morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-06-07
To: Etlan, VA - Aunt Shirley's house
Miles today: 0.0

I've got an appointment with the orthopedic doc in Culpepper on Monday. Something has to happen for me to remain on the Trail. Rest doesn't appear to do much for my ankle. I considered trying to downsize my load some. Maybe go to cold food and eliminate my pot and stove. I took my pack apart today and started weighing everything. I weighed 142 lbs. myself. The loaded pack with EIGHT days of food, including stove, but without any water, only weighed 29 additional pounds. It's probably safe to cut back on my food intake as I'm certainly not starving. I've gained 8 lbs. since March. Some of it is probably fluid retention but I increased my protein intake to eliminate that as the cause. I could cut back to 25 lbs. without the stove. The weight probably isn't even the issue with my ankle anyway. I'm still convinced that it's the repetitive movement causing the inflammation and pain.
Date: 2003-06-09
To: Etlan, VA - Aunt Shirley's house
Miles today: 0.0

Well, this sucks!! I went to the orthopedist today and it turns out I have a broken leg!! A nondisplaced fracture of the distal shaft of both the tibia and fibula to be exact. No wonder it hurt!! It apparently happened when I originally injured my ankle in April but was not detectable by the original x-rays. I'm going to have to be in this monstrous cast for 4 weeks. The doctor said it's been trying to heal the past 6 weeks, but then I'd start hiking again and stress it. I went ahead and got a plane ticket to head to Florida tomorrow.
Date: 2003-06-10
From: Etlan, VA - Aunt Shirley's house

To: Clearwater, Florida - my parents' house
Miles today: 0.0

A turbulent ride home. The pilot even ordered the stewards to get into their seats. I had to change planes in Atlanta. The Delta people were fantastic. They met me at check in with a wheelchair, at Dulles, Atlanta, and Tampa. They whisked me away!!I'm not giving up yet!! I've already got my plane ticket to return to the Trail on July 8th. Always the optimist. I'll start at the PenMar line so I can still finish by October. Then my plan is to flip back to PenMar and hike south. I'm always thinking of contingencies. I guess I'll have to suffer this next 4 weeks staying at my parents' house in Florida! Nothing could be worse than basking on the beach for 4 weeks! Har, Har!!
Date: 2003-07-08
From: Clearwater, Florida - my parents' house

To: Washington, D.C.
Miles today: 0.0

Flew to Washington, D.C. today. Caught the Metro out to Glenmont, MD. Spent the night with my brother and family who live a mile from the station. It was cool driving by the elementary and Junior High I had attended when I lived in MD. I hadn't been in the neighborhood in 18 years. It's amazing what changed and what hasn't. The Junior High is now a Torah school!!
Date: 2003-07-09
From: Washington, D.C.

To: Carlisle, PA
Miles today: 0.0

Caught the Greyhound busto Carlisle, PA. There are some beautiful bus/train stations in MD. The historic row houses in Fredrick and Chambersburg are all being restored. I've never seen so many 18 wheelers in my life in Carlisle! It's where the Pennsylvania turnpike and I-81 come together. I had to walk 2 miles from the bus station/truck stop to the AT. I had 2 different truckers try to pick me up. I spent a nice evening resting at the Super 8 Motel adjacent to the AT. No other hikers in town. I can't wait til I get back to hiking tomorrow.
Date: 2003-07-10
From: Carlisle, PA

To: Darlington Shelter
Miles today: 6.3
Weather: overcast clouds

It was hot and sweaty yesterday. Today - rain, fog and haze, high temp 69 degrees--what happened? It was a nice hike through woods, dairy farms, fields of corn, wheat and hay. Fairly flat and not rocky. I slipped on a wet plank crossing a muddy area. My foot caught between two planks as I went down in the mud. I just knew that was the end! Another cracked ankle. But it felt ok. My arch is hurting in my left foot from the walk but the ankle feels good. I stopped after only 7 miles to assess the impact on my legs before going on tomorrow. I actually hiked 30 minute miles today--fantastic! I found in the registers that Strawbale and Hopeful are two days ahead with Iron Chef. Sleepy Floyd and Pipes are only a day ahead! Everyone else is behind me, so it'll be nice to walk slow for a while and have them all pass me. There's only 2 of us in the shelter--3 in tents tonight--2 of them are section hikers, hiking southbound. They said they passed 48 hikers heading north on Tuesday--must have had one heck of a party in Duncannon last weekend. Took a picture of Greenman with his PA license plate on the back of his pack. He plans on collecting one from every state he goes through. I hope he mails some of them home! He told me that there were only 450 Alaska plates made in 1910. Worth $6,000. It's like coin collecting! He and Sniper were in Pearisburg with me when I left the Trail. Temperature only 69 degrees today--had a campfire tonight to chase away the damp. It was put out by the rain that started around 10 p.m.
Date: 2003-07-11
From: Darlington Shelter

To: Duncannon
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Again, it rained all night. Foggy this morning. Took a picture of the sun shining through the trees. The mosquitoes were thick today. Lots of bites. Also--poison ivy everywhere. I'll be surprised if I don't catch it. Spooked a deer this morning. Somehow I covered 11 miles in 7 hours today. Arrived in Duncannon by 2 p.m. (Picture of Duncannon from Hawk Rock --on the Susquehannah River). The rocks on the trail were difficult to walk through. The Doyle Hotel was full. It had been for a week. No one was leaving. There have been major parties there every night and everyone's holding over. Vic and I ended up getting rooms at the Red Carpet Inn--a dive 5 miles out of town. The only redeeming quality were the mattresses and pillows that were in good shape. Lots of highway noise. But somehow we had a good night's sleep. Before leaving the Doyle, I had the required Doyle Burger and beer. It was fabulous! There wasn't a phone available at the motel so I couldn't make any calls.
Date: 2003-07-12
From: Duncannon

To: Peter's Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 11.4
Weather: few clouds

I had a killer climb out of Duncannon today. Then when I finally made it to the top of the ridge, I had to climb over rocks for miles. Not easy to keep your balance! It took me all day to walk 11 miles. I was exhausted. My feet hurt. My throat was sore--I think I'm coming down with a cold. I saw a raccoon today and almost stepped on a black snake again! When I finally got to the shelter, the spring was located at least 1/2 mile straight down the side of the mountain. They'd put in rock steps but it didn't help much. With the ridge walking, there was no water most of the day, so I had to go down and get some. The Peter's Mountain Shelter was built 10 years ago. It was huge! It would have made a great cabin. It had a large loft. There were pictures and a description describing how it was built. Also a list of who worked on it. Guess who was on it? Don MacDougall. I should have known, based on the year it was built as that's when Don was working in PA. The shelter was built next to the original small shelter that Earl Shaffer built way back when. It's still there--see the picture. There was a gorgeous sunset tonight topped off with fireworks in the valley. They must have been left over from the Fourth of July. Also a full moon! See the picture of Chemo, Foz, and Vic on the front porch of the Shelter. Skidmark and Balloo also made it to the shelter. I found out that GI Gypsy had returned to the trail at Front Royal but only lasted a week before she left the trail for good with her shin splints.
Date: 2003-07-13
From: Peter's Mountain Shelter

To: Rattling Run
Miles today: 10.1

I didn't sleep well last night with my cold. I was congested and kept coughing. I got up at sunrise, which is at 5:45 a.m. Another day of walking and not getting anywhere. My ankle is starting to hurt so that slowed me down. Plus I just felt cruddy. I got pretty down wondering if I'm ever going to finish the AT. I stopped after 10 miles by a creek. It was another seven miles to the next shelter. Forget it! I put up my hammock and went to bed early. At least it was another sunny day with cool temperatures -- 79 degrees.
Date: 2003-07-14
From: Rattling Run

To: Rausch Gap Shelter
Miles today: 7.4
Weather: broken clouds

I slept until 7:30 a.m. --almost two hours after sunrise. At least my sore throat is gone today. Still sneezing and coughing. It was a nice walk today--fairly level. I'm having a hard time walking past all the blackberry bushes without stopping and eating some. I sure do miss my blackberry bushes! I took a bath and rinsed out my clothes in the creek. You'll see a picture of Yellow Springs--an 1800's coal mining town. All that's left is the mailbox. There isn't even a road to get here! You have to walk 15 miles to it by trail. Cough Drop passed me again. He's a young kid from Palm Harbor, Fl. He started in early May and plans to finish by Sept. 1. This is probably the last time I'll see him! I stopped at the shelter mid-day and made supper-Mac and Cheese. Two deer have been eyeing me as I eat. There have been two different bear sighting in the past two days. I'll have to start hanging my food in the tree again. Everyone's still hanging food on the mouse hangers in the shelters, worrying more about mice than bears. My ankle's hurting after seven miles. I'm debating on calling it a day or going another couple of miles. (Later) I called it a day! Sniper and Boots joined me for the night. Last night I spent by myself.
Date: 2003-07-15
From: Ramsch Gap Shelter

To: Wm Penn Shelter
Miles today: 13.3

My ankle starts out tight and painful in the morning but felt better by the end of today. And I even did 13 miles today. I had a long stretch where I didn't carry enough water. I was dying! Had stomach cramps and couldn't eat anything--thank goodness for Ramen noodles--electrolyte replacement for supper. I've passed many patches of tiger lilies (you know they're edible, Cindy?) I wasn't that hungry today. Also, what looks like white rhododendrum is blooming. Mountain laurel is PA's state flower but it doesn't look like laurel. I saw some major bear scat today. I understand there are few bears in this area of PA but I'm hanging my food tonight anyway. I got to see a bunch of people who were hiking southbound from Port Clinton. They had hitched ahead from Duncannon for a major hiker feed this past weekend. Now they're heading south to make up those miles. I saw and talked with Sleepy Floyd, Moo and 42; Pipes and her friend, Phlegm (what a name!) who joined her in Harper's Ferry for the rest of the hike. Also visited with Viking. A big long black snake crawled over my boot while I was talking to Viking. Amazing, neither one of us jumped! It was cool seeing everyone. I'll probably see them after Port Clinton when they hitch back north. There have been lots of reports of rattlesnakes. I haven't seen one yet. Today, there was even a note in the middle of the trail to watch out for the two rattlers sunning on the rocks 15 feet ahead! The rock piles in the Trail are increasing. It's getting hard to find a flat place to put your foot--which is critical for my left one! It's much worse after Port Clinton, I understand. I also came across a box turtle stuck in the rocks in the middle of the Trail. I passed the Union Canal--or what's left of it--with locks and all--it was in use in the early 1800s. Also took a picture of the Iron Bridge built in 1890 across the Swattera River. It's been restored for a bike trial--looks great! Lots of misprints in the thru hiker handbook today regarding mileage and elevation. Hasn't Dan Bruce hiked this trial lately? I'm spending the night at the Wm. Penn Shelter. This is the second of the last 3 nights that I've been by myself. Everyone else went ahead 4 miles to the 501 Shelter--solar shower and pizza delivery. I didn't want to push it though. I did get to take a sponge bath and wash my dirty, stinkin', sweating clothes out. Still coughing a lot--but getting better. My hair's pretty gross. It stands up by itself. I had to wash it with Dr. Brommer's Peppermint soap at the motel--no shampoo. And it hasn't been the same since. I nmight as well start some dreds going.
Date: 2003-07-16
From: Wm Penn Shelter

To: 501 Shelter
Miles today: 4.1
Weather: scattered clouds

Rained again last night--major hot, humid fog this morning. The poison ivy on my face is spreading, especially with the sweating. I stopped hiking after 5 miles so I could stay at 501 Shelter. Took a shower in a thing that looked like the water tower on Petticoat Junction. Washed my clothes and hung them out to dry. Silver Lining and Dirt Nap caught up with me. Dirt Nap is carrying two 8-week old Doberman puppies with him, Clover and Daisy. He's finished his 2nd year of law school at Univ. of Michigan. Silver Lining is from NJ--she also returned to the AT last week after defending her disertation in economics. She's applied for university teaching positions but hopes she doesn't get one for the fall semester so she can finish the AT. Sarah and Jason came in late and we shared our pizza and Coke with them that we'd had delivered. They are NYU grads--contemplating going to law school. Midway hiked from GA to WV last year. Got off to help his wife plan their wedding. They got married last month and he returned to the AT today to finish hiking to ME. He's a chemist for Shire. Silver Lining's husband is a chemist for Roche. A great group tonight! I got 2 tick bites, I'm going to have to watch. Both have a bulls eye rash around them. I had the Lyme vaccine 2 years ago though.
Date: 2003-07-17
From: 501 Shelter

To: Eagle's Nest Shelter
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: clear sky

Awoke this morning to a 6-pack of beer on the picnic table. Trail Angels came by after we'd gone to sleep and left it. They also left a note saying they had forgotten how early thru hikers go to bed. We had actually stayed up til after dark last night. I hiked over 15 miles today. They really need to move the blueberry bushes farther off the trail. I had a hard time walking by them without grazing off the early ripening ones. My ankle felt good today. Stopped at a great swimming holes--miles from anything. Had rope swings and everything. (See pictures of Jason, Sarah, and myself, picture of the talus or boulder fields that the trail goes through here in PA.) I really don't think it's as bad as it's made out to be. I also took a picture of the marker for Fort Dietrich Snyder. It's hard to imagine a fort here 250 years ago. Out of the "Last of the Mohicans!" (Picture of butterflies on orange flowers and another of all the orange 'shrooms.) Home of Daniel Boone! The trail followed the ridge tops for most of the day. Long stretches of extremely rocky walking. It's difficult to place your foot flat on the ground - it's always cocked one way or another.The shelter had several 10-12 y.o. kids from a YMCA camp out for a one night backpacking trip. They were well behaved and enjoying themselves. Only one girl among the bunch. We discussed the latest Harry Potter book which I had read a week ago. Someone has been hiking the Trail this past week and leaving a few chapters in each shelter to share after reading them. It's caused quite a bit of excitement amony the hikers.I made a LARGE pot of VERY SPICY 3 Bean chili for supper - my stomach hurt all night, though it was good going down. I quickly disappeared into my hammock to get away from the mosquitoes. It's great to sleep in! Very cool for summer nights. The night temps have been in the upper 50-60s. Sometimes I have to put my feet into my sleeping bag to get warm.Plan to head into Port Clinton tomorrow afternoon. (Picture of Silver Lining, Dirt Nap, Sarah, and Jason in 501 shelter-- with Clover and Daisy.)
Date: 2003-07-18
From: Eagle's Next Shelter

To: Port Clinton
Miles today: 8.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Hiked into P)ort Clinton today. The downhill into town off the ridge was described as "a controlled fall." Very steep with no footing. I had to use my poles to brace myself to prevent falling. I cruised again today but am paying for it. My amkle hurts. The raspberry bushes have fruit on them. If I could have come thru this section two weeks later, I'd have a feast of all kinds of berries - black, blue, and rasp. I stayed at the Port Clinton Hotel - a dive of a boarding house. I had a huge plate of spaghetti at the bar that I couldn't finish. I'd run into Jay again who I had lunch with. The hotel wouldn't let the hikers eat in the dining room until we'd showered, so we had to eat in the bar. Silver Lining was at the hotel also but left later with her husband. The end of the line for her. She took the position teaching economics at Univ. of North FLA in Jacksonville. She said they had given her everything she'd asked for and more so she couldn't refuse. She had to leave and ready herself for her move to FLA and the start of the semester. Jay and Monkey were happy to take her room for the night. We discovered that Port Clinton was "an ice cream free zone" - none in town anywhere! Jay shared a pint of B & J's ice cream with me that Applejack had brought back from shopping in Hamburg. Delicious! Applejack, Boots, Jollies, and Cough Drop all started in GA in late May. Averaging 20-30 miles per day! Want to complete the Trail in less than 100 days.
Date: 2003-07-19
From: Port Clinton

To: Philadelphia
Miles today: 6.0

I couldn't walk this morning without severe pain. I was using my sticks to take the weight of my ankle. I was even taking the Vioxx. I pushed myself to move on, figuring it was just like any other morning. I just needed to loosen it up. My pack wasn't anymore than 28 lbs. even with my resupply in town. (I'd really worked at cutting the weight!) It was a climb out of the river valley that the town's in back to the ridge tops. Between the pain and limping, I frequently stopped to rest. I made it to the top. Went about three miles and took a break. It was a beautiful clear, cool morning. That's when it happened. I was ready to quit. I sat down and looked out into the valley for quite a while waiting for the feeling to pass, but it didn't. I finally stood up to get back on the Trail, still undecided as to whether I'd head north or south. No tears, just resignation. I turned south back towards town, still rationalizing that I'd just stay in town and get off my leg for a few days. As I limped into Port Clinton, I ran into Footslogger. A relative of his, Charlie, was taking him to Reading for a day off the Trail. There it was! An opportunity to get to a bus station and head for home! My impulsive nature struck again, I took it. I caught a bus in Reading for Philadelphia. And arranged for the Amtrak train to Tampa the next morning (an experience all to itself!). By the time I arrived in Philadelphia, I was in severe pain. I needed a place to camp for the night. But I wasn't about to walk far from the Amtrak station. I got a great deal on a room at the Crown Plaza Hotel a few blocks away. What a sight! Here I am, still in my stinky hiking clothes. I'd fallen and had a muddy butt. Limping with my pack and poles into a four star hotel! I was waiting for someone to redirect me to the street where I could sleep on the sidewalk! They were wonderful though and gave me a room on the club level (limited access), which was very comfortable.
Date: 2003-07-27
To: Home again!
Miles today: 0.0

This is it! I caught the train to Florida on the 20th. My ankle has not improved over the past week. But I was still optimistic that maybe, just maybe I could go back and hike a few more weeks in Vermont with Tom, one of the psychiatrists I work with. I saw the orthopedist again on Friday. My hiking days are over for quite a while. The stress fractures had grown. I'll probably need 6-12 months of improvement of the bone density to even think about another long distance hike.I wish it could have ended differently. I had looked forward to this dream all my life. I enjoyed every minute of it. The people, the solitude, nature, the adventure of it all. But I will return. It may be quite a few years before I'll have the opportunity to do so, but I'll be back. I wish all my thruhiking friends who are still on the Trail the best of luck!Gretel (a.k.a. Robin)
Date: 2003-07-12
To: i have made up my mind
Miles today: 0.0

i have made up my mind.the decision has been made.there is no turning back now.on the first day of october i will traverse the knife edge, snap my picture on the summit of katahdin, and begin my southward journey.the plan is to do a southbound thru-hike in the winter. well, not all of it will be in the winter. but, a lot of it will be. snow, ice, cold, solitude, 2172 miles. what better way to spend my winter? i can¢t think of one.so, that is what i¢m going to do.for now, though, i will spend my time in the oh-so-hot state of new mexico where i am currently paying off my debts from my last adventure on the AT. i¢ll head back east in the middle of september. and, two weeks later i¢ll make a break for maine. there will be no stopping me this time. i mean it.i have made up my mind.
Date: 2003-07-14
To: why stop there?
Miles today: 0.0

i have been doing some thinking. it wasn¢t on purpose, of course.why stop with the AT? i hike almost 2200 miles and my adventure is over? where is the fun in that? there isn¢t any.so, i have concocted a new plan.when i arrive at that little mountain in georgia called springer; i am going to snap my picture on the summit, turn around, and start walking north again. now, i don¢t plan on walking all the way back to maine. walking back to maine wouldn¢t be a bad idea, but i have a better idea.i am going to walk to clingmans dome in the smokies. when i reach clingmans i am going to hang a right and start walking on what is called the north carolina mountains-to-sea trail (MST). (it won¢t actually be a right-hand turn, per say, but the MST is an east-west trail, so it will be very similar to a right-hand turn).anyway, if i can work out the budget and logistics, then my new plan is to hike the AT and then hike the MST. the MST runs some 930 odd miles from clingmans dome -across the great state of north carolina- to jockeys ridge on the outer banks. i had the privilege of hiking about a hundred miles of the MST at the end of may. absolutely incredible. i do believe that in a few years the mountain section alone of the MST will be able to give the whole of the AT a run for its money. (the MST is still a relatively new trail).i hike about 3000 miles and my adventure is over? i guess i could live with that. of course, i wouldn¢t call the adventure over by any means. i would just say that at that point i¢ll take a short hiatus in order to start planning the next adventure- whatever that may be.okay. fine. you¢re right. i don¢t really plan my adventures. i usually just wing them. it is much more fun that way. heck, the first time i set out to attempt a thru-hike i decided i was going to do it and 12 days later i was standing on springer mountain- having already quit my job, moved out of my apartment, and left behind everything i knew. so, instead of saying that i¢ll take a short hiatus in order to start planning my next adventure, let¢s just say that i¢ll take a short hiatus in order to start funding my next adventure- however that may be.