morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-06-11
From: Bear's Den Hostel

To: Key's Gap
Miles today: 14.1

Turned over 1,000 miles today. WooHoo! The hike was a lot of rock walking, like a chess game, you have to plan your moves ahead, move laterally, adjust your stride. It's not a walk in leaves/pine needle covered paths in a garden; you have to "see the sidewalk" in the rocks. How will this work in Pennsylvania...? Stopped in for lunch on the picnic tables at Blackburn AT Center, briefly met the caretaker. So many great people on the Trail - they are like apostles, disciples spreading the message of the Trail. Facilitators, enablers, advocates, defenders, trail angels, all making it possibel for us to do this wonderful adventure. "No one gets to Maine alone." It takes a lot of support and the love people have for the Trail comes through again and again. Met up with friend Jim Vogt from Covington at Key's Gap, got some dinner in town, and we spent the night tenting at the Blackburn AT Center - thanks to the PATC and ATC for providing this excellent hostel for us hikers. Jim got to meet some fellow hikers and experience a bit of the AT culture. A mother and son hiker team, Trail names 423 (or is it 413?)and Scooter, were there, heading south, doing a multiple flip-flop. I had run into them earlier in the day when hiking through to Keys Gap to meet Jim. Shortly after I passed them on the trail, I saw a tiny deer, perhaps newborn, on the side of the trail. The mother was roaming around, apparently trying to get the fawn up and moving. The fawn many have been hurt, it wasn't getting up.
Date: 2010-06-12
From: Key's Gap

To: Harper's Ferry
Miles today: 6.2
Weather: clear sky

Jim and I hiked into Harper's Ferry today. At Key's Gap there was a former hiker doing some really nice Trail Magic, so Jim got to experience this aspect of the Trail also - generous "giving back" by those who have experieced the Trail and help support those of us currently doing it. Others enjoying the trail magic included Cowgirl and Grey. We stopped at the ATC office, got my picture taken for the photo album - I am number 317 for this year to make it this far from Springer Mountain. I was able to find Clair's picture in the album from 2003, along with her friends Matt and Laura. After we mistakenly wandered a mile or so down the Trail on the towpath, we finally connected with the shuttle driver, who took us to Jim's car back at Key's Gap, and got dinner in Harper's Ferry. I got a bed at a hostel in Harper's Ferry, and crashed after Jim and I did supper, and Jim hit the road to visit his son Brian and wife and grandchild in DC. The day was extremely hot and I felt pretty fried. When the regularly scheduled late afternoon thunderstorms struck I was glad to be under roof. Others in the hostel included Jibbitz, Freight Train, and Eddy from Germany. Tomorrow, will resupply, visit the outfitter, possibly catch Mass at St. Peter's here in Harper's Ferry, and hopefully hit the trail again. Maryland and Pennsylvania are next on the route.
Date: 2010-06-13
From: Harper's Ferry

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

After spending the night at the Town Inn hostel, I spent part of Sunday doing stuff like go to the Appalachian Trail Center to buy some maps, visit the outfitter in town to buy a water filter and lightweight summer sleeping bag, and resupply my almost empty food bag at the General Store. I also made it to St Peter's for mass, and after mass a nice lady who is a nurse gave me some good advice on how to avoid Lyme's Disease from the nasty little ticks, which are so small they are difficult to see especially in the nymph stage. Then I ran into Daily Dozen whom I had hiked with a few weeks ago, and Bluebird, and we got a burger and fries together at a high priced Harper's Ferry restaurant, but it tasted very good. Then I hoisted my pack, heavy laden with lots of food, and headed for...the ice cream store to get a custard cone on the way out of town. By now it was 2:30 and very hot. What was I thinking? Anyway I had to walk along the tow path for several miles, then up the hillside to the ridge top. The view from Weverton Cliffs was excellent, worth the short side trip to see it. Got to the Garvey Shelter around 6 pm, set up tent, did supper, and turned in. The Garvey shelter is a very nice one, dedicated to Ed Garvey who did so much to educate people about the Trail and make it possible for us to have this experience. Many thanks to Ed and the people who built the shelter. Also at the shelter were Grolar Bear and two others. It was a long hike down the hill to get water, but the water was good.
Date: 2010-06-14
From: Ed Garvey Shelter

To: Turner's Gap
Miles today: 11.1

Hit the trail around 8 this morning, undecided about how far to go. Stopped at Gathland State Park, where they had an actual working pop machine at a picnic area so had an unexpected treat there. Later, I checked my phone, and had a message from Tom and Ann who live nearby and invited me to come spend the night with them, get a shower, wash clothes, so of course I am taking them up on their offer. Ann's daughter Laura was one of my daughter Clair's hiking companions in 2003, and so they are familiar with the needs, the appetite, and the smell of a thru-hiker. Thanks for the marvelous Trail Magic, Tom and Ann! Ann fixed a great spaghetti dinner and Tom has offered to take me to a few places tomorrow to get some things I need - like maybe a new pair of boots, and some tick repellent. So I will be off the Trail until Wednesday, living the good life and taking it easy. Then I will be booking it for Pennsylvania and a visit with my sister Judy near Delaware Water Gap in a few weeks. Seems like the states just keep rolling by now, after more than 500 miles through Virginia.
Date: 2010-06-15
From: Turners Gap

To: Pogo Memorial Capmground
Miles today: 8.8
Weather: light rain

I spent Monday night at Tom and Ann¢s house in Haggerstown MD. Had a wonderful night¢s sleep. They fed me very well. I had an ¢all I can eat¢ spaghetti dinner Monday night, bacon and eggs the next morning and a steak dinner before I hit the trail around 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday. I was able to take care of some town chores like a hair cut, resupply, pickup up some insect repellent to ward off ticks and bought a new shirt. I want to express my thanks to Tom and Ann for being so hospitable to me and treating me so well.Tom dropped me off to resume my hike in a rain. It was kind enough to stop soon. So here I am a Pogo Memorial Campgrounds with my usual evening chores ahead of me. It's a fairly rough campsite, rocky and few flat spots, but I went a few hundred yards further and found a better spot. I'm not sure why they didn't make the official campsite here instead of in the middle of a rock garden. There is a good water supply, and a few other hikers staying here as well. All is well.
Date: 2010-06-16
From: Pogo Memorial Capmground

To: Mt. Dunlap Stealth Camp Mile 1057
Miles today: 16.7

There were times today when I regretted my decision not to stay with Tom and Ann another night as they had offered.The weather was drizzly and miserable, trail at times was very rocky and difficult to manage. Left knee was achy for no apparent reason. I took some ibuprofen and that seemed to help. We¢ll see how it is tomorrow.I really miss the bed and the food and the cookies and the good company that Tom and Ann had offered me. But I had decided to hike on to try to get to PA. I made good progress. Made to it PA past the Penn-Mar picnic shelter where some of the other hikers had ordered in pizza and shared a piece with me, which was greatly appreciated.I loaded my water containers to carry water from the picnic area a couple of miles further to the ridge top further along the trail in order to camp out and dry out some of my gear.So all day was miserable but I did make progress.My goal is to make it to Boiling Springs in the next 4 days and then on to Duncannon. That¢s all for now. I did find a nice ridgetop campsite, off to the left of the trail, nice and leaf-covered so it was pretty soft and clean.
Date: 2010-06-17
From: Mt. Dunlap Stealth Camp Mile 1057

To: Quarry Gap Shelters
Miles today: 18.5
Weather: clear sky

As miserable as yesterday was ¢ the weather, rock scrambles and my knee - today was a very perfect morning . The weather was great.   I had a nice campsite last night and easy walking for the most part. Just after the road crossing for Waynesboro I saw two hikers sacked out on the ground. Later they caught up with me at a shelter - Strider and Michigan. They had spent a night at a bar called "Blondies" in town. Had a nice walk and conversation with a section hiker, a young chemistry teacher.Late in afternoon I took a short side trip got off trail where I ate a whole pizza and had some ice cream and O.J. I ran into Yahtzee and Stretcher who had just left the Caledonia State Park.   They managed to get a swim in at the pool in the State Park. I managed to get a pizza. Hard to say who got the better deal. There were some hard rock scrambles today but managed to do them safely. Nice moon this evening. Quarry Gap Shelters are very nice. This section of the Trail is maintained by the PATC and they have many fine shelter areas. This one even has potted hanging plants to provide a nice comfortable feeling. There are two shelters, tent platforms, and a "group" campsite that I made use of since it was flat and a bit removed from the commotion of the shelters. The area near the shelters is a dense rhododendron forest.
Date: 2010-06-18
From: Quarry Gap Shelters

To: Stealth Camp Mile1095.7 Pine Grove Furnace
Miles today: 20.2
Weather: clear sky

Today was excellent hiking and I really enjoyed the walk this morning. I felt very thankful for all the many wonderful thing that I have been able to experience out here. Today we had ripe blueberries   and later on ripe raspberries. It was a good day for the hunter gathers along the trail.There are still some Mountain Laurel blooms and a lot of Indian Pipe along the trial. I felt very appreciative and grateful all throughout the day for all the blessings and the occasional wild turkey and ruffle grouse, and all the little animals scurrying around in the woods. It was a very great feeling to be out in the woods today. I'm so fortunate to be able to do this and have this great experience. To be able to walk in the footsteps of the many who have gone before me on this journey, to benefit from all the hard work and committment of the trail clubs who maintain the path, to be able to feel the hand of God out here every day. I am blessed indeed. I crossed the ¢official¢ half way point on the trail today and I got a picture of the sign. I¢m officially past the half way point at this time. That is a very good feeling!I¢m looking forward to getting to Boiling Spring PA tomorrow. The weather looks to be good for the next several days around here.*There is a traditional hiker¢s ritual at Pine Grove Furnace State Park. It is called the half-gallon challenge. In honor of crossing the half way point. You have the opportunity to join the ¢12 gallon club¢ and take home a great remembrance of the event. To take home the prize the hiker must eat 12 gallon of ice cream in one sitting. The prize ¢ besides the obvious effects on one¢s stomach ¢ is that you get to keep the wooded spoon. WooHoo! I did the unofficial challenge of eating a 12 quart of van. bing cherry. My stomach is eternally grateful to me at this point.That¢s about it for now.Wife note: Although Jerry did not mention it in his journal entry he told me that at this point he is hiking with all younger hikers. Apparently he is the oldest one around the immediate area at the moment. Just thought that was worth a mention. Go, Euerka! Go.
Date: 2010-06-19
From: Stealth Camp Mile1095.7 Pine Grove Furnace

To: Boiling Springs
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Trail today with brutal heat also had some challenging rocks at top of hill to negotiate. A few miles into the hike at a road crossing I took a left turn and walked a quarter mile or so to a deli where I got a wonderful sub sandwich, ice cream, orange juice, and coffee, which probably contributed to making the hike harder in afternoon. Although it tastes very good at the time. I made it to Boiling Springs today and went to the town swimming pool. It was near closing time so they let me in free. I managed to shower, rinse off my clothes and swim for a while. How wonderful!Afterwards I made a bee line to get burger and a bubby brew before bed time.   Which I was successful in doing thanks to bartender Bob. Spent the night at a backpacker campground near Boiling Springs right next to a rail road track which made for a very noisy night. Everything worked out okay.(Upon Jerry¢s request Slinky will now be removed completely from the journal name.)
Date: 2010-06-20
From: backpacker campground-Boiling Springs

To: Darlington Shelter
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: scattered clouds

After spending the night at Boiling Springs, I grabbed breakfast at a gas station - cinnabun, pop tarts, orange juice - then hiked out. Felt a little sadness. It was Father's Day, and it was on my mind a bit all day, realizing that as much as I am enjoying this trip, I do miss my family. But, I am halfway to the finish, counting down the miles, although much of the toughest part of the Trail remains. The hike today was largely along the perimeter of cornfields and farmland. The sun was hot, and I felt a bit bogged down, but the plus was that along the edges of farmland there were lots of ripe raspberries to pick. I stopped at Scott Farm, which is owned by the Appalachian Trail Conference (ATC) for their work crews. I took an extended lunch break to wait for the sun to go down a little. For lunch I had a can of chicken I rescued from a hiker box at the ATC office in town, and some gourmet instant cappachino that I mized with cold water. Tasted pretty good. Later on, the trail got back into the woods, and I came across some ripe cherries. Got to Darlington Shelter around 5 pm and it was absolutely gorgeous - a nice shelter, with excellent camp sites on the top of the ridge. I built a small cooking fire to do dinner, and relaxed. A good day. Tomorrow is the Summer Solstice. How to celebrate?
Date: 2010-06-21
From: Darlington Shelter

To: Duncannon - The Doyle Hotel
Miles today: 11.4
Weather: overcast clouds

I got a pretty early start from the shelter. There were lots of hikers there, including Jibbitz, BooBoo, and half a dozen others. I really hit the jackpot today on the trail. I came across a cluster of cherry trees, with some low hanging branches. I was able to have my fill of tasty ripe cherries. Eventually I had to move on, fearful that I wouldn't get to Duncannon if I kept eating cherries. Later there were lots of ripe raspberries along some fields, and again I had to force myself to leave them to get to Duncannon. The last mile or so of the trail was very steep and rugged coming down to Duncannon. I got to the Doyle Hotel around 1 pm. The Doyle is a classic tradition on the AT. It is a very old, somewhat ramshackle hotel built long ago, supposedly by the Budweiser family as one of a chain of facilities they set up mostly to sell their beer. Nothing fancy, but the folks running it cater to the Trail hikers. I have resupplied, and my food bag if very very heavy. Not sure if I will be able to lift it. I'll spend the night and probably head out tomorrow. There was quite a crowd of hikers in the bar, some of whom stayed, some headed on. I got to the post office to pick up my new shoes that Sue sent me, and shipped the old worn ones home. They served me well.
Date: 2010-06-22
From: Duncannon - The Doyle Hotel

To: Stealth camp on Peter Mt. Mile 1151
Miles today: 13.3

Did a nice big breakfast in a diner across the street from the Doyle. Big excitement for the day was having new boots. The old boots were very worn out and Sue sent me new boots that I picked up at Duncannon and they are wonderful!The trail today was very rocky. A steep uphill from the river in Duncannon up to the top of Peter Mountain. With the old boots I could feel every stone because the soles were so very thin. The new boots feel much more comfortable and they grip the rocks a lot better. A big improvement for me.The trail is very rocky. PA is noted for its rocks. The saying is that ¢PA is where boots go to die¢. I was surprised on the top of the ridge to find lots of raspberries again. I had to remind myself to keep moving and stop eating so many raspberries in order to reach my goal for the day.At the Doyle I met a hiker, Bulldog who was traveling with a companion, Hitchcock. Bulldog is blind and is hiking the trail. It was an interesting experience to meet him. I also met some other hikers that I had not met before, a couple Limestone and Mrs. Limestone.   Another couple, Chef and Bear Chaser. I traveled part of the day with them. At a shelter later on in the evening I also ran into Fireman and his wife Mudfoot. They are from Ashland KY and are hiking with her mother and sister for a couple of days. I traveled on from the shelter for a couple of miles. I camped alone on a ridge top. Looking forward to an early start tomorrow.
Date: 2010-06-23
From: Stealth camp on Peter Mt. Mile 1151

To: Stealth camp Mile 1169.6
Miles today: 18.6

From Peters Mountain I walked along the ridge to Stony Mountain. The raspberries from Peters Mtn. turned into stones on top of Stony Mtn. No raspberries to be found.Water sources are often dry ¢ there are a lot of dry gullies in PA. Weather is DRY and HOT making for some very difficult hiking. The water source at Rausch Gap Shelter was dry and I decided to hike on. Wound up doing a stealth camp just before the road crossing at PA 443. I felt really exhausted and worn out.
Date: 2010-06-24
From: Stealth camp Mile 1169.6

To: William Penn Shelter
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: clear sky

Got to shelter around 2:00 p.m. and decided to stay. Combination of heat, rocks and an aching back I decided there was no way I¢d make it to Port Clinton on Saturday before the Post Office closed so I¢m taking my time and will get to the Post Office on Monday were there should be a package waiting for me with any luck. There is a water source here at the shelter so I¢m good and here for the night. Chef and Bear are here, and Dragonfly and his son. I found out later that Doodlebug and Diggery Dude were here too.
Date: 2010-06-25
From: William Penn Shelter

To: Hertlein Campsite
Miles today: 9.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Ah! Life on the AT!   Life on the Trail! Where else can you have breakfast of mocha and oatmeal and then when walking to the privy a little later grab and enjoy a handful of red raspberries for dessert. It¢s a wonderful benefit of being here when the raspberries are ripe. There are a lot of blackberries along the trail that haven¢t come ripe yet so I¢m looking forward to hopefully sampling them when they turn ripe.My back is fully recovered from the pain of the last couple of days. A good night¢s sleep and some Ibuprofen took care of the problem. I¢m back to good health.Trail mixture of easy trail and very rocky areas today. The rocks in PA are grounded vertically. I¢m sure there must have been a CCC project back in the ¢30s when they told the guys to go out and take all the rocks and make them pointy side up. That¢s the way it looks. It is very difficult walking in some cases.   My feet are kind of sore from all the rocks.I stopped today at a shelter called the 501 Shelter. It is one of the nicest shelters I¢ve seen on the trail. It had a cold water shower so I was able to get cleaned up and rinse out my clothes. I even got some sardines and mustard sauce out of the hiker box so that was a special treat for lunch. The campsite here is very nice. I¢m around a lot of people whom I¢ve never met before. They are coming up behind me. They are the faster hikers who left after me. All is well. Hope to be in Port Clinton on Sunday.
Date: 2010-06-26
From: Hertlein Campsite

To: Port Clinton
Miles today: 18.1
Weather: broken clouds

Early start from the campsite this morning and hiked to the shelter about 12 way to Port Clinton where I took a lunch break at Eagles¢ Nest shelter. Along the way I ran in to hikers Tom, Chef, and Bear Chaser who were also headed to Port Clinton. I had some nice Trail Magic along the way.      Some free sodas that were left by a spring. Some day hikers who gave me some fruit and a boy scout troop passed me and the boy scout leader gave me a snickers and some twizzlers. Totally unsolicited, a little trail magic along the way. I made Port Clinton about 6:00 or so and staying at a covered pavilion in the city used by hikers.Did supper at the P.C. motel, Bar and Grill. Getting ready to sack out for the night. Taking a zero day on Sunday in order to pick up a mail drop on Monday.   Trying to make arrangements to meet up with my sister Judy next weekend up near Delaware Water Gap.There were ripe blueberries and raspberries along the trail.Bunch of people at the shelter, two British guys, Winston and Churchill, Trashman and Ohio Bro, and a section hiker Kisco Kid and one more named Charlie. Charlie was at the Doyle and I've run into him now and then. A very colorful character.
Date: 2010-06-27
From: Port Clinton

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

Taking a zero day today. Waiting for the post office to open Monday morning in order to pick up a package. All is well. Did a nice breakfast at a restaurant near here. Walking into it was a bit like Dorothy entering Oz. It just didn't seem real, it was so nice. During the day who should show up but Daily Dozen, who I hadn't seen since Harper's Ferry. He said he had been trying to catch up with me for quite awhile. He had decided to end his hike here at Port Clinton, and his wife was picking him up that evening. It was nice to reconnect with him. He intends to continue doing sections next year, eventually to finish the whole trail. I ate at the Port Clinton Hotel again, and saw Doodlebug and Diggey Dude there also. There was another hiker staying at the hotel, who I think was named Hot Foot. I had run into him several times in recent weeks. He had gotten sick, apparently with Lyme's, and had been there a few days. He wasn't sure what he was going to do, seemed really to be having a hard time concentrating. Later, I saw him at Cabelas and he was preparing to hitch a ride to a brother's home in Allentown so he could recover. (Weeks later, I heard that he had returned to the Trail after recovering from the illness. I never thought he would be able to return. One of many such stories I heard along the way of people who decided to continue despite serious medical issues.)
Date: 2010-06-28
From: Port Clinton

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

Did breakfast at the Land of Oz restaurant again, made it to the post office, forwarded my new boots from Merrill on to home for now. I was headed for Eckville Shelter, and actually walked right through the road crossing and missed the sign that said it was down the road to the right. Fortunately, about 15 minutes later, Trashman and Ohio Bro came along from behind and pointed out my error. Eckville shelter is kind of unusual. It has a cold water shower and a flush toilet and it is right next to a paved road. There is also a caretaker¢s house where several people live. Two of the guys here managed to hitch into town and brought back some soft drinks for me. Later the caretakers decided to make a trip in to town also and brought back some ice cream. So those were unexpected treats today that I really enjoyed.The trail was very rocky at times with some nice overlooks at other times it was very smooth and easy.It was good to get back on the trail. Hopefully I¢ll be able to make it to Delaware Water Gap for the weekend. Others here include Stan and Candy Bar, Grolar Bear, Nesta, and three ladies doing a section who call themselves the Meandering Mamas.