morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2013-07-04
From: Harper's Ferry, WVa., High Street

To: Northern VA, then return to Harper's Ferry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

Happy 4th of July! I'm headed to Northern Va. to see my family and to do some necessary errands (REI, food store, Trader Joe's). It's a beautiful day and I arrived at my brother's home in the morning. Here's the picture of a needy hiker:   Me: Hey, can I use your laundry?    Them: No problem!   Me: Got any gorilla glue? a sharpener for my eyebrow pencil? a lanyard you're not using?   Them: Yes to all!   Them: Are you hungry?   Me: LMAO--always! Whatcha got?      My wonderful sister-in-law promptly made some cottage cheese pancakes and we all caught up on the latest in our lives. It was the best--and I saw one of my nieces, too. What a treat.   A visit to the nearby REI afforded me an opportunity to purchase needed items. Trader Joe's is a fav of mine, and I stopped there for some special treats. Tossed a PB&J candy bar in the basket on the recommendation of the cashier. Looking forward to eating that.   My brother noted that my TJ entries have been focused on food. Rereading some of the posts made me realize that food was a definite theme. I weighed myself at the ATC HQ yesterday and was satisfied with my weight. I never weigh myself, so I don't know what weight I started at in March. My body is much more toned than previously, and my shorts and skirt are too big, so I think I've been trading some flab for muscle. I feel good, and am happy for a chance to rest and visit family before hiking on from WVa.   Tracking time, miles, pack weight, my weight--this stuff doesn't really register with me. I don't wear a watch, so I only check time if I need to figure out how long it might take me to get somewhere. I am attentive to daily mileage to the extent that I need to plan for a campsite/food/resupply. I never, EVER weigh my pack (I don't want to know, but can usually guesstimate the amount). I have to check my phone calendar to know what day it is. I like this life. It feels simple and good.   I traveled to my Mom's home in the afternoon and enjoyed the rest of the day with her. What a treat! She is the best Mom ever, and has been a wonderful supporter of my journey--both here on the trail and throughout my life. Can't be more thankful for a Mom like her.    I returned to Harper's Ferry at dark, happy for a wonderful holiday spent with family. I am going to take tomorrow for a "rest" day (today was fun, but not very restful). Packing up for the next part, reorganizing my food and going to the Post Office are on the list for tomorrow, but I'll be glued to the TV for the men's semi-final of Wimbledon in the morning.It's all good when I can see my wonderful family!Tie Dye
Date: 2013-07-05
From: Northern VA, then return to Harper's Ferry

To: Harper's Ferry, WVa.
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

There is nothing more powerful than an idea whose time has come. Victor Hugo   Today was a great day. I got a decent haircut and I bought the portable key board in the picture. No more writing with one finger. Nothing could be finer.   I repacked everything while watching Juan Martin del Potro battle Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon.   Perfect. I played competitive tennis for many years in NJ and enjoy a high quality match.   Eventually went to the post office with many packages to mail.   One went out with excess stuff that was not needed now, but may be asked for later.   Another was a bounce box--this contained items which we don't need in the next few days, but definitely want available up the trail soon.   That went to Boiling Springs, PA, about 100 miles away. I sent the guidebook pages for the 50 SNP miles home to Utah, to be retrieved later.   The cookpot I had been using went back to Polaris, as it was on loan.   It's very hot here, in the 90's today. I'll have to drink a lot of fluids when we hike out tomorrow.   I've enjoyed seeing some hiker friends here, including Wild Willy, Storytime and Sweet Cheeks. I met Tails, who hikes with her dog, Heads. She's a California girl and she went tubing yesterday.   A fair haired blonde, today she sported a sunburn.   I'm thankful that I found a stylist to properly cut my hair. The last cut I had was dreadful, but now I'll be more comfortable with a shorter look.   It was a blessing to have Circuit Rider's car to run these errands on a very hot day. I can't thank him enough for this luxury.It's all good in Harper's Ferry with a portable keyboard.Tie Dye
Date: 2013-07-06
From: Harper's Ferry, WVa.

To: Dahlgren Backpack Campground
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Civilization? !? Hah! I'll call it when I see it. Jesse Opiv   OK, the plan for today was brilliant (brainchild of Alex, the master planner, but I'm learning).   We drove to Dahlgren Backpack Campground and hid our packs in the woods. Then, back to Harper's Ferry for an 18 mile slack. Got out of town around noon, following the C & O Canal towpath for the first few miles. It was packed with walkers and bicyclists.   I longingly looked at peeps canoeing and tubing the river as it was very hot and humid.   No worries! This day would end at a shower (free) and with a meal at an inn. Now that's civilized!    The walk was interesting as there is much history near the trail in MD. We walked through Gathland State Park, which is full of museum exhibits (air conditioned--Yes!) in addition to offering picnic areas and other amenities. There were monuments to two fallen Civil War generals about a mile from our destination.   We took few breaks as it was too hot to enjoy sitting. I even hiked in my sports bra and skirt for the first time-- waited to remove my Tee until the trail traffic thinned out as I didn't want to startle anyone. You won't be seeing a pix of that look, Lol!      We knocked out the miles in a little under 6 hours. The high heat had tired me, and I was glad to see Alex at the trail junction where we'd entered the woods earlier to hide our gear. He had both packs.   "Good timing", says me. "Yeah, for whom?" was the reply. What a guy : )   --always helping out his hiking partner but never letting her forget it. That's pretty much how we roll.       I assembled my new tent, took a shower and "dressed" for dinner. My attire consisted of my other shirt (non-sweat soaked), my skirt and green crocs. I was underdressed for the restaurant, but clean enough.   I like to think we added a little contrast to the Saturday night dinner crowd. I enjoyed an excellent dinner with linens, beautiful plates and cutlery, a very skilled server (also named Karen) and the ambience of a nice garden terrace.   After 18 miles in the heat I was hungry and ordered an app, entree with salad and dessert.      I stumbled back to my tent, very full and ready to rest. My new space feels like the Taj Mahal of tents. I can toss stuff everywhere without even hitting a sidewall. Love it.    Another best day ever on the AT. It's all good in a roomy tent.Tie Dye(Extra pix) PS. Almost stepped on a copperhead today. Startled me!
Date: 2013-07-07
From: Dahlgren Backpack Campground

To: Little Antietam Creek
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: moderate rain

A good plan today is better than a perfect plan tomorrow. George Patton      Just across the road from the Dahlgren Backpack Campground, the trail brushes up against more history in the form of Washington Monument State Park. Maryland has a small number of miles, but it's very interesting. It was getting very hot again and with our packs we were sweat soaked quickly.       Today's plan included a stop in Boonsboro, MD for lunch and we hit the Dogpatch Tavern around midday, glad to get out of the heat. The Dogpatch is a biker bar, so we joined a mix of bikers and others in for a beer on a hot day. Happy to sit and enjoy an indoor locale, I killed a basket of chicken wings and a mess of fries.    The tavern got pretty busy as we loaded our packs with Cokes to go. An ice cream stand was adjacent to the tavern, so we stopped there before walking on. Not long after, guess what?   The rain returned. My trusty umbrella kept my head dry, but this rain was hard and everything else was soaked. At least the temps dropped a bit. It kept raining for the balance of the day. We looked for a campsite and set up in the wet woods.       Campsite selection is always governed by a water source.   We need water for cooking and drinking and can't carry enough easily to meet these needs (it's too heavy). I generally "camel up" in the morning to start the day well hydrated. I put an electrolyte tablet in one of the liters I drank before hiking out this morning. In addition, I had a little coffee, an EmergenC mixed into my water cup, and at least one additional liter of plain water.       At lunch I had lots more water and a couple of beers, plus a Coke. We packed Cokes out and I had water and Coke as we walked through the rain. At dinner, my meal included pasta cooked in milk and water, another Coke, and more water from my bottle. I have water in the tent so it's available when I wake up thirsty at night.    Stopping out midday on these hot days is our plan to avoid heat related issues. It's easy to become dehydrated in this weather, so each daily plan must now include a careful survey of sources for liquids. I prefer a tavern for "real" food and accompanying beverages. Best!!It's all good when you can stop in for lunch near the trail. Tie
Date: 2013-07-08
From: Little Antietam Creek

To: Pen Mar Road, PA
Miles today: 6.1
Weather: broken clouds

Everywhere is within walking distance if you have the time. Steven Wright   The rain continued through the night, although it was lighter and lots of droplets came from the trees above my tent.   I sleep better to the sound of a stream, or rain, so it was a good night for me.   I enjoyed my brekky on the log in the photo.   I love camping and enjoy eating in the woods or on the trail at a viewpoint.   There's a million places to put things--little rocks are perfect resting spots for my cup or water bottle, logs are great for sitting on and the beauty of the trail provides an ambience that I'll never take for granted.   I share these moments with ants, spiders and other bugs, but they don't eat much and are happy to move along with a brush of my hand.   We had a short hike to Pen Mar County Park. After the last two days, my legs were glad for the short miles. The trail was rocky, though, and the descent from the high rocks was slow. I passed a hiker going up, and was startled when she said "are you Tie Dye?"   Well, yes, but who was this? It was Kathy and her daughter, headed out for a few days on the trail.   She had read this journal and thought we might cross paths. What a delight--I met another "virtual " acquaintance!   We chatted for a bit, then wished one another well. I'm amazed that this happens and have now met two TJ contacts.   Pen Mar park was big and not too busy on a Monday afternoon.   We planned to go to Waynesboro, PA. It was hot, so we took a few moments to sit and cool off. We were chatting with a family of four when another woman joined in and asked us if we needed a ride. Of course, we were happy to take that offer as town was several miles away and we were planning to walk or hitch hike there.            The woman's name was Lisa, and she was enjoying a company picnic in the park. She invited us to share their food, and we were overjoyed. MMmmmm.....turkey burgers off the grill, homemade deviled eggs, chips, cold soda.....the best! Lisa and her husband Lyn were interested in our experiences and were so kind to feed us and then take us to town. It was wonderful to get to our accommodation without the nagging hunger that is a constant backdrop of my existence. I'm usually tired when I get to town, and would prefer to clean up and sleep. Hunger rules, though, so pizza delivery is usually on deck quickly. This time, thanks to the generosity of Lisa and Lyn, the pizza would wait until dinner.    I knocked out the laundry after a nap, and thought about tomorrow. Waynesboro is a nice small town and I'll be here another day as I have a doctor appointment Tuesday afternoon. Post office, resupply and planning could wait for the morning. I saw Rambo, Storytime and Sweet Cheeks as well as other hikers in town.   It's all good in America's small towns. Tie
Date: 2013-07-09
From: Waynesboro, PA

To: Waynesboro, PA
Miles today: 0.0

Confidence is contagious. So is lack of confidence. Vince Lombardi   An extra town day in a nice PA locale--pretty sweet.   I rested a lot, had my appointment and did errands.    Waynesboro, PA is a working class town with a fresh coat of paint on Main Street.   A busy thoroughfare, the high street is a mix of antique shops, eateries and church storefront ministries.   There are two specialty chocolate shops owned by Greek heritage folks; they were once a single shop but a split occurred and they are now competitors.       The town is hiker friendly as it has a library and Post Office on Main Street, a Dollar General, a nice laundromat within walking distance and good pizza and burgers. Actually, I had the best burger yet--a Waynesburger at a restaurant of the same name. It was fabulous, and the fries were hand cut.   Mmmm.....here I go, talking about food again! It's all good in Waynesboro, PA. Tie
Date: 2013-07-10
From: Waynesboro, PA

To: Caledonia State Park, PA. 
Miles today: 18.2

Imagination is more important than knowledge. Albert Einstein   We left town and headed north. In this part of PA, the trail passes through several state parks. Today we were headed towards Caledonia State Park.    Since Front Royal, we've utilized a bounce box. This is a means to hold on to items that we want but don't need to carry daily. We have maps in the box, toiletries, parts of books we are reading (tearing a paperback book into sections to reduce weight is commonplace on the trail), electronics, waterproofing for my boots and Alex's fantasy football magazine, amongst other things.       Bounce boxes are often sent to post offices in care of general delivery, with a notation to hold for the thru hiker and an expected arrival date. Trail town post offices are busy with hiker business. If you don't use a bounce box, excess stuff is often sent home for retrieval later.   This presupposes a support person who keeps on top of these needs.       I've met some wonderful postal employees who help find the most economical way to send boxes hither and yon.   Using the post office for general delivery mail has a drawback--you can get caught waiting for a box if you've hiked into town when the post office is closed. Weekends are especially tricky. For this reason, sometimes it's best to have mail sent to an outfitter or a motel. The guidebook I use (by AWOL, a 2003 thru hiker) lists many businesses that accept mail for hikers.       Back to today's hike. We were hungry after many miles and knew there was a pizza place near the park entrance.   We left the trail and were road walking to find it when a car stopped. Want a lift?   Yes, OK!   It turned out that the driver was a hiker named Bearbait. He was on the way to pick up Little Foot and Bambi, family members who were day hiking. They were staying at the state park and were grilling burgers and dogs nightly for hikers passing by. Nice.       Bearbait dropped us at the pizza joint and we ate. We tucked the leftover slices into our packs and hiked back through the park. It was getting late, so we looked for a campsite.   Just outside the park boundary we found a great site hidden behind a rhododendron thicket. Tents went up, leftover pizza was eaten and another good day on the AT came to a close. It's all good when pizza is so close to the trail. Tie
Date: 2013-07-11
From: Caledonia State Park, PA. 

To: Pine Grove Furnace State Park
Miles today: 19.1

What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say. Ralph Waldo Emerson   WOW! Today was incredible--brought about by a surprise visit from Wiffleball.   He thru hiked last year and we met through my son. We had been in touch on Facebook so I thought we might see him, but he works an hour away on the MD Eastern shore and I knew he'd been busy.    We hiked up the hill towards Pine Grove Furnace State Park. On the way we passed Quarry Gap shelter. It was gorgeous, with hanging flower baskets, a welcome sign on a picket fence and a nicely painted food storage box. I was playing with my shuffle when I looked up to see Whiffleball walking towards me. OMG, how wonderful. He walked with me to the nearby road crossing where he'd parked.    When we got there he said "Would you like to slack to Pine Grove Furnace?   I can take your packs". Knock me over--I couldn't say yes fast enough. He had cold soda and water for us, too. What a guy. He'd gotten up early, driven here from the shore and was offering the thing most thru hikers really love--a walk in the woods sans the 30+ pound pack.    We were very happy to head to our destination with our little packs. Slacking actually allowed us an opportunity to walk and talk. This really doesn't happen too often, as we each listen to our music or walk at different speeds or just can't talk easily while climbing hills with our packs on. You'd think there would be little to say after spending endless days together, but our reality is that we talk at night or in the morning, mostly about where we'll be walking or what's coming out of the food bag for dinner.    Another really fun part of today was reaching the geographical halfway point. I'm in awe about this journey and thankful for these waypoints that offer time to reflect.   Wiffleball hiked in and met us shortly after we passed the halfway marker. Had a beer for each of us. The best!   We finished hiking at Pine Grove Furnace State Park, home of the AT Museum and the half gallon ice cream challenge. Hikers can purchase ice cream at a country store in the park and record their time & name in a log kept at the counter.   Some manage to down the ice cream in as little as 15 minutes. I opted for a cheeseburger as I like ice cream, but just one scoop at a time. Wimp.    Wiffleball's kindness continued when he suggested that we all head to Boiling Springs to overnight at the Allenbury. He offered to take me back to Pine Grove Furnace the next morning so I could slack another 20 to Boiling Springs. We all got settled at the Allenbury and enjoyed a fun dinner there.    This had truly been a best day ever, thanks to a trail angel named Wiffleball. It's all good when amazing friends make your hike so enjoyable. Tie(Extra pix)
Date: 2013-07-12
From: Pine Grove Furnace State Park

To: Boiling Springs, PA/Allenbury Resort
Miles today: 19.3
Weather: overcast clouds

He who laughs most, learns best.John Cleese   Today I slacked 20 miles to the Allenbury Resort, Inn and Playhouse. The trail was varied and it rained intermittently. I had a nice lunch stop at a little mountain store on Route 34 and waited out the worst of the rain. The afternoon's walk included a rock maze that was fun but a little tricky with wet rocks. The last mile of the AT into Boiling Springs was routed through cornfields. What a thing, this AT hike. You never know what you're gonna get.   Boiling Springs is a beautiful little town and the AT goes right through it. I walked past a lovely lake and by nicely kept homes with flowers blooming everywhere and more cornfields lining the main road. I was tired after the third day of longer miles, rain and humidity. The stay at the Allenbury was a godsend as we had great food, a comfortable room and amazing amenities all for $20 per person.   This resort has an interesting history. The playhouse offers live shows for $10 a seat, there is a fly fishing museum on the premises and guests can use a nice pool, jacuzzi and tennis courts. The breakfast buffet at $6 for AYCE was amazing. The Allenbury is known for their sticky buns and we have indulged ourselves there--LOL, there is a half eaten box of a dozen in the room plus I had them for brekky and took a hunk for my hike today. I'm at a point where a 20 mile hike will burn about 6000 calories over 8 hours or so, and I can't eat enough as I hike to replace that. Town food offers the opportunity to chip away at the burgeoning calorie deficit. I basically eat whatever I want now with an eye towards highly caloric foods to keep the constant hunger at bay.   The best thing about my stay here is the laughing. We had dinner here with Wiffleball on Thursday and met Angie, the best of the best of the resort staff. We enjoyed drinks and dinner and the laughs began and never stopped. Angie was terrific with the give and take, Alex was on a roll, and I was laughing so hard I was crying (again!). Dinner on Saturday was another laughfest, and I laughed so hard I choked on my beverage. Think grade school when the little kid has milk running out all the wrong places. That was me.   I have enjoyed this journey for many reasons, but the gift of laughter is the best. I love to hike, I can't wait to see what beautiful things await each day on the trail, I've enjoyed becoming stronger in many ways and I absolutely love the lift I get from the daily dose of fun. This hike is about the walking, but I've come to realize that seeing small town America, meeting people in the trail towns and enjoying the variety as I pass from one state (and culture) to the next is important, too. It's all amazing. And a lot of fun. And funny. It's all good with Alex and Angie at the Allenbury!Tie
Date: 2013-07-13
From: Boiling Springs, PA/Allenbury Resort

To: Boiling Springs, PA/Allenbury Resort
Miles today: 0.0

People rarely succeed unless they have fun in what they are doing.Dale Carnegie   I awoke to another rainy morning. Last night I was pretty tired after hiking and did not pack for today. We also had the bounce box at the post office to attend to. Today sounds like a good candidate for a zero, especially since the Allenbury is such a terrific value.    We set off to town and to the local coffee shop, on foot as always. It's just under a mile walk to the services we needed, so the umbrellas came too, as the rain was now a steady mist. Sorting the box over a cup of good coffee, talking to local folks and getting the next box ready to mail took a couple of hours. There is a regional ATC office in Boiling Springs and we stopped in there for a visit. Lunch was next, and then the walk back to the resort for a rest.    I rinsed out my sweaty clothes and sorted my gear. Tired, I laid down to read and took a long nap. This was a good zero day, with plenty of time for good food, rest and a couple of chores. I already mentioned the fun we had at dinner in yesterday's post. Laughter is the best medicine.It's all good when you're having fun. Every day for me!Tie
Date: 2013-07-14
From: Boiling Springs, PA/Allenbury Resort

To: near Carlisle, PA
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: broken clouds

True it is that we have seen better days. William Shakespeare (As You Like It)    It is blazing hot today.   Hiking is an exercise in hydration and sweat. The forecast for central Pennsylvania is for a heat wave this week, with a slight chance of a shower on Monday. Only.    At least the trail is flat today. There are cornfields all around and a path winds through wooded areas, across open fields and over major highways. We cross over I-76 and wave at the cars and trucks roaring by. Route 11 is spanned by a footbridge. I-81 is next.    The AT winds just east of Carlisle, PA on the way to the ridge that we'll follow to the Susquehanna River crossing at Duncannon.   We walk on the flat ground as we make our way towards the mountains that we'll follow all the way to the Delaware Water Gap.    There are rocks ahead. Here's looking at you, PA!It's all good, even in a heat wave. Tie Dye(Extra pix)