morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-05-12
From: Rod Hollow Shelter

To: Blackburn AT Center Hostel
Miles today: 17.8
Weather: moderate rain

If I had known what was to come today, I would have said you were joking. It was a day to remember, and not in a good way.It was raining all night, and it was a pretty heavy rain. It was still raining when I woke up, so I took my time packing up. I was on trail with Cookie at 7:15AM.The .2 mile shelter trail was a river. Between that and a deep stream crossing my boots and socks were completely soaked. And I had not walked single foot on the AT. This was shaping up to be a great day.About half a mile into my day there was a sign warning me I was about to enter "the roller coaster". Apparently this section of trail is maintained by "the trail boss and his merry crew of trail maintainers". This section was anything but merry.What made it difficult was the combination of an over abundance of rocks and rain. Going up and down slippery rocks for 13.5 miles made me one miserable hiker. There were no views either, just you and the trees and the rocks.Due to all the rain, there were plenty of streams, rivers, and rapids along the trail. There were plenty of times where I had no choice but to walk right though and proceed to soak my boots even more. There was one crossing where the water was up to my knees and I was holding onto a log so the fast moving current would not wash me down stream.The roller coaster just never seemed to end. It just kept going up and down, up and down.However, there was one bit of good news today. I crossed into West Virginia. This brought to a close the 535 mile march through Virginia. WV welcomed me with rocks and more rocks. WV only has 17 miles though, so I will be crossing into Maryland very soon.I rolled into the Blackburn AT center around 3:30PM. There is a hostel here run by donations, and this is where I shall sleep tonight. I was going to try to make it to the next shelter, but I was exhausted when I hit the trail junctions, so I called it a day early.The hostel is heated my a wood stove, which is good for drying things out. Everything seems to be soaked, but I have hopes that it will dry by morning.At 6:30PM I walked over to the AT center for dinner, which consisted of burritos, and brownies with whipped cream and ice cream. The AT center caretakers are Tina and Eric, both of whom went SOBO in 2007.Tomorrow I shall march to Harper's Ferry(HF), and on the way I will cross the 1,000 mile mark. Harper's has a lot of civil war history, so it will be interesting to wander around a bit.The Appalachian Trail Conservatory(ATC) has their headquarters in HF, I think I shall pay them a visit.Until then, good night, and good luck.Kirby
Date: 2008-05-13
From: Blackburn AT Center Hostel

To: Harper's Ferry, WV/The Town's Inn
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: clear sky

I have now walked over 1,000 miles. Harper's Ferry is no longer a distant goal, it was my destination for today. I suppose I can call myself a "mountain man" at this point.I was on trail at 6:40AM this morning. 1.1 miles into my hike I crossed over the 1,000 miles walked mark, I did a little dance and walked on.WV has plenty of rocks on display along the trail for your enjoyment.After rocks, rocks, and some more rocks I crossed the Shenendoah River, which is the gateway to Harper's Ferry.I took the side trail to the ATC and arrived there around 11:00AM. I had my photo taken and learned I was thru hiker number 68.After my visit to the ATC I had a conversation with my Dad, after which I checked into the hiker hostel at the Town's Inn.After spreading out and taking a shower I prepared to take the local bus to Charles Town, WV where I would resupply.In Charles Town, Cookie and I hit the (gasp) Super Wal-Mart for resupply and the Chinese place for dinner.We then took the bus back to Harper's Ferry, where I shall sleep tonight.1,000 miles is a long way to walk. I'm not sure what to think about this landmark. I just know it's a long way to walk.Tomorrow I shall complete some more town chores and then leave in the afternoon for the first shelter out of town.I'm tired and sore.Good night, and good luck.Kirby
Date: 2008-05-14
From: Harper's Ferry, WV/The Town's Inn

To: Ed Garvey Shelter
Miles today: 6.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Evertime I am in town, I'm determined to sleep in, and every time my body wakes me up at 6:00AM. That's exactly what happened today.I did not feel the need to rush this morning, considering I had town chores to complete and I was only going to walk 6.4 miles.After breakfast at the Country Cafe courtesy of Walkabout(AT '03), I went back to the Inn to consolidate my food to be put in my pack.I then meandered my way to the library to complete some computer chores, but I decided to update my journal at a later time.It was then time to return to the Inn to pack up and hit trail. My pack weighed approximately 4.4 tons, a tad bit heavier than usual.After drinking a cup of coffee with Cookie courtesy of the Inn we hit trail.I was on trail around 1:00PM. The first part of the trail followed the famous C&O Canal Path.However, this walk in wonderland ended quickly, and the trail proceeded to switchback and forth up 600 feet to the ridge where the Ed Garvey Shelter sits, which is also my home for tonight.Tomorrow I shall walk 24 miles to the Free State Hiker Hostel, where the Appalachian Pages is putting me up for the night.I'm tired.Good night, and good luck.KirbyAddendum:It's currently 8:20PM, and I'm having a hard time sleeping. I'm not really sure why, it's just one of those nights, I'm not really sure why I'm writing this addendum, I just through it might keep me occupied for a bit, which it has. "Mission Accomplished".
Date: 2008-05-15
From: Ed Garvey Shelter

To: Maryland Route 17/Free State Hiker Hostel
Miles today: 24.6

I had the most difficult time falling asleep last night. It seems my afternoon coffee was keeping me wired up into the night. I was not the only one either two sections hikers by the names of "Breezer" and Emily were wide awake as well. I ended up talking with Emily for a bit. I finally decided to go for a walk to kill off my remaining energy. There was something about this walk that I thoroughly enjoyed.I ended up finally falling asleep at 10:30PM, and I was still up at 5:45AM. I hit trail at 6:30AM with the realization that I had a long day ahead of me.The trail today featured rocks, with the event sponsored by more rocks. It was absolutely painful and my ankles are becoming quite agitated because of it.I have quickly learned that Maryland has little to no views along the trail, and the views that are there are due to open fields created by powerlines.The Dahlgren Camping area in Maryland has free hot showers for those of you who would want one, I walked on because I knew I would get a shower at the hostel.Roughly 13 miles into my day I came to the original monument to President George Washington. There are stairs going to the top of the monument where there's a nice view. I deemed myself worthy of a lunch break.Afterwards I began the final 11 miles push to the hostel.This was a rocky push, so I was practically brought to a halt in an attempt to navigate the boulder field the trail was going directly through.I arrived at the hostel around 4:25PM at the end of a long and fatigued day. I immediately settled in, took a shower, and prepared to do some laundry.I then began the long process of updating my journal. This thing takes a lot of work to update and maintain.Tomorrow I shall meet Cookie at a shelter north of here.This hostel is quite nice. The beds are comfortable and the owners are great people.Well, time to sleep, man do I need it after the lack of sleep I got last night.Tough life.Good night, and good luck.Kirby
Date: 2008-05-16
From: Maryland Route 17/Free State Hiker Hostel

To: Tumbling Run Shelters
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: fog

This morning my body decided to wake up later than normal. Wake up call was 6:21AM as opposed to 5:45-6:00AM. It was actually kind of nice.I meandered along this morning thinking I was only going 15 miles. I ate breakfast while checking my email. I then began packing my bag and preparing to walk in the rain.I was on trail around 8:15AM. The trail was wet and rocky, which made things slow going for most of the day.When I hit Ensign Cowall Shelter, .2 mile into my day, I learned that Cookie had slept there last night. This is when I knew my day was going to be longer than planned. I was not pleased.I spent today thinking about a lot of different things. You would be amazed at what you think about out here.I eventually stumbled upon Pen-Mar County Park, which is .2 south of the MD/PA line, which is the historic Mason-Dixon Line. At this park I bumped into Emily once more. She left trail yesterday due to injury. She was killing time at the park waiting for Zack to come along.I chatted with here for a bit then continued walking north.It's nice having section hikers around, they come across as actual human beings.Crossing the Mason-Dixon Line was a victory for me. I'm now where I belong, which is in the north.I rolled into Deer Lick Shelters around 2:20PM. This is where I once again bumped into Mother Nature and Smokestack. You may recall that they treated me to dinner when I was in Hiawassee, Georgia. They are now out for a section hike from Harper's Ferry to Katahdin. After catching up on things I learned that Cookie decided to push on 3.6 more miles, so northward I marched.I rolled into the Tumbling Rn Shelters around 3:45PM. Shortly after setting up headquarters Mother Nature and Smokestack rolled in.I spent most of the evening chatting with them and Cookie.Tonight there is a large group of Boy Scouts camped out. This group is fairly quiet and the leaders seem to have good control of them.I shall now prepare to sleep, which will allow me to continue northward tomorrow.Good night, and good luck.KirbyA random woman stands up in the audience and says to Winston Churchill: "Sir, if you were my husband I'd put poison in your coffee."Churchill replies: "Mam, if I were your husband, I'd drink it."
Date: 2008-05-17
From: Tumbling Run Shelters

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

I awoke in a state that me feel abandoned and alone. It was as if I was the only human left on the planet. It was silent enough that I could individual leaves hit the ground after breaking ties with their tree. It was as if the world had frozen for me to have this moment.After saying a final goodbye to Mother Nature and Smokestack, I started northward towards Maine. It was 6:45AM.I started the day with an 800 foot climb to the top of Chimney Rocks. This summit ridge had no views and plenty of rocks to twist your ankles on. The trail would traverse the ridge, then leave the ridge and skirt the side of the ridge, then it would return to the ridge. It did this several times, it was as if the trail maintainers could not decided whether to traverse the ridge or not, so they did a little bit of both.The trail then began a tumbling descent towards US route 30. At this road crossing Cookie and I walked .4 mile off the trail to hit an Italian place for pizza. The pizza was quite good and I ended up packing out quite a bit. It shall be my dinner for the next couple of nights.I also bumped into Lucky here. He's doing a flip flop, he started in Bland, Virginia.I was back on trail at 12:20PM after a two hour break. The trail proceeds to go through Caledonia State Park. It then marches you up 1,000 feet to a place with no view.I spent the climb hiking and talking with Lucky. He's a retired Department of Defense technician/engineer from Indiana. His job was to test missiles to ensure all parts were functioning properly. I was naturally interested in his line of work so I picked his brain about it as we walked to the shelter.Once the bulk of the climbing was over it was fairly easy hiking. I rolled into Birch Run Shelter just before 5:00PM, and this shall be my home for the night.Tomorrow I will be crossing the half way point. In Pine Grove Furnace State Park, 9.9 miles into my day tomorrow, there is something called the "half gallon challenge". This is where you try to consume a half gallon of ice cream in one sitting. Tomorrow it shall be my turn.Tomorrow I shall continue walking home.Good night, and good luck.Kirby
Date: 2008-05-18
From: Birch Run Shelter

To: James Fry(Tagg Runn) Shelter
Miles today: 17.1
Weather: light rain

Today was one of those days where I got a little bit of everything. I am starting to wonder if I will ever have a full day of sunshine again.I was on trail around 6:35AM this morning. The trail leading to Pine Grove Furnace State Park was fairly easy. There were a couple of spots that were a tad bit rocky, but those usually did not last long. The rest of the trail was fairly level and smooth terrain.I rolled into Pine Grove Furnace around 10:30AM. By this point I had already crossed the half-way point, however there was no marker because the half-way point changes every year due to relocations.In PFG I attempted and completed the "half gallon challenge". It took me around 15 minutes to consume a half gallon of strawberry-chocolate-vanilla ice cream. Of course it was raining and cold when I walked into the general store, so I had to enjoy the ice cream indoors. When I finished the ice cream I received a small spoon that said "member of half gallon club".Just north of the park I stumbled upon a sign that denotes what was at one time the half way point. While this is no longer the official half-way point, it's a good spot to celebrate. I have now walked 2.5 million of the 5 million steps needed to get me to Maine.For the rest of the hiking day it was raining. The grade was not all that difficult but the rocks were slick and there was plenty of mud.I rolled into the shelter at 1:50PM, and my body told me I was done. My body needs some rest, so this "shorter" day will do me some good.To think I have walked half of the Appalachian Trail. It's hard to believe I'm halfway home. From here on out I have a shorter distance to walk that I've already walked. Katahdin is no longer a distant monolith, but a goal that I become closer and closer to by the day.Woah. I'm halfway there. Woah. I'm living on a prayer.I'll make it.I swear.I shall now prepare to fight will all of mt heart, all of my soul, and all of my might.And that's the way it was.Kirby"Sir, every thinking man in this country will vote for you", says a man to Winston Churchill.Churchill replies: "That's not enough, I need a majority."
Date: 2008-05-19
From: James Fry(Tagg Runn) Shelter

To: Darlington Shelter
Miles today: 26.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Before you balk at the somewhat significant distance I walked today, listen to my reasoning. By walking a marathon today, I have only 11.5 miles to walk into town tomorrow. If there was ever terrain that favored a hiking marathon, today was it.However, there were a whole lot of rocks between the shelter and just south of Boiling Springs, PA. There were times when the trail was weaving around, between, and over house size boulders. There was one point where as the trail was going between these boulders you come across an arrow pointing in the NOBO direction and written above it was "ME" for Maine. It kept me humored for a while.Roughly two miles south of Boiling Springs you enter Cumberland Valley. This is a 13-14 mile stretch where the trail takes you through the farmlands of Pennsylvania.The trail goes right through Boiling Springs, although there's not much there. The ATC has a mid-Atlantic regional office here. I hit the post office while in town, they were kind enough to give me my package even though I did not have my ID. I am pleased that I now have nine inch stakes.The walk through the valley was flat and muddy. It was a nice change of place weaving in and out of farm fields. Did I mention it was muddy? It was almost like ice skating, except over mud and without ice skate. There were other times when I sloshed through one-foot deep mud water.I had to complete a one mile death march to reach my home for tonight. I took off my socks to discover, for the umpteenth time, pruned feet. That's starting to become old, I can't remember the last time I ended my day without pruned feet.Tomorrow I shall march to Duncannon, where I shall stay at The Doyle Hotel, courtesy of the Appalachian Pages. This is another town the trail goes right through, so no hitch will be required.Obama '08. Be a part of something great. it's time for the Democratic party to unite for the fall.No more politics.Good night, and good luck.Kirby
Date: 2008-05-20
From: Darlington Shelter

To: Duncannon, PA/The Doyle Hotel
Miles today: 11.4
Weather: moderate rain

Elevation wise, today was easy. Rocks wise, it was nothing but pure misery.Some section hikers decided to wake up and create a whole lot of noise at 5:00AM, so I was forced to wake up then as well. This lead me to be on trail at 6:00AM, my earliest start yet.The descent into the valley was a rock one, of course. The valley was flat and muddy. The farm fields looked simplistic against the stormy sky.The climb up the next ridge was steep and rocky, and of course viewless due to the cloud I was walking in.The ridge this climb lead me up to was fairly level, but it was extremely rocky, this made for slow hiking.It seemed like with each step I took my ankle twisted in some direction. It was a wonderful experience.After the rocky descent off the ridge, I rolled into Duncannon around 10:30AM. Since the Doyle does not open until 11:00AM, I joined Cookie for some breakfast at "Goodies".We then crossed the street to the Doyle, where we checked in for the night.After a shower and doing laundry, I started the process of checking my email and updating my journal.After lunch, it was 4:00PM, which meant it was time to resupply. The local market does a free shuttle once a day for hikers, which is quite convienent.After resupply Cookie and I went to a local pizza place for dinner.I have just completed consolidating my food, and it's around 9:30PM. Tomorrow I shall walk 11 miles.Cookie and I determined a zero will be in order in Port Clinton, our next town stop. My body needs it.Well, I need to sleep, it's that time of the night.Good night, and good luck.Kirby
Date: 2008-05-21
From: Duncannon, PA/The Doyle Hotel

To: Duncannon, PA/The Doyle Hotel
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

This happened against my will. I was ready last night to hike out, but my body threw a curve ball at me: Food Poisoning. I was forced to do nothing all day in hopes of recovering.I spent most of today lying in bed. Cookie bought me a bottle of gingerale before hitting trail. He said he will take it easy and wait for me to catch up, a process that begins tomorrow, I hope.My plan is to be in Port Clinton Monday, and I shall zero Tuesday. Emily is meeting me there Tuesday for the day. I shall hit trail again Wednesday morning. Cookie wants and a zero, so hopefully we roll into town together.Not much else happened today, I did buy some soup for dinner though.I spent a whole lot of time napping today, my body would not let me do much else.Well, nothing else to say about today.And that's the way it was.Kirby
Date: 2008-05-22
From: Duncannon, PA/The Doyle Hotel

To: Stealth Camp South of Stony Mountain
Miles today: 20.8

It felt nice to be walking again today, I was physically and mentally prepared for it. How far I was going to walk, however, was a complete mystery to me.I was up at 5:20AM this morning and was on traol at 6:45AM ater eating breakfast with Timetraveller at Goodie's.The climb out of Duncannon is a tad bit hyped up in my opinion. It was steep at times, but it didn't take that long to complete.When I rolled into Clark's Ferry Shelter I checked the register and learned that Cookie stayed there last night, which is what he told me he was going to do before he left town.The walk along the ridge was rocky at times, pretty much the same old routine. I spent most of it walking with Lucky, whom I bumped into once more today.When I stopped by Peter's Mountain Shelter for lunch, I found a note for me from Cookie stating he intended to stealth camp somewhere between there and Rausch Gap Shelter. After lunch, Lucky and I continued our march north.I was planning on stealth camping in Clark's Valley, where there's some nice tenting spots, but I was being eaten alive by bugs. I decided to try and make it to the top of the ridge, and Lucky decided to go with me.The climb up from the valley is a pretty easy grade, which was nice considering it was the end of the day.Tonight, Lucky and I are stealth camped, we believe, just south of the summit of Stony Mountain. My milage for today is based on the milage from Duncannon to Stony Mountain.Tomorrow round two of my game of cat and mouse with Cookie shall commence. I'm thinking I'll go for just over 25 miles, which almost guarantees me that I'll catch Cookie. From what I heard VIA the trail grapevine, Cookie is going to take it easy until I catch him.It's very easy to catch someone within a day of on trail, especially when it's a coordinated effort.Well, I think I shall read.Good night, and good luck.Kirby
Date: 2008-05-23
From: Stealth Camp South of Stony Mountain

To: 501 Shelter
Miles today: 25.4
Weather: overcast clouds

I am currently sore from head to toe. I wonder why I feel this way. Ohh yeah! I walked a very long way today.I was up at 5:15AM, and after breakfast and breaking camp I was on trail at 6:15AM. It always takes longer to hit trail when I have to break down my tent in the morning.The trail from Stony Mountain to Rausch Gap Shelter was fairly level, although there were spots that were rocky beyond comprehension. Just before the shelter junction, the trail dips down on the approach to the gap.Just north of the shelter junction is a very confusing detour. The blazes were difficult to spot, and the trail was hard to decipher amidsts the rocks and the thick forest that have become trademarks of the Pennsylvania AT.It seems that a lot of the area I have been walking through recently was once a thriving mining community, and it's evident with the delapidated stone structures the trail meanders by.The climb out of Rausch Gap was fairly gradual, but rocky of course. What would a climb in PA be without rocks?The trail then descends into Swatara Gap. I decided to eat lunch just south of here.The gap has a rustic iron bridge that takes you over Swatara Creek.The climb out of Swatara Gap was very in-your-face. There was one false summit, but eventually lead to a ridge that the trail would ultimately traverse.On this ridge I was inforced by a section hiker that Cookie was at Rausch Gap Shelter last night, and that he intended to go to 501 Shelter tonight. I was determined to catch him today, so onward I went.A vast majority of the trail on this ridge is easy walking. However, about 1.5 miles tough of 501 the trail becomes quite rocky.Eventually I stumbled upon 501 Shelter, which is a fully enclosed structure with Wooden Bunks.Tomorrow I shall march to Port Clinton, PA. I shall take a zero Sunday because my body needs it and Emily is meeting in town.Exaustation and fatigue are setting in.And that's the way it was.Kirby