morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2009-06-13
From: Rock Fish Gap

To: Raffle Queen's house
Miles today: 0.0

A many mile zero today. I didn't walk them though - I had Raffle Queen's car! The three slackers headed out and I was to pickup a few other hikers as trail magic and drive them into town. I also did my own town choirs - outfitter, food, internet, and mail. I almost blew my mailing my bounce box. I walked into the PO and they locked the doors behind me. They closed at 11:00 and I came in at 10:59 whew a close one.The picture is MY blaze from Kincora hardcore. We added switchbacking to a straight down the mountain path and thus it needed blazing and we could each paint our own and become a part of the trail.
Date: 2009-06-14
From: Raffle Queen's house

To: Black Rock Hut
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: clear sky

Almost a teary goodbye with Raffle Queen and her husband (Tim). They really made me feel welcomed into their house. I was dropped off and started hiking. I had 10 - 11 miles to catch up to Phoenix and NedtheFed's slackpack spot. They weren't going to start until later though. I made it there at 3pm so figured I was 3 hours behind them. When I got to the shelter, nothing was in the log, hmmm. Turns out they got a late start and were an hour BEHIND me.I setup my hammock and ended up waking early. Early as in 4 AM I was packed up and headed up the blue blaze to the AT. Just as I was getting to the AT it started sprinkling and thunder boomed. I almost ran back to the shelter where I was glad to see space on the top. I climbed up, and using my poncho as a blanket, was able to get back to sleep. I don't normally have a "back-to-sleep" ability :-) I got up at a much normal time, dry and rested.
Date: 2009-06-20
From: Front Royal Hostel

To: Front Royal
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

Yesterday ended well, but wasn't looking good. I had lost NedtheFed and another hiker said he was ahead of me, but he was behind! Before the shelter I was at a fork in the path that could lead to the Hostel and texted NedtheFed about his whereabouts - as I got no answer at the time I headed to the wayside as originally talked about. I hit Tom Floyd Wayside and NedtheFed was sure there was food but I saw none and the path only lead down hill another mile. (it made yesterday be 28.5 miles of w/ pack hiking). I was now hiking mad. I went to the road and had Wombat call the hostel to see if they had room and could pick me up. They did and did, whew!Now to today - Mike (of the Front Royal Hostel) brought Currly* and myself to Front Royal. I knew at this point he was at the hotel and we shared a room again. Zero today instead of a nero like planned, but with the rain this AM it worked out well to be under roof last night.Thanks Wombat for the tele-transfer**.*Currly was going to the hospital to have leg xrayed.**I text Wombat and she makes a voice phonecall and then texts me back with result. Sometimes the only way I can communicate from the trail.
Date: 2009-06-21
From: Front Royal

To: Rod Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 23.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Well the previous 15 days saw me do my original 241 miles in 15 days. Actually, I was able to take three zeros in that time as well, but in general I didn't like that pace.I was still with NedtheFed today and will be for the next three days as we try to connect with his nephew in Harpers Ferry. My last deadline is too be there 24 June @ 1130 to get Flicka @ AMTRAK station. I have plenty of time, but it was still a big miles day for Ned's schedule and I want to be part of it too! We do get left over trail Magic at the Molly/Jim Denton Shelter in the form of soda and banana.Oh, BTW through SNP I saw a total of three bears and 2 rattlesnakes. These were all up close and personal with no fences or glass. I want NO closer encounters, thank you very much!
Date: 2009-06-22
From: Rod Hollow Shelter

To: David Lesser Shelter
Miles today: 21.0
Weather: few clouds

Hmmm,someone stole the cake! The 1000 mile marker was pink like frosting and 1000 was on it. Best we could do was take a picture at the 1001 at the Blackburn outdoor center (we didn't go to it). Last nights stop let us start the "roller-coaster" first thing and pretty much wiped us out by the finish. Those last few miles to the shelter were in slow motion :-( We did stop at the Bears DEn Hostel and bought a pint of Ben & Jerry's. It's not looking good for the half gallon challenge. I just don't have the hunger beyond a pint, who would have thought that?
Date: 2009-06-23
From: David Lesser Shelter

To: Secret Undisclosed Location
Miles today: 9.4

Arrived in Harpers Ferry today with a 9.4 NERO. Wow, the traditional halfway point is done. AND a day early.It was a hard last 9.4 following the 20's the last 2 days and we wanted to get to town to get picked up early by CENSORED. CENSORED picked us up from the ATC office where we were # 451 & 452. WTF, With 70% of people dropping by Harpers Ferrry and my starting # being 442, how do I get such a high number? I know many people past me at first while I was slow, but give me a break, it wasn't a thousand people!CENSORED drove us to his house in CENSORED and we made plans to eat at CENSORED and do a little shopping at CENSORED. There are advantages to knowing NedtheFed :-) I do thank you Steve* for the great hospitality. *name changed to protect the innocent.
Date: 2009-06-24
From: Secret Undisclosed Location

To: Harpers Ferry Hostel via Keep Tryst Rd
Miles today: 2.9
Weather: clear sky

And NOW with FLICKA. She came in just 30 minutes late. Not bad for a 36 hour trip. NedtheFed waited around with me to meet her. Thanks Ned! I don't know why I got so emotional from her showing up. By the time I summit Katadin, I'll have the trail name "Cry Baby" if that keeps up. I'm all better now though and really glad to be able to go slow again. It was a tough pace for the last 19 days, but I had some fun in there to. Both NedtheFed and The Phoenix get credit for keeping me entertained through the experience.With the town choirs and pack reorg and the mailing of the bounce box it was never going to be a big mile day so the closest Hostel was tonight's plan from the start.Hey, a real genuine Hostel - a member of Hostel International. A neat place. We had one problem though. It's only 1.5 miles down the AT. We got talking so much I missed the DARN side trail and we had to road walk back to it. So FLICKA got a couple bonus miles too. Sorry FLICKA :-( NedtheFed moved on as he has his own hike to do. He did text me a few times with info since he knew he was scouting the way ahead. Good hike to you Ned.Flicka Miles 2.9
Date: 2009-06-25
From: Harpers Ferry Hostel via Keep Tryst Rd

To: Ed Garvey Shelter
Miles today: 3.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Flicka got her first 1000 ft climb. The elevation profile showed a moderate climb, but it was pretty easy on the second section. Low miles because we had the extra mileage yesterday. Flicka and I should have gone a little further, but I didn't think of that until we'd already set up camp. Blacklist showed up later and thought Otter might show up too (he camped at bottom of hill we found out later). The other influence was increased bear activity ahead, so we were fine tenting at the shelter. Flicka Miles 6.3
Date: 2009-06-26
From: Ed Garvey Shelter

To: Dahlgren Backpacker Campground
Miles today: 10.9
Weather: moderate rain

Loong day for Flicka--record 10.9 miles. True, they aren't the mountains of Georgia, but it's still climbing with a pack on over rough trail. We set up camp next to Blacklist (who'd already gone to town and back) just in time to take a nap and ride out two waves of rain. We stayed dry in the $15 Pamida tent under my $115 MacCat deluxe rainfly. All is well :-) Flicka Miles 11.2
Date: 2009-06-27
From: Dahlgren Backpacker Campground

To: Wolfsville Road
Miles today: 13.7

A new record for Flicka :-) of course not hard to do when she is new out here, but that is still a lot of miles. We were aiming for the Free State Hiker Hostel, but at $32 a person I figured I could get a hotel for $64. What I didn't realize was, I was misreading the guide and there is NO hotel down the road. Good fortune showed up in Trail Angel David who drove us to Super 8 in Hagerstown and said call in the AM and he would pick us up again (we did and he did). He wouldn't take any $ for gas or even let us buy him breakfast. Just a great guy!BTW our hotel was $61 after tax. AND we were in town and went shopping and had pizza.Flicka Miles 24.9
Date: 2009-06-28
From: Wolfsville Road

To: Devils Racecourse Shelter
Miles today: 5.1

Flicka's first hill! Nedthefed said thanks for one hill in Maryland and today we climbed it. A short day with pickup and drop off from Hagerstown combined with the next shelter in another TEN miles and no camping at Pen-Mar Park. I keep saying shelter but we are always tenting at a shelter not staying in it. Today we went down 0.3 to the shelter but climbed back up the blue blaze and camped at the top of the hill to avoid doing it in the AM.Flicka Miles 30.0
Date: 2009-06-30
From: Tumbling Run Shelters

To: US 30
Miles today: 9.5

More record breaking for Flicka. We got rained on today :-( We ducked into a shelter when a storm approached but it missed us so we hit the trail and a scond storm cell caught us with no cover. She did great through a rocky section being careful. We weren't worried as a hotel is a great place to dry off LOL. It wasn't raining when we got to the road and we were pretty much dry anyway. Called for a shuttle - which cost way too much and got a short ride to hotel. For a name brand I would NOT stay there again. Too costly for the low quality, no breakfast and not even in town!Flicka Miles 52.8
Date: 2009-07-01
From: US 30

To: Birch Run Shelter
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: scattered clouds

As we wanted to stay in Hostel in Pine Grove, two 10 mile days were in order. Easy day for us both, but next shelter was just too close to near to a hostel that doesn't open until 5PM. Worked out great as Birdie & Bubbles and Transition & Bow and Spider showed up. Flicka had lots to talk with :-P~~ Flicka Miles 62.8
Date: 2009-07-02
From: Birch Run Shelter

To: Iron Masters Mansion Hostel
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Another easy day although Flicka kicked into high gear to stay with Bow & Transition when they caught up and passed us. She paid for it with some minor blisters she never felt until taking her socks off.The true 2009 halfway point is now behind. It's now shorter to finish this journey than turn around and go back LOLHalf gallon challenge: FAILED for both of us! Bubbles & Birdie finished off the losers :-) they passed on, but Bow & Transition stayed at the hostel with us. We watched Victor/Victoria.Wombat saved the day with the bounce box in Boiling Springs. We were due to be there over the 4th with no mail service. I did NOT want a double zero in a not good hiker sleeping area. Either costly or free if you like railroad noise, BAH. She bounced it to Duncannon and we should hit there on the 6th - much better. Thx Wombat Flicka Miles 72.7
Date: 2009-07-04
From: Alec Kennedy Shelter

To: US 11
Miles today: 12.0

We cruised into Boiling Springs just in time for their aqua-parade. Anything that floats was allowed LOL. The second entries "shade" became a sail and they had to remove it fast hehe. We were into the Super 8 by 3 PM as it's easy cruising in the Cumberland Valley. Otter got his 30 and holds the new distance hiked in a day (it's just between he and I)We have now passed Bark & Berry and Bow & Transition while they take zeroes for the 4th.Check out these miles below, WOW!!Flicka Miles 100.2
Date: 2009-07-05
From: US 11

To: A stream along the AT
Miles today: 10.0

We were too close to one shelter and the next shelter might have been too close to the Doyle. So we stopped along a stream (listed in book and visible on map) and left a note to both Transition & Bow and Bark & Berry that we were there if they wanted to join us :-) but no one showed up of that group and only one hiker passed us all day (whiskey). We are in a vacuum at the moment. The people in front of us rushed ahead to be in Duncannon for the fourth. Others jumped off trail to "play" in DC or other fun. We hiked on.It was different being alone together, but we are getting along very well indeed!Flicka miles 110.2
Date: 2009-07-06
From: A stream along the AT

To: The Doyle
Miles today: 7.7
Weather: broken clouds

Is it a Hostel or a Hotel? I don't think it would be a good hotel, per say, but it makes a great Hostel. 2 floors of rooms and a single bathroom per floor. You be the judge. By the way, they are now NON-SMOKING, sweet now we can stay there.Not too bad getting along the ridge. Otter warned us the PA rocks start at Cove mountain, but they really didn't slow us down much from our normal pace. We hit the Doyle in Duncannon just past noon because Bark* & Berry caught up to us at a neat overlook and we ended up taking a longer break than we normally would have. It was good for them to finally meet Flicka!!Otter did a 30 and claimed the lead in a single day, but across the cumberland valley's 15 "flat" miles that is almost a cheat.No sign of Transition & Bow so they may have passed us townies and kept going. We will see when we slackpack south tomorrow :-)*Bark came in with a bright red taped-up crotch. Our new, private name for him is now Red Crotch.Flicka miles 117.9
Date: 2009-07-07
From: The Doyle

To: PA 325
Miles today: 17.0

The Doyle to PA 325 17.0 miles slackpack southbound, but no sign of Transition and Bow. A record for Flicka as you can imagine. Lots of PA rocks. We expect them from now on. Trail Angel Mary dropped us off and will do it again in the morning when we head north. A good break from slinging the pack and as always it's great to have a known room to sleep in :-)Flicka miles 134.9
Date: 2009-07-08
From: PA 325

To: Rausch Gap Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: broken clouds

An easy day letting our feet recover from PA rocks. I bruised my left heel and it's slowly recovering. The weather continues to cooperate for us and we stay dry. I ordered a Big Agnes Copper Spur ultra lite tent. Flicka and I are committed to finishing together, so a better and less weighty tent was in order. I had it shipped to Port Clinton along with my bounce box.Flicka miles 145.9
Date: 2009-07-09
From: Rausch Gap Shelter

To: Applebee Gap Campsite
Miles today: 17.3
Weather: broken clouds

A "Grand" day today. We have less than 1000 miles to summit! We also had pizza. We heard 501 shelter caretaker not pleased with prior pizza experience, so we recorded pizza number from previous shelter. It's not the pizza companies' fault. They delivered to me, and Flicka and I went on to campsite and ate our pizza. I burned the pizza box and due to high caffeine from 2 liters of coke, I just kept the fire going a couple hours LOL.Flicka miles 163.2
Date: 2009-07-10
From: Applebee Gap Campsite

To: Phillips Canyon Spring (campsite)
Miles today: 19.1

Wow! Big day--even for me! Huge record for Flicka. We were both whipped and dragging tail, but we had to get water. Previous water source was not good enough to want to drink! My book said campsite, but nothing visible. So we just set up under a bush that had enough room and was mostly flat. No rocks, and that is what counted:-)Flicka miles 182.3
Date: 2009-07-11
From: Phillips Canyon Spring (campsite)

To: Port Clinton
Miles today: 4.0
Weather: light rain

Nero into Port Clinton. As feared, the outfitter had minimal. The Port Clinton Hotel was minimal too! The only thing they had over the Doyle was a small TV in each room, but it was twice the price for the room. Cabela's sent a free shuttle to pick us up, so we tried to resupply but could only find one flavor of protein bar, banana (which we'd never had, but was actually very good). We bought 2 of them because we had to have SOMETHING. We then wandered down to the fast food area and then walked back to the hotel. As there was road construction, the only time I felt safe walking is when we jumped into the construction zone and walked between the barriers!Flicka miles 186.3.
Date: 2009-07-12
From: Port Clinton

To: Eckville
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: clear sky

Great walk today with a couple super views. Too bad it was such a large "S" and wasted hiking miles. We saw more snakes today - copperhead and rattlesnake. I don't want to be jaded LOL. Windbreaker was at the shelter and talked Flicka into staying IN the shelter - her first time and probably last. He will shortly out hike us but we are doing the miles we need to do. Eckville shelter was special as it was bug and mouse free. Real doors and windows etc :-)Flicka miles 201.6.
Date: 2009-07-13
From: Eckville

To: Bake Oven Knob Shelter
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: broken clouds

Stopped for water at the PA 309 crossing with the Blue Mountain Summit B&B knowing that we missed them being open by a day, so no lunch for us :-( While crossing Bake Oven Knob itself, the blazes disappear. we asked some locals (car camping if they knew where it went and they said up the ridge (well it does everywhere else so why not?) so we head up the ridge, but still no blazes. I halt Flicka and scout ahead and find the AT skirts the ridge and we need to get down. Thankfully it's not as bad as we feared and only do a little extra rock climbing. We do NOT need more rocks!Flicka miles 219.0.
Date: 2009-07-14
From: Bake Oven Knob Shelter

To: Lehigh Gap
Miles today: 7.7

The Jailhouse hostel nice and free :-) Easy day today even with a 2 mile roadwalk into town. To be honest, a flat, paved, direct roadwalk doesn't even feel like work any more and is pretty nice now-a-day. Picked up bounce box at PO then went loooking for hostel across the street like my map shows in the map of yet more lies (I call my book the book of lies, it is old and I do get bad info from it) we do finally find it and move in. Later Braids and Which way arrive so we aren't alone. They will take 5 zeroes then slackpack a few days. We'll see if they catch up before their 6 week section hike is over. Met them earlier at the Doyle. For us it was a much needed resupply with stores and restaurants close by!Flicka miles 226.7
Date: 2009-07-18
From: Wind Gap

To: Kirkridge Shelter
Miles today: 9.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Caught needing the Post Office and it being a weekend, we split the difference to Delaware Water Gap (DWG) and went to the only shelter. Transition (w/o Bow as she had to go home) and 2 weekenders came in. I give the 2 weekenders extra credit because they were cool! Barn Cat and Bob (no trailname). Well we fixed that fast and now his trailname is Smiling Bob! (Think Enzyte copyright) Smiling Bob also continued my no propane purchase streak. I bought a can of propane before I started the hike and everytime I've needed a new one - Bam, I get one free LOL. This time Smiling Bob said he wasn't going camping anymore this season and I scored a nearly full can. How lucky am I :-) Flicka miles 256.3
Date: 2009-07-19
From: Kirkridge Shelter

To: DWG
Miles today: 6.4

Church of the mountains hostel. Cool place but they need to adjust their standards. They "cleaned" the bathrooms and threw out all the soap and shampoo! We hikers don't carry that stuff and count on using someone else's "leftovers". Don't think yuck. Most of the world lives in poverty and filth well below thinking down on "used" soap. It's a fact so get over it. Flicka miles 262.7
Date: 2009-07-20
From: DWG

To: Camp Ken Etiwa Pec
Miles today: 17.8

You know what they say about the plans of mice and men. Today that was so true. We were going to do about 18.5 miles and camp past the above YMCA camp. It had a half mile before/after no camping zone - according to my book. I can live with that easy, but when we get to the "zone" it say 4 miles of no camping GRRR. We know that sucks and so is the mile long walk off the AT to the camp that we decide to stop at after all. We get to the "screened" in shelters. Well, screens don't do much good when they are flapping in the breeze, so we set up the tent inside the shelter. The floor space the tent takes is only a couple inches wider than what our sleeping pads would take up so I don't feel guilty. Plus we end up alone in our shelter and the our first two Southbounding thru's end up alone in theirs (Stumbles and Mr Hungry).Flicka miles 280.5
Date: 2009-07-21
From: Camp Ken Etiwa Pec

To: Culver's Gap
Miles today: 10.6

Rain abort today so just 10 miles! Local Sheriff got his sargent to help Flicka and I get to hotel - it made the hotel owner pretty nervous to have 2 cops in the parking lot LOL. It was billed as A/C and sat TV, but no climate control so had to use nightstand light as our dryer. TV had Indian stations and a couple US stations very funny combo.Flicka miles 291.1
Date: 2009-07-22
From: Culver's Gap

To: High Point Shelter
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: light rain

Secret shelter closed and no use going closer to Unionville so we stopped here. Willing and Able Joined us! No view of NYC skyline as it was too cloudy (no view - what a surprise for me), we also did NOT go to and climb the High Point tower, but seeing the tower itself from the AT is pretty neat. Flicka miles 307.1
Date: 2009-07-27
From: Outhouse part 3

To: New York City
Miles today: 0.0

News Embargo lifted. Flicka is off the trail and headed back home today via AMTRAK. It took 5 days to get her an empty seat on her three leg journey home, thus the extra zeroes. She was hiking for a month with me and completed 331 miles of the AT. I am very proud of her and what she accomplished! I still owe an update on the Outhouse hostel, at this point let me just say it has been a blast!
Date: 2009-07-30
From: Bear Mountain Bridge

To: Graymoor Monastery
Miles today: 6.3

Did a short day hoping Y-knot and Jersey Girl would arrive. Y-knot and Jim Dandy did but Jersey Girl had zeroed. Got Pizza, but a South Bounder had no cash - Y-knot covered him, but I still feel ripped off. Thanks Y-Knot for the extra $20!
Date: 2009-07-31
From: Graymoor Monastery

To: NY 301 @ Canopus Lake
Miles today: 11.9
Weather: light rain

A quick walk through the woods then a 1 mile road walk to Fahnestock state park. I decided I wasn't really having much fun out here. I feel unconnected with the other hikers even though I know many of them from earlier. I road walked about 11 miles to a town with a Metro-North station and jumped down a stop to a town with hotels (Peekskill) and made AMTRAK reservations (7 Aug). Then I texted Butch at the Outhouse to see if they'ed have me back for a week. "YES" was the answer, so I'll head there Aug 1st.So I end my hike as a 1406 mile section. I've already started to make plans for returning next year!I never wanted the hike to be about "just finishing" and that was what was happening. I will still post more about the Outhouse and how fabulous it's been to be here :-)