morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-07-07
From: Campsite North of Mason Dixon Linem Falls Creek, P

To: Campsite North of Caledonia State Park
Miles today: 18.4
Weather: scattered clouds

What a long day! EZ wanted to get to this park because he'd stayed here before and thought it was nice, it had showers anda concession stand, and there was an Italian restaurant just down the road. So 3.5 miles back at a perfectly good shelter and almost 15 miles for the day, we hike on to this park. Thumper and I were hiking pretty strongly, but EZ and Sweet Pea (Craig- the weekeneder that that gave us a lift to the store last night and hooked up with us today) was also hurting...his feet had already done 15 and were ready to quit...but off we go. We got to the campground at 6:45 and the concession stand which was supposed to be open until 7 has already clsed. We are also told that the park office is a ways away, and when Thumper and EZ try to get rides from girls leaving the pool area, they are looked at like they are bums. Not a very hiker-friendly place and the AT goes right through the park. We've gotten so used to be treated with awe and respect even though we look like bums and smell worse, we had begun to expect it. Things may be different in the north...time will tell. The guys hiked to the office and got us a site. It was about a half a mile or more away and up a big hill...yuck! Well Itrudged off to get my tent set up and get to the showers since I was pretty unhappy at this point. I git to the site and it looked like the yard of a house under construction....no level spot except the tent spots which had larger gravel chunks scattered on i. This was not going to do...and besides the noise level was going to add to the unhappiness. I checked the book and the next shelter was only 2 miles away...it's not yet 8 ...I can be there by 9, or pwerhaps find something on the way there. I go back down to tell the guys about the dsite and my plans. EZ and Sweet Pea talk quickly to a ranger and he said to take any site. 13 out of 130 are open and it's a big park...good luck finding the open sites when we're walking...I'm going back to the AT and the woods. Thumper decided to join me.The hike out of the par was a steep rocky climb, but in 20 minutes we found a place to set up our tents so we were pretty happy. I think I'm done with parks...keep on walking!Step lightly
Date: 2007-07-08
From: Campsite North of Caledonia State Park

To: Toms Run Shelter
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Good hike, hot day, mid-day nap a delight! Thumper, bless his soul, was up before 6 am...why can't that man ever sleep in? Last night was late because we hiked on out of the park, so I was hoping for a little extra shut eye, but I can hear him the minute he's up and unzipping his tent...then I'm awake. But this morning I was really tired, so I let him do his thing...he was hiking on to the next shelter to cook breakfast...and I went back to sleep. I got about 45 minutes more sleep before I felt reallyguilty still being in bed, so I got up, packed up, and hiked onto the next shelter for breakfast, too. This shelter,Quarry Gap Shelter, is the most beautiful one yet! Double shelters connected by a skylit breeazeway with a picnic table, hanging baskets, landcaped...looked like a Swiss Alps chalet!!! We hung out there for 1.5 hours waiting on EZ who had to hike all the way from the park. I'm not hiking with these guys much during the day because I'm either much slower or much faster depending on my energy level, but I meet up with them at breaks (they break every hour) or lunch. Todya, we hiked on after lunch and I was behind getting my pack on so they left me. I was so sleepy I could barely hike. I decided to try and hang my string hammock I'm carrying for just such purpose. I had new connecting ropes that I hadn't tested before, and didn't I snap one sitting in it, crash to the ground , and bang my head against a tree that was behind me? Guess I'd better get hiking, it's safer. When I met up with the guys they were at another beautiful shelter, Birch Run Shelter...with varnished floors! EZ proposed that since it was 2 pm and we only had 6 more miles to go, that we nap here til 4 and then hike on when it's cooler...great idea, since I still needed my nap! And when a couple of guys showed up, one of which we knew, and put a large loaf of banana bread on the table and said " have some"...we were in heaven! The evening hike was delightful...the foliage here looks alot like parts of north Carolina: pine straw, azalea bushes, and rhododendruns. I've discovered that just like you can drive on autow pilot and be thinking about something else and not even be aware that you're driving...you can get to that same mental state hiking. And boy does the time fly!Oh, Starbuck, the guy who brought out the banana bread hiked on '03 and said hehiked with you in the northern section. Histrail name was Hyde...and he says"Hi".Step lightly
Date: 2007-07-10
From: Campsite beside creek

To: Super 8 Motel, Boiling Springs, PA
Miles today: 13.8

Happy Birthday, 1%!!!!Where we camped last night there was a group of young women out for a 30 day intervention with nature and wilderness skills like backpacking, rock climbing and leadership development. Jen and Rose, the leaders, work for An organization called Diakon. Yesterday was their first day out and the leaders said they weren't "happy campers"...I'd love to hear from them when the month is over...soI hope some of the girls email me here in my guest book...please.The plan for today was to hike in to Boiling Springs this morning, get my pack insert to make me a happy woman. get some lunch, then hike on for 8 miles to US 11 where we'd hitch to a motel. We had to stay at a motel tonight because there's a 20 mile stretch where no campting is allowed. Well, first my insert was not at the Post Office so needless to say, I was not a happy woman I'll have to carry that terribly uncomfortable pack for another 30 miles. We did find a great litttle cafe with outdoor dining, though...and while we were sitting there didn't we meet a woman (Bonnie) whose son hiked the AT last year and she likes helping hikers. Since it was in the 90s and humid again today, I wasn't eager to hike another 8 miles this afternoon, so I came up with a plan where we'd ask Bonnie to meet us at a road crossing only 5 miles out. The guys were sorta mixed about the idea, but I was glad to know I was going to be done today before 5 . So Bonnie and I agreed that I would call her when we got close to the road. Doesn't Bonnie show up with a cooler of iced drinks, and subs and pie for dinner!What an angel! Boy did I earn bonus points with the guys!   We didn't even have to leave the motel room...we had everything we needed for the evening...and it was delicious! Thank you, Bonnie...you made us 3 very happy hikers!!!Step lightly
Date: 2007-07-11
From: Super 8 Motel, Boiling Springs, PA

To: Duncannon, Pa, Doyle Hotel
Miles today: 20.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Another 20 mile day! I said I wouldn't do one, but let me tell you how this onecame about. Bonnie, our trail angel in Boiling Springs was picking us up at7am and she had offered to slack us for the day. They guys had never slackedbefore so they weren't to eager to do it. I was willing to go either way. Mypack was still killing me without it's insert, but I'm tough and would manageanother couple days. Our plan was to go 16 today and then 4 the following dayinto Duncannon. When I meet the guys outside our rooms in the morning, EZ is carrying most ofhis large items. What are you doing? We're slacking today! was his reply. Ilove it! Bonnie treated us to breakfast paid for by her oldest son, ....notJosh, but I didn't catch his name. Thanks so much...what a treat!S o when we started hiking, we were still planning on Bonnie meeting us 12 milesout...we'd get our stuff back and hike the 5 miles to our shelter. But I gotto thinking!If we were slacking, why couldn't we go all the way to Duncannon, stay theretonight, rest most of tomorrow, then hike out about 4 miles tomorrow night? We'd be further ahead. And we're trying to put miles away to get closer toKatahdin...the clock is ticking and we definitely feel it. Every day we'recalculating what do we have to average per day, per week, higher avgs nowbecause they will come down in the rougher terrain of NH and mx?So I convinced the guys, got Bonnie to change the pickup point and time (thankgoodness for cell phones!) But the terrain in the morning was flat and meadowsand we were doing close to 3 miles an hour. The terrain was rocks in theafternoon and we had a tight schedule to meet Bonnie by 6. Thumper and } took of the last 2 hours flying over those rocks and down the hill into Duncannon. EZ's knees have a harder time so we weren't going to wait for him and we canceled the rest breaks. Didn't we walk up to her car outside the old historic Doyle Hotel at EXACTLY 6?! And didn't she have watermelon, brownies, and a cooler of cold drinks for us?!! Absolutely the best trail magic we've had this trip! Bonnie, we love you!!!Step lightly
Date: 2007-07-12
From: Duncannon, Pa, Doyle Hotel

To: Duncannon, Pa
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

No package...the insert did not arrive in Duncannon. I told the guys I wouldnot hike without it. I called the PO in Boiling Springs and the woman theresaid it had arrived there on Wednesday and she forwarded it to Duncannon...andit should have only taken 1 day within the dsame region for Priority Mail. Theguys agreed to take a zero today and wait with me for the package to arrivetomorrow. Whether they want to admit it or not, our feet need the rest. I found a trashy romance novel in the hiker box and managed to lie around mostof the afternoon reading and napping. I went to the local computer repair andgaming shop and got to get my photos onto a CD for Dana, too. Resupply wasdone both from my bounce box and the mini-mart. It's a pretty sad life when theconvenience store has everything you need to eat! I think what I miss most(besides my family) is healthy food. Rural America has the worst diet! For thenext 3 days I'll have granola and a Pemican bar for breakfast (I'll getbreakfast here in town today), then sausage, cheese, and crackers; tuna andCheezIts, and peanut butter, jam, and crackers for lunch. Then Mountain HouseTurkey Teriaki and microwave Mac & Cheese for dinners...we'll be in town for the3rd dinner. then there is the endless supply of energy protein bars and candyto keep the body moving forward! Food to die for, isn't it?Yesterday, in town, I had eggs and toast for breakfast, nachos for lunch and afish fry for dinner. Choices are limited...that's for sure.Step lightly
Date: 2007-07-13
From: Duncannon, Pa

To: Campsite at Clark's Creek
Miles today: 17.2

I'm toast! Left Duncannon at 8:45 (after going to the \/ and getting my packinsert...happy woman!) and Thumper and I pulled in to the campsite at8:00...don't know where EZ is, but he said he was toast over an hour ago. Hetold us to go on a find a place to camp with water and he would be in when hegot in. The distance the last hour seemed longer than 2 miles...that's for sure. It ispossible that he decided to camp somewhere along the trail, but there's no wateranywhere the last 2 miles. We had planned to go only 15 miles,but the spring referenced in our data books (and we have 3 different ones did not appear, so we had to go the extra 2...more like 3! I cannot move...I hurt everywhere...and I have chills, but I think that's just driven by fatigue.I was going to write tonight about how good my body was doing, but I'll haveto wait and see how it recovers tomorrow. It was a great hike today except forthe last hour that put me over the edge. You keep walking cause there's noplace to stop and put up a tent...but you have no idea how much further you haveto go...there are no mile markers in the woods, just signs to trails andshelters.I'm toast and going to bed!Step lightly
Date: 2007-07-14
From: Campsite at Clark's Creek

To: Campsite at Rattling Run
Miles today: 4.4

I told Thumper this morning that I needed a sick day. I felt sluggish andtired, but I usually am at 6 am so I didn't think anything of it. EZ andThumper hiked out ahead of me...I was slow getting packed up. The climb up fromthe road was rocky but not terribly steep. I was so tired that I couldhardly lift my feet. Several times I stopped and tried to take a nap, but Icouldn't get to sleep. For 2 hours I tried to hike, and when I came across aplace to set up my tent, I did. It was 10:30 am I crawled in my tent and slept for 3 hours! I could feel the chills and flu coming over me. The problem about being sick in the woods is having enough food and water to stay put for a couple of days. I had only 2 liters of water and water is a couple of miles back, and I'm too sick to walk anywhere. About all I could muster this afternoon was to crawl 10 paces from my tent to pee. I slept on and off all afternoon. Several people passed by but I didn't have the strength to tell them how sick I was. Then as evening was settling in, I realized I needed to yogi some water off of the next people passing, If they had enough to share. Sunshine and Google were my trail angels. About 7:30 pm while I was sleeping, I heard them passing. Quickly I poked my head out of my tent and said I was sick and needed water ifthey had any extra. They gave me a couple of liters! Google also hung my bearbag as I had no strength to do it. I have to say the ibuprofen I took at6:30did wonders with removing my flu symptoms and I feel much better this evening. I'm even having some sweats instead of chills. Maybe I won't have to leave thetrail for a couple of days. I'll see how I feel in the morning..whether I can hike on or out. Earlier in the evening when I felt so terrible it was awfully lonely to be here in the woods and sick, with no strength to walk. I didn't know what I was going to do..my cell phone wouldn't get a signal and there's no one around for miles in either direction...I just laid in my tent and cried...but I am feeling much bettertonight. Step lightly
Date: 2007-07-15
From: Campsite at Rattling Run

To: Campsite near I-81 underpass
Miles today: 13.8

Pretty good mileage today considering I was sick! The drugs help to alleviatemy symptoms and I just hiked slowly and steadily all day. I was hoping for abetter campsite, but passed up the better ones not knowing what was ahead. Iknow there's a big climb coming and I had no energy to tackle it tonight. I setup on a slope...always fun...I'll be sliding downhill all night. But I was sotired, that I laid down just after getting my tent set up and fell directly tosleep. I awoke about an hour later starving but not eager to eat anything in myfood bag. I hadn't eaten much today, so that probably added to my weakness.I'm a bit bummed tonight. I left ez 2 voicemails telling him what was happeningto me, and I'm very surprised not to hear anything back...perhaps they had beentrying to ditch me for awhile! We'll see how I do hiking alone for now.Met a nice local family out for a day hike today. Hi to the Gayharts (Terry,Aniko. and Meeka) I love sharing with others facts about my hike and I enjoy achance to share some time with other nature lovers! Meeka, good luck your lastyear of college! It's obvious you'll do well whatever you decide to do.The noise of I-81 is going to be bothersome tonight after the peacefulness ofthe woods. I was wondering, as I watched birds fling outside my tent, why theydon't move further into the forest?Step lightly
Date: 2007-07-17
From: Hertlin Campsite

To: Microtel, Hamburg, Pa.
Miles today: 18.1

I caught up with EZ and Thumper! I pushed today and got to Port Clinton. I was planning on sleeping at the pavilion and moving on first thing, but the town sits right on highway 61 and the NOISE was unbearable. I could not do another night like that. The guy, Scott, who runs the Ye Olde Backpacker hostel stopped by the pavilion as I sat there trying to figure out what to do. Also several hiker guys came in. One of them said they had given EZ and Thumper a ride down to the Microtel. Someone was already arranging for Scot to shuttle him down to the outfitters by Microtel, so I hitched along. I didn't know if EZ and Thumper would be glad to see me, but I hoped so. They were! A shower felt so good after having been sick and sweating for severaldays...always glad to rinse the grime off and see how many new bug bites andscars I have. And freshly washed clothes are another treat.Dinner was okay, but I pigged out on the fries and onion rings that arrivedfirst and didn't have room for my quesidillas..not smart.Turbo Turtle, the hiker that arrived late last night into the campsite hikedwith me today. She's a girl from Michigan, 23, and a violinist. She washome-schooled and has a degree from Michigan in music. We had a delightfulconversation all day and the time flew by. Not to mention, she doesn't takebreaks and she walks fast! We got into town in 9 hours including a lunch breakand stopping for water. But it was fun! The rocks are here...continuoslyrocky path that aches the feet. I've got many more miles of this to go...ohboy!But for now, sleep!Step lightly
Date: 2007-07-18
From: Microtel, Hamburg, Pa.

To: Campsite, Middle of nowhere Pa.
Miles today: 12.5

I'm very frustrated this morning. I have tried to send my journal entries from4 different phones with no luck. I just now tried calling Pocketmail and theydon't even take the call, they just tell you to leave a voicemail and they'llcall you back. I am not at all happy with the service I've received from thiscompany, it's very hard to reach someone live...never easy to deal with.Perhaps I should have looked into something else to use, but right now it's toolate to change ships. Obviously, when you read this message, you' know myproblem was resolved.Got back on the trail this morning (sub in hand for lunch and dinner) at about11:30 and saw no one all day. Water was in limited supply today too. I need toremember to top off my bladder every time I find water (as annoying as that maybe, especially if I have to filter it) because I can't be sure that my databookis accurate about water sources and availability...sever today were dry. I wassipping when I wanted to be gulping! Amazing that feeling of how critical wateris when you don't know where the next drop will be coming from. But it's alsoheavy, so I hate to carry any excess if I don't need to...finding the rightbalance..what a challenge.I got water at a spring just a half a mile back and found this cozy campsitenestled in the woods. I like to quit hiking by 7ish so I still have time forall my nightly chores. The first thing I do when setting up camp is to find a"x105x" spot and set up my tent. Then I unload my pack and stuff the sleepingpad, sleeping bag, pillow, book, Pocketmail, fanny pack all in my tent. Next ismy bath. I gaet about a cup and a half of water in my bowl, add suds, get mybandana, towel, night clothes, and find a private spot. And I wash my face,chest, arms, dry them and put on my night top, then wash my but legs and feet,dry them and put on my night shorts. It's most refreshing! if there's a creek,I gather water away from the creek and wash my hair...that's a special treat! Imay start to wash my hiking clothes out periodically at night, hang them to dryovernight. They'd be a bit chilly to put on in the morning, but they'd finishdrying while I hiked. It's almost comical how quickly that shower in town and freshly laundered clothes become history...almost doesn't seem worth it. I'm sweaty within 30 minutes of getting back on the trail and right back to smelling funky. That's why the smell is called "hiker funk"...and we all smell the same! When a day hiker with fresh clothes passes me on the trail, the smell is so noticeably "clean"! But my nightly bath refreshes me and seems to keep the odor at bay in my boudoir thank goodness... goodnightStep lightly
Date: 2007-07-19
From: Campsite, Middle of nowhere Pa.

To: Campsite
Miles today: 16.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Why do my feet finding moving so easy one day and so hard the next? Some days Ifeel like a car that just won't fire on all cylinders. Every step is hard, but I just keep taking steps no matter how slowly I go...as long as they are forward!The blazes through these boulder fields are few and far between...I think whitepaint is a rare and expensive commodity in PA therefore they use it sparingly onthe AT. It's hard enough to follow blazes through the rocks...you're lookingdown so you don't misstep, and the blazes are high up on the trees...but whenthere are no blazes, one has to find other means of determining where the trailgoes. I look for worn edges on the rocks, dirty rocks from boots having crossedthem, and well worn leaves on the path around the rocks to guess where the trailmight be...then I hope there will be a blaze soon to confirm I guessed right. Been lucky so far. Would hate to get too far off the trail without knowing it.I had a good dinner tonight nad a different dinner mate. Loose Brue, a retiredpharmacist that I've met before (actually one of his buddies took a picture ofme sitting next to him outside the store at a camp gound in the Shenandoah's...Ihad my nose covered with my coat because the hiker funk was sobad!)...He caughtup to me at a shelter this afternoon and we hiked on together. ..we came to BlueMtn. Sumit Restaurant at a road crossing and they offered water from theirspigot to hikers....but I wanted food, so we stayed for dinner on the patio. Earlier in the day I had thought about steak and that's just what I had....withmashed potatoes and steamed veggies, and a salad! Good meal. I carried carrotcake back into the woods with me for a late night dessert.Step lightly
Date: 2007-07-20
From: Campsite

To: "Jailhouse" Hostel, Palmerton, PA
Miles today: 11.3

There was quite a rainstorm last night...I love the way it sounds on the tent. I managed to get the vestibule flaps closed before things got too wet. Theworst part is packing up the wet tent in the morning. For some reason this tentdoes not dry overnight after a rain like other tents do...don't know why thatis..so I took my towel and managed to get most of the water off before packingit up...otherwise I'd have extra water weight, and I don't want that!I had a fun day boulder hopping today...I'm probably one of the few people thatactually enjoyed the Pa rocks. When I got to the Oven Bake Shelter, I read inthe register that Thumper had gotten there the night before after 17 miles andfound no water...and he was out of water! I felt so bad for him. His entrysaid he was going to hike on. I knew that there was no water for another 7miles...the next shelter...Thumper can't do 24 miles...and without water. WhileI hiked on I was glad I didn't find him by the side of the trail, dead ofthirst...no sign of him was good news. Later in the morning, I got to the nextshelter and he had signed in that he was in for water and a long break, then onto Palmerton. Whew! He survived at least. Turns out, when I caught up withhim in town that he had taken to drinking water from pools in the rocks and eventried to collect rain water. He couldn't find the shelter but it turned out hewas almost to it. I never want to be in his shoes, that's why I'm always adding water to top off my bladder...can't have too much water, that's for sure!Step lightly
Date: 2007-07-21
From: "Jailhouse" hostel, Palmerton, Pa.

To: Technical Dificulties Leroy A. Smith Shelter
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Hi Everyone! This is Dana, The Bag Lady's daughter. As most of you know, I maintain her trailjournal, and let's just say technology isn't error proof. Mom's doing great!! she'll be entering into NJ from PA next week, and is still loving every minute of it!!There seems to be a problem with her pocketmail, it just wont send. She's still doing journals everyday, but it could be a few days before they get up here. Plus in the midts of all this, I'm moving to FL. SO I will do my best to get the journals up as fast as I can, oh yeah tons of pictures on the way too! SO just "bear" with us (haha) and we should everything up to date as soo as we can!!!Thanks for you patients and prayers!Dana