morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-05-13
From: Bearfence Hut

To: Big Meadows Lodge
Miles today: 7.6

Last night at the Bearfence Hut, three young thru-hikers studs rolled in at 9:30. They had done 27 miles. They were trying to do the park in four days, so they could hitch hike south to Trail Days at Damascus. They had started March 2 and were trying to finish by Aug 1. You can do that when you're twenty-one.Another nice hiking day today. Decided to treat myself to a bed and shower and restaurant meal, so I am at the Big Meadows Lodge. Pigged out on dinner.Looks like it might rain on Thursday and Friday. Have to try to make sure I am in a shelter for those nights.Happy trails.
Date: 2003-05-14
From: Big Meadows Lodge

To: Skyland Lodge
Miles today: 8.5

Another gorgeous day. Practically clear, azure blue sky. This section of trail had some great viewpoints. Also a bit rockier than further south. Took a break for some trail mix on top of one of the vistas.Had a breakfast at Big Meadows. Devoured everything. I am at Skyland for the night and then it is back to sleeping in the shelters tomorrow and starting to push for a little more mileage per day. It is supposed to rain tomorrow and Friday. Could get interesting. I will have to try out the rain pants. I've been carrying them, might as well use them.The leaves are not fully out on the trees at the highest elevations, like lower down. When I used to work, years ago, near Cumberland, MD, you could watch spring advance up the mountain and fall come down the mountain from the cafeteria. It took three weeks to go the 2000 feet from the valley floor to peak.Called my neighbor to get a pot stand sent to me. My cleverly designed pot stand/windscreen is not standing up to the heat. Should have made it out of steel. Hope it holds up until Harper's Ferry.Happy trails.
Date: 2003-05-15
From: Skyland Lodge

To: Pass Mountain Hut
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: overcast clouds

About a half mile after leaving Skyland, the AT reaches its highest point in Shenandoah National Park at 3837 feet. I won't be this high again until Stratton Mountain in southern Vermont. Mt. Greylock in northern Massachusetts doesn't quite make it this high.So this is one long downhill cruise from here to the low point at the Hudson River. I wish! There will be lots of climbs and descents between here and there. I have learned to like it when the trail guide says "gently ascends". I like it even better when it says "gently descends". Level is good, too. When it says "ascends steeply with switchbacks", you know you're going bent over the trekking poles, working hard. My understanding is that in New England, they just skip the switchbacks and go straight up the mountain.Rain was predicted for today starting in the afternoon. I was pushing the first part of the day to try to make it to the shelter before the rain. Then it looked like the rain would hold off so I backed off and took in the vistas. Made the side trip to Mary's Rock, overlooking Thornton Gap, which was well worthwhile. The trail down to Thornton Gap was very steep and took a lot longer than anticipated.I picked up my second cache just fine, no thanks to the GPS. I had waypointed the spot, but it was pointing to someplace about 50' away. Last time it was pointing to the wrong side of the trail.As a result of the delays, I was humping it hard with a heavy load up the hill to this shelter (Pass Mountain Hut) and got sprinkled on slightly. As I sit here now though, it is raining and looks to get worse. The Hawaiian M&M team is here. Later: 3 more have arrived so we have six here tonight, all thru-hikers.Hapy Trails.
Date: 2003-05-16
From: Pass Mountain Hut

To: Gravel Springs Hut
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: moderate rain

Last night it rained for 5 or 6 hours steady, and sometimes heavily. Nice to be in a shelter.Today was a long, foggy walk in the woods. Only one or two scenic overlooks on this section and you couldn't see anything anyway. Guess I lucked out with the weather and the overlooks the previous several days.Foot weary now, but this was my longest day so far. Covered 13.1 trail miles plus about another 0.5 to and from the shelters and the wayside in 7 1/2 hours. This included a 40 minute stop at the Elkwallow Wayside for a grilled (and greasy, yummy) ham and cheese sandwich and the traditional blackberry shake. They are very proud of this shake at $3.50 vs. $2.55 for plain old vanilla or chocolate. It was good, though.This was followed immediately by a 1000 foot climb over about 2 1/4 miles. The watch says that total ascent for today was 2810 feet and descent was 3140.I have developed a technique for the long ascents of stopping every 100 feet vertically on the altimeter for a drink of water and a breather. Seems to help with pacing.The Hawaiian M&M team is here tonight also. No one else, as yet. It is Friday night, so might be some weekenders or boy scouts possible.A couple showed up later known as Nose and the Pooler Bears. Think I have that right. Nose is a little stuffed mascot. They are thru's who started March 1. They and the M&M's knew each other well.Happy Trails.
Date: 2003-05-17
From: Gravel Springs Hut

To: Terrapin Station Hostel
Miles today: 9.6

Today was a misty, drizzly hike. Just enough that you stayed wet, but not enough to break out the poncho for. I tolerated it since I wanted to test the waterproofness of the trash bag pack liner and I knew (pretty sure knew) that I could get warm and dry at the end of the day.I am now warm and dry at the Terrapin Station Hostel. Just opened this year by a former thruhiker, Mike Evans. It is the basement of his home. He left for his daughter's wedding, so I haven't met him. There are four of us here with bunk space for 12.I was able to get a shower and wash out wet, dirty clothes, especially socks. Will be ready to go again tomorrow. Two female hiker's came in by car to start here, Katydid and WindSpirit, so there are six here tonight. Just Ray and wife, Chilly Willy, who I had heard of on trailjournals.com. Also, Tim, a thru hiker, who started March 1, who is taking his first zero day due to a painful, swollen foot.Happy Trails
Date: 2003-05-18
From: Terrapin Station Hostel

To: Jim & Molly Denton Shelter
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: light rain

(overdue journal entries have arrived 10 days after being mailed at Harper's Ferry on May 23rd)Last night at the Terrapin Station Hostel, the toilet tank float valve stuck and overflowed. Found an inch or so of water on the floor at 5 a.m. That got everyone up early and we swept, mopped and squeezed the mess up.Today was a wet muddy day on the trail. I managed to fall down in the mud three times. Fortunately, I had put on my Frogg Toggs rain pants over my hiking pants so the mess is on the rain pants only. Like trying to walk in grease. This was a tick infested area near a National Zoo facility so I was using the poles to fend off brush and tall grass and ended up falling instead of catching myself as usual.Stopped at this nice shelter rather than pressing on another 5 1/2 miles to the next one. The weather is supposed to clear up tomorrow and that should dry things out and make the hiking more pleasant.Katydid and Windspirit are here again tonight.Happy Trails
Date: 2003-05-19
From: Jim & Molly Denton Shelter

To: Dick's Dome Shelter
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was a nice day, sunny and not too warm. The trail was still muddy in quite a few places. It should dry out nicely tomorrow.I am at Dick's Dome Shelter, which is a funky little geodesic dome made of plywood. It says it is for four people, although that is going to be a little tight. There is a wonderful rushing stream about 20 feet in front of the shelter.I am here alone so far, although I would think that Katydid and Windspirit would have to stop here. No sign of them yetYes, they made it. They hike to their car tomorrow at Ashley Gap, so I might not see them again.Happy Trails
Date: 2003-05-20
From: Dick's Dome Shelter

To: Sam Moore Shelter
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was a very long day, particularly timewise. Almost 10 1/2 hours on the trail. The last seven miles was on the first half of the infamous Roller Coaster. Up & down about 500 feet at a time. Total ascent was 3800 feet and descent over 4000 feet for the day.What prompted this was that it was 40 miles to Harper's Ferry from Dick's Dome. I could do it in four days (at a leisurely 10 miles/day) or I could try to do it in three days. I guess I am trying for three days.Short entry. I need to get to sleep.Happy Trails
Date: 2003-05-21
From: Sam Moore Shelter

To: Blackburn A.T. Center
Miles today: 10.9
Weather: moderate rain

Slow going today because the trail was wet, steep and rocky as I did the last half of the Roller Coaster. Don't need a injury before this hike really gets going. Took me about 7 1/2 hours to do the 11 miles. Also feeling yesterdays effort.Rained pretty much all day, so I wore my poncho the whole time. Everything in the pack stayed dry.This A.T. Center is terrific. The caretaker fixed us dinner. He is a former thruhiker. The hostel is a nice little cabin with a wood stove. There is no charge. All they ask is a donation, if you can. Maybe the hiking things will dry out a little with the stove.Into Harper's Ferry tomorrow.Happy Trails
Date: 2003-05-22
From: Blackburn A.T. Center

To: Hilltop House Hotel Harper's Ferry
Miles today: 12.6

Todays hike kept looking like rain, but never really did. It was mostly ridge walking and downhill to Harper's Ferry. Had one rock garden to pick my way through on the last ridge. Covered the distance in about 6 1/2 hours including a 1/2 hour snack/rest break.I am going to be taking a couple of zero days here for laundry, restocking, prepare the next section. The guy who is to shuttle me from Duncannon back to Harper's Ferry can't do it until Sunday, so I get two days off, whereas I was really only looking for one.Harper's Ferry isn't really a trail town. Not much in the way of facilities that is close.Happy Trails
Date: 2003-05-23
From: Harper's Ferry

To: Harper's Ferry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Took my first zero day. Staying at the Hilltop Hotel. They put up hikers on the third floor. No one else would walk up that far.Did the usual chores - laundry, shopping, library. Visited the outfitter to get the pole tips replaced. They didn't have anything else that matched my list of needs.Happy Trails
Date: 2003-05-24
From: Harper's Ferry

To: Harper's Ferry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

No hiking today, although lots of traveling. I show the start and end as Harper's Ferry. However, I am presently near Duncannon. I drove here and along the way stashed two caches of supplies. Tomorrow a fellow will shuttle me back to Harper's Ferry and I will start hiking to my truck in Duncannon.The Pooler Bears were still in Harper's Ferry this morning, but heading out.I found some O-rings at a hardware store that seem to be holding up. I burned up the gasket on the Trangia alcohol stove, and could no longer seal the left over alcohol in the stove. Not a show stopper, but an annoyance.Happy Trails
Date: 2003-05-25
From: Harper's Ferry

To: Crampton Gap Shelter
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Got a quick, efficient shuttle from Tom Cheffins this morning from Duncannon. I was hiking by 9:30. Did a couple of miles along the C&O canal towpath and then a climb up to Weverton Cliff for a nice overlook of the river valley. The rest was a ridge walk.At the Crampton Gap Shelter for tonight. Met Parrothead. He just started at Harper's Ferry for a thruhike. Looks like we'll be seeing a lot of each other. He knows Blaze. Small world.There are five people here tonight for a full house. Some others have come by but they are going to have to camp.Happy Trails
Date: 2003-05-26
From: Crampton Gap Shelter

To: Pine Knob Shelter
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Hiked all day with Parrothead. We will probably be traveling together more in future days.We are at Pine Knob shelter. There are six people here for tonight and two campers.Last night it started to rain about 2 a.m. and continued until dawn. The rain held off most of the day, but it started to rain in the afternoon. The trail has been somewhat muddy. We stopped at the Dahlgren Back Pack Campground for a quick hot shower. It felt great.Happy Trails.
Date: 2003-05-27
From: Pine Knob Shelter

To: Devil's Racecourse Shelter
Miles today: 12.7

Beat the rain into the shelter. There are six hikers here. Tex from Missouri has been with us for the last two shelters. He has been section hiking the AT for eight years. This year he is going from Harper's ferry to Deleware Water Gap.Hiking today was pretty good. Parrothead is going into Waynesboro, PA tomorrow to resupply. I have a cache waiting in the woods. We will probably hook up some more down the trail.Remarkable how many people there are out here that are not thru-hikers, in spite of the not so nice weather, and not a holiday or weekend. Wonder what it will be like if the weather turns nice.Happy Trails
Date: 2003-05-28
From: Devil's Racecourse Shelter

To: Pen-Mar Park
Miles today: 4.7

Well, we bailed this morning. Started raining heavily about 30 minutes after the start. Got thoroughly soaked and starting to get cold. At Pen-Mar park Tex from Missouri was stopped. Parrothead got on his cell phone, called Trudy's Taxi and the three of us are now at Best Western in Waynesboro, PA. The rain let up this afternoon, but you can't second guess yourself. You make your decisions and you live with them.Did laundry (after a long hot soak in the tub) so things are clean and, more importantly, dry. Need to hit the post office and library and a recommended restuarant for dinner and restart in the morning - after the free breakfast here.Happy TrailsP.S. The sun is NOW shining. Oh, well
Date: 2003-05-29
From: Pen-Mar Park

To: Tumbling Run Shelters
Miles today: 8.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was a wonderful stroll in the woods, sunny and not real muddy. The overnight in Waynesboro certainly revived us.Soaked in a hot tub and shower, did laundry, post office and library. Dinner was at Mountain Gate Inn, a buffet. They must have had more than 20 different kinds of pie. As you were sitting there eating the pie, they come around and ask if you would like some ice cream. Over the top!The Waynesboro 3 (Tex from Missouri, Parrothead, and Old Corpus)is now snugly sheltered and fed at the TumblingRun Shelters. There are two shelters, thoughtfully labeled "snoring" and "non-snoring". I have the snoring one all to myself. I don't know(sic) why. The rain just started at about 6:30 p.m. Not particularly cold.Happy Trails
Date: 2003-05-30
From: Tumbling Run Shelters

To: Birch River Shelters
Miles today: 19.6

Put in a long 11 hour day and covered 19.6 miles. We originally were going to go shorter today and then do two longer days back-to-back. We decided to try going long today, short tomorrow to the hostel and then long on Sunday. Given what we hear about the weather forecast a short day tomorrow might get us in before the rain.We experienced some serious trail magic today. We were walking by a picnic pavilion in Caladonia State Park, when a young fellow at the grill asked if we wanted some marshmaolows. Before the words were finished we made a hard left turn to the food. It turns out that the kindergarden class at the Stephens school in Chambersburg was having a year end outing and had just finished eating and had leftovers. We had hot dogs, chips, root beer and marshmallows. We took four hot dogs, chips, pretzels, and a Krispy Kream doughnut to Tex at the Quarry Run shelter. Plus a can of Sterno that we found. When we pulled in, we told him it was his lucky day, he just didn't know it yet.So we left Tex behind, breaking up our trio. We'll probably run into each other again.Happy Trails
Date: 2003-05-31
From: Birch River Shelters

To: Ironmaster's Mansion Hostel
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: light rain

Rained slightly and interrmitantly this morning Trail was fairly cooperative so we made 10.0 miles in 4 hr. 20 min. At the hostel for the rest of the day and tonight. Hit the campstore for cheeseburgers, etc. Returning for some ice cream.Later. Tex made it in after a long day for him. Some other hikers have come in so there are six here, with bunks for twelve. There are bicyclists upstairs. Guy (Parrothead) hitched into town and returned with subs and a frozen pizza. What we couldn't eat, we gave to Tapeworm, another hiker. He lived up to his name.We got to see the "secret room". This house was a stop on the Underground Railroad. The other feature we were looking for, the hot tub, was broken.Planning a bit of a long day tomorrow with climbs. Need to be in position to hit the post office in Boiling Springs on Monday early.Happy Trails
Date: 2003-06-01
From: Ironmaster's Mansion Hostel

To: Alec Kennedy Shelter
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: light rain

Made the distance today in a little over 8 1/2 hours, including about 30+ minutes for a snack/lunch break at Green Mountain General Store. That added about another 1/2 mile to the distance. We got going early and were here by 3:20. We thought that we were going to have the place to ourselves, but now it looks like a pretty full house plus some tenters. We grabbed the two bunks. Early bird gets the first choice.We passed Tex somewhere and he is not here. We have heard that he stopped at the Tagg Run Shelter, the next one back.Parrothead has a mail drop at Boiling Springs tomorrow, then we'll move on.Happy Trails
Date: 2003-06-02
From: Alec Kennedy Shelter

To: Appalachian Motor Inn (Rt.11)
Miles today: 11.9

Made a easy walk on mostly flat terrain today across the CUmberland Valley. We stopped in Boiling SPrings for Parrothead's mail drop and bounce box. He couldn't believe how much stuff he had packed, and ended up leaving a fair amount in the hiker box.It is an 18 mile stretch across the farmland of the valley with no shelters or water in the woods, so we have stopped at a motel for the night.The shelter last night was full and there were hammock hangers and a tenter. Some girl (mid-20's) showed up who had yellow blazed to there looking for her friends. Well the "friend" she was looking for showed up (a him). After listening and seeing this little soap opera play out, we have decided to name this pair Pending and Depending. Enough said.Happy Trails
Date: 2003-06-03
From: Appalachian Motor Inn (Rt.11)

To: Cove Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 13.6
Weather: light rain

We got going early. The weather called for showers turning to steady rain. That is exactly what happened. The rain gear went on about 10 a.m. We arrived at the shelter about 1:20. The rain kept increasing in the afternoon to fairly heavy. However, we are dry and fed and warm enough. Two other hikers made it in - Firefighter and Hawk. They had hammocked two nights ago at the Alec Kennedy Shelter.Every mile north we go, the rocks are getting denser and denser. Just a foretaste of what we understand is ahead. It is hard to make any quick progress across this stuff. You keep tripping and stumbing, especially at the end of the day when you have a hard time picking up your feet.A short day tomorrow into Duncannon to pick up the truck and prepare for the next section and shuttle.We are probably going to run into Harrisburg to the outfitters and library.Happy Trails
Date: 2003-06-04
From: Cove Mountain Shelter

To: Duncannon, PA
Miles today: 5.1
Weather: light rain

It rained pretty much all night and we started out in the rain for a short hike into Duncannon. Parrothead is staying at the infamous Doyle Hotel. It is everything you would expect for $15 a night. I am in a motel to sort through my stuff and prepare the next caches, then I'll get shuttled and stay at the Doyle tomorrow night.We had dinner at the Pub where the Wednesday night special is 12 oz. Delmonico steak dinner for $8.The Doyle actually had internet access for $2 for 30 minutes so I could get email and look at the journal. Many thanks to Linda for being my transcriber.Happy Trails
Date: 2003-06-05
From: Duncannon, PA

To: Duncannon, PA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Shuttled my truck to Deleware Water Gap and Tom Cheffins is taking me back to Duncannon for a night at the Doyle. Placed two caches. Picked up some info on shelters and a hostel. Sitting here at the Church of the Mountain waiting for Tom. Met Bono here. He started Dec 28 from Springer. He is going to have to hurry to make Katahdin by Oct 15.Happy Trails
Date: 2003-06-06
From: Duncannon, PA

To: Peters Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 10.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Tried to sleep in a little bit this morning, but I was up as soon as it was light, even in the hotel. We had breakfast at Jodi's Cafe and hit the road before 8 am. The first mile or so was a repeat of what we had already done since the Doyle is at one end of town and the campground, where the truck was parked, is at the far end. So we actually walked more like 11.5 miles. There was about a 1000' climb at the beginning, after crossing the Susquehanna River, then the rest was a ridge walk. Some rocky pieces but not too bad.Last night at the Doyle was a hoot. I was back there by about 9 p.m. and found Parrothead at the bar. An interesting collection of locals and hikers. We had live entertainment with a singer/guitar/harmonica player. Everyone sang along at times and the whole crowd knew the lyrics to "Mercedes Benz", the Janis Joplin song.Parrothead, Truck and I are the only ones here at the shelter, which is a two level and can hold 12. Going long tomorrow to the next shelter.A couple came in about 7 p.m. with a beautiful malamute dog. Two other section hikers, a father and daughter, are at the old nearby shelter. That shelter was built by Earl Shaffer, the first AT thru-hiker. They should dismantle it and give it to the Smithsonian.
Date: 2003-06-07
From: Peters Mountain Shelter

To: Rausch Gap Shelter
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: moderate rain

Today would have been a nice hike, if the weather had been good. As is was, today was an all day hike in the rain. The trail was flooded in many places. After your feet get wet, you just plow through the mini lakes - sometimes ankle deep or more. We just kept going. Never took off the poncho or pack the whole day. As Guy said, we were hiking in the river formerly known as the Appalachian Trail.While we were going, we could hear the automatic weapons fire from Indiantown GapThere are five thru hikers here for tonight Chameleon is hanging his hammock in the shelter.Hope it clears off tomorrow.Happy Trails
Date: 2003-06-08
From: Rausch Gap Shelter

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

Today was much more pleasant, i.e. no rain. Actually the trail was much less muddy and not flooded than I had exepected. We covered 17.4+ miles in nine hours, including a stop for the Sunday morning call to my Mother.The other three hikers were still sleeping when we pulled out this morning. They are here now and having pizza delivered for their dinner. The road is only about a quarter mile away - Route 501 - hence the shelter name.The shelter is an actual building about 40' X 25' with four walls, doors, windows and a skylight. There is bunk space for 12 and piped water at the caretaker's house. Picked up my cache just fine after a bit of searching for the duct tape markers.Happy Trails