morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-06-13
From: Rocky Mountain shelter

To: Tom Run Shelter
Miles today: 19.3
Weather: overcast clouds

I rolled out of my sleeping bag this morning at 5:45 and after a quick breakfast, Hiking viking and I left to hike the 3 miles down to US30. Once there we walked the .9 mile into Fayattville, PA for groceries. Milo and Nuke were leaving later and figured we'd catch up with each other during the day. A very nice older man who was listening to my conversation with the cashier about hiking on the AT came over and volunteered his services to take us anywhere in the area and back to the trail. He had us back at the trail by 9, just when Nuke and Milo were getting to the highway, so pretty good timing. We got to Caledonia State Park too early for the consession stand to be opened so we missed out on some good food...oh well!The day was another hot, humid hiking day where a normally easy 500 to 1000 foot climb left you a sweaty mess. After sweating like that on and off all day you have a tendency to get a bit sticky under your clothes, not one of my favorite feelings.On a long stretch where I was hiking by myself I took my second big fall since starting. As I was bounding down the trail a broken root was sticking through the leaves on the trail and the tip of my boot caught it just as I moved my arms back behind me with my trekking poles. Needless to say, I went crashing off the trail into the brush and rocks on the side. With my trekking pole straps still around my wrists I moved my hands quickly in front to sop my fall, but the shock of the movement sent my right trekking pole handle right into the corner of my eye leaving a nasty little gash in my eye brow. Unfortunitly I had to use about 1/2 of my toilet paper reserve to stop the bleeding. It's presently a little swollen, but not too bad, and the cut wasn't too deep. I should have known, after all it's Friday the 13th.I arrived here at Tom Run Shelter at about 4:00 PM followed by Nuke, Milo, and Hiking Viking and just like yesterday we had our only heavy rain 15 minutes after we arrived. How's that for timeing.Tomorrow we will cross over the 1/2 way mark of the trail and then go into Pine Grove Furnace State Park for the traditional Thru Hiker 1/2 Gallon Club when we eat a half gallon of ice cream as quickly as we can. It should make for a great breakfast since we'll be there about 9 AM. Wish me luck.
Date: 2003-06-14
From: Tom Run Shelter

To: Alec Kennedy Shelter
Miles today: 19.2
Weather: light rain

Another hot, humid day on the trail. I got started around 7am and left camp just after Hiking Viking-- Nuke and Milo were about 1/2 hour behind me. I reached Pine Grove Furnace State Park around 8am and was heading to the camp store to buy my 1/2 gal. of ice cream when someone a the hostel I was passing asked me if I would like coffee, which I did. When I got up on the porch I saw Hiking Viking was there eating pancakes and they offered them to me too. Of course I said yes...I hate turning down a good stack of flapjacks, but it killed my chance of the 1/2 gallon challenge. Instead we went over to the campstore and I only ate a pint of chocolate along with a cheese burger and brownie and figured that was enough. No one in our group attempted the 1/2 gallon since we had to go over 19 miles in the heat and would have probably made someone sick.I left first and ran into a day hiker who was behind me until I reached the half way sign for A.T. Thru Hikers and he took my picture by the sign. His trail name is "Scarecrow" and we ended up hiking most of the day together, about 16 miles. He's a scout leader and was out conditioning himself before taking out his troop. We were both the same age and talked throughout the hike making it a very pleasant day. He took me on a side trail to Greens Market where we had lunch. Thanks again Scarecrow for buying my sub, it was much appriciated. I left him about a mile from the shelter I was hiking to as he went down a side trail to be picked up by his wife. By the time I got to the shelter I was feeling that sticky all over feeling from sweating profusely from hiking in the humidity and heat. I went to a nearby creek and layed in the cold rushing water...It felt great. I rinsed out my shorts and shirt, put on a dry set and came back to cook dinner just before a thunderstorm blew in.Tomorrow I'll be moteling it about 12 miles from here so I can do laundry and clean up a bit. I've been 6 days hiking in this heat and it'll feel great to take a real shower again. I'll make the push to Port Clinton, PA. Monday where I'll need to be when my wife and son fly out this coming Friday, June 20th. Can't wait to spend a few days off the trail with them.
Date: 2003-06-15
From: Alec Kennedy Shelter

To: US 11-Carlisle, PA
Miles today: 11.9

I left the shelter this morning at 6:45 with Milo, Nuke and Hiking Viking and arrived at Boiling Springs, 3.9 miles away at 8. I have to say this was one of the nicest towns I've been in for some time. It was very quaint with beautiful homes and buildings and a very clear lake in the middle of town. When we arrived people were fly fishing up and down the stream that fed the lake. Watching them was mezmerizing, it's like watching poetry in motion. We walked over to the ATC Mid-Atlantic Regional Office where we dropped our packs and went to a near by store for coffee. When we returned there was my old hiking buddy from yesterday, Scare Crow, and he took a group of us to breakfast. He couldn't have been a better trail angel. When we returned we all took an O'Doul's from his cooler and downed it before we hoisted our packs to start hiking. Thanks Scare Crow for the Gator Aid powder also and for everything. We had a beautiful hike to US11, about 8 miles further going from one pristine farm to another walking through easements and through private property with permission from cooperative farmers. We arrived at US11 at 12:40 and walked down the highway to a Super 8 Motel, about .2 miles away. Tomorrow I'll be heading for Duncannon where I'll have to make a run to the grocery store for food to hold me until I make Port Clinton. Heres hoping the weather holds just a bit longer.
Date: 2003-06-16
From: US 11-Carlisle, PA

To: Clarks Ferry Shelter
Miles today: 22.2
Weather: overcast clouds

I got up at 5:30, showered and then went to check out the continental breakfast at the motel, but when I saw only donuts I went back to the diner we ate dinner at and had a fabulous breakfast. When I went back to the motel lobby Hiking Viking was partaking the donuts and coffee and still needed to shower so I told him I'd meet him up the trail and I took off by myself. Milo and Nuke were going to hike into Duncanon and stay. Milo needs to go to the outfitters there and get some new boots. Her old ones have been persistant in giving her blisters on her heels.So I took off by myself and hiked alone today. I have to make Port Clinton, Pa. by Friday where my wife and son will be picking me up friday night for 5 days of R and R with the family. By the time I get back, Beekpr should be close, so we should able to get together again soon to hike. The hike was a good one today with the usual muddy fields and portions of trail, but when I was about 5 miles from Duncanon I hit the "Pennsylvania Rocks" and walked on them all the way into town. That sure does beat your feet up. Just before Cove Mountain Shelter, about 4 miles from Duncanon, I came across my second poisonous snake since starting, a Timber Rattler. It was laying diagonally across the trail with it's tail in my direction. May I add this was a very well fed Rattlesnake, very thick and about 4 feet long. After taking a picture of it I spent about 15 minutes trying to move it off the trail with a stick but it only curled up and struck at the stick and wouldn't move. At that point I moved around it and hoped it would move on after it realized it was in no move danger from me trying to move it. After seeing one of those snakes you can believe I was looking at everything on the trail after that to see if it was moving.I got into Duncanon at 2:15 and hiked the 1/2 mile to the grocery store where I resupplied for the 4 day trip to Port Clinton. Sure is a big difference in pack weight before and after visiting the grocery store. A Trail Angel gave me a ride back into town and took me to the legendary Doyle Hotel. Since it was only 3:00 I decided not to stay there but just have my dinner there and move on. May I say, they make a Great Meatball Sub.I then hiked out of town and back into the mountains to Clarks Ferry Shelter arriving around 5:30 PM. It looks like, at the present anyway, that I'm the only one here tonight except ofr a couple of people tenting nearby. Tomorrow will be a long day too, aobut 24 miles, and then a couple of shorter milage days into Port Clinton. Here's hoping I left the Pa. Rocks behind me.
Date: 2003-06-17
From: Clarks Ferry Shelter

To: Rausch Gap shelter
Miles today: 24.3
Weather: broken clouds

Well I had a long day to do today and completed the hike at 4:30, but of course I started at 6:30am. The trail from Clarks Ferry Shelter to PA325 bring into mind 2 words, rocks and poison ivy. When you weren't stepping in and around rocks you were dodging the poison ivy. There was so much of it I was beginning to think it was the state plant. After PA325 there is a 1,000 foot climb up Stone Mountain and then an easy but long descent until you reach the shelter. I can tell you, my poor feet took a beating today from the rocks and they sure feel it. As empty as the shelter was last night this one is full so I had to tent it tonight in the rain. I ran into some hikers I haven't seen for some time, 2Step(haven't seen her since Newfound Gap in the Smokies), Just Dan (not since Harpers Ferry) and Trog (not since S.W. Virginia). I've hiked 2 long days now so my next 3 will be a lot easier. Going to try about 10 miles into Port Clinton Friday so the rest of the week is any easy cruise. I'm really looking forward to seeing my family again and spending a little time with them before hitting the trail and finishing the next 900 miles. Now only if it would stop raining by morning.
Date: 2003-06-18
From: Rausch Gap shelter

To: 501 Shelter
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: overcast clouds

I packed up my wet tent and started on the trail at 6:30am. Just Dan left around 4:30am since he was getting wet from the heavy rain under his tarp and had to negotiate the trail in the dark using his headlamp. The trail went very fast this morning until I hit a rain swollen creek near PA443. The normal stepping stones were mostly under fast flowing water so I moved down stream a bit and found 2 logs spanning the 15' crossing and made my way safely over those very carefully stepping across. There was a steep climb up from Swatara Gap to a very rocky trail which went on for quite a way. Needless to say my feet were pounded pretty good again. The rocks in this state definitely live up to their reputation--they're God Awful! Of course where there's rocks, there's poison ivy. It's like running a long obstacle course. I arrived at the 501 Shelter about 2:15 and what a shelter it is. It's more like a cabin with a long dinner table in the middle, with chairs and a lot of reading material. You can order pizza delivered about 200 yds away on PA501. Too cool! The same group of hikers from Rausch Shelter last night are making their way here for the night. Tomorrow will be an even shorter day with about a 15 mile hike and Friday about a 10 miler so I can be in town for my family to pick me up.
Date: 2003-06-19
From: 501 Shelter

To: Eagles Nest Shelter
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: light rain

It was great hiking today knowing I only had to do a 15 mile day. I started out a 6:30 about 15 minutes after Just Dan left the shelter area and started out immediately into heavy rocks along the trail. The rocks went on for the first 5 to 6 miles constantly. They seemed to have started about 5 miles south of Duncannon and have continually gotten worse as we move north. There are 3 kinds of rocks you incounter and the famous Penn. Rocks have all 3 varieties, the rock rubble, which is fist size rocks laying all over the trial, then comes the large boulders where you have to rock hop and watch for snakes sunning themselves, then the third kind and I.M.H.O. the worst is the sharp rocks embedded into the ground with their sharp edges pointing every which way. In any event they can all lead to a hike ending injury if your not completely aware of where your feet are going all the time. From what we hear the worst ones are from Port Clinton to the Delaware Water Gap, that's about 75 miles, so in 4 days of hiking hopefully we'll be out of them but somehow I doubt it. Tomorrow I'll be in Port Clinton, about 10 miles from here, and will be waiting through the day for my wife and son to pick me up. Their plane doesn't arrive in Newark until 6pm so if all works out ok they should be able to drive directly to Port Clinton on HWY78 by 9:30-10:00pm. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing them again after 3 months. It'll be nice to have a few extra days for the body to heal and increase my calorie intake. I'll be back and hiking on the 26th and hopefully by then Beekpr will have caught up. Staying tonight with Trog, DejaVu and Songbird and Super Dave.
Date: 2003-06-20
From: Eagles Nest Shelter

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

The morning started like so many others, rain! Super Dave, DejaVu, Songbird and I hiked together into Port Clinton in a heavy downpour. All of us ended up staying at the Port Clinton Hotel bar drying out, eating and downing a few Yingling beers. Super Dave was staying overnight at the local B&B and DejaVu and Songbird were waiting to be picked up by their daughter to take a few days off the trail. As for me, I was waiting for my wife and son to arrive. The lodging in Port Clinton wasn't anything I wanted to put my family into and the bartender suggested a motel on a nearby highway about 8 miles away. Fortunately for me, Flyby offered to give me a lift when his wife came to pick him up. He was having to leave the trail for now due to a leg injury. My wife and son made it to the motel around 9pm and it was great to see them again after 3 months on the trail. I'm looking forward to the 5 days I'm spending with them and will catch up my journal when I get back on the trail. Signing off for a few days. CIAO!
Date: 2003-06-26
From: Port Clinton

To: Eckville Shelter
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: clear sky

I'm back on the trail once again but I must start our with some bad news. I learned last night that Beekpr was leaving the trail. He has had trouble with his feet throughout much of the hike due to arthritis and his feet have swollen up. I was looking forward to hiking again with Beekpr and finishing with him but that won't happen now. I know he's disappointed and he wouldn't leave the trail unless injured or sick. He'll be truly missed by this backpacker. He is a friend and a hiking companion par excellence. That only made this morning sadder after spending 5 great days with my wife and son. I'm going to miss them alot. When they dropped me off at the trail it was hard to watch them leave. I stood there for a few minutes thinking about how much I'd miss them and how Beekpr must feel having to leave the trail and how much I'll miss not hiking with him anymore. Just as I was feeling sorry for myself, I looked up and in front of me and there was the AT white blaze. It sort of beckoned me to take the first step, then the next and before I knew it I was hiking again. After 5 days off and the terrible heat and humidity, it was over 95 degrees, the hike was a bit harder than normal. I drank over 5 liters of water to get here today if that gives you any idea. The Eckville Shelter is a little like the 501 Shelter, where there is a house next to it and has a caretaker. We are leaving the door of the shelter open tonight but that lets the bugs in. I'm in my bunk with my headlamp on writing the journal...can you guess where all the mesquitoes and other bugs are coming to...Thats Right, ME! I'm going to turn my headlamp off now before they carry me out of here.
Date: 2003-06-27
From: Eckville Shelter

To: Bake Oven Knob shelter
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: scattered clouds

I got up this morning to another sunny, hot and humid day. I slept pretty well despite the mesquitos in our shelter and thanks to the use of a little Deet repellant. The stuff really works. I got out at 6:30 to begin hiking and climbed about 800' almost immediately. Even though the temperature was cooler at that time the humidity was high so I sweated profusely anyway. My plan for the day was to hike about 23 miles but only made 17.4-thank you Pennsylvania rocks. My feet were already quite tender from the long stretches of rock trails I encountered earlier but the worst was yet to come. When I came out to PA 309 I was delighted to see the Blue Mt. B&B and Restaurant about 200 yards to my left. I stopped for lunch and the waitrees had to fill my water glass 5 times. After PA 309 though I ran into the worst rocks I've encountered so far. They slowed me down a good bit and added to the pain I was already feeling in my feet from the earlier rocks. I knew when I got to my present location my feet weren't going any further. I was worried I may have blisted my right foot but when I took off my boots everything looked good, just very, very tender. Hopefully tomorrow will be a little kinder to my feet for I'm planning a 23 mile day. This is going to be one happy hiker when it comes to leaving Pennsylvania and all of its rocks.
Date: 2003-06-28
From: Bake Oven Knob shelter

To: 1 mile north of Smith Gap Road
Miles today: 20.9

Well today I got to see and feel the worst of the Pennsylvania. The rocks were terrible as usual and my feet were throbbing after the first 7 miles. Then came Lehigh Gap. As I was desending into the gap on a rock trail I looked across the Lehigh River at the gap and saw this mountain going up from the other side of the river that was bare of vegetation and covered with rocks and boulders. I figured the AT would never send us up that but then I remembered the map showed a 1,000' climb across the river and that pile of rocks was the only thing that large. Unfortunately I was right and up this mess of rocks and boulders I went. There were no switchbacks and the trail went pretty much straight up. It became a boulder scramble where y trekking poles were useless and I had to toss them on top of the next boulder in order to climb safely, and by thte way, did I mention steep, almost 1000 feet in .8 mile, thats Steep! The other worst was when you did reach the top you were treated to the biggest ecological distaster I've seen on the trail. Because of the zinc smelters in the valley below, the mountain and miles of ridges were bare, just skeltons of the trees that once were there-very sad to see this. Vegetation is slowly taking hold but will take a long time to reclaim. Water on this stretch of trail from the Gap to my present location was scarce for the first time since I left Georgia. My water bottle was down to its last few swallows when I came to Delps Spring, a long, rocky, .3 mile down a steep slope. I really had to work for this water.My feet are about as tender as they can be. It feels like a couple of heavyweights were using them for punching bags. I'm hoping a little rest tonight and a little Ibuprophen (Vitamin I) will work by tomorrow, but I'm sure I'll be walking a bit on the sore side.I'm only planning about 17 miles tomorrow and in these rocks thats plenty and then make my way into the Delaware Water Gap on Monday.
Date: 2003-06-29
From: 1 mile north of Smith Gap Road

To: Kirkridge Shelter
Miles today: 16.4
Weather: few clouds

Only one more day of the PA rocks and only 6 miles of it at that ! I've heard that we have another 40 miles of rocks in NJ but they're not as bad. I guess I'll find out soon enough. My feet are still sore from yesterday so I took it a bit slow and stopped at the last shelter before Delaware Water Gap, only 6 miles away. I'm still trying to figure out where the NOBO (northbound) hikers went to. This makes 2 days since I've seen any and I'm alone in the shelter tonight. Hopefully not too many succumbed to the rocks or the weather and insects or a combination. I'm planning on an early start tomorrow for the gap, probably around 6am. That should get me there just in time for a good breakfast, then a stop at the outfitters before checking in to the Ramada Inn for the night and then, New Jersey. One last thing, the local ATC ridgerunner stopped by to check on the shelter and it turned out to be Gizmo, a past thru hiker that I met on the summit of Springer Mountain when I began the hike in March. He was on Springer to orient the new hikers and mentioned that he might be at the Delaware Water Gap about the same time as me and there he was, how cool! We had a long talk before he left me in my private shelter for the night.
Date: 2003-06-30
From: Kirkridge Shelter

To: Delaware Water Gap
Miles today: 6.6
Weather: overcast clouds

I began my day at 5am and packed up and left my private shelter at 5:45. The hike in to town was a good one with only a few stretches of rocks. I made it into the gap at 8:30 and stopped at the outfitter before heading to the motel. The outfitters ran a shuttle into Stroudsburg for hikers to get to the grocery store and laundromat. I checked into the motel, showered and made it back in time to get the shuttle. I had everything done by the time it returned at noon, a great feeling. I finally ran into some thru hikers here. First I saw Chicken Feet and Flanders when I was still packing into town and then later as I was getting into the shuttle here comes Bam Bam and Brie into the parking lot and across the street Spiderman was going into the local minimart. It was good to see some familiar faces again. They were all leaving for New Jersey today so I won't be far behind. Speaking of New Jersy, I'm going to rest my feet today and push on into Jersey in the morning. New state, new adventure.
Date: 2003-07-01
From: Delaware Water Gap

To: .3 mile north of /Blue Mt. Lake Rd.
Miles today: 18.0

Good bye PA and helloooo New Jersey! I didn't get the early start I planned on since I couldn't get my lazy butt out of bed at 5:30am. Instead I rolled over and zonked out for another 45 minutes. By the time I showered and made my way to the Water Gap Diner for breakfast(a delicious one)I could see I would be running about 2 hours late. Just a quick note about food, there were 4 must stops in PA for great food in hiker portions in my opinion, The Middlesex Diner on Rt11 in Carlisle, The Doyle in Duncannon(of course), The Port Clinton Hotel, and the Water Gap Diner, all great food! Anyway I started hiking out of town at 9am on a beautiful hiking day. Temps in the mid 80's but low humidity which was a great treat for a change. I crossed the Delaware River and started climbing for elevation, about 1,100 ft. I did encounter rocks today but not like PA. Here there were more clear portions of the trail so far than rock encrusted. I was actually able to hike and look around instead of constantly looking where my next step was going. There was more to look at also. The ridges were more open and meadowlike with great views of farms and forests below in the valley. So far I'm liking NJ and to think it's my home state too. About 1:00 I came out to the Camp Road with a .2 mile walk to the Camp Store in Mohican Outdoor Center. I had a great egg salad sandwich and 3 snapples and they filled my water bottles before I left, can't ask for much more than that.I arrived at my present location, which is about .3 miles north of Blue Mtn. Lakes Rd. I ate my dinner down by the road where there was a water pump so as to keep my campsite free of cooking food odors. It was also a good source of water to rinse some of the days sweat and dirt away. One thing this part of New Jersey is known for is it's bears so the food bag is hung with care tonight.