morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2012-09-13
From: Peters Mountain Shelter

To: Cove Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: clear sky

Today was a good day all-around. As an amendment to yesterday's entry, I ended up not having the shelter to myself. Soon after I stopped writing and went to bed, two section hikers came into the shelter after an apparently long night hike (just judging by how late they arrived). I truly had some worries about one of the hikers as he did not seem fit for the trail in more ways than one. I am worried he might injure himself or his young dog. I left the shelter around 7:30 AM and was amped-up about town. The scenery was decent as I passed the trail to Camp Hebron and Table Rock. There had been a lot of work done at the Pennsylvania Rte. 225 crossing. The AT now has its own overpass over the previously dangerous road crossing. I had several views down in the Susquehanna River Valley where the fog was hanging heavy below but had burned off on the mountaintops making the mountains look like islands of an ocean.I arrived at the highway [US Rtes. 22/322] at about 10:30 AM after a rocky descent. My first stop was at the Pilot Travel Center where I paid for a shower, which was long overdue and felt great, and had lunch at the attached Subway. I then made my way to downtown, passing by two "adult" clubs on the way. One of them, the Cabin, is close enough to the AT that there is probably a white blaze on one of the stripper poles (I didn't stop to investigate). I was happy to find my first mail drop waiting for me at the post office. My phone arrived, along with several treats from my parents. I then did my laundry at Sonny Daze and put my phone to work by calling several family members. I had to make a harrowing walk up Pennsylvania Rte. 274 to the super market, which was where I also got an early dinner. There was almost no shoulder on the road, and guard rails that I am sure made driving easier made walking along the road a true chore. My meal there was very good and filling including chicken, stuffing, mac & cheese, and mashed potatoes. I was almost back to bloated cow status, though not nearly as bad as at Hamburg.My hefty meal did not feel as great as I lugged myself and replenished pack up to Hawk Rock. It was a difficult climb -- maybe the steepest in Pennsylvania -- but also a great view. It was an easy two-mile hike from the rock to here. So far, I have the shelter to myself again, though I learned not to count that chicken before it hatches. Despite a productive town day and a reasonable mileage day, I am feeling some regrets about having not stayed in town. I could have had a night to remember (or perhaps to forget) at the Doyle. Hopefully I am not missing too much by keeping my nose to the grindstone. I will say, though, I am missing one thing -- expensive bar tabs.
Date: 2012-09-14
From: Cove Mountain Shelter

To: Alec Kennedy Shelter
Miles today: 25.5
Weather: overcast clouds

After writing last night, I was put under siege by porcupines. Three of them tried to take over the shelter and were gnawing every piece of exposed wood they could find. I tried chasing them off with the shelter broom, but the best I could do without resorting to rocks was to chase two of them under the shelter and their ringleader into the shelter's rafters. Amazingly, that porcupine just bedded down for the night. I figured that was a good enough compromise for me, so I bedded back down, too. The ringleader was still there when I left this morning.I hiked 25.5 miles today, though 17 of those miles were through the extremely easy Cumberland Valley, perhaps the easiest stretch on the entire AT. It was a nice change of pace to hike through farmland rather than being constantly in the woods. The pattern of road crossing, field, woods between fields, field, and next road crossing did start to get a bit boring after several cycles. I got into Boiling Springs, the regional ATC headquarters, at about 3:45 PM. I took a break at the ATC center and watered up. I then went for pizza at a local restaurant and a drink at the gas station. It was too early for dinner, so I asked for the pizza to-go. I was expecting them to wrap the pizza in aluminum foil, but instead they just handed me a box like any other take-out order. It was too big to jam into my pack, so I just carried the box in my hands. I just knew that I was going to trip at any second and splatter my prized meal all over the trail. I didn't. I crossed over Center Point Knob, the original AT midpoint way back in the day. There are two section hikers staying here with me in the shelter and two others camped nearby. When I came in carrying a box of pizza, I heard one of the section hikers say, "There's no way he's a through-hiker." Someone else said, "Are you kidding? Only a through-hiker would even try to carry pizza like that for four miles." I thought that was funny. I am expecting a big day tomorrow as I will reach the official halfway point of the AT and the state park store that hosts the half-gallon ice cream challenge.
Date: 2012-09-15
From: Alec Kennedy Shelter

To: Birch Run Shelter
Miles today: 25.2
Weather: clear sky

The snoring monster struck again last night. Even with ear plugs, I could still hear every chortle. I've said it before and I say it again -- snoring is just part of it all. I made good time today on my hike. I was at Pine Grove Furnace State Park before 1:00 PM. The walk through the park was like a walk through a park -- forgive me, I am cheesy. It was an exceptionally nice day, though. Unfortunately, the store at the state park only accepts cash (I keep running into that problem), so my half-gallon ice cream challenge became a one-cup ice cream challenge. I, along with some pre-schoolers who were there, made the challenge. I checked out the AT museum that is on-site. It was fair. The one cool thing that they did have was the old Peters Mountain Shelter (originally the Earl Schaffer Shelter since he knocked it together with his bare hands). The funny thing is that I spent a few minutes looking for the old shelter when I was at Peters Mountain. Good thing I didn't stick with that effort very long! Three miles after the park and just before Toms Run Shelters, I hit the AT Midpoint marker, which is currently listed at 1.,090.5 miles each way. That's not too far off from the actual midpoint this year. It was a nice moment and a great achievement to be halfway to Springer. I do somewhat regret not having anyone with whom to share the moment. That's the price of independence. The rest of the day's hike to here was uneventful. I am sharing this very nice, well-crafted shelter with three local weekenders -- high school friends who stayed in touch during college and do things together now that they've all moved back to the area. They kind of reminded me of my college friends (and no, I am not calling them dorks, just in case you know my college friends). Tomorrow should be my last full day in Pennsylvania.
Date: 2012-09-16
From: Birch Run Shelter

To: Deer Lick Shelters
Miles today: 23.2
Weather: clear sky

I awakened today expecting to find an empty shelter since my shelter mates planned to get moving at 5:00 AM. In fact, I was the first one awake and the first one to leave. Those guys were nice, though.I got underway at about 7:30 AM. There were a lot of weekenders all along the trail out camping, most of whom were apparently still in their tents. The hiking itself was easy and more of the same -- deep woods, flat ridges. I have, however, noticed that the climbs up the ridges are getting a bit steeper and the flat runs along the ridges are getting shorter. I made it to Caledonia State Park where I accidentally walked right beside a church service in progress and out to Pennsylvania Rte. 30 by 10:30 AM. I wanted lunch, even at that early hour, so I walked to the local Italian restaurant. It was still closed, so I continued to the grocery store another 0.4 miles off trail (0.8 total from the trail). The store had a hot dog special and a sandwich special going, so I got both along with a few groceries to stretch my next resupply. I got back on the AT a little after high noon. A couple of the ridges I faced after lunch had steep, rocky tops, though no views to speak of. I stopped for water at the very well-maintained Tumbling Run Shelters. PATC does just a magnificent job maintaining their trail section and structures. I pushed on to here.This is another pair of shelters. I am in the north shelter, while a section hiker from Carlisle who is out in the woods for a while to clear his mind is in the southern shelter. They are pretty much identical (I checked before claiming one). I spoke on my cell phone with some friends back home and have some plans brewing for when I pass through Virginia. I had better go to bed, though. I am shooting for a big day tomorrow, even though I have decided not to attempt the Maryland or 4-state Challenge since that would cause me to have to lay-up over half of the day tomorrow just to kill myself the next day. Also, the weather is supposed to turn foul tomorrow night, and I don't want to be trying to hike 40 miles in the rain.
Date: 2012-09-17
From: Deer Lick Shelters

To: Historic Rocky Run Shelter
Miles today: 30.2

30.2 miles -- that's my new highest daily mileage as of about 6:50 PM tonight. It was admittedly a long day, even if not quite up to Maryland Challenge or 4-State Challenge levels. The first six miles or so of the hike were nondescript and just typical hiking for the area. The Pennsylvania / Maryland border, which is also the Mason-Dixon Line, came up suddenly as the setting didn't feel right. The line was just before train tracks and near a residential area. I guess I was expecting the line to be someplace naturally prominent, though I guess that was a less than brilliant thought since the border was arbitrarily decided by English grants and was just a line of latitude that got surveyed in accordance with those grants. Pen-Mar Park, which was just south of the state border, was a nice spot with a good view. It also had water that tasted like it was from the retention pond of an iron-ore mine.Maryland quickly proved to be a notch up from Pennsylvania, though -- let's face it -- pretty easy in the grand scheme of the trail. The first Maryland mountain had a rock scramble. Like I noticed yesterday, the runs on top of the ridges continue to get shorter, meaning more frequent ups and downs. The ridges just prior to Interstate 70 [name not given in guidebook] seemed to break that trend as they were long and fast. South of I-70, I passed through Washington Memorial State Park, the home of what was apparently the first monument to my fellow Virginian. The tower was a milk bottle-shaped stone structure with a good view toward Sharpsburg. I heard from some day hikers that heavy rain could strike as early as that evening, so I was in quite the express after Washington Monument. I even passed by Dahlgren Backpack Campground which offers free showers out of fear of getting caught in the rain. I did, however, stop at Fox Gap to read about the battle that had been fought there between Union and Confederate forces. I arrived at the shelter area right at 7:00 PM. I initially went to the new shelter, but a female ridge runner was there with a male friend. They might have just been friends, but I didn't want to take any chances of ruining their potential romantic night. Plus, by coming here to the historic (nice way of saying old) shelter, I also got the place to myself. The old shelter has been completely redone, has a covered swing, has some patio furniture, and is right beside the spring for the area. It's nicer than most primary shelters I have seen along the trail. And, my love affair with PATC grows only stronger. Let's just hope the roof doesn't prove to be an antique when the storms start up, which could be at any time. One last note, I thought it was extremely appropriate for me to be hiking through Maryland today on this the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Sharpsburg.
Date: 2012-09-18
From: Historic Rocky Run Shelter

To: Harpers Ferry Hostel, Knoxville, Maryland
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: heavy intensity rain

The long-awaited rain made its first appearance last night just before midnight. By this morning, it was outright pouring and the wind was howling. Fortunately, the "historic" shelter did just fine in the rain. The problem was leaving the historic shelter where I was snug and dry as the flooding rains fell. Taking a zero was not a palatable option, so, after a late start of 8:50 AM, I marched off into the weather. The hike was more of the same that I have experienced over the past several days. There were a couple of rock outcrops that I suspect would normally have good views, but I was lucky just to be able to see tree branches before they fell on my head. I passed through Crampton Gap, the site of another Civil War rear-guard action. Basically, every gap of South Mountain was at least a minor battlefield of either the 1862 or 1863 campaign. The rain became especially intense after the Ed Garvey Shelter onward. Even with my rain jacket fully zipped up, I was pretty well soaked by the time I came bounding down South Mountain and crossed under US 340. I am used to the trail taking on the look of a stream in such weather, but this time the rain was so heavy that everyplace looked like a pond. There was major flooding throughout the area [and I later learned throughout the region]. One bright spot was getting some trail magic in the form of soft drinks left under the US 340 bridge. I arrived here at the hostel just before 2:00 PM after a long walk off of the trail at the interestingly named Keep Tryst Road. The hostel manager was nice and let me check-in early. She said she is usually not very flexible on the check-in time, but she wasn't going to make me wait outside with tornado warnings posted. The hot shower then dry clothes were outstanding. I spent the afternoon resting, reading books from the hostel library, and raiding the free food bin. Tonight, the hostel even served a heavy, pasta-rich dinner for only $5.00 per guest. Overall, things turned out great, especially when considering how tough things could have been without having a hostel nearby.Tomorrow I hope to make a quick dash through Harpers Ferry then onward to Bears Den where I need to do laundry (it's been a while). Virginia or bust!
Date: 2012-09-20
From: Bears Den Trail Center

To: Manassas Gap Shelter
Miles today: 22.8
Weather: clear sky

I think I had my best sleep of the entire trip last night. It's hard to explain, but somehow hotel beds are almost too comfortable for someone coming off of the trail and they feel odd. The mattresses at Bears Den were comfortable yet still campy enough to be perfect. I didn't wake-up at all until other backpackers started stirring. I took advantage of the free pancake mix (pancakes two mornings in a row!) and even found some sausage up for grabs in the fridge. I got moving on the AT at about 8:40 AM. The hike started with the remainder of the Roller Coaster, which I probably wouldn't have noticed had the section not been named. At least the PATC volunteers have fun with it. I especially like the sign that says, "See you on the other side, that is if you survive..." The highlight of the day in terms of scenery was Sky Meadow State Park. The mountain was mostly clear on top, making for a pleasant field and some gradual views. Most of the rest of the hike was bland as it was just more woods walking.I met Buzz Lightyear, Sheriff Woody (or just Woody), and Lil' Foot, all MEGAs. They are heading off trail tonight, so I probably won't be hiking with them. I am staying tonight with section hiker Mac.
Date: 2012-09-21
From: Manassas Gap Shelter

To: Tom Floyd Wayside Shelter
Miles today: 13.6
Weather: clear sky

Buzz Lightyear, Woody, and Lil' Foot showed up last night around bedtime. They were still going off-trail, but their ride was coming from Morgantown, West Virginia, and wouldn't arrive at the next gap until 2 AM. So, they crashed at the shelter until 1 AM. I got going today a little after 8:00 AM. The hike down to Virginia Rte. 55 / Interstate 66 was easy enough, but it got tougher beyond. I stopped at the Denton Shelter for a snack. It was another PATC masterpiece. PATC's shelters are extremely nice and free. They really put the Money Club to shame. I remember paying $8 to stay at Ethan Pond Shelter, for instance, and the place looked as if it had been built during the Korean War. I had to rush to US 522 as I had told my friend that I would be there by 11:30 AM. Noon came, and it was still just me standing in the parking lot looking like a vandal about to steal a car. He finally answered his phone, admitted he had forgotten about a conflicting appointment, and was still in Leesburg. I blew up at him, which I deeply regret. Granted, he was not where he said he was going to be, but he was still doing me a favor. I was none the worse than I would have been had I arrived at any other place where I didn't have local friends. I walked about halfway into Front Royal when a cool, local couple picked me up. They explained that they had passed in the other direction a few minutes earlier and were worried about me because I was heading right for a spot on the highway where a large bear was standing beside the road. That made me even more grateful for the ride! They dropped me off at a gas station and told me how to get to Pizza Hut, my new favorite. A few minutes later, I was walking through town (it's amazing how "it's right around the corner" in a car often means a very long walk on foot) when the same couple picked me up again and drove me to the Pizza Hut. I wish that I had offered to buy them lunch.My friend, feeling bad after my unwarranted verbal lashing, drove out from Leesburg anyhow and joined me at Pizza Hut. I apologized for being a jerk earlier, and all was well again. He took me around to the bank, Food Lion, and a few other stops in town. He even tried walking with me for a ways south of US 522, but quickly grew discouraged by the first climb. We parted company.I spent so much time getting to town and in town that my day was pretty much at a practical end when I arrived here, even with only 13 miles on the odometer. I am staying again with Mac and two weekenders. The weekenders are a boss / employee team -- that's one I've never encountered before!
Date: 2012-09-23
From: Byrd's Nest No. 3, Shenandoah Nat'l Park

To: Bearfence Mountain Hut, Shenandoah Nat'l Park
Miles today: 22.4
Weather: clear sky

Last night, a major cold front howled its way over the ridge. The temperature dropped significantly in mere minutes. It was quite chilly waking up this morning and never really got all that warm. I wore my jacket all day, and my hands still feel cold.I had good hiking today. There were typical ridgeline views in addition to exceptional views at Stony Man Cliffs. I treated myself to lunch at Big Meadows Lodge. The burger was good, albeit a bit pricey. I think I would have been just as happy with a Wendy's combo meal. I did, however, enjoy eating in the lodge's dining room, which has a stupendous (I am running out of synonyms for nice / good / great) view of the valley. I was very disappointed that the trail skipped Hawksbill Mountain. I thought I remembered going there on my section hike of the park back in the day, but it must have been just an off-AT day hike. I arrived here at about 5:00 PM. I was tempted to add another 7.5 miles in order to reach the old hut site at South River, but in the end decided that I didn't want to risk having to set-up camp in the dark. I am in the shelter tonight with Fiber One who is on some sort of flip hike of the AT. A former through-hiker left some trail magic in the bear box in the form of crackers, chips and salsa, and beer. Leave it to a through-hiker to provide that sort of trail magic!
Date: 2012-09-24
From: Bearfence Mountain Hut, Shenandoah Nat'l Park

To: Blackrock Hut, Shenandoah Nat'l Park
Miles today: 33.8
Weather: scattered clouds

I had a nice, warm night in my sleeping bag. Fiber One was up early -- I guess all of that fiber keeps him pretty regular. It's pretty much a fact that once one person gets stirring, everyone gets stirring because, no matter how quiet and considerate a person tries to be, there's just no way to pack up for the day without waking everyone up. Again, though, that should just be expected when staying in a shelter.I was out by 7:10 AM and stopped off at Lewis Mountain Campground for water. I will come to miss Shenandoah when such resources are no longer so readily available. The weather was gorgeous -- a perfect fall day. I had superb views from Hightop, Loft Mountain, and Blackrock. Blackrock was a lot more spectacular than I remembered it being. It helped that I was there right at sunset. I stopped for ice cream at the Loft Mountain Camp Store. Mileage-wise, I hit a new personal high. On one hand, it felt good to have such a big day. On the other, it felt like a real shame to be rushing through such a beautiful and plentiful area. I am looking forward to tomorrow as my parents are supposed to drive up to meet me at Rockfish Gap. I haven't seen them since I hopped on the bus at Christiansburg bound for Maine.Once here at the hut, I did one of the dumbest things I have done on my entire trip. Because of the great spring here, I decided to cook mashed potatoes, a dish I am often hesitant to make since the potatoes absorb so much water. As I was cooking, the potatoes needed more water, so I reached for the first bottle with clear liquid and added the contents to the dish. I sampled the potatoes to see if they were getting hot and got an awful taste in my mouth. At first I thought they had simply gone bad (not that instant mashed potatoes really "go bad"). It was then that I realized that I had poured HEET and not water into the potatoes. The truly amazing thing, though, was that, despite an entire picnic table occupied by hikers who observed me cooking, no one seemed to notice anything was amiss when I went to dispose of an entire pot full of uneaten mashed potatoes. I am here tonight with Kory Kory, Choo Choo, Kite Runner, a woods wanderer from Richmond, and a couple of others whose names escape me. Something tells me I am not destined for a career with the Census Bureau.