morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-06-24
From: David Lesser Shelter

To: The Town's Inn - Harper's Ferry, WV
Miles today: 8.6
Weather: few clouds

Well, I have made it to Harper's Ferry, what a feeling to have made it this far! Walking into town today was almost surreal, it felt like getting to Damascus, but way better! Today we left the shelter around 8:30 and kept a real nice pace all morning, hiking in Crocs has really helped the Sis' knee, and the mostly flat terrain was nice too. There was a nice steep downhill right before town, and that seems to hurt her the most, I think something's up with her meniscus.The whole walk in, we were plotting. Like good hikers, we were plotting what to eat most of the time, but also plotting what the Sis would be doing. There are commuter trains that regularly make the hour ride into Washington D.C. where she could get a train or bus home. It's her best bet to getting home easily. Then, we thought, if she's going why don't we all go? None of us have been for awhile, and we all loved the idea of going and it would be a fun way to spend another day with the Sis. So, the plan is on, we're heading to D.C. tomorrow to be tourists and not hike for a day. Sounds like a blast!I got my picture taken at the ATC's HQ today, and was told I am number 467 to come through, quite the bump up from 735 at Springer, but I was honestly surprised there were even that many. I found Justin's old pic, number 89 from '06, what speed! The Inn we're staying at tonight is wonderful, and the girls and I got to walk around the historic Harper's Ferry, and learned a few history lessons. See Bow's entry for the full details (Bow also has a Trail Journal, just search by her trailname). Good times!Kick: Nothing wrong with a cool day like today!Kiss: Everything...ATC, history, hiking, the Inn, the food, and the company, oh, and I saw Rocket today!Happy Trails,Transition
Date: 2009-06-25
From: The Town's Inn - Harper's Ferry, WV

To: The Town's Inn -Harper's Ferry, WV
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Ah, what an awesome zero day, the best yet! The girls and I woke up early and caught the 7am commuter train into D.C., which brought us into the city at 8:30. What ease for only $11 each way. We found ourselves at Union Station, and took the metro over to the Smithsonian block. There we were in the middle of it all.To keep it short, I shall summarize, we walked in a big circle about 3 or 4 miles and saw all the highlights: Capitol Building, The Natural History Museum, White House, Washington Monument, Korean War Memorial, WWII Memorial, Reflecting Pond and Lincoln Memorial, FDR Monument, Jefferson Memorial, and a special exhibit on Darfur at the Holocaust Museum. A very eventful day! So great to see all this cool stuff, including the Hope Diamond at the Natural History Museum.We had fun and did the tourist thing, but eventually we had to say goodbye to Heather. Our train left at 5:30, but her's didn't depart until 10 o'clock. We had a bite to eat and had to go. It was sad knowing we won't see each other again for awhile, but it's good to know she'll get home safe and sound. Onward tomorrow, maybe 15 with Bow?...Kick: Saying goodbye to HeatherKiss: An awesome day in DCHappy Trails,Transition
Date: 2009-06-26
From: The Town's Inn - Harper's Ferry, WV

To: Rocky Run Shelter
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: moderate rain

Congrats to Bow on her biggest day yet, we finally left the grasp of Harper's Ferry, one of my favorite towns yet, so historic and beautiful. We lucked out last night too, getting the inn's finest suite for the price of two bunks. We hit the trail around 10 and flew down the C&O Towpath, where donkey's used to pull boats up the canal for over 160 miles years ago. We climbed up the first hill and met Freebird and Otter, a couple of cool guys also thru hiking. We also met a stray cat at the shelter, another indication of how close we are to private property all the time in this state. Speaking of, I am now in Maryland, my 6th state, and am looking forward to crossing the Mason Dixon line and officially returning to "the north'.We met up with more hikers at a state park about 10 miles in, Slapshot, Moe and Lucky Joe were all there. I haven't seen Slapshot in awhile, so that was fun. Good times were had, water was plentiful from the spigot, and we considered breaking into the broken soda machines. But, move on we must, and so we went another 5.4 miles to the shelter here tonight. It's really nice though, there's a brand new shelter near the old one that was just renovated. We just set up the tent inside the shelter, it holds 16 and we're the only ones here, we're using the tent as a big bug bivy. All is well, hope the same is for you all.Kick: Boy Scouts just came in and started tenting and talking loud all night at 10 o'clock.Kiss: A good day of no rain and forward progress. We hiked under thunderstorms for 2 hours and didn't get rained on.Happy Trails,Transition
Date: 2009-06-27
From: Rocky Run Shelter

To: Pine Knob Shelter
Miles today: 7.6
Weather: few clouds

Well, today was a lot longer than the mileage posted. Today was one of the longest days yet, on or off the trail. Bow and I woke up tired, which is never a good sign. We packed up camp, and got a move on to the road. We needed to get into Boonsboro, MD today to resupply, it was Bow's first time going in and out of town. Harper's Ferry wasn't a good stop to get food, being a historic town with only 300 residents. So, we waited for a few and got a ride from a Mom and her two young kids. I completely attribute this ride to the fact that Bow was with me, now way she would've just picked me up. She drops off her kids at karate, then takes us to the grocery store, nice lady! We resupply and buy hoagies at Weis Supermarket, and go back outside. I was feeling really lazy today, and it took just a whisper of an idea from Bow to convince me to plop down on the grass next to the parking lot and take a nap. It was a great idea, but also backfired. I got to sleep for over a half hour, but I also got real burnt on my legs and my face. We decided to mosey through town and find the library. We walk a mile and a half and get to the doorstep of the library and she is locking the doors right in our face. So disappointing! After feeling like crap, we dragged up to the main road and got a hitch back.Back to the trail at 3:00 with 2 miles in, it was hard to get moving in the heat. We went up to Washington Monument State Park and saw the OTHER Washington Monument, the original one from 1827. A few more miles brought us here. This shelter is now infamous, Phoenix was here a few days ago and woke up with a rabid raccoon on his face in the middle of the night. He's off the trail for 4 weeks getting rabies treatment and is going to have to flip flop now. Oh well, wish us luck.Kick: Low mile town day that dragged on forever!Kiss: We just got the strangest trail magic, a guy walked up with 2 Dominos Pizzas! Yes!Happy Trails,Transition
Date: 2009-06-28
From: Pine Knob Shelter

To: Ensign Cowall Shelter
Miles today: 8.2
Weather: light rain

Well, today was an unexpectedly short day. It was completely my fault though, Bow and I got a good start to the day this morning and pushed out the 8 miles to this shelter a little before 1 o'clock. We got here and had plans to take a little break, with only 5 miles left to go to the next shelter for the night. We got here so early I felt like taking a nap. The shelter was so nice and we heard through the grapevine that the next one was one of the worst shelters on the trail. I was feeling exceptionally lazy, and for the first time since starting, really, I was totally OK with calling it a day and just staying there.It was great, Bow and I got to nap, laze about, and make an awesome fire while meeting a whole bunch of hikers. At 1:00 we were the only ones here, by 8:00 there was like 8 or 10 others. It was nice to take a short day and relax, back to putting in miles tomorrow, but that's the last thing on my mind right now.Kick: Only 8 miles because I'm lazy (Bow wanted me to make it very clear that it was not her fault, she was totally ready to push on).Kiss: A great half day spent relaxing and we even got some trail magic at the end. Gatorade and chips, yum!Happy Trails,Transition
Date: 2009-06-29
From: Ensign Cowall Shelter

To: Tumbling Run Shelter
Miles today: 18.1
Weather: clear sky

Wow, what a day! Congrats to Bow for completing her biggest day yet and crossing her own personal 100 mile mark! We had a lot to celebrate today, including climbing High Rock, Maryland's highest mountain, crossing into Pennsylvania, and crossing the Mason Dixon line! I am now in my 7th state and I am officially a 'northerner' again. So nice to be out of the South!We got to enjoy a cold soda and a rest break at Pen Mar County Park about 10 miles in, and pondered the rest of our day. We left the shelter knowing there would be a 'cluster' of shelters at the end of the day. After 14.5 miles there was one, then another at 17, then another at 18. It was good because we had options. I was ready to stop at one of the earlier ones, but Bow wanted to push on!Glad we did, too, Tumbling Run is meticulously maintained by a PATC volunteer named George. How do I know this? He greeted us with cold sodas and apples as we arrived. What an awesome ending to a long day! We are tenting near a creek tonight and the water is putting me to sleep. Talk to you later!Kick: The rocky descent from High Rock killed my knees.Kiss: Crossing into a new state, being in 'the North', and end-of-day magic!Happy Trails,Transition
Date: 2009-06-30
From: Tumbling Run Shelter

To: Rite Spot Motel - Fayetteville, PA
Miles today: 9.6

Bow and I started out feeling sore this morning, it was the day after her biggest day, and it was my first time putting in a lot of miles in awhile, too. We started hiking out of the shelter with the biggest climb of the day first thing, going up Chimney Rocks. It was nice to get it out of the way early while it was cooler, besides, it was only 800 feet. The Companion failed us once again. The running joke out here is that the Companion, a guidebook put out by the ATC, is really just a "book of lies". It's really a "book of omissions". I use the mile points and keep them in the back of my head to keep track of how far I've gone through the day. It said that the 3rd road meant you were 5 miles in, it forgot to mention that there were actually 5 roads, so I got to the third road and said "oh boy, we made good time". Little did I know, 2 roads and about an hour later, we finally got to where we thought we were before. Very frustrating, it feels like you wasted all that time and didn't even get anywhere. Even Bow is calling it the book of lies now.Anyways, we get to Route 30 eventually, the road to get into Fayetteville, after a long couple of miles under the threat of rain and Bow feeling the pain of yesterday. The plan was to go to the grocery store and pizza place, then hike 2.5 miles more, but we couldn't see that happening with full bellies and sore legs. So, we did the pizza and grocery stops, and got out of the middle of a construction zone and started trying for a hitch. It was only 2.8 miles further, but we would try anything to not have to walk it. We got about a mile on foot before we got any luck. Then we got the strangest hitch ever...an 18 wheeler pulled over, stopped juusst after an intersection, and a young guy with a thick accent and rotted meth-teeth came out and asked us how far we were going. Just another mile or two we said, and he said hop in, backpacks, grocery bags, and left over pizza boxes and all. Bow got the front seat, and I sat in the back...on his sleeper bed..**shudders** ughhh gross. He pulls out and no sooner than he reaches full speed, a minute later we see the motel and he pulls back over and lets us out. Phew! We made it through another sketchy hitch.We checked in, and Bow napped while I walked up the road to the laundromat and the Rite Aid. Flatlander and Flicka are here too, in another room, and we'll probably see them tomorrow. Hopefully it doesn't rain!Kick: Bow was "not feelin it today", and spent a lot of time in pain. The unexpected town stop turned expensive fast.Kiss: We got to sit in the pizza shop during the only rain of the day, we got a hitch and lived to tell the tale, and heck, we still made it 10 miles.Happy Trails,Transition
Date: 2009-07-01
From: Rite Spot Motel - Fayetteville, PA

To: Birch Run Shelter
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Ah, what a day. Bow and I practically did a nero today but still got 10 miles in. We've been doing a lot of hiking with Flatlander and his daughter Flicka, and Flatlander keeps saying it's either "Miles or Smiles". I like that philosophy and have embraced it a lot lately. I have gone so long just doing mile after mile, it's time to put some smiles in, too. So today we slept in at the hotel and waited as long as possible before checkout time before leaving. We packed up our food from the grocery store, we took showers (2 in 2 days!), and I actually shaved for the first time since leaving Maine (feels great!). We got a ride back to the trail from the son of the nice family from India that runs the hotel. Only a quarter mile in was Caleonia State Park, a nice place with a concession stand and, more importantly, a giant outdoor pool! We wanted to check it out, and it was only $4 to get in. What a good decision, I haven't been swimming in so long, and to get to do it trail side was a blessing on a hot day! We got to swim, have ice cream, and I took a nap in the grass (yes, napping again!). We didn't end up leaving the park until 2:30, but we got the miles in fairly easily and made it to the shelter by 7:00.Bow is starting to get her legs and climbing tall mountains in a single bound, and easily going through the flat sections. Her feet are still sore at the end of the day but she's able to do more and more each day. We are here tonight with Flatlander and Flicka, and Bubbles and Birdie, who I haven't seen since Pearisburg. Good times today, I like taking it easy once in awhile. Smiles, not miles!Kick: I got a little sunburnt again sleeping next to the pool.Kiss: Swimming for two hours in the pool, so relaxing and soothing! Getting the miles in to this nice shelter was good, too!Happy Trails,Transition
Date: 2009-07-02
From: Birch Run Shelter

To: Pine Grove Furnace State Park
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: overcast clouds

I've made it halfway!! I am now 1092 miles into my journey, and it's finally now shorter to walk to Katahdin than to have just turned around and gone back to Springer (which is scary). Every step is now less than half of the trail, what a feeling. We stayed the night at the shelter with Bubbles and Birdie, Flatlander and Flicka, and Spider, who shook the shelter and kept everyone (but me) up all night snoring. We got a good start to the day, I was planning on going 17 miles, but 10 miles in we reached Pine Grove Furnace State Park, and that's when "it" happened.PGF has a little general store in the park that is very well known along the trail. This store hosts the Half Gallon Challenge, a notorious challenge for thru hikers. Eat a half gallon of ice cream, 4 pints, at once and keep it down. Usually quite easy for the out of control hiker appetite. Flatlander, Flicka, and I each sat down at the same time and dug in. My poison of choice? Cotton Candy Ice Cream. It was tough, it was disgusting, it was fun, and it was down right sickening, but I finished the vat of dairy in just under 55 minutes. Of the three attempts, I was the only one to finish the whole thing, and my face was green by the time I did. Oh boy..I don't know about going another 7 miles in this condition...So we hung around for awhile..it was only 1 or 2 by the time I finished anyways, and I was throwing around the idea of staying at the hostel in the park. They didn't open until 5, but it would be a nice place to relax and "recoup" from the challenge. Plus, Flatlander and Flicka were going to be there and they're fun to hang out with. Long story short, we stayed, and are at Ironmaster's Mansion tonight, which, as it turns out, sounds cooler than it really is. But, we played cards with the Fl's and watched Victor/Victoria which is an oldie but a goodie. We'll make up the miles tomorrow.Kick: Feeling sick after all that ice cream, being lazy again and not pushing out the miles.Kiss: Beating the challenge, hanging out with new friends, and taking it easy all afternoon.Happy Trails,Transition
Date: 2009-07-03
From: Pine Grove Furnace State Park

To: Boiling Springs
Miles today: 19.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Wow, we did some big miles today. I am really proud of Bow for being able to stick through it and put away her first 20 mile day in less than two weeks on the trail. We started out from Iron Master's Mansion at Pine Grove this morning and got a late start at about 10am. We left the park and a mile later hit the old "midpoint marker", which is now off about 4 miles because of different trail relocations over the years, but it felt good for it to be "official" in some sort of way. We hiked about 7 miles in and caught up with Flatlander and Flicka while they had lunch, and then someone I recognized came out of the woods behind us. It was Stryder! I haven't seen him since Trail Days, and I haven't seen him on the trail since the Smokies. It's weird to see someone you haven't seen in like 800 trail miles. Weird but good, we caught up and he went on up ahead. He's from PA and with the help of family and friends is essentially slackpacking all of Pennsylvania, and I'm jealous.We cruised awhile longer, over some rocky hills and made another 5 miles or so. Ankles and feet hurting from the rocks, we weren't moving our quickest, but caught up with the Fl's again. Flicka was taking a nap in the grass. We talked to them about our plans for meeting up with my family in Boiling Springs and said goodbye, figuring it would be another few days before we saw them again.The book of lies told us that the last 5 miles into Boiling Springs were flat, but true to its name, it lied. There were three 500 foot climbs that it didn't show in the book, and it took it's toll mentally and physically. We were all but ready to stop at a shelter 4 miles from town, but we pushed on at 7pm and cruised to town at about 8:30. The town provides a campsite in a field outside of town, but it's about 20 yards from a train track that runs all night. Yay. Whatever, we were rewarded with dinner and a beer at Boiling Springs Tavern, a really nice place that has been around since 1776. Very historic. Back to the tent, Terry and Sue are coming tomorrow morning to pick us up and take us to their house tomorrow. I can't wait! I am so excited to hang out with them and get some relaxation.Kick: I miscalculated, I told Bow it was going to be an 18 mile day, it turned out to be 19.4, and it was actually about 21 with all the shelter trails included.Kiss: We made it in time for dinner, Terry and Sue are coming tomorrow, and I am looking forward to seeing them!!Happy Trails,Transition
Date: 2009-07-04
From: Boiling Springs

To: The Dobb's House
Miles today: 0.0

See next entry for story of the Dobbs stop.But, while I have your attention, check out Bow's pictures at:picasaweb.google.com/danikr129It has photos of me and her, including my experience with the half gallon challenge (funny pics).Happy Trails,Transition
Date: 2009-07-05
From: The Dobb's House

To: The Dobb's House
Miles today: 0.0

Well, what a great weekend! Bow and I took two days off and had a blast visiting the Dobbs' house. The Dobbs, Terry, Sue, Ryan, and Sheldon are my cousins and hosted us in their home just outside of Hershey, PA. We made the arrangements and Terry and Sue picked us up first thing Saturday morning. They live about 30 mins from everything it seems, and there were lots of things that we could fill our time with. Not to mention, you can practically see Hershey Park from their driveway (and can almost smell the chocolate). The Dobbs were far too nice to us, they treated us so well. We haven't seen each other in a year or more, but it seems like we picked up right where we left off. They treated us to breakfast, we got back to their house and cleaned up, and started making plans. The nation's largest outfitter is in Hamburg, a 250,000 sq ft Cabela's superstore. We went there and had lunch, got some food, and did some oohing and ahhing. It's like a two story Walmart Supercenter, but bigger. It was July 4th and we wanted to do something festive. What better way then to go to Gettysburg!? We drove down and had a really cool time. First we drove around and saw the battlefields, then we got pizza, and then we went to meet up with Ryan and his girlfriend, Kim. Kim's Dad gives ghost tours around Gettysburg and we got to go, quite a unique way to spend the 4th. We finished the day at an Irish pub downtown with the whole crew and had a couple rounds of drinks and didn't get home until 1:00!The next day Sue cooked us breakfast, we got to loaf around awhile, and we spent the afternoon and all night at Hershey Park. We got dinner at Houlihan's, which is Sue's favorite and I can see why! The park was crazy, and so much fun! I haven't been to an amusement park since....I was a little kid. We went on roller coasters, through a water ride, and up the Kissing Tower. Sheldon and his friend from high school showed us around and it was a blast. It was fun just hanging out with Sheldon.We got another great night's sleep (thanks to Ryan giving up his bed), and it's back to the trail tomorrow, even though I could easily spend a week here. Thanks so much to the Dobbs for their hospitality.Kick: I don't want to leave! There's another 5 days of activities we could do around here.Kiss: Everything, what a blast!Happy Trails,Transition
Date: 2009-07-06
From: The Dobb's House

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

Well, back to the trail, as much as I didn't want to. Terry and Sue fed us a feast of a homemade breakfast and took us back to the trail in Boiling Springs. Bow and I got fuel and water at the regional ATC office and took off. Today is the one real flat section of the trail, through the Cumberland Valley, going from one mountain range to the next. Literally, there was 13 miles of flat, field walking today. It was great.Wheat fields, corn fields, and lots of road crossings (10 roads and 3 highways), and very little water. Water is becoming a bit of an issue in PA. Few and far between, dry, and always wayy off the trail.Well, that's all for now. Duncannon tomorrow!Kick: Hiking in fields is a lot hotter than under the canopy.Kiss: Well, we made it! 13 miles of flatness!Happy Trails,Transition
Date: 2009-07-07
From: Darlington Shelter

To: The Doyle Hotel -Duncannon, PA
Miles today: 11.4
Weather: scattered clouds

What a day, unique in many ways. Bow and I were really looking forward to only having to do 11 miles into town, and we chose to sleep in for awhile. I didn't get up until a little past 9 o'clock. It was great! Only drawback was that we didn't start hiking 10:30. We made the miles, slowly in the heat, and cruised into Duncannon around 4:30. There was a 0.6 diversion in there somewhere, straight down to a crappy water source, but it was the only one all day.Good news is that we are now at the Doyle Hotel here in Duncannon. A bar, restaurant, and one of the original Anheuser-Busch hotels, it's over 100 years old. Unfortunately it shows it, the moldy celings, cracked floors, old sheets and dirty walls show the hundred years of abuse, but you couldn't meet two nicer people than Pat and Vicki. They take care of their hikers, and the food is great and the beer is cold. I'm glad we're here, the past couple of days have been hot and buggy. It's nice to hang out, and this is one of the most social stops on the trail.Kick: Slow and steady, it felt like almost 90* today with high humidity.Kiss: The Doyle! 22 oz Yuengling's for $2.75.Happy Trails,Transition