morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2007-05-25
From: Pine Grove Furnace Stae Park, PA

To: Alec Kennedy Shelter, PA
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: broken clouds

miles 15.5 in shelter end alec kennedy shelterA long hot day. At 1 point, my thermometer said 90,but I keep it clipped to my shoulder strap so maybe itwas elevated from radiant body heat. After about 7miles, I went about .25 miles off the trail toCherokee Family Restaurant. I had a turkey club andfries, which were good, but being able to sit in theac was heavenly. A little while later, I came to astream and soaked my feet for about 15 minutes. Theafternoon was long and I kept getting slower andslower. There was a hill that had a rock maze - therewas one ledge I had to climb on that was at the levelof my forehead. I had to throw my poles, take off mypack, throw the pack, and then wiggle up. Tonite inthe shelter there are 7 thru-hikers. There is a groupplanning to do the 29.5 miles into Duncannon tomorrow.I am hoping to make it to a Super 8. The CumberlandValley tomorrow is flat but with little water. So I'mhoping the thought of a room with ac will get me thru it.
Date: 2007-05-26
From: Alec Kennedy Shelter, PA

To: Econolodge Calisle, PA
Miles today: 11.9

Today I started out early to get a jump on the heat.After descending from the shelter, the trail went thrufarm fields of wheat and corn. It was a welcome changeto walk on grass and dirt instead of rocks and gravel.I arrived in the town of Boiling Springs - lots ofpeople out road biking, walking, and fishing. I sentmy old maps home and got water at the ATC office. Theyhad the weather posted for the next 7 days - mid toupper 80s with isolated t-storms, except for one daythat was scattered t-storms. The super 8 only hadsmoking rooms. So I booked a room here. The next 8miles were pleasant - still around farms and mostly inthe shade. I kept leap-frogging with Trooper and Chefand their Siberian husky Aska. Last night when I gotto the shelter i saw Aska I understood where theexpression dog tired came from. I saw a couple boxturtles and a furry animal I'm guessing is a woodchuck.There were a few fields with stiles. 1 field had 2horses ¢ they came up to me and sniffed me over, but left in disgust either because I had no food or because I stank. I walked along route 11 to the hotel and saw another woodchuck busily eating as tractor trailerswhizzed by. He waddled off finally when he saw me -fast but not gracefully. I'd been looking forward to the ac allday and I had to turn it off - too cold. I am showeredand have clean clothes. Will try to get an early starttomorrow. I weighed my pack at the atc office - 18 poundsbase weight, 26 pounds with food and water
Date: 2007-05-28
From: Doyle Hotel, Duncannon PA

To: Peterd Mpuntain shelter PA
Miles today: 11.4

When I woke up it was gray and had been raining - perfect for hiking. I got a fuel bottle (empty drink bottle of bug juice - 10 oz with pour spout), fuel, and did my laundry. Then I sorted out my maildrop - Irealized I had way more food than I could carry. So I waited until the Doyle opened at 12 to see if they could mail it for me. While waiting, I thought about taking a zero day - there was a campground that charged $3.50 for a site and the newsstand was open soI could find a paperback or maybe the Sunday New York Times to pass the afternoon. But when the Doyle opened, they could mail it for me. The couple that owns the Doyle are great - and Vicky took my picture for their book. Hikers were pouring in and ordering lunch and once again I was tempted to zero. I walked out of town at 1245 and I ran into a southbound hikerwho said so you made it up here,. It was one of the ridge runners I met at Annapolis Rocks. The climb up Peters Mountain was a horrible rock scramble. I got to the Clarks Ferryshelter after hiking 4 miles and it was already 1600. I got water and tried to decide what to do. I really regretted not taking a zero. The next shelter was 6.8 miles away but the 1 after that is 17.8 so if I stayed at the Clarks Ferry shelter I would add a whole day to that leg. So I kept going - the trail got better but I was shoulda/coulda/wouldaing the whole way. 2.5 milesbefore the shelter was the section maintained by the Susquehanna atc chapter. There was a pedestrian foot bridge built over the highway and then the trail was a wide dirt path - I was loving it. About a mile and a half before the shelter, I heard a guy say hi behind me. Normally I hear hikers coming up behind me well in advance because of the sound of the trekking poles. So I turned around - this guy had no poles and also didn't have a stitch of clothing on. He said mind if I walk with you and I said (as i was booking out of there) whats with the no clothes thing and he said taking a nature walk. I did a personal speed record for the last 1.5 miles. The shelter is super nice - a double decker. The water source is down 275 steps but therewas some water already at the shelter that the guys said I could have - I was so thankful. The guys said that at the footbridge they came upon trail magic - hamburgers, hot dogs, beer, 30 kinds of dessert. (guess they were all packed up by the time I got there).it was dark by the time i finished dinner but I'm glad I made it here.
Date: 2007-05-29
From: Peterd Mpuntain shelter PA

To: Rausch Gap shelter PA
Miles today: 17.8
Weather: few clouds

Today was long. I walked. And walked. I finishedDragonfly in Amber,. Other than that, nothingremarkable. I got to the shelter and got water from apuddle running thru the middle of the trail. There wasa guy on his 1st day of a southbound section hike. Hepolled the guys to see if they treated the water (theydidn't) and then he asked me (I did). Then 5-stringadded yeah, that cause she's new. They told me in awhile I wont be treating all the water (tho imstarting to like the taste of aqua mira). They alsosaid in about 6 weeks 17 miles will be an easy day.
Date: 2007-05-30
From: Rausch Gap shelter

To: Lickdale PA
Miles today: 6.0

I got started at 645 this morning - my choices were13.6 to the William Penn shelter or 17.8 to the 501shelter. The earlier shelter would mean I would have a19.5 mile day the next day and the 501 shelter hasrunning water and a shelter. So I was hoping to beable to do 17.8. I was in some pain from the previousday but the 1st 5 miles were ok. The 6th mile mty achilles tendon started hurting so when I got toSwatara Creek I soaked my feet. Slow Goin and Crackershowed up for a break on the bridge. Somehow wefigured out Lickdale was 2.3 miles away and hadhotels. Also, it had a Dairy Queen, which was theclincher. 5-string had shown this couple his greatpicture of a rattlesnake coiled and ready to strike.As we were deciding to walk or hitch, the same couplecame by and Cracker yogid a ride in their pick up. SoI'm in ac, watching Twister, and icing my sore feet. Awelcome rest.
Date: 2007-05-31
From: Lickdale PA

To: 501 shelter PA
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Today was predicted to be 92 degrees. Not sure if itgot that hot, but it was hot. We walked back to the trail- 2.3 miles. We told the guy at the front desk that wewere trying to get a hitch, and he said that'scheating. I said no, we're just trying to cut down onour bonus miles - which do add up. When I was gettingwater, I met the Dogfather (with his akita sebastian)and Thrills. I told them I was having problems with myachilles and they said the cure was eating alot anddrinking alot of water. So tonite I had 2 dinners. Theshelter I'm at is nice with bunks and a skylight and apizza place that delivers to the shelter. So I had mychicken couscous from my pack and a tuna sub from thepizza place.. There are 2 other flip-floppers here -Earl Grey and Crazy Chicken.
Date: 2007-06-01
From: 501 shelter PA

To: Eagles Nest shelter PA
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: few clouds

Last nite just as everyone settled down, a huge rumbleof thunder sent everyone out to get their clothes fromthe line. We could see the storm thru the skylight.The trail today was ok, but the humidity wasabsolutely brutal. I took a battery out of my headlamp to use for my mp3 player - it was totally worthit to take my mind off the heat and my sore achillestendon. Im going to take at least 1 zero day aftergetting to Port Clinton tomorrow to allow my ankle toget less inflamed. I managed to get to the shelterbefore any rain. I heard thunder all afternoon buteven 2 hours after getting here, the rain hasn'tstarted yet. I was talking at dinner tonite andrealized there was something in my hair - it was alarge live beetle who scuttled away - seemed glad toget out of the confines of my hair. The glamour never ends.
Date: 2007-06-02
From: Eagles Nest shelter PA

To: Port Clinton PA
Miles today: 8.6
Weather: few clouds

Last night I lucked out again - the thunderstorm hitjust after dark. In the morning, I had to get to thepost office by 11 am to pick up my maildrops. I wasmoving! I would come to a nice stretch and think Imgonna make it, then I would turn the corner and see arock field. I came to an embankment near a railrooad at1056 and just slid down it - I found all these twigsand a bunch of dirt in my back pockets later. I joggedacross the bridge - wasn't really sure where the postoffice was so I ran towards the closest building withan American flag, which was the fire station. A manpointed me in the right direction, but said I wasprobably too late. But I ran up the hill as thepostmistress was coming out to take down the flag andshe yelled to me don't run, im still here. She said shethought I was going to have a stroke. So I got myboxes and wandered around the town in circles -literally. I was mainly looking for a shady place tosit down but eventually found the Port Clinton hoteland got a room for 2 nights. I hope the day off will help my bum ankle. I showered, went thru my mailldrop,did laundry. The guy at the bar gave me a baggie of laundry soap which I still have. Apparently i did my washwith vanilla carnation instant breakfast mix. It didnt do a badjob. I had pierogies, cucumber salad, and Yuenglingfor dinner at the bar - yum - and am now watchingPirates of the Caribean. I am so looking forward tonot getting up at the crack of dawn tomorrow!
Date: 2007-06-03
From: Port Clinton PA

To: Port Clinton PA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Staying in hotel. It was a weird feeling not to be hiking. I walked a mile down the highway to a Cabelas. Wow. It was probably the largest store I have ever been in. There was a 2 story high fake mountain with waterfalls and all these stuffed animals (the taxidermy kind of stuffed animals). They had a whole RV parking lot, prefab log cabins, row after row of fishing lures. There was basically nothing there that I would use for hiking or backpacking although I did buy a spray bottle of deet. I wanted to see if I could find a book to read and saw library in a corner of the store so I went there. Turns out it was a gun library - all these glass cases of guns. I was entertained for hours. I decided whole I was there to take a couple days off to let my ankle settle down. Went back to the Port Clinton hotel, watched Pirates of the Caribbean on TV.
Date: 2007-06-04
From: Port Clinton PA

To: Port Cinton PA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

My dad drove up from Delaware and picked me up for some R&R. First we went to the Yuengling brewery in Pottsville (Americas oldest brewery) for a tour. I kind of thought we would be more or less the only ones on the tour, but there were about 50 people, including 4 thru-hikers (butch Cassidy, the Sundance kid, Quatro, and Two-Fer). I guess the attraction is the tour is free and you get 2 beers at the end. Then we drove back to Newark and saw the new Pirates of theCaribbean movie.
Date: 2007-06-05
From: Port Cinton PA

To: Port Clinton PA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

This was a busy day for a day off - lots of shopping. I got tons of AAA lithium batteries for my MP3 player, glucosamine (which I am skeptical about, but it can't hurt), poison ivy stuff (I got poison ivy on my waist - why I didn¢t get it on my legs when the poison ivy has been growing into the trail and I¢ve been wearing shorts - can't explain) and arnica gel. My Achilles still is making popping noises but at least I can see the bones in my ankle. Back to the trail tomorrow.
Date: 2007-06-06
From: Port Clinton PA

To: Windsor Furnace Shelter PA
Miles today: 6.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Nice weather today - cool, sunny, breezy, low humidity. Normally I¢m slow, but I went even slower but still was at the shelter by noon. I was hoping that there would be a book in the shelter that someone had left behind, but figured I could always just read the trail register. No book, also no trail register. All that was in the trail register box was some maps and a pair of dirty socks. I set up my tent and took a long nap. Then I made dinner and it looked like I was going to be by myself. But shortly after Widowmaker, Martini and Rossi showed up - enjoyed talking to them.
Date: 2007-06-07
From: Windsor Furnace Shelter PA

To: Eckville Shelter PA
Miles today: 9.1
Weather: broken clouds

Another relaxed day. I went by Pulpit Rock and the Pinnacle - impressive vistas of the Pennsylvania farmlands. I got to the shelter around 1430 - took a shower in the solar shower, rinsed out clothes and set up my tent in the field across the street (actually a well-manicured lawn). Then I started reading a book in the shelter conversations with the Fat Girl - chick lit novel. I read it through dinner and by the time it was dark, I had 50 pages left - I ran up to the shelter, got water, and threw away my trash. I noticed there were people in the shelter but had to finish the book - there was no way I was carrying it. Total tearjerker - I was bawling by the end.
Date: 2007-06-08
From: Eckville Shelter PA

To: Blue Mountain Summit PA
Miles today: 11.3

I saw my first bear of the trip today! I was about a mile from the road (and a few hundred yards from a sign that said NO CAMPING ecologically fragile area) when I saw two enormous tents in the middle of the trail. Then I saw the bear walking along and eyeing the tents. I went up to the tents and said ¢Guys, there¢s a bear over there¢ and the bear turned tail when he heard my voice. There was a muffled thank you from one of the tents. It was so amazing that this very large animal could move so fast thru the woods without making a sound. So then I had to go on the AT following the path of the bear - I was clacking my poles together every few seconds. The day got into the 90s and by 1400 I got to the Allentown hiking club shelter and thought my head was going to fly off my body it was so hot. After resting with my shoes off for almost an hour, I kept on going. The trail had been intermittently rocky up to that point, but the last 4 miles were on a flat dirt path. I originally planned to go to a campsite 2 miles farther, but these 2 weekend hikers I met said the weather is supposed to be cooler this weekend so I figured I¢ll make up the miles tomorrow. I am at the Blue Mountain B&B and Restaurant - they let thru-hikers set up tents in the back. I did have dinner there though - there was a singles group there called 'Off the Couch'. I talked to one of the organizers who is a home health nurse then I talked to the singer of the band who is a social worker for a dialysis unit. Can¢t get away from the medical field chat for long. Anyway - just had a yummy dinner at the restaurant BBQ chicken and ribs with wheat ale and it starting to cool down.
Date: 2007-06-09
From: Blue Mountain Summit PA

To: Palmerton PA
Miles today: 11.6

After getting in my tent, a storm brewed up. Thunder, lighting, lots of wind, but fortunately little rain. It was so hot in my tent but eventually I realized that if I got rid of my sleeping pad, there was only my tent floor between me and the nice cool ground. The next day was breezy, cooler with lower humidity. There were a few hairy sections - a knife edge called the cliffs, bake oven knob, and a section under a telephone wire. I would look at the next white blaze and think you are KIDDING me! When I got to the Lehigh river bridge, I couldn¢t find the blue blaze to Palmerton. So I went on the highway, the next to the railroad (more rocks!), then over the railroad, and upthe really steep embankment back on the highway. I was really confused because the exit ramp said East Penn township so i walked back to the last sign (which did say Palmerton for that exit). This lady pulled over - a regular trail angel. She took me right to the police station. Palmerton lets hikers stay in the basement of the borough hall for free and its the police that check you in. I was wandering around the building, buzzing doorbells on both sides to no avail. So I ended up at the Palmerton hotel asking for a room. This guy overheard me and he was a hiker so he told me the deal - basically I just had to keep trying. So i went back to the police station - I wandered.around on the verge of tears until finally a police car rolled up. I knew I was overreacting but also that once i was settled and could sit down for 5 minutes, I would be fine. I got checked in, went to the IGA for breakfast/lunch stuff, and to the Palmerton Hotel for dinner. I met S. Pete Sue and David from Philly. David was the guy from the hotel and lives a block away fron where I used to live in Philly. St. Pete Sue is 67 and trying to finish the AT ¢ she¢s been section hiking for years. I took a shower (really great pressure ¢ almost blew me out of the room) and rinsed out some clothes, then went to bed.
Date: 2007-06-10
From: Palmerton PA

To: Leroy Smith Shelter PA
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: broken clouds

David had arranged with this guy Duane, who volunteers to shuttle at hikers, for a ride back to the trail. Then I was faced with a dilemma. The climb out of Lehigh gap on the at is among the most challenging on the at south of New Hampshire (according to the ATC companion). But there is a easier blue-blazed alternate. When I was on that knife¢s edge the day before, I thought to myself I am SO taking that blue blaze but I talked to St Pete Sue that night and she¢s one of thoses purists that has to go by every white blaze. Also, that day there was no water source listed until the shelter 16 miles later. Although I usually drink about 5 liters of water a day, I usually carry a max of 1.5 because generally the water sources have been good. So I had 3 liters of water weighing me down and looked at that climb - and decided to take the blue route. It was not without hazards - I almost got run down by 2 deer running at full speed like something was chasing them. They stopped at the last minute - I guess they decided I was worse than what was chasing then because they went back the way they came. The EPA had shut down zinc smelting in that area in 1982 because the hillsides were so damaged with no growth. It's starting to be revegetated but is still pretty bleak. I met Roger, one of the ridge runners that I had met earlier in MD, at the top of the hill and he walked with me for a while and told me to go left at one point he told was an at relocation. About 20 minutes later, I came upon him and St Pete Sue, who had been behind me.It turns out he had led us off the AT and put us back on it southbound. So I had to turn around - put me about an hour behind. The rest of the trail was pretty much in the long green tunnel - I just listened to my book and zoned. There was some light rain throughout the afternoon. At 7 pm, although the sun wasn¢t set, it was starting to get dim under the canopy. I ended up stumbling over rocks in the semi-darkness, cursing my bad luck. About 4 miles before the shelter, a trail angel had put cold bottles of spring water under a sign. I sucked down a half liter right there. So when I got to the shelter after 8, I had enough water to make dinner which was fortunate since the spring was a hike. I was in the shelter with Joe from Ohio. I finished dinner by headlamp light and went to bed around 2115.
Date: 2007-06-11
From: Leroy Smith Shelter PA

To: Kirkridge Shelter PA
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: light rain

It was raining when I got up and made the trek down the hill for the spring. Then it stopped raining although it was really foggy. I came to a view into the valley and all I saw was a layer of clouds ¢ like flying in an airplane. I ran into Roger and he said it was totally sunny down below. By the time I went down into Wind Gap, it had cleared up. So around 1 pm, I decided to change out of my wet socks. This trio passed me southbound - with HUGE packs. The older guy said they had way too much stuff. The woman said Wolf Rocks was horrible. Around 1530, as I was listening to a weather report that said evening showers possible, it dumped rain. It slowed down by the time I got to Wolf Rocks, but it was slippery and treacherous. I smashed my mp3 player (big bummer) and lost my pee rag. At some time in the past, there were probably nice views, but the trees below have grown up so there is nothing to see. The trail goes over pointy slanted rocks on a cliff edge for no reason. It is so pointlessly cruel. Fortunately, after that it was 2 easy miles to the shelter and I got there a little after 6. I got out of my wet shoes - my feet are a mess. Large slabs of skin are sloughing off my soles. But it was nice to eat by day light. I am alone in the shelter. 7 miles into town tomorrow.
Date: 2007-06-12
From: Kirkridge Shelter

To: Newark DE
Miles today: 6.6

It was a quick walk to the town of Delaware Water Gap.I picked up my maildrop and went straight to the diner, hoping it was the kind that served breakfast all day. Yes! I ordered what I was thinking about all morning - 2 eggs over easy, bacon, home fries, toast with extra butter, and a coke (full sugar). I went to the Church of the Mountain, which has a bunkroom for hikers in their basement and lets hikers stay for free. I called the ATC because they were supposed to send the NJ and NY maps to Delaware Water Gap. They were still at the printers - wouldn't be ready until the end of June. It isn't totally necessary to have them, but it helps plan your day. Also - I wanted to do laundry, which they did not have in town, I wanted to get a new mp3 player, and had some stuff to take care of - so I asked my long-suffering dad to pick me up. While I waited, it started to rain and I curled up on the couch with my sleeping bag. At regular intervals, a new rain-soaked hiker would show up and a fresh wave of hiker stench would roll in. Lonah had stayed the night before and had caught a shuttle to Stroudsburg, a town 10 miles away. People asked him "Is there a grocery store?" "Is there a laundromat?" "Is there internet?" "Is there fast food?" And the answer was always "Yeah, in Stroudsburg". Stroudsburg started to sound like Shangri La. There was a ceramic jar of dog biscuits on the coffee table and Fidel started eating them, even though there was a jar of Jolly Ranchers next to them. He said they were like hardtack people ate in the 18th century and someone pointed out that people didn't live all that long in the 18th century. They started going thru the hiker box (the food etc. that other hikers discarded). It was really entertaining to watch a bunch of guys discuss the calorie/weight ratio of foods. There were about 12 hikers there by the time I left.
Date: 2007-06-13
From: Newark DE

To: Newark DE
Miles today: 0.0

I got all my stuff including buying TWO mp3 players with extended warantees against droppage. I think Circuit City may be adding a new AT exclusionary clause to their warranty.Carter family - my ankle is doing well but just to be safe could you fedex me 4 cortisone shots (1 for each ankle and knee)? After carrying this pack around and having my foot expand a half size, I really feel for you, Beth. I am grateful I can take off the pack several hours a day. I am getting good at peeing with my pack on though. I have not attempted to pee standing up, although I am assured it can be done. I think if I tried it I would end up with a new trail name like Yellow Shorts or Pyelonephritis.