morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-08-27
From: stealth camp site north of Eagel Nest Trail

To: 501 Shelter
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 75 9/27/15Stealth campsite south of Eagles Nest Shelter to 501 Shelter for 13.8 miles. Start at 7:45, it is still dark early in the morning so it is tougher to get up when the sun is not up. I started the day making good time but somewhere in the middle of the day I decided I was only going to go to the 501 shelter so I slowed down. I had been tracking some foot steps for most of the morning thinking it might be someone I know only to find out it was day hikers Leon and Lin. They were nice and chatted with them for awhile they mentioned you could order pizza from the 501 shelter so that sealed the deal. I got to the shelter by 15:00 and waited for Lin and Leon to show up. We ordered together and are together. A NOBO by the trail name, trailname arrived as we were ordering and ordered with us. This short day leaves me 18 to do tomorrow. I ordered to much to eat and feel sick as I type this entry.
Date: 2015-08-28
From: 501 Shelter

To:  Stealth site near Rausch Gap Shelter
Miles today: 17.6

Day 76 8/28/15501 Shelter to campsite just past Rausch Gap Shelter for 17.6 milesThe trail today started off sweet, a few rocks then 4 miles on flat rockless trail. It didn't stay that way all day but for the most part it wasn't that bad. I did the distance in 9 hrs. I watched for snakes all day and luckily only saw one 4 ft black snake. Maybe the Barrows kids can tell the difference between a black rat snake and a black racer. The other day I left a note in a log at a shelter asking if Hardcore, a guy I met on my first night out, was still on the trail. He posted to my blog that he was and was only 2 days behind me. Maybe after my Nero tomorrow he will catch up to me. It would be fun to catch up with him. Today I met a Dr from Alabama doing a southbound section and a kid doing his last 200 miles to finish his thru hike. He had jumped ahead to CT to catch up to friends and now has to make up from CT to Maryland. Today was a big deal - I passed the 1000 mile mark. I sent BLT a text earlier but I have no service now. I will get up early and get to the top of the hill I am next to and try to contact her since she is coming to meet me in the am.
Date: 2015-08-29
From:  Stealth site near Rausch Gap Shelter

To: PA 325
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 77 8/29/15Campsite just past Rausch Gap Shelter to PA 325 for 11.2 milesStarted the day by 6:45 and didn't think anyone else was around. The Gap had no phone service so I could not call BLT until I got to the top of the first ridge. Rausch's Gap was like an old ghost town. It was a coal mining town that closed down because of the quality of the coal. The problem was they left a river with a pH of 4 running through the area and nothing was able to live in the river. Anyway got midway into the day and met back up with Shadow Fax who was taking a break. He told me he stayed at the shelter and there 4 other people there. We chatted for a while and then hiked for a couple of hours. He told me how he hiked for 5 days with Bismarck, the guy who got arrested for embezzlement. Shadow Fax seemed like a good kid. I had to leave him because nature called but I told him to look for BLT at the trailhead and she would give him whatever he needed. I made it out to 325 about 15 minutes behind Shadow Fax. BLT had been talking with him and he headed back on the trail while we went to Harrisburg to do chores and spend the night. Ask BLT how long it takes to sanitize your laundry - 2:15 hrs.
Date: 2015-08-30
From: PA 325

To: Duncannon PA
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: light rain

Day 78 8/30/15PA 325 to Duncannon PA for total of 17.7 miles BLT had me back to the trail by 9:45 and I headed off. Nothing like starting the day with a climb when your pack has 5 days of food and weighs 40 lbs, plus the dew point is through the roof - 89% humidity. The day went ok, however, and I was able to keep it at about 2 mph. I saw quite a few people because it was the weekend. I got some trail magic from Bag-o-tricks at PA 225 and then headed off to finish the day. The rocks heading down the slope into Duncanon were a bit challenging but not too bad. I made to the Doyle Hotel/ Hostel by 6:45 and checked in. Place is really sketchy and dirty. There were stains on the sheets and dirt in the bed. When I went to use the shower on the 3rd floor water from the 4th floor shower was dripping into my shower. Yah naaaasty. Hope I can sleep through the nastyness
Date: 2015-08-31
From: Duncannon PA

To: Carlisle PA
Miles today: 17.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 79 8/31/15From Duncannon to Carlisle for 17.6 miles. Well the stay at the Doyle last night still gives me the willies. There were stains on my sheets and dirt between the sheets. That is in addition to the dirt all over the place and the water dripping from the 4th floor shower into the 3rd floor shower. I had to leave. The day started again with a climb in the humidity again. The first 5 miles of bad rocks was not that bad. I met Hawk Rock and he told me the history of the town. I continued through the day and tried to keep to 2 mphs and did a good job. It might have been due to the fact that the last 7 miles in The Cumberland Valley was really flat. I finished the 17.6 in 8 hrs. I headed to the Days Inn to try to de-Doyle myself.
Date: 2015-09-01
From: Carlisle PA

To: James Frye Shelter
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: light rain

Day 80 9/1/15From Carlisle to James Frye shelter for 20 miles. I got back to the trail after a half mile highway walk. The trail in the Cumberland Valley has been flat and smooth. No wonder the NOBOs were crying when they hit the rocks, they had been spoiled by this type of trail. I covered the first 8 miles to Boiling Springs in about 3 hours. The only problem for the day was it was hot and humid even early in the day. The trail followed rivers and went through corn and soybean fields. The town of Boiling Springs was a cute little town. I had lunch there but had to finish the day so I didn't dawdle. During the day I only saw 5 hikers and two I saw in Boiling Springs. During the week there are getting fewer and fewer people. Sometime that's a plus other times it gets awful quiet. I picked up a burger at the Green Mountain Store and then made it to the shelter by 6:00. No one else here so I pitched my tent in the shelter. Tomorrow I will pass the half way point!!!!
Date: 2015-09-02
From: James Frye Shelter

To: Stealth Camp at Three Points
Miles today: 19.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 81 9/2/15From James Frye shelter to stealth campsite at 3 points for 19.9 miles. Started the day at about 8 and knew that about 11 I could go for swim at Fuller Lake which was at Pine Grove Furnace State Park. This place was beautiful and a definite place to return to. I swam and didn't want to leave but knew I needed to make progress. I spent 2 hours at the beach and then the General Store. I didn't do the ice cream challenge because I don't eat a lot of dairy and didn't want issues later down the trail. After the park I made it to the official halfway point where I took a picture only then to make it to the 2015 halfway point where I took another picture. I had no set spot to go to and was forced to go further than I would like and had to set up camp close to the road.
Date: 2015-09-03
From: Stealth Camp at Three Points

To: PA 16 Waynesboro
Miles today: 22.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 82 9/3/15From Stealth campsite at 3 points to PA 16 in Waynesboro for 22.5 milesI got out by 7 and pushed hard because I thought I was going to stay at Nostalgic Dreams hostel but would later be surprised. Today I passed some of the nicest shelters taken care of by the Potomac Trail club. The best I've seen so far was the Quarry Gap Shelter- it had potted plants, new paint, and a picket fence. Even the privy was quite nice and I'm not a fan of privys. Just beyond the shelter was Caledonia State Park where I spoke to a ridge runner for about a half an hour. She told me the difference between a black rat snake and a racer was the rat snakes had white bellies. She also told me the rat snakes could climb trees. The pool and snack were not open when I was at the park and I couldn't wait because I was trying to do my Personal record of 22 miles. I motored all the way to PA 16 and called the hostel only to find out that they had no available rooms. I tried to call a trail angel for a ride to Waynesboro but got no calls back so I tried my luck at hitchhiking. I was having no luck and thought that when it started to rain someone would feel sorry for me but no luck. After about 15 minutes I decided to start walking. It was then that a guy going the other way turned in the roadway and stopped. He said he was from the local chapter and asked me if I wanted a ride to the Cobblestone Hotel, the ATC sanctioned hotel. The guy told me his name but all I remember was his last name was Ferme. I think he said his trailname for a 2017 hike was going to be Moonlight Sea Otter. Needless to say he dropped me off and I a got a room in a very nice place. Did laundry and ordered dinner out.
Date: 2015-09-04
From: PA 16 Waynesboro

To: Annapolis campground
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: light rain

Day 83 9/4/15PA 16 to Annapolis campground for 19 miles.I walked out of the hotel driveway and a guy stopped and asked if I needed a ride. He brought me right to the trailhead and I was off at 8:30. It was nice today to see a few people who were starting their holiday weekend early. I climbed right out of the box as usual, and PA gave it one last hoorah with some good old rocks. At about 2 miles in I crossed the Mason-Dixon Line and was in Maryland. I followed a military couple out of PenMar park and passed them back and forth during the day. I try to thank all the military folks out here for their service, as I did these folks. Maryland gave PA a run for its money because the rocks in Maryland today were no different then back in PA. I saw another 4 foot black rat snake today but he was camera shy and slithered off before I could take his photo. I also saw a rabbit and another gnarly hornet's nest. About 2 miles before my camp I met two young kids at another camp site. I'm bad with names when I don't write them down, I think their names were Sarah and Tyler. Sarah if you see this I want you to know you can always make a difference. It reminded me of the story where a guy is walking a beach and he sees another man frantically picking up objects from the beach and throwing them back into the ocean. As the man gets closer he sees the beach is littered with starfish and the other man is picking them up and throwing them back. The one man approaches the other and says there are thousands of star fish here on the beach; you will never make a difference, at which point the other man picked up another starfish and threw it back into the tide, while saying I made a difference for that one. Sarah sometime the difference is tough to see when your too close to it. You often need to step back and look.
Date: 2015-09-05
From: Annapolis campground

To: Gathland State Park
Miles today: 14.5

Day 84 9/5/15From Annapolis Rocks campsite to Gathland State Park for 14.5 milesIt had rained hard last night with a lot of thunder and lightning so when I woke everything was wet. I was meeting BLT today so I wanted to get out early but didn't get started until 7:30 because of packing up the wet stuff. I headed out and saw tracks from the lady I had met yesterday and passed a few times. I got to the base of the hill I had been on and a father and two late twenty sons were just starting to hike. When the father saw me coming he took off like a shot racing down the trail almost leaving one son behind. I eventually caught up to them as they were passing the girl from yesterday. The father was reluctant to let me pass and eventually one of the sons stated that they should let me go by and the father reluctantly let me go by. He then attempted to stay right behind me. I say this because this drove me to pick up my pace and attempt to get away from them as they were talking way too loud for me. We reached a park for George Washington with a monument and a visitors center where I watered up and used the facilities, and wouldn't you know it, the father was right behind me as I took off. I stopped to talk to several day hikers as there were many starting their weekends early. The father and sons passed me again and I returned the favor soon after. I think I eventually lost them when I hiked to the top off a peak to get to a lookout tower at Lambs Knoll. The problem though was I was hiking "in the zone" and I missed the tower altogether. Before I finished the day at the park I thought I was transported back in time and space as the rocks reappeared and I thought I was in PA again not Maryland. I beat BLT to the park because she had gotten lost trying to get to Maryland early to surprise me. She is the best so I felt really bad. I am going to miss her smiling face at the end of a Nero day because this is the last time she can travel to meet me. It's getting just too far. From here on in I will be on my own. When she arrived we headed to Frederick where we spent the night.
Date: 2015-09-06
From: Gathland State Park

To: Stealth campsite south of Harpers Ferry
Miles today: 14.1
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 85 9/6/15From Gathland State Park to stealth campsite south of Harpers Ferry for 14.1 milesFirst 10 in about 3.5 hours - started at 11. I got a little lost in Harper Ferry, maybe because there were so many people, but I finally found the ATC visitors center. I had my picture taken and I was the 33rd southbounder to register. I then called the hostel in town and found out they had no bunks available. I tried 3 other B&Bs but they were all booked up so I decided to hike on and camp for the night. Not what I had planned but I didn't take into account the holiday weekend. I got to the stealth site I was shooting for but there was a section hiking group there, however they were willing to let me pitch my tent next to them so I took them up on the offer. They were a group of friends from the DC and Baltimore area, Karen, Arun, Dana, Jay, Ellen, and Renee. They were really nice and very hospitable; I can't say enough nice things about them. They even let me ramble on as I had gone a few day without seeing too many people. Thanks again guys and gals.
Date: 2015-09-07
From: Stealth campsite south of Harpers Ferry

To: Bears Den Hostel
Miles today: 16.4
Weather: light rain

Day 86 9/7/15From Stealth campsite south of Harpers Ferry to Bears Dens Hostel for 16.4I started the day a bit earlier then my newfound friends but was able to thank a few of them before I left. The day was relatively uneventful. There were a few rocky patches but the day went well. I saw several weekend hikers because of the holiday. I was also really happy that my friends let me stay at their campsite because every other flat spot was taken by the weekend crowd. I got to Blackburn Center and made the steep climb of what was suppose to be 2/10ths to get water but it seemed like 4, then continued on. I met a female day hiker and followed her to the start of the roller coaster, a section of the trail in VA that goes repeatedly up and down. BLT said that most likely because the trail is going east to west rather than north to south. I made to the Bear Den hostel by 16:00 where I got a soda and took a shower. At the hostel I met Just Mike, Tim, Crusty Tissues, who I had met just north of the Mahoosic Notch, and Popeye, who I hadn't seen since VT. I did some catching up with Popeye, ate well and updated my blog. The hostel was impressive - an old stone house donated to the ATC by a doctor and his opera singer wife. It is now run by the PATC, and Glen is the caretaker.
Date: 2015-09-08
From: Bears Den Hostel

To: campsite at Signal Knob parking on VA 638 
Miles today: 17.1
Weather: light rain

Day 87 9/8/15 From Bears Dens Hostel to campsite at Signal Knob parking on VA 638 for 17.1 milesI got up early at the hostel and decided to make the pancakes. I cooked pancakes for everyone and ate my fill before heading out. Just Mike had started before me and I caught up to him by the first shelter. The goal for today was to make it through the rest of the roller coaster, which was a workout but not that bad. The 9 miles went pretty good. There were ups and downs but the path was pretty flat. During the day I came across a grove of trees bearing a sweet green fruit. I am not sure what they were, BLT thought they were paw paws. See pics. If anyone knows what they are please let me know. During the day I passed the 1000 mile marker so now I am counting down from 1000. Toward the end of the day I caught up with Crusty Tissues and his sidekick SOB. We hiked for the last 4 or so miles. From his work he actually knew people from my old job. Water was tough today but when we hit Signal Knob there was a water cache which made camping a great idea. Later that night I talked with Just Mike and Walkie Talkie. Hey Mem, I meant to tell you that I see at least one butterfly a day, typically more, and I hear a Pileated Woodpecker everyday. Thank you everyone for words of support.
Date: 2015-09-09
From: campsite at Signal Knob parking on VA 638 

To: RTE 522 and the Mountain Cabin Hoste
Miles today: 16.4
Weather: broken clouds

Day 88 9/9/15From Signal Knob parking on VA 638 to RTE 522 and the Mountain Cabin Hostel for 16.4 milesEveryone camping together got up at the same time and all headed out by 7:30. The terrain today was a little up and down but the trail was very smooth. Just Mike, Crusty and I kept flipping back and forth during today. I saw several thing that stumped me today. I saw another fruit along the trail - a small orange translucent fruit about the size of a plum. Then I saw this bug the that was the size of a hotdog. Check the pics - any help would be appreciated. I stopped for lunch at the Jim and Molley Denton shelter which was quite a nice place. I arrived at the hostel at 3:00 and Popeye, Walkie Talkie, and a guy by the name of Rescue were already at the hostel and Crusty and Mike arrived later. Scott, our host, was excellent. He gave us a tour of the house he was fixing after he had taken us into town to resupply. He is going to open his main house in 2018 after finishing his rehab of it. Tonight it is suppose to rain and I think it is going to rain all day so I am not sure what I am going to do; I think just keep walking.
Date: 2015-09-10
From: RTE 522 and the Mountain Cabin Hoste

To: Rattlesnake Point Overlook, then Open Arms Hostel
Miles today: 17.6

Day 89 9/10/15From VA 638 to RTE 522 and the Mountain Cabin Hostel to Rattlesnake Point Overlook then to Open Arms Hostel for 17.6 milesIt rained during the night and was foggy and misting in the morning. I hemmed and hawed about taking a zero or just going for it. I decided that I was here to hike so at 8:30 I hit the road. Well, like often happens, I got 30 minutes into the day and the sky opened up. The trail turned into a small stream. I trudged through the rain and river until about 1 pm when the rain finally stopped. The fog was still thick and the water was blowing from the trees. I passed several view points but there was nothing to see but fog. I had planned to stealth camp but I thought I might try to see if the hostel from Luray would pick me up if I paid them. Alison runs the Open Arms Hostel and for a fee agreed to come pick me up at the Rattlesnake Overlook. I was able to take a hot shower, dry my boots and sleep in a dry bed. Can't beat that. Hopefully tomorrow is a bit drier. No pics today because it was so wet.
Date: 2015-09-11
From: Rattlesnake Point Overlook then to Open Arms Hoste

To: Stealth site near Crusher Ridge
Miles today: 0.0

Day 90 9/11/15From Open Arms Hostel back to Rattlesnake Point Overlook then to a stealth campsite next to Crusher Ridge trail for 17.6 milesI started my day late because my host, Allison, slept in by accident and I had no idea how to wake her. When I got back to the trail the mountains were still fogged in but later in the day it burned off giving me an opportunity see some nice views! It was a bit cooler but I still worked up a sweat. I started the day by doing two miles and then stopped at Elkwallow Wayside where I had breakfast and a blackberry shake. I heard the shakes were to die for, and it was ok fbut not great. I thought it would taste more blackberry-like. I saw a lot of bikers at the Wayside and thought this would be a nice trip for Pep and friends. The day was very nice; there were quite a few people out starting the weekend early. Haven't seen a bear yet. I did see several deer up close. They're protected in the park so they don't go far. The view from Mary's Rock was spectacular; BLT, you would have loved it. I met a northbound section hiker, Crazy Legs, at the last hut I passed. We talked about pack weight and she gave me a few pointers. I made my way to Pinnacles Picnic where I ate dinner. I was able to get rid of all my trash and clean up so I didn't have any bear issues. It was getting dusk as I headed out to find a campsite. It was tough finding a spot with the park's many regulations, but I found one before it got totally dark. I hung my bear bag, set up my tent, and called it quits for the night. During the night I could swear a bear was sniffing around my tent but I never saw anything. Twice I woke up to something pulling on the Velcro of my tent fly, but never saw anything.
Date: 2015-09-12
From: Stealth site near Crusher Ridge

To: Bearfence Parking area and back to Bearing Arms 
Miles today: 17.4

Day 91 9/12/15 Stealth campsite at Crusher Ridge Trail then to Bearfence Parking area and back to Bearing Arms for the night for 17.4 miles. It had been somewhat of a restless night thinking a bear was outside my tent plus worrying about rain during the night. I had called Allison and was going to try to get back to Bearing Arms for the night if I got rained on all day. I packed up early and got everything in my bag before it started to rain. Actually I made it until 9:30 before I got rained on. It had been misting and the fog was thick but not raining then at 9:30 it came down but not to hard. Prior to that I had stopped at Skyland and had the buffet breakfast for $14. Boy did I get my money's worth. I hiked the rest of the day through the mist until 2:30 when the sky opened up and dumped on me. The trail turned into a river in spots and into a pond in others. Needless to say I got soaked, even my waterproof socks got wet inside. But at the end I was able to call Allison and go to Bearing Arms. During the day I saw several more deer one still bearing its spots. Both were so close I almost could touch them. I saw another black rat snake but he must have just eaten or been cold because when I touched him with my walking stick he didn't even move. After hearing at least one a day from Vermont I saw my 1st elusive Pileated woodpecker. I tried to take a picture but he had caught on to me at that point. I played their call back to him from my phone but that did not bring him back. I sloshed on during the day and made it to Bearfence parking area where Allison arrived a little later. She informed me that Just Mike and a guy by the name of Tom had also made it to her place for the night. At least I was able to get a hot shower and dry out my gear. I also had to fix a hiking pole that was broke and try to super glue my boot back together. I went to dinner and had to wait a while to walk the mile back to Allison's because it was raining out. Good thing I was not outside.