morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-04-17
From: Double springs shelter

To: Damscus Vi.
Miles today: 18.3

Up a 6:00 am and you guessed it no honey bun I only bought two???We were hiking by 6:40 am. Stopped at shelter at the 10 mile 10:00ambruch of ramen with tuna. Started hiking again at 11:00 am we arrived at the Virgina state line at 1:00pm and @ Damascus @ 3:00 pm. The hike in was on the old Virgina creeper rr line I'm sure a narrow gage (saw the old engine in town)I had noticed a day or two back the there were some big rock cuts and I told Kz it had to be RR. There are no motels in this town just Hostel and Bed & Breakfast (every other house). We were recomended a B&B and on the way there we saw the old mill Inn and descided to try that wow we rented suit for $100 per night. What a great change. Kz did our laundry and I went looking around.I bought a pair of shorts for town wear. Two things about the shorts they a size small (never before in my adult life) but they cost large (huuuuuge) Outfitters stores mean out of this world prices but we all know gear means more money. The only difference between the homeless and a hiker is look at his shoes and it says goretex. I will be sending out my resume for a job as a scarecrow in the next couple of weeks or maybe a summer job from one of my friends in their garden. Yeso people I want you to know the wind my blow harder here in App. Lately the sun hasn't come up but I do think of you special people.
Date: 2007-04-18
From: Damscus Vi.

To: zero
Miles today: 0.0

Breakfast at the dairy King. 3 eggs, toast, sausage, hash browns, and pancakes.Pretty town with a river and creek intersecting. Woke up to wild geese honking on the mill pond below the room. 5 internet connections at the library. Nice people. I also got my hair cut yesterday. I,m sure my scarecrow job would be better if I never cut my haif but its ok. Thanks again for all of the support you people have me thinking I might just make it all the way besides if I quit what would you guys have to do without your daily dose of "as fred suffers". My next goal is only 40 miles up the trail and then we are shooting for Harper's Ferry West (by god) Virgina. Mabel has said the world can wait until I get this out of my system I think (she said take a hike?)
Date: 2007-04-19
From: zero

To: lost mtn shelter
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: light rain

The trail paralled the Virginia Creeper trail for a good distance 5 to 6 miles maybe. We figured out why in Damascus there are four bike shops with rentals and shuttle trailers. People rent a bike and they shuttle up the road to a intersection with the creeper trail and then they ride the bike back to Damscusand it is mostly down hill. Breakfast 2 eggs biscut & gravey sausage & tater tots. Mr. Ed was leaving just as we sat down to eat. on trail by 7:35 am. Stopped at a shelter 11:30 for lunch. Stopped at a spring fed stream at 1:30 pm and soaked our feet (what a great feeling that is). @ 3:15 made shelter just as the rain started. Looked in the shelter journal and Mr. Ed was there @ 2:45 and he went on. It really rained I'm sure Mr. Ed won't need a shower tonight because the sky just dumped. When KZ and I talk about things we see on the trail we call them a blimp on the blur. The trail behind seems to be a big blur in my memory. Shelter filled up 3 section hikers, Stoneage & Triple Duce (3 bowel movements in one day), Catipiller, & widowmaker inside and three tenters outside. With all the shelter time I was thinking about the dream of hiking the trail and reality of doing it. The reality is a lot harder than the dream ever was.
Date: 2007-04-20
From: lost mtn shelter

To: campsite
Miles today: 17.6
Weather: overcast clouds

ok class what did we have for breakfast today? One very big up to over 5500' el. Passed a lot of weekend hikers. Saw a lot of Wild Shetland ponies. I would say they need to do something about the number of these animals they are really hard on the landscape. We did white top Mtn and Mt. Rogers. The trail was really rocky. I went through Fatman squeeze Cave (part of trail) KZ went around I'm sure he could have gone through. Caught Mr. Ed At Wise shelter he was eating @ 5:00 pm but was going on. He did 21 yesterday and camped in the rain on White Top Mtn. He has a real bad heel so the rocks really gave him a bad time. @ 10:00am we stopped @ buzzard rock and cooked ramen and hot tang. We camped at 5:15 just above a creek in the grass first really relaxing camp we have had in a long time. We even hung up the bear bag for the first time in a couple of weeks. I didn't sleep in my clothes for the first time in quite a while.This is day 41
Date: 2007-04-21
From: campsite

To: Trimpi Shelter
Miles today: 19.7
Weather: clear sky

Lots of Rocks no big ups but what wasn't up was down, we made the shelter by 5:30: I could feel a strain in my right knee during the last couple of miles.I told KZ even when its good its bad. If I'm climbing my legs hurt and if its flat to down hill my feet, sholders and back hurt. Today I had to stop & take insulin which tells me that even all the exercise isn't enough. Well duh!! all I eat is a _____ ___ for breakfast then candy (sugar) all day to keep going. I'm really considering getting off the trail. Widowmaker (Ohio) was at shelter he had completed 24 miles yesterday and then came up sick today. Goulster (NC) also spent night at shelter with us. This shelter has a inside fireplace. The reason widowmaker was in a hurry was to get to partnership shelter where you can order pizza & maybe beer. Lots of wild horse sign today no horses. We crossed two different highways. The reason I knew to take insulin was I had a mood swing (excuse for my temper???).
Date: 2007-04-22
From: Trimpi Shelter

To: Chatfield Shelter
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: clear sky

Breakfast as usual. We made partnership shelter at 11:00. We ordered pizza no beer and then had to wait a hour and half for delivery. I wasn't hungry. My leg really started hurting by 9:30 am on the downs. Took two doses of Vit.-ISame shelter mates as last night. I'm sure that yesterday of 19.7 miles was just too much. good stream in front of the shelter. Easy to sleep with the noise of a creek nearby
Date: 2007-04-23
From: Chatfield Shelter

To: Relax Inn I-81
Miles today: 4.5
Weather: clear sky

My leg held out fine (2-VI) getting to the motel. At last my phone worked and I talked with Mabel, Mabel, & Mabel. Went to a pharmacy in Marion 15 miles from motel ($25 shuttle cost motel operator) They told me I could take three vitiam I's and it was as strong as any pain medicine that would be prescribed. I did have my last honey bun before I left the shelter. We had Mexican food for dinner in Marion which was pretty good. This day 44 was another Nero.
Date: 2007-04-24
From: Relax Inn I-81

To: ????
Miles today: 9.6

Off the trail at 12:30 pm KZ went on I told him if he didn't go on I would limp along till I couldn't go anymore and he would have to carry me out. I had taken 3 V-I at 9:00 and then 3 more at 11:30 I spent (forever) coming down the last hill (baby steps) in terible pain. Walked three hours wrong direction on a county road. I did finally stop to get directions but nobody was home. I finally stopped a pickup and paid $30 to get to Marion. Rented a car and drove toward Pearsburg to get my mail drop. Really having withdrawal problems for quiting the hike and desciding to go home rather than stay a week to see if I get better. The problem I see is if I stay and think I'm fine then when I start again what if I make the problem worse?
Date: 2007-04-25
From: ????

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Picked up mail drop at Pearsburg then drove to Damascus and got a trail map so I could see if I could intersept KZ on the trail tomorrow. Had continentals for breakfast (I really hate those don't you) Ran into Mr. Easy and No Problem in Damascus. They had done a 36 mile day and No Problem hurt his feet (off the trail for a couple of weeks). Mr. Easy need a cheap tent to go on so I gave him mine with the Idea that we would do a deal later.
Date: 2007-04-26
From: Obington, Va

To: KZ
Miles today: 0.0

I figured where KZ would cross the trail and I had to be there at 9:00 amI made it. He wasn't there but another hiker was and he told me KZ had gone on last night. I gave him and two others trail majic and took off for the next crossing about 7 trail miles away. Took about 45 min. to get there and I had just settled in to read my two Newspapers when KZ apeared. He said he was getting off the trail too and he was really happy to see me. We drove to Pearsburg got his mail drops and then I drove him to Richmond for Amtrack to Philly. Happy ending for both of us. I had been really hating the fact I left him on the trail when in fact it was my adventure and he just came along for me. I will add photos and one more entry when I get home. All you guys need to go back to your day time soaps. Thank all of you for your support and well wishes. I would have liked to gone further but it is what it is and I'm the sailer man. Oh I do have a few honey buns left over just call me @ BR549 and I will send them.
Date: 2007-05-15
To: About this journal.
Miles today: 0.0

One of the tasks that I had on the trail in 2004 was to complete a journal entry every day. It was tedious, yet actually quite satisfying, to put it all together and post it on Trailjournals.com even though I am leery of having personal information on the Internet, including this journal. It also took a lot of willpower every evening to recall the day¢s events and to compose a series of meaningful paragraphs while most of my fellow hikers were already asleep in the shelter with me. I would have preferred to be sleeping, too.I anticipated using my journal as a way to document my progress, to let friends and relatives know where I have been and what I have seen, and as a way to store my memories so that I can recall this adventure with a reasonable level of detail in the future. It was also like writing letters "home" and communicating with others even though it was only one-way communication.I appreciate the other journalists on Trailjournals.com. They entertained and inspired me to start my own journal based upon the accounts of their journey on the Trail. I want to continue to write descriptive and interesting chronicles on a daily basis about the Trail, the people, and my thoughts regarding this endeavor.For this segment of my hike, I am thankful and feel privileged to have Awol posting my journal and maintaining these web pages for me while I am out hiking.If you have read this far, you have probably been reading the journals of other hikers on this web site and found them quite interesting. Everyone has a story to tell and everyone is a character in his or her own unique way. Trust me; ¢Reality TV¢ can¢t hold a candle to the social aspect and challenge of spending weeks or months hiking the Appalachian Trail. For that reason, I highly recommend reading the book, Awol on the Appalachian Trail, by David Miller. This book goes beyond the daily journal of AWOL when he thru-hiked in 2003. He develops the character and background of many hikers on the Trail and includes more depth and detail about life on the Trail. It is one of those rare books you will begin to read and later, find yourself still awake and reading it at 3 A.M. because you want to know, "What¢s going to happen next?" Check out the acclaim this book has received!
Date: 2007-06-07
To: Last Prep Entry
Miles today: 0.0

The time to get myself up to Duncannon, Pennsylvania, is just about here. I¢m excited. I've got a reservation for a one-way rental car that I'll drop off at the Harrisburg International Airport. Luckily, I was able to secure a ride from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to Duncannon, which is about 25 miles away. A fellow hiker with the trail name of Jeb will be providing the transportation. He¢ll also have a journal on Trail Journals when he begins his hike northbound from Pennsylvania this summer. Who knows? Perhaps our paths will cross.Even though I am ready to start hiking, I¢m a little sad, in a way. I¢ll be leaving home for a while for the unknown of the Trail (which is not all bad) and I¢ll miss my friends. I¢ll have an equally difficult task of beginning the job search again when I return home. I also know that the first few days out will be an adjustment period. Even though I go to the gym regularly, there¢s no doubt that I¢m going to be absolutely beat by the time I stop hiking each night. I also I thought I¢d wean myself off of several cups of coffee each day before my trip. I¢ve had no such luck. Getting up at dawn is going to be difficult for a while.In the past two weeks, I¢ve whittled down my ¢to ¢ do¢ list and sent out my first two mail drops. In addition, I just completed a Wilderness First Aid Certification class. I learned a lot and highly recommend the class. I guess I should say that I learned a lot from that class about helping other injured people, but if I get injured there¢s not a whole lot I can do for myself except for patch up a few blisters and put a Band-Aid on cuts and scrapes.
Date: 2007-06-11
From: Duncannon, Pennsylvania

To: Clark's Ferry Shelter, PA
Miles today: 4.6
Weather: scattered clouds

This morning, Jeb (also on Trail Journals) gave me the courtesy of a ride from Harrisburg to Duncannon, Pennsylvania. He is maintaining a journal on this website, too. As we approached the Doyle Hotel, the spot where I ended my 2004 hike, I thought that I would get a flood of memories coming back to me. However, it was like I never left.Jeb took me to the Post Office where I mailed home my street clothes that I wore during the weekend traveling up here.After the stop at the Post Office, we headed to the Doyle Hotel, parked the car, and took a few minutes to take a couple of pictures. We shook hands, wished each other well, and then went our own way.As I took my first steps at 10:45 AM, No Worries (also on TJ) and Blazer met me outside the hotel. We exchanged thoughts about our plans for the day and then I headed northbound. No Worries and Blazer were headed to the Post Office before leaving Duncannon. In less than 45 minutes, I ran into Magic Horse (also keeping a journal). He's in better shape than I am, so he moved along up the trail.So far, the climb out of Duncannon and up to the ridge wasn't so bad. The skies were cloud-free, destined to be a hot day with hardly a breeze.By the time I arrived at the Clarks Ferry Shelter, I was exhausted. My initial plan was to try to get to the Peter's Mountain Shelter, about 12 miles from Duncannon, but I think I'll take it easy and get there tomorrow. I have time on my side.No Worries and Blazer caught up with me about the time I arrived at the Clarks Ferry Shelter. Ninja, Golden Boy, The Caveman from Ohio, and Bushwacker were already taking a break there, but planned on continuing to Peters Mountain Shelter for the night. An ATC Ridgerunner named Night Lion who thru-hiked in 2005 was hanging out as well. He got his name because he hikes at night a lot.I had the chance to introduce myself for the first time to these hikers. Many of them have already been on the trail for three months and stuck together as hiking partners. Fortunately, I was welcomed, enthusiastically, back into the hiking community.Later in the day, Casey, Mike, and Jason showed up. The three of them are hiking together and are out for three weeks. They'll end their trip in Port Clinton on Friday.During dinner, we discussed all sorts of topics but the main topic centered around how gypsy moths have nearly stripped the leaves off of the trees in this section of the trail.I suppose that I could go on with details about today, but I think that this journal entry is long enough.It is around 7 PM and the sun is going down behind the ridge to the west and it is creating a shadow where the shelter is located.Today was a short day, but it was good to ease into it. Tomorrow will be another low-mile day of about 7 miles.Goodnight.
Date: 2007-06-13
From: Peter's Mountain Shelter

To: Rausch Gap Shelter, PA
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: moderate rain

It was bright enough to barely see around 5 AM this morning. By 5:15 I decided to get up and get packed up. I really wanted to get moving before the temperatures heated up and before the afternoon thunderstorms came through the area.By 6:15 Am I was out hiking. During the night, after the rain, fog rolled in and it was still hanging around most of the morning.   It was pleasant to hike in the cool morning and see the sun break through the canopy of leaves.The lingering fog made the sun beams visible in the woods. Every so often a of dew would fall on my head, cooling me off nicely.The other day, the ATC Ridgerunner informed us about a den of rattlesnakes under the rocks that the trail crosses about three miles north of the Peters Mountain Shelter. I knew this morning that if I crossed this rocky part in the cool, damp, early morning, perhaps I would avoid an unpleasant encounter before the snakes moved up to the top of the rocks to sun themselves. I was lucky. The other hikers who were a few miles behind me were surprised by four upset rattlesnakes.Overall, this segment of trail was relatively easy, although after about ten miles, my feet were killing me. That realization is making me come to the conclusion that I've definitely got a physical limitation. Too much of this and I may have to reconsider this trip. However, I will take my Aleve and do some shorter days.Around the middle of the afternoon, I ran into Diesel, Blazer, Backyard Boogie, and No Worries. They tented for the night a few miles away from the shelter and had to put up with a lot of rain. Monkey and Coco passed me by today, too.I finally arrived at the shelter around 3 PM. It's in a really nice area surrounded by tall trees (80 to 100 feet) and a swiftly flowing creek.Breadless Horseman and Rock Man (a retired geologist who worked for the petroleum industry) are here. The others are tenting nearby.It has been a long, tiresome day. My thoughts are on the upcoming 501 shelter. I understand that you can order a pizza from there.
Date: 2007-06-14
From: Rausch Gap Shelter, PA

To: 501 Shelter, PA
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: overcast clouds

The birds usually start chirping right at sunrise which has been around 5 AM. That's early, but you've got to drag yourself up anyway. I snoozed until 5:30 and then just had to get up.It was chilly this morning and I made hot oatmeal, so it took me a while to get back on the trail, but I was hiking by 7 AM. Luckily, the pain in my feet had gone away by this morning.Rock Man and I hiked together for the first part of the morning. We traveled through an abandoned coal mining town of Rausch Gap. One hundred years ago it had a population of 1000+, but the coal was low-grade and unproductive. Rock Man explained to me that the coal was bituminous with a high sulfur content. By comparison, Anthracite is the high-quality coal that is found in Pennsylvania. At the end of the day now, I hope I have accurately recalled that information.I was surprised to learn from Rock Man that he has lost 56 pounds in three months.Rock Man began to hike faster than my pace and move ahead. A bit later, Diesel and Backyard Boogie caught up with me. The three of us hiked together for a while, but again, they moved ahead. They've been hiking for three months and have a good bit of stamina.There was nothing else remarkable about today. There were some sections of difficult rocks to hike through. The temperature remained cool under a thick overcast sky. However, just before PA State Road 501 there is an overlook that gives you an amazing view of the farms down in the valley. For once on this trip, it made me say,"Wow!"My initial plan for the day was to go 13.3 miles to the William Penn Shelter. That would have kept my hiking miles at a more reasonable level given the pain in my feet, but I knew that if I could just go on for another 4.1 miles, I could order a pizza and have it delivered there since this shelter is near a road.   By 4 PM, I was ordering pizza! I couldn't wait for it to arrive. I was chowing down on pizza by the time Diesel, Backyard Boogie, No Worries, and Blazer arrived. They all ordered pizza, too.As a side-note, Diesel lives near Raleigh. He's a hydraulic engineer for a diesel equipment company. He also is involved with a co-op that converts and refines bio-diesel. He owns two vehicles that have been modified to run on used cooking oil.
Date: 2007-06-16
From: Eagles Nest Shelter, PA

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

Once again, it was nice to have a hiking companion like Rock Man. We both started hiking towards Port Clinton, Pennsylvania, at 7 AM.Backyard Boogie, No Worries, and Blazer were up and hiking even earlier. They wanted to get to Port Clinton early to catch a ride to the Yeungling Brewery for the tour of their facility. My motivation for today was to get my first shower and to rest my feet. So, off I went with Rock Man. The trail today was all in the shade and mostly flat. There were some difficult boulder crossings which slowed us down a bit. Luckily, we had another cool morning that made the trip reasonably comfortable.Before long, we were making good time. In fact, it was apparent that we were going to be able to get to the Post Office before it closed at 11 AM. I had a mail drop containing food and some supplies for the next week ahead.Oh, and I can't forget to mention that the last trail mile into Port Clinton dropped 1,000 feet in elevation within that distance. I was almost certain that sliding down the trail would be easier than hiking down. It was very difficult. I'm glad that I didn't have to hike up it, but I think that the hike out of Port Clinton will be equally difficult since Port Clinton is in a valley - as are most trail towns.Since the Microtel Inn motel is full, I decided to stay the night tonight at the hostel adjacent to the Ye Olde Backpacker hiking outfitter. The room that is available for hikers contains four bunk beds, a refrigerator, and access to a hot shower in the store. The proprietor is working on getting an electrical hookup for the washer and dryer. So, in order to wear at least something clean, I bought a cotton T-shirt and washed my pants in the shower.Tomorrow, Sunday, I'll move to the Microtel for a day or two so that I can use their laundry facilities, and use the Internet. It will be my first day off from hiking and I might just take two days off so that my aching feet can rest and so that the two small blisters that I have on my left foot can heal.
Date: 2007-06-17
From: Port Clinton, PA

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

This morning Rock Man headed northbound out of Port Clinton. I was given a ride to Dunkin Donuts. Finally, this would be my "zero day" and I would not hike at all today.I spent the morning reading the newspaper at Dunkin Donuts and browsing through the Cabela's outdoor store. Then I had lunch at Pizza Hut. By the time I was through, I checked into my room. Laundry was next on my short list of things to do.While in the laundry room, I met Monkey and Coco. They just arrived for the night. Blazer, No Worries, and Backyard Boogie are here, too.I'm still trying to decide if I want to take tomorrow off as well. I am also thinking about going back to Cabela's and trying on some new boots.Later in the day, I did buy some New Balance 851 low-top hiking boots. time will tell if they can hold up to the Pennsylvania rocks which are tearing up my current pair of Asolo 520 boots.I had dinner with Monkey, Coco, Blazer, No Worries, and Backyard Boogie. We're all still trying to determine if we want to continue hiking tomorrow or not. I won't be hiking, but if they leave, I'll miss their company.
Date: 2007-06-18
From: Port Clinton, PA

To: Port Clinton, PA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

This is my final "zero day" in Port Clinton. I'm eager to get moving tomorrow. I didn't do too much today but take a trip to the Post Office and watch TV.I am sharing a room with Backyard Boogie and tomorrow we'll join No Worries and Blazer early in the morning to tackle the steep hike out of Port Clinton.