morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2005-04-25
From: Campbell Shelter

To: Fullhardt Knob Shelter
Miles today: 20.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Brisk AM, turning mostly sunny in the PM. Clearing cloudless night with a big moon. More georgous views from Tinker Ciffs, but it was windy as hell. Moved on quickly. The Tinkers must have had some impressive power base back in the day.   They have cliffs, a creek, a ridgeline, and another entire mountain named after them. Wow. Got to Daleville about 2pm, ate Mexican food, kept eating mexican food. Darned good. Great resuply plase - Kroger's, outfitters, coffee shop, phones and post box all in the same place. Didn't end up leaving 'till 7 or so, but made good time the last 5 miles to the shelter, though, and only had to headlamp it for the last 1.5 miles. Good night's sleep alone (not even any mice that I noticed). Cool unique shelter - has a cistern for a water source.
Date: 2005-04-28
From: Matt's Creek Shelter

To: Punchbowl Shelter
Miles today: 12.7
Weather: broken clouds

Had a great night last night haning out with three southbounders. One guy, Hawk had brought up some beers and hot dogs and we cooked those over a nice big fire. I shared my chocolate pudding around. It was a good night - we were all young so nobody was snoring! Got up really early, for no particular reason, and ended up spending almost ALL day in the quaint town of Glasgow, VA. Crossed the James River Foot bridge in beautiful tranquility, and got a ride fairly easily. Got to town, made it to the post office and spent way too long sorting through my bump box, and figuring out what groceries I needed to buy. Had a great huge breakfast Mom & Pop's. Good stuff, and good town gossip. Evidently the town used to have a bunch of full-sized models of dinosaurs all over it - a T-Rex around the corner on some street, and a teradactyl perched on a store roof, but all have now been removed. Bummer.Anyway, managed to get a shower from Eric (Montreal), and did laundry, made phone calls, bought groceries. And before I knew it it was on towards 5:00. I don't know how that happens, but I guess by spending all morning drinking diner coffee might have something to do with it. Anyway, made it up to the first shelter and shared a pint of Ben & Jerry's with Roaming Gnome, then headed up to Punchbowl shelter. Spectacular views from the ridgeline looking down at the river, and the wilderness area I had left yesterday, and the land to the east. Had to end up headlamping it towards the very end, but it was all good. Spent the evening chatting with a guy doing a SOBO flip-flop.
Date: 2005-04-30
From: Seeley Woodsworth Shelter

To: Camp south of Cedar Cliffs
Miles today: 25.0

The last day of April. Isn't there a saying about April showers? Remember it's neglect it has been picking up the slack in the past two days. I've just finished dinner (Velveta and shells with crushed red peper, and a protien bar) and tucked myslef in with the sounds of raindrops pitter patting on the fabric above me. A little thunder storm began rolling through just as I reached my little camping spot. This was my first time setting up in the rain, and I scould deffinately use some practive, but it went OK. The inside of the tent is mostly dry. The rest of my stuff which should be dry is dry. Cooking in the rain worked out well too. Other than that it's been a great day - oh except last night. (why do I keep complaining?) A group of young weekenders pulled into the shleter last night around 9:30. I'm not sure what time they finally quieted down but it was much later. Well Stagger Le and I thought we would have the shelter to ourselves - oh well, 5 more fit fine.Anyway it rained all morning and was letting up as I made my way down "the Priest" where I ran into Paladin slacking south and Blazin' Ivy and Wanderlust (aka The Newlyweds"). Two cool folks. Had lunch with them too - nbut they headed down to "Rusty's" hostel and I went on. Anyway, no rain all afternoon through the visibility along "three ridges" was many times lest than 50ft. Supposedly a georgous bit of trail, but saw nothing. Ah well. Now it's reaching midnight (err... 9pm) so I should trun out the lights and listen to the dogs barking distantly down in the valley. Tomorrow... Waynesboro!
Date: 2005-05-01
From: Camp south of Cedar Cliffs

To: Waynesboro YMCA
Miles today: 16.0

The walking today just go really really nice - flat and fast and beautiful green. After leaving the campsite I made my way to the Paul Wolf Shelter and dried everything out in the crisp sunny air. Had over an hour - almost 2 hour - lunch break. Pased a lot of day and weekend hikers on the way out. Arived Rockfish Gap and got to the road and immediately a guy with a PATC sticker offered me a r4ide. Stayed overnight camping on the property of the YMCA (for free), and hung out with a southbounder named Greenhorn. Very cool, nice and interesting guy from Maine. He got on the trail Nov. 1st in New Hampshire. Here's a man on a mission. Did grocery shopping at Kroger and laundry. Tomorrow - a shower!
Date: 2005-05-06
From: Terrapin Station Hostel

To: Dick's Dome Shelter
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Haqd a very relaxing day - hiking my own hike, which was a refreshing change. Today I had my first real sense that we're reaching civilization - DC is less than 60 miles away. Many planes trains and automobiles. It's kind of nice - we're not in the middle of nowhere. There's a lot of history here too, and many stone walls that once seperated fields and are now bizzare dividers in the woods, and at least one quite old house. I didn't end up leaving Terrapin Staion 'till nearly 11 and arrived at Dick's Dome before 7. Not bad. The last part of the walk was beautiful through fields of trillium on the forest floor. Dick's dome is a hilliarious structure - an oddity on the AT. True to its name it is indeed a dome shape covered with roof shingles, though not the wooden type. Stagger Lee was there, as was a guy named Chris who is out doing a section.
Date: 2005-05-07
From: Dick's Dome Shelter

To: Blackburn Trail Center
Miles today: 26.8
Weather: clear sky

Someone asked me today "why are you hiking the trail?"I fumbled a bad answer. I'm never very good at articulating these things before I speak. If I were quick witted I would have used Earl Schaffer's reply: "I like walking and sleeping on mountains", but that didn't come to me.The real answer is that I'm hiking because I believe that hapiness derives from doing a job well done or working hard to achieve something difficult. Hapiness derives not from material things or having stuff but on doing - not always in finishing, but in the process. Happiness comes from growing, and that's why I'm hiking the trail.It was a good day hiking, though. The so-called "Rollercoaster" is no big deal. Upcoming NOBOS - piece of cake. Stopped by the Bears Den Hostel for water in the PM. A beautiful spot owned by the ATC, a very old stone summer home in the hills. Got to Blackburn about 6:30 and Diesel and Chino where both there. The couldn't resist the goodness that is Blackburn.Chips, Salsa, crackers, cheese and soda to start off while rocking on the screened in porch. Then a delicious meal of bean burritos. mmmmm.... "Trailboss", the maintainer for this section, and his wife were both there as well as the Center's caretaker and his wife. Great people, great food and good conversating!
Date: 2005-05-09
From: Harper's Ferry

To: Pine Knob Shelter
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: clear sky

OK, maybe this gives away my political leanings (if they weren't apparent already), but I really have no problem with a little flip-flop now and then. Call me a liberal, but I actually enjoyed my little flip-flop.On Monday I got a shuttle up to Pen-Mar Park up on the PA-MD (surprise surprise) state line and started walking south for two days back to Harper's Ferry so that I could catch a train from DC Wednesday morning.Going south for a little while was actually pretty darned cool. I got to deliver a bunch of messages. Diesel was trying to figure out how to get to trail days, and I ran into Team Dumber Monday and got the message to give to Diesel to meet in Boiling Springs on Thursday to go down to Trail Days. I also ran into Frank and Crow, to whom I had to deliver an email address to. It was a productive day! I also ran into Odyssa who I hadn't seen in ages and we sat down and chatted and caught up for a wile. It was goodThe only annoying part was upon arriving at the shelter around 9pm i discovered that some weekenders had set up tents in the shelter - supposedly because of the bugs. There were of course no bugs around. They did move their tents around a little though, so skinny old thru-hiker me could squeeze in the middle. ::Sigh::
Date: 2005-05-12
To: Zero in Cambridge
Miles today: 0.0

Hello Friends,It's time for a quick note to say that the third set of photos has been uploaded to the photo site, which is http://www.earlham.edu/~oharjo.Ok, ok, I know I haven't been doing a good job at updating this thing. That time will come, hopefully next week, sometime, I'll get around to typing up the things in my little blue book. Untill then you'll have to make do with a little imagination and having no idea what any of the pictures are actually of. Good luck!No, but seriously, I'll upload some of them to trailjournals and annotate them for y'all. Gosh, it's time to leave the south.Peace,
Date: 2005-05-13
From: Zero in Cambridge

To: Camping North of PenMar
Miles today: 1.9

I got picked up from the MARC station by Sawbrier and got a ride back to Penn-Mar and started hiking north in the dark. I didn't make too many miles, having intended to make it a few miles to the first shelter but being stopped by a familiar voice out of the woods. A guy named '42' who I had seen after the NOC and in the Smokies was camped just off the trail. He called out "Hey who's that?" "My name is Jay" "Jay the Quaker?!?!" That's me, I guess. so we ended up talking for far too long and he was going on and on about his newfound understanding of 'divine coincidences', and I figured I might as well pitch my tent.
Date: 2005-05-15
From: Camping S. of Tom's Run Shelter

To: Boiling Springs
Miles today: 23.3
Weather: few clouds

This morning I ran into The B's and Snowdog who were going to get off the trail for a couple of days. Went through Pine Grove Furnace S.P. early in the AM, so didn't get a chance to try the half-gallon challenge, but hopefully later - when it warms up and I've done a 30 mile day.Chino caught up to me @ the last shelter before town. We had a nice chat as we made our way past Center Point Knob, the original middle of the trail, and down off the Blue Ridge - which we've been on since Georgia, into the Cumberland Valley. Across some farm land and we arrived at Boiling Springs. The tavern was closed and we ended up at the pizza place - good company and quite the collection of Disco music playing in the place.Chestnut and Graham were tenting behind the Garmion House Bed and Breakfast for a buck and Chino evidently got a discounted room there. I opted for the free camping option on some ATC land south of town. DON'T DO IT!! It may be free, but go spend that dollar at Garmion House. No fewer than half a dozen freight trains passed in the night not 50 yards from the camping area where I was sleeping. They are all evidently filled with sand and bound for a PPG plant to make auto glass not to far on down the line. On my way back from pizza, and having filled up with water from the Boiling spring between the tavern and the pizza place, I chatted with a 70 yr old life long Boiling Springs resident. He warned me about a 3am train, but he must sleep through the ones from 8-2. Oh well. It was nice to chat with him and get a little history of Boiling Springs and about the trail. Neat guy.
Date: 2005-05-16
From: Boiling Springs

To: Duncannon
Miles today: 25.7
Weather: overcast clouds

I didn't end up leaving Boiling Springs untill 10:00 because I had a nice leasurely breakfast at CJ's Cafe in town. I sat at the counter and talked to the owner for a long time. It's not all bad and slacking, I swear - I was letting my tent try out after three damp/rainy nights. Had a nice leasurely walk across the Cumberland valley, and just before climbing to the ridge met Frank and Crow. Then coming down the other side we ran into Gunter and Pigpen with Gunter's little brother "Scatman". They were hiking south for a few days because Gunter lives in the area and wanted the bro to come along. Gunter commented, "NOBODY TOLKD ME THE A.T. WAS THIS EASY!" And it is - hardly any climbing, walking through fields and pastures. It's pretty darned nice. And don't be dissmayed by what people say about the rocks - the rocks don't start for a long while.Got to the Doyle Hotel in Duncannon a bit late but had a few drinks with Chino, Chestnut, the Scotsman and B&B. The Doyle, a ledgendary trail stop, is kind of crappy, but the folks in the restaraunt/bar were great, and a good time was had by all. I had been hiking behind Chestnut for the past few days, and it was good to finally meet him. He's hiking the trail for his 3rd time, and is doing the entire "International AT" version. He'll be getting off the trail in Lee, MA to go up to Quebec and hike south for the second half of the hike. Very cool guy. Get him to tell you about the motorcycle and his hip. ;-)Peace,
Date: 2005-05-17
From: Duncannon

To: Yellow Springs Village Site
Miles today: 24.2

Had a nice hike today getting to chat with and know better Chestnut.Only other note for the day: about 1 mile south of the Yellow Springs Village Site the trail meets a blue blaze and crosses several washes and is poorly blazed. When you get to this point go straight across the wash and bear 5 degrees to the left and you'll find the trail again. I wandered around towards the grassy area to the right for some time before circling back and wandering to the left. They need another blaze in there somewhere.
Date: 2005-05-20
From: Port Clinton

To: Eckville Shelter
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: moderate rain

OK, maybe I have to explain this 15 mile day. Woke up and it was cold and raining. It was nice to wake up in town today - but then there was the problem of resupplying. Chino, Lopsided, Free Sprit and I had all anticipated on being able to resupply at the outfitter in town, as there is no grocery store. But upon arriving in town we discovered that the outfitter is only open on Saturdays, and that the only resuply option was the "Peanut Shop" - a well stocked candy store. At least they had good peanut butter. Free Sprit and I prioritized french fries, pasta and beer with Chino at the Tavern over resupplying last night, so woke up today to find out that the "Peanut Shop" doesn't open 'till 10. Totally unacceptable. So as we moped around, F.S. went to mail some warm clothing to herself up the trail she discovered two brimming full Hiker Boxes in the post office. Not only was it free, but we were set to eat like kings for the next couple of days! I found some instand rice to go with my beans, and oatmeal for breakfast and mac & cheese for lunch. Score!Otherwise a nice walk in the rain. Stopped at the first shelter and chino was there trying to warm up. Had lunch - hot lunch - and moved on. Really nie walking - a long beautiful flat road through a geogous forest. No view at Pulpit Rock or the Pinnacle though. Such is the life of the tru-hiker.The rain stopped mid-afternoon and got to the Eckville shelter with Free Spirit and Chino. Chestnut was there and two weekenders. Chestnut had skipped town last night because he got pissed off at the people in the tavern giving him a hard time. I'm not going to write about it, because I didn't experience it, but I'm sure chino will write something.Anyway - you should stay at the Eckville Shelter. Great place, and there were some great folks, although Chino and Lopsided decided to press on, Mississippi Alan joined us and we all had a grand old time eating ice cream and apple sauce out of the donation fridge.
Date: 2005-05-23
From: Hahns Lookout

To: Delaware Water Gap
Miles today: 16.6
Weather: overcast clouds

It's a good thing that Free Spirit and I didn't stay at the shelter we were going to last night with Chino and Lopsided, because the whole crew showed up: Frank and Crow, Bass Master, Mississippi Alan, Jukebox and Runningmoon. Got to Delaware Watergap in plenty of time to get to the postoffice, grab the bump box, get fuel from the outfitter (which by the way, is a useless outfitter for anything else, really - watch out for the owners huge gut as it hanings out from between his shirt and (I believe unzipped) pants) and resupplied at the BP station. Had a good shower and washed important clothing in the sink. DWG doesn'thave much, buyt it's a nice little place. To avoid staying up too late with the crowed ended up sleeping in the shelter out back of Church of the Mountain. Good night's sleep.Peace
Date: 2005-05-24
From: Delaware Water Gap

To: Brink Road Shelter
Miles today: 24.6
Weather: light rain

Dang! New Jersey is NICE! Had a great hike today with Missippi Alan as we made excellent time to Brink Road shelter. Well, it's good that we were making good time because we didn't leave DWG untill around 10AM. Here's why: Woke up to it raining outside, which wouldn't be too bad if I hadn't washed my clothes last night and all my stuff was still soaking wet. But, I got the clothes on and by the time I was at the trail, a young woman came out of her appartemnt and invited me in for coffee. Since it was nasty and raining, I really couldn't pass up a hot cup of coffee. We saw Miss-Hippi Alan coming across the street and dragged him in too. Listened to the radio chated with her and her boyfriend. Turns out it was Bob Dylan's 64th birthday, so it was all dylan and covers on the radio. Dang, what a great time!
Date: 2005-05-25
From: Brink Road Shelter

To: The Secret Shelter
Miles today: 24.4

Now I can't tell you where this shelter is, you'll have to figure it out for yourself. It's a bummer that I didn't take any pictures because it's a beautiful thing. This guy named jim has provided this little hiker utopia on his farm land with heat and a hot shower, a big sink, a porch and a great pack scale. The setting is idylic, but it only holds about 4 people. I guess that scared away some of the big crowd I've been hiking with. Or maybe it's the note that I left for Jukebox at the High Point shelter. Last night while we were all sitting around Brink Road we were telling jokes, and when Free Spirit left to brush her teeth Jukebox told the most awfull joke, terribly insensitive and degrading - horrible in every way. Worse was that when F.S. came back and overheard the very end of the joke everybody laughed off her disapproval at it. Terrible. I said at the time that it wasn't funny, but all through the day while hiking today I couldn't get it off my mind, so I ended up writing a note to Jukebox explaining how I felt and asking him to think about the ramifications of his words. Who knows, but I do know that I had to write it.Peace
Date: 2005-05-30
From: 3rd Zero

To: Fingerboard Shelter
Miles today: 16.4
Weather: overcast clouds

After 3 days off the trail (what's wrong with a Memorial Weekend vacation?) I got back on at 17A around 3pm. What a long afternoon. It got dark about 3 miles before I got to the shelter, and those were some very long and slow miles, including going through the Lemon Squeezer and the vertical climb that follows. Ah well. And carrying 3L of water because the shelter supposedly had none.
Date: 2005-05-31
From: Fingerboard Shelter

To: Dennytown Rd
Miles today: 28.7
Weather: scattered clouds

This was that day that I had been waiting for for some time. Wooo hooo!!!It was another long day, but a good day. New York is beautiful, hilly enough to feel like you're hiking (unlike PA), but flat enough to just keep chugging along. Pulled into the Dennytown campsite shortly before dark. Light enough to set up the tent, but not light enought to cook without light afterwards. I don't think that I was totally up to speed in the AM having only had cold dinner the night before - due to my VERY late arrival at the shelter. But that was all cleared up after a big lunch on Bear Mountain.The hill before Bear Mtn, Black Mtn, had beautiful views south to The City. It was a mostly clear sunny and hot day. Perfect to see the skyscrappers in the polluted distance. On the way up Bear Mountain along the roadwalk section, I met a man and his wife (I presume) who were driving up to the top. They had stopped at an overlook which faced North and were out of the car video taping when I walked by. She asked me where I was coming from, and replied, "Georgia". At this the man turned around and started video taping me and asking me the basic questions about the trail in total astonishment.The interesting thing happened when I got to the top. The trail leaves the road for the last .4 Miles to the summit where there is a tower and parking lot and picnic area etc. I beat them up there, but after a while the man came over to me while i was having lunch and we talked again briefly. I was amazed. My existence had completely blown his mind in the most profound way. He said he had been thinking about it and talking about it all the rest of the way up the Mountain. These are his words that I remember:"We're so lazy we wouldn't even DRIVE to Georgia. I feel like a pimple next to you. What am I going to tell my grandkids [I did with my life], that I drove to K-Mart?"I was floored. Relieved. Happy that this 'radical' notion of walking somewhere literally blew somebody's mind. Perhaps he will go home and do something with his life. If that's all that comes from this hike, I will be happy.Then, the rest of the day. I ran into a guy who was prepping for a 2 or so month long section from DWG to however far he got north. (or maybe it was Harpers, I don't remember). He walked down Bear Mtn. with me and walked through the zoo and across the bridge talking about politics and philosophy and life and all those good things, as well as some logistical stuff about hiking the trail - he'd never really hiked much before, so I very easily convinced him of some things - and he was going to buy a pair of poles on his way home.But the true triumph of the day came when - finally - I crossed the Hudson. I've been counting rivers as big milestones in my hike, which is kind of fun. The first one that meant anything to me was the James. Which was followed by the Shenandoah and the Potomac and then the Susquahanah and then the Delaware and now finally the Hudson. And we crossed on the US 6 bridge - one of my favorite! All that's left is the Conneticut and the Kennebec in Maine. On we go.
Date: 2005-06-01
From: Dennytown Rd

To: Pawling, NY
Miles today: 28.0

Another somewhat long day, but ended up in town well before dark. Got an easy hitch into the lovely little village of Pawling, NY - right to the door of the Hannaford's. Did my grocery shopping, and a lady bought me a pint of Ben & Jerry's. Who could ask for more? Well more came anyway, the first guy I asked to give me a ride to the park where the town let's hikkers tent gave me a ride in his $80,000 Jaguar. Woah. Set up next to a beatiful little lake and had a peaceful night's sleep at the Edward Murrow Mem. Park.