morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-05-10
From: U.S. 250

To: Harper's Ferry
Miles today: 161.7
Weather: broken clouds

Days 84-93 - 5/1-10After Waynesboro zero we entered Shenandoah National Park on May Day. Highlights were trail magic from section hikers Pumpkin and Ten Hut, eating at waysides, and a bear sighting. Bear was probably a year old. Saw it near Elkwallow Wayside. Lowlight was Loft Mountain store being closed due to construction.We finished up SNP with a nearly 24 mile slack from Thornton Gap to Chester Gap. Got caught out in a serious thunderstorm toward the end of the day. Lightning strikes all around us. Spent the next two nights at the Terrapin Station hostel in Front Royal. Owner Mike Evans helped us do two more slack days. He does a great job of hosting and shuttling hikers. Mike did his time as a swim parent years ago, driving his daughter to eleven workouts each week with legendary coach Bill Peak (Mary T's coach).Even our slack days were tough. Temps and humidity wore me out. Kept pouring water in and it kept poring out. We really enjoyed our stay at the Bears Den hostel Friday night. Historic. Saturday we exited the Roller Coaster. When we got to Keys Gap we dropped our packs and walked to the Sweet Springs Country Store. Definitely worth walking on the dangerous road. Got a sub, macaroni salad, deviled eggs, and a peach meller yeller. Continued hiking and camped a few miles from Harper's Ferry.Got our picture taken at the ATCHQ in Harper's Ferry this morning. We are northbound thru hikers #97 & 98. Put more pics on blog while there.http://zipperthruhike.blogspot.com/2015/05/shenandoah-national-park.htmlWalked to Towns Inn for brunch. Hiker Brown Cloud and his wife were at the next table. When it was time to get the bill, our waitress let us know that B.C. had bought our lunch for us!The great trail magic continues! We have also been getting great hitches as well.Notes:Weighed in at Bears Den. Weight loss is now over fitty pounds.Glad to see Deer Slayer is follerin. Hope long course is going well for you and the kids.If we can keep up the pace we've been on lately, an early August finish is possible.Dad, wouldn't call any of it easy. Amelia says it will be, though. Looking forward to getting to the White mountains in New Hampshire, but not looking forward to climbing them!Hope you're getting in shape, Lion King. Maine's gonna be tough.
Date: 2015-05-13
From: Harper's Ferry

To: U.S. 30
Miles today: 58.8

Day 94 - 5/11 - Chatted with group of retirees who are biking to Pittsburgh. Nice guys. Easy start along canal path near Potomac River. Really enjoyed War Correspondents memorial. Hot and humid day. Gnat inhalation becoming a daily problem. Heard a bird that sounds just like my phone's low battery alert. Camped at Dahlgren backpack campground. Like a little oasis on the trail. Enjoyed meeting several section and flip-flop hikers (they start their thru hikes in Harper's Ferry, complete the north half, then return to Harper's Ferry to hike the south half). 17.2 mile day.Day 95 - 5/12 - Another hot and humid day. Hiked to and climbed up first Washington Monument. Neat monument and story. Pics will have to wait until I can get them off camera and onto a computer. Ate lunch at Pogo Memorial campground. Trail magic at MD 17. Dr. Pepper and Mountain Dew just when we needed it! Tented at Raven Rock shelter. Very windy night. Glad there weren't any dead trees near my tent site! 18.8 miles.Day 96 - 5/13 - Cooler weather made hiking much better. Crossed Mason-Dixon line early. Pennsylvania is seventh state. 7 down, 7 to go. Stopped for a snack when we saw some trail magic (drinks cooling in a creek). Lunch at Deer Lick shelters. We had planned to hike to Rocky Mountain shelter and resupply in Fayetteville tomorrow. Decided to instead try for Fayetteville today. Ended up being a 22.8 miler. Climb at Chimney Rocks was brutal. Got a great hitch into town (guy was heading to church and went out of his way to help us) and ate too much at Ryan's. It's not in the AWOL guide, but it's just past the Wal-Mart. We'll resupply and hitch back to the trail tomorrow morning.Notes:I hope da trill of victory will be worth da agony of da feet.I shall be telling this with a sighSomewhere ages and ages hence:Two roads diverged in a wood and I -I took the one less traveled byAnd that...is why I keep getting lost on the AT...Good to hear from you, Pat. Please say hi to Jesse for me when you see him.
Date: 2015-05-16
From: U.S. 30

To: U.S. 11
Miles today: 47.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Day - 97 - 5/14 - Had breakfast and did laundry at hotel. While hiking to resupply, a guy offered us a ride to Wal-Mart and then the trail. He was an eighty year old retiree. Guess he'd rather help us than work at his wife's yard sale. Ate lunch at Caledonia State Park. Hiked only ten miles to Birch Run Shelter. Set up tents and ate early. Soaked feet in stream. Feet needed a break today. 10.0Day - 98 - 5/15 - Passed official halfway point. Got to Pine Grove Furnace State Park and did half gallon challenge. Ate a half gallon of raspberry ice cream in less than a half hour. Enjoyed a nice break after that. Visited AT museum, sent postcards, and filled up water. Hiked to James Fry campsite and set up for the night. 17.1Day - 99 - 5/16 - Rock climbing in the morning, followed by hiking on farmland in the afternoon. Took a break at Boiling Springs. Hiked in thunderstorm to Carlisle. Camping is prohibited in the area, so we're in a hotel again. Disappointed with the Super 8. Guy was charging guests $1 for ten minutes on computer! Walked across highway and ate at Middlesex Diner before hiking over to the Hotel Carlisle. Much nicer folks here! 20.0
Date: 2015-05-27
From: U.S. 11

To: Delaware Water Gap
Miles today: 164.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Days 100-110 - 5/17-27Days running together.Stopped for lunch at the Doyle on the way through Duncannon. Hotel and town have seen better days.Had a very stormy night at Peters Mountain Shelter.Hot and humid weather has meant a couple of days with extended afternoon breaks.Got pizza delivered to 501 shelter. Lots of flip-floppers lately. Big group were at 501.Missed a turn Thursday and spent 45 minutes on miserable Boulderfield Trail.Ran very low on food before resupply in Port Clinton/Hamburg Friday. Hung out at Frank's Barbershop in P.C. Stayed at Union House in P.C. Great places!Very steep trail out of P.C. Saturday. Trail crowded. Some nice views and great weather.Took long lunch break at Blue Mountain Summit Sunday and watched last half of Indy 500.Crossed Lehigh River Monday and then did insane steep dangerous rock climbing near Superfund site. Water scarce. Saw large bear near Stempa Spring. Memorial Day and I was thinking about relatives that have passed. Grandma and Grandpa Voorhees. Grandma and Grandpa Button. Uncles Dub, Frank, and Sam. Cousin Judy. Had been thinking about them days earlier, too, when we hiked through a lot of farmland.Took NERO in Wind Gap Wednesday. Almost made big mistake of staying at Travel Inn. What a dump! Did laundry and resupplied. Cleaned up tent.Pennsylvania has been very rocky. It's also been our toughest state to hitch rides in. Folks who have given us rides have been great!Trail magic twice today from a guy whose daughter is section hiking. Tenting tonight at The Church of the Mountain hostel in Delaware Water Gap. Into New Jersey tomorrow, our eighth state.Sorry for delay in updating journal. We've had limited WiFi and computer access.I try to tweet whenever I update journal, blog, and instagram. If you want to foller me on Twitter, it's @texasswimblog
Date: 2015-05-30
From: Delaware Water Gap

To: NJ 23
Miles today: 42.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 111 - 5/28Got late start. Lots of heat and bugs. Ran into a large group (60) of high school boys. They were freshmen on the last day of a camping trip. The lead pack of guys looked pretty peppy. The stragglers in back didn't look like they'd had a good time. I know the feeling! We stopped early and camped at the AMC Mohican park. Used to be a Boy Scout camp. Very nice common area. Later I got a kick out of watching some sort of warbler chowing down on the many caterpillars around our site.Day 112 - 5/29We went twenty miles. Longhorn should change trail name to Tick Magnet. They were on him all afternoon. Ended up picking seven (7) off on the day. Had early dinner at Stokes. Trail magic from a guy who wanted to buy a round for Longhorn, Attrition (the sword guy), and I. Hiked up to Gren Anderson Shelter. Big crowd there for shelter and tent sites. Gathered water and camped above the shelter closer to the trail. Hammock hanger Steve set up and chatted a while.Day 113 - 5/30On trail by 6:30. Another hot and humid day. We surprised a large bear and were glad he took off into the woods. Stopped at High Point State Park HQ. Signing in got us some trail magic and I was able to buy some postcards. They were kind enough to remind us that hitchhiking is illegal in New Jersey, then we went out and got a hitch into Port Jervis. Couldn't get pics off camera on Days Inn computer, so that will have to wait until I can get onto a better computer.Notes:Hearing a lot of turkeys lately.Neon, I'll email as we get closer. Hope to give you an idea of when we'll be in the area.Looking forward to checking out the High Point monument tomorrow morning.We will be applying permethrin to clothes and tents as soon as we can pick some up.
Date: 2015-06-01
From: NJ 23

To: NJ 94
Miles today: 20.6
Weather: broken clouds

Day 114 - 5/31Hiking at 7:30. Rain and clouds meant no view of monument. We skipped the side trail. Terrain improved as we hiked through woods and pastures. Numerous rock fences in the woods. After hiking around Wallkill Reserve, Iceman was waiting for us with awesome trail magic! He's a section hiker (1500+ miles) from Pennsylvania. He's been follering on trail journals. Treated us to a couple of mountain dews and cookies and even had chairs for us to relax in! We stopped short for the day at Pochuck shelter and set up tents. It poured all night.Day 115 - 6/1I'd have to rate the privy at Pochuck as the best I've used on the trail. Second straight day of hiking in rain. Hitched into Vernon and had a great calzone at Pizza Station. Got a ride to the store after that. Resupplied and mailed postcards, birthday card, and fathers day card. Decided to stay in town and checked into St. Thomas's Episcopal Church hiker hostel. Showered and did laundry. Put a bunch of pics on the blog. We have a ride lined up to get back to the trail tomorrow morning.
Date: 2015-06-17
From: NJ 94

To: VT 9
Miles today: 254.3

Days 116-131, 6/2-17Middle Third Bests (730-1460)Breakfast - Meadow Lark, Warwick, N.Y.Lunch - Pizza Station, Vernon, N.J.Dinner - Ming Garden, Waynesboro, VAHostel - Bears Den, Bluemont, VAHotel - Hotel Carlisle, Carlisle, PAShuttle - Mike Evans, Front Royal, VAView - Delaware Water GapTrail Magic - IcemanHiker Hangout - Frank's Barbershop, Port Clinton, PAPrivy - Pochuck Mountain ShelterWe jumped ahead a bit in N.Y. and will make it up on the way back to Texas.Hope to get pics onto blog later today. Hotel computer not cooperating. Library one might.Haven't been doing well on writing in journal, but here's what I've got:Longhorn made a quick trip back to Texas. Had to take a physical fitness test. Haha!Guy walking his Saint Bernard near wooden water tower was impressed with thru hike.Did a twenty between Wiley and Stewart Hollow Brook shelters. That stretch is a chipmunk photographer's dream. Archangel and Red Swagger were at Stewart Hollow Brook.Stayed at Vanessa Breton's in Salisbury. Several boarders and hikers there, including Ox. Hadn't seen him since Hot Springs. Walked through burying grounds across street. Graves from French and Indian/Revolutionary War period.Fell three times on descent off Bear Mountain (high point in Connecticut). One was nearly a hike-ender. Trying to be more careful now. Lots of rain lately, so it's slick out here.Have twice spilled cooked dinner. Lousy way to end the day!Not Yet and Red Swagger at Wilbur Clearing Shelter. Bright Side and her dad at a couple more.Sunny Sunday meant for a busy day on Mount Greylock (high point in Massachusetts). Tower closed.Last of Massachusetts and beginning of Vermont have been swampy. Crowded at Seth Warner Shelter. Some fool decided to lock the bear box since some hikers had left trash in it. Hope the dummy doesn't nail shut the privy next.Learning new skills. Not advanced knot tying, navigation, etc. Stuff like duct tape cigar repair and creative burrito construction. Most recent was made from tortilla, mayo packets, and wheat thins.We're getting better hitches lately. Also rides from hikers like Rolling Thunder and Lead Foot/Five Way.Clare made it to Vermont and we're taking a zero today.If (when?) I get pics posted, they'll be on blog:http://zipperthruhike.blogspot.com/
Date: 2015-07-06
From: Franconia Notch

To: US 2
Miles today: 74.8

Days 144-150, 6/30-7/6The White Mountains were very steep and tough but the views - when we had them - were fantastic!Ultramarathoner Scott Jurek was chowing down when we dropped in at Galehead Hut. Longhorn helped himself to some of Scott's coffee. Oops, sorry about that! He passed us later at the South Twin Mountain summit. He was hobbling but still going. Needs to reach Katahdin by Sunday the twelfth to break the record. Keep up here:http://www.runnersworld.com/trail-racing/where-is-scott-jurek-on-the-appalachian-trailWebster Cliffs was quite a climb, with great stopping points for views/snacks/breaks along the way. Each time I stopped, I thought I was close to the top. Wrong!Washington was tough. Clouds would occasionally break on the way up, giving us some awesome views. Once we got to the top, though, the winds were howling and visibility dropped to just a few yards.Mike's Mom, we last saw Frodo in Vermont. We were doing a southbound slack day. He was hoping to slack the Whites, so. I'll bet those guys are well ahead of us by now.Met a guy on the trail who used to go by trail name "Bear". Said he'd gone on a vision quest and a plant had told him his name was "Beauty".Camped near a guy named Joe who'd been a Lt. Colonel in the Army. Went by trail name GI Joe. One of the neatest guys we've met out here. He gave me a great cigar and I gave him a Long Trail Double Bag brew. Enjoyed talking with him.A few new pics are on the blog here:http://zipperthruhike.blogspot.com/2015/07/white-mountains.htmlNew Hampshire is my favorite state so far. New England's Texas. Folks have a sense of freedom I've not been seeing in other states.
Date: 2015-07-09
From: US 2

To: Grafton Notch
Miles today: 31.1

Back in Lincoln I bought a new set of poles. My old ones kept collapsing on me. When I complained to REI back in March, they suggested I tighten them. Why didn't I think of that?!?! Decided to send them back. Didn't want to take a spill and end my hike falling off a mountain while cursing my poles.Day 151, 7/7Almost no traffic going east out of Gorham. Finally got a great hitch from Hee Haw. He's done nearly every mile of all the trails in the Whites. Crossed Rattle River and got a pic of the power house. Humid morning. Climbed Mt. Hayes and Cascade Mountain. Took break at Trident Col Campsite. Got a pic and took a wrong turn at Page Pond. Beaver at Gentian Pond. Tented there as rain rolled in.Day 152, 7/8Rainy and windy. Very difficult terrain. Mt.Success very steep. Crossed into Maine. Fourteenth and final state on trail. I've now been in every one of the lower forty-eight states. Longhorn saw a porcupine. Finished a tough ten miles at Full Goose Pond and tented there. Still windy but dryer and cooler.Day 153, 7/9Up at 5:00. We were the first through Mahoosuc Notch. Took me a little less than an hour and a half. The climb up Mahoosuc Arm was a killer. 1.5 miles of 20%. Took a break at the top and watched a partridge for a while. Camo stopped and talked for a bit. He's from Gorham. Gave us each a Snickers. Says he always carries a little trail magic with him for us thru hikers. Got water and took another break at Steck Pond before hiking up and over Old Speck. Got a hitch into Hanover from a guy whose dad had thru hiked. Resupplying and staying at Stony Brook Campground.Notes:Only made 31.1 miles in three days.My complaining and whining about steep trail and rock scrambles earlier on the trail was all for nothing. Compared to what we've done in New Hampshire and Maine, that stuff was easy!
Date: 2015-07-11
From: Grafton Notch

To: South Arm
Miles today: 20.4
Weather: broken clouds

Day 154, 7/10On trail at Grafton Notch by eight. Plenty of hikers out. Had hoped to get a few more days out of my boots, but they were finished. Toe on right foot really swollen and painful. Steep tough ups and downs on Bald Pate. Pine Ellis shuttle picked us up. Dropped Longhorn off at the hostel and then went to Bethel for new boots. Dinner at the Andover General Store.Day 155, 7/11Slack day! New boots did well. No blisters. Toe still hurting but that's life. Two steep climbs with a steep descent in between. While waiting for shuttle back to town a lady stopped and asked if she was close to New Hampshire. Uhh, sort of...Notes:Texts aren't going in or out well lately. Since we get internet occasionally, it's best to use email.Looking forward to the Saturday evening AYCE pizza buffet here in Andover!Just weighed in and have lost 55 pounds overall. Another ten or twenty would be nice.
Date: 2015-07-15
From: South Arm

To: Woods Road
Miles today: 41.2

Day 156, 7/12Last night's AYCE pizza at the Red Hen was excellent.Scott Jurek broke the AT record and Longhorn pointed out that the trail is longer this year. Jurek had to go eight miles further than the previous record holder.NPR interview link: http://www.npr.org/2015/07/14/422952328/ultra-marathoner-hikes-appalachian-trail-in-record-timeMoose sighting in the morning. Hiked over Bemis and Old Blue. Very hot! 90+!!Day 157, 7/13Another scorcher. I did a better job of staying hydrated than I did yesterday.Took a swim in Sabbath Day Pond. First time I'd been swimming in a year. Hadn't gone that long between swims since I was a little kid.Got to highway four and hitched to the Farmhouse hostel. Did a little resupply at the IGA.Day 158, 7/14Warm day again. Saw many hikers out on the trail. Went over Saddleback Mountain, The Horn, and Saddleback Junior. Exited to the gravel road on a woods road and caught shuttle back to the hostel. We'll go from there to Stratton on Thursday. Ate big dinner at Sarge's.Day 159, 7/15Taking zero in Rangely. Library has great computers and WiFi. Need to send some postcards and do some shopping. Long day planned for tomorrow. Nice to get a little rest.Notes:Bill, I'll take the under on that finish date.Already broke a lace on the new boots. Why don't they spend a few more pennies and give us laces that last more than two days?Check out the blog for more info and pics: http://zipperthruhike.blogspot.com/
Date: 2015-07-16
From: Woods Road

To: ME 27
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: light rain

Day 160, 7/16Shane dropped us off at the woods road and we were back on the AT by eight.Cool breezy morning meant fewer bugs!Met a group from New York up on South Crocker. They fixed Longhorn up with some trail magic. Guess he was looking a little skinny so they threw a bunch of calories his way.Link to their site: http://www.adk-on.org/Our hitch into Stratton was a guy who went to UT. He had a cooler full of trail magic and told us to help ourselves.Once in town, we hit the gas station for dinner. After a little resupply at the market, we're showered up and relaxing with a little television time.Notes:We passed the 2000 mile mark this afternoon.Weather forecast for tomorrow looks pretty good. Planning on a 16+ miler.Our stays in Andover (Pine Ellis) and Rangely (Farmhouse) were nice. Folks took great care of us and gave excellent advice about the trail in their areas.
Date: 2015-07-21
From: East Flagstaff Rd.

To: ME 15
Miles today: 57.0

Day 162, 7/18Light rain at start but it quit soon after we started hiking. Went to Pierce Pond Lean-to. Group from Austin here. Tenting. Very nice spot. Fifty miles in the last three days. Unable to get a call out to Clare. We cross river via canoe tomorrow.Day 163, 7/19More rain and mud. Got to ferry spot early. Not Yet was already there and went across first. We were next. After crossing we got a hitch to The Sterling Inn in Caratunk and resupplied. We ate some lunch on the porch and then they were kind enough to shuttle us back out to the trail. Made it to Pleasant Pond Shelter a bit before two. Several southbound hikers there. Poured. Set up in the rain. In tents very early. Still no cell service.Day 164, 7/20Heavy rains overnight. Stopped atop Pleasant Pond Mountain to dry everything out. Some cell service. Muddy, buggy, humid, miserable 13.1 mile slog to Moxie Bald Lean-to. Tenting next to Bald Mountain Pond. Passed on a swim due to leach sighting.Day 165, 7/21Three fords on the day. Second one was the west branch of the Piscataquis River where we used the rope to get across. Muddy and buggy again. Made it to Monson and have a room at the Lake Shore House. We were a mess when we arrived. Rebecca (owner) and Chelsea got us squared away and we're on our way to being human again. Tried a "Distinctively Different" Moxie soda. Very good!Notes:Planning to zero here tomorrow. Getting ready for the hundred mile wilderness.Chivo, thanks for the advice. I'll make sure I have my gloves for Katahdin.Pics will go up on the blog when I get a chance.
Date: 2015-07-28
From: ME 15

To: Golden Road
Miles today: 99.1
Weather: light rain

Day 166, 7/22Zero in MonsonDay 167, 7/23Had a quick breakfast at Pete's and then Rebecca dropped us at the trail by 6:45. Good day to start the Hundred Mile Wilderness as temps were cooler. Several fords. Trail magic by Terry Adams, in memory of his son James. Really enjoyed shooting the breeze on the porch while watching the hummingbirds. Stayed in Long Pond Lean-to with section hiker River.Day 168, 7/24Slept poorly. Also, a mouse got into my food bag. He/she enjoyed the peanut butter. I hate meeces to pieces! Rained all day. Saw plenty of hikers but most weren't making many miles. Did a couple of root dances. Stealth camped. Tired and sore but the end is in sight.Day 169, 7/25Rained most of the day. No view from White Cap Mountain. Stealth camped a bit after crossing the Pleasant River. Very, very tired. We hung up clothes, hoping to dry out a bit.Day 170, 7/26Starting out in light rain. Went about twenty miles. Still no clear view of Katahdin. Second toe has taken a right turn. Guess it would rather be in the middle. Found a few blueberries just before camping.Day 171, 7/27Rough day. Still unable to see Katahdin. A few more blueberries. Great trail magic from the Chewonki Adventure Girls. Sunflower spread was excellent! Longhorn spotted a pair of moose and we were able to get pics of a cow and calf. We could hear thunder and felt raindrops so we camped just after Rainbow Stream Lean-to.Day 172, 7/28Quite a storm last night! Plenty of lightning, loud thunder, and driving rain. Got up early and trail was challenging. Lots of wet roots and rocks with plenty of mud thrown in for good measure. Finally got our first clear view of Katahdin. We were out of the H.M.W. by noon. Eventually got a hitch into Millinocket. Nice to get a shower and wash our filthy clothes. Notes:When I slip on a wet root and try to recover, I sometimes step on another...and another...and so on. Lots of twisting and flailing. Must be entertaining to watch.When I'm obviously struggling and hear someone say "Enjoy your hike!" it reminds me of my brother's tat that says "Have a nice death." Gee, thanks.0311, we remember you. Figured you would make it. Also figured a bunch had dropped out. February start was miserable but will allow us to finish in time to get back to work.Pics will be posted on the blog.