morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2019-08-24
From: Brink Shelter 

To: Stealth Campsite Next To Sunfish Pond - SOBO Mile Marker 890.9
Miles today: 19.1
Weather: scattered clouds

It was another beautiful day to be hiking. When I woke up this morning, there was a little chill in the air.  So much so I had to put on my puffy jacket as I packed up my camp and had breakfast.The cool air gave away to a very mild day.  The trail once again was mostly flat but very rocky in parts.  So rocky, it took all my concentration to not stumble and fall.  The highlight of the hike was another fire tower, this time it was the Catfish Lookout Tower - elev 1565.  Because the air was so clear, the view from the top was incredible. See pic above.  You may have noticed since the beginning of this journal, I have a fascination with fire towers.  Anytime I get a chance to climb up to the top and look out, I take it.  I¢ve had the opportunity to climb towers on the AT in most of the states I have walked through.  New Jersey has twenty one towers which are strategically placed around the state and all of these towers are staffed during March, April, May, October and November, which are the peak fire season.  At one point in the past, the US had 5000 towers in use.  Once a fire is detected, the tower watch person uses an Osborne Fire Finder to triangulate the exact location of the fire.  A pic of the Catfish Lookout Tower is in the photo gallery.  The Forest Service rents many of the unmanned fire towers during the summer to folks who want to camp out high in the sky.  Most go for about $40 per night. Also if you interested in purchasing a used fire tower, they are for sale.  Most cost between $5000 and $15000 and can be found on GovDeals.  You are responsible for taking it down and hauling it off.  They make a great stocking stuffer around the holidays or maybe that garden feature you¢ve always been looking for.
Date: 2019-08-25
From: Stealth Campsite Next To Sunfish Pond - SOBO Mile Marker 890.9

To: Kirkridge Shelter
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Welcome to Pennsylvania!!!Today I left New Jersey and walked into Pennsylvania.  After spending a very peaceful night on the shores of Sunfish Pond, I hiked several miles down a gravel path to the Kittatinny Visitor Center. From there the AT crosses the Delaware River via the I-80 Delaware River Bridge.  Imagine if you will, walking right next to the bridge traffic on the pedestrian walkway for almost a mile. The noise from the cars and trucks speeding by you at 70 mph is nerve wrecking.  Three quarters across the bridge is the NJ - PA state line painted on the walkway.  The pic above shows the state line.On the west side of the bridge is Delaware Water Gap (DWG), PA.  The trail goes through the eastern portion of the town before it goes back into the woods heading south.I decided to visit the Church of the Mountain Hiker Center which is just off the trail in DWG.  This is a small hostel in the basement of a Presbyterian Church.  I stopped in and take a long over due shower and wash my clothes.  While in DWG, I also had a sandwich at the local pizza restaurant and of course some ice cream.  I was back on the trail by 2:00 pm heading to the Kirkridge Shelter for the evening.
Date: 2019-08-26
From: Kirkridge Shelter

To: Leroy A Smith Shelter 
Miles today: 13.7
Weather: overcast clouds

It was a very slow go today because of all the rocks on the trail.  Pennsylvania¢s nickname is ¢Rocksylvania¢ and it is living up to it.  The rocks are the size of footballs and most of them have points which face up towards the sky.  See the pic above. By the end of the hike today, my feet were sore and worn out.  Other than passing near Wind Gap, PA my hike was mostly in the green tunnel. I did get treated to a couple of views looking out over the Pennsylvania countryside as I passed several high powered electric transmission lines and a natural gas pipeline where the trees were removed.  I ended up at the Leroy A Smith Shelter for the night.
Date: 2019-08-27
From: Leroy A Smith Shelter 

To: Filbert B&B, Danielsville PA - Little Gap Road - SOBO Mile Marker 927.5
Miles today: 10.8

A short day today because I am staying at the Filbert B&B in Danielsville, PA for a planned nero.  I sent my self a resupply package to the B&B when I was home a couple of weeks ago.  Other than getting a shower, washing my clothes, having a couple of squares of non-trail food, I¢m planning on being lazy all afternoon.On my hike today, I believe I saw the last NOBO I will see this year.  Because Baxter State Park closes access to Katahdin usually by October 15, it becomes almost impossible to make it there from this far away.  As it happens, the NOBO hiker who¢s name is ¢Eats A Lot¢, I met while he was doing work for stay at the Garden Mountain Hostel when I visited there on April 26th.  I¢m not sure what took him so long to get to northern PA from southern VA, but if anyone can make it to Katahdin by mid October, Eats A Lot will do it.  He is a former Marine Sargent and the determination I saw in his eyes says it all.  To finish the trail in time he has to hike at least twenty miles every day.  Godspeed Eats A Lot ...
Date: 2019-08-28
From: Filbert B&B, Danielsville PA - Little Gap Road - SOBO Mile Marker 927.5

To: Stealth Campsite At SOBO Mile Marker - 942.5
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: scattered clouds

It was a very uneventful hike today.  By the time I got on the trail at 8:00 am, the fog which covered the greater Lehigh Valley area also covered the mountains.  The visibility on the trail was limited to several hundred feet at best.  The fog kept up all morning so any of the overlooks I passed had low visibility.By mid afternoon rain started to fall.  Luckily for me I was close to the Bake Oven Knob Shelter so I just held up there for better than an hour waiting for the rain to stop.  When it finally halted, I decided to push on.  My plan was to go almost seventeen miles today. Looking at the radar on my phone, I knew I only had an hour to find a campsite and refill my water bottles.  Finding water over the last several weeks has been a challenge.  In late summer most of the streams and the seasonal springs are dried up.  Only the perennial springs are available for water.  At several trail heads, local trail angels place water caches of jugs filled with water for the hikers to refill their water bottles.  I have used these caches several times when there was no other means to get water.  Today was no different. Luckily I found a cache near the Bake Oven Knob Road (see pic above).  Without this help, it would have been a long dry hike.  Thanks to all the trail angels who help us hikers with water caches over the last several months - you are truly life savers.I finally found a stealth campsite were I set up camp for the night.
Date: 2019-08-29
From: Stealth Campsite At SOBO Mile Marker - 942.5

To: Campsite At SOBO Mile Marker - 959.5
Miles today: 17.0

Rocks, rocks, rocks...Today I battled the rocks of Rocksylvania again.  Of the seventeen miles I hiked, more than twelve of them had to be through the rocks.  Hopefully I¢m past the worst of them.  One area which was particularly interesting was a ridge called Knife¢s Edge - elev 1560.  This rock slab outcropping is no more than a few hundred feet long and several feet wide, but the views from the top were worth the climb.  A pic from the Edge is above. In addition to the excitement of all the rock hopping, I saw my six bear. It was walking ahead of me as I hiked up a gravel access road.  I just caught a glimpse of it as I crested a small hill on the road.  It must have seen me because it shot into the woods before I could get a good look at it.  It¢s almost hunting season in PA so this fella better find a good hiding spot.
Date: 2019-08-30
From: Campsite At SOBO Mile Marker - 959.5

To: Eagles Nest Shelter 
Miles today: 21.9
Weather: clear sky

I woke up to a beautiful morning.  The temperature was in the mid sixties and the sky was very clear.  My hike started off with a three mile walk over a state forest access road. The path was very smooth and comfortable. It came to an abrupt halt just before I reached the Pinnacle Overlook - elev 1615.  The rocky path was back.  At the Pinnacle, the views of the surrounding farmland were spectacular.  See pic above.  This spot is a favorite of the locals and I met several taking in the view at 8:00 am. Past the Pinnacle Overlook, the trail lead to the next overlook the Pulpit - elev 1582.  The view from this vantage point was just as beautiful.  Past these two high points, the trail descended down to the valley where Hamburg, Port Clinton and the Schuylkill River are located.  The AT goes right down Port Clinton¢s main streets before it goes back into the woods and uphill again.  While I was in Port Clinton, I decided to stop at the Port Clinton Hotel and Restaurant for a quick bite to eat.  After a couple of ice cold Yuengling¢s and a large hamburger, I headed back out again.  After Port Clinton, and back on the high ridge, the rocky trail continued.  I decided to stay at the Eagle Nest Shelter for the night.  My feet were worn out from the long day¢s hike over all rocks.  Once I got my boots off and got a something to eat, my outlook brighten up.  Maybe, just maybe, tomorrow will be the end of the rocky AT.
Date: 2019-08-31
From: Eagles Nest Shelter 

To: PA 501 - SOBO Mile Marker 996.5
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: clear sky

Dear Pennsylvania AT,You are slowly killing me.  Every step I take on the pointy rocks you call a trail, I get one step closer to meeting my maker.  I know I¢ve raised my voice at you and called you disgusting things, but a hiker can only take so much.  I¢m at my end. A double foot replacement is on my horizon if you don¢t smooth out soon.  Maybe you can use all your rocks for a good purpose like building walls, steps or maybe a tower so we can see the countryside.  I hear from the NOBO hikers you smooth out after PA 501.  I want to believe this, I need to believe this for my sanity.  Let¢s work this out, because I need you as much as you need me.Your hiking friend,Woodford
Date: 2019-09-01
From: PA 501 - SOBO Mile Marker 996.5

To: PA 501 - SOBO Mile Marker 996.5
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Today I took a zero to be with my good friends who drove over from Cincy to visit me and provided trail magic at PA 501.  Jim and Kathy O¢Keefe, Mark and Mary Cunningham, and my wife Lisa packed up their SUV¢s early yesterday morning and made the seven plus hour drive to Pine Grove PA where we all had a few good meals together and just had a great time hanging out.  Both Jim and Mark out did themselves with the best trail magic spread I¢ve seen anywhere on the trail.  The pork bbq was out of this world, not to mention the beens and all the trimmings.  In addition to all the drinks, snacks, and fruit it was a feast to behold.  I don¢t think any of the hikers who joined us walked away hungry.Thank you again Mark, Mary, Jim, Kathy, and Lisa for making my zero day in Pine Grove so special.  I¢ll be thinking about this feast for many weeks to come.  The pic above is the Cincy Trail Magic Gang.
Date: 2019-09-02
From: PA 501 - SOBO Mile Marker 996.5

To: Rausch Gap Shelter 
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Mark Cunningham dropped me off at the trailhead before the Cincy crew drove back home.  The forecast was for morning rain with clearing in the afternoon.  Our trip from the hotel in Pine Grove to the AT was in a driving thunderstorm.  I got out of his dry SUV and ran back to the 501 Shelter which was fairly close to the parking area at the trailhead.  There I waited out the heavy rain until 8:30 am and then I set out for the day.The Pennsylvania AT Gods must have decided to take mercy on me and smoothed out the trail south past PA 501.  My morning hike was shrouded in fog with a light sprinkle of rain every now and then.  The trail was mostly flat with only a few rocky spots.The trail eventually descended down to the Swatara Gap where I went under Interstate 81 and over the Swatara River.  See pic of bridge which crosses the Swatara River in photo gallery.  Past the river the AT climbs up and over the Second Mountain - elev 1362 and final I stopped at the Rausch Gap Shelter for the night.  A pic of the rolling hills which lead up to Second Mountain is above.
Date: 2019-09-03
From: Rausch Gap Shelter 

To: Peters Mountain Shelter 
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: mist

The trail today was the most comfortable and easy going since I left the southern Virginia area late last April.  There was only one elevation change due to PA 325 and only a couple of rocky patches.  The weather was in the high seventies all day with a slight breeze to cool me off.I was treated to an impromptu air show by the USAF mid morning as several A10¢s practiced maneuver just above the treetops. These awesome Warthogs dodged, ducked, dipped, dove and dodged through the morning sky.  The pilots made the maneuvers look easy.  The show went on for about ninety minutes. After they finished and flew away, the normal quiet returned to the woods.  When I reached my final stop at Peters Mountain Shelter, I decided to hang my hammock inside the shelter.  I only did this because there were no good campsites due to the position of the shelter on the crown of the ridge.  The shelter was one of the largest I¢ve seen on the trail and there was only one other section hiker sharing the space with me.  I will enjoy being inside for the night.  A pic of the shelter is above.
Date: 2019-09-04
From: Peters Mountain Shelter 

To: Duncannon PA - SOBO Mile Marker 1043.0
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: clear sky

Today I decided to take a short day and stay in Duncannon PA for the night.  The AT passes right through the middle of town for almost a mile.  Because Duncannon is right on the trail, the town is very hiker friendly.  Most everyone will wave at you as they pass by or stop and chat with you about your hike.  The Duncannon Assembly Of God church has a free hostel in their basement which is well known to all the hiker trash.  I hung my hammock in their pavilion next to the others who decide to sleep in their tents for the night.After I took a shower and did my laundry, I made my way down to one of the most famous landmarks on the AT - The Doyle Hotel.  The Doyle has been a hiker hangout as long as there has been an AT.  The hotel is more like a hostel and the restaurant/bar is famous for their huge portions and cold beer.  The old place, which was built in 1880, has seen better days.  The bar is filled with AT hiker memorabilia as well as a few hikers who were passing through Duncannon for the day.  I pulled up a bar stool, had a couple of cold ones and caught up on the trail news with several of the other hikers doing the same.  A pic of the Doyle Hotel is above.
Date: 2019-09-05
From: Duncannon PA - SOBO Mile Marker 1043.0

To: Stealth Campsite At SOBO Mile Marker 1060.1
Miles today: 17.1

Today the hike out of the Susquehanna River Valley, where Duncannon is located, and back up to the top of the ridge heading south was a bit of a chore.  The trail was very steep but well engineered with stone steps most of the way up.  The pic above was the reward for getting to Hawk Rock overlook - elev 1052 with Duncannon with the Susquehanna River in full view.The rest of the trail on the ridge was very level for the next four miles but with a few rocky stretches. Past the ridge, it drops down to the Cumberland Valley where it flattens out for the next fourteen plus miles. The AT crosses over I-81, the Pennsylvania Turnpike, several railroad tracks, a half dozen local roads and right through Boiling Springs, PA.I decided to stealth camp just past the I-81 overpass and right next to a cattle pasture for the night.  There are not many choices for campsites in the valley so this was my best option.  I was lulled to sleep by the sound of speeding cars on the interstate and the fresh smell of cow pies.
Date: 2019-09-06
From: Stealth Campsite At SOBO Mile Marker 1060.1

To: Campsite At SOBO Mile Marker - 1076.7
Miles today: 16.6

I continued my hike through the Cumberland Valley today.  From where I stealth camped last night, I only had 8.5 miles to get to Boiling Springs PA.  The hike was very flat and mostly alongside corn and soybean fields.  I did cross over the Pennsylvania Turnpike, with all the noise from an interstate.  Once I got to Boiling Springs, I decided to get a bite to eat at the local tavern and check on my provisions for the next coupe of days.  My supplies were sufficient enough to get me to Pine Grove Furnace State Park where there is a general store.I returned to the trail by 1:30 pm.  The next 8 miles were anything but flat like the valley I just left. The AT immediately shot skyward to the ridge south of Boiling Springs.  I bounced around on the ridge dipping down to cross several streams.  I decided to set up my hammock at one of the local campsites near the last stream I crossed.  All in all a great day to be in the Pennsylvania forest.
Date: 2019-09-07
From: Campsite At SOBO Mile Marker - 1076.7

To: Birch Run Shelter 
Miles today: 21.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Another great day of hiking in south central Pennsylvania.  Since I left Boiling Springs yesterday afternoon, the forest has been beautiful.  It is filled with very mature red and white oak trees, tulip poplar trees, maple trees, walnut trees, cherry trees, and huge pine trees.  The largest trees look to be more than a hundred years old.  The trail has its ups and downs but it is mostly flat as it continues to follow the ridges southward.Today I passed through the Pine Grove Furnace State Park.  The ¢Furnace¢ is referring to the iron ore furnace which once stood here back in the early 1800.  This part of Pennsylvania had several of these iron ore furnaces scattered around at the beginning of the industrial revolution.  A pic of the actual furnace is in the photo gallery.The Pine Grove Furnace State Park is considered my most hikers as the middle point of the AT. Because it is the half way point, it calls for a celebration.  As with most big occasions on the trail, there is a time honored tradition to celebrate the accomplishment with a challenge - the half gallon challenge to be exact.  The challenge is to eat one half gallon of ice cream in one sitting - preferably before it all melts.  Being the hikers trash that I am, I could not skip this opportunity to prove myself.  The ice cream is purchased at the Pine Grove Furnace General Store and should be consumed on the picnic tables in front of the store for all to witness.  Because the store only sells containers that are forty eight ounces, you have to also purchase an additional pint to make it a full half gallon.  I chose raspberry for the forty eight ounce container and Neapolitan for the pint.  As most of you know, over the last months that I¢ve been on the trail, I have enjoyed eating a pint of ice cream whenever I can.  By doing this I have been in training for just this challenge.  Consider these warmup pints as light toe touches before the big match.  Without much effort, I crushed the challenge. The raspberry went down without much effort and the Neapolitan took some work, but it also got consumed. All in all it took me about forty five minutes to eat the entire half gallon.  After eating all that ice cream, I may just wait a week or so to have any more.  A pic of the effort is above.After I finished the challenge, I visited the official AT Museum which is located next to the store.  It has the history of how the trail got started as well as some interesting artifacts from the trail history.  A pic of the museum is in the photo gallery.
Date: 2019-09-08
From: Birch Run Shelter 

To: Tumbling Run Shelter 
Miles today: 19.6

Today¢s hike was fair with the same ups and downs over the ridges that I¢ve been experiencing for the last few days.  Because it was Sunday and the weather was great, there were many more day hikers out enjoying the trail.  I usually get to chat with quite a few of them as we pass on the trail.  They have a lot of questions about my AT through hike and are intrigued how someone can walk that far.  It¢s fantastic to see so many who are interested in the long hiker culture.My day ended at the Tumbling Run Shelter where I hung my hammock for the night. With the clear skies we have been having, I usually don¢t put up my tarp over my hammock.  This is cowboy camping hammock style.  It¢s so peaceful to lay awake and look at all the stars in the late summer sky.
Date: 2019-09-09
From: Tumbling Run Shelter 

To: MD - PA Border - SOBO Mile Marker 1125.6
Miles today: 8.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Wooooo Hoooo - I made it to Maryland!!!It was a short hike today as I left Pennsylvania and walked into Maryland.  With PA behind me, I only have MD, WV and VA to go.  Both Maryland and West Virginia are very short at 40.6 miles and 2.7 miles respectively.  By the end of this week, I will be in Virginia.Tonight I decided to get a hotel room in Waynesboro, PA for the evening.  I accomplished the usual off trail activities - shower, washing clothes and getting a resupply at the nearby Walmart.  After a good dinner at Applebee¢s it was time to get some rest for the upcoming days in Maryland.
Date: 2019-09-10
From: MD - PA Border - SOBO Mile Marker 1125.6

To: Pine Knob Shelter 
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: clear sky

The highlight of my hike today was the view from Black Rock Cliffs - elev 1779, looking west over the Maryland countryside. The visibility was about thirty miles according to my PeakFinder app.  A pic of the view is above and I took a video which is in the video gallery.  The rest of the hike today had a few climbs but most of it was fairly flat with a few rocky spots just to keep it interesting.  After hiking eighteen miles I decided to stop at the Pine Knob Shelter for the night.  This shelter has a spring next to it which still has water dripping from it.  Because it has been so dry over the last couple of weeks, most of the streams and many of the springs along the trail have dried up.  I spend a good deal of time trying to figure out where my next water stop is during the day.  Tomorrow it is supposed to be 92 degrees.  In that kind of heat, I will drink at least four to five liters of water.  I will also be getting a predawn start to try and beat the heat.  Camel up early and often...