morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2019-06-22
From: Holiday Inn, Carlisle, PA

To: Cove Mnt Shelter
Miles today: 14.5

TA 2,233. TD 1,437. TG 253On the trail by 7:30AM. Steve made a quick visit last night to bring me items from home and take me to the store for resupplies.  It was nice to see him and Floyd. New meaning to trail magic.  My body is getting familiar to the routine.  After I get dressed and eat, my body starts to sweat just looking at the pack.  I have to get on the trail quickly.  The moment I step foot on the trail, I instinctly take a deep breath. Today was a beautiful day. Walked thru fields, along the river and up and down mountains.  Got water from a stream and filtered it.  I always announce myself before going into the forest with a click of my walking poles, but the animals already know. Birds change their tunes, squirrels scamper, and, the bears and mountain lions, well they make scarce.  Shared the path with many weekend hikers, joggers and Boy Scouts.  Saw Big Heart who got him name because he asked God to help him love everyone he meets on the AT and there was Circuit Rider, a 7 time thru hiker who is on the trail for his 10th time, who sees the trail as his ministry. Saw Robin Hood, Sand Pig and Dundee and many more. There was West and his 4 legged companion Scout, and met up with two young gents, Little Bear and his buddy, A Little Bare who celebrated the summer solstice with a sunrise service and nude hike back to the trail.    Arrived at the shelter. Met Brass Compass, a gentleman with a pressed shirt who spent his life collecting compasses and reading maps, none of which he brought with him on the AT. Lovely shelter. The spring is 300 stone steps down the mountain from the shelter. One hopes to make the trip to water only once. Plan enough water for tonight and the morning. Going to bed early tonight. Hiking 12-15 miles a day is enough for me, not to include the trips to get water. The trail tomorrow goes into the town of Duncannon, PA. I had planned a meal there (lunch) which allows me to eliminate one meal to carry. That would be called a Hero Day, where one goes off the path to a town, then returns on the path that day. A Nero is hiking to a town and staying the night. A Zero is when you start in town and stays there. There will be some of each during this hike.
Date: 2019-06-27
From: Pine Grove

To: Port Clinton-pavilion 
Miles today: 16.5

TA 480. TD 336. TG 139.9AM Got a ride to route 183 to get back onto the trail from Pinegrove. Passed a Hindi Ashram. Planned a leisure 6 miles to the next shelter because I am carrying heavy-4 days of food and water. Feeling pretty good from the previous day of rest. Met a trail maintenance crew along the way, Adventure, Terry, Scott and, Young One. I crossed paths with one southbound hiker but otherwise was in the forest all by myself. Often in the periphery of your vision you see and hear things but when you turn there¢s nothing there. I swear there are elves in the forest.  Came to Eagles nest Shelter at 1:30 and took a leisurely lunch. There was a log by the stream that looked perfect for sitting only I saw a snake slide into a hole in the log. He kept his head visible. Not this time snake.  The mosquitoes, gnats and flies were bad. There was 9 miles to the next town that offered hikers a pavilion to sleep In. That meant I needed to do 9 miles and preferably get out of the woods before dark. The path was relatively flat (139) but still with plenty of rocks, stones, logs and mud.  I decided to go for it. I picked up my pace and continue to kick plenty of stones. I was still able to see wild flowers in bloom, and I¢ll be darned if I didn¢t catch that little elf (photo). I was out of the woods by 6:30PM and came into the lovely town of Port Clinton where I went right to the pavilion, passing a train yard, a girls softball practice session and children playing in the park. There was no running water at the pavilion so I bathe in the nearby river and filtered the water for drinking. At the pavilion was Wink, a thru hike, who was struggling to get pizza delivered to the pavilion. He plan on taking a zero tomorrow.  He finally got his pizza, wings, warm soft cookie, cinnamon buns and soda. Peace. He slept on the picnic table and me in my hammock, under the pavilion, under the stars, in the park, in town.
Date: 2019-06-28
From: Port Clinton-pavilion 

To: Blue Rocks, PA
Miles today: 9.3

TA 2,362. TD 1,181. TG 378 (that means, I was bustin my ass on the trail).  Friday, hot and muggy Left the ¢pavilion¢ in the town of Port Clinton where Wink and I spent the night and headed to the post office where I could catch a shuttle that takes hikers into Hamburg to the worlds largest outdoor store, Cabela¢s.  I am looking at new shoes as mine are falling apart. On the way to the post office a town woman asked if I was lost and where I slept last night. ¢No, not lost¢, I told her  ¢I slept at the pavilion¢. She said the pavilion is uptown, that I had slept in the park. Fancy that.  That would explain the strange looks and the feeling I had of being homeless.  At Cabela¢s I bought new shoes with the wide toebox. The toes on the left foot are still numb and bruised. I also bought a new shirt for myself, since I only have one hiking shirt that I wear day after day,  and one for Josie that I will send home at the post office. I took pictures of their wildlife display. Sad and beautiful. Back in town, I went to the post office and then started back on the trail climbing over 1000 feet with a steep grade of 491. On my own and drenched again. The trail was rocky and, once on the mountain ledge, there were more rocks,jagged and loose. I saw a Flipper, Strider, Buck and Mr. White. They said several hikers left the trail because of problems i.e. concussion, foot problems, fractures and strains from the rocks of PA. The rocks are not so different from VA, WV and MD. My guess, it is a combination of mid hiker¢s blues and fatigue.  I¢d like to stay on the trail for 65 days, so I will set this intention.  Got water from a spring along with a frog and snake. We all have to drink.I planned a leisure 9 mile hike to a family campground where I could get a shower. There are two trails that lead 1.5 miles straight  down the mountain to that campground. The blue trail is rocky and muddy but direct and the yellow trail is 2 miles longer along the ridge but less rocky with only a short steep descent.  I plan to take the yellow trail. But, just as I approach the blue trail cut-off I get an alert on my phone ¢flash flood warnings in effect for this area¢.  It¢s 6:30 PM and I decide to take the blue trail. The blue trail was indeed rocky, logs on the path and no switchbacks; straight down the mountain. It was no stranger to flood waters and it was getting wetter and wetter by the minute.Soon I was walking through through a stream.  In 45 minutes I was down the mountain safe but a little hobbled. My feet were moving around in the shoes and the sole, unlike my previous boots, did not disperse the impact of the rocks across my foot, rather I felt every rock edge.  I limped to the office to secure a tent site. I may have to see three days through to heal my foot and ankle. 65 days on the trail, that includes 3 days in a hammock with my foot elevated.  Doing great.
Date: 2019-07-02
From: George W Outerhouse Shelter

To: Danielsville, PA
Miles today: 8.0

I packed up camp. Left Back Track at the primitive campsite and met up with GipCGirl at the shelter. She was happy to have company, as was I. We hiked out slowly to Palmerton. Stopped at the diner for breakfast and the server told us that Shock Top is off the trail because of infected blisters or two others are off the trail to. Looks like Tiger Lily will catch up with her after all. We left our packs at the diner and walked into town for a five day resupply of food at the Dollar Store.  I sTopped at the library and had a photo shoot at the puppet play house. Thinking of Spenser. We sat in the park and waited our ride to Filbert¢s B&B in the next town of Danielsville, PA. We plan a two day respite. The bed-and-breakfast is a lovely old General store/ Victorian farmhouse. The owner Kathy is kind but only deals in cash. We keep our packs in the summer kitchen and put on scrubs and flip-flops provided by the owner (no packs or shoes in the home). The owner took our dirty clothes to launder and offered us lemonade. Staying at the home are two other hikers that had met GipCGirl when she hike the PCT several years ago, Test and Challenger. Test got her trail name when she accidentally set off the SOS alarm and didn¢t realize it until it was a helicopter flying above them.  Challenger got his name because he worked for NASA on the Challenger. They are trying to figure out if they THRU hike and get to Main before Katotcin closes, or do they ENJOY hike. Two different mindsets and two different approaches. They decide to stay an extra day so that we can all hike out tomorrow. I think they are coming close to their decision.  GipCGirl and I have massages planned for tomorrow!. I think we know very well what kind a hike we want.
Date: 2019-07-03
From: Danielsville, PA

To: Nowhere 
Miles today: 0.0

Woke up this morning in a lovely Victorian Rose room, brass bed. Didn¢t have to squat as I got out of bed but thought about it. Farm fresh eggs, more heartfelt conversation and back to journaling.  Just resting. Okay, lots of conversation with GipCGirl, Test and Challenger.  Everyone has interesting lives. GipCGirl lives on King Island, Australia, and has  worked in Papua New Guinea, South Africa and Brazil. She is happily married with three grown boys and had hiked the PCT, the AT twice before, Australia and has summitted many mountains, got lost a couple of times and now is back on the AT with a different hike in mind. She harvests and markets sea salt, and has started a gypsy dance group on her small island of 900 residents.  Born in Austria in a refugee camp, her parents fled the Russia occupation of Budapest after WW II. Her mom and dad walked 2 years through the Alps with 2 babies and pregnant with her.  They settled in a refugee camp in Austria where they lived for several years until they were able to enter Australia. GipCGirl was 5 then. Hiking is in her DNA. Interesting woman with great stories.We settle in the B&B for a day of rest. ¢Nowhere to go and all day to get there.¢ Murdock Snarr.  ¢This is not a lifestyle, it¢s just a journey.¢ More on Murdock. I will be home mid August. Tomorrow we start hiking again.
Date: 2019-07-04
From: Danielsville, PA

To: Primitive Campsite
Miles today: 14.0

Hot and muggy, in the 90s. GipCGirl and I started on the trail late today, 9 AM with 2 L of water and four day supply of food. Feeling heavy but strong. Left foot quiet for now. Unreliable water sources noted until Kirkridge Shelter, 18 miles away. Saw a turkey with his flock of chicks off the path. Lovely site.  Hiked down 500 feet into Water Gap, 8 miles now at 2PM. No water, so back up 500 feet to the trail on another Mountain in the Blue Mountain range. Conserving water now. Hot, humid and drenched. A questionable water source noted at 6 miles ahead. Stopping every hour to cool off and lay on rocks. No signs of severe dehydration but dreaming about a cold drink. Walking on a rocky path and watching every foot placement. Beautiful fern forest and sounds of gunshots in the distance.  A few boulder scrambles demand my attention and my left foot is singing again. Slow but steady pace so not to overheat. Came to a primitive campsite at 7:30 PM that had a cold spring. We drank all we could, tired, set up camp. No appetite, so we just ate tunafish. We hung our bear bags and went to bed. GipCGirl and her tent and me and my hammock. Heard the celebration of fireworks from the woods. Saw a group of young town boys passing the campsite with headlamps on.  Life is great out in the woods.
Date: 2019-07-05
To: Delaware Water Gap
Miles today: 10.0

We started walking at 6:30 AM. Ate breakfast bars two hours later with a rest break. The early morning is beautiful, misty, moist and cool. We have plenty of water now. Rocks lined the path as usual so that every foot placement again is intentional; still the rocks seem to burst through the bottom and the sides of my feet and my foot goes every which way. There are big rock scrambles again as we go over the mountain top. Rhododendrons are in bloom and line a fair bit of the backside of the mountain as we go down into Delaware Water Gap where the Delaware river separates Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Day hikers are out in numbers. I see wild Rose, red raspberry, not yet ripe, and other wildflowers I can¢t identify. There is fresh bear scat on the path. We arrive in Delaware Water Gap at 12:15 and meet up with Test and Challenger for lunch. Test and Challenger are getting a car to go north and avoid the heat and rocks of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. We are considering getting a ride with them to hike the White Mountains of New Hampshire. We get a room, shower, dinner and call it a wonderful day. Tomorrow we leave by car for NH.
Date: 2019-07-06
From: Delaware Water Gap

To: Gorham, NH
Miles today: 3.0

Just riding in a car with AT family heading to NH. Avoiding the heat and rocks of NJ.  Planning on going South on the AT thru the Presidential range of the White Mountains.  Walked around the town of Gorham, NH. Lovely.  Came upon the town center fair. It all counts.
Date: 2019-07-09
From: Lake of the Clouds

To: Mitzpah Camp
Miles today: 8.0

Temp 45 degrees. TA 554 TD 1,981 TG 493  Beautiful vistas. Delicate flowers. Lively birdsongs. Wish I could identify the birds. Ran into a maintenance crew doing the right thing? Putting rocks on the trail. I knew it. Rocks are brought in so not to disturb the those in place and to protect the delicate fauna. Make sense? I hope they use the rocks in PA.  A naturalist/botanist is on the trail to advice the maintenance crew up in the White Mountains. What a job. The trail is celebrating 150 years. On the ridge are cairns spaced approximately 20 feet apart. When the fog sets in, it is difficult to see further than that.  There have been many hikers lost and lives lost on Mt. Washington over the many years. The terrain is a mixture of monstrous boulders and out croppings of bedrock and treeless tops and, boreal forest with sparse trees and narrow flumes. And there are sections of hummocky; deep dark moist fern forest, as if elves might pop out from behind a tree. Quite a diversity. At MItzpah hut there is a great community. Staff and mostly day hikers. Thru hikers on the AT come by and often grab a bite to eat or barter 'work for stay'. There was a large youth group of girl hikers.  I quietly told the staff that GipCGirl is a 2 time thru hiker that would love to talk to the group of girl hikers. We got free dinner--enchiladas and chocolate cake.  She did a great job. Everyone attended her talk. She entertained questions such as, how long have you gone without a shower, have you seen snakes and bears, and do you use sun screen. How do you answer that and not turn the girls off from hiking? There we stayed at a AMC campsite and paid $10.  There were some annoying black flies but GipCGirl is gone in her tent and I am fine in my hammock with its fly net.
Date: 2019-07-10
From: Mitzpah Camp

To: AMC Highland Center, Crawford Notch
Miles today: 8.0

TA 728  TD 3,491 TG 653On the trail by 7:30AM. Same beautiful surroundings. Mostly the boreal zone. The are numerous trees down from a phenomenon called the Fir Wave. Every 75 years strong winds topple the bands of dying balsam fir trees that are on the peripheral forest, usually those weakened by disease. Those trees in turn advance or fall on the mature inner trees who grow in thin soil and have week roots known for the boreal zone. This creates a slow moving wave and is a natural selection process, much like a forest fire allows for new growth. I fell like I want to 'clean up' the forest, when in fact it is cleaning itself.
Date: 2019-07-11
From: AMC Highland Center, Crawford Notch

To: Zealand Hut
Miles today: 8.2

TA 2,063 TDS 664 TG 341 Hiking 7:30AM-2:30PM  Temp 56, breezy. Rain expected after 3PMThe hike a 2.5 miles straight uphill, follows an old logging railroad. We cross over rocks and rivers, through balsam fir and white birch woodland. I use the birch bard to write a love letter that is best left behind. There is ground cover/understory of mountain wood sorrel, Clinton is and hobble bush. We hike through open wetlands and meadows. Still I have to negotiate with rocks, make peace with no switchbacks and celebrate the sweat. The rocks are the tough part but I have taped my foot and it is feeling better.  Once on the ridge, just over 2,000 feet, we cross over flat rocks and bolder hop. Once off the ridge, there is a steep descent down to the meadow where beautiful bird song continues and streams flow. It is quiet. The path is pine and bark-ladden and soft with occasional roots to offer a foot hold. But there is one large red pulsating root that was evidence of its life giving nature.  We met 3 day hikers, sat and chatted and ate a snack.  There were frogs croaking in the lake/tarn and moose scat on the trail as we approach Zealand hut. At the hut we met other thru hikers; one disillusioned and discouraged with lymes disease. I offered iodine to two other hikers with inflamed  mosquito bites. Our dinner included 15 bean soup, salad, vegetarian lasagna and lemon pound cake. It rained heavily during dinner and I hear the stream raging. Off to bed with a full belly and no guilt having earned every calorie.  Now, only to listen to the night.
Date: 2019-07-12
From: Zealand Hut

To: Mt. Guyot
Miles today: 6.1

TA 2,224 TD 3,576  TG  608  Rain and humidWoke up at Zealand hut to torrential rains and the beautiful voice of Payton, ANC staffer.  Had oatmeal, eggs, sausage and banana bread for breakfast. Great start to the day. The falls next to the shelter are bellowing; raging is more like it.  Had to walk thru the dense forest along the falls/river to find a place to cross safely. Branches poked at me.  Walked 0.5 miles to were we could forge the river with water at mid calf level. Needed shoes on to step over rocks safely. Water pooled in places, but still raging in others. Took pack belt off just in case if I fall I will not be dragged down with the pack. The day was  making peace with wet shoes.  Had to find our way through the wood/forest back to the trail 0.5 miles. Hiked 3.2 miles up 1,869 feet, a steep incline (total grade 631), then another 3 miles with a grade of 468! Mt Zealand summit under cloud cover and Mt Guyot with an elevation of 4,580 feet. Beautiful vistas. No switch backs to the trail, straight up mountainous boulders, wet path. I think the original trail blazers, like god, have a sense of humor that is a little baffling. On ground level, waked over planks of wood over marshy bogs; not something you look forward to falling into. My feet, socks, shoes are wet. Everything is wet. Rain coat, pack cover and rain skirt on. I like to say I look cute, but that is not the case, though the pack looks lovely in its red rain cover. It is chilly, arboreal and alpine zones. After much effort and only only 6.1 miles we decide to stealth camp. Clothes are wet, but night clothes, hammock and sleeping bag are dry.  We hang our clothes in the trees with little luck of them drying. Rain has stopped for now, but it is humid. Went to bed without food, that takes more effort, besides breakfast is still holding me. Looking forward to the hike out tomorrow to meet up with sister Rita!
Date: 2019-07-13
From: Mt. Guyot

To: AMC Highland Center
Miles today: 6.8

Hiked off the mountain wearing the same wet clothes of yesterday. Lovely hike.  Sweating and tired.  Was hoping to stay in my wet sweaty clothes so Rita sees that I am working hard. But, with time to rest, clean up and appetizers available at the HIghland Center, Rita arrives. Great to see Rita. Lots of joy and excitement. We get our bunk rooms and I take Rita to the library to review her pack. Essentials: camouflage, army issued pants and jacket, police tape (as Rita says, 'if you fall off the mountain, I will be able to mark the trail", ba massager, and dog tags so that if a bear eats her, she can be identified in the bear scat. Extra sandals, 2 knives, because you never know when you need the second huge one. Body lotion because the altitude can be drying to the skin and lord knows your skin will not dry from over washing. Tent and hammock, hey, it is nice to have options. Glow sticks for who know why, maybe to mark the trail or flag down the helicopter when I fall off the mountain again. Extra shirt and socks, foot power and a towel. The only towel she needs is a 6x6 inch micro towel to cover the essential parts in the event she is discovered naked. Here, the essential part is her face so no one can identify her later. Thank goodness she has a ba external framed backpack that a friend lent her. She just might be able to fit all her essential in it. Her pack is quickly reduced down to minimal standards. We leave the massager and body lotion for after hike activities.  We save the magic markers she brought for a hair day tomorrow.  Rita is the essential one. At the Highland Center, like the huts, dinner and breakfast are provided. We eat and rest well ready for our hike that is too come.  But tomorrow a visit to Mt Washington, by car this time.
Date: 2019-07-14
From: AMC Highland Center

To: AMC Highland Center
Miles today: 0.0

We slept in bunk rooms. Had a lovely breakfast and prepared for a day of fun. Laundry, resupply, hair and Mt Washington by car this time. It was 79 degrees when we started driving up Mt Washington (6,288 ft) and 59 degrees when we got to the top 25 minutes later.  Clear weather at the start but once at top, dense fog set in. It was chilly!  We went to the museum which offered a history of the weather station and the mountain. There we much less people at the top of the mountain then when GipCGirl and I hiked down the mountain. Before we left to go down the road, I had to walk the initial 30 feet of the road just so I knew where the road was and where the edge was. It was hard to see 10 feet in front of you.  With glasses on, car in low gear we headed slowly down the mountain. The fog lifted at 4,000 ft. There were scenic pullovers that are intended for cars to cool their breaks. We stopped twice. We drove back to the Highland Center via the scenic route in time for drinks and appetizers. After dinner we packed and repacked our backpacks in the library. We are going up to Lonesome Lake Hut for the night and the hut experience and might hike on, so we are packing 2 days supply of food.  My guess is that Rita¢s pack weighs 15 lbs. Spot on.
Date: 2019-07-15
From: AMC Highland Center

To: Lonesome Lake Hut
Miles today: 3.0

We got up early to get breakfast before we left for Lonesome Lake Hut. Excited about first hike with Rita. We drove to the trailhead at Franconia Notch. The day was warm, okay, hot and humid. We hiked over the highway and on to a trail that went up the mountain. There were day hikers which is usual m when the hut is so close to the road. Rita got overheated, so off with clothing. We all took our shirts off.  Some of us had an under shirt! Some didn¢t. Drinking water to say hydrated, we continued our climb. Through dense northern hardwood forest, over rocks and streams that tumble downward from the mountain and over wooden plank bridges. There are flute like songs from the birds, red spruce and balsam fir. The scent reminds me of Christmas. There is sheep laurel, related to mountain laurel, and mountain ash with red berries and beech trees.  Just lovely. As we approach the hut there is a lake, well, technically a ¢tarn¢; a mountain pond scoured out of the mountain side by a glacier. Once at the hut we see Hanna from the Zealand hut. We unload our packs and take a walk around the tarn. Back at the hut Rita chatted with Long Legs and Denali, two thru hikers in for a bite to eat. We ate potato and dill soup for lunch and for dinner lentils, salad, and falafels with lemon herbs. Great to witness the hut life again. Then, on to bed, tucked away safely in our bunks.