morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-05-09
From: Hightop Hut

To: Rock Spring Hut
Miles today: 23.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 72:   I caught Left Toe today. :-)   He hurt his leg and has been taking it easy since Waynesboro. It's been like 700 miles since I saw him last. I got another early start and left by 7:30. Indie and I wanted to make it 20 miles before 5:30 so I hiked pretty nonstop until lunch and then non stop until dinner. I thought he'd catch me because he was about to leave when I left but I didn't see him until this shelter. It stormed last night pretty bad but the weather was great all day. I really wish this blister would go away. The Shenandoahs are pretty easy compared to the rest of the trail and I did over 2.5 mph for most of the day. When I got to the campground I realized the food was a mile away but I ended up getting a ride both ways. I had good food with Hoodie and Nightlite and bought some vegetarian ramen. Hiked a little slower after dinner. A bunch of thur-hikers are here; Me, Indie, Left Toe Penn-J, Nightlite, and Hoodie and some other hikers. I like catching people more than being caught. Can't seem to shake the competitive nature. Over all today was a good day. Good weather, good music, and good company really make all the difference.
Date: 2009-05-10
From: Johns Hollow Shelter

To: Pass Mountain Hut
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Note from Mom.. Downhill sent me flowers for Mothers day. :-) I'm such a lucky mom.Day 73: After wishing my mom a happy mothers day I left the shelter at like 9:30 and hiked with Indie all day. It was another beautiful day We tried to get food at the wayside but there was a mothers day brunch that was reservation only, so we did not get hot food. The day was pretty easy with great weather and views. We tried to order a pizza at the picnic place where we had lunch. Nightlite and Hoodie were there when we got there but they disappeared after that. Leapfrogged Left Toe and his brother and girlfriend all day. We climbed this really cool rock pile thing. I tried to order pizza twice but it didn't work. I wish I still had some snickers but I'll get some tomorrow at the next wayside with Indie and maybe Left Toe's crew. I thought Penn-J would be here, but I guess he moved on. I kind of feel like I should have gone farther to make sure I get to Harper's for my ride to trail days, but oh well. I'm really glad the weather has been holding out. I wish I had a pizza.
Date: 2009-05-11
From: Pass Mountain Hut

To: Tom Floyd Wayside Shelter
Miles today: 54.9
Weather: light rain

Note from Mom: Her mileage doesn't match what they have on Whiteblaze, so I'm altering todays miles so that they will add up. She actually hiked about 24 miles today.Day 74: Woke up to rain and decided to go back to sleep. It stopped fairly quickly and I left camp around 9:00 with no precipitation. Hiked.   Met up with Indie and walked the rest of the way to the wayside with him. Got some over priced food and chilled with the other hikers. Retro caught me. Apparently he pulled like a 30 mile day. He's further back now though I hiked with him for a while after lunch. It rained in the afternoon. I didn't get here until almost dark. There is a section hiker (can't read her writing, maybe Tex?) and a thru hiker named Uphill.
Date: 2009-05-12
From: Tom Floyd Wayside Shelter

To: Manassas Gap
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: clear sky

Day 75: Woke up late and didn't get out of bed until nine-ish and then left about ten. Decided to hitch into town anyway and get AYCE pizza at the Pizza Hut with Indie , Selina and Bryan. Went eleven miles after lunch. There are four of us at the shelter tonight. Me, Indie and two section hikers that don't have trial names yet. Not sure what happened to the other two. We sat around the fire for a while and talked.
Date: 2009-05-14
From: Manassas Gap

To: Leaving Bears Den Hostel
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Day 77: Woke up freakishly early at like 5:30 and left at 7:00. Did the 'roller coaster' section in the afternoon. It wasn't too bad. The weather was pretty good. I got to the hostel at about 7. It was great, probably one of my favorite ones so far. Indie, Boof, Lance/Lunatic/Buttersworth, and another older hiker were all there. It was really cool seeing Lance again. I haven't seen him since Georgia. Padre, Anna and Apple Pie showed up later and camped outside. On the way to trail days with them now.Chore list: Fix leki poles, get new shoes/socks, patch sleeping bag, talk to granite gear about pads, look at summer bags, get new headphones again. Note from Mom. I have no idea how many miles she went today so I am going to add todays miles to her next journal that lists a shelter.
Date: 2009-05-19
From: Leaving Bears Den Hostel

To: Crampton Gap Shelter
Miles today: 38.0
Weather: clear sky

Day 83: Hiked to Harpers Ferry and tested my new gear. The boots are great so far. I am hoping they will break in and I'm probably going to get softer insoles. The hike was relatively easy. Stayed in Harpers Ferry at the Town's Inn and got a room to myself at the hiking rate because I got there late and there was only one person there. It turned out to be Striker (? can't read her writing). In the morning I checked out the ATC and got my picture taken. I was #91 to sign in. It was interesting to see who signed in and who has dropped out. Apparently Hunter and Little Tree aren't here any more and Will from GA is still on the trail. He is called Burns now. Blondie caught and passed me. I met Tumbleweed and Bushwhacker, who I had leap frogged but not met. Soares and crew showed up too.   Hiked slowish today because of the boots. Pack feels good though. Got to see a bunch of cool historical stuff in Harpers. I'm at the shelter with Soares and the Dude.
Date: 2009-05-22
From: Crampton Gap Shelter

To: Dueces house
Miles today: 0.0

Day 85: Yesterday I didn't end up hiking very far. I got started about 9:30 and took a break in the middle of the day and read. I am currently reading the Monkey Wrench Gang. Camped by Annapolis Cliffs. Did 6 in today and got picked up by Deuce with Dude and Soares. Had a great time. He's gonna slack pack us for a while. We jumped off a cliff that was 45 ft. tall into the water. It was so great!Dude just fell over in his chair. Duece's sis made us food!!Note from Mom: She doesn't give any discernible land marks to gauge her mileage. I'll have to catch it up later.
Date: 2009-05-25
From: Dueces house

To: Half way
Miles today: 105.4

Day 88: The next day we slack packed 23 miles. I was doing over 3 mph and I still couldn't really keep up. They took a lot of breaks though. We ordered a pizza for lunch and met some other thru hikers. Silver was there and apparently Always Fine quit. Got done hiking/running at 5:30. Duece also picked up Hungry and Hatchet who were ahead. The next day Dueces sister took us out on her boat and I went wake boarding. Later that day we went on a poker run in the golf cart. I had never done anything like that before. Overall it was a zero. Thanks Duece :-) !!The others were out late and didn't want to leave early even though they have a deadline in Duncannon. So I didn't get started until after noon. I was sore from wake boarding so it was slow going. Still don't care for my boots either. I was going to go to (???) shelter but it was packed so I kept going. There are lots of toads out now. I saw a bunch. The bugs are also getting bad. I was going to go to the next shelter but I got kidnapped by a bunch of really cool weekenders at Milesburn Cabin. Dude was there too. They fed us and let us sleep in their extra beds. It was great. I love randomness like that. The highlight of today was the half gallon challenge. I did it.. :-) Dude did too, but he threw up. Note from Mom: Caught up the mileage.. And btw, when I spoke to her on the phone, she said it was Cherry Jubilee ice cream she ate a half gallon of. I don't know how she didn't hurl. I think she said the Dude had mint. Yuck.
Date: 2009-05-26
From: Halfway

To: Under the Conodoguinet Bridge
Miles today: 19.3

Started at Tagg Run Shelter with Left Toe and attempted a marathon day. Failed. I'm sleeping under a bridge. Feel like a hobo. Details later.Note from mom: No idea on the mileage.. They don't have that 'campsite' listed in any of the guides... :-)
Date: 2009-05-28
From: Under the Conodoguinet Bridge

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

Note from Mom: When Downhill sent her last batch of journals she just threw them in a box with her boots. It's written on a small note pad, so I just had 25 or so loose pages front and back to try and figure out. I can't figure out what date the following happened, so I'll just add it here.out. I passed the coolest lizard. I twas midnight black with white spots. I got to town after five and went to the Doyle Hotel. I walked into the bar entrance and looked around for the check in table. Couldn't find one so I asked the lady at the bar. Apparently the bar is the check in place. I rented the room and she took my picture and called me a puppy. Left Toe showed up soon after. Spammy and the Boss were also there and we went out of pizza. one of the guys at the Doyle took me to the store afterwards and I got my resupply along with crocs and bug spray. Today I made the most out of the room and stayed until checkout time. Had a fairly non eventful hike to the first shelter where I ran into Kabar who I haven't seeen since Fontana Dam. Let toe was there too and for the first time ever I got the movie quote trivia! I was very excited. Continued hiking. Found a neat cabin 4 miles down the trail. Arrived here, got water down a steep ass side trail and met a hiker whose doing half the trail headed South. Gonna read now or sleep.
Date: 2009-05-30
From: Peters Mountain Shelter

To: Near Rausch Gap Shelter
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: light intensity drizzle

Day 94: The non thru hikers were up and packing early and I said to myself, 'self, you should get up now'. I even remembered the delicious donuts I had. Then I went back to sleep. Really need to stop doing this. When I did leave at ten Left Toe was still asleep.   Today was a good hiking day. The weather was beautiful and the perfect temperature. The bugs weren't bad, the trail wasn't steep and it was just a good day to hike. I got to the only road crossing at almost one. My guidebook said it was 4.4 miles, which definitely didn't seem right. There was a sign at the road that said 6.5 but usually the book is more accurate. It turns out that the book did in fact lie today. my map, my feet, the sign and Left Toe all agree that it was 6.5. Anyways, there was a nice river near the road so I went swimming and had lunch there. Just as I was packing up Left Toe showed up and I attempted to hike with him again. This time it lasted 20 minutes. Nice afternoon walk, fairly uneventful. Bunch of day dreaming today as usually. I wonder what the other hikers think about while they hike. I was going to go to the shelter but I ran into Left Toe here, about 1/2 mile before, if that. There is a nice stream and campsite and no chance of rain. Neither of us really wanted to do .3 off the trail either and he had a fire going. I'm really glad he's around or I'd be in another thru hiker void, and I enjoy his company. On another note I have been having foot and leg pains recently which I hoped were the rocks and not my boots but I wasn't sure. So I tried hiking in my new crocs today. No pains. Isn't that ridiculous? So I'm probably getting trail runners or Keens or something at the next outfitter and sending the Laura boots home.
Date: 2009-05-31
From: Near Rausch Gap Shelter

To: 501 Shelter
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Woke up at six, went back to sleep, woke up again at 8:30, went to the bathroom and accidentally mooned a father and son. Left an hour later and had a nice morning hike but found three deer ticks. Sprayed bug spray (finally got some but found several big ticks later anyway.)   The afternoon hike wasn't as good because the trail was completely engulfed in poison ivy, but I did see two snakes and another neon orange lizard. I also got startled by two grouse (I think) and stabbed myself with my leki pole. Attemped to hike with Left Toe again but only lasted about five minutes due to rocks, poison ivy and ticks. There was a nice view right before this shelter. Got here about 7:00 and Left Toe and ordered pizza. A bunch of section hikers are here including two we have seen before as well as a family with a three year old and a five year old. They are going to Harpers Ferry. I would like to be able to do that some day. Apparently Soares and them had a run in with the law yesterday. Should be interesting. Kinda glad I'm not with them at the moment. Might try for Port Clinton tomorrow: tired of my boots getting a free ride in my pack. My shins have stopped hurting after two days of hiking in crocs.   Off to read more of this heavy book.
Date: 2009-06-01
From: 501 Shelter

To: Eagles Nest shelter
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 96: For some reason I couldn't sleep last night so I actually left at six. It was weird being on the trail that early and I never really realized just how crinkly all my stuff is until I tried to pack without waking anybody. The path wasn't overgrown with poison ivy so that was good. Instead of being six inches wide the path was like 12 feet wide in spots. At about 9:30 I took an accidental detour. I hate when the blue blazes are white with a tiny hint of baby blue. I did nine and a half miles by 11:00 and then took a four hour lunch/siesta. It was nice. I saw a weird marmot looking thing. I was going to do 24 today but then I did 15.5 and it was fun. No idea what happened to Left Toe. I'm here with a bunch of long distance section hikers including Loopy and Whacker. They gave me food. On to Port Clinton and shoes tomorrow.
Date: 2009-06-02
From: Eagles Nest shelter

To: Port Clinton
Miles today: 11.4
Weather: light rain

Day 97: I was going to get to town and go in and out but I ended up staying. Woke up at 8:30, didn't leave until almost 10:00. Tried putting my super feet in my crocs but it didn't work. I don't think I really like the super feet too much. today's hike was nice and fairly uneventful. I almost got eaten alive by mosquitoes at one point so I saturated myself in bug spray. Yay poison! Got to town at 2:00. Steep downhill into town. I was glad not to be going up it. Past an old railroad and went to the post office. The guy working there was really nice. I ordered a pizza there, sorted thru my stuff and mailed my Laura boots home. The outfitter in town doesn't sell boots but shuttled people to Hamburg and Cabelas. Three hikers I met last night needed to go to town so we all took the shuttle. I tried on just about every pair they had and decided on Keens again. Right now I'm camped under a pavilion in town with Left Toe, Hatchet and a bunch of section hikers. We all enjoyed the cookies that my Grandma sent. Thanks Grandma Ruth!
Date: 2009-06-03
From: Port Clinton

To: Eckville shelter
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 98: Last night we were near a road that had traffic all night and I slept fine. Then someone started snoring and I woke up. Apparently it rained a lot. Woke up at 8ish and left town at 9:30. listened to the books on tape my mom just sent me. I chose the Hobbit first. I was going great until Bilbo instantly went from being held captive by goblins to being tied up by a giant spider (several chapters later) It started raining right before I got to the first shelter for lunch. Kept raining for a while. Went to the Pinnacle in the afternoon and climbed around for a while until I found a cave. Soon after, Left Toe came out of nowhere and said there was a smaller cave that went farther in. So I got to do some spelunking and went into the cave. It was small, and required a lot of maneuvering. Lots of fun. :-) I was in it for a while, probably half an hour. I didn't stop until I thought I hit a dead end but it turns out Left Toe went further. He was still at the entrance when I got back. I'm pretty sure he was making sure I didn't get stuck or something. Eventually I headed down the trail. It was definitely the highlight of the day. There was some dirt road walking after that. Got here at 7:30ish. It's a pretty cool shelter with electricity, flushing toilets and a care taker.. It has six bunks. Section hikers are sleeping in 5 of them. I cam on a bench tinking kind of like at the trail angels cabin in GA only with less cushion. Left Toe, Hatchet and two new thru hikers are here also.
Date: 2009-06-04
From: Eckville shelter

To: Bake Oven Knob Shelter
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 99: I was the last one up this morning, even Left Toe got up before me. Luckily it wasn't raining so the others could cook outside since I was sleeping on the bench to the table. I left around 10ish. Rocky and fairly uneventful hike to the first shelter. Saw another cool orange lizard. Ate. Walked more. Made good time after lunch. Did 3 mph up until the knifes edge. That slowed me down a bit. It was cool though. I was expecting this shelter to e full after last night but me and Left Toe are the only ones here. Due to certain circumstances I have had to start planning for the next few days. My friend/sort of almost cousin, Noah, is going to meet me in a few days and I just realized my next mail drop is only 10 miles later. If I would have noticed that before I could have just had it sent there but I just got that section of my guide book at Port Clinton. So it looks like an 8, 16, 13 16 or 24, 13, 16   or 19, 19, 16 which involves camping in the rain. If I do 8 tomorrow I get to spend the night in jail.. but that's another unnecessary nero. All I know for sure is I would like to get to Slatington for AYCE pizza buffet.
Date: 2009-06-05
From: Bake Oven Knob Shelter

To: Palmerton Jail
Miles today: 0.0

Day 100. Triple digits! Wohoo! I was briefly conscious at 6;00, just long enough to wake Left Toe up (he had a dr. appointment at 11:00) and then went back to sleep. It was an icky day which never helps. At about 9:30 I finally left camp. Hiked nonstop in the rain until I got to the next shelter. A kid named Dropoff was there and he had an interesting story. He had gotten in trouble with his parents and they dropped him off and told him to hike for a month. I hiked onto the road and realized that it would probably be either a tough hitch or a dangerous walk but ended up getting picked up pretty quickly. I got dropped off at the pizza place and had pizza and manicotti and it was good. After that I went to the library for a while, then came here. This place is pretty cool. A bunch of us played basketball and bowling in the gym. I took a shower too. It isn't really a jail like they say. A bunch of other hikers are here including Left Toe. Might go out for dinner later. Not sure yet. I have noticed something. When you get something on your mind and that something is miles away, and there is nothing to distract you from it, it can be very difficult to get that something off your mind.
Date: 2009-06-06
From: Palmerton Jail

To: Leroy Smith Shelter
Miles today: 23.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 101 Didn't leave until 10:00. Got picked up by Mike, the same guy who picked me up yesterday, and his wife Brenda. They were really nice. This morning's hike was pretty neat; it was all rocky and exposed and kind of a nice change. The next four miles were rerouted and completely tick infested. The rest of the day was pretty good. Nice weather. I got here at like 7ish. Two section hikers and a new thru hiker named James were here. We talked a lot.
Date: 2009-06-07
From: Leroy Smith Shelter

To: Noah's house, Fox Gap
Miles today: 13.2

Day 102 Stayed up late talking to James and Traceless. Ate snickers for breakfast. Walked for a while. I can't wait til I'm out of PA and done with these rocks. Looking forward to the whites. I miss hockey and fighting a lot today for some reason. Especially Judo. Ate more snickers. Maybe I should have got more options, but oh well. Only 10 miles to the next mail drop tomorrow. I only did thirteen today and got to Fox Gap at about five to meet Noah, my Uncle's friend Lois's son who lives in the area. I didn't know much about him but apparently he offered to let me stay here tonight. We got a pizza and stuff. It was nice of him. I got a real mattress and a shower.
Date: 2009-06-09
From: Down the trail

To: Brinks Road Shelter
Miles today: 29.9
Weather: broken clouds

Day 104   Yesterday Noah dropped me off at the trail on his way to work. Thanks for helping me out and letting me crash at your place Noah. It was pretty good hiking weather and there were lots of day hikers for a Monday. I stopped in Delaware Water Gap for lunch. The hike out was pretty nice and I have the shelter to myself but there is a mystery hiker snoring nearby in a tent.Note from Mom, playing mileage catchup.
Date: 2009-06-10
From: Brinks Road Shelter

To: Mashipacong Shelter
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: light rain

Day 105 Didn't leave until 10 this morning. I met the other hiker whose name is Bones and he's here now. He's pretty cool. The hike was nice this morning but I got distracted early by a road crossing that had food. After that I ran into a camp group at the fire tower and talked to them about thru hiking for a while. There was trail magic in one of the shelters which means it does exist in the North. Someone left water (the shelter didn't have any) and little debbie snack cakes. I saw a bunch of deer. My back hurts. I have the shelter to myself again and Bones is tenting nearby. We had a fire tonight. Apparently you aren't supposed to have fires in NJ but this shelter has the nicest fire pit (with benches!) that I have seen in a while. I tried to use Coleman fuel in my stove. It didn't work. I didn't really need those eyebrows anyway.Note from Mom: Downhill failed to tell me what shelter she was at. I made an educated guess and will make up the miles when she gives me a destination I can work with.
Date: 2009-06-12
From: Mashipacong Shelter

To: Unionville The Outhouse
Miles today: 13.4

Day 107   Yesterday started out pretty badly but I ended up having one of my best trail experiences so far, last night and tonight. It was foggy and icky when I woke up and I just couldn't seem to motivate myself to get up so I didn't leave the shelter until after noon. It started raining maybe ten minutes after I left. I was going to stay at Jim Murray's cabin, but it was closed. I decided to continue on to Unionville in hopes of staying at the 83 hostel which I was expecting to be very basic. When I got to town I went to the store first and they told me about this place. The three guys that live here open their home to hikers are very kind. They go out of their way to help and it's one of my favorite places so far. I walked in about 7:30, a little late for dinner, so the other guys gave me what was left of the vegetarian food. Double Bag, Birches, One Way, Dinnertime, Bones and like 5 others were here. It was Dinnertimes last day on the trail for a while which kinda sucks cause he seemed pretty cool. We hung out, talked and stayed dry last night. Breakfast was at 7:00 and Butch, one of the guys who runs this place, offered a slackpack. Bones, Rouge and I all did 17 miles Sobo today and it was great. It was especially nice because my pack has been hurting my back and hips lately so it was nice to recover without a zero. There was a bunch of cool wild life today and yesterday. I saw some really cool golden colored birds that are the state bird of NJ, some black ones with orange on their wings, the tiniest frogs I have ever seen, and some furry mammal that lived in the swamp and could hold it's breath under water for forever. I did the one mile boardwalk today too. I'm glad it was there because this place is kind of a swamp. Who put Louisiana in New Jersey? Since I was SOBO I got to talk to people going North and I met a 65 year old lady who started a month after me. Dinner tonight was awesome, they made spaghetti with vegetarian sauce for me and there was fruit and ice cream for desert and it was really good. Three other long distance section hikers showed up too.