" a 2009 thru-hiker & before our 2 (brother & sister)SOBO section-hikers & "Junco Jim".(the NOBO section hiker we met a couple days ago).We don our packs...complete with RAIN covers...& GO!RAIN!...RAIN!...RAIN!Gonna be a SOGGY last day of hiking on the Appalachian Trail!Whats the old saying?...."NO RAIN..NO PAIN...NO MAINE!"Less than 30 minutes into the hike...the RAIN (if you can believe this...)INTENSIFIES...this is now a FULL BLOWN SOAKING RAIN!Hike!...hike!...hike!Our pace picks up...just as I hit some rock outcroppings (large massive boulders on top of the ridge)...I hear THUNDER in the distance...South of us...Hike!...hike!..hike!..Squish!..Squish!...Squish!The rain doesnt let up!more thunder...this time closer...an hour later...I'm boulder-hopping on top of a peak...& I hear a rumble & then a CRACK of Lightning!.....WOW!...that was close...I say a little prayer...God, please let me get off these rocks...Hike!...hike!..hike!..squish!..Splat!...Squish!Past the WhiteTail Trail...then the Shikellimy Overlook....(nothing to see today but FOG...LOTs of FOG!)hike!..Squish!..Splat!...the HEAVY RAINS continue!....then I turn downhill...& start descending...(gotta love the switchbacks!)The rain eases just a bit as I hike down...I'm drenched to the bone!...as "Model-T" says:..."Once you get wet...you cant get any wetter!"....hehehehehehe ;0)I hear some traffic...yep, I'm nearing the raod as I continue down...down...down...and into the opening & there is Michael's (shuttle guy)truck...& "Jigsaw" taking off his pack...I take my backpack off & throw it in the back of the truck & climb in...My hands look like prunes...so much RAIN...30 minutes later...we're in Swatara Gap/Lebanon,PA @ the Days Inn.which was our Original destination...but due to my heel (blisters) injuries & our "Zero" day we axed a day (the 17 mile day)...wse'll add it to our hike next year...very WET hike today...I need a shower & some REAL FOOD!                              6.5 miles today!
Date: 2009-05-15
From: Lebanon,PA

To: HOME!
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Fri.May15,2009Hike is over..the 2009 "Adventure"...is complete...now we're HEADING HOME!I'd like to THANK "Jigsaw" again for hiking with me this year..."Model-T" for hiking with us...& being a great friend & hiking mentor.Thanks to all my friends that kept me in their thoughts & prayers while i was out on the trail...& THANKS MOST OF ALL...to my Lovely wife, Donna Faye...for letting me de-compress & un-wind each year with my 2 weeks of walkin (hiking) in the woods...Thanks DF..I Love You!See All of ya'll next year...
Date: 2009-05-23
From: HOME!

To: C.R.A.M.- Clarksville,TN
Miles today: 0.0

Saturday May 23, 2009Its an overcast day as I wake up...Today I meet best bud & fellow cyclist (he got me started in this crazy hobby)Terry Price (aka "TeePee") & head to Clarsville for the 2009 version of the Clarksville Rotary Annual Metric bicycle ride...My regular bike (can you call a TREK MADONE "regular"????) is in the shop for some repairs....LONG STORY...okay not so long of a story...I just dont like to re-LIVE the story....here's what happened...I had taken a week off after my 2 week hike on the Appalachian Trail....I was taking it easy...last Thursday was a Sunny, nice day & i decided to take a LONG RIDE to Cedar Hill, TN approx 33 miles...I was abt 11 miles or so into my ride...when I pulled out onto Hwy 76 from Oakland Rd in Springfield (TN)...when i changed gears & stood up on the pedals...the chain slipped...I cranked another half crank or so...& the chain came off...pulling the back DeRailleur off with it...in the process...scratching the HECK outta my back fork in 2 seperate places...& flattening my back tire...YIKES!I called for my EMERGENCY HELP (Donna)...she came & picked me & the bicycle up....I immediately headed to the bike shop...BIKE PEDLAR-HERMITAGE where i bought the bike in 2005 (then it was The JOLLY CYCLIST).Bart (bike tech & ALL-Around NICE GUY) took a look @ the patient upon arrival...he was concerned there might be a crack in the Carbon-Fiber frame....they cant determine that here in the local shop so...they had to ship it back to TREK in Waterloo, Minnesota(for X-rays of the frame,wtc)...(i found out later....NO CRACKS)So, today...for the C.R.A.M. ride...i'm riding the "COMFORT" bike (26" Mongoose Placid) abt double the weight of my Trek Madone...so, I'll be working EXTRA hard today to just KEEP UP...We get started @ abt 8am...(all the 100 milers & 62 milers started earlier)We ride a few miles outside of Clarksville thru an Industrial Park...then up by Beech Haven Winery...(the side of the former TN Senior Olympics cycling course)...then thru some back roads of Montgomery County....up into Kentucky on some back roads....riding thru the country side...seeing loads of old tobacco barns....cattle & dairy farms....we ride thru Guthrie, KY & then head back to Clarksville...it sprinkled on us abt 20 miles into the ride...but never poured down....in fact the Sun came out shortly after...we made it back to the start/finish line...& man...I wuz tarrrrred!I think i worked HARDER on this "COMFORT" bike in 33 miles than i normally do on a 62 mile ride on the TREK MADONE!"TeePee" & I go in for a cold Iced Tea & hit the road....GOOD RIDE.33 miles today on the bicycle!I start my training for the TN Senior Olympics competiton in a few weeks.I got my TREK MADONE back from the shop totally "REJUVENATED" complete with a NEW DURA ACE rear DeRailleur...Sweeeeeeeet!Thanks to H.A. Hearn, Bart Gibbs, & ALL the bike techs @ BIKE PEDLAR for a speedy recovery for my bicycle...nice to ride it again....
Date: 2009-07-09
To: TN Senior Olympics training
Miles today: 0.0

Thursday July 9thThe TN SENIOR OLYMPICS is less than 10 days away...& I continue to prep for the event by riding my bicycle each day...climbing some hills & just pedaling....pedaling...& pedaling some more!Again this year...I'll be participating in the 2 Cycling events... the 5k (3.1 miles)Time Trial & the 20k (12.4 miles) Road Race on Saturday July 18th & Sunday July 19th.You can follow along with my training & the actual events here on my journal.Still lots of training to do...pedal! pedal! pedal!
Date: 2009-07-17
To: TN SENIOR OLYMPICS-FRANKLIN,TN
Miles today: 0.0

Fri.July 17 2009The time is here!...The TN SENIOR OLYMPICS officially get underway today in Franklin,TN @ the campus of Battle Ground Acadamy (B.G.A.).There will be an "Opening Ceremony" & a parade of athletes, etc for all those 1600 FINALISTS that have chosen to participate....I only participate in the 2 CYCLING events which are slated for tomorrow, Saturday July 18th & Sunday July 19th.There's a 5k (3.1miles) Time Trial in Arrington, TN (just outside of Franklin)& then Sunday theres a 20k (12.4miles) Road Race that will start & end in College Grove, TN (just outside of Franklin)Today is my "OFF" day before the big events...(last year i pedaled a fewmiles the day before the event...& that didnt work so well..)DOn't wanna OVER-train...Taking it easy today...just going abt my usual routine except no BICYCLE ride this afternoon...tomorrow I'll wake up @ 5am & head SOuth 1 hour...to Arrington.Follow along for each days results...I will post them here!Wish me Luck!
Date: 2009-11-16
To: NOV.BICYCLE RIDE!
Miles today: 0.0

Nov. 16thHow SWEET is this...3 bicycle rides in NOVEMBER without putting on the COLD WEATHER RIDING GEAR????!!!!its been in the 70s & Sunny the last few days...i'm LOVIN' IT!...but, we'll have to pay for this down the road...i fear...but, for now....i'm taking advantage!Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee ;0)see ya'll UP the trail!
Date: 2010-07-16
To: NYC
Miles today: 0.0

Robert - Flying from Houston tomorrow 7/17 to NYC. Genevieve has the movers coming to pack her goods off to Houston. So we will practice camp in her empty apartment Sat, Sun, Mon and go to jazz clubs and say goodbye to the Big Apple. Will also give us time to make final checks on gear and maybe send some stuff home. We are novice backpackers so this is an exciting trip for us. My longest previous backpack trip was three days in Arkansas. Genevieve made a three day AT hike last year along a section of Conn. Tuesday we will take public transport to the Bear Mtn trailhead just south of Hudson river. Our first camp will be Hemlock campsite. We will travel north through NY, Conn, & Mass to our final destination - Bascom lodge, Mt Greylock Massachusetts. We will chill out there for a couple of days and then rent car to drive down to Philly to Philadelphia folk festival. After two days we will fly back to Houston. Total miles about 200 and we will average about 8 miles per day. Taking it easy. Brought my fly rod. Hope to spend some time on streams along the way. Not in a hurry.
Date: 2010-07-17
To: NYC
Miles today: 0.0

0430 Sofia woke me up - I had fallen asleep on the couch after fussing over gear and last minute packing. Not much sleep tonight - definitely pumped about the trip.0630 Onboard JetBlue 620 bound for JFK so there's no turning back now! Didn't get much sleep last night making last minute checks on gear and verifying mail supply addresses. Got a late start because I surprised Sofia with dinner at Cafe Piquet cuban restaurant. It is our 5th wedding aniversary Aug 20 but I will be on the trail so I wanted to do something special before heading out. Good friends Mary and Mark just happened by our table so we made a party of it. After three sangrias I got a late start with last minute packing details.The check-in at JetBlue had a bit of a drama. I was carrying my backpack and gear in two large North Face duffle bags. I didn't want to send my backpack through the stress of airport handlers so I used the duffle bags as an external shell. The second bag was for Genevieve's bag when we fly home from Philly. I distributed my pack and gear between the two bags. JetBlue charges $30 for the second bag but when I attempted to pay my credit card was declined! Since I had emptied my wallet of everything except this one card, insurance cards and $500 cash I was a little bothered. I have had some problems with the magnetic stripe on this card before. Anyway paid with cash but it reminded me that I was about to leave a lot of the backup systems behind and awareness, preparation and attention to detail was going to be essential to making this trip comfortable and successful. Maybe I just spent too much at REI for equipment and was over the credit limit! Will find out later. Don't expect to spend that much on the trail but will still need the card.Had a bit more drama going through airport security. I was wearing hiking slacks and a Hawaiian shirt - not tucked in as is customary. Anyway I got selected for a detailed body search. I wondered why? I was told to spread my arms and the security guard mumbled something - when I asked him to repeat he said "I'm checking your abdomen". Apparently he thought I was smuggling something underneath my shirt! Hmmm...I guess this hike is long overdue and time to give some serious thought to losing weight and general health improvements.The flight was uneventful and very pleasant. This was my first JetBlue flight. There is no first class so the seating is uniform throughout the cabin. I guess we are all first class. Also the center aisle is narrower which allows for wider seats. Headroom was a generous 7 feet. Since the aisle is narrow the stewards serve from small handheld trays instead of a bulky cart. Very civilized, simple and effective. I also appreciated that they separated recyclables as they collected the garbage. Very comfortable cabin with thick leather seats throughout. First time I ever felt like I had leg room. Definitely will be first choice on future flights to NYC.
Date: 2010-07-20
From: NYC

To: Hemlock Springs Campsite
Miles today: 4.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Yea!! We are finally on the trail. After a day's delay because Robert got NYC food poisoning and then we took advantage of the extra day for a goodbye to NYC party for Genevieve. All of her work and dance buddies showed up at Banjo Jim's bar to listen to a great western swing / vintage jazz band. Small corner venue seats 40 max. There is so much talent in NY. We are getting a late start (1445) by bus to Bear Mtn Inn (1645) and then will hike 4.1 miles to Hemlock Springs.It will be about 7:30 before we set camp. Pushing it a bit - usually like to settle in around 4:00 but this section of the trail should be well marked and we are anxious to get started. Will try to add trail updates as frequently as possible but realistically it will be every 5-7 days when we enter town for mail supply stop. Next scheduled mail supply Wingdale 7/27.
Date: 2010-07-20
From: NYC

To: Bear Mountain Bridge
Miles today: 4.1
Weather: clear sky

Day 1 - we get to Bear Mtn at 1615. Which is 30 min before expected arrival - that will become important later. Bear Mtn Inn is this beautiful structure built in 1915 but I only have time to take one poic as we are in a hurry to get started. It takes us 30 to find the trailhead and wander around the parking lot roads before we actually come to realize that we have to walk on the road! Our AT journey begins on NY 9W. We dodge the cars and make our way to Bear Mtn Bridge which crosses the Hudson River. If we head up NY90 we go to West Point. We cross the Hudson, Genevieve is already half a mile ahead of me but we are only walking on road at this point. Already I know my pack is much too heavy - 53 pounds + 6 pounds water. We miss our first turn off on of NY9D to the trail and have to back track - bummer. Then we actually start the real trail...straight up the side of a large hill covered with boulders. It is beautiful country though. Genevieve is about an hour in front of me. We later calculate that she averaging about 1.8 mph and I am 1.3. By the time I finally drag up to camp we have only 30 minutes of daylight. To tell the truth I am totally exhausted and this is just the first baby hike. We divide chores: Genevieve sets up the tent and I cook dinner - backpacker bag beef stew. Quite good actually. The drama of the night was setting up the bear bags. Its dark and all of the trees are tall. Genevieve locates a branch about 40 feet up and asks me through a rock tied to the cord over the branch. Takes about eight tries and on one attempt the rock gets caught on small branches and when I pull hard to get it loose it comes flying back in the dark and lands 12 inches in front of us! We finally get it set and it is beautiful. Off to bed it is 10:00. It is hot and no breeze so we sleep with just the screen no fly. But at 1230 I wake up and am shivering. We use the sleeping bags as quilts and no worries. Tomorrow is another day.
Date: 2010-07-25
From: RPH Shelter

To: Morgan Stewart Shelter
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: light rain

Day 6 - just before we went to sleep last night "Stickwalker" from Georgia came in with his Weimeraner "Belle". Sometime in the night we were visited by a skunk. All of the doors to the shelter were open. I was afraid that "Belle" would scare the skunk and then we would have a disaster. Poor "Belle" was so tuckered out from walking 17 miles I guess she didn't really care about the skunk - which was good. Since were sleeping in the shelter bunks (no tent) we planned to get an early start. Up at 6:00 and on the trail by 7:15. Just peanut globs spread on crackers for brkfast. I had 6 of them. We have 9 miles today that begin with a pair of tough 500 climbs, up and down, and then a long walk in the woods with some frequent tricky boulder ladders. For lunch we are opting for Sofia's homemade trailmix combined with Hilje, Texas beef jerky. I had the tamari pepitos, almonds and dried apple version. Genevieve and I agree it is really fantastic trailmix. Thanks Sofia!! Genevieve completes the trip to Morgan Stewart shelter with "Stickwalker" and "Belle" in 4.5 hours averaging 2.0 mph. She arrives at the shelter at 12:30. We swapped gear in our packs so she has the tent, cookgear, and the nights meal and I have the rest of the food. Meanwhile Ol' 1.0 takes a one hour lunch break and makes three sock changes and takes pictures & drags into camp at 4:00 feet hurting. The tent is already pitched, water from the pump at the bottom of the hill brought up, and Ramen noodles on the stove soon as I get my pack off!! Genevieve later obtains rock star status as she filters water for the crowd of thru hikers that come in late to the shelter: "Beaverchief", "Miles", "Wood Ranger", "Clarity" (solo female), "Boss", and "Ken". My feet really hurt and especially on the downslopes if my socks are wet my feet slide forward and jam the big toe. I open the boots to let them dry out and notice that they are size 11. Whereas lately I have been buying size 12 shoes. Hmmm...I bought those boots in 1998. Could my feet have grown a full size in 12 years? Had a great dinner - we were very very hungry.
Date: 2010-07-29
From: Wingdale Zero

To: Schagiticoke
Miles today: 7.6
Weather: few clouds

Day 10 - Thursday July 29We shake down our packs and send more stuff home. Base pack & gear without food or water: Robert - 29, Genevieve - 21. We rec'd 23# food in mail drop from Sofia so we split about 16/7. Hotel mgr Charlie gives us a ride out to Hoyt Rd intersects AT. We are in Conn. Beautiful morning. Feel good and strong. Swelling in knee went down. At 10:30 we come to the ten mile river. We stop to swim and fish. Catch a couple small ones that's all. Genevieve moves after an hour and I stay to fish a bit longer. Brilliant walk later along the rapids of the Housatonic. Shortly after is a 1200 ft climb to Shagitacoke Camp. But we receive word that there is no water at that camp. So I truck 3 extra liters (6#). Slows me down and I have to stop and rest getting me in late. Genevieve comes out the last mile to show me the way. We arrive camp just before dark. We meet up with "Soulpatch" and "Fuzzy". "Woodrangler" once again got lost and comes in well after dark at 10:30. just before dark. "Soulpatch" gives us a litre of water. Next morning we promise to fix a big breakfast for everyone. Eggs, refried beans, coffee. We are starting to see more vistas and steeper climbs in Conn. New York was mainly trails through the forest. One yearns to see the sky and the horizon after a while.