morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2004-06-08
From: Duncannon

To: Clarks Ferry Shelter
Miles today: 4.6
Weather: clear sky

Short mileage, but boy what a great day! Spent the morning in the Hotel Doyle organizing all that food I bought yesterday evening. As expected, I bought too much and contributed about 1/4 of it to the "Hiker Box" (a box put out by hiker friendly establishments, where one can put stuff in they don't need or want, and/or you can take stuff you want or need -- sometimes food, toiletries, you name it). Took another shower, loaded up my pack, said my goodbyes to the folks at the Doyle (you check out at the bar), and headed to the Post Office to make some journal entries back home (thanks Graceann!). Now the best part of the day is to begin. You see I'm meeting the parents of the COO of the company I work for. Turns out he is from Duncannon and his parents still live there. I'm supposed to be at their house that sits right on the A.T. at 11:30. Feeling a tad nervous, I come out of the Post Office and there's a gentleman sitting there. I'm putting my pack together and he says, "Are you John?", "Yes sir", I said. "Are you Mr. Evans?" He greets me with a handshake and we head to his house and my nervousness has evaporated. At the house I meet his wife and we all chat awhile and the time just flies by. Then there's some discussion about hot dogs and hamburgers and before you know it, we are chowing down. I mean fresh lettuce, tomatoes, onions, relish, mayo, everything. Everything you could want for dogs and burgers, macaroni salad, Holy Moly, I'm gonna pop! Their next door neighbor, Jim, had also joined us (he's restoring the house next door for he and his wife to move into). We talk politics, weather, food, farming, you name it. Turns out that Jim has stopped on his way to Duncannon and bought some strawberries. Mrs. Evans had made homeade shortbread and Oh Boy, Strawberry Shortcake (I think I'm gaining weight on this hike!). Well, we talked some more and I realized it was almost 6:00 p.m.! Now you know why the short miles. With their agreement to a favor I asked, I unloaded most of my food from my pack as they said they could bring it up to a crossover point where we could meet in the morning.So with a sad heart I said my goodbyes as it was a wonderful time meeting these kind and generous folks. I made myself head back onto the trail as I wanted to get there before dark. With my pack as light as it was, I was "like the wind" and made it up the mountain and over the boulders with time to spare.
Date: 2004-06-09
From: Clarks Ferry Shelter

To: PA 325
Miles today: 12.5

Up and out as I wanted to be early at the rendezvous point with the Evan's. About 4 miles hiking for me, my goal was to be there by 10:00 a.m.(we agreed to 10:30)so they wouldn't be waiting on me. Out of camp by 8:00 a.m. and with my light pack, up the trail I went. Two hours later I'm there and.... so are they! Seems they had the same idea I did (they didn't want me waiting on them). Mrs. Evans gets out of their van waving an ice cold Coke and a honey bun. Loving life! We sit and all talk for awhile. I caught a cicada for them to look at (not as many up here as there are down my way). Later, Mr. Evans picked one up and acted like he was going to eat it. I told him that when I got home I'd ask their son if he would send them a few bucks so they could eat like regular folks. Ha Ha. So the time had come to say our goodbyes ,(it's amazing the bond you can esablish with such nice people in a few short hours)which was kinda hard to do... Throw on my MUCH HEAVIER pack with the 6 days of food and off we went. I hope they know how much I enjoyed meeting them and all they did for me.Today was very hot. On top of that, I misread the map (I think) and missed a water supply, so todays last 5 miles were sans water. Must have had 3 Tootsie Roll Pops to quench my thirst. And now after seeing that rattler the other day, I'm seeing damn snakes everywhere! Three of 'em today. On 2 occasions black snakes, very big, but I've learned that if you back away they will mosey away. The 3rd one however, I'm not sure what he was. He was black, but not like a black snake. I backed off, but he put himself in the coiled position. Hmmm...what now? Stood there for about 20 minutes waiting each other out. Nothing. Going to my right would put me in an area where there might be more, but it had to be risked cause that snake had all day. I'm at a campsite next to a spring with enough mosquito repellent on to be considered hazardous waste. Enough with the snakes and bugs...
Date: 2004-06-10
From: PA 325

To: Rausch Gap Shelter
Miles today: 13.4
Weather: light rain

Well they didn't go anywhere. The mosquitos welcomes me to a new morning and escorted me the whole day. I don't know if I'm dizzy from the bug spray or from slapping myself. I used to think toilet paper was the most important pack commodity, but spray is shooting up quickly to the top and I'm gonna run out at this pace! Although the ups and downs were mild today, the small rocks you carefully had to walk thru were another matter. But everytime you sit to rest you get swarmed.The trak stayed along the mountain top today, and completely in the woods. Surrounded by the trees and hearing nothing but the birds, I felt like the only one in the world. Not often does this happen, you always hear a plane, train, or something off in the distance. And so as not to disappoint, one of the guys at the shelter tonite showed some beautiful pictures of a RATTLESNAKE he took a few miles back. Ahh snakes!
Date: 2004-06-11
From: Rausch Gap Shelter

To: William Penn Shelter
Miles today: 13.3
Weather: moderate rain

My first night staying in a shelter -- simply because I am completely soaked. As I was in my tent last night, it started raining and didn't stop. I was nice and dry and comfy, but at about 10:30 a.m., I realized it just wasn't gonna stop. So out of the tent, pack up, and on the trail by 11:30 am,(a really late start). The first 3 miles were sweet and I managed to stay relatively dry. Then I had to walk thru this field of waist-high grass and as I walked, the grass hit my legs and the water ended up in my shoes. So, in a matter of minutes all dryness was gone. Then I had to cross a stream that had overflowed the rocks that are typically used to cross with. Fortunately I found a tree trunk which I tight rope walked and managed to get across without getting wet. Another hiker at the shelter tonight said they crossed via the rocks but first threw his shoes to the other side. The shoes didn't make it and he had to run down the creek bank to recover them! The only dry spot of the day is under a busy and noisy highway underpass. Can't sit too long however since, unlike yesterday where you got swarmed by mosquitos, today you start getting chilled because everything is wet. Not a good thing.Well hopefully the sun will come out tomorrow, tomorrow, I love ya.....
Date: 2004-06-12
From: William Penn Shelter

To: Hertlein Campsite
Miles today: 9.7
Weather: few clouds

Ahhh, nice warm way. Got out of the shelter about 9:00 am after oatmeal and a protein drink. At the next shelter, which is 4 miles from the one I stayed at last nite, there was a solar shower which incented me to go a little faster than I usually do. Didn't know it, but there are a few shelters that have "paid" attendants. This one is basically a small 20' x 30' bunkhouse with the caretakers house beside it. As I understand, the ATC does this when shelters are this close to the road, otherwise they would be vandalized. The pay is minimal and the attendants are generally retired folks. If you have a call phone you can get pizza delivered (I didn't). Well the shower wasn't solaring, so a "refreshing" shower was had. On with the hike which mostly involved nemesis and boulder hopping. Jumping from rock to rock is a slooooow painful (feet) process, especially with 30 lbs. on your back. Limped into camp, set up my still wet tent, and went over and socialized with the troop of Boy Scouts at the site. Nice folks, but I'm dead tired, so I said my goodnites after eating my tuna and ramen noodles and called it a day.
Date: 2004-06-13
From: Hertlein Campsite

To: Port Clinton
Miles today: 18.1
Weather: light rain

I think this was probably my longest mileage day ever? The first 10 miles were not bad and I ended up at my "night stop" about 1:00 p.m. Ate lunch and debated with myself as to whether to go on. It had been cool and looking like rain all day. I don't want to go thru another day like the one I recently did, but I didn't want to sit around the shelter. So on I go, deciding that with full water, I could stop anywhere in the next 8 miles. Even in spite of the ominous weather, I'm surprised at the number of day hikers enjoying a day in the woods. Everyone I run into is genuinely nice and it's great to see how many folks like me are drawn to the forests. I'm starting to learn that when the trail gets real rocky, chances are an overlook is ahead. Gorgeous views of the valleys and farms below make one long for the serenity that the scene below paints in your mind as you take a deep breath in relaxation, throw on your pack, once again reminded why you are out here.
Date: 2004-06-14
From: Port Clinton

To: Port Clinton
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Well I made it in to Port Clinton, although the last 1/2 mile was on a downhill that was so steep that in ski terms, it would qualify as an expert slope or double-diamond. I've booked a room at this hotel for 2 nites when I arrived last night, not sure what I'd do today. The room is $35 a nite, although sparse and no personal bathroom, is clean and comfortable. As you can discern from my mileage, I did decide to stay. Picked up my mail drop at the Post Office, made an inventory and then hitched a ride into a town called Hamburg, as Port Clinton has no stores per se.While in town, I washed my clothes, looked for a barber, but Monday must be barber off-day in Pennsylvania, so I'll have to stick with the scruffy hair. I then hitched a ride to a big outfitter called Cabellas and bought yet, another pair of shoes. The sneakers, although great on the toes, do not have much of a sole and the rocks are taking their toll. But I'm sending the sneakers to my next town stop in the event I have problems with these. Cabellas gave me a ride back to the hotel and I put together my pack for tomorrow's hike.
Date: 2004-06-15
From: Port Clinton

To: Eckville Shelter
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Started early this morning by walking up to the ¢Three C¢s¢ restaurant for breakfast. Last good town meal for 4 days by my estimate. Talked to a few other hikers on the way back, went to my room, packed up, dropped off the towels & key at the bar so I could get my 10 buck deposit back! Stopped by the post office to mail my sneakers to the next town, (in case the new ones I bought, kill me), and also some extra food, that I¢ve decided to do without, (pack was TO heavy!). Finally, I got outta town at about 10:30 and my just showered feeling went away after 5 minutes. Of course, another climb out of town did that. Today was very hot and the trail had a mix of every condition. Rocks, smooth forest paths, then some boulder crossing followed by a walk down an old fire road. As I write this, I¢m thinking that I pushed to far today. The promise of getting to another one of those attended shelters, with the promise of ice cream, was like cheese to a mouse. I kept going, even though my body was screaming at me to stop. I finally limped in to the shelter at about 8 PM. Partaked in the ice cream sandwich and Gatorade, (the shelter keeper asks only for donations). The shelter, which looked like someone¢s run down garage (for 1 car) was packed, so I went to the field and set up my tent just before it started raining. After all this activity, and with the rain pouring outside, I was too tired to make dinner. A dry bagel filled the belly, and now with the rumbling of thunder and the rain beating down on my tent, I¢m getting very sleeppyyyyy¢¦..
Date: 2004-06-16
From: Eckville Shelter

To: Allentown hiking Club Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Well I slept like a log!!! Got a late start, as I wanted to dry out my tent some, and they had another one of those freezing solar showers that I partook of. One of the section hikers that I met last night said I made the right move by not staying in the shelter as it was pretty warm, and there were a couple of loud snorers. The mileage accomplished today was completely dictated by the trail. Today, I believe is the beginning of what the A.T., in Pennsylvania is famous for, ROCKS! Now if you live life by believing in profile maps, you would note that after about a mile of claming from the shelter, you were going to be on a nice level area, on top of the mountain and do some cruising. But profiles don¢t show terrain.   The rocks came in a wide assortment for your hiking pleasure. We have small, medium and large rocks, and for a special treat, let¢s thro in some boulders for you to hop across as well! Stepping on theses rocks, jumping form one boulder to another is not an ideal way to spend a day, unless you are into pain. But ya gotta take the good with the bad, and I have definitely had the good! The problem with rock walking however is you don¢t see anything. You can¢t look around, you; instead, you stare down, all day, at your feet. Admittedly, I have some very handsome feet, but even I got tired of looking at them. Take your eyes off your feet and where you are putting them, and a trip, stumble and fall are in your future. Made it to the shelter to see that 3 hikers that were at last night¢s shelter are here as well. I was surprised cause generally these folks are knocking out big days, but looking at the map I think I figured out why they have stopped here, it appears that there are no other water sources for another 10 miles!!! It is different meeting thru hikers at this point of the trail, instead of down south where I was section hiking before. By now, most thru hikers have weeded themselves out and have done more than half of the trail! My guess is these folks will more than likely finish the whole thing. Also the pace at which these folks walk is amazing. They absolutely fly by me, thus I only get to see the same people for brief periods of time, whereas when I was don south, you keep running into the same people because everyone is more or less in the same place in terms of their trails legs and conditioning. This far North the hikers cover a distance in two days that takes me three to do, so I meet a lot of new faces, but there is not much opportunity to bond with folks. 10 miles tomorrow?
Date: 2004-06-17
From: Allentown hiking Club Shelter

To: Bake Oven knob Shelter
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: light rain

Well the first 4 miles flew by! Fished in 2 hours because the trail was pretty smooth (read no rocks) and had only moderate climbs. I came to a road crossing, looked both ways before crossing to make sure I don¢t turn into road kill, and what do I spot? Heavens to Betsy, it¢s a restaurant that also serves beer!! Did in a delicious Club Sandwich and knocked back a beer, (or 2). Back on the trail and back onto rocks. Essentially I was waling on the center of a mountain on an area called Knifes Edge & Bear Rocks. Knives Edge is aptly named because you are so high up on rock ledges that a stumble would send you careening down either side, and make for a nasty mess when you came to that sudden stop at the bottom. Ah well, since obviously, that doesn¢t appear to be much of a challenge, why don¢t¢ we conjure up a major thunderstorm?! So there I am, on Knifes Edge, so high up, that I¢m looking down at the tallest trees and it appears that the ones to my lower left have been burned. Perhaps by an errant lighting strike? So with my aluminum hiking poles in hand I have a decision to make. Do I really scamper down these slippery vertically inclined rocks surfaces and risk twisted or broken parts or take my time and risk catching a bolt? Well being the pain adverse kinda guy I am, my logic process says, ¢if I get hit by the bolt, It¢ll be over pretty quick or I won¢t remember it¢, on the other hand, if I go cascading down these rocks, I¢ll just end up breaking a bunch of things, and be laying there in the rain ¢wondering what I the hell was I thinking¢. So I go with the bolt and take my time getting down form Knifes Edge. And since I¢m doing this entry it is safe for you to assume that I made it ok.So, as usually, I arrive at the shelter when it¢s almost dark, soaked and freezing. The kind folks already there squeeze together so I can join them and make this the first time since I¢ve started this years hike that I¢ve stayed in a shelter!
Date: 2004-06-21
From: Kirkridge Shelter

To: Delaware Water Gap
Miles today: 6.4
Weather: clear sky

At the shelter last night was another section hiker by the name of Bonfire and a family of 4 out for a long weekend hike. Seems like Dad wanted to do the camping thing, and the wife, daughter and son (teenagers), ere obligated to go with him. There goal today was to head to the shelter I had come form the day before, all the while complaining about the trail (6.4 miles) that I traversed today. They are going to be some very bitter folks when this day is done!!! Bonfire and I have been crossing paths ever since Port Clinton. She started her hike 2 weeks before me down at the beginning of Skyline drive (Waynesboro) and is hoping to make it to Mass., before she stops this year. She hasn¢t taken a day off yet, so I have no doubt that she will make her goal!!! A thru hiker she met last year was going to meet her in town and take her out to lunch and hang out with her for awhile, (all the way in from New York!), but he surprised her by hiking up to the shelter early this morning to meet her. They hadn¢t seen each other since last year but still kept in touch. So the family is gone, Bonfire has hit the trail with her friend. Here I sit, alone, with a lump in my throat, realizing how lucky I am to be able to do this, and conflicted that I have to stop¢¦Wrote the above while I was being melancholy at the shelter this morning, now I¢m in a hotel room, showered, and shaved and a world away from where I was a few short hours ago. The hike was pretty easy because of course when you come into a town you go downhill. Got a room, perused the Yellow Pages for nearby car rental agencies and found one about an hour away in Stroudsburg Pa. Went over to a local outfitter and worked a deal to get a ride there, (cash involved). Not much to do around here, very small quaint little village, that looks like at one time it was very touristy, but folks are very friendly and there is great pizza to be had!!! Guess starting tomorrow, I¢ll have to start watching what I eat, instead of looking for anything to eat. Walked over to the bridge that crosses the Delaware River and looked at the white blazes that mark the path north, and with my eyes closed, imagined myself walking by them on my way to New Jersey, New York, and on¢¦........next year
Date: 2004-06-23
To: The End... for this year
Miles today: 0.0

Well I¢m back now. Returned the car, cleaned up all me hiking stuff, (gotta by a new tip for that bent pole), and if life allows, I¢ll get to pull it out next year and do it again. Got on the scale, and as usually lost another 10 pounds! What a great way to diet!   And as I alluded to at the beginning of this year¢s journal, life goes on for all of us. The neighbors with the new baby are selling their condo and will look for a single-family home in which to raise their son. My other neighbors¢ battle with terminal disease ended while I was gone, his family struggling now with what to do with the condo and belongings left behind. So as life reminds me, let me remind you:Time doesn¢t wait¢¦. don¢t waste yours.                        Moonman
Date: 2004-02-29
From: Springer Mtn Shelter 10:45am

To: Between Horse and Coopers Gap 5:30pm
Miles today: 10.5

Today was the day we began to fade away towards the more testing trial of our journey. As we sit atop this flattened peak warm in our bags, tired from the hike of the day, we contemplate how far we have come. Not only on the trail, but in our lives. We can only think of the wonders that lay ahead. What an awesome event it must have been seeing these mountains being constructed!
Date: 2004-03-01
From: Sassafrass Mtn 8:45am

To: Granny Mountain 5:15pm
Miles today: 11.5

What a day. We must have hiked at least 11 miles not counting elevation differences. Started out cloudy, but got clear as the day went on. Got to see our campsites from the hike with Greg and took some pictures. Met an older hiker - Gapper. He had a Go-Lite pack and water tablets. Hope he is alright. Still haven't seen Stu, David, or Seth. Meet with them tomorrow.Staring to drizzle. Hope the rain comes and goes! (and,as always,it will, my son, ed.)Signing out - Mountain Goat!
Date: 2004-03-02
From: Granny Mtn 

To: Walasi-Yi 3125'
Miles today: 8.7

Today we got a late start. It rained off and on through the night and blew our tarp down, so when we finally woke up there was a small puddle in the tent.The day started off kinda sluggish with fog, but the rain was steady. Got to Blood Mtn a little before Stu, but met up at Walasi-Yi and got stuffed on Bar-B-Que in town.Make sure to stay at Bear something and tell them Gene sent 'ya.Well, I'm going to head for the night, it's been a wet one!
Date: 2004-03-04
From: Low Gap Shelter 3050'

To: Tray Mtn Shelter ~4000'
Miles today: 14.9

Stu- FozzieDavid - RockySeth - HossMet two guys from Massachusetts that knew where Meghan was going to school (Hampshire). Todays hike was tough. Rocky Mountain Ups and Downs and very rocky paths throughout.Warm and humid day. Trail magic came with beer and danishes.Nice view from Tray Shelter. Good Food Tomorrow! Goodnight.
Date: 2004-03-05
From: Tray Mtn Shelter ~4000' 8:30 am

To: BlueBerry Patch Hostel 2675' 2:30 pm
Miles today: 10.6

Today was kinda crappy. We went up and down and my legs and feet were sore from th long day before. But we came to the BlueBerry Patch for the night and it is awesome! They had leftovers for us from some people at their church - potatoe salad, baked beans, cole slaw, and pickled okra. Ummm-UUUMMM! Nice.The farm is an oraganic Blue Berry farm with donkeys and a stream running through the back yard. The people are real nice.I have a runny nose tonight - hope to get feeling better. Tired and ned to get used to it. Breakfast in the morn.
Date: 2004-03-06
From: BlueBerry Patch Hostel 2675' 10:15am

To: Muskrat Creek Shelter 4600' 5:40 pm
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: scattered clouds

The BlueBerry Patch Hostel breakfast was incredible! Amish pancakes, sausage, cheese biscuits, coffee, and of course, blueeberry syrup to top it all!! Thanks you Lennie and Gary - you are great! I wish all Christians were like them - they fed us when we were hungry.We met Tacoma Ted, a thru hiker who writes music and knew the very frist thru hiker. The first thru hiker wrote poems and Ted turned some into songs. He had a virus and gave it to Fozzie - now I pray that we don't get it , too. (ed.note Fozzy was sick for the next two weeks and had to stop hiking for several days)
Date: 2004-03-07
From: Muskrat Shelter 4600' 11:00 am

To: Standing Indian Shelter ~4600' 2:30 pm
Miles today: 4.9
Weather: clear sky

We got off late today. We followed a side trail to some plane wreckage and then to a large bluff. The view was breathtaking - rolling mountains, lakes, and blue skies.We met Sara (Dragon Slayer) Red Dog, Slim and Biscuit (Mass boys). Red Dog is named for his red hair and his black lab. He attends Auburn.We all spent the night in the shelter and it got down to 27 if not colder. The ground was frozen solid when we awoke.Me and Adam (Talks With Trees) hiked to the top of the mountain and took a picture. It was clear.