morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2015-06-29
From: Harper's Ferry Hostel

To: Harper's Ferry Hostel
Miles today: 0.0

I helped with breakfast again making fruit and Chocolate chip pancakes, having a blast while doing so. I could really get used to this place! I was really getting worried as I couldn't get in touch with my wife after numerous attempts. My calls went straight to voicemail every time. The weather was clearing up and the rain let up for awhile so I went outside for fresh air and to enjoy the view from the overlook in the back yard down to the river far below. I again spent awhile reading and listening to music on the back porch, enjoying the clean fresh air. It was more chess and board games until I finally got the call that I'd been waiting for. My wife had traveled to, and had been in Iowa with Mike Devivo and the kids for Barbara's funeral and she hadn't had cellphone service. She went with them to town and her phone started blowing up with all of my calls. She was hurting as Barb had been like a mother to her growing up and she missed her greatly. We talked for a good while catching up on what had been going on and it was really hard not to pack my stuff and hitch a ride and get off of the trail. She was crying and wanted me to come but there wasn't any way or money for me to go there, come back and then finish the trail, so I, with heavy heart started packing my stuff and prepared to get back on the trail in the morning. I laid down and put on the headphones for music and nightly devotions before slipping away into the night.
Date: 2015-06-30
From: Harper's Ferry Hostel

To: Edward B. Garvy Memorial Shelter
Miles today: 3.2

It was raining in the morning and I waited for it to stop before leaving. This didn't hurt my feelings as I got to eat another great and filling breakfast! I left a little after eating a burger lunch at noon and by the time I had packed up and left it was around 3:00 so I just hiked 3 miles up a decent climb to the first shelter so as to break in my new boots. Since I had time I stopped for awhile at the Weverton Cliffs for the amazing view. There was a little ledge sticking out like MacAffee Knob so I had to have my picture taken by some day hikers who were happy to do so. The shelter was a beautiful 2 story log cabin named in memory of a hiker who had died when a dead tree fell, killing him instantly. After that the trail crews went over the entire Maryland section of the trail taking down widowmakers around she shelters. At the shelter there's a long walk, almost a mile walk down a steep switchbacked trail to the water source and back! Log cabin had a loft which was reached by a set of stairs in the back of the shelter and had a door for access. There was a large front porch with a picnic table and a bench all the way across the front. I set up downstairs and swept out bottom floor of the shelter. I had just go settled in when I met a hiker named Hands N Mouth and saw Keychain again as she set up her tent in the upper floor. We gave her mock grief as she swept dust down, though little actually fell upon us. She actually set up her tent in the shelter! She took it and razzed us in return. Someone got a fire started and we all enjoyed it as it helped to drive of the hordes of ravenous mosquitoes! I had to use bug spray to keep them at bay. Another female joined Keychain and set up her tent inside as well. Hands and mouth was a massage therapist and showed me a stretch that would help with my torn rotator cuff in my shoulder. We talked for awhile and he seemed like a pretty cool person and we hit it off well. He worked on my shoulder and gave me a set of iPod headphones as mine had finally given up the ghost and didn't work any more. In return I sponsored a safety meeting for the shelter before cooking dinner. Hands n Mouth is Marine Corps veteran and a really cool hiker to get to know. We sat and talked for a good while before turning in for the night to my devotional and music. I listened to the frogs singing and lulling me to sleep.
Date: 2015-07-02
From: Pine Knob shelter

To: Raven Rocks Shelter
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: few clouds

I woke up in the dark and carefully extricated myself from the tangle of bodies in the shelter miraculously not waking up or falling on anyone. I got my stuff together and made breakfast on the shelf outside of the shelter. Ate and relaxed for a short while finishing my coffee. At first light I took a picture of the packed shelter. It was a nice day of hiking, a slow day due to the rain the night before making mud of the trail and a slip and slide game of balance to stay upright and out of the mud. I took the side trail to the Annapolis Rocks for the view, having a day hiker take my picture on a rock outcropping. I enjoyed the Black Rock Cliffs on my hike to the Ensign Cowall shelter where I stopped in for a quick snack break. Then it was off to the Raven Rock Cliff with its spectacular views and then the shelter. It was growling and threatening rain when I arrived at the Raven Rocks shelter after a beautiful view from that sight. I and a female hiker who was having knee problems stayed at the shelter. She was a rock climber who had her harness hanging on the wall and was section hiking and finishing with a rock climb and reunion with friends at Harper's Ferry. She didn't have a trail name so after some thought, conversation and inspiration I suggested "Rosie" as in Rosie the Riveter from WWII who was an inspiration for women involved in the war effort.(I had seen Rosie the Riveter Posters at the Harper's Ferry Hostel) She liked the idea and received it as her trail name.She had taken 2 zeroes to let her leg heal and was ready to get going in the morning. A father and his son came in and set up their tent a ways from the shelter and asked about water which was a long way from the shelter. After cooking dinner I sponsored a safety meeting with Rosie the riveter and we got a fire going for awhile before the rain started and put it out. I went to lay down at 7:30 with my headphones and fell asleep around 8:30.
Date: 2015-07-03
From: Raven Rock Shelter

To: Deer Lick Shelter
Miles today: 9.6

I hiked again Rosie and we had a good time talking together. She was contemplating a future through hike and I shared my experiences and advice on preparing and undertaking such an endeavor and she asked many thoughtful questions. We quickly made it to the Pen Mar County Park which was the site of a former amusement park, complete with several hotels. It was a quick train ride from New York and this was a wealthy resort. The park shut down as other places became more popular and the hotels had all burned or were tore down. Grabbing a picnic table for a break, we were sitting when we received trail magic from two women with 2 children. They approached us timidly and asked if we were thru-hikers, which we admitted and they gave us 2 bags of trail magic! We ate some and packed some with us I brought sodas and candy to give out at the shelter as trail magic of my own. We were so excited to cross the Mason Dixon line named after Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon who surveyed the 244 mile border. When we arrived at the shelter I got set up and then went down to the stream to take a bath while she rested and visited with the other hikers at the shelter. The frigid water felt great and I cleaned myself and my clothes at the same time. It felt great! It was so wet at the shelter that there was a stream running around the first shelter from a spring, making it a muddy mess. We set up in the second as the ground was dry around it. Rosie had to make a decision at this point. She had to decide that day either to turn back the next morning or hike another day and have one of her friends pick her up on their way by to their meeting spot for their rock climbing adventure. She decided to sleep on the matter and decide in the morning. I had to use bug spray as the mosquitoes were horrendous at this shelter and swarmed in clouds of blood sucking misery. I broke out and passed the trail magic around and ate some more of it myself along with my dinner. Someone sponsored a safety meeting out of thankfulness which, those of us who participated were grateful. Soon it was time to call it a day and I lay down to my nightly iPod session to unwind.
Date: 2015-07-04
From: Deer Lick Shelter

To: Church Hostel On PA233
Miles today: 13.2

I was up early and during breakfast, found from Rosie that she had decided to head back towards her meeting place with her friends. It had been nice hiking with her as she is a good person to talk to. It was downhill to the Antietam shelter and the Old Forge Picnic Area. Then the climb began at the Tumbling Run shelter up to the view at Chimney Rocks. I cannot remember the name of the Hostel that I stayed at before the Quarry Gap Shelter. I remember walking left at the PA233 Or US30 (right before entering the Caledonia State Park) looking for a store to get some canister fuel at when I was hailed from across the road at a church thrift store. I walked across and a man told me that the house next to the church was a hiker hostel and was wondering if I needed a room. I said no but asked directions to a store where I could get canister fuel. He said that Wall Mart was over 8 miles away and said I could get a ride if I stayed at the hostel which was 25.00 per night. I said that I didn't have the money and just wanted to resupply and hit the trail. He asked if I could afford dinner and I said yes so he said I could stay in a lean to behind the thrift store in a bunk bed there, and get a ride to the store. I got my gear stowed away and we took off soon after and I changed out the boots for another pair at Walmart as they were destroyed already! I also resupplied with food while there along with my fuel. At the hostel I played Chess with a hiker who had been staying there for some months doing work for stay and helping at the hostel and the thrift store. He said that he had won some important tournaments on the state level. We played chess for awhile and when it was apparent that no one else was going to arrive, he told me to grab a bunk as the hostel had plenty of room. I paid to do laundry and for dinner, ate a great dinner, showered and went outside behind the lean to behind the thrift store for a solo safety meeting. Then it was inside and off to bed. We didn't do much for the 4th of July as it was very cloudy and overcast so we couldn't see any fireworks.
Date: 2015-07-05
From: Church Hostel / US30 

To: Birch Run shelter
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: broken clouds

I was up early, eager to get back on the trail, only to be greeted by torrential rain. I ate a great breakfast provided by the hostel and then packed up and was ready to go.. It was about 10 before I got a ride back to the trail and was on my way in the rain, which started again as soon after I hit the trail. I just had warning and time to quickly threw on my rainsuit and my clothes in my pack under the canopy of a thick tree before the sky opened up ad it started pouring for a short while. It was nice to see a Rhododendron Tunnel in full bloom again. It had been a very long time since I had passed one of these and it was nice to remember all of them in the early days of my hike. At first I was kind of afraid of them as I worried about running around a corner and into a bear, but that fear had passed by long ago and I just enjoyed it. People were picnicking at the park for the holiday weekend and I received trail magic in the form of a hamburger, hotdog and a drink from a family out for the weekend. I didn't even have to Yogi! I just walked by and answered some questions about my hike and "Shazam!" I got fed! They also gave me some snacks to-go for the hike. The trails were nice and easy at first at the Caledonia State park but they soon started up the side of the mountain and the signs proclaimed that they were of a very strenuous nature, which they were being in part on an old, much eroded road bed winding steeply up the mountain. I passed the most manicured shelter on the trail - the Quarry Gap Shelter which is actually two shelters connected by a roof with a space between for picnic tables. There was also a good size covered porch around it. There had a been chess board complete with pieces, flower beds and books to read. I stopped momentarily before pressing on. From the park it was an easy hike to the Birch Run shelter which is a log cabin type shelter with a covered porch sheltering a picnic table. There was a fire pit and privy out back as well. I came upon a group of hikers taking a safety meeting and I was asked to participate, which I agreed. The pain of the day's hike soon faded as I then secured my water and started my dinner. I had an Uncle Ben's Select Jasmine Rice. These are nice as they come in a plastic bag that you can use for freezer bag cooking. They are fully cooked and just need to be heated. I add bacon, olive oil and sriracha seasoning from my grinder with some boiling water to mix in the bacon and seasoning and add broth. I had my Arnold Palmer to drink with it. (20 oz nalgene with a tea bag steeped overnight and a packet of lemon flavored Propel.) More hikers arrived including Bookworm and Bison among others. Soon the sun was going down and it was time to plug into my iPod and then off to sleep.
Date: 2015-07-06
From: Birch Run Shelter

To: James Fry Shelter (Tagg Run)
Miles today: 17.1

It was such an exciting morning to wake up to! After all this time I would be crossing the half way mark today! I made 4 packages of peach flavored oatmeal with trail mix, olive oil and a large cup of coffee to fuel my feet down the trail. There were quite a few road crossings before the Tom's Run Cabin. Not long after the shelter I finally made it to and passed the half way mark, twice! Then it was off to the Pine Grove Furnace State Park and the General Store where, as my funds were limited, my ice cream challenge was an ice cream bar and a soda! Very refreshing enjoy myself in the shade, eat my snack and charge my devices while hanging out with the hikers. Then it was a stop at the AT museum, a must see for section and thru-hikers! Then it was off and around the lake on a long paved section of trail, and up onto the mountain. Soon I had passed the Mountain Creek Campground trail and then arrived at the James Frye (Tagg Run) Shelter. Arriving at the shelter which is a large open shelter with a skylight, 4 bunks and floor space to sleep on. I chose a bottom bunk and got my sleeping system set up and then went for water. There was a funny cartoon in the shelter log with a family from a foreign country talking about America - (spoken wistfully) "Where the streets are paved with gold and everything is stuffed with cheese and bacon!" lOl! I saw Hands N Mouth, and talked to him briefly at the Shelter before he moved on. I shared with him how I was running out of money and needed to return my tent so I could continue my hike. He told me to call him at Duncannon when I arrived and he would help me get to a REI Store so that I could return my tent for a refund. I had only set it up once and it was to small for me and it was still in it's original bag. I had only slept in shelters, pavilions or cowboy camped and hadn't used a tent at all on the trail. I cooked dinner and graciously received a moderately cold beer from a fellow hiker and sponsored a safety meeting in return. My boots were starting to go the way of the others as the rocks on the trail were breaking down the integrity of the soles. Soon it was time to call it a day and I completed my iPod ritual and was off to sleep.
Date: 2015-07-08
From: Scott's Farm

To: Cove Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: light rain

I was up in the dark and made grits with bacon and olive oil with my coffee. I was gone before anyone even knew that I had been there at all. It started out as a painful day due to the blisters on my heels but it soon turned worse as the sole of my right boot began to peel off from the toe. There were numerous bridges and even a hiking tunnel under a very busy road alond the way. I passed the Darlington Shelter after a good climb and then it was down again. After another climb there was a view at the clearing along the pipeline not long before the sole kept peeling from the toe and was often the cause of a stumble until I ripped it the rest of the way off in frustration and tucked the heel in between my pack and cover. Then of all things it wasn't long before the other began to peel from the front as well and I tore it off as well and had to walk on the soft rubber bottom until I got to the shelter. I had to stop for the day due to the painful condition of my feet. I decided to hike the next day into Duncannon in my sandals. There was good water at the shelter so I got cleaned up, putting liquid bandaid on my blisters. That burns like the dickens but it works very well to help prevent infection. I then filled up my water bottles and returned to camp and hung out my clothes. I picked a bunk and noticed and it had been attacked by porcupines who had chewed the plywood of the bunks and beams of the shelter. The attacks had occurred in the past so they had removed the stairs and had put sheet metal down the front to keep the critters from eating the shelter or the hiker's gear! The shelter filled up and we had a fire going to cheer things up a bit as we shared our experiences along our hikes. Soon it was time to get safe and go to sleep. I was soon out like a light.
Date: 2015-07-10
From: Duncannon - Hands N Mouth's house

To: Clarks Ferry Shelter
Miles today: 4.2
Weather: overcast clouds

The next day we were up early in the morning and I had strained my berries and poured them into a large bowl of milk! This and coffee was a wonderful way to start the day and everything that I thought it would taste like and be! We set off early to REI which he hadn't told me was an hour and a half away! I tried to decline but he insisted, so off we went back to MD to the nearest REI where we arrived about 10 minutes before it opened. I quickly returned the tent that I had only set up and used once on the trail at Damascus during trail days at Crazy Larry's hostel and never used on the trail as I always use shelters. I went from having 7 dollars to my name to almost $240.00. When we had left his house his parents had gave me snacks to go and $40.00 after hearing from Hands N Mouth what had happened to my money. I almost broke down right there and cried with gratitude at the amount of help that people have given out of the kindness of their hearts. I was dropped off after stopping at a dollar store for a few supplies before being dropped off on the trail and walking across the longest river and bridge on the trail. As I hiked I was listening to the Time Machine by Orlson Wells, the original version, not the new one. You have to pass the only strip club on the trail before you cross the bridge. There were some of the girls hiking who had stopped and chatted with the strippers in the parking lot before it opened. Then it was across the railroad tracks where I met a large brown lizzard, and up the steep and strenuous hill to the Clark's Mountain Shelter. There were views galore on the climb where I arrived to find the Texan's were resting up before hitting the trail again. One of the children was having feet trouble so I worked massaging her feet for awhile. There was a female hiker who was also a massage therapist who worked on the shoulders of another of the daughters before they packed up and hit the trail. Soon other hikers arrived and I offered to sponsor a safety meeting, which was accepted and one gave me a brew that he had packed out from town. Soon it was dinner time and we got a fire going. On the picnic table there was a beautiful black butterfly with a blue trim on the edge of the wings. On the blue trim was a stripe of black and black dots. It took some time and it flew off and returned to get some good pictures, but eventually I did as I moved very slowly to get the shot. This was an awesome day. Yesterday I had no idea what I would do as I only had $7.00 and today I can carry on to reach my dream of a thru-hike! Truly God and the trail provides! I climbed into my bunk and put on my earphones and was soon asleep.
Date: 2015-07-11
From: Clarks Ferry Shelter

To: Rausch Mountain shelter
Miles today: 24.7
Weather: broken clouds

It was a beautiful and cool morning to wake up to. I felt great to be out on the trail living the dream! I made 3 packets of Maple flavored cream of wheat with trail mix, olive oil and a large cup of coffee. Soon I found my feet being drawn to the trail like metal to a magnet and I was off. It was a day filled with beautiful views starting with the view at Tablerock. and nice trails including the elaborate Peter's Mountain Shelter with stairs to the loft, a fancy 3 layer shelter. I pressed on and passed the strange sounding Shikellimy Trail to PA325 (Where I found trail magic beer after a footbridge over a road!). I blew by the Henry Knauber Trail and then up the mountain past the Horse-Shoe and Rattle Run to the Sand Spring trail leading to the General. It was a pleasurable hike, ending up at the Rousch Gap Shelter where a section hiker was trying to make a crawfish trap out of wood and unwound para-chord and wasn't very successful at anything except for being very, very safe. Two day hikers came and shared food with us including pb&j sandwiches and fruit to which I added an ice cold beer that I had put in the spring! I found that the Texans had just passed through before I had arrived and had pressed on to camp further on. We all sat around the campfire and chatted and I answered many questions about my thru-hike up to this point and why I was hiking in the first place. There was a nice flowing spring at the shelter with delicious ice cold water flowing through a trough to a basin. I went behind the shelter for a safety meeting and then crawled into my spot, popped in my headphones and soon went to sleep, tired after an almost 25 mile day.
Date: 2015-07-12
From: Rausch Gap Shelter

To: 501 Shelter
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: overcast clouds

I was up early and on the trail at first light after breakfast. Soon I had passed the cemetary and then climbed up Second Mountain. The next climb was after Lickdale, PA up to the abandoned powerline where trail maintenance was being done to keep the view open. Then I stopped in to the William Pen Shelter for a quick snack break before crossing Waggoners Gap Rd. I ejoyed the views at Fisher Lookout and Kimmel Lookout which was right before the 501 Shelter. It was an emotional day as we had hiked 1,200 miles and had just passed the 1,000 mark, seemingly not long before. This felt like more of a milestone than the half way mark in that we now had less than 1,000 miles to go and I'm counting down the miles to Maine! The trail offered great views and easy trails on the way to the 501 shelter which had a solar shower and from where you can order pizza delivery, if you so desired! It is a fully enclosed cabin with a large protruding skylight. There are bunkbeds around the edges and picnic tables in the middle and behind the shelter. I hit up the hiker box for supplies I walked in and found leftover watermelon to eat on the table with a note, left by a hiker just hours earlier so I ate several large pieces before cooking dinner. Then I took a solar shower which is behind the shelter, and washed my clothing and hung everything out to dry. The shower is run by a black 300 gallon tank that is heated by the sun and then gravity fed to the shower below. I got with another hiker who gave me a beer and I returned the favor by making the shelter area safe before relaxing and going to bed. I lay for awhile with my nightly devotions before going to sleep.