morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-06-13
From: Jim & Molly Denton Shelter

To: Sam Moore Shelter
Miles today: 25.3
Weather: broken clouds

"Only one who devotes himself to a cause with his whole strength and soul can be a true master. For this reason mastery demands all of a person."   ~Albert EinsteinJune 13, 2001 ¢ Day 70 ¢ SundayI knew today was going to be a crazy day of hiking. The temperatures were going to be in the high 80's with 100% humidity. The second part involved hiking into a section called the "Roller Coaster", a rolling terrain with sometimes "tightly packed" ascents and descents. This goes on for 13.5 miles. Third, I wanted to do at least a 24 mile day and maybe a 28. That would give me a 24 or less the next day going into Harpers Ferry, W Va.I started in the early morning from the shelter and already the temps and humidity were affecting me. I quickly made the most of my morning pushing the miles. Trail magic came at a great time as I was crossing US 50 at Ashby Gap. Blink Blink, an '03 hiker, had fruit, cold drinks and sweets.Had lunch at Rod Hollow Shelter which always has a kick ass spring. The rocks and boulders on the trail were starting to affect the bottoms of my feet. Soon after the shelter the Roller Coaster started. The rocks increased and between the tree roots, mud, slippery rocks and more rocks my pace slowed down. I got to the Sam Moore Shelter around 5:30 pm and was going to go on. I waited for Sherpa and Draggin¢ Tail to show up. After an hour I knew the rocks were causing minor problems for Draggin¢ Tail. Sure enough just before dark Sherpa and Draggin¢ Tail made it into the shelter.My clothes are constantly wet from sweat. In the morning I put on wet sour smelling clothes and continue hiking producing more sweat. My hiking shirt is rotting off my back, so I will have to buy a new one in Harpers Ferry.The shelter had a separate roof post and beam building with a picnic table underneath. After everyone was finished cooking dinner I sleep on top of the table. I eventually fell asleep in the sweltering night.If not now, then when? Krispykritter 2010 GaMe
Date: 2010-06-14
From: Sam Moore Shelter

To: Harpers Ferry, W VA
Miles today: 23.3
Weather: broken clouds

"The universe is full-of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper." Eden PhillpotsJune 14, 2010 ¢ Day 71 ¢ MondayAgain, I was up before the sun and pushing through the Roller Coaster in the coolness of the morning. The only problem, I'm still sweating up a storm.I decided to stop in at Bears Den Hostel to get a look at the place (I was hoping to make the last night but by the time I would get there it would have been after 9 and I didn't want to spend $15 for a night already over by hiker standards). The building is a magnificent work of stone and wood. I walked into the hostel and everyone was just finishing breakfast of pancakes. I was asked if I wanted leftover pancakes and coffee. A thru hiker doesn't turn down food. Great trail magic when you least expect it.I continued my assault on the Roller Coaster and finally made it to the north end. Then I was on the Devil's Racecourse, an almost level trail of rocks and mud from the recent afternoon rains.Tired, wet and hungry Jake, Steve and I walked into Harpers Ferry. Everything was closed in the historic section. We ended up splitting a hotel room. First thing I did was to throw away my rotting shirt. Then I took a shower, twice. We found a pub called The Pub down the street with good food and good people. A watering hole I recommend for any hiker to visit.If not now, then when? Krispykritter 2010 GaMe
Date: 2010-06-15
From: Harpers Ferry, W VA

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

June 15, 2001 - Days 72 ¢ Tuesday When I took my clothes off to take a shower I was surprised to see a heat rash on my thighs. Then I looked in the mirror and I could see more heat rash on my shoulders where the shoulder straps of the backpack makes contact with my skin. The past several weeks have been brutal because of the combination of temperature and humidity. I would like one day of clean DRY clothes to wear and not get wet within 10 minutes of wearing them.Staying in Harpers Ferry is a good thing. The historic value is certainly there and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy has their headquarters there to wonder around. I decided to take 2 zeros in a row to celebrate the mental halfway point (physically it is another 140 miles north of Harpers Ferry). We - Steve, Jake and I - are staying in the Quality Inn tonite. Draggin¢ Tail and Sherpa needed a place to stay so we shared the hotel room with them. It was Sherpa's birthday so I got him a present, and we all sang Happy Birthday to him.If not now, then when? Krispykritter 2010 GaMe
Date: 2010-06-16
From: Harpers Ferry, W VA

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

June 16, 2010 - Day 73 - WednesdayDecided to just wait out a nasty storm due to come through. Steve. Jake and I stayed with one of the Harper Ferry Outfitters workers by the name of Melissa. Her boyfriend, Bobby, is good people. He¢s a 5th grade teacher and when not in school he is the team captain for Liquid Logic Kayaks USA. Melissa and Bobby showed us some film on Bobby's kayaking. Pretty awesome. It was also Bobby's birthday. Happy Birthday, Bobby.If not now, then when? Krispykritter 2010 GaMe
Date: 2010-06-17
From: Harpers Ferry, W VA

To: Annapolis Rocks
Miles today: 24.6

June 17, 2010 ¢ Day 74 - Thursday"Come into the light of things. Let nature be your teacher." ~ William WordsworthLeft Harpers Ferry around 9:00 and walked out of town thinking about how some of the men in American history walked the same streets I was on. I crossed the Potomac River and was greeted with the ruins of early transportation, the C & O Canal tow path. The AT follows the canal and some of its locks for several miles.It was really good to be back in the woods. The trail out of Harpers Ferry starts off great and then it becomes a trail through rock gardens. Had lunch at Gathland State Park home of the War Correspondent Memorial. The day was turning into a great weather hiker day. The temperatures were tolerable and the humidity was low.I remembered the DogPatch, a hiker/biker lounge that had cold beer and great hamburgers. I arrived thereh towards the end of my midday meltdown. The cold beer was wonderful and the hamburger and fries gave me the energy to continue my hike. I made it to Annapolis Rocks just as the sun was setting. I was standing on the cliffs watching the sun set over the valley. Dark blue clouds blocked most of the sun. Small lateral strips of orange/yellow light would break through the dark blue. It wasn't the spectacular orange and red sun set I was looking for. Instead Mother Nature gave me a different color scheme to look at and, it was just as beautiful. The last rays of light faded as a fell asleep with a smile on my face.If not now, then when? Krispykritter 2010 GaMe
Date: 2010-06-18
From: Annapolis Rocks

To: Tumbling Run Shelter
Miles today: 24.7
Weather: clear sky

June 18, 2010 ¢ Day 75 - Friday"And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years." ~ Abraham LincolnLeft Annapolis Rocks at dawn with a mission in mind. I was going to catch Draggin Tail and Sherpa by the end of the day. Sherpa keeps leaving messages in the shelter registers to catch up.Stopped at the day's first shelter, Ensign Cowall Shelter, and met a woman there by the name of Snoopy. We started talking and she tells me she is from Ocala, Florida. ¢Where did you get outfitted¢, I ask. ¢Travel Country¢, Snoopy said. She gives me the whole story how Greyhound and Lesser Weasel (known to me as Cheesecake aka Wes) helped her with her getting the right gear. Good job guys, she is happy with the choices, so far.Today's weather was awesome. Temps in the low 80's with low humidity. A perfect hiking day, except for the rocks and more rocks. Stopped at Pen Mar County Park for an afternoon rest. The US Army had a barbecue at a pavilion. Jake, Steve and I managed to yogi hamburgers and BBQ chicken. The one nice thing about hiking in Maryland is there are coke machines and Pen Mar and some ice cold sodas. We met the caretaker of the park, a 78 yr old man riding a gas powered golf cart with the words in front "Country Club". We nicknamed him the General as he took charge of the park. The General told us stories of how he maintains the grounds and the visitors. Quite a funny man.In one of the shelter registers I saw where Draggin Tail and Sherpa were going to spend the night at Tumbling Run Shelter. The trap was set for my rabbits. I made it to the shelter just shy of 25 miles under my boots. It was a joyous reunion. And then hiker midnight went down with the sun and so did I in my tent.Another milestone on this hike. I entered the seventh state PA today. I also crossed the Mason Dixon Line and now I am officially out of the south.If not now, then when? Krispykritter 2010 GaMe
Date: 2010-06-19
From: Tumbling Run Shelter

To: Birch Run Shelter
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: scattered clouds

June 19, 2010 ¢ Day 76 ¢ Saturday"How could there be any question of acquiring or possessing, when the one thing needful for a man is to become - to be at last, and to die in the fullness of his being." ~ Antoine De Saint-ExuperyThe thought this morning on everybody's mind was how hot it was going to be today. Temps in the mid 90's. Less than 10 miles was our salvation, Caledonia State Park and their Olympic size swimming pool. The plan worked like a charm. A quick 9 plus miles in the morning. In the heat of the day, hang out at the pool, then hike out 10 miles around 4:00. Jake and Steve found a ride to the nearest store and bought hotdogs and buns for everyone. The water was cool and felt so good on my midday meltdown body. Even the clothes got washed in the pool and were dried long before we left.The afternoon heat was still oppressive at 4:00 so we took another dip in the pool. Other hikers joined us and we had a crowd of about 10. The air cooled down at 4:30 and I was off to do my 10 miles. A father and 5 boys were staying at Milesburn Cabin and as I stopped in to say hi, Scott, the father, wanted to know if I wanted a fresh cup of coffee. You bet I did. Jake and Steve showed up, did a great yogi act of getting their food and stove out when Scot asked if we wanted BBQ chicken. We each had two pieces. The last 2 miles was over good tread and by 8:45 at the shelter getting ready for bed. Tomorrow is the half gallon challenge of eating ice cream to celebrate our physical halfway mark on the AT.If not now, then when? Krispykritter 2010 GaMe
Date: 2010-06-20
From: Birch Run Shelter

To: James Fry (Tagg Run) Shelter
Miles today: 17.1
Weather: broken clouds

June 20, 2010 ¢ Day 77 - Sunday"I think knowing what you cannot do is more important than knowing what you can do." ~ Lucille BallToday was another expected hot day. Fortunately I had another plan to overcome the heat. The guys I have been hiking with (Sherpa, Draggin Tail, Jake and Steve) got up before the heat started and hiked a rather flat terrain with a few rocks here and there into Pine Grove Furnace State Park. Along the way I was in the lead and was crossing a wooden footbridge spanning a stream. As I am in the air stepping off the bridge something caught my eye. A snake suddenly appeared below me well camouflaged with the ground. My right leg was about to come down on the snake. Automatic reflexes kicked in as I go airborne. I jerked my leg back up as I pushed off the bridge's end with my left leg. I soared over the wiggly reptile and landed far enough away with both feet hitting the ground. I stood guard waiting for the others to come up so they would not have the same encounter. Draggin Tail shows up and says, that's a mighty big Copperhead, who found him? I told him my story and he wanted to know what is it about me and snakes. I'm glad I didn't have to tangle with the snake and get mad; both of us would have lost.We passed another milestone, the physical midpoint marker of the AT, 1089.55 miles in either direction. It's all downhill from here.The second part of the plan was to celebrate the accomplishment by doing the traditional "Half Gallon Challenge", eating a half gallon of ice cream. Sherpa with his Mint Chocolate Chip finished in 48.3 minutes. Draggin Tail had Neapolitan and finished with a respected 29 minutes. Both had a cheeseburger afterwards, I think to keep the ice cream down. Maybe something BP should look into to cap their leaking well. Jake, Steve and I passed on the ice cream. Been there, done that, still got the wooden spoon they give you for finishing. I didn't need two spoons. We all went down to the new Appalachian Trail Museum. Very nicely done with a lot of pictures and history of people and places that have made the AT a unique trail. They even have a picture of me (Lady Kritter, you now have a museum piece as a husband). The third part of the plan to escape the heat was the lake at the park. It had a sand beach and cold water spring. It looked like any crowded beach in Florida from the water. We stayed a good 4 hours and I enjoyed one of the few days on the trail without my midday meltdown.4:30 I got up and said good bye to hikers, beach and water to hike the remaining miles into the shelter. Tomorrow another hot day and another swimming pool in Boiling Springs, Pa. "I love it when a plan comes together!"If not now, then when? Krispykritter 2010 GaMe
Date: 2010-06-21
From: James Fry (Tagg Run) Shelter

To: Carlisle, PA
Miles today: 20.0

"Be willing to have it so; acceptance of what has happened is the first step to overcoming the consequences of any misfortune."   ` ~ William JamesJune 21, 2010 ¢ Day 78 - MondayToday was going to be another hot and humid day with temps in the high 90's. The plan was to hike in the cool of morning and reach Boiling Springs before noon. The morning hike began with a good second breakfast at Green Mountain Store. Draggin' Tail, Sherpa and I found several bushes of succulent blackberries on the way into the store and feasted on the berries of delight.Just before entering Boiling Springs more berries were found loaded with plump fruit. I took a picture before we started the eating frenzy. The trail then took us through several large corn and wheat field tracts until we entered into Boiling Springs. We planned to use the town's swimming pool as a release from the heat. I went to the window at the pool's entrance and just about dropped my jaw when I heard the price they were asking, $10. I guess they didn't want hiker's in their pool. Strike One for Boiling Springs. We moved on to the regional office of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and found shade on their front porch. Across the street was the post office so I went to pickup my umbrella from Golite. Strike Two, it's not there. The postmaster general was very nice and did everything to help. The bottom line, Golite is charging me for the umbrella they sent to me at Front Royal; since it was forwarded to Boiling Springs there is nothing Golite can do. Golite did not insure the package so the post office can't put in a claim. Everyone is sorry but I am now out $40 and no one can tell me where the blasted umbrella is. I spent nearly two hours trying to solve my problem. I am not happy and told the guys, including Steve and Jake, this is the second time I've dealt with negativity in Boiling Springs and that I am moving on. My mood swing was sudden and I explained why. I was tired and frustrated and wanted to take it out on the hike out of Boiling Springs. If the guys wanted to follow, no problem. There was still plenty of daylight and the profile couldn't be any flatter than those seen on a heart monitor and if they wanted to continue, I would be at the Middlesex Diner in Carlisle.I felt much better after the sun beat me into submission as I tromped through the corn and wheat fields heading out. The trail followed the western boundary of the fields where the shadow of trees helped cool me down both mentally and physically. I was back to myself enjoying the trail again.The early evening was beginning to be promising. I got a hotel room across the street from the diner and one by one the guys came in. The food at the diner was awesome and with my tummy full, I was a happy hike again.If not now, then when? Krispykritter 2010 GaMe
Date: 2010-06-22
From: Carlisle, PA

To: Duncannon, PA
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: overcast clouds

¢In nature there are neither rewards nor punishments - there are consequences."~   Robert G. IngersollJune 22, 2010 ¢ Day 79 - TuesdayEveryone was enjoying the air conditioning in the hotel room. I knew what lay ahead. First, there was a tough climb several miles north of Carisle. Second, and worse for me was knowing the miles and miles of rocks that lay before entering Duncannon. There is no ground in sight while trekking on these rocks. And, the rocks themselves are various sizes, loosely piled and all with very sharp edges. We decided that someone must come out at night and sharpen all the edges. It is just a plain nasty section to hike. Since I alone knew about whaqt was up ahead, I got up early, went across the highway back to the diner and had a breakfast of pancakes with maple syrup.I left very early in the morning and blazed through the first 6 miles of even terrain. I went through the tunnel under PA 944 that took the workers one day to complete, a minor feat of engineering. Crossed over some open fields and at PA 850 took a rest. I grabbed a snake, geared up my radio to play through my ear plugs. I figured if I had some traveling music the time would go quicker. It was time, the plugs went in, the station found, head down, eyes on trail, and the first step forward taken. I swear it was better not to have known what was coming. The rocks were everywhere loose and threatening to end one¢s hike if not wary of careful footing. I slowed down, kept my eyes focused on where I was planting my feet and tried not to be distracted. The bottoms of my feet were aching and sore by the time I reached Duncannon around 3:00. I entered the AT¢s famous Doyle Hotel and sat down and drank a 22 oz glass of beer. That beer was probably the best tasting I've had so far on the trail. Better yet - I got my room from Pat, room number 12, which was the same one I stayed in during my '04 hike. The guys came into by twos cursing and complaining about the rocks. A cold beer quenched the throat and soon the topic changed to, ¢I can't believe I am finally here at the Doyle.¢Steve, Jake and I were planning to leave in the morning and find rides to Philadelphia to visit relatives.Later that night. I met Bulldog, a totally blind hiker thru-hiking the AT. He had a video tech with him who was recording this unique hike which would be made into a documentary video. I went up to Bulldog, inspired by his tenacious fortitude in overcoming obstacles. I was hoping for pointers on handling the rocks. At least I can see them. His best advice, be slow and one foot in front of the other. It is slow and grueling. I may have walked away without an¢ AHA!¢ answer, but more importantly, I made a new friend.If not now, then when? Krispykritter 2010 GaMe
Date: 2010-06-23
From: Duncannon, PA

To: off trail
Miles today: 0.0

June 23, 24, 25, 26, 2010 ¢ Days 80 to 83 ¢ Wednesday thru SaturdayOne of things I did not do in '04 was go off trail. Many hikers would leave the trail for days, some up to a week in order to go home, go to a big eastern city like Washington DC, New York, Boston, etc. So I decided to go off trail when I heard Steve and Jacob talking about going to Philly to visit relatives. I have a cousin who lives near Philly and I could visit him.The plan was to find a shuttle to Harrisburg then an Amtrak train into Philly. I said good-bye to Draggin' Tail and Sherpa. They were good hiking partners and I will miss the bantering between Sherpa and I. I left Steve and Jacob at Penn station and was picked up by Jen, cousin Ricky¢s daughter, and taken to New Jersey. I spent the next couple days visiting family.Today's modern era is fast and furious. Within minutes I was out of the wilderness, speeding in a car going 55 mph. The fastest speed I had traveled in the last 2 months was at 3 plus mph walking down hill. As I got closer to Philly, the trees disappeared and were replaced by concrete structures and pavement. The noise level also increased - engines were running, trains moving about, horns blowing, sirens blaring and street noises, all contributing to the sensory overload. When I wanted to take a leak, I could find a tree in the wilderness right away and relieve myself. In the city I had to find a public bathroom inside a building. Trees were either in parks or along streets. Many streets didn't even have space for trees, just more concrete and pavement.Don't misunderstand me, I was glad to see family, I just could not get comfortable in the city. I did enjoy the air conditioning and swimming pool. The clothes I was wearing were dry and the humidity and temps were comfortably lower than outside. I would often wonder how the pioneers survived the summer in wool clothing before cotton was discovered.One day the family took me to the Jersey Shore. We were to going to the ocean but went to a beautiful beach on the bay instead. The water had a funky stagnant smell to it. I had been spoiled by the pristine clear water of mountain streams and lakes. I respectfully declined the invitation to go in the bay¢s water. The rest was a flurry of family affairs. On my last day, all I wanted to do was sit in the air conditioning, surround myself in silence and sit or lay, whatever I chose, on a couch.Thank you so much Rick and family for taking the time to entertain me. Your love of life and family will always be carried in my heart.The reverse transition happened on my trip back to Duncannon. The concrete and pavement diminished as more green farmlands and woods appeared and finally my mountains. Tomorrow I was going back into the rocks of PA, in high humidity and temperatures and walking the ridges with birds singing and the wind blowing through the trees. If I had a mirror I would have seen a huge smile on my face, I was home.If not now, then when? Krispykritter 2010 GaMe