morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-05-16
From: Bake Oven Knob Shelter

To: Fine Lodging, Slatington PA
Miles today: 7.4

Wed, 5/161 pmWeather concerns: Will it rain? It looks like it. Therefore I've gotten off trail and retreated to Fine Lodging in. Slatington.   Frosty got here before me, actually got the last room, but is kindly letting me sleep on the floor in his room. There might be more rain tomorrow too, but I think I can deal with it better in the morning. Right now I'm extremely tired, even though I only did about six miles today. Yes, lots of sharp edged rocks today, but more likely I'm tired because I just didn't sleep well last night- more despairing; I just can't let it go! I let out a yelp today when I found a snake lying half ways across the trail. I had to agressively tap my trekking poles near his head before he got up the energy to hi-tail it away. That's when I saw just how big he was: an inch and a half in diameter and a good 5 feet long! No rattle on the end of his tail though, thank goodness. Later on Frosty told me he'd seen the same snake. 5 pmFrosty and I just enjoyed a beer and dinner at the bar across the street. We couldn't believe the prices: my two beers and pulled pork sandwich (with fries and coleslaw) was $8!! We then found the library and they let us use their internet service for over an hour.Catherine Dart wrote that her father just died. It reminded me how often I think of my own father as I walk along, especially when I'm listening to the birds chirping away. I'm sure it was Mom who organized all those bird watching trips we all went on, but its my Dad's enthusiasm for them that I remember so fondly.
Date: 2007-05-18
From: Leroy Smith Shelter

To: Delaware Water Gap
Miles today: 20.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Friday, 5/18Presbyterian Church HostelDelaware Water Gap7pmI showered and just crawled into my sleeping bag here on a leather couch in this sitting room of a hostel sponsored by this church. Man, oh man, my feet just ache and I can't even get up to cross the room for my glasses. I am SO worn out! My first twenty mile day - in sandals, and across the worse rocks Pennsylvania has to offer - but I finished the state! I'm in the DWG and just so relieved. I hadn't intended to finish PA today but am just giddy that I did! Frosty had left the shelter this morning early as he wanted to get here before the post office closed. I wonder if he made it. Dave and Josh, "Noodle Brains", also intended to get this far today and I don't see them around at the moment. I got started about 7:45. The first 12 miles were all those awful rocks. No let up. These mountains are basicly standing on end: silts and sands, washed into a long ago shallow sea formed layers, heat turned the sandstones to quartzites, plates collided and thrust the now layered quartzites straight up into the air, and weathering and eorsion have now worn it all unevenly away. The sharp edges of those layers (between 2 and 5 inches thick) stick up unevenly and that's what one walks on. Trying to avoid the sharpest edges and aiming for the "flattest" surfaces means that every step turns ones body this way or that, jolting the pack and bones throughout, straining leg muscles and tendons and bruising the bottom of one's feet. Meanwhile, concentrating on each and every step is mentally taxing as well.The last 8 miles were a mix of the above and some stretches of gravel or otherwise "walkable" surfaces.Oh good, Frosty is in with news that he got here in time for his food package pickup. And Dave and Josh are out having pizza and beer. He was surprised to see me!Well, I am staying put. No supper tonight, just rest.   I'm sleeping on this couch, now.
Date: 2007-05-19
From: Delaware Water Gap

To: Delaware Water Gap
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Sat. 5/19Church HostelDelaware Water GapFrosty was up and off this morning - no rest for his weary! He has an appt. with a cousin in NYC that he has to make and only has so many days to get through New Jersey's 100 miles to do so. He's been a good companion, not to mention the status of "hero" in my book. I probably won't see him again. Meanwhile, I had breakfast with Dave and Josh and have really been enjoying them. They are hanging around for Josh's dad to pick them up later, as their week's experiment in backpacking has come to an end. Dave is headed for a summer of lifeguarding at the Jersey shore; Josh to summer school. Both head back for junior years in colleges in the fall. I was amused by them. They figured it didn't make for a very interesting account to their friends to say, "Well, we had this great view..... and then, there was another great view... and then...." So they decided to spice the tail up a bit to suggest that though they'd started out the best of friends they weren't so sure they could reamin so. Dave would make up a tale accusing Josh (a geologist enthusiast) of packing in rock samples into the first aide kit - which was in Dave's bag and Dave would have to carry the darn extra weight! And Dave would tell how Josh kept eating all the gorp and not leaving any for him.... I really enjoyed these guys! We said fond goodbyes around 11 when Dad showed up (a professional gun smith! interesting) and I went down the block to the just opened outdoor supply store, run by a sweet young couple who grew up in the area and want to make their home and future here. Chuck is actually the son of the family operating the nearby bakery and garden center, a landmark feature of this small, picturesque little town. They had a pair of heavy duty Teva's, with arch supports and toe guards, and I bought them to replace my camp sandals. Wow, now I'm an official sandal hiker with tight fitting shoes. Yeah!Chuck gave me a lift into Strausburg for food supplies and he talked about the area a little. Its something of a gateway to the Pocono's and draws people from both N.Y.C. and Philly. It used to have a much larger arts establishment but still has a big jazz fesfival every summer. He gave a lot of credit to Pastor Karen at the Presbyterian Church (hosting the hostel) for bringing a more liberal leadership into the area. He's hoping that he and Rachel's new enterprise will help get the small business district on a better footing.Another's night rest and then New Jersey here I come! Originally I'd hoped to get just this far before having to leave the trail after 6 weeks, so I'm really tickled to be moving even further north than expected. And though I'm sure there will be plenty of rocks to come, none of them will be "Pennsylvania Rocks!" Three other thru hikers who started in Springer: Red Dog, Joe from Iowa, and Conquistador are at the hostel.   I have to accept that Jim makes no decision without a lot of thought - and that he wouldn't dismiss our relationship lightly.
Date: 2007-05-20
From: Delaware Water Gap

To: trailside near Camp Rd., Mohican Outdr. Cntr, NJ
Miles today: 10.3

Sunday, 5/206pmtrailside, overlooking Fairview Lake (before Mt. View Rd.), Kittatinny Mt.Wow, what a nice day. My new Teva strap down, toe protection sandals have been just great. I covered about l7 miles today - NJ! NJ! I keep feeling so happy to have gotten through with Pennsylvania. There were some familiar looking rocks - clearly related to their PA kinfolk on the other side of the Delaware River - but mixed in with those sharp edge swords were ones with smoother edges. And there were places where I didn't need to watch every livin' step! At four it started to rain, and with the next shelter still 7 miles away,   I decided to pull on over trailside and pitch my tent. Its 6 pm now and I'm all set up, had my dinner (my first "side" of brocolli, cheese and rice into which I cut in a sausage). I'm in a little meadow area, 1400 feet up above this lovely lake and a green New Jersey to the east. It was truly a lovely hike in the woods today. If I could just convince the little black gnats to leave me alone...I bear-bagged studiously this evening. They say there is one bear per square mile in N.J. (Were l7 of them hiding in the bushes as I walked by today?)"Juniper", a poet and recent college grad who started from Springer, started out with me from the DWG hostel this morning. She uses trail time to memorize peotry!
Date: 2007-05-21
From: trailside near Camp Rd., Mohican Outdr. Cntr, NJ

To: Gren Anderson Shelter
Miles today: 20.2
Weather: light rain

Monday, 5/21 pmGren Anderson shelter.Another backpacker is here. He started from Harpers Ferry 5 days before me so I've followed his entries, most of them entertaining, in shelter registers for some time so it pleased me to catch up with him and meet him.   Nearby in tent hammocks are John and Phil, mid 20 year olds who tell fun stories about trail experiences. Phil will leave his friend shortly and head for Katadhin.I passed at least 80 9th gradeboys (in groups of 10 - 12) today from St. Benedicts in Newark (private school). They are in the third day of their 5 day "Freshman Hike" and some had that glazed look in their eyes! What excited me most was that 90% of them are black! How I wish every young man could have an experience like that! Near the end of the day I was starting up a grade and I heard two older female voices. How nice it sounded! There just aren't many of us out on the trail. Marsha and Ellen were enjoying the day hiking. We were tickled to meet eachother and Marsha has invited me to call her when I get further north into N.Y. for her treat of a dinner, shower and soft bed for the night! More trail magic! I'll definitely do so of course!
Date: 2007-03-12
To: Springer 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

I am nearly prepared to begin my AT hike at Springer Mountain the week of March 21st. Friday was my last day substitute teaching in Key West. My Backpack is ready with everything that I need, except pot holder and duct tape. Last summer I hiked some of the PCT with Daybreak: N Calif, Oregon, and Washington.
Date: 2007-04-01
From: Franklin H'way 64 Winding Stairs

To: Fontana Dam
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I began my hike on Saturday March 24th at 4pm - up to the Springer summit and then doubling back AT northbound. Jim, my mom's brother, drove me there and he sent me hiking with best wishes and lots of support. He has some AT miles in his boots too; he's lived in N GA since who knows when.... I am in my summer stomping grounds, and I'm visiting some friends along the way. I want to stay in the woods more than in towns. I've spent lots of time around here most of my life, yet I had never spent a night on the AT until now! I have camped several nights in camping areas with other hikers, and I have camped one night on my own.    The trees are 'greening' in coppers, yellows, reds, and whites.... The baby leaves have grown each day, and the colors in the lower mountainsides are beginning to burst. As for the flowers near ground, we're seeing bloodroot, toadshade trillium - so very dark burgundy and green, tiny bluets, and more. The birds.... pileated woodpeckers, 2 wild turkeys, small gray pairs of ground feeders, those rust and black colored ones who also stay near the ground, as well as some songbirds high up.   The weather has been good beginning with a couple of too hot days, then cooling a tad, and only last night turned to hard rain.    On Saturday, I took a zero day at friend's near the Albert Mtn. tower and Coweeta Hydro labs. My zero day included hearing local mountain music (bluebirds, blue eyes), a Sunday morning at a rural Unity chapel (let peace begin with me), and naturally good food (Grapes and Beans in Clayton, GA). This morning, I met an '06 AT thru hiker, Karina Miel, who is helping me out by mailing some food boxes ahead for me. I hiked 9 miles this afternoon in drizzling rain, to meet another friend. He fed me well, and will drop me back at the trail opposite Winding Stairs tmrw morning.    The moon is filling, so maybe tmrw night will be clear and bright. I look forward to climbing some elevation over the next 2 days - Siler Bald, and Wayah Bald lay ahead. This spring is warm so far, so rain is only rain, but if it gets cold, it could be snow. I may be past Fontana Dam and through the Smoky Mtn. Nat'l Park before typing again. All is well with me, and my feet. I hope all is well with you too. Happy Spring.   Best to all, Blue Yonder
Date: 2007-04-02
To: Fontana Dam after cold spell
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

I am still getting to visit friends along the way. This makes my third 'home visit' during my hike. Looks like freezing temps prevail through the next 4 days.... I will hike the 14 miles to Fontana Dam in a couple days; forecast shows the nights to be cold. Fortunately, I have an 'indoor option', at Harleen, and Sharon's & Frank's house in Nantahala. (If I had no indoor option, I guess I'd hike 'til I got one.) Harleen and I were co-workers at Florida School for the Deaf and Blind for many years; she now loves living up here in the NC forest. On Tuesday night my sleeping bag got half soaked during a boom boom booming thunderstorm. The rain lasted from midnight until around 4:30 am. I pulled my legs up into the dry half of my bag, and added a trekking pole inside ye olde tent to support rain runoff (hopefully). I was afraid I would become cold, but it wasn't so bad. When it finally stopped, I got up in the dark, fixed hot oatmeal and coffee, and packed ev'rything. Here's what was DRY: all my clothes, paper items, food, gadgetry, and myself. My feet were damp, but I was fairly warm. What was WET: tent, silk bag liner, 1/2 the sleeping bag, socks and shoes. With all the dry things packed inside a huge, thick ziplock bag, and the wet things squished into bottom of backpack, I hi-tailed it up the trail. I left a note on the trail for Gandolf, and haven't see him again yet. Now, editing the journal and crossing time lines, I can say that I hiked again with Gandalf way far north in Connecticut. I hiked 10 miles to Stecoah Gap with hardly any break, and there, I lucked out in three great ways! One was, Big Trail Magic by Bare Bear and Jellybean: burgers, beans, three bean salad, and spaghetti... the Second was: the Sun and Wind were both enormous and my sleeping bag, etc. totally dried in about a half hour - wow! - I was pleasantly amazed about that. The Third luck was that Sharon and Frank came over and picked me up for an overnight at their place, Laughing Bear. Harleen's place too, however, she has gone to an Art Workshop this week, and may be back here on Saturday. We sat out on their porch, chatting, watching birds and noticing the cooling air. I believed I'd be back onto the trail by noon today - h o w e v e r, the forecast being what it is - f r e e z i n g at night, I've accepted their warm invitation to stay here for several days. It was 29 degrees here this morning. It's a Vacation Within a Hike. And I couldn't be in a better place. We'll need to go back to the grocery store. I can offer walnuts, but not dehydrated packets of potatoes, etc. Hope everyone is well and warm. Next, a bit about my daily hiking routine....
Date: 2007-04-08
From: Fontana Dam after cold spell

To: warmth
Miles today: 0.0

These flags appeared on a day when I had been particularly mindful of prayer. I was thankful that I had not become cold in my tent, nor while preparing my morning oatmeal and coffee. The sky had been clearing, and I thought I'd have a chance to dry my things out.... I had seen my 3rd small snake since beginning this hike; today's being a very thin, 18 inch snake, that crossed the trail in the sun, and almost ended up underfoot. The flags seemed to be an entry way to sunlight and rest. In fact they were within a mile or so of Stecoah Gap, where there was a large green grass area near the highway - all in the sun. This is where bunches of hikers gathered for trail magic meals & fabulous sun!
Date: 2007-04-08
From: warmth

To: back to the trail tmrw/Monday
Miles today: 0.0

This photo is from the Smokies, when we all stay in or next to shelters.I may be finishing up my 'tour of homes' soon, and back to the woods. Before I set out again, here's a bit about my daily 'routines': I get up fairly early, but I'm not the earliest by far. First I boil water for oatmeal and organic coffee; I add dry whole milk (conventional since I have only found fatfree organic, and I don't want fatfree) and organic sugar to my coffe. As I pack my backpack, I place several snack/lunch foods in reachable pockets, so I have some choices to eat during the first couple of hours walking. I look around again and appreciate the fact that, if I've forgotten something, it would be plainly visible - now, I am ready to set out on the day's hike. Hikers really do appreciate sit down toilets, sinks, stoves, sofas, showers, and beds - just as much as the outdoors, woodlands, and tents. We just learn to live without those things for days at a time. Each morning, I begin to look for one of the many hidden bathrooms. Basic knowledge is an important aspect of this hunt. If you seek info on this important topic, look for Kathleen Meyer's book of how to 'go' in the woods; where you go is important, that it not be near water, and that it not be moved by rain or wind or animals. One can easily carry camp trash in a no-need-to-touch way by pushing it down into an empty closable package. Too bad some folks still leave trash visible in the woods.I carry handi-wipes or wet-wipes to wash my hands anytime. I use these to wash my feet each evening as well. I also look for water during the first hour out: many water sources are available and listed in my handbook. Most of the time there's plenty of water on the AT. I stop for about ten minutes to get water each morning, and several more times a day. I get myself a liter from a stream or small waterfall - many are piped, even new looking one inch pvc, and many more are merely naturally flowing over rocks or logs. I treat my water with Aqua Mira and wait 20 minutes before drinking it - lots of folks use filters and get to drink the cold water immediately. I usually carry only a liter, but I can carry two or three. In the late afternoon I carry enough in case I camp where there is none. I'll have enough to cook dinner, wash up, for drinking, and for the morning. That's all for now!
Date: 2007-04-14
From: Standing Bear

To: to Hot Springs
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Here is my new tent, I love it! I got it in Erwin, TN - after the date of this journal entry.... time is relative, and this journal just crossed a time line. I stayed last night at Standing Bear Farm - glad I did; this is a sweet place. I camped at 3 shelters in the Smoky Mountain National Park; two nights were 32 degrees, the middle night was amazing high winds. Many other hikers have camped in 15 or 10 degrees, wow. We all walked over and around lots of ice and some snow (from Friday and Saturday, April 6th and 7th; like I said, I was indoors during those coldest days). Thankyou to everyone who has helped me out with a ride, room, meal, conversation... Trail Magic is always welcome, any time, any where.   I will hike a couple of days to get to Hot Springs. Today I hike over Max Patch - It's west of Asheville not far from I-40 and a place called Harmon Den. It's a huge, grassy, bald hill - I have been there in summer before; I remember birds in the grass and the few trees around. The AT goes through woods before and after the bald .... - by car you take a gravel road seemingly in the middle of nowhere. It is 20 miles on the AT from Max Patch to Hot Springs! It's chilly this morning, and tmrw maybe chilly-er at higher elevations. I'll motor on to keep warm. AND I'll keep my boots tied. take care
Date: 2007-04-26
From: Abby's place 10 a.m.

To: twelve more miles
Miles today: 18.0

Well, well.... hmmm.... let's see. After Standing Bear, I hiked toward Max Patch - the weather changed right there, and the following morning the temperature dropped! I met MoonPie (AT '04) and Giddyup (PCT '06): they did beautiful trail magic at Max Patch. IMAGINE THIS: chili and cornbread, Easter eggs, brownies, bananas, and PBR! Amazing! From Roaring Fork Shelter, I hiked rapidly down to Hot Springs before it began snowing. After spending 2 nights in Hot Springs, I headed out toward Big Bald, where I enjoyed hospitality at a friend's parent's house for 2 nights while it was again wet and cold. My new friends, Julia and Rich, live near the trail and have been placing cookies, eggs, and hot coffee out on the trail in the mornings. I continued my hike over Big Bald, and over a few days, on to Erwin, where I stopped in for several hours, rearranging my backpack, buying the new orange tent, & food resupply. The last 2 nights (Tues and Wed the 24th and 25th) I stayed amongst about 20 other hikers at Overmountain Shelter (barn with a gorgeous view), and next I tented near the very new, Mountaineer Shelter.    I am enjoying my hike very much, no pains to speak of, good company, and blessed solitude at times.... I am glad to be here. Hiking has given my mind time and space to pondering, and wandering. While I hiked during thunder, I starting thinking about friends and family who are no longer living. All sweet thoughts, that those are people who would support what I'm doing.    I am hoping to go hike 12 more miles today from Abby's Place hostel - this place is great, I couldn't reach it yesterday in time for dinner and staying over, so I came in this morning for a pit stop. I showered and did laundry, and bought a few resupply items. Ron is a nice guy, and he runs this place along with Scott, who isn't here this morning. They have just been here since August. The place is a short .3 miles on a blue blaze trail. very sweet... I hope all is well with everyone. I'll be back to this journal by first week in May.
Date: 2007-05-07
From: Damascus

To: toward Atkins
Miles today: 17.5

An Invitation by Robert Frost The Pasture I'm going out to clean the pasture spring; I'll only stop to rake the leaves (And wait to watch the water clear, I may): I sha'n't be gone long. - You come too. I'm going out to fetch the little calf That's standing by the mother. It's so young It totters when she licks it with her tongue. I sha'n't be gone long. - You come too. I arrived in Damascus on Sunday, April 29th. The hike is full of challenges, comforts, views, fellow backpackers, and good fellow human beings on and off the trail. One day at noon, five of us got a ride in to Brooke's Kitchen (highway 19E near Elk Park); we had lunch, and shakes, and a beer stop. Got a ride back to the AT from one of the fellas from the Beer Wash (that's it, car wash on the other side? I forgot to ask)... I met a farmer in the early evening, who had finished putting his potatoes in. His brown, rowed field looks great. He offered me an icy coke and we talked a bit about hiking, timbering trees for wood, and potatoes. The day before I hiked into Damascus, I became indecisive about hiking further, or staying at Double Spring Shelter. No one else was there. It was about 4:30pm, I cooked dinner (mashed potatoes & quinoa, with somewhat fresh green beans and red pepper), had a cup of hot chocolate, set out my sleeping stuff - then, I became decisive - I re-packed my gear and started hiking again. I immediately felt liberated and energized and I hiked 3 1/2 miles to a super tent site, and set up before sunset as the moon rose.
Date: 2007-05-08
From: toward Atkins

To: same day
Miles today: 459.0

Here's a photo from a couple of weeks back: a bunch of stinky hikers gathered atop the Humps after Overmountain Shelter) Now I'm in Damascus. Guess who is here!? My backpacking guru, Daybreak. She's joining me to hike through her home state of Virginia. In the next four weeks, we'll be headed to Waynesboro and Harper's Ferry (will be mile 1009). Anyone who 'needs' hotels ('Spa Girl') could join us for this section, because as the AT parallels the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive there are several lodges, hotels, hostels and campsites to choose from. Showers, TVs, cold drinks, and restaurants! We are roughing it, but it's not always rough - we all like the amenities, and they will not be lacking in the month of May! Again, Happy Spring! Enjoy the season any way you can. In fact, Do Something Every Day that Makes You Feel Good.....