morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-06-20
From: Rocky Run Shelter

To: Free State Hostel
Miles today: 15.7

Woke up early and did not sleep all that well last night. Very restless and my knee was sore. It was very humid and I think the next time I get near an outfitter I will get a 35 degree bag and mail my 15 degree home for now. Saw a Wren at Rocky Run just before I ate dinner.Started hiking this morning at 6:30. It rained hard for awhile and we ducked in to the Dahlgren Backpack Campground to use the bathroom. Off again to get rain gear on at Mount Vernon Shelter , not a hiker's shelter , but one in Washington Monument State Park. We saw some men on the trail that were dressedin Civil War Dress, asked and took their picture.Onto see Washington Monument, a bottle-shaped structure made of stone.We left our pacs before taking the quick jaunt up. If it had been sunny we could have seen the surrounding countryside , but wet and rainy! We crossed over I-70 via a footbridge . We saw a spike horn Buck , so pretty then I saw a Doe and her fawn off in the woods. So cute! Got to Free State Hostel - awesome place, owned by 2006 thru-hiker Ken Berry. They are so friendly and it is so clean! Glad to be here and take a shower , do laundry and sleep before heaading out again tomorrow!
Date: 2009-06-21
From: Free State Hostel

To: antietam
Miles today: 17.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Got on the trail at 6:30 and it once again started to rain. It turned out to be very drizzly , but still stopped to put on my sauna suit.My left knee is very sore and my right is on again , off again. Blister is still sore.Walked thru a beautiful field full of field flowers then into the woods with the sweet smell of honeysuckle vine. Saw many Sassafrass, Sawtooth Oaks and a few Laurels in bloom.Saw Gentian and more Snakeroot. Had an early lunch at Pen Mar State Park. Thought we might be able to get something to eat , but the concession was not open yet. Used the bathroom and filled water bottle. Ate lunch under a covered open shelter with benches and a view of Waynesboro. Finally a view. Then off to the Mason Dixon Line where there used to be a marker , but now all there is is a brown post , a picture moment. Took a snack break at Deer Lick Shelter and a man out with his 2 Vichelas stopped in for a break. Then off to Antietam Shelter. There was a man and his wife mowing and weedwhacking so we thanked them. He told us where the water was a very short distance - yipee!!!! We walked and got water from a spigot(town water) so no filtering - awesome! Soaked my feet in the creek and it felt wonderful.Pound Hound and Garage Man came in later and will stay here. I am glad they are here. Hung up my stinky socks and sweaty raingear and they dried nicely!
Date: 2009-06-22
From: antietam

To: Quarry Gap Shelter
Miles today: 13.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Nice morning , low humidity to start.Ate breakfeast with Pound Hound and Garage Man. Off to get rid of trash at trash can and then on the trail. My knee was hurting this a.m. even after taking 3 advil. It hurt all day.Stopped for lunch at Caledonia State Park. I got a Cheeseburgerand fries and an ice cream. It was wonderful. We are only 2 miles from our next shelter so we can relax, it is so nice to take a load off. Everything seems to hurt today and I am praying it will pass.The trail was very pretty today with lotsof rocks(not pretty for the feet) and the understory of blueberries and in other areas hayscented ferns. There were also some White Laurels blooming. Since we crossed into PA have noticed a change in the forests. We are now seeing Pines,Hemlocks.I did see some blueberries that were in the early stages of ripening.It reminded me alot of Maine.I saw a Scarlet Tanager today and still am enjoying the Thrushes.Got to Quarry Gap early and I was glad as I am tired and my knees needed a break.Walking to the shelter we passed thru a long tunnel of beautiful Rhodies , no longer in bloom. As we were on our way up we saw a sign stating it was illegal to kill the Timber Rattlers. We did not see any.The shelter is beautiful, actually 2 shelters connected by a roof and crushed stone all around. There are even pots of Impatiens and Pansies near the little stream. Very nice. It is taken care of by Jim Stauch who obviously takes great pride in this shelter. It has the expensive metal roofing on it and even the picnic table has a metal area to put you stove on. There are also tarps rolled up in case it is windy or rainy. The tarps are secured on a rod so they stay nice and tidy! There are still a couple of Rhodies that have beautiful white flowers left and I am left to imagine how beautiful it must be to see them in full bloom.Tomorrow we cross thru thickets of Laurel and I cannot wait.
Date: 2009-06-23
From: Quarry Gap Shelter

To: Ironmaster hostel the to Rusty's
Miles today: 17.3

Beautiful hiking day today thru thickets of Laurel in pink and white.Knee is still very sore and blisters too , but advil helps lessen the pain. We took lunch at Toms Run Shelter and the trail was pretty flat with some downs today , but all in all good. If my knee had not hurt it would have been easier for me. Got to Pine Grove Furnace and tried to do the 1/2 gallon ice cream chalenge. Birch and I tried and we did a pretty good job with sharing it.Pound Hound and Garage Man did it as well as Son-Dance.We were waiting to get into the Ironmaster Hostel and the guy came out at 4 and told us we could not stay as there was no water. We had been waiting since a little after 1 so we were disappointed.Birch had a number of a lady named Rusty who lived near Pine Grove so she came and picked us up and took us back to her house to stay and do laundry , showers,and to town to eat. WONDERFUL PEOPLE - Rusty and her husband Hi-Jacked.
Date: 2009-06-24
From: Pine Grove

To: Boiling Springs
Miles today: 19.4
Weather: clear sky

We slack packed today thanks to Rusty. Nice light pac - water and snacks and camera.My knee is really hurting despite carrying a lighter pac. I took lots of advil today and I made it almost 20 miles to Boiling Springs. We went past some really neat rock outcrops today. The forest was really pretty and I am praying I can make it to Duncannon then I will reasses and see - 1 day at a time.I am very tired so not mush is flowing thru my head. Ate dinner with Birch,Rustyand her husband,Richard and G.man and Pound Hound. Staying at Rusty's tonite and we(g.man,pound hound,birch and myself will leave in the a.m. Rusty cooked us a wonderful breakfeast today and will do it again tomorrow. It is so refreshing to meet such great people.
Date: 2009-06-25
From: Boiling Springs

To: Darlington Shelter
Miles today: 14.3
Weather: broken clouds

Woke up early this a.m. and did not sleep well last night despite the fact that I was in a nice comfy bed at Rusty's and Hi-Jacked's home. I think I was just very anxious about my left knee as it is very painful.Rusty cooked us a wonderful breakfeast again and drove us to the ATC Center in Boiling Springs where we picked up the trail.We walked thru corn fields and it was very hot and humid.. I was glad when the trail went into the woods again.There was one field that we walked thru where there was a beautiful horse so of course I said Good Morning and I also said Good A.M. to some cows that were along the trail. The trail ran along side of quite a few farms today. Very pretty land.We walked on approx. 500 feet of boardwalk today that was done on the Conodoguinet Creek. We crossed many roads today and stopped to get water at ATC Scott Farm.Got to the shelter at 3 and set up sleeping bag in shelter. I pulled off yet another deer tick not imbedded , thank goodness. They are so tiny and hard to find! I will get off the trail in Duncannon tomorrow as my knee needs a break.I hate too, but the pain is taking away my joy and love of hiking!I guess it is not meant to be, but I will finish it in sections.
Date: 2009-06-26
From: Darlington Shelter

To: Duncannon
Miles today: 11.4
Weather: light rain

Woke up early this morning and got ready. Hit the trail at about 10 of 6.The sun had not quite come up yet , but it sure was humid. My knee is very painful so I will get off in Duncannon , thanks to Rick. He is going to come get me. I am so lucky to have so much support! Then I will figure out the rest later.I am very tired and it will be good for me physically and mentally to get some sleep. The trail was relatively easy today except for one very steep, rocky down.The rocks were very loose in some places so my little brain was mentally exhausted. That ususally does not take much anymore!Got into Duncannon before 11. We made good time. Pound Hound was there as she got a shuttle yesterday as her ankle was very painful. She is going home to Alaska , but Garage Man will stay on. They are so sweet and I am glad I got to know them.Birch bought me a choc. milk and diet pepsi as she could not check into her room yet.I will miss her greatly! I just paid $5 for a shower.The Doyle is an interesting place.Got a hot shower and then went across the street and had a ham,egg,cheese English muffin -it was good.I am going to miss the trail , and really wanted to finish , but I just could not mentally hack taking every step in pain. I want to enjoy it and not feel the constraints that I put on myself to finish. I hae to realize that I have done something that most people cannot and also be proud of what I have accomplished. Carrying a pack and walking everyday is both physically and mentally challenging. I think I will be okay with completing it in sections as I honestlt think for me that that is all my body and mind can do. I admire those that do it all at once and I had really hoped I could , but sometimes dreams have to change. I am sad and I will work thru it all and I will always hike , that is for certain!
Date: 2009-01-21
To: It's all about the adventure
Miles today: 0.0

It's entirely about the adventure. We lived near some woods when I was growing up and my friends and I spent a lot of our young lives in those woods, when we weren't playing the sport of the season. My father used to take me out in the woods to hunt, walk the dog, or just "check out the land." One day he pulled out an old map of the Allegheny River and showed me a route just south of a dam that would lead right to our hometown. He said my friends and I could probably canoe the route in 3 days. A tradition was born and my friends and I made that trip every Memorial Day for about 6-years straight. I loved these mini-adventures and anything like it. When I moved to DC, I read about a guy who biked the C&O Canal Trail in three days. So I took a long weekend and had another mini-adventure.Well, one day, a long time ago, I read about some people hiking the Appalachian Trail and found out that one of my football coaches had hiked this Trail. Now it was in the back of my mind that I wanted to do this someday. Normal life took over, I was now in the Air Force.....an adventure in itself, and I had forgotten about the Trail. About 15 years ago, I saw a journal posted on line about an Appalachian Trail thru-hike. And about 10 years ago, started following hikers on their hike on Trail Journals. This of course cemented the fact in my mind that I had to have this adventure some day.It is hard to believe, but that day is just around the corner. My hike will start on 11 March, Georgia to Maine. Can not wait for Step One!
Date: 2009-01-22
To: Hopefully bringing the Trail to you
Miles today: 0.0

My goal in posting this journal is to bring the Appalachian Trail to you. I think it would be cool if I can write my entries in a way where you can put yourself on the Trail, and basically hike vicariously thru my entries.I hope to write about what the Trail brought to me each day; what was seen, how was the footing, what were the conditions, what was today's obstacle, what was today's blessing. In this manner, hopefully you can "feel" what it was like to be hiking that day and place yourself there.I am an amateur philosopher so I'm sure I'll feel compelled to also share my major thought of the day. If so compelled, I'll add this at the end of the day's entry.I really want to focus on describing the Trail. As an example, I will describe the morning environment. "At sunrise, it was 32 degrees and a light rain was hitting the ground." I won't tell you what I did. I'll let you imagine whether or not you would get up, pack up the stuff, and get going.....or just lay there all cozy until noon, or until the rain stopped. I will describe the beautiful stops along the way, and let you decide whether you stopped there for lunch or not!Obvioulsy, I'll adjust my entries based on input from friends, family, and readers. But this will be my starting point.
Date: 2009-01-23
To: So you can read between the lines...
Miles today: 0.0

I do believe knowing something about me will help fill in between the lines as you read this journal. Knowing age and background helps provide perspective and help you know "where I am coming from." I really do want to focus on the Trail, so if I start getting too introspective along the way, let me know! As some may hike the Appalachian Trail to find out about themselves, I hike it to find out about the Appalachian Trail. I'm 47 and have always been single, so I think I know myself very well.I was born in Pennsylvania in a blue-collar town an hour north of Pittsburgh. I have a bachelor's and master's degree. I am a retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, 25 years. As such, I have had the pleasure of living all over the United States; as far north as Minot, North Dakota and the Upper Penninsula of Michigan; as far west as Sacramento and Merced, California; as far south as Shreveport, Louisiana and San Antonio, Texas; and as far east as Washington, DC. The closest to the middle I lived was Dayton, Ohio. I can attest to the fact that there are good people all over our country.What I don't know about myself is what I am going to do for the rest of my life! I guess I have 6 months on the Trail to figure that out.Now, back to the Trail! 47 days and counting!
Date: 2009-01-26
To: Hike Your Own Hike
Miles today: 0.0

"Hike Your Own Hike." Read any info on preparing or executing an A.T. Thru-Hike and you'll see the mantra of A.T. Hikers is just that, Hike Your Own Hike.Well I'm as "green" as they come when it comes to an extended length backpacking trip. I've been car camping for multiple days, bike-riding for multiple days, and even canoeing for multiple days. I've been hiking in places all over the country, but never overnight, let alone for extended periods. Mistake City, here I come!So I'm not exactly sure what "Hike Your Own Hike" will mean to me. And I'm very sure that definition will be very different at Harper's Ferry, West Virginia than it was leaving Springer Mountain, Georgia, and then defined even better approaching the summit at Katahdin in Maine.Hiking experts be warned, I will most likely make a million mistakes in those first couple of southern states. Please feel free to laugh at me, and hopefully I'll still have enough sense of humor to laugh with you as they pile up! This is a new experience for me and, as with all such experiences, the learning curve is expected to be steep.So what hike do I expect is my hike? In a word, average. I expect to complete in an average amount of time, about 180 days on the trail. I expect to average 12 miles-per-day total and 14 miles-per-day for hiking days (i.e. not counting zero-days). I expect my pack weight to be average to slightly-above average. The ultra-light backpacker will be ultimately disappointed in my gear selection! The goal is simply to complete the thru-hike!I'm hoping to live on the Appalachian Trail, not just survive. I'll have some items for comfortable living. I'm going to try to stay warm and dry, but I'll let you know when I failed to do so, and I'm positive I will fail at times.I'm ready to go! I am looking forward to those first few weeks when everything will be new to me, and I will be learning from everything I do or see. There is some form of excitement in doing something you know very little about!!
Date: 2009-01-28
To: Gear
Miles today: 0.0

Holy cow! Gearing up for an A.T thru-hike is much worse than trying to buy a new TV, car, camera, etc. Too ,too ,too many choices - for each piece of equipment! Especially difficult when you are new to this stuff. I thought my head was going to explode!Instead of putting a bunch of gear stuff here in the entries, I will let you know why I picked each specific piece of gear in the "Gear" section of this journal. See the gear link to the left of the page.I will comment in the journal entries when I really like or when I really hate a piece of equipment. I will let you know when I add a piece of equipment or send one home. I will also let you know when I change one piece of equipment out for a new one, and why I did it. I am 100% positive that this will happen several times during the hike as I'm exposed to other equipment, and actually learn what the heck I'm doing out there!There are plenty of places to find good information on gear. I found plenty of great threads right here on TrailJournals.com. WhiteBlaze.net has a bunch of good info also. I found good info reading the journals of previous year's thru-hikers. There are many on-line sources as well as printed publications. Thanks to those that answered my "too many questions" about gear selection!How did I pick my gear? I don't have unlimited funds, so price is always an issue. When I could, I did pick the lightest gear that would do the job required of it. I am carrying some heavier gear than is available simply because I already have it and want to avoid replacing it if I can, so I can spend the available funds elsewhere. I'm trying to keep it simple, picking equipment that does the job with the least amount of complexity (hopefully less problems with it). I love gadgets but have forced myself to shy away from them for this hike. The tech gadgets (equipment requiring batteries) I will be carrying are a cell phone, a camera, a flashlight, a headlamp, and a Steri-Pen (a device for purifying water).I'm going to try to do a good shakedown of all my equipment before I leave, trying not to carry anything "extra". But I know I will leave home with more than is required just to be safe. I can always send it home. I'm also looking forward to really "knowing" what I need once I'm out there for a while.Wow....there's a bunch of gear out there!Note: If there is a question mark ("?") next to "Price:" in the Gear section, it means I don't remember how much I paid for it and the price listed is what it would cost today to buy a replacement. A question mark by the weight simply means I don't know and am making my best guess.
Date: 2009-02-01
To: Woops - What Time Is It?
Miles today: 0.0

Just thought I would share what may be an unusual story about gear.I'll need to know what time it is on the hike: How much light do I have left?; I'm meeting so-and-so at the next shelter at such-and-such a time; I want to make it to the Post Office before closing; or I'm supposed to meet a shuttle at this time; or I may want to set an alarm to make sure I'm out by a certain time.Ok, so what? Well, I haven't worn a watch for over 5 years now!! I have a nice dress watch which I wear occasionally but it's just jewelry really. And I have a GPS watch I use for runs and day-hikes but much too heavy for the A.T. (and maybe useless) and I wouldn't want to take it anyhow.I had a normal day-to-day watch I used to wear. About 5 years ago the batteries finally went dead after a whole bunch of years.....it did good. I thought about replacing the batteries, or maybe even the whole watch, but after thinking about it I decided to try an experiment....to not wear a watch. I always carry my cell phone with me so I always have a clock with an alarm. There was a clock in every office at work. And every computer I know of has the time right down there in the lower right-hand corner! And, there is a clock right in the middle of the dashboard of my truck.Obviously, it was extremely easy to not wear a watch for the last five years, and I was never late for anything or missed any appointment, or anything like that.So I find it kinda funny that I'm going out into the middle of the woods....and buying a watch! I put it on my gear page and would have pictured it here but I haven't learned how to post pictures to my Journal Entries yet! I'll get there one of these days! It's a cool little watch that clips on via a caribiner-type mechanism. Didn't feel adventurous enough to actually strap a watch to my wrist again just yet!! Small steps!
Date: 2009-02-02
To: Journal Decision
Miles today: 0.0

I have been debating for what seems like a year on what method to use to keep a journal while on the trail. I looked into many methods including the Peek, PocketMail, BlackBerry, Cell Phone, paper and pen, etc.I made my decision today to go with plain old paper and pen. I actually think I will enjoy putting ink to paper while I'm on the trail.I've decided I'm going to start out with the Nomad Hiking/Backpacking Journals. I like the layout of each entry with prescribed forms to record weather, terrain conditions, people met.....stuff like that to prompt me to make such observations at the end of a long day. There is, of course, lots of room for notes and observations.3 of my nieces have volunteered to be transcribers....thanks Liz, Jessica, and Megan!! Handwriting my entries will obviously increase their workload vs just having to cut and paste, if I were to use an electronic device. I'm going to try to alleviate some of that workload by doing as much of the work as possible myself, when I enter a town.This hike will most likely be a once in a lifetime adventure for me. So if I could keep the Journals in tact, they would make a wonderful memento of this journey. The Nomad Journal has room for about 30 entries each. I will still transcribe on to the Trail Journals web page, but I will also have the original journal that I will be able to pull off the bookshelf and read on the couch someday.....after I'm too old for a new adventure! We'll see how this all works out.
Date: 2009-02-03
To: Feel free to skip ahead!
Miles today: 0.0

This entry is just a warning to the accomplished Trail Journals reader. I start my hike on 11 March....this is when the adventure will begin. And it may be the next time this stuff could be any interesting to read!The entries between now and then will have stuff about the Appalachian Trail. These entries are included mostly for family and friends who know little about the Trail itself. There will be some statistics and some links to stuff they might want to look at, and maybe a map. You get the idea.There will also be entries on my mindset going into the hike. I'm including them here just for journal completion so I will have a record of what I was thinking now, just one month before my hike begins. Maybe 20 years from now, these types of entries will bring back fond memories of how I feel right now. However, to the casual reader, it will be just a bunch of psycho-babble perhaps.I really can't wait to be writing about a day actually spent hiking on the Trail. I can't imagine what that first step will feel like in Georgia, knowing it is the beginning of a walk to Maine!