morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2014-05-20
From: Pine Knob Shelter

To: Ensign Cowall Shelter
Miles today: 8.2
Weather: clear sky

Short day today; but I could tell from experience looking at the AWOL guide that there's trouble ahead. Whenever you have a longish stretch that piddle farts and there's no notations on it like road crossings or anything it means one thing - rocks. This easy stretch becomes an ankle twisting obstacle course. Well something new for Dad I guess! I was very right. I think this is all training for the infamous Rocksylvania. But we made it through and no one was hurt so it's all good. Dad did great too. As it was a short day we got to camp very early. I have noticed my legs are super jumpy these few days. The shorter days and shorter mileage I guess makes them wonder what's going on. My site was ok. Shelter was older but we decided to tent anyway. You normally sleep better. One awesome thing was someone had made three chairs out of rocks around a firepit. Can't believe I didn't take a pic! But overall it was a very leafy, humid, buggy site. Not my favorite. We had a lot of free time so played lots of cards and - yuck (!) - Dad found a tick on his leg. Couldn't have been there long but they just creep me out. I cover in tea tree oil and my clothes are treated with permethrin so hoping all will be good. Went to bed early but not without reading a little in my new book - Seven Years in Tibet. Think I'm going to love it. Bad nights sleep though. A raccoon just would not leave the premises. Time for ear plugs again!
Date: 2014-05-21
From: Ensign Cowall Shelter

To: Waynesboro Pennsylvania
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: overcast clouds

A whole state has gone by! Today we leave Maryland and enter Pennsylvania! We got up early so we could get to town early. Always so much to do. Showers, laundry, resupply, eating! Dad is still working on his morning decamp so I waited at his site and helped him get ready. We left pretty early - about 7:30 and headed north again. The forecast is rain so I suggested we get there as early as possible. Was a very dark and overcast, muggy morning but the hike was easy and got to cross a farm and field. My favorite parts. On the way we ran into Low Gear. I assumed he was slack packing south or something but nope! He left really early and was turned around and had hiked over four miles in the wrong direction! Turned around and off he went. There was a really big steep climb ahead but dad was prepared and he did great! Up top is Raven Rock shelter where we stopped for lunch. Met some section hikers then of all things in hiked Deep Blue and HIS dad. It's the week for hiking with dads I guess. Chatted a while then off to finish off this day. Only five miles to go and definitely the rockiest of this section. Big steps and slick slopes. Also had to cross a big creek where the footbridge had been washed out previously by last weeks storm but was back in place. Had a good section of picking across rocks though. After all that was a very easy hike into PenMar Park and the crossing of the Mason-Dixon Line. We have entered the north! Wow. My dad hiked across an entire state! We're currently in a B and B in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania about to get some good grub. Tomorrow, dad heads back to Harpers Ferry to get his rental car and do a little touring and I get back on the trail to head to my next destination - Megan and Steve's in Carlisle! I can't believe I'll have walked from Georgia to their house!
Date: 2014-05-25
From: Carlisle, PA

To: Carlisle, PA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

That was perfect. Absolutely perfect. A gorgeous day spent with wonderful people just relaxing. Woke up early. Was introduced to the cronut. Had Froot Loops and plenty of coffee. Resupplied my food. Went through my whole pack. Cleaned everything. Updated my journal. Then sat on the back porch in perfect weather watching four delightful kids run around in the sprinkler while we chatted and drank Blue Hawaiians. I mean really. Followed it up with a trip to the country to look at apple orchards and pick up the best buffalo wings ever, followed by sweet corn and a strawberry rhubarb dessert. Bliss. I'm stuffed, happy, well rested, and maybe a little bloated but ready to get back out there.
Date: 2014-05-26
From: Carlisle, PA

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

Good things can't last forever. Time to leave the happy home and start my march towards New York. Woke up to serious hiker hobble but nothing a couple bowls of Froot Loops won't cure. Everyone is up early so I got all ready and we all piled into the van for the quick trip down to Boiling Springs. After a round of pics they dropped me off. Said our sad goodbyes and off I walked. Up the street. Not very trail worthy but I'd be in there soon enough.What an easy day. Farms and fields. My favorite. Just a really nice day ending with an easy climb back up the mountain and shelter. Lots of hikers there and got to meet Top 'O, a fellow Austinite, as well as Banter, Twizzler, and G Walker. Early night. A little reading and bed time.
Date: 2014-05-27
From: Darlington Shelter

To: Peters Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 22.3
Weather: clear sky

I'm ready for these "rocks". Where are they? They're even called out specifically in the guide but I just don't get it. Pretty nice day with the best being I'm passing through Duncannon today- a sort of iconic trail town. Especially the Doyle Hotel. Not staying but I do plan on getting a bite. Things are much different up north. For weeks it's been basically camp food and heavy hiking with the occasional city break. Now it seems you're in town constantly which means food! Not sure what this is doing for my weight loss but I can't help it. I'm hungry! Made it into town just before 11 which is when the Doyle opens. Out front was Greasespot, Twizzler, and two guys I met recently - Ian and Dean. Two kind of burly guys with their dog. Funny when Ian's grandmother called the bar to check on him. Had a good burger, a beer, lots of fries then continued on. Seems everyone else is staying but that's way too short of a hike. Up next is a big river crossing. This is the Susquehanna and there's a long highway bridge to cross. Well not before I stopped for soft serve swirl. The bridge is no fun. Fellow Austinites, it's similar to running along the I35 bridge but about four times longer. What makes it interesting? About halfway across its attack time! Yikes. A peregrine falcon is nesting on the bridge and does not appreciate your presence. It starts with the calling and screeching and continues into relentless dive bombs. Why didn't I think to get out my camera?! It would fly by at incredible speed just inches over your head. Sometimes flying under the bridge and back up the other side. Crazy cool. Once I got to the other side it was a steep rocky humid and hot uphill back to the ridge. Passed Ian and Dean who were taking a heat break and made it to the next shelter (Clark's Ferry) to fill up on water. A hiker was there with cell service and showed there were a good few hours before the storms (again) would hit so I decided to hike fast and try to make it to the Peters shelter. Right after I leave the shelter is up a little more then hiking the ridge line. Just where you don't want to be when it's storming. I hiked for a bit and guess what....thunder. Gheez. Again?! Still had five miles to go so stopped to think and decided this time I'm turning around and heading back to the first shelter. Should be just twenty minutes so I think I can make it. But nope...in no time it gets very dark and windy. I start almost running and know I have to pass under a big open power line. Ack! There were lots of spots I could hide under rocks but just wanted back to the shelter. If I had just had five minutes more! It started pouring just before I got there. But there were Ian and Dean and Live n Learn. We all waited for the lightning and rain to end. At least an hour than started up again. Easy hike really and the Peters shelter was awesome! Tons of space and cover. Bear boxes. And the best part there was Handsome Dan, Goliath, and Deep Blue. A fun crew. Also got to meet Noodle and had a great night sleep.
Date: 2014-05-28
From: Peters Mountain Shelter

To: Rausch Gap Shelter
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Up early and out!   I take everything back about the rocks. They're everywhere. So many you can never get a footing or a pace. It is KiLLER on the soles of your feet and slows you way down. The three miles an hour you've been hiking is now cut in half. Eighteen miles takes for ever. Fortunately it was pretty mellow. No heavy rain. No big ups or downs. Just rocks. Of note though - it's kind of hard to explain but I have now fallen asleep while hiking twice! I know it's hard to believe. But I just get into this trance listening to music and staring at the trail and there it is. I don't close my eyes. Kind of like sleepwalking. I caught it both times after I make a funny step off trail and it takes a second to "come to". Decided I need to sleep more. So I got to the shelter which was very very cool. Built into the hill side. Headed down to the stream with Deep Blue and Goliath to take a dip. It was too shallow and cold but we waded in and took bandana baths. Played cards and learned a new game - Euchre. To bed late. So much for more sleeping.
Date: 2014-05-29
From: Rausch Gap Shelter

To: 501 Shelter
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: clear sky

It's crazy to me that it should be cool in May. Summer for me begins in late April and lasts through late September. Even October sometimes. It consists of shorts and tshirts, flips and pools. And nights in the 70s. All summer. No break. But last night I felt chilly so put on my puffy. This morning ... cold. What? How can this be? I know it's the mountains and I know it's the north but it's a few days from June for Pete's sake. It just does not compute. It was overcast and chilly all day. Never got out of the fifties. Pleasant enough hiking though. Saw an awesome stream crossing using a fallen tree. Then a cute bunny rabbit. But really today was just a hike. Walk walk walk. Great news though - now that I'm counting down the miles instead of adding them up I just passed the "less than 1000" miles point. About 100 to 120 miles a week means less than ten weeks left. We all had in our sights on the 501 shelter. One of the unique ones that isn't just three sided and mousey. This one is about twice the normal size, enclosed completely, has bunks and a table, a huge skylight and the best part - it's steps from the 501/Lancaster road so not only does it have a caretaker and potable water, but you can order a pizza and they deliver! Six hungry hikers naturally order six large pizzas. And wings. And soda. I ate five pieces and saved three for lunch. Then ate a sixth and had two for lunch. I love just not caring what I eat. Also we got some trail magic. Nice. Cheezit and Coconut were being slack packed and brought a cooler of beer. Wish it was a warmer night though. Went to bed wearing my long pants over my hiking shorts, my socks, and my puffy.
Date: 2014-05-31
From: Port Clinton, PA

To: Eckville Shelterish
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: light rain

I like Port Clinton. Tiny little town. Great little hotel/pub. Very northern. I slept like a rock! Very needed. But a big ugly task this morning. Resupply about a mile away along a busy road. I could take a trail but it goes out of the way and I hate to burn unnecessary calories! So I headed on down the road to the giant Walmart. Took about half an hour and a long uphill but here we are at the one store I refuse to go to at home but is resupply nirvana. Shortly after I walked in someone came up and asked if I was a thru hiker. He'd seen me on the road. Trail magic on the way! He said "I saw you on the road". Told me to get what I needed and he'd meet me out front to take me back. I love this world! Nice to get back quick. I'm so horrible with names. I'd like to publicly say thanks. A quick repack and I'm off! Not a tough day. The obligatory uphill out of town wasn't even much of anything. Now the infamous rocks have become ubiquitous here but I seem to have this way of tip toeing from rock to rock and don't seem that bad. I'd be wrong later but for now...easy. A busy day on the trail. Lots and lots of day hikers and a couple troops of Boy Scouts walkie talkieing back and forth. And nice that I got to hike on a wide graded road for several miles. Could get back to strolling. My favorite way to hike. Really hate to blue blaze for a shelter and wanted to shorten tomorrow a little so instead of the shelter I hiked on to a stream and camped. Sometimes being alone out there is kinda nice. Until of course you're putting up your tent and it tears! Which of course happened. Ugh. Another hiker mentioned you pretty much have to replace everything after a thru hike so I knew this would happen at some point. Annoying. But nothing a little tenacious tape won't cure. It was very very buggy here as I did a quick repair, got some water, and zipped up in the tent. Bed
Date: 2014-06-01
From: Eckville Shelterish

To: George W Outerbridge Shelter
Miles today: 23.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Rocks rocks rocks rocks rocks. Endless rocks. Large ones. Small ones. Pointy ones. Ones that shift. Slippery ones. Endless endless rocks. Okay Pennsylvania I got it. It's rocky. The rocks are beginning to be a problem. The main one is I have this strange sort of open sore on the ball of my foot. I just can't figure out a way to put a bandage on it and have it stick. In an hour it's already bunched up somewhere in my sock. Seems every step is pointy and on the spot. But then finally the rocks got me. You might remember the horrible muscle tear I got on my calf on day ONE? I couldn't walk on it until about mid day the next day and had to take two zeros at the hostel for it to heal. Then hiking was a drag. Well I stepped on a huge rock that was like a seesaw and went backwards and I pulled the OTHER calf. Stupid. I let out a groan and was down on all fours. The good news is that it wasn't nearly as bad as the first one but I was immediately limping. Crap! Of all days. Not only was I going for almost 24 today but it was just fields and fields of rocks. I Stood back up and surveyed the acres of rocks ahead. So I put my bag down, took a handful of Advil and wrapped my calf in the same dirty gross Ace bandage I used the first time around. That time I had to wear it for four weeks. Ugh. Whelp, what am I going to do? Gotta just keep moving. It was a long day. I had to find rocks that were angled the right way for that foot to step on to avoid the pain. Slow going. And I tweaked it at least ten times but figured it out. Unfortunately I had to pass over the "Knife-edge"   Great. This was a put your poles away and use your hands and feet to pick your way through. Of all days. Ultimately made it through to the shelter I knew would be empty - which it was. Until... right before dark a section hiker showed up. Very nice person but no concept of quiet. Constant grunting and panting and throwing his gear around. Annoying but it's only a two mile hike down and out tomorrow. Yay!
Date: 2014-06-02
From: George W Outerbridge Shelter

To: Leroy A Smith Shelter
Miles today: 16.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Alright so the little town down below is known for zinc production. But in a bad way. Since the 30's the manufacturing process has been dumping slag or something on the neighboring mountainside resulting in total deforestation. Now it's a superfund site. No better place to take a bunch of tree huggers than a superfund site. Even at nine am it was very humid and hot. Drippy sweaty yucky. And completely exposed on a rocky slope. More hand work. Oh! And odd that my calf feels great! Not perfect. Still have to be careful but so happy that it wasn't bad. Once you got to the top you at least got rewarded with amazing views. Deforested amazing views. You could see for miles. You also had to walk miles through tall grass which means one thing - ticks. Crud. So I put on my rain pants and sweated through a good hour of ticks. But hurray that when I took them off didn't notice any. Of course I'm a very freckled person so it's kind of hard to be sure. Rest of the day was no thrill. More rocks. I did though meet three hikers from Austin! What a small world to be able to talk about home so intimately. And crazy that one of them was someone I've heard of before - Bearfoot. So named because a bear bit his foot through his tent one time. Yikes! I'm in a little bit of a deadzone with fellow thru hikers. I know hikers ahead and many behind but I'm just in an odd cycle. I tend to walk faster than the section hikers so mainly hiking alone. There's a serious lack of water here too. And what there is, is way out of the way. Made it to the shelter and hiked the quarter mile to water. I knew I'd be alone for a while so time for a quick bandana bath but wait! What is that on my shoulder?! Noooo! Well I knew I'd get one at some point. Tick. Teeny tiny tick. Gone. Spot circled and noted. Then back at the shelter another one! Some people seem to be tick magnets. I've been pretty free of them. Still got weeks to go so I know there will be more. Got the permethrin on with deet and I eat garlic every day. Nothing like garlic stink with mildew stink and B.O. stink. Man I want a shower!The other Austinites showed up and mentioned ticks too. They decided to tent so I'm all alone tonite. Settled in to the shelter, but right at sundown here comes a few hikers. Very nice guys but it's their first ten days on the trail and well, not that I'm a Nazi, but they don't know much about shelter etiquette yet. Went to bed with food and trash every where. I just hope it draws the mice to them.
Date: 2014-06-03
From: Leroy A Smith Shelter

To: Delaware Water Gap
Miles today: 20.2
Weather: light rain

These rocks!!! Goal today is the border with New Jersey. About a twenty mile day but there are storms back in the forecast so I need to move fast. Would love to beat it. Woke up to that dirty shelter and tip toed around to get out of there. Didn't turn on my phone until the last minute and whoa - it gets light so early up north. It was only 5:56. In the AM! Well good for me. I needed the time. It looked nice and clear out but I've seen this before. Everything'll heat up and spark the showers this afternoon. I hiked unbelievably fast today. Just got this rhythm for once with the rocks and booked it. And then... they finally just stopped! What a relief. Still hiked like crazy and made the next shelter before lunch. Kept on but then I heard the first rumble. CRAP!!! So I turned around and went back to the shelter. Met a cool guy shooting some film for the Audobon Society but it seemed the storm was just skirting us so I packed it up and moved on. Did so well until I got to the beginning of the downhill into Delaware Water Gap. Rumbles now becoming roars. Longest downhill in existence. I could hear the cars below I was so close. Passed a couple of day hikers trying to get back quick too when it hit. Hard! Rain beyond rain. Drenching rain. Within minutes the trail was a pool. No choice but to just wade through. I was soaked! And more and more lightning. I was practically running and eventually made it to the long road out. For some reason I glanced to the left and there was a trail up to a cliff with overhanging rocks so I hiked up to find another guy hiding out. It poured! And banged everywhere! Waited about thirty minutes until I finally miserably worked my way into a really lovely, cute little town. Sopping wet from head to toe. But if there's one saving grace it's I get a hot shower in about thirty minutes. Checked into the Pocono Inn - a perfectly adequate place with a couple of awesome stores down the street. After I checked in I got cleaned up, did my laundry, put my shoes under those old timey heat lamps some hotels have and laid down. When I went to unpack my pack I found out it rained so hard it got under the cover and into the pack. Great. Something else to do. That can happen later though. I'm hungry. Walked down to a little Italian place and got chicken Parmesan with a salad and beer. And on the way back grabbed an ice cream. I'm exhausted and planning a short day tomorrow so I'm going to just call it a night and deal with the rest in the morning. Tomorrow is New Jersey!
Date: 2014-06-08
From: Wawayanda Shelter

To: Antons on the Lake
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: light rain

Today marks three months on the trail. And at my pace I've only got eight more weeks to go. Time is flying. Woke up late and decided, hey I'm just going ten miles into Greenwood Lake might as well finish the book. If you're looking for an easy read that is by current standards horribly dated then Andromeda Strain is it. Odd to think I read an entire book in all in all a few hours. Bigger milestone today - I'm saying so long to New Jersey and hello to New York. Jersey has been my favorite so far. Easy with challenging bits. Lots of variety. A huge amount of wildlife. Great easy access food. And I even ate my first found food - wild strawberries. Can't wait until the blueberries ripen. I'll gorge! Most people wouldn't suspect that I'm actually a native New Yorker. I can't really claim much more than birth as we moved away when I was a baby, but both parents have deep roots. My dad's dad was the all-American immigrant story coming through Ellis Island and my mom traces her history back to the mid 1700s in Albany, so by birth - through and through, but I've lived in Texas since I was five and rightly consider it home. When I was a kid I was really proud to say I was from New York. Or more so that I wasn't a native Texan. We'd drive up to see my grandparents and extended family every five years or so but since my last grandparent died around twenty years ago I haven't been back. Well I've been to NYC several times but never to just the state so today is a little like a homecoming. I've got to slow down anyway so why not spend some money at home? I've got two nights booked at Anton's in Greenwood Lake, a little resort community. Excited for a zero even though I have plenty coming up in a week. Also excited that for once the timing is right. Rain tonite and tomorrow so I'll be indoors and dry and warm. Sorry my fellow hiker peeps! The hike to Anton's is only ten miles but they're tough! A little rock climbing in the heat for about half if it. But, made record time and got to the trail head (and creamery!) by 12:30. There was Gandalf calling about a room at Anton's. His sister keeps telling him to slow down and he saw the weather too so it looks like I've got a buddy in town. Grabbed some ice cream and an orange soda and hopped in the shuttle that Gandalf already called for. Perfect! Got the quick city tour then checked in to what is going to be a hugely comfortable bed. Quick shower then you guessed it. It's time to eat! Gandalf and I went over to Murphy's Pub and I continued the quest to eat food I normally wouldn't. No grilled chicken for this guy! It was steamed clams followed by a pastrami Reuben and side salad. And two pints of Guinness. Then to the store to get a six pack. I picked the lemony summer shandy I had in Port Clinton. And a pint of Ben and Jerry's red velvet ice cream.Here I lay with an enormous stomach ache but home.