morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-07-02
From: Dahlgnen Backpack Campground

To: Devil's Racecourse Shelter
Miles today: 18.8

Got a slow start due to the luxury of the Dahlgren Backpack Campground. In addition to the easy, excellent terrain in MD, the facilities for hikers and the regular signage are superb. The shelters themselves are a bit old, but the campsites are good. Also, have been gourging on berries since I entered the SNP. This has only gotten better in MD> Blackberries and raspberries mostly. Entered into Washington Monument SP, and saw the original Washington Monument. Lost Smokey there¢¦ Continued on to the Devil¢s Racecourse and saw a Beautiful timber rattler. Probably one of the most perfect specimens of a species I¢ve eer seen. Yellow with dark pattern, very dark tail. Showed it to Swami & Darci. Devils Racecourse was down a steep rocky trail with very poor camping sites. Did find space for 2 tents though, had cocktail hour, got cleaned up, and hit the sack.
Date: 2008-07-03
From: Devil's Racecourser Shelter

To: Caledonia Springs
Miles today: 23.0

Awoke tired, again. Got up and retrieved the food bag and got started on breakfast. Plan for the day is to get to Caledonia SP. Will cross the Mason Dixon Line today, officially leaving the South and entering the North. Also leaving Maryland and entering Pennsylvania, my 7th state. Got hiking at about 10am, made good time to Pen-Mar County Park where I got a soda for $1. Guess I really have entered the North. I¢ve been seeing more day/section hikers due to the large population centers, more road crossings for the same reason, and higher item prices. Lingered at Pen-Mar for a bit. It was hard to leave the chair swing. The morning was pretty rocky and the ridgerunner we met thought we had a pretty good challenge in front of us. Also, the water for the last stretch was limited to 1 site, 10 miles from Caledonia. Hiked through and got to Caledonia around 8:30. Energy was very low at this point. Finally found a law enforcement officer who took $2.50 from me for a shower and told me where to go to find camp. Found a good stealth camp along the way and set up the tent. Then climbed a steep hill for a shower and had tuna/salmon fish tacos and went to sleep. It rained all night.
Date: 2008-07-07
From: Caledonia State Park, PA

To: Midpoint Marker
Miles today: 20.0

Awoke with the goal of getting to Pine Grove Furnace State Park before the camp store closed, to do the traditional half-gallon challenge. Yes folks, this is the challenge of eating 1/2 gallon of ice cream in one sitting, followed by the challenge of letting your digestive system deal with the shock and horror of it. Thru-hikers do this to mark completion of half the AT which is whaty we did today. Half of the 2,175 miles is now behind us. It's strange though because you don't knoe whether to be happy or depressed. Happy: "Yay I've hiked an incredible distance, finished half the AT, what an accomplishment". Depressed: "Good golly, I've only done half of this thing....? I still have this much to go and the novelty has begun to wear off, my whole body hurts, and did I mention that my whole body hurts!" It's the mental challenge now. I'm still feeling good overall though and confident about completion. Just accepting the fact that it's going to be what it is. Grueling. Made really good time in the morning to Quarry Gap shelter (the best-kept onthe trail) where we met Not Worthy, a nice man section hiking with inspiration from his son who through hiked last year. Walked up to Birch Run shelter just as a downpour started. Lucked out on that one. Met some new hikers at Birch Run: Foot, Evan, TrailMouse, and caught up with Frodo, Caboose and Naya (puppy) again too. When we left the shelter it started to rain again, so we were pretty much soaked by the end of it. But we made it to Pine Grove Furnace with planty of time to hit the half gallon challenge. After some debate about strategy (vanilla versus a chunky or flavored variety, go for the lowest caloie option, or your favorite flavor), I chose Banana Split, and Mas chose Butter Pecan. We pulled out our sporks and got to it. Had a few onlookers, mostly section hikers. Mas killed his half gallon in 33 minutes. I had a much slower time of 47 minutes. Neither Becca nor Jogle tried it. Samson, The Animal, and Vegas all passed through a few days before and did it in under 30 minutes each. The record seemed to be held by a guy who ate a full gallon in 48 minutes. Yeechhh. So, I ate 2,520 calories of ice cream in 47 minutes, then hiked a mile out of the park to camp, and didn't actually suffer too badly for it.
Date: 2008-07-08
From: Midpoint Marker

To: Boiling Springs, PA
Miles today: 19.3

Awoke feeling good. Not too bad after effects of the 2520 calories of dairy eaten yesterday. Did have a slow morning though. Four groups went by as we ate breakfast. Had oatmeal with the pint of fresh wild blueberries we¢d collected yesterday. YUM! Got going and did 7.5 miles in less than 2 hours, but then the torrential downpour started. We slowed quite a bit after that. Didn¢t stop for lunch until 3:30 at Alec Kennedy Shelter. Got the low down on the Boiling Springs Shelter from George (a SOBO section hiker). Also met Sprite, Freckles, and Papa Sarge. We all did the last 4 miles to Boiling Springs together and showered at the town pool for $1. Then stopped by the ATC Mid Atlantic Office for info before setting up camp on the backyard of the Garmah Haus B & B for $1. Had subs from the gas station for dinner while sitting on benches at the lake. Fed the ducks and watched the swans and geese swim by. What a picturesque little town! Truly lovely. Scored some great stuff from the hiker box @ ATC too!
Date: 2008-07-09
From: Boiling Springs

To: Cove Mtn Shelter
Miles today: 21.6
Weather: heavy intensity rain

Awoke at 5:45 to the sounds of Sprite, Papa Sarge and Freckles all heading out. Wow that was early! Went back to sleep for a while, but eventually was up and packed. Headed down to the ATL Mid-Atlantic Field Office which was open by this point, and chatted with the guys that work there. Also got to refill my denatured alcohol there for a donation. Met Bulldog, Leaf, Painted Turtle, and Gonzo was there eating breakfast. The rest of us went up to JC¢s caf© and had coffee, breakfast sandwiches and a fresh blueberry scone straight from the oven. Oh, sooo good! Finally hit the trail at 10:30 and hiked through the Cumberland Valley. Farm field after farm field. Wheat, oats, and corn as well as soybeans. It was totally overcast and looked like rain, but it didn¢t rain and kept me from baking in the sun. Crossed I-81 and had lunch at the Scott Farm ATC Work Center. Met Josh & Crysta (a couple of section hikers). Went past the Darlington shelter and struggled the last bit to the Cove Mtn. Shelter. It just seemed to take Forever. When we finally got to the shelter it was a long way down a rocky trail. Sense of humor was fading fast! But got there and met Cloud Party as well as Papa Sarge, Not Worthy, Sprite and Freckles. Nice Shelter! Cleaned up dinner and slept on the floor in the tent.
Date: 2008-07-10
From: Cove Mtn. Shelter

To: Clarks Ferry Shelter
Miles today: 8.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Awoke to find everyone gone, but a gift of Backpackers Pantry Mexican Rice with Beef from Cloud Party. How Nice! Walked 4 miles into town in time for lunch, beer and laundry. Ate too much pizza and almost lost motivation, but, made it out. Met Trail Angel Mary who gave us Amish Friendship Bread. Went to the Doyle and had my picture taken. Re-supplied at the UniMart in Duncannon which wasn¢t good. The walk out of town was hot and the climb to Clark¢s Ferry Shelter was Not fun. Rocks surrounded by hedges of poison ivy! Spent the night at the shelter with Trailmouse (who had been hiking with Foot and Evan).
Date: 2008-07-11
From: Clarks Ferry Shelter

To: Yellow Springs Village
Miles today: 19.7

Had a nice easy morning eating Amish Friendship bread with Mas and Trailmouse. Killed the loaf and the oatmeal. Got moving but for some reason made slow progress all day. Had a light lunch at Table Rock and made some not so great decisions about how much water was needed for the afternoon. Since it was quite hot, I really should have stocked up at Peters Mtn. Shelter, but just took 12 L instead. Ran out 12 mile before Shikelling Overlook. My 2007 book had the mileages from the over look to the next spring off by 2 miles! So by the time I got to the spring, I was frustrated and quite thirsty. Figured out what the problem was though, and pressed on. The last water listed before Yellow Springs Village was ¢a small stream in a rhododendron grove¢. The water was very murky and sulfurous. But after a hot day I took a bucket bath in it and got enough for the night and the next morning. When we got to Yellow Springs Village we met Kirk & Kirk a father/son pair out for the night from Hershey, PA. They were very interested in the thru-hiking and I enjoyed talking to them. Found that my Therma Rest had a hole in it and they had a patch kit that fixed it well!
Date: 2008-07-12
From: Yellow Springs Village

To: 501Shelter
Miles today: 21.4
Weather: broken clouds

Awoke to spend the morning with Kirk & Kirk, and were given their leftover oatmeal. This was great since I hadn't been able to get any at the UniMart in Duncannon. Got hiking about 10. Found water in a few wet weather springs that saved me from having to get off the trail. Also had Trail Magic-water, sodas, Capri suns, and freezer pops-from Engineman and Eddy Tirn, right after lunch. Hiked on through the afternoon and made it to the shelter by 8 where there were several "new" thru hikers: Y, Vigil Ante, Franklin, O'Pop, etc. Tons of people all willing to share. Tented and slept soundly after a cool Solar shower.
Date: 2008-07-13
From: 501 Shelter

To: Eagles Nest Shelter
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: broken clouds

Awoke late for me 7:45 and was very tired. Had a conversation with the 501 Shelter caretaker, found out that PA only employs their park rangers for 9 mos out of the year. Also had a note from the ridgerunner about the limited water availability at the springs. Was able to get water at the key places, but approaching Eagles Nest it was dark and rumbling skies. Booked it to the shelter and just beat the downpour. Could have slept on the steps of the shelter but set up the tent instead. Rocky, Rocky, Rocky.
Date: 2008-07-14
From: Eagles Nest Shelter

To: Port Clinton, PA then Pocahontas Spring
Miles today: 11.9
Weather: broken clouds

Got on the trail by 9:30, feeling pretty well rested due to the rain-induced shorter day yesterday. Had originally planned to spend the night in Port Clinton, PA, but it turns out that the one hiker-priced place in town is closed on Monday, and of course it's Monday.   They do allow hikers to tent at the church Pavilion in town for free, but it seemed better to get a good meal, then move on. Also, I'm very glad that I read the re-supply tips and information article written by Baltimore Jack as there is literally nothing to be had in terms of food re-supply in Port Clinton. There's no grocery, not even a gas station convenience store. People that live here can't even get anything without driving down the road to the Hamburg, land of fast food and the Cabela's superstore (and apparently of a Microtel motel that charges $100 a night even for a single room....Candyman, Speed Racer, and Bandanna Man were nailed on that one). Since Baltimore Jack had indicated this, I had a food maildrop that Dad had sent to the Post Office with planty of food for me and to share. Also, a big thank you to Shelly for the care package there as well. I needed new bandanas, as mine were so gross that even washing didn't keep them from smelling more than 2 days after the wash (all the other goodies were excellent too!). This is actually becoming an issue with much of the clothing that we each wear as our primary "hiking outfit". Also, the backpacks. We all just smell. Especially if there's rain. Dampness really brings the stensh out in full force. Had the biggest breakfast I've ever eaten for lunch at the 3-C's restaurant. The "Neighborhood Nibbler" included one each of the following: bacon, ham, sausage, pancake, french toast, homefries (about 1/2 pound) biscuit with gravy, and toast with gravy. I ate every bite. Whoa Nelly! Bought a selection of old-time candy from "The Peanut Shoppe", and hiked out of town at 6pm.
Date: 2008-07-15
From: Pocahontas Spring

To: Allentown Shelter
Miles today: 19.3

Spent a longish morning at the tentsite this morning because a scarlet tanager was flying around and perching inthe trees right by me in the morning light. These birds are just so beautiful. The contrast of red and black is so striking. The result of this was not hiking until 10:15...ooops. Candyman, Party Animal, Speed Racer, Bandanna Man, Pilot, Dirty Girl, and Truckin' all went by before we actually started hiking. Did catch about half of them before the first shelter (Windsor Furnace), and at that point I also saw a sign that said Mt. Katahdin (965 miles north. This was sort of big to me. To realize that Katahdin was now less than 1,000 miles away. At the beginning, crossing each new 100 mile mark was very significant, but after the halfway point, those mileages seemed to diminish or change in value. I now realize that the new way to track mileage accomplishment is how many hunderds of miles are left to get to Katahdin. So, over 1,200 miles hiked, yes; but more notable, only 900 smoe left to go. HAd lunch at the Pinnacle overlook, the best view on the AT in PA. A panoramic view of the farmland and pastoral scenery that I never realized was so abundant in PA. There was a group of young folks from the Civil Air Patrol ranger school there doing some emergency training exercises as well. After lunch there was actually a section of road walking, a rare break for the feet here in rocky PA. However, it was soon followed by a very jagged section of rocks, then boulders, then rocks, then boulders, then rocks, then boulders.....etc. I was feeling pretty low by the time we got to Allentown shelter. I don't think it's ideal to be ending the day with the feeling "Thank goodness we actually made it." But that's how this day ended. Couldn't even muster the motivation to go 1200 feet down the hill to get water to claen up with. Had a Handi-wipe bath instead. Good enough, as a shower should be coming tomorrow. Shared the shelter with Not Worthy, and Pilot, Dirty Girl, and Truckin' were tenting just down the hill.
Date: 2008-07-16
From: Allentown Shelter

To: Lehigh Gap, Palmerton, PA
Miles today: 17.4

Awoke at 6:30 before Not Worthy left the shelter to meet his son. He was out and gone before I truly woke up again though. A very good soul, I hope his future sections are all excellent as he works toward finishing his thru-hike. Was able to start hiking by 9:15. The feet and knees are just constantly sore by this time. Pennsylvania is taking it's toll. The river of rocks that now constitutes the trail is just brutalizing my lower body. Hiked over the Knife's Edge today;a steep ridge covered with boulders which had to be navigated very carefully. Stepping from one jagged slanty boulder to the next on battle-sore feet and carrying a backpack which throws off your center of gravity is no small feat. While going ove this section, a day hiker (young woman) came by and just hopped and flitted over the rocks as if they were flat stones in a babbling brook. It really illustrated to me the cumulative effect (on my body) of the days of hiking since the beginning, and particularly the more recent days in PA. I thought to myself "maybe I could do that too, if only it wasn't extremely painful to bend my knees more than 10 degrees". Still, I got through it as always happens. It was very hot today too. Over 90 degrees, and dry. Water is becoming scarce. When arriving at Bake Oven Knob shelter, we had be forewarned that the 3rd spring down the hill was the one where water could be found. So, I started down the hill to the spring. Passed the sign for spring #1, went 5 minutes further down the hill, saw the sign for spring #2,, went 8 minutes further down the hill to the bottom, and thought "spring #3 will be here". Not! I looked up at the tree in front of me and saw a sign that said Spring #3, 0.2 miles to the left.   Oy! Another 0.2 miles...? Okay, so I followed the blue-blazed path to the spring and after several more minutes was thinking "Boy I hope there actually is water at spring #3". But I got there, and there was a small puddle of clear water with only a few bugs in it. Whew! Then the hike back up to the shelter and back on the trail. It rteminded me that in the planning stages one of my big worries was having to travel way down off a ridge in PA to get water in the middle of summer. One of the horror stories (other than the endless rocks) was of hiking on a ridge and going 0.6 miles down off the ridge, checking spring after spring on your way down, only to find water at the very last one. That was today, and it wasn't so bad. A few miles later I was reminded of the beauty of all of this by a few miles of ridge covered with wood fern, and copius big blueberry bushes loaded with large ripe, delicious fruit. Literally for a couple miles. Walk, eat, walk, eat, etc. Yummm! Made it to Lehigh Gap by 6pm, caught a ride intoo Slatington, only to find the hoped for lodging not avaialable, and then caught a ride to Palmerton to sleep in the basement of the old town jail, now a hiker-hostel with a desperately needed shower. Palmerton is a lovely little town too.
Date: 2008-07-17
From: Lehigh Gap, Palmerton, PA

To: Delp's Trail
Miles today: 10.0

After completing all of the "town chores" (laundry, shopping, eating, sleeping, updating the trail journal) we were able to get a ride back to the trailhead from an 2004 thru-hiker named Mountain Squid. He was in town just looking for ways to help hikers, doing trail magic by giving people rides and other things. We managed to leave town when the temp was about 95 degrees for a stretch of trail that goes up and over an area entirely denuded of vegetation by zinc mining years before, and is now an open, rocky scramble on the trail. This part of the trail in Lehigh Gap is considered the hardest climb on the AT until New Hampshire. We knew there would be limited water, so brought as much as we thought we might be able to carry, but this set us up for a challenge in the evening. Pretty much once we cleared the heavily stripped area (which does have some initial restoration of vegetation at this point in time, but no shade) a sudden fear thunder and lightning storm came in. Somehow we were right under the eye of the storm lightning was popping quite nearby and it was a torrential downpour. Had intended to hitch a ride to a store 1.5 mile down the road for water at Blue Mtn., but this was right during the storm, and it seemed a pour choice with the lightning and no cars would stop for us for the few moments I tried. Kept moving on until the trail went uphill, then stopped. We waited for about 15 minutes though, and the lightning did blow over. I really wanted to collect some water from the puddles, but chose not to because of the mining history of the area and concerns about heavy metal accumulation. Case in point, the only spring inthe immediate area was named "Metallica Spring". We hiked on to the Delp's trail where there was another spring listed 0.25 mile off the trail, but it was dry. So, we just set up out tents and had about 1 liter of water for the night and morning.
Date: 2008-07-18
From: Delp's Trail

To: Wind Gap, PA
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: few clouds

Split the last liter of water and hiked to Stempa spring. Good Spring .6 miles down off the trail. Got water and continued on to Leroy Smith Shelter where we ate lunch and got too hot. Continued on from there and Mas started to show signs of heat stress. Made it to Wind Gap and met Brady @ the post office. He took us to Lafayette College in Easton, PA (home of Crayola). We were able to shower and do laundry and then we went out for Mexican food and beers at Proter's Pub.
Date: 2008-07-19
From: Wind Gap

To: shelter
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Got up at 8:30. At last..some sleeping in. Spent the morning packing up. Went to lunch at Sette Luna and had homemade ice cream. Also stopped at the Pez Museum which was weird. Didn't go to the Crayola Museum/Store. Went to Wal-Mart to re-supply and then Brady took us to the trail head. Started hiking at 4 pm and got to the shelter about 8 pm where I met Artful Dodger, Ridge Rat, & John. Artful Dodger has thru hiked multiple times, and is now hiking from the most eastern point in Maine to Oklahoma where he will spend the winter, and then to the most western point in Washington State. Wow, 61 years old to boot. Ridge rat and John gave me their left over denatured alcohol, so I didn't have to buy any in town . Very nice.
Date: 2008-07-20
From: shelter

To: Delaware Water Gap, PA
Miles today: 6.4
Weather: few clouds

Awoke at a good time, but made a slow start due to chatting with the other hikers, and knowing another town stop was ahead. Artful Daodge gave somevery good tips on hiker friendly stores and towns inthe coming days. Arrived in Delaware Water Gap at 1pm. Pennsylvania is done at last! Checked into the "Church of the Mountains" hostel (Presbyterian church that has a hiker hostel inthe basement with showers and bunks and a common room, 1st night free of charge). Had lunch at the local diner, then went next door and had pie and ice cream at this lovely local bakery. You walk into the place and there are just tables covered with all sorts of homemade pies, breads, cookies, etc. The kind of place that anyone would drool at, but which makes a hungry thru hiker's head explode. I restrained myself from eating an entire pie, and instead had a slice of "Fruit of the forest" with vanilla icecream. This seemed appropriate because I've been eating fresh fruits in the forest everyday since the Shenandoah NP. Everything is ripening up now, blackberries, blueberries (highbush and lowbush), red raspberries, black raspberries, and some other fruiting bush that produces what looks like a red raspberry, but the plant has these sort of sticky hairs on it (anyone?). Also, finally met the 3 Canucks (a team of mother and 2 daughters from Canada who are making awesome time, very strong hikers).Several folks were dealing with the effects of borderline heat exhaustion. Also I think the PA rocks just really hurt and exhausted all of us more than we may have realized.
Date: 2008-07-21
From: Delaware Water Gap, PA

To: Mohican Outdoor Center
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Did various chores all morning. Mas got a great maildrop from his friend Nicki, and I benefited from the extras. Yummy new Clif bar flavors that Wal-Mart doesn't carry, tuna, trail mix, chocolate. Yay! I tried to buy new boot, as mine are nearing the end (have gone totally flat and are about to disintegrate), but I just couldn'tr bring myself to do it. I'm afraid to break in new boots and get blisters. Also, the outfuitter didn't have a big selection. Had a big late breakfast, and left town at 3pm. The walking was fairly easy, but there were still rocks. Big surprise, obviously trhe rocks wouldn't magically stop at the state line. Nature doesn't typically run in straight lines. But less rocks than PA already. Made it to the Mohican Center a little before 8pm, got a tentsite (free to thru hikers, very nice), and bought sodas. Much of the group we've been with lately was there: Candyman, O'pop, Rainman, Big Ease, Swami, Darci, Twinkletoes. Am now hiking in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Am discovering that this section of New Jersey is unexpectedly beautiful.