morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-07-11
From: Moxie Bald Lean-to

To: Caratunk
Miles today: 6.0

Today was a tough day. In more ways than one. My hips hurt from having so much weight and hardly any padding on my hipbelt. And the day began with an uphill which is never a good start. But the first mountain, Moxie Bald, wasn't too bad. Good views. But the trail stretch after the days only ford to the top of Pleasant Pond Mt. was very tough. I guess I was just low on water and energy. I finally made it to the top. Very discouraged. I still was wanting to go home. I determined that it is the hiking that I'm not too fond of. The shelters have been the absolute best part of the trail. By far. So I got my mom to look up a plane ticket an called Shaw's to get a shuttle.  I'm going to Caratunk in the morning and then going to Bangor. I have a plane home on Monday morning.I walked the last mile or so down to the shelter. There was a girl, Michelle, there. I've talked to her all evening. She's been pretty cool. Justin came in a little later. Three of us in the shelter tonight. My last night on the trail. And it's supposed to storm. Fitting considering how the trip has gone so far.I'll let you know when I make it back to Texas. I hated Maine.
Date: 2009-06-18
To: the waiting game
Miles today: 0.0

so I am waiting...thats it ,my first day will start in harper ferry,wv., and I am probably going to book it pretty good, with all the excitment and great athleticism. I will try not to push too hard the first week, but am ready and pumped. My first stop should be in boonesboro to see all the cool civil war memorablilia but that wont be the best place to re-supply, and take a break. I really dont need to stop until I get into PA, in waynesboro probably. The terrain is pretty tame and if the weather is good, I should get some real good "break-in" time through maryland and the begining of PA. ok, here we go
Date: 2009-06-28
To: Knee injury
Miles today: 0.0

Yes of course, I have injured my knee, one week before the start of my trek. I am taking good care of it, and am paying very close attention. I train too hard, and have givin myself runners knee. NOt good. Must get better. Must find shaman. Must be nice to people. All good things. Its circular happy. It goes up and down and around. Feelin the flow. Harness good, block bad. Give me the trail or give me death.....or just give me some money, and maybe a sandwhich, a good chair, few laughs, massage, good advice, and any thing else you might have lying around.
Date: 2009-07-07
From: Knee injury

To: ed garvy shelter
Miles today: 6.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 1 ,back on the trail, and feeling good. Easy breezy out of Harpers ferry. Short 6 miles to ed garvey shelter. Nice 2 story shelter, but water is very far from shelter and not worth it. Met a couple of nice guys. "the Pilgram of St. James", "spoon", "hazard", and "Gravel boy"(from san antonio). The Pilgram is an old irish guy who has been hiking from florida, and is going to canada. This trail is known as the IT(international trail). He is very cool. He offers you a deal when you meet him. Play him at chess...., if he beats you, you have to give him a dollar or a candy bar, then he gives you chess advice.Win and he gives you ten bucks and you teach him a lesson. Well, I lost the first game with a couple of bone head moves. My head was not clear. THe second game was a stale mate. THere was no third because I was real tired. But good time. Spoon and Hazard came in real late, and brought with them more laughter. Great sleeping weather in the shelter. maybe 60 F
Date: 2009-07-08
From: ed garvy shelter

To: Ensign Cowell shelter
Miles today: 24.4
Weather: few clouds

Day 2,LOng hard second day. Pushed too hard, but the terrain is real easy. Hiked with spoon and hazard all day. Started the morning at 8:30 and ended at 7. Long day. Ate lunch on top of washington monument. Very cool views. Met "Kage"from atlanta, and a ridge runner Neil. The PATC is so awesome and all the shelters and the trails in this section are top notch. (Potomac AT club). This section runs north from the shennandoahs, northern VA, to about Pine grove,PA. It is really nice to sleep in shelters without holes in the floor and rats and gross shit everywhere.The next morning The pilgram sings 2 old traditional irish songs that each last about 7 minutes a piece. Really good stuff. I eat cereal, penut butter, and tuna, and cookies for desert. tasty mmmmm.
Date: 2009-07-09
From: Ensign Cowell shelter

To: Tumbling run shelter
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: clear sky

Day 3,Knee is killing me, horrible, absolutely terrible pain. Suffered to the shelter but very worth it. Met "Matthew", "Kleets", and the shelter maintainer "toejam"-awesome old guy that brought us apples, and cokes , and ice. So tasty. Also there was "sobo MOM"-this lady was so cool. SHe was hiking southbound with 3 of her kids! The oldest was 9!The youngest a boy of 5!!!!!!Can you freakin believe that. They had been on the trail for a month, and were averaging 7 miles a day. This is just one of the craziest things I have ever heard of. WOW. THe spring at the shelter is pure money. You can drink right out of the ground, and you dont have to purify any of it. SO tasty. Drank so much water, felt sick. Great sleep, beautiful weather, and nice breeze. I need some rest for my knee, but I need to continue on. Ibprofen.Ibprofen.Ibprofen. Good stuff. We have now crossed the mason-dixon line, and are officially in the North. We have left Dixie, and are joining the Union. The trail is starting to sink in a little bit, and the mental game becomes more ingrained. Long hours of contemplation, and reflection are what you have.
Date: 2009-07-10
From: Tumbling run shelter

To: Quarry Gap shelter
Miles today: 12.0
Weather: scattered clouds

day 4,good day, short day of much pizza and lounging, at the city pool at caldonia state park. Good little day to rest. Another fabulous shelter by the PATC. Good fire, when I arrived at the shelter. 3 cool bros section hiking in PA, couple of laughs, some more chess. Met "spicerack" "welder", and "crow". All very cool guys. Crow is deaf, and can hear not a thing. He is very cool, and interesting, though communication comes slow, it is rewarding when you can just do a little bit. It is funny, because about a week before I left for the trail, I bought a book on sign language, because I thought,...ya know I should learn some of this. He hikes real fast. Everyone is knocking out long miles during this section because the terrain is really easy. SO that makes it difficult for me to just go slow, because I know I can hall-ass. My freakin knee sucks. Oh well, more good sleep, more great weather. Everyday is a little bit better.
Date: 2009-07-11
From: Quarry Gap shelter

To: Pine gove furnace state park
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: overcast clouds

day 5,The Iron Masters Manson Hostel, was a pretty good place to stay after trying the 1/2 gallon challenge. The challenge happens at the grocery store. You show up and purchase a 1/2 gallon of ice cream, then you have 30 minutes to kill the carton. I choose peanut butter swirl. Got about 2 inches deep and gave in. I love icecream, but it was not right for me. Plus, the ice cream did not taste that good(no bluebell). So I order up a couple of cheese burgers and called it an afternoon. 2 other guys got through theirs. One guy barfed all over the place,and pretty much everyone felt pretty sick. The Hostel, is real old, and is a confirmed station, on the underground railroad. The services were just ok, and there was no internet. The showers were good, and laundry! Sleep, just phenomenal. My 2 lb. sleeping pad(thermarest)is really getting me through some tough times. Also my pack is pretty light ,...round 20 21 with 4-5 days of food. ALot less with 2 days, and not an issue at all. IT really makes a huge difference not to carry abunch on your back.
Date: 2009-07-12
From: Pine gove furnace state park

To: backpackers campsite, Boiling springs
Miles today: 20.0

day 6,another 20 mile punishment for my body. I am in farm land with nothing but huge open flat crops. Knee hurt so bad at the end of the day, I could have cried. Slept next to a train tracks. Not bad though, I have slept next trains though so no bother. Yet another great sleep. Met a Flip-flopper that has already done the north section of the trail, and says that it is a big muddy mess. It has not stopped raining in the northeast, all spring and summer. I look forward to bringing the good weather with me. Met "lonewolf" from NJ, he is cool and we swap stories for a bit. I then bathe in the local river and unfortunatly walk another mile for water, cuz I got lost. Lots of Pain. oh well, live learn.
Date: 2009-07-13
From: backpackers campsite, Boiling springs

To: Darlington shelter
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: broken clouds

day 7,good 14 miles in the freakin sunshine. This weather is freakin sweet(as uncle tom would say), or (Unbelievable). Just perfect, and everyone says it is unusual for this time of the year, you just couldnt ask for better hiking weather. 50's in the morning to about maybe 80 during the day. I just hope the good fortune keeps rollin on. We have hiked out of the PATC so the shelter quality dropped about 5 or 6 notches. But good fire, lots of hikers maybe 10 or 12, thats alot. We ate made a kick ass fire that burned all night, played couple of games of Hearts and passed out. Thought: TIcks scare me.....people are getting lyme disease and I am freakin out. That would totally mess you up, and you never get rid of it. I HATE ticks. I have had a few on me, and I have gotten most. But they are smaller than a millimeter!!
Date: 2009-07-14
From: Darlington shelter

To: THe Doyle, Duncannon PA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

Day 8,Great day into the DOYLE, a hiker hostel that has a bar and restaurant inside. Cool, cool people. Interweb, phone , bed, pool table, jukebox, burger, chicken sandwhich,1 appalachian beer, tv, r and r. Sleep like a baby. Many hikers here including "kage" "lonewolf" "squatter" "iceman, and cattywampus" "gordon bombay" many others, everyone is eating and getting drunk. I am having fun and eating. SO many stories, by so many people. I went to the grocery store via shuttle, and every is from somewhere different. Seattle, NOrth Carolina, Kansas, Texas, New Jersey, Atlanta. Where else can you get this kind of culture together, for people to participate in this ridiculous journey. Everyone is belching and farting and picking and itching, and dirty, very dirty, even after you shower. but that is life on the trail, and it is awesome.
Date: 2009-07-15
From: THe Doyle, Duncannon PA

To: Clarks creek campsite
Miles today: 17.1

Day, 9good day , slow and go 17 miles leaving Duncannon. Hiked with "lonewolf", took several breaks, stopped ate some more, pack is heavy leaving town always. My pack feels heavy at 20 lbs. with 4 days of food. I wonder what it is going to be like when I send for my cold gear? Feet are hurting today. The rocks of PA or as the call it Rocksylvannia, are starting to bug. My toes and feet are getting a real workout. Camp was cool. Next to a stream with "matthew" "squatter" "Dan B." "Burt", and "lonewolf". Good crowd, nice fire, good sleepin. I have been drinking the water from the ground that looks like its a good source. The people in town say they always drink the water if it is coming straight out of the ground. Man it is tasty cold. The push to Port Clinton should be fun.peace
Date: 2009-07-16
From: Clarks creek campsite

To: William penn shelter
Miles today: 25.0
Weather: broken clouds

Day 10,A real hard day on the legs. Just alot of hiking makes everything in the morning real sore. Weather is great, maybe high 80's. The last 5 miles of the day where just soooo... draining, and endless. Sometimes you look at the topography map, and say wow thats it? And sometimes the maps are just not drawn to scale, so you get excited about one thing, and then it doesnt turn out the way you thought it would. The last few miles of the day are always alittle tough and hurty. I ate tons of raspberries today. They are all over the place. Fresh wild raspberries, all over the trail, just waiting to be eaten. My food is running out too. I at about 2 full meals today, and will be running short into town. Hiking 25 miles will make you awful peckish. I do declare. PA is flat man, real flat. But the rocks make it challenging. I sleep tonight in my tent again, and feel real good going to sleep,jamin the Ipod, bushed, assed-out tired. These two nice Irish guys are at the tent site, and we bullshit with them for a minute. They have absolutely all the wrong gear, but their spirits are high, and that is the most important thing.
Date: 2009-07-17
From: William penn shelter

To: Eagles nest shelter
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 11,another 19, and a tough 19 at that. The day started off real well, had a morning fire with the Irish guys, then stopped 4.1 at the "501" shelter and ordered a pizza from the highway. Very tasty, but I'm afraid it was too filling, and I felt sick. Then we burned the pizza box, and hobled on down the trail. It began to lightly rain, and progressively got worse as the day drew on. The last 6 miles sucked. I was completely soaked at this point, to the bone. Had nothing dry to put on and the shelter was .3 off the trail. .3 miles doesnt seem like much, but off the trail at the end of the day, in the rain; IT SUX! And there were tons of folks at the shelter and no one had a fire going. Quickly ate the rest of my food, made a fire and laid down on my wet sleeping pad. It rained during the night, and everything I had either got wet or refused to dry out. Miserable. Bad dreams. Bad sleep. Early morning.
Date: 2009-07-18
From: Eagles nest shelter

To: Port Clinton, PA
Miles today: 8.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 12,A new day with new prospects. Pretty nice hike into Port Clinton. Rocks are really bad, knees hurt, very wet, not fun. Hiked pretty damn fast. About 3.5 miles an hour, which is a really good pace. Made town, got packages, whew, THank you everybody! Wendys restaurant 7 items off of the dollar menu, then the library, and hopefully the Port clinton hotel, which is basically a shelter with a bar and restaurant in it. Very nice people gave us hitches. Thats 2 so far just in Port clinton, and probably at least a couple more. It is hard to get around in this town. Oh yeah and my knees hurt. Did I mention that before!!!!!I think they actully might be broken. There are under 1000 miles left on the trail heading north. Pretty cool. Oh well . Peace
Date: 2009-07-19
From: Port Clinton, PA

To: Nowhere
Miles today: 0.0

Day 13,Zero day, much needed to rest my stuff. Good opportunity to just lay around and read and relax. There is nothing to do in Port Clinton, so I was glad that the weather was nice and pleasent. Your body really appreciates breaks when you can take them. The town folks were kinda rude, but who gives a sh**. Everyone is dogging them on the trail. So about every 7 miles on the trail, there are these huts/lean-to's, called shelters were you can sleep, and there is usually a water source near by. Every shelter has a log book, that hikers use to communicate with each other. They speak their mind, tell tales, draw pictures, and most importantly DOG each other. So..., if you mess with hikers, other will find out, how shi**y you have been acting and not give you business. Also, you find some pretty hilarious journal writing, entertainment, as good as it gets.
Date: 2009-07-20
From: Port Clinton, PA

To: PA 309 
Miles today: 26.0

Day14,Good long day, pretty easy for a 26 miler. Good Birthday miles. Good conversation with folks. Hiked with "scarecrow", "kage", "nordic","bandamit","gordon bombay". I just walked past the first shelter that was 15 miles in, couldnt find it....so I was like sure I'll just get the next one. at 22 miles, then I find that the water source sucks, but there is a nice campsite at 26 miles, sure why not. I felt pretty good after resting my legs for a full day. Kickass. Met another "lonewolf" who is much older and he is complaning of back pain. His pack weighed close to 60 lbs. DUHHHHHH. I could not even dream of lugging that around. That is the weight of a child!Why anyone would do this, is beyond me. He said he had enough food for 200 miles!WOW. Amazing.
Date: 2009-07-21
From: PA 309 

To: Palmerton Pa
Miles today: 0.0

Day, 15Nice stroll into Palmerton, And to an old Jailhouse that has been converted into a hostel. It is Free which rocks alot. Headed to a pizza place, then a hot shower cuz it feels good, thats why. On the trail today, someone looked down and noticed we where hiking through a blueberry patch. So for about 25 minutes we stopped and picked and ate wild blueberries. Enough to get full. SO tasty, and good source of calories, and antioxidents. Super. Score one for the good guys.
Date: 2009-07-22
From: Palmerton Pa

To: campsite
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 16,Palmerton Pa, is pretty freakin awesome, thanks abunch. The lady in the library was from El paso...huh. The climb out of Lehigh gap was spectacular. A straight up boulder scramble with good views and a real fun climb. I camp tonight with "scarecrow" "bandamit" "kage" and "gordon bombay". We also passed the #1,2,3 Southbounders. Number 2,and 3 were kickass, number one was too cool to talk. He also wanted to be the first SoBo, so he was doing crazy miles. I feel on my ass real hard today. It is rare that you go down on your hands and knees but these damn rocks are sooooo slick, and due to the climate, they rarely ever dry out. I am cool with title "section Hiker". I am having fun and enjoying the walk. One thing you have to always abide by is "hike your own hike". No one else can make the experience happen for you. You make it what it is.
Date: 2009-07-23
From: campsite

To: Deleware Water Gap
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 17,Nice and slow day, Got a burgerking sandwhich for breakfast. Hiked for a bit, then it began to rain solidly, and it was pretty shitty. The trail is still pretty flat and rocky. My shoes have taken an ass beating. When I pull up to the hostel intown, there was about 25 hikers there!Crazy amount,...like what in the hell, where did you guys come from. The church hostel, comes together on thursday, and makes a pot luck dinner. THey ask for no money, just that you sit with them and tell them stories, and where you are from. There was so much generosity, it was sick. Lets see.....hotdogs,chiken legs, rice,beans, custards,taco salad,5 more different kinds of salad, greenbean caseroles, pork tenerloin, ground beef, cookies, pies,cakes,dulces, tea, lemonade , etcetera. Wow, stuffed face, then to a near by motel for a warm bed, and plenty of rest. THe trail always will amaze . .. just let it happen.
Date: 2009-07-24
From: Deleware Water Gap

To: Ymca campsite
Miles today: 18.0

Day 18,Slow and go out of the motel, stopped in a real nice grocer in NJ. NJ it is good to see you. The first stop on the day is Sun Fish Pond;which is a glacial pond on the top of mountain in NewJersey. It claims that it is the 7th wonder of NewJersey. It was also marked as a place of importance by the government in the 30's, as a great piece of american nature. Around the lake is covered completely in blueberries. You just eat and eat, and you cant stop. When I stopped, I passed by a firetower, which is always a cool lookout at the top of a mountain. I hiked on with a few others ..."bam-bam"(who is quite the character) "aesop" "annanok" "zen" and "poppins" everyone is really positive, and conversation is good, then turns, really funny. We reach camp at dark, and stop by a lake. NJ I would discover tonight, has mosquitos. Ha you have no idea, you have no idea. They are f***ing terrible. But sleep was pretty good.
Date: 2009-07-25
From: Ymca campsite

To: Mashipacong shelter
Miles today: 19.4
Weather: clear sky

Day, 19Another beautiful day on the trail, and would turn sour quickly. I have been making these 7 and 8 mile "pushes" at the end of the day before dark, and have been good for sleep, but this day there was no water at the shetler, and I arrived very thirsty. The mosquitos are almost.....almost unberable. I show up and there is a group of kids(14ofthem)8th graders,foster kids from NYC, ghetto, and totally out of their element. 2 counslers, 18 guys, one from england, one from the Dominican Republic; and it is as wild as you can imagine.Noone is properly equiped,they are just laying on the ground, and it looks like rain. THen it does, and A SEVERE lightning and thunderstorm ensue. THey all cram into an person shelter, and stay up until 11 yelling at eachother,laughing, screaming. Meanwhile I am catching rainwater off of my tent, into my water bottle, and thinking, thank God. This goes on for hours. My tent eventually gives way, in places and most of my Everything get wet. I am now sleeping in water. I pull out a trash bag I have been carrying, and sit in it. Then I wrap my raincoat over my head, and just try and sleep. The showers last until 4, then stop for 20 minutes, and then start again. FUN , fun, fun.
Date: 2009-07-26
From: Mashipacong shelter

To: Unionville, Ny
Miles today: 14.0

Day 20,A real sh**y morning. The mosquitos have reached a breaking point. My legs look like I am wearing pok-a-dot stockings. They dont get you when you stop hiking;they get you all the time. When you stop, I dont know, cuz I didnt, but if you did, they would literally kill you. I have never experienced such,....tourture. But it would prove all worth it. New Jersey does 3 things Bears, Rattlesnakes, and Mosquitos. I have made it to Unionville, and some of the greatest hospitality so far. This guy Dick Ludwick, invites you into his house, with a set of rules. 1# The second and third beers cost 25 cents.#2 Don't use words with 3 syllables. #3 Dont call anyone in charge Sir.(I have already been punched for it).#4 dont lift a finger, let them do all the work.#5 use the bathroom, telephone, internet, tv, food,kitchen, laundry. Total cost for the hostel........zero dollars and zero cents.....priceless. Can you imagine. This is this guys house. He used to be the mayor of this town, and now he just gives back to hikers. There is like 18 hikers all over the house eating, pooping, lounging, washing, scrubing, reading, gettin stuff done. IT is amazing. I believe I might take a zero day, if jeff doesnt show tommorow. WHo knows. THis place is as they say "the tits".
Date: 2009-07-29
From: nowhere

To: wildcat shelter
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: light rain

Day 23,Wow, what a crazy mixed-up day. The weather was just unreal. Fog then rain, then sunshine, then mist then rain, then heavy rain then nice good sunset, then big nasty thunderstorms. The day was just full of soaking wet. The views were great, and the walking was nice and gentle. The rocks were very slippery, and Jeff and I fell several times. Jeff was able to come out and hike for a couple of days, which was nice to have some company, and a familiar face to chat it up with. Jeff unfortunately was a little unprepared. When you are hiking all day long in the soaking wet weather, there is nothing more enjoyable than a dry pair of clothes, and he had none. The mosquitos suck the big one, and wet socks and shoes all day, can tend to bring you down. However I think Jeff and I made the most of it. During the hours it wasn't raining, the views were great. We would make it to the shelter that night in the pouring, pouring rain, and realize that the 8 man shelter already had 9 people in it. But they were friends and we all sqooze together and made it work. Sleep was not bad, but certainly not great. The mosquitos never let up, so it was either sweat your ass off with your sleeping bag over your head, or feel the breeze on your face, while the bugs prick your dermis for that sweet nectar. Ha, and Im paying to do this. Wow, talk about fun.